There is a moment when you look at your life and realize something important. You have been waiting. You have been giving your energy away. You have been putting everyone else first. And somewhere along the line, you started disappearing from your own story.

This solo episode is about that moment.

The moment you choose yourself again.

John R. Miles explores why so many of us learn to shrink to fit other people?s expectations, and what happens when you finally decide that your voice, your needs, and your well-being matter too.

He breaks down the four core patterns that lead to self-abandonment and explains how a single shift can change your confidence, your relationships, your energy, and your future. When you choose yourself even once, your life begins to reorganize around that truth.

If you have ever felt stuck or invisible, or like you have been living a version of your life that no longer feels like your own, this episode will help you take the next step back home to yourself.

Read the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/stop-abandoning-yourself/

Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper

All episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and the Start Mattering apparel store:

https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Download the Companion Workbook

The Choose Yourself Again Activation Guide is available now at TheIgnitedLife.net.

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

https://StartMattering.com

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if becoming who you want to be has less to do with control and more to do with letting go?

In this insightful episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Anne Libera, longtime Second City director, educator, and author of Funnier: A New Theory for the Practice of Comedy. Together, they explore how improvisation offers a powerful model for personal growth, creativity, and identity transformation.

Anne?s work blends comedy, psychology, and human behavior. Drawing from decades at The Second City working with performers such as Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Tim Meadows, and Jordan Peele, she reveals that improv is not ultimately about being funny. It is about presence, awareness, emotional flexibility, and learning to respond to life as it actually is, rather than how you wish it would be.

This episode continues our December series, The Season of Becoming. It explores who we are in the moments in between when one version of our life is fading, and another has not yet taken shape.

Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/life-lessons-from-improv/

Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper

All episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and the Start Mattering apparel store:

https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Download the Companion Workbook

The Becoming Workbook: How to Let Go of Old Scripts and Step Into the Next Version of Yourself

Includes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for loosening rigid thinking and building creative flexibility.

https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/improv-skills-for-personal-growth

In this episode, you will learn:

Why improvisation is not about comedy. It is about attention, awareness, and responding to realityHow humor helps us navigate discomfort, uncertainty, and identity changeWhy trying to control the scene often makes life harderHow to practice Yes, and in real relationshipsWhy reinvention requires play, curiosity, and emotional riskThe psychology behind why we cling to scripts that no longer fitHow to use comedic tools to expand your sense of identity and possibilityWhy becoming is not reinvention. It is responsivenessHow to build creative confidence even if you do not consider yourself funny

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

https://StartMattering.com

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if intuition isn?t mystical, but a form of deep perception we?ve forgotten how to trust?

In this transformative episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with internationally respected intuitive and spiritual teacher Susan Grau, host of Infinite Life, Infinite Wisdom, to explore one of the most profound capacities of the human mind: our ability to sense truth, meaning, and connection far beneath the surface of ordinary awareness.

Susan?s work blends lived experience, grief healing, and what she calls ?soul-level perception? to help people rediscover inner guidance in a world overwhelmed by information, noise, and emotional overload. Through her near-death experience, profound empathic abilities, and decades of guiding others, Susan reveals how intuitive knowing emerges not from superstition but from biology, trauma healing, and our innate drive for meaning.

Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/signs-you-are-ignoring-your-intuition-susan-grau/

Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper

All episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel:

https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Download the companion workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/why-you-ignore-intuition

Includes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for breaking harmful emotional loops.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why revenge produces the same dopamine surge as addictive substancesWhy unresolved grievance becomes a compulsive loopThe childhood trauma that shaped James?s life missionHow the brain mistakes retaliation for relief and rewardHow political polarization and online conflict are fueled by biological cravingWhy forgiveness quiets the pain circuitry and restores clarityHow to choose healing over the temporary high of revenge

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

https://StartMattering.com

***

Disclaimer: The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if revenge is not a moral failure, but a biological addiction?

In this gripping episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Yale psychiatrist James Kimmel Jr., author of The Science of Revenge, to unravel one of the most dangerous and misunderstood forces shaping our lives, our politics, our relationships, and our inner worlds.

This episode continues our acclaimed series The Irreplaceables, which explores the human qualities no machine can replicate. Yesterday?s episode with Don Martin explored loneliness, the crisis between us. Today, we explore revenge, the crisis within us. James explains why the pull toward retaliation can feel intoxicating, righteous, and impossible to resist.

Through neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and Kimmel?s own harrowing personal story, we examine how grievance hijacks the brain, why revenge activates the same dopamine pathways as cocaine and gambling, and why forgiveness is not moral niceness but a neurobiological reset.

If you have ever held a grudge, fantasized about getting even, or wondered why our culture feels increasingly reactive and enraged, this conversation is essential.

Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/the-science-of-revenge-james-kimmel-jr/

Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper

All episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel:

https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Download the companion workbook: The Clarity Reset Toolkit

Available at TheIgnitedLife.net

Includes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for breaking harmful emotional loops.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why revenge produces the same dopamine surge as addictive substancesWhy unresolved grievance becomes a compulsive loopThe childhood trauma that shaped James?s life missionHow the brain mistakes retaliation for relief and rewardHow political polarization and online conflict are fueled by biological cravingWhy forgiveness quiets the pain circuitry and restores clarityHow to choose healing over the temporary high of revenge

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

https://StartMattering.com

***

This podcast is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Passion Struck, its subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This podcast is not intended as a substitute for a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if loneliness isn?t a personal failure, but a biological signal that you?re built for connection?

In this powerful Thanksgiving Day episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with author, researcher, and longtime podcaster Don Martin, whose upcoming book, Where Did Everybody Go? unpacks one of the most misunderstood challenges of modern life: the loneliness crisis.

This conversation continues our acclaimed series The Irreplaceables, exploring the human qualities no machine can ever replicate. Today, Don illuminates why true healing also requires returning to each other.

Airing this episode on Thanksgiving is intentional. It?s a day framed around togetherness, but for millions of people, it is one of the loneliest days of the year. Whether you?re surrounded by family, on your own, grieving, working, or simply navigating the quiet, this conversation offers science, compassion, and practical hope.

Don dismantles the myths we?ve been taught about loneliness, reveals the societal structures that have quietly unraveled our sense of belonging, and shows us how connection can be rebuilt..

If you?ve ever felt invisible, disconnected, overwhelmed by the state of the world, or unsure how to create stronger relationships in your community, this episode is a grounding companion.

Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/the-loneliness-crisis/

Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper

All episode links?including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel?are gathered here:

https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Download the companion workbook: The Connected Life Toolkit

Available now at TheIgnitedLife.net

Includes reflection prompts, community-building practices, and science-backed tools for strengthening meaningful relationships.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why loneliness is not an emotion but a biological survival signalThe real reason half of Americans report feeling lonely (and why it?s not screens)Why kids and teens are the loneliest demographic in the U.S.How the decline of malls, walkable neighborhoods, and third places quietly rewired societyWhy feeling lonely in a crowd is normal and what your brain is trying to tell youHow marginalized communities uniquely experience and overcome disconnectionWhy storytelling is a powerful tool for belonging and social changePractical steps you can take to rebuild connection

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

https://StartMattering.com

***

This podcast is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Passion Struck, its subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This podcast is not intended as a substitute for a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the moment your life collapses is not the end of your story, but the beginning of your becoming?

In this intimate, live-recorded episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Jane Marie Chen, global humanitarian, cofounder of Embrace (the infant warmer that has saved more than 1 million premature babies), and author of the stunning new memoir Like a Wave We Break.

Filmed in front of an audience at the Oxford Exchange in Tampa, this conversation dives beneath Jane?s public achievements to reveal the deeply human story she has never told on stage. It is a story of childhood trauma, a decade-long mission that consumed her identity, the burnout that nearly shattered her, and the healing journey that helped her rediscover who she truly is.

This episode continues our acclaimed series The Irreplaceables. It is a journey into the traits no machine can replicate, including resilience, tenderness, reinvention, and the courage to belong to yourself again.

If you have ever felt crushed by expectations, lived for others at your own expense, or struggled to understand your own worth, this conversation is a lifeline.

Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/letting-go-and-becoming-your-true-self/

Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper

All episode links, including my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel, are gathered here:

https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Download the free companion workbook: The Wavebreaker Healing Toolkit

Available now at TheIgnitedLife.net. It includes reflection prompts, identity-reconstruction exercises, and Internal Family Systems tools to help you reconnect with your inner self.

In this episode, you will learn:

? How childhood trauma shaped her identity as a high achiever and helper

? Why unresolved pain often drives our desire to save others

? The hidden emotional cost of heroism

? What really happened behind the scenes of Embrace, and why success without inner grounding almost destroyed her

? How meditation, Internal Family Systems, and psychedelic therapy opened her back to herself

? The truth she finally discovered: We are not the wave. We are the ocean beneath it

? How to surrender without giving up

? How to rebuild purpose after a public or private collapse

? How to finally come home to yourself

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

https://StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the future belonged not to the fastest, the smartest, or the most optimized, but to the most human?

In this milestone 200th solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles reveals why your humanity ? your creativity, your emotional depth, your intentionality ? is the sharpest competitive edge you have in an AI-accelerated world.

Drawing from insights across our Irreplaceables series and weaving in lessons from guests like Scott D. Anthony, Elias Weiss Friedman (The Dogist), Amina AlTai, and Lynn Smith, John explores the core truth of the decade:

Everything that can be automated will be. Everything that can be commoditized already is. What is left, and what has always been left, is the part of you no machine will ever replace.

You will uncover why creativity is the purest expression of a lived life, how emotional depth builds trust faster than any KPI, and why intentionality is the one domain AI will never touch. This episode is not just a reflection. It is a blueprint for staying irreplaceable in the age of automation.

If you have ever wondered how to protect the parts of you that make you who you are, this episode will awaken you to the daily practices that transform vulnerability into a superpower.

Read the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/why-humanity-is-your-competitive-edge/

Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper

All resources, including Passion Struck, You Matter, Luma, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering Store, are collected here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Want to apply to today?s episode?

Download the free companion workbook: The Human Edge Field Guide, available now at TheIgnitedLife.net

Inside, you will find reflection prompts, science-backed exercises, and the three daily practices John teaches in this episode to keep your humanity sharp in a machine-shaped world.

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the biggest barrier to your potential is not a lack of skill or opportunity but the quiet voice inside whispering, ?You are not enough??

In this powerful episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with former national news anchor Lynn Smith, who spent 15 years at NBC, TODAY Online, and CNN Headline News before making the courageous decision to walk away from a life the world told her was perfect.

What she discovered after stepping off the national stage became the foundation of her work today and the inspiration behind her new children?s book Just Keep Going, a beautifully crafted story that teaches resilience, courage, and self-belief from the earliest ages.

This episode continues our acclaimed series The Irreplaceables, an exploration of the human traits no machine can replicate, including courage, presence, reinvention, and voice.

If you have ever battled self-doubt, faced a major crossroads, or felt pulled to reinvent who you are, this conversation offers a clear and grounded pathway forward.

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources, including You Matter, Luma, Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and YouTube channels, are gathered here: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

Download the free companion workbook: The Brain Bully Breakthrough Toolkit

Available at TheIgnitedLife.net, our Substack.

A step-by-step guide to quiet your inner critic, rebuild confidence, and communicate with intention.

About the Episode

Get the Full Episode Shownotes Here: https://passionstruck.com/how-to-beat-the-brain-bully-lynn-smith/

In this episode, you will learn:

Why Lynn walked away from a ?dream career? in national news to rebuild her identityHow to silence the Brain Bully, the inner critic that distorts your self-worthWhy perfection destroys connection and why authenticity creates trustThe deeper meaning behind her book Just Keep Going and why adults need these lessons tooHow to communicate with clarity, courage, and emotional presenceWhy reinvention requires both letting go and stepping forwardHow to rebuild confidence after leaving a familiar identity behind

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

https://StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the future isn?t something that happens to us? but something we shape?

In this future-defining episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with innovation thinker and bestselling author Scott D. Anthony to explore the 11 epic disruptions that reshaped civilization and the hidden patterns that will shape the next era of human possibility.

Drawing on Scott?s new book Epic Disruptions and his decades of work alongside Clayton Christensen, John unpacks why breakthroughs like gunpowder, the printing press, the iPhone, and AI follow a predictable rhythm, why leaders routinely miss the future even when it's right in front of them, and what it means to think in two time horizons at once.

This episode continues our acclaimed series, The Irreplaceables: a journey into the human capacities no machine can duplicate.

If you're navigating change, leading through uncertainty, or simply trying to understand the world that?s coming, this conversation is your roadmap.

Read the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/epic-disruptions-that-changed-history/

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources, including my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store are gathered here: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To go deeper, download the free companion workbook:

The Disruption Decoder: available now at TheIgnitedLife.net

Inside, you?ll find frameworks, reflection prompts, and practical tools to help you anticipate change, widen your imagination, and build the mental agility required to lead in an era of accelerated disruption.

About the Episode

In this episode, you'll learn:

How 11 breakthroughs ? from gunpowder to the iPhone ? rewired the worldWhy disruption is predictably unpredictableWhy even great organizations failWhy innovation is always a team sportWhy AI mirrors the printing press more than we realizeThe human side of disruption

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the cure for modern loneliness? was sitting right beside you?

