Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Passion Struck with John R. Miles is a podcast that explores deep questions about human well-being, including how we think, feel, connect, and build meaningful lives. Hosted by John R. Miles, a bestselling author, Navy veteran, and former Fortune 50 executive, the show features conversations with leading voices in neuroscience, psychology, medicine, philosophy, sports, business, and the arts. Guests include Seth Godin, Ryan Holiday, Susan Cain, Mark Hyman, Angela Duckworth, and Arthur Brooks. The podcast aims to help listeners strengthen their minds and bodies, build sustaining relationships, find purpose, and break free from stress and numbness.
Episodes
Three Conversations That Changed How I Think About Being Alive | John R. Miles EP 789
What if flourishing isn't something you achieve someday—but something you practice in the life you're already living?In this episode, John R. Miles explores the first step toward becoming fully alive: presence. Drawing from three unforgettable conversations with Navy SEAL and Paralympian Dan Cnossen, entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie, and spiritual teacher Gabby Bernstein, he examines the questions that
How to Stay Always Connected to Spirit – Even When Life Feels Hard or Overwhelming | Suzanne Giesemann - EP 788
What if the guidance you’ve been searching for has been with you all along?In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to stay connected to something greater than yourself—even during grief, uncertainty, illness, or life's most overwhelming moments.If you've ever wondered whether you're truly alone, struggled to find peace in difficult seasons, or sensed that there is a deeper wisdom available to you, th
How to Heal Your Body Image From the Inside Out & Finally Make Peace With Your Body | Whitney Otto - EP 787
Today’s episode will change how you think about your body — and how you relate to yourself every single day.Do you ever look in the mirror and feel immediate criticism or shame? Do you succeed in life but still feel at war with your body? Or maybe you’ve tried everything — diets, workouts, positive affirmations — but nothing seems to create lasting peace.According to today’s guest, the problem isn
The Courage to Become Yourself: Remembering Who You Are | John R. Miles - EP 786
In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores perhaps the deepest form of disconnection we experience—not from other people, but from ourselves.Every stage of life quietly asks us to become someone. Families, schools, workplaces, and culture reward certain behaviors and identities while discouraging others. Over time, the adaptations that once helped us survive can harden into ide
The Gratitude Gap: How Great Leaders Make People Feel Seen | Adrian Gostick - EP 785
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with bestselling author, workplace culture expert, and leadership researcher Adrian Gostick to explore one of the most overlooked forces shaping organizations today: the gratitude gap—the disconnect between how appreciated leaders believe their people feel and how valued employees actually experience their work.Drawing from decades of rese
How to Overcome Identity Distortion and Live Authentically | Spencer West - EP 784
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with internationally acclaimed speaker, activist, and best-selling author Spencer West to explore the journey of breaking free from external expectations and overcoming identity distortion.Drawing from his remarkable life—including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands—Spencer shares why so many of us unknowingly build lives around inher
What Are The Hidden Attachments Running Your Life | John R. Miles - EP 783
In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles continues the Connection Crisis series by exploring one of the most overlooked reasons we feel disconnected—not from other people, but from ourselves.Many of us believe our struggles stem from the people in our lives or the circumstances around us. But what if the real barrier to connection isn't external at all? What if the invisible identitie
How to Rewire Your Attachment Style and Finally Build Secure Relationships | Adam Lane Smith - EP 782
Today’s episode will change how you understand your relationships — and why you keep repeating the same painful patterns.Do you feel anxious when people get close… or do you pull away the moment things get serious? Do you succeed at work but struggle in love? Are you exhausted from chasing connection but never quite feeling safe? According to today’s expert, it’s not because you’re broken. It’s be
Why Do We Keep Repeating the Same Mistakes? | Kati Morton - EP 781
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with licensed therapist, bestselling author, and mental health educator Kati Morton to explore why so many of us continue repeating behaviors we know no longer serve us—from perfectionism and overworking to people-pleasing, burnout, and self-abandonment.Drawing from her new book, Why Do I Keep Doing This?, Kati explains how the habits that
Why We Feel So Disconnected (And How to Find Our Way Back) | John R. Miles - EP 780
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores one of the defining challenges of modern life: why so many people feel disconnected despite living in the most interconnected era in human history.Drawing on insights from Greg McKeown and Marcus Buckingham, the historical lessons of Acts 10, behavioral science, and themes from his forthcoming book The Mattering Effect, John reveals how mil
Can Love Be a Fierce Business Force? | Marcus Buckingham - EP 779
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Marcus Buckingham, who is a global researcher, pioneer of the strengths movement, and bestselling author of First Break All the Rules, to explore one of the most provocative ideas in modern leadership: love as a fierce business force.Marcus reveals why extreme positive experiences, which people spontaneously describe using the word “l
Why People Hear Something Different Than What You Said | Greg McKeown - EP 778
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Greg McKeown — bestselling author of Essentialism and Effortless, host of the What’s Essential podcast, and doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge — to explore the hidden barrier holding back relationships, teams, and personal growth: confident misunderstanding.Greg reveals why most of us dramatically overestimate how well
Why You Feel Invisible in a Connected World | John R. Miles - EP 777
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores one of the defining challenges of modern life: why so many people feel invisible in a world that has never been more connected. Drawing on the Civil War phenomenon of acoustic shadows, insights from Eric Ries and Dr. John La Puma, and themes from his forthcoming book The Mattering Effect, John reveals how millions of people are living in a
Why Living Indoors Is Making You Sick, Tired, and Burned Out | Dr. John La Puma - EP 776
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with physician, bestselling author, and lifestyle medicine pioneer Dr. John La Puma to explore what he calls the Indoor Epidemic—the growing disconnect between the environments humans evolved to live in and the environments where we now spend nearly 93% of our lives.From artificial light and screen saturation to poor indoor air quality and
Why Good Companies Lose Their Humanity | Eric Ries - EP 775
Why do good companies lose their humanity? In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Lean Startup creator Eric Ries to explore a growing crisis hiding in plain sight: why so many people no longer trust the institutions that shape their lives. From global corporations and banks to everyday organizations, many entities begin with a clear mission to ser
How to Make Your Struggles Meaningful | John R. Miles - EP 774
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles pulls back the curtain on the final phase of personal transformation, drawing on the timeless narrative of The Shawshank Redemption, behavioral coach Eric Zimmer, and Say It Now founder Walter Green to confront a challenging human truth: why your greatest struggles are never meant to be private secrets. We live in a hyper-optimized culture that trea
Why You Need to Say It Now Rather Than Regret It Later | Walter Green - EP 773
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Walter Green, author, mentor, and former corporate CEO, to confront a universal human truth: why you need to say it now rather than regret it later. We live in a fast-paced, performance-driven culture where we routinely postpone deep expressions of gratitude, leaving a profound emotional deficit in our closest relationships. This hesi
Why Lasting Change Happens One Small Choice at a Time | Eric Zimmer - EP 772
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Eric Zimmer, behavioral coach, author, and host of the award-winning podcast The One You Feed, to discuss why so many people struggle to maintain consistent habits, the hidden psychological exhaustion of constant self-reinvention, and the science behind his upcoming book, How a Little Becomes a Lot. We live in a culture obsessed with
Why Success Won’t Save You: The Alchemy of Real Change | John R. Miles - EP 771
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles reveals why achieving everything you ever wanted can still leave you feeling profoundly empty—and what real, radical transformation actually requires.Most of us treat personal growth like a home renovation project: we try to stack better habits, tighter routines, and sharper skills on top of the same old foundation. But true change—the kind that rew
The Courage to Believe You Are Enough | Blake Mycoskie - EP 770
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Blake Mycoskie, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of TOMS, to discuss the hidden emotional cost of success, the mental health crisis affecting high-achievers, and the powerful message behind the We Are Enough movement. After building one of the world’s most iconic purpose-driven brands and donating over 100 million shoes, Blak