In this powerful solo episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles explores the ancient, biological, and emotional forces behind the human?dog bond and why it may be one of the most potent antidotes to isolation in our accelerated, camera-off, hyper-distracted world.

Drawing on insights from Elias Weiss Friedman (The Dogist) and Amina AlTai, John unpacks how dogs became our first empathy teachers, how belonging shapes every aspect of human flourishing, and why connection is the real currency of a meaningful life.

You?ll discover how a 14,000-year-old partnership rewired our brains for companionship, what ?the belonging equation? reveals about modern relationships, and why the micro-moments we share with dogs hold the blueprint for healing loneliness in families, teams, workplaces, and communities.

This episode continues our acclaimed series, The Irreplaceables ? a journey through the human capacities no algorithm can replace.

If you?ve ever felt disconnected, invisible, or hungry for deeper relationships, this episode is your invitation to rebuild the bonds that make life matter.

Read the full show notes here:

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To go deeper, download the free companion workbook:

The Connection Compass ? available now at TheIgnitedLife.net

Inside, you?ll find reflection prompts, science-backed exercises, and conversation starters to help you strengthen your empathy muscles, audit your relationships, and rebuild belonging in your everyday life.

? About the Episode

Discover how the human?dog bond became one of evolution?s greatest hacks for emotional regulation and safety.Learn why belonging isn?t accidental ? it?s built through predictable patterns of trust, attention, and repeated positive regard.Explore the neuroscience behind loneliness, and why dogs may activate the same circuitry that heals social pain.Understand how modern work is unintentionally designing disconnection ? and what Amina AlTai?s research reveals about rebuilding community and purpose.Gain practical steps to create a ?purpose-aligned tribe? in your life: at home, at work, and in the relationships that matter most.

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

? StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amina AlTai, executive coach and author of The Ambition Trap, joins John R. Miles to expose why top achievers burn out despite ?having it all.?

They dismantle hustle culture?s grip, swap wound-driven ambition for gift-aligned purpose, and unpack Amina?s 3 E?s (Excellence, Enjoyment, Ease) plus the Resentment Line to end self-abandonment.

From her near-death wake-up to systemic ambition penalties, they prove rest is resistance and wholeness at work heals teams and organizations.

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

Full shownotes here: https://passionstruck.com/amina-altai-the-ambition-trap/

All episode resources?including guest links, John?s books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering Store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Amina AlTai, visit aminaaltai.com.

? About the Episode

The Wake-Up Call: How Amina?s workaholism and toxic relationship to success nearly cost her life?and what it took to rebuild both her health and her definition of success.Painful vs. Purposeful Ambition: The crucial difference between ambition driven by wounds and ambition driven by purpose?and how to know which one is guiding you.The 3 E?s Framework: How identifying what brings Excellence, Enjoyment, and Ease helps you uncover your inner genius and design a life aligned with it.The Resentment Line: Why burnout begins when we live below our ?resentment line??and how to set boundaries that honor your worth.The Ambition Penalty: How gender, race, and identity shape the way ambition is judged?and why historically excluded groups face a double bind when they strive.Rewriting Hustle Culture: Why ?working more? doesn?t make you more valuable, and how leaders can redefine productivity through presence and permission.Collective Wholeness: What it means to move from individual achievement to collective ambition?a model of success where we rise by being more ourselves, together.

? Join The Ignited Life Community

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues.

Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.

? Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net

? Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

?? StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this heartwarming and insightful conversation, John R. Miles sits down with Elias Weiss Friedman, the creator behind The Dogist, the beloved photo-documentary project with over 11 million followers, and author of This Dog Will Change Your Life.

Together, they explore how dogs have become not only our best friends but also our greatest teachers: modeling presence, emotional regulation, and unconditional love. From rescuing animals in Puerto Rico to photographing 50,000 dogs around the world, Elias reveals how each encounter is a story of joy, resilience, and connection.

John and Elias also discuss why dogs are ?factories of empathy,? how they help combat loneliness and trauma, and what happens when we slow down long enough to really see and be seen by them.

This episode is a celebration of light, loyalty, and the life-changing power of our four-legged companions.

Read the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/how-dogs-help-us-remember-we-matter/?

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including guest links, John?s books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Elias Weiss Friedman and The Dogist, visit thedogist.com.

? About the Episode

The Origin of The Dogist: How a layoff, a camera, and a love for storytelling sparked one of the most uplifting social media movements of our time.Dogs as Social Architects: Why walking a dog can transform neighbors into community and strangers into friends.The Light They Bring: How dogs embody optimism, presence, and nonjudgment?showing us what it means to live without ego.Healing Companions: From veterans with PTSD to overworked nurses, the science of how dogs regulate our emotions and restore hope.Human Invention, Canine Connection: Why breeds are a reflection of us?and what our relationship with dogs says about humanity itself.Rescue and Responsibility: The grit behind true rescue work and what it really takes to save a life.The Dog-Human Mirror: How dogs reflect who we are?and how, through them, we evolve into better versions of ourselves.

Join The Ignited Life Community

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues.

Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.

? Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

?? StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the most advanced intelligence on Earth isn?t artificial, but emotional?

In this opening episode of the new Passion Struck series, The Irreplaceables: Rediscovering Human Worth in an Age of Acceleration, host John R. Miles explores the rarest skill of all in the age of AI: how to feel.

We?re racing to make machines seem human while forgetting how to be.

Through powerful storytelling and science-backed insights, John reveals how we?ve optimized ourselves into emotional flatlines?mistaking numbness for strength and speed for progress.

Drawing from leading experts like Dr. Zac Seidler, Dr. Zelana Montminy, and Dr. Susan David, this episode unpacks:

Why emotional awareness is the root of every good thing?love, leadership, creativity, and connection.How ?high-functioning despair? is stealing purpose from millions (especially men).The neuroscience behind emotional agility?and how to build it even if you?ve been numb for years.Simple Agility Reps you can practice daily to feel human again.Why the true danger isn?t AI replacing us?but us replacing ourselves.

If you?ve ever felt like you?re running faster yet feeling less, this episode is your call to pause, breathe, and remember what makes you irreplaceable.

Read the full show notes here:

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To go deeper, download the free companion guide:

The Emotional Agility Toolkit ? available now at https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/what-ai-cant-feel-and-why-im-scared

Inside, you?ll find prompts and ?Agility Reps? to help you rebuild emotional awareness, reconnect with your values, and reclaim your humanity in an automated world.

Support the Movement

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.

Show it. Wear it. Live it.

? StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if happiness isn?t something you chase?but something you build through resilience, purpose, and self-compassion?

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Zelana Montminy, a behavioral scientist, positive psychologist, and author of Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction to unpack the deeper science of happiness?and why our culture has misunderstood it for so long.

Dr. Montminy, one of the foremost voices in positive psychology, reveals that true well-being doesn?t come from constant positivity, but from learning how to transform discomfort into growth. Her evidence-based approach draws on neuroscience, behavioral research, and decades of clinical work to help people cultivate resilient joy?the kind that endures even through pain, loss, and uncertainty.

Together, John and Dr. Montminy explore the difference between ?feeling good? and ?doing well,? the myth of toxic positivity, and the powerful connection between meaning, mattering, and mental health.

This episode continues our new series, ?The Irreplaceables??a deep look at the people, mindsets, and moments that make life meaningful, and why what matters most can never be replicated.

? Read the full show notes:

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including guest links, Passion Struck books, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Dr. Zelana Montminy, visit zelanamontminy.com.

? About the Episode

Discover why chasing happiness keeps us stuck?and how to cultivate resilient joy instead.Learn the four pillars of emotional fitness that anchor Dr. Montminy?s research: perspective, purpose, connection, and self-awareness.Understand how discomfort and emotional friction can serve as catalysts for growth.Explore the neuroscience of resilience and why our brains are wired more for survival than satisfaction.Hear Dr. Montminy?s personal story of loss and reinvention?and how it reshaped her understanding of well-being.Gain practical tools to strengthen your psychological flexibility and reconnect with what truly matters.

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Reclaim your energy from the inside out.

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In this raw and timely conversation, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Zac Seidler, global director of men?s health research at Movember and one of the world?s leading voices redefining masculinity. Together, they explore how modern men are facing a silent crisis?one rooted not in strength or stoicism, but in disconnection, loneliness, and loss of mattering.

From the heartbreaking story of losing his father to suicide to leading Movember?s groundbreaking new report The Real Face of Men?s Health, Zac shares what he?s learned about the ?friendship recession,? why so many men struggle to ask for help, and how culture, compassion, and community can save lives.

This episode is both a mirror and a call to action: a reminder that helping men heal isn?t just a men?s issue?it?s a human one.

Read the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/mens-mental-health-hidden-crisis-dr-zac-seidler/

Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including guest links, my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Dr. Zac Seidler and Movember, visit Movember.com.

? About the Episode

The Friendship Recession: Why one in seven men report having no close friends and what it?s doing to our collective well-being.Healthy Masculinity Reimagined: The difference between masculinity and manhood and why flexibility is the new strength.Belonging Over Biohacking: Why connection matters more than cold plunges, and how authentic friendship can be life-saving.Grassroots Healing: How barbershops, basketball courts, and bike shops are becoming hubs of hope through Movember?s Making Connections program.The Real Face of Men?s Health: A landmark new report revealing the data, disparities, and the urgent call for cultural renewal.

? Join The Ignited Life Community

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues.

Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.

? Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net

? Support the Movement

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Show it. Wear it. Live it.

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What if the story you?re living? isn?t yours?

In this powerful solo episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles explores how culture, work, and media quietly script our lives ? shaping what we value, chase, and believe we deserve ? often without us realizing it.

Drawing on insights from Claude Silver (VaynerX Chief Heart Officer) and Nick Thompson (CEO of The Atlantic), John unpacks how the stories we inherit, absorb, and create define who we become ? and how to reclaim authorship in a world that profits from your distraction.

You?ll learn why belonging isn?t the same as becoming, how the algorithms that shape your feed also shape your identity, and why the courage to rewrite your story might just be the most important act of your life.

This episode closes out our acclaimed series, The Forces That Pull Us ? a month-long journey through the invisible forces that guide how we think, lead, and live.

If you?ve ever felt like you?re performing a role that no longer fits, this episode is your call to take back the pen.

Read the full shownotes here: https://passionstruck.com/how-to-reclaim-your-story/

? Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To go deeper, download the free companion workbook:

The Stories That Shape Us Toolkit ? available now at TheIgnitedLife.net.

Inside, you?ll find reflections and prompts to help you uncover the cultural, professional, and personal stories that have shaped your identity ? and begin rewriting them with intention.

? About the Episode

Discover how culture, work, and media quietly script your life ? and how to reclaim authorship.Learn why belonging isn?t the same as becoming ? and how to rewrite the stories that hold you back.Explore how algorithms shape what we see and believe, and how intentional awareness changes everything.Understand why authenticity isn?t rebellion ? it?s reclamation.Gain practical steps to audit your inherited stories and realign them with your chosen values.

Let?s Continue the Conversation

What story are you living right now ? and who?s holding the pen?

Share your reflection on The Ignited Life, or post it on social using #TheStoriesThatShapeUs.

John will feature select responses in next week?s newsletter.

Support the Movement

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In this powerful conversation, John R. Miles sits down with Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and author of The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest Sport. Together, they explore how running became a thread through Nick?s life?a tool for resilience, self-discipline, and understanding his father?s complex legacy.

From the early memories of running beside his dad during the American running boom to surviving thyroid cancer and breaking the three-hour marathon barrier, Nick shares how the sport has shaped his mind as much as his body. The discussion expands far beyond the track?touching on fatherhood, AI and authenticity, the psychology of limits, and how pain can be both teacher and truth-teller.

This episode is a reminder that sometimes the hardest miles?whether in life or on the road?are the ones that teach us who we really are.

? Read the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/nick-thompson-the-miles-that-make-us-who-we-are/

? Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including guest links, my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Nick Thompson, visit nickthompson.com

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? About the Episode

Running as Identity: How movement connects memory, focus, and meaning.Breaking Mental Ceilings: The invisible limits that look like data but are really belief.Discipline and Flow: What marathons teach us about self-trust and persistence.Fatherhood and Legacy: How Nick?s turbulent relationship with his father shaped his resilience.Authenticity in the Age of AI: Why real voices matter in writing and leadership.Pain as Information: Learning to differentiate discomfort from danger.

Join The Ignited Life Community

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues.

Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.

? Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net

Support the Movement

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What if the greatest transformation in your career doesn?t come from working harder?but from leading with more heart?

In this week?s episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia, to explore what it really means to be yourself at work?and why authenticity, empathy, and belonging are the most underrated forces in leadership today.

Claude has spent the past decade alongside Gary Vaynerchuk, pioneering a new model of leadership grounded not in authority, but in humanity. Her philosophy is simple yet radical: when people feel seen, valued, and safe to be themselves, everything changes?trust deepens, innovation flourishes, and culture transforms from the inside out.

Together, we unpack the neuroscience of belonging, the silent tax of conformity, and why the future of leadership belongs to those brave enough to lead with love.