Amy Purdy on Resilience, Adversity, and How to Bounce Forward | EP 769
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Paralympic medalist and bestselling author Amy Purdy to discuss resilience, adversity, gratitude, and reinvention. Amy shares the story of surviving meningococcal meningitis at age 19, losing both legs below the knee, rebuilding her life through adaptive snowboarding, and later facing another devastating health crisis that inspired he
The Prison of Protection: Why Your Armor is Blocking Your Life | John R. Miles - EP 768
What if the armor that once saved your life is now the very thing keeping you from living it?In this second solo installment of the Forged in Adversity series, John R. Miles explores the Recovery phase of the human journey. He dives into the "Birth of Survival Identities," explaining how the nervous system prioritizes safety over authenticity, creating protectors such as the perfectionist, the ach
What to Do When Work Hijacks Your Life | Dr. Guy Winch - EP 767
In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with clinical psychologist, TED speaker, and bestselling author Dr. Guy Winch to explore the hidden psychological effects of burnout, chronic work stress, emotional exhaustion, and the modern culture of overwork.Drawing from his new book Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life, Dr. Winch explains why so many high per
How to Rebuild Mental Health and Heal Emotional Wounds | Dr. Paul Conti - EP 766
What if healing isn’t about asking, “What’s wrong with me?”—but understanding what’s happening inside of me?In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with psychiatrist and trauma expert Dr. Paul Conti to explore how adversity reshapes our emotional lives, identity, and sense of self—and what it truly means to heal what hardship leaves behind. Drawing from his new book What’s Going
Why Does Adversity Reveal Character Instead of Building It? | John R. Miles - EP 765
What if the struggle currently breaking you is actually the diagnostic tool required to reveal who you truly are?In this kickoff to the Forged in Adversity series, John R. Miles challenges the conventional wisdom that struggle "builds" character. Instead, he presents a compelling case—backed by neurobiology and psychology—that adversity serves as a diagnostic tool, revealing and refining the chara
Regrow Your Hippocampus: The Science of an Invincible Brain | Dr. Majid Fotuhi – EP 764
What if protecting your brain is not about fighting time, but about learning how to partner with it?In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Majid Fotuhi, world-renowned neurologist and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, to explore the revolutionary science of neuroplasticity. Dr. Fotuhi, author of The Invincible Brain, challenges the conventional narrative t
From Passenger to CEO: The Mindset That Can Save Your Life | Kathy Giusti - EP 763
What if beating cancer isn’t just about survival, but about transforming your life in the face of it?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Kathy Giusti, two-time cancer survivor, healthcare innovator, and founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, to explore what it truly means to turn crisis into calling. After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma at just 37 and given only
How to Design a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From | John R. Miles - EP 762
What if the life you’ve spent years building is actually a masterpiece you’re just a guest in?In this installment of the Purpose by Design series, John R. Miles explores why so many people optimize their lives for everyone else’s convenience while leaving no room for their own aliveness. Drawing from the cinematic realization of The Truman Show and the real-world social exile of Truman Capote, Joh
How Real Optimism Helps You Thrive in Uncertainty | Deepika Chopra - EP 761
What if optimism isn’t about staying positive but about facing uncertainty with courage?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with clinical psychologist and optimism expert Deepika Chopra to explore what she calls real optimism—a science-backed approach to resilience that has far less to do with positive thinking and far more to do with how we relate to possibility. Drawing from her new bo
The Science of Connection and Why We Underestimate Others | Nicholas Epley - EP 760
What if the happiness, belonging, and meaning you are looking for is hiding in the conversations you never start?In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with social psychologist Nicholas Epley to explore why we consistently underestimate how much social interaction improves our lives. Drawing from his work and new book, A Little More Social, Nick reveals a profound paradox: whil
The Identity Gravity Trap: Why We Snap Back to Old Habits | John R. Miles - EP 759