This conversation continues our series The Forces That Shape Us?following episodes on gravity, doubt, luck, defiance, and communication?by uncovering one of the most powerful invisible forces of all: the human heart.

? Read the full show notes here!

? Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including guest links, my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Claude Silver, visit claudesilver.com

Fuel your body with purpose

Get 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen ? clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.

Use code PASSIONSTRUCK at bubsnaturals.com

After checkout, tell them our show sent you!

Feel younger, sharper, and stronger ? from the inside out

Get 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically proven Urolithin A.

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Your cells will thank you.

? About the Episode

Discover how Claude Silver is redefining leadership as an act of emotional bravery.Learn why ?checking your humanity at the door? is the biggest barrier to performance.Understand the neuroscience of belonging and how psychological safety drives innovation.Explore Claude?s Three Habits of Heart-Led Leadership?emotional bravery, emotional optimism, and emotional efficiency.Hear how to bring authenticity back to work and create cultures where people feel seen, valued, and capable of making a difference.

Join The Ignited Life Community

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues.

Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.

? Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net

Support the Movement

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What if the words you speak don?t just describe the world?but design it?

In this week?s episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles explores The Words That Lead Us: how language quietly builds the architecture of leadership?creating trust, guiding ethics, and shaping identity.

Drawing on insights from Dr. Sunita Sah, Charles Duhigg, and Dr. Alex Imas, John reveals how the words we choose influence every decision we make?whether we lead a team, raise a family, or simply try to understand ourselves.

This solo episode continues our series The Forces That Shape Us?following episodes on gravity, doubt, luck, and defiance?by uncovering the invisible force that defines how we lead, connect, and belong: language.

Read the full shownotes here!

? Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store?are gathered here:

? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To go deeper, download the free workbook The Leadership Language Toolkit at TheIgnitedLife.net.

? Fuel your body with purpose.  

Get 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen ? clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.  

Use code **PASSIONSTRUCK** at [bubsnaturals.com]  

After checkout, tell them our show sent you!

?? Feel younger, sharper, and stronger ? from the inside out.  

Get 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically-proven Urolithin A.  

Head to [timeline.com/passionstruck]

Your cells will thank you.

? About the Episode

Discover how the power of language in leadership shapes trust, identity, and ethical decision-making.Learn the science behind how framing, phrasing, and curiosity drive better conversations and cultures.Explore why great communicators don?t talk to impress?they talk to understand.Gain practical tools to apply linguistic awareness in your daily leadership and relationships.Understand how reframing ?I have to? into ?I choose to? rewires agency and motivation.

? Let?s Continue the Conversation

What?s one sentence someone once said to you that changed the way you see yourself?

Share it on The Ignited Life, in your social posts using #TheWordsThatLeadUs, or in the episode comments?I?ll feature select responses in next week?s newsletter.

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What if the distance between you and the people who matter most isn?t measured in miles?but in missed conversations?

In this week?s episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Pulitzer Prize?winning journalist and bestselling author Charles Duhigg to explore how extraordinary conversations rebuild connection and trust.

Duhigg?s book, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, decodes why some discussions deepen relationships while others quietly drive people apart. Together, we explore the neuroscience of belonging, how to reconnect when you?ve drifted apart, and why the key to stronger relationships starts with listening differently.

This conversation marks the fourth installment in our series The Forces That Shape Us?following episodes on gravity, doubt, luck, and defiance?by uncovering the invisible force that binds us together: communication.

Read the full shownotes here!

? Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including guest links, my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store?are gathered here: ? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Charles Duhigg, visit charlesduhigg.com.

? Fuel your body with purpose.  

Get 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen ? clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.  

Use code **PASSIONSTRUCK** at [bubsnaturals.com]  

After checkout, tell them our show sent you!

?? Feel younger, sharper, and stronger ? from the inside out.  

Get 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically-proven Urolithin A.  

Head to [timeline.com/passionstruck]

Your cells will thank you.

? About the Episode

Discover The Secret Language of Connection?and why some conversations transform relationships while others divide them.Learn practical tools to rebuild trust when communication has broken down.Explore The Matching Principle?the art of speaking the same emotional language as others.Understand how to reconnect when you?ve drifted apart and create psychological safety through presence and empathy.

? Join The Ignited Life Community

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.

? Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net

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In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Sunita Sah?physician, behavioral scientist, and author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes?to explore one of the most overlooked yet essential human forces: defiance.

Part of our ongoing series The Forces That Shape Us, this conversation dives into why we struggle to say no, even when our inner voice knows we should. Dr. Sah reveals how subtle social pressures?from authority, hierarchy, and culture?can override our values and decisions without us realizing it. She explains the neuroscience behind compliance, why defying those pressures feels so uncomfortable, and how to develop the moral courage to stand firm when it matters most.

Catch more of Dr. Sunita Sah: https://www.sunitasah.com/

Click here for the full shownotes!

? Listen + Watch + Go Deeper

All episode resources?including guest links, my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store?are gathered here: ? linktr.ee/John_R_Miles

To learn more about Charles Duhigg, visit charlesduhigg.com.

? Fuel your body with purpose.  

Get 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen ? clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.  

Use code **PASSIONSTRUCK** at [bubsnaturals.com]  

After checkout, tell them our show sent you!

?? Feel younger, sharper, and stronger ? from the inside out.  

Get 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically-proven Urolithin A.  

Head to [timeline.com/passionstruck]

Your cells will thank you.

? Join The Ignited Life Community

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.

? Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net

? Support the Movement: Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it. Wear it. Live it.

Visit StartMattering.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if luck isn?t a matter of chance?but a hidden design you can learn to navigate?

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores how some people seem to ?always be in the right place at the right time? ? not because they?re blessed by fate, but because they?ve learned to read the invisible rulebook of luck.

Drawing on the groundbreaking work of bestselling author Amy Leigh Mercree and economist Judd Kessler, co-author of Lucky by Design, John unpacks how hidden systems, intuitive sensing, and strategic choices shape opportunities long before they appear.

You?ll learn:

How ?luck? hides in invisible structures?and how to map themWhy intuition is less woo-woo and more Wi-Fi, helping you detect signals others missThe power of ?settling for silver? as a strategic advantage, not a compromisePractical tools to design your own luck through intentional moves

Along the way, John shares a personal story of overcoming early adversity that shaped his ability to sense and design opportunities differently. Whether you?re navigating your career, relationships, or life?s next chapter, this episode will give you a new lens for understanding how luck works?and how to work with it.