Does the silence of a new life feel like a threat to your safety?You’ve finally walked through the threshold, but the "silence" starts to itch. Suddenly, you feel a physical, vibrating urge to go back to being the "Fixer"—the version of you that is useful, busy, and predictable. That urge has a name: Identity Gravity.In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores the "Architecture of th
How to Manage Energy Not Time: Dr. Diana Hill on Wise Effort | EP 758
What if the problem isn’t time management, but how you manage your energy?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with psychologist Diana Hill to explore why energy management often matters more than time management—and how psychological flexibility can help you focus your effort on what truly matters.Drawing from her new book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Mos
Nobel Laureate Alvin Roth: How Incentives Shape Your Life | EP 757
What if the choices you make every day aren’t entirely your own?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth to explore how incentives, systems, and hidden structures shape human behavior—often in ways we don’t even realize.Drawing from his new book, Moral Economics: Why Good Incentives Are No Substitute for Good Citizens, Roth reveals a powerful trut
Why We Circle Change (And How to Finally Step Through) | John R. Miles - EP 756
Does it ever feel like you’re waiting for your own life to start?You’re sitting in your car at the end of the day, staring at the front door, realizing you have to "gear up" just to walk inside. You’ve become a world-class manager of a life you’ve stopped inhabiting. You’re winning the efficiency game, but you’re losing the human one.In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores the ps
How Do You Design a Meaningful Life | Bill Burnett & Dave Evans - EP 755
What if the reason you feel unfulfilled is that you’ve been approaching it all wrong?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, the visionary minds behind Stanford's Life Design Lab and co-authors of How to Live a Meaningful Life. We tackle one of personal growth’s biggest myths: that meaning is something you find.Instead, Bill and Dave present a groundbreaking
From Shadow Work to Light Work: How to Actually Heal | Keila Shaheen - EP 754
Shadow work helps you uncover the hidden parts of yourself, but what happens after that?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Keila Shaheen, the million-copy bestselling author of The Shadow Work Journal, to explore the step most people miss: integration.While shadow work helps us confront the “invisible bag” of childhood wounds and hidden traits we carry, it is only part of the equat
ROI of Aliveness: How to Craft the Math of a Meaningful Life | John R. Miles - EP 753
Does your life look successful on the outside but feel empty on the inside?In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles introduces a simple way to measure what truly matters: the ROI of Aliveness. Most of us spend our lives trying to be as productive as possible. We focus on checking off to-do lists and meeting everyone else's expectations, but we often forget to check in on ourselves.John exp
Why You Feel Like You Don’t Matter (And How to Fix It) | Angela Maiers - EP 752
What if the question underneath everything in your life is this: Do I matter?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Angela Maiers to explore one of the most fundamental human needs—the need to feel seen, valued, and needed.For decades, Angela has studied what makes people feel seen, valued, and needed—and what happens when they don’t. What she’s found is simple, but powerful: when peop
Churn: The Hidden Force Shaping How We See Each Other | Claude Steele - EP 751
What if one of the biggest barriers to connection, performance, and trust isn’t prejudice—but something more subtle, more pervasive, and harder to detect?In this powerful episode of the Passion Struck podcast, I sit down with renowned social psychologist Claude Steele to explore his groundbreaking new book, Churn.Claude introduces the concept of churn—the internal psychological state we experience
Winning the Wrong Game: Take Back Your Invisible Scoreboard | John R. Miles - EP 750
You’re doing everything right—so why does it still feel wrong?In this powerful solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles launches the new April series Purpose by Design by exposing a hidden force shaping modern life: the Invisible Scoreboard. It’s the system of metrics you didn’t consciously choose—but that quietly defines how you measure success, spend your time, and evaluate your worth.From
The Hidden System Keeping You Burned Out (It’s Not You) | Corinne Low - EP 749
What if your exhaustion isn’t a personal failure, but the result of invisible systems shaping your life?In this episode of the Passion Struck podcast, I sit down with Wharton economist Corinne Low, author of Having It All, to unpack one of the most misunderstood challenges of modern life: why so many of us feel depleted even when we’re doing everything “right.”Corinne introduces a powerful idea ca
How to Find the Meaning of Your Life in an Age of Emptiness | Arthur Brooks - EP 748
What if the real crisis of our time isn’t stress, burnout, or even anxiety—but a loss of meaning?In this powerful episode of the Passion Struck podcast, I sit down with Arthur Brooks—for the third time—to explore his most urgent work yet: The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.Arthur reveals a striking trend: since 2008, rates of depression and anxiety—especially among yo
Social Media Addiction: Why You Feel You Don’t Matter | John R. Miles - EP 747
Your phone isn't just an app—it’s an architect of your self-worth.We’ve all been there: you sit down for "just five minutes" to check a notification, only to look up an hour later feeling anxious, drained, and empty. For years, we’ve blamed our own lack of willpower. But on March 25, 2026, a landmark legal verdict officially changed the story: It’s not you. It’s the machine.In this urgent episode
How Beliefs Shape Behavior, Motivation, and Resilience | Nir Eyal — EP 746
Your beliefs don’t just reflect reality—they shape it.Today, we explore a powerful and often uncomfortable truth: the script you live by is often written by assumptions you never chose. Joining me is behavioral expert and bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable, Nir Eyal, to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Beyond Belief.In this conversation, we challenge the idea that our limits are s
Why Humans Are Wired for Love but Struggling to Connect | Dr. Justin Garcia — EP 745
If humans evolved for love, connection, and pair bonding, why does modern life feel so lonely?Today, we explore one of the most overlooked forces shaping human flourishing: intimacy. Joining me is evolutionary biologist and Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute, Dr. Justin Garcia, to discuss his groundbreaking book, The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die fo
The Cost of Stagnation: Is Your Safe Bet Killing Your Future? | John R. Miles EP 744
The biggest risk isn’t change, it’s staying exactly where you are.Most people treat life transitions as a gamble, clinging to the "Safe Bet" of a familiar routine even when that routine has begun to feel confining. We think we’re being responsible by sticking to the script, but in this episode, John R. Miles reveals the hidden "Soul Tax" that accrues when you perform a version of yourself that no
How to Rebuild Your Identity When Everything Falls Apart | Bianca D’Alessio — EP 743
What do you do when your life looks successful on the outside… but everything underneath it collapses overnight?Today’s conversation explores identity, resilience, and intentional reinvention with Bianca D’Alessio, a powerhouse real estate broker, entrepreneur, TV personality, and author of Mastering Intentions.In her late twenties, just as her career was gaining momentum, Bianca’s father was conv
How AI is Transforming Healthcare and Restoring Humanity | Dr. Robert Wachter - EP 742
Is technology making healthcare faster and more efficient, or is it making it more brittle, bureaucratic, and less human?Today, we zoom out to explore the systemic forces reshaping our lives with one of the most influential voices in modern medicine. Joining me is Dr. Robert “Bob” Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF and the "father of the hospitalist field," to discuss his landmar
Close the Identity Gap: Finding Yourself When You Feel Lost | John R. Miles EP 741
There is a moment most people never name.It’s not a dramatic collapse or a sudden crisis. From the outside, your life looks flawless—the routine is steady, the success is visible, and the applause is frequent. But inside, a silent shift has occurred. The wins that used to ignite you now feel borrowed, and the applause begins to echo in a hollow room. You’ve realized the old script of your life has
Become the CEO of Your Health Through Resilience | Dr. Tara Narula — EP 740
Why do some people recover from illness, trauma, or adversity stronger than before, while others struggle to regain their footing?Today’s episode explores one of the most overlooked drivers of health and healing: resilience.Joining me is board-certified cardiologist, ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, and author Dr. Tara Narula to discuss her powerful new book, The Healing Power of Resilience.I
How to Biohack the Brain to Remove Emotional Triggers | Dave Asprey - EP 739
Why do we find ourselves repeating the same emotional patterns, reacting to the same triggers, and feeling stuck in a loop of stress even when we know better?Today, we are diving into the intersection of biological optimization and psychological freedom with the founder of the biohacking movement. Joining me is the legendary father of biohacking, Dave Asprey, to discuss the groundbreaking insights
Is Your Success Hollow? When the Script Stops Making Sense | John R. Miles EP 738