Check out the Full show notes

Preorder John's new Children's Book, You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

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John brings on Wharton economist Judd B. Kessler to unpack why outcomes that look like luck are usually the product of hidden market designs. Kessler explains the three E?s?equity, efficiency, and ease?and why designers must make those tradeoffs explicit. He shows how to win in choose-me markets (jobs, dating, college admissions) by signaling clearly and sometimes prioritizing early commitment (e.g., early decision). In high-scarcity races (restaurant reservations, tickets), he argues for ?settling for silver??acting on a strong second choice first?to beat the crowd.

The conversation gets tactical: how to stand out when AI drafts cover letters, why human connection cuts through noise, how public-school lotteries and clearinghouses really work, and how to make household labor fair using envy-freeness and full-stack task ownership (Conception-Planning-Execution). Listeners leave with a repeatable loop: see the market, learn the rules, choose the strategy?and start designing luck on purpose. 

Catch more of Judd Kessler: https://bepp.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/juddk/

Click here for the full shownotes!

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe?  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

If you liked the show, please leave us a review?it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don?t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

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In this live episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with bestselling author and medical intuitive Amy Leigh Mercree to explore the profound connection between energy, awareness, and intentional living. They discuss how tuning into your personal energy field can enhance emotional regulation, deepen intuition, and improve how you show up in the world. Amy shares practical techniques for sensing and aligning energy, blending spiritual insight with grounded, actionable tools. Amy a bestselling author of more than fifteen books, including Aura Alchemy, A Little Bit of Chakras, and A Little Bit of Mindfulness

Amy discusses how to turn your passion for healing into a thriving career of impact, purpose, and abundance, as a Certified Atomic Healing? Method Medical Intuitive. Learn more: https://amyleighmercree.com/atomic-healing-method-certification/.

Click here for the full shownotes!

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe?  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

If you liked the show, please leave us a review?it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don?t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

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What if doubt isn?t a weakness to overcome, but a gravitational force that pulls us toward meaning?

In this powerful solo episode, John R. Miles kicks off the new Forces That Pull Us series by exploring doubt?an invisible psychological and cultural force that shapes our choices, our growth, and our sense of self. Drawing on insights from performance psychologist Michael Gervais, physician-researcher Brennan Spiegel, and business ethicist Bobby Parmar, John examines doubt from three angles:

The Psychological Gravity ? How doubt shows up internally, why FOPO (Fear of People?s Opinions) can paralyze us, and how elite performers learn to work with uncertainty rather than against it.The External Pull ? How unseen technological and cultural forces shape what we notice and believe, based on Brennan Spiegel?s groundbreaking book Pull.Radical Doubt as a Skill ? How Bobby Parmar?s framework transforms doubt from a source of anxiety into a disciplined tool for better decision-making.

This episode offers practical tools for identifying, interrogating, and harnessing doubt in your own life?whether you?re making a major decision, leading a team, or confronting internal narratives that hold you back.

Full shownotes HERE

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

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In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Bidhan ?Bobby? Parmar, Shannon G. Smith Bicentennial Professor of Business Administration at UVA?s Darden School and author of Radical Doubt: Turning Uncertainty into Surefire Success. Together, they unpack why doubt isn?t a weakness to overcome but a force to harness.

Bobby explains how our brains rely on three systems?pursue, protect, and pause?and why learning to strengthen the ?pause? system can transform how we make decisions in moments of uncertainty. They explore why information alone doesn?t change behavior, the dangers of being a ?right-answer getter,? and how to become a ?better-answer maker.? Through real-world examples ranging from career paralysis to leadership dilemmas, Bobby offers tools for using doubt as a catalyst for clarity, resilience, and smarter choices.

Whether you?re leading a team, making big life decisions, or simply navigating the unknown, this conversation reframes doubt as the superpower you?ve been overlooking.

To learn more about Dr. Bobby Parmar: https://www.darden.virginia.edu/faculty-research/directory/bidhan-l-parmar

Click here for the full shownotes!

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe?  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

If you liked the show, please leave us a review?it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don?t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gravity is everywhere?yet we rarely think about its impact on our health. In this episode, Dr. Brennan Spiegel, UCLA Professor and author of the groundbreaking new book Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health, joins John R. Miles to reframe gravity not just as a force of physics, but as a hidden variable in human health and resilience.

They explore how posture, balance, grip strength, and heart rate variability reveal your ?gravity relationship,? why serotonin is really a ?gravity management substance,? and how gut health, mood, and even mental states like anxiety and depression are shaped by gravitational forces. Spiegel introduces concepts like ?gravity intolerance,? ?graviception,? and ?gravi types,? showing how simple practices, from standing desks and rucking to inverted yoga, can help you find your personal Goldilocks zone for optimal health.

This conversation will change how you think about your body, your mind, and the invisible forces pulling on both.

Click here for the full shownotes!

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe?  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

If you liked the show, please leave us a review?it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don?t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is the story you?re telling yourself right now?

It may not feel like it, but every single one of us is living inside a story. Psychologists call it a self-narrative ? the ongoing script that explains who we are, how we got here, and where we?re headed next. These stories shape what we notice, what we ignore, and what we believe is possible.

If your inner story says, ?I?m not enough,? then every critique, silence, or setback feels like proof of inadequacy. But if your story says, ?I am resilient, I am growing,? those same experiences become evidence of strength. The circumstances don?t change. The story does.

In this final episode of my Decoding Humanity series, we?re looking at the power of story: why it matters, how it?s formed, and how you can begin to rewrite it using the S.T.O.R.Y. framework.

Full shownotes HERE

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

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Life has a way of testing us in ways we never imagined. For some, those tests are inconveniences or temporary setbacks. For others, like Sandy Yozipovic, there are battles that most of us could not even fathom. Imagine one day waking up paralyzed from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system. And then, years later, you are told you have Stage 4 cancer, and the prognosis is grim.

Most people would crumble under the weight of such a diagnosis. Sandy faced both. Yet, instead of surrendering, she chose to stack the odds in her favor and build a life of faith, resilience, and healing.

Her story, which she shared with me on the Passion Struck podcast, isn?t just about survival. It?s about how to live intentionally when life delivers its harshest blows. It?s about finding strength in the unseen, turning fear into faith, and proving what it looks like to truly overcome impossible odds.

Sandy is co-founder and President of Fullness of Life Foundation ?a nonprofit that provides public information, education, and awareness regarding the use of advanced, integrative medicine in the prevention and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases. Their ?Give Them Wings? program helps with the financial barriers that families face by sponsoring the treatment for children with life-threatening cancer or other diseases. Her healing journey led her to the Envita Medical Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she experienced firsthand the power of integrative and personalized medicine. 

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What does it really take to start over ? to walk away from something you?ve built and chase something entirely new? In this inspiring conversation, John R. Miles sits down with Joel Beasley, technologist, entrepreneur, and host of Modern CTO, one of the most respected podcasts for technology leaders worldwide.