There is a moment most people never name. Nothing dramatic happens—no big collapse, no urgent crisis. From the outside, the routine looks fine, the success is visible, and the applause is steady. But inside, something shifts: the wins that used to light you up start to feel borrowed, and the applause begins to echo hollow.In this profound solo deep dive, John R. Miles kicks off the Life Beyond the
The Science of Opening Up: The Hidden Cost of Under Sharing | Dr. Leslie John - EP 737
Why do we feel a "disclosure hangover" the moment we reveal something real, yet feel a persistent sense of loneliness when we stay silent?Today, we are diving into the complex psychology of human connection with one of the world's leading experts on the science of secrets and sharing. Joining me is Harvard Business School professor and author Dr. Leslie John to discuss her groundbreaking new book,
Joan Lunden: Reinvention, Identity, & Life Beyond the Script | EP 736
What happens when the script you’ve lived for decades suddenly ends, and you’re forced to write a new one?Today, I am joined by a true pioneer of broadcast journalism and a household name for nearly two decades as the co-host of Good Morning America, Joan Lunden. We are discussing her deeply personal new memoir, JOAN: Life Beyond the Script.In this conversation, Joan pulls back the curtain on the
Does Your Life Matter? Reclaiming Worth With Thoreau | Ken Lizotte - EP 735
What if Henry David Thoreau wasn’t escaping work but redesigning it?In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with author and thought leadership expert Ken Lizotte to explore his transformative new book, Walden for Hire: Business Lessons from Henry David Thoreau.Together, they dismantle the myth of Thoreau as a solitary hermit removed from society. Instead, they reveal a disciplin
Liturgies of the Wild and the Ancient Art of Finding Meaning | Dr. Martin Shaw - EP 734
Why does modern life feel so "thin and frantic," even when we are more connected than ever?Today, we are venturing into the "Celtic fringe" to sit with the man widely considered the preeminent mythologist of our time. Joining me is New York Times bestselling author Dr. Martin Shaw to discuss his profound new masterwork, Liturgies of the Wild.In this conversation, we move beyond the clinical and th
How to Make Your Child Feel Seen: The Science of Mattering | Gordon Flett – EP 733
Why do so many children feel invisible, even in homes filled with love?Today, on the official launch day of my new children's book, You Matter, Luma, we are diving into the heart of why "mattering" is the most important foundation we can build for the next generation.Joining me is Dr. Gordon Flett, the world’s leading researcher on mattering and author of the groundbreaking paper on "Anti-Matterin
The Mattering Mirror: How to Rewire Your Worth Today | John R. Miles - EP 732
If you were to look into a mirror right now that didn't show your face, but showed your true value, what would you see?In this high-stakes solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles confronts the "Big Tobacco" moment of the tech industry: the landmark trial revealing how algorithms are engineered to replace our children’s self-worth with digital scorecards. Building on his deep-dive conversatio
Bonded by Evolution: How Attraction Really Works | Paul Eastwick - EP 731
What if the stories we've been told about love are not just incomplete, but actively making dating and relationships harder and more painful?In this eye-opening episode of the Passion Struck podcast, renowned relationship scientist Dr. Paul Eastwick joins John R. Miles to unpack his groundbreaking new book, Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection (Crown, February 10, 2026).Draw
How to Feel Loved: The 5 Mindsets That Change Everything | Sonja Lyubomirsky & Harry Reis – EP 730
What if the key to true happiness isn’t more achievements, more connections, or even more love poured your way, but actually feeling loved in the moments that matter?In this powerful episode of the Passion Struck podcast, world-renowned happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky and the preminent relationship researcher Harry Reis join John R. Miles to discuss their groundbreaking new book, How to Feel Lo
The Luma Effect: Rewiring Worth Before the World Scripts It | John R. Miles EP 729
If you could go back to the exact moment your "Performance Folder" was created—the instant you decided you had to be perfect, useful, or invisible to be seen—what would you say to that younger you?In this pivotal solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles introduces The Luma Effect: the lifelong cascade that begins when a child internalizes the truth of their intrinsic worth before the world ha
How to Flourish: The Art of Building Aliveness and Meaning | Daniel Coyle – EP 728
What if the secret to a meaningful life isn’t "high performance" but a state of being unusually alive?In this essential installment of the Passion Struck podcast, New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle joins John R. Miles to discuss his transformative new book, Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment (Feb 2026).The author of The Culture Code and The Talent Code, Coyle h