But this episode isn?t about scaling tech companies, it?s about scaling yourself. Joel opens up about the mindset shifts that took him from self-taught coder to globally respected podcast host, and now, into a completely new arc: pursuing his dream of becoming a stand-up comedian.

Together, John and Joel unpack what it means to create meaning beyond metrics, why relationships are the true currency of leadership, and how to turn fear and failure into fuel for growth. Whether you?re a technologist, entrepreneur, or simply someone feeling the pull toward something more, Joel?s story will leave you rethinking what?s possible when you dare to start again.

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Most of us spend much of our lives trying to fit in, smoothing our edges, editing our quirks, and becoming who the world wants us to be. But fitting in isn?t the same as belonging.

Belonging is about coming home to yourself and then building spaces where others can do the same. It?s about creating deep connection and living a life that feels both meaningful and aligned.

In episode 669 of Passion Struck, John tackles the question of how to build belonging using a simple, yet powerful framework he developed called BELONG ? six choices that help you reclaim your identity, stop performing for approval, and create a life of purpose.

Full shownotes HERE

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In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Robert Glazer ? serial entrepreneur, five-time best-selling author, and founder of Acceleration Partners ? to explore his powerful new book The Compass Within. Robert shares why success can still feel empty if your life is out of alignment, and how identifying your actionable core values becomes the starting point for lasting fulfillment.

Whether you?re at a crossroads in your career, questioning the culture you?re part of, or simply longing for greater purpose, this conversation will give you a practical blueprint for finding your ?compass within? and living by it with courage.

Visit this link for the full show notes

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In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles is joined by Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of Me, But Better, for a transformative conversation about the science and promise of personality change.

For much of the 20th century, psychologists assumed that our personalities were largely fixed by adulthood ? that who we are at 30 is who we?ll be for life. But Olga?s work brings together groundbreaking research proving that personality traits can, in fact, be intentionally shaped.

If you?ve ever wondered, ?Can I really change who I am?? this episode is your evidence-based invitation to try.

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What if legacy isn?t what you leave behind, but what you build every day? In this solo episode, John R. Miles shares how to build a personal legacy using the C.H.O.I.C.E. framework: six daily principles that turn values into action and intention into impact. Discover why your quiet choices matter more than loud success and how to lead a life that lasts.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick?and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

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If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

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In this insightful episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with psychologist and author William von Hippel to unpack the central theme of his latest book, The Social Paradox: Autonomy, Connection, and Why We Need Both to Find Happiness. Together, they explore how modern life has tilted heavily toward autonomy?careers, smartphones, and endless options?often at the expense of deep connection and belonging.

Drawing on research with the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania, von Hippel explains why our ancestors? lives, though materially sparse, were rich in connection and happiness?and why our overemphasis on independence leaves many feeling lonely and invisible.

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In this Passion Struck episode, John R. Miles sits down with Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President and CEO of McKissack & McKissack?the nation?s oldest minority-owned design and construction firm?to explore what it takes to build a life and legacy that truly matter. From the story of her ancestor, Moses McKissack, who learned the art of brickmaking while enslaved, to her role in leading billion-dollar infrastructure projects today, Cheryl offers a blueprint for creating an impact that outlives us.

Together, they discuss the five core values that guided her family through generations?perseverance, preparedness, persistence, purpose, and prayer?and how these principles can help all of us leave something meaningful behind. This conversation is a powerful reminder that legacy isn?t reserved for the privileged?it?s built choice by choice, one intentional decision at a time.

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Catch more of Cheryl McKissack: https://mckissack.com/about/leadership/

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Not all trauma is visible?but that doesn?t mean it stops shaping us. In this episode, John R. Miles explores the concept of invisible trauma and introduces H.E.A.L., a four-part framework for confronting what?s hidden, softening self-judgment, identifying destructive patterns, and stepping into liberation. You?ll hear powerful insights from experts like Dr. Ingrid Clayton and Dr. Nicole Cain and walk away with practical tools to begin transforming emotional scar tissue into inner strength.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick?and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

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In this episode, Dr. Nicole Cain?naturopathic doctor, clinical psychologist, and author of Panic Proof?shows how to design a personalized Panic-Proof plan that addresses anxiety at its source. We unpack the nine anxiety types and why labeling everything as ?panic? misses the root drivers.

She lays out a practical blueprint: nervous-system regulation (breath, cold exposure, somatic mapping, paced recovery), gut?brain repair (nutrition, psychobiotics, inflammation reduction), targeted lifestyle shifts (sleep, light, movement), and trauma-informed tools (values-based exposures, parts work, micro-habits).

You?ll learn how to sequence change over 90 days, match interventions to your anxiety type, and measure progress without perfectionism. Whether you?re navigating panic attacks or low-grade dread, this conversation offers a clear, compassionate path from symptom management to lasting nervous-system safety?and a plan you can actually follow.

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In episode 661 of Passion Struck, trauma psychologist Dr. Ingrid Clayton explains why so many high-achievers, caregivers, and leaders default to ?keep the peace at any cost,? and how that pattern quietly erodes identity, boundaries, and well-being.

We unpack how complex/relational trauma encodes ?safety over self,? why talk-only approaches often stall, and the practical sequence for unfawning: notice ? name ? normalize ? lower the bar ? practice tiny boundary reps. Ingrid shares bottom-up tools for down-shifting physiological threat (breath, orienting, somatic tracking), scripts for gentler boundaries that don?t spike panic, and ways to rebuild self-trust after years of self-abandonment?at home, at work, and in leadership.

If you?ve ever over-functioned at the office, shape-shifted in relationships, or felt invisible while doing ?everything right,? this conversation gives you language for what?s been happening and a roadmap out of it.

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About Dr. Ingrid Clayton

Ingrid Clayton, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and author whose work focuses on trauma, complex PTSD, and recovery. Her new book, Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves?and How to Find Our Way Back, offers a step-by-step approach to healing the appease response and reclaiming your voice.

Catch more of Dr. Ingrid Clayton: https://www.ingridclayton.com/

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In the debut of the Decoding Humanity series, John R. Miles explores what he calls The Living Code: the deeper foundation beneath our lives that determines whether we stand strong or collapse when the inevitable storms come. Drawing on timeless wisdom from the Gospel of Matthew, insights from neuroscience, and reflections from recent guests Dr. Bruce Miller, Dr. Virginia Sturm, and Dr. Caroline Fleck, John reveals the four pillars of C.O.D.E. ? Core Values, Open Empathy, Deep Rest, and Embodied Practices.