The Mattering Instinct: Why We Long to Matter | Rebecca Newberger Goldstein – EP 727
What if the most human thing about us isn’t happiness, survival, or even love but the relentless need to feel we matter?In this profound installment of the You Matter series on Passion Struck, MacArthur Fellow and National Humanities Medalist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein joins the show to unpack her groundbreaking book The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us (Liveri
The Speech Impediment of the Soul: A Path to Intrinsic Worth | John R. Miles EP 726
We are taught from the schoolyard to the boardroom that our value is a variable, something that fluctuates based on our last win, our latest promotion, or our ability to remain relentlessly productive. But what happens when the "doing" stops?In this deeply personal solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles pulls back the curtain on a phenomenon he calls the "speech impediment of the soul." Dra
Strength With Heart: Redefining Masculinity and Compassion | Daniel Ellenberg – EP 725
What happens when strength is defined as self-sufficiency, emotional restraint, and constant proof?In this episode of Passion Struck, licensed psychologist and leadership coach Daniel Ellenberg, PhD, joins Passion Struck to explore how traditional masculine scripts shape identity, relationships, and the lived experience of mattering often at a hidden cost.Ellenberg has spent more than four decades
Why Choosing Wisely Shapes Agency, Meaning, and Mattering | Barry Schwartz - EP 724
What happens when the frameworks we use to make decisions no longer reflect how human lives actually work?In this opening episode of the You Matter series on Passion Struck, renowned social psychologist Barry Schwartz joins the show to examine how modern decision-making systems—built on metrics, optimization, and rational choice theory—can quietly erode agency, judgment, and our sense of mattering
The Question Beneath Meaning: Where Worth Actually Lives | John R. Miles EP 723
We spend much of our lives searching for meaning through work, relationships, contribution, and purpose. But beneath that search lives a quieter, more fragile question, one we rarely say out loud:Do I matter even when nothing is being made of me?In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles moves beneath meaning itself to explore what actually holds a life together when direction, producti
Alzheimer’s Research, Doctored Data, and the Human Cost | Charles Piller – EP 722
What happens when the systems we trust most struggle to correct themselves and the cost is paid by patients, families, and society?In this deeply consequential episode of Passion Struck, investigative journalist Charles Piller joins the show to discuss his groundbreaking book Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s. Piller, a senior writer for Science magazine, has
Inner Excellence: How to Build Inner Stability Under Pressure | Jim Murphy – EP 721
What if peak performance isn’t created by intensity, control, or relentless self-pressure, but by inner stability?In this powerful episode of Passion Struck, Jim Murphy, performance coach to elite athletes and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Inner Excellence, joins the show to explore what truly sustains excellence under pressure.Many listeners first encountered Inner Excellence when A
Quiet Connection: How to Find Deeper Meaning Without Words | John R. Miles - EP 720
What if the most important things you will ever say to those you love are the things you never speak aloud?In this moving solo episode, John R. Miles shares a deeply personal story about a final walk with his sister, Carolyn, by Lake Austin. He explores the "wordless tie" that binds us together and explains the science of why silence often carries more weight than speech. Drawing on the groundbrea
The Hidden Reality of Post-Traumatic Parenting: Breaking the Cycle | Dr. Robyn Koslowitz - EP 719
What if the moments where you feel most "disengaged," "perfectionistic," or "paralyzed" as a parent aren't character flaws, but the result of a "Trauma App" running in the background of your brain?In this groundbreaking episode of Passion Struck, Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, clinical child psychologist and author of the definitive guide Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You A
Why Adult ADHD in Women Often Goes Undiagnosed | Shanna Pearson - EP 718
What if the chronic overwhelm, emotional chaos, and sense of being "too much" or "not enough" stem from Invisible ADHD rather than personal shortcomings?In this revealing episode of Passion Struck, Shanna Pearson, founder of the world's largest one-on-one ADHD coaching program and author of the bestseller Invisible ADHD: Proven Mood and Life Management for Smart Yet Scattered Women, joins John R.
Finding Meaning After Success: The Blueprint of Belonging | John R. Miles - EP 717
What if the "stones" of your success, the titles, the trophies, and the milestones, feel loose and unconnected because you’ve ignored the invisible bond meant to hold them together?In this powerful solo episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles explores "The Mortar of Connection." Drawing on the collective intelligence theories of Steven Sloman and the psychological insights of Alex Imas, John
The Winner’s Curse: Why Smart People Lose Their Way | Alex Imas – EP 716
What if “winning” isn’t proof of intelligence, but evidence that something went wrong?In this compelling episode of Passion Struck, behavioral economist Alex Imas joins John R. Miles to unpack The Winner’s Curse, a powerful concept from behavioral economics that explains why smart, capable people systematically overpay, overcommit, and double down on bad decisions.Drawing from his research and his
Sacred Values: How Our Deepest Convictions Lead Us Astray | Dr. Steven Sloman – EP 715
What if many of our most heated debates and divisions aren't really about facts or outcomes, but about clinging to sacred values that feel absolute and non-negotiable?In this eye-opening episode of Passion Struck, cognitive scientist Dr. Steven Sloman joins John R. Miles to unpack his groundbreaking book, The Cost of Conviction: How Our Deepest Values Lead Us Astray (MIT Press, May 2025).Drawing o
How to Build an Architecture of Significance in Your Life | John R. Miles - EP 714
What if the quiet emptiness after achieving "success"—the promotion, the house, the milestone—isn't failure, but a signal to build deeper meaning?In this solo episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles introduces the architecture of significance: a blueprint for shifting from a life that's a monument to yourself to one that becomes a shelter for others.Building on insights from Dr. Stephen G. P
Mark Nepo on What It Means to Live with an Open Heart | EP 713
What if living with an open heart, especially in times of loss, uncertainty, and division, is not a matter of willpower or optimism, but a quiet and courageous practice of presence?In this episode of Passion Struck, poet, philosopher, and cancer survivor Mark Nepo joins John R. Miles for a deeply human conversation about acceptance, aliveness, and what it means to live with an open heart in a frac
Dr. Stephen Post: Pure Unlimited Love & 7 Paths to Inner Peace | EP 712
What if the most powerful force for healing division, reducing stress, and finding lasting inner peace wasn't elusive or mystical, but a practical, science-backed way of living accessible to everyone?In Episode 712 of Passion Struck, renowned researcher, bestselling author, and founder of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, Dr. Stephen G. Post, joins John R. Miles to explore "Pure Unlime
How to Thrive in 2026: The Power of Dunbar’s Number | EP 711 w/ John R. Miles
What if the key to thriving in 2026 isn't expanding your network or chasing global impact, but intentionally shrinking your world to the size your brain was built for?In this first solo episode of 2026, Episode 711 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores the profound mismatch between our hunter-gatherer brains (evolved for tribes of under 150 people) and the demands of an 8-billion-person world.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Egg Freezing Choice: Why Authenticity Wins | EP 710
What if one of the most personal decisions a woman can make (when and whether to become a mother) became a public act of courage that shifted the conversation for an entire generation?In Episode 710 of Passion Struck, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA) joins John R. Miles for a deeply human conversation that has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with agency, worth, and vulnerability.A
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