This episode challenges listeners to run a ?system check,? confront where their foundations may be built on sand, and take practical steps toward recoding their humanity.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick?and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

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If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

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In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Caroline Fleck?clinical psychologist, researcher, and author of Validation?explores why so many of us struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout, not because we?re broken, but because our need for validation has gone unmet. She explains how validation is more than comfort?it?s proof that we matter.

Drawing on her clinical work and scientific research, Dr. Fleck demonstrates why validation is the foundation of resilience, connection, and well-being, and how learning to validate ourselves and others can bridge the gap between feeling invisible and living with purpose.

Visit this link for the full show notes

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In Episode 658 of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with renowned neuroscientists Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Virginia Sturm, co-authors of the book "Mysteries of the Social Brain," to explore their groundbreaking work on the social brain. Together, they explore how empathy, fairness, altruism, and connection are not just cultural ideals but are also hardwired into our neural architecture. From the role of specific brain networks in shaping moral behavior to how purpose and creativity emerge from our capacity to connect, this conversation redefines what it means to be human. Bruce and Virginia also share insights into how understanding the social brain can help us combat loneliness, strengthen relationships, and build cultures where people truly matter.

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Most people think of flow the way psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described it ? being ?in the zone? during peak performance. But in this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles redefines flow as something much deeper: the coherence of living one life instead of many fractured selves.

Drawing on conversations with Dr. Jodi Blinco and Jay Vidyarthi, John explores the Fragmentation Gap ? the hidden divide between the roles we perform (at work, at home, online, and in private) and the integrated life we long to live. Jodi reveals what it feels like to appear whole on the outside while unraveling on the inside, and Jay shows how our digital world slices our attention into pieces, leaving us scattered and spiritually depleted.

Through powerful stories and a four-step framework ? Notice, Name, Nurture, Navigate ? this episode explores how to close the Fragmentation Gap, reclaim your attention, and integrate your values, roles, and identity into a cohesive, authentic whole.

Because the opposite of fragmentation isn?t productivity.

The opposite of fragmentation is wholeness.

And that?s the flow that truly sustains us.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick?and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

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In today?s hyperconnected world, our attention has become one of the most valuable?and contested?resources. In this Passion Struck episode, John speaks with Jay Vidyarthi, author of Reclaim Your Mind, about why technology feels so addictive, how it fragments our lives, and what we can do to take back control. Jay shares practical tools for mindful tech use, explains how design can either empower or exploit us, and reveals how to realign our digital lives with our values. This conversation is a wake-up call to anyone who feels scattered, overstimulated, or trapped by the constant pull of screens?and an invitation to build a life of deeper focus, clarity, and flow.

Visit this link for the full show notes

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Catch more of Jay Vidyarthi: https://www.jayvidyarthi.com/

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In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Jodi Blinco?educator, entrepreneur, and author of Inner Alchemy: Transforming Everyday Bullsht Into Sunshine.* Together, they explore how resilience is built rather than inherited, why energy matters more than time management, and how feminine leadership is redefining the future of work and well-being. Dr. Blinco shares practical tools to rewrite self-defeating stories, identify emotional patterns before they become life patterns, and embrace authentic power. This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing and growth aren?t about chasing perfection?they?re about reclaiming clarity, courage, and flow in everyday life.

Visit this link for the full show notes

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In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles unpacks the Fulfillment Gap?the hidden divide between the work we do every day and the meaning we hope it will bring. Drawing on Gallup?s latest research, personal stories, and powerful interviews, John reveals how misaligned work erodes health, fuels burnout, and undermines our sense of mattering.

John then introduces a practical four-step framework?Audit, Align, Adjust, Advance?to help you reclaim your work as a source of strength, resilience, and wellness. This episode is a call to stop trading health for achievement and start building a career?and a life?that sustains you from the inside out.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick?and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

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Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

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In this Passion Struck episode, I sit down with Tien Tzuo?visionary founder and CEO of Zuora, bestselling author of Subscribed and Founders, Keepers, and one of the early architects of Salesforce?to explore how agility, transformation, and purpose can redefine not just business success but personal fulfillment. Together, we explore why the future belongs to those who prioritize relationships over products, why agility is a lifelong wellness practice, and how leaders can adopt a transformational mindset to thrive in a world of constant change.

Visit this link for the full show notes

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Catch more of Tien Tzuo: https://tientzuo.medium.com/

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In episode 652 of Passion Struck, John Miles speaks with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas and Christopher Wong Michaelson, co-authors of Is Your Work Worth It? Together, they unpack the hidden costs of chasing achievement, the myths surrounding ?do what you love,? and why meaning?not just money?drives true fulfillment. Drawing from research, stories, and practical insights, they reveal how to align career, calling, and purpose, and why legacy and contribution often matter more than status or salary. This conversation is a guide for anyone seeking deeper significance in their work and life.

Visit this link for the full show notes.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

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Catch more of Jennifer Tosti-Kharas & Christopher Wong Michaelson: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/christopher-wong-michaelson/is-your-work-worth-it/9781541703407/?lens=publicaffairs

If you liked the show, please leave us a review?it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don?t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this pivotal episode of the Reclaiming Wellness series, John R. Miles tackles the hidden cost of safetyism ? the cultural obsession with eliminating risk ? and how it?s creating what he calls the ?Exposure Gap.? Drawing on insights from Dr. Wolfgang Linden?s work on exposure therapy, Jonathan Haidt?s research on safetyism, and Dr. Kevin Tracey?s groundbreaking vagus nerve science, John explains why avoiding discomfort weakens our nervous system and resilience over time. You?ll learn why controlled exposure to manageable stress is crucial for developing emotional and physical resilience. With real-world examples, a practical four-step ?Bridge Crossing Plan,? and actionable strategies, this episode will show you how to unlock courage, reclaim adaptability, and close your own exposure gap.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind blocked absorption?and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Kevin Tracey, a pioneer in neuroimmunology, to explore the remarkable healing potential of the vagus nerve. Dr. Tracey explains how this hidden superhighway between the brain and body regulates inflammation and how targeted stimulation is providing life-changing results for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn?s disease, and other autoimmune conditions. Together, they dive into the science, personal stories, and future implications of using bioelectronic medicine to treat disease without drugs ? potentially rewriting the rules of modern healthcare.

Visit this link for the full show notes.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe?  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

Catch more of Dr. Kevin Tracey: https://feinstein.northwell.edu/institutes-researchers/our-researchers/kevin-j-tracey-md

If you liked the show, please leave us a review?it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don?t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

How to Connect with John:

Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMilesFollow him on Instagram at @John_R_MilesSubscribe to our main YouTube Channel and to our YouTube Clips ChannelFor more insights and resources, visit John?s website

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.