Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Why do other people's opinions, approval, and behavior have so much power over you? In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores the behavioral science and neuroscience of belonging, revealing why our need to matter can shape what we believe, who we trust, and how much power we give other people over our lives.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing. Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you. Connect with John - Website: https://johnrmiles.com - Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/ - Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/ - Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/ Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it. Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads. Disclaimer The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do good people become so divided? Social psychologist Dr. Jay Van Bavel explains how identity, belonging, and the groups we join quietly shape our beliefs, relationships, and ability to connect—and what it will take to bridge our deepest divides.

What if your thoughts, fears, and even your beliefs aren't as independent as you think? In this episode, John R. Miles explores the neuroscience of belonging and reveals why your brain is wired to seek connection—and how understanding that instinct can help you think more clearly, build stronger relationships, and reclaim your sense of self.

What if flourishing isn't something you achieve, but something you were born with? Dr. Richard Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl reveal the neuroscience behind awareness, connection, insight, and purpose, and explain why these four trainable skills can help anyone build a more resilient, meaningful life.

What if the choices you make today are quietly shaping the health of your brain for decades to come? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen reveals the science-backed habits that can protect your brain, improve your mental health, and help you create lasting change at any age.

In this episode, John R. Miles reveals why lasting change isn't discovered in a single moment but built through the habits, attention, and daily actions that shape who you become.

In this episode, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. D. Ivan Young, one of today's leading voices on leadership, resilience, and emotional well-being. Together, they explore how trauma shapes identity, why your inner voice influences every relationship you have, and how practicing self-compassion can help you become stronger, calmer, and more resilient.

Today, John sits down with legendary running coach Sean Brosnan, author of Beyond Fast. Sean built one of the greatest high school distance running programs in history, producing Olympians, national champions, and American record holders—not by finding extraordinary athletes, but by helping ordinary people discover what they were truly capable of.

In this episode, John R. Miles explores one of the most powerful shifts he's experienced through years of research, interviews, and personal reflection: every human being is an environment. The people you love don't just hear your words—they experience your presence. Your family, your friends, and your team are all shaped by the emotional climate you create.

Technology isn't just changing how we communicate—it's changing how we see ourselves. In this conversation, Guy Kawasaki explains why protecting your privacy is ultimately about protecting your identity, your relationships, and your freedom to live intentionally.

Success isn't supposed to leave you feeling empty. In this conversation, Jess Ekstrom explains why ambitious people often fall into the "Arrival Trap" and how to build a meaningful life without postponing happiness until the next achievement.

What if the reason change feels so difficult has less to do with willpower than you think? In this episode, John reveals how your home, workplace, phone, and daily routines are quietly influencing your behavior—and how small changes to your environment can create lasting transformation.

Leidy Klotz joins John R. Miles to reveal how the places we live, work, and spend time in quietly shape our happiness, relationships, creativity, and sense of belonging. Discover simple, research-backed ways to design environments that help you flourish instead of merely function.

What does it mean to raise children who will thrive in a world transformed by artificial intelligence? Dr. Dana Suskind reveals how early relationships, emotional resilience, and meaningful human connection build the foundation for lifelong flourishing.

If you've ever caught yourself saying, "Why do I keep doing this?" this episode will help you understand why—and show you how to finally break the patterns keeping you stuck.

Bestselling author Jon Gordon joins John R. Miles to share the proven habits that build resilience, strengthen leadership, and help you overcome negative thinking. Discover practical strategies to create a more positive mindset and a life of greater purpose and impact.

What if you didn't have to remain who you've always been? In this conversation, Nick Ortner explains how tapping and the latest science on the brain can help you break free from anxiety, self-doubt, and the emotional patterns keeping you stuck.

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 emerge when our old ways of living no longer work.If you've been waiting for life to settle down before you fully show up, chasing achievement in hopes that it will finally make you feel enough, or caring for everyone around you while losing touch with yourself, this episode offers a different path forward.In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the life you're waiting to begin may have already begun How to stop treating difficult seasons as interruptions instead of your actual training ground Why success and achievement can never answer the question, "Am I enough?" What it means to remain connected to yourself when the applause grows quiet How self-compassion becomes the foundation for lasting transformation The powerful question that can reveal whether you've become a safe place to come home to Why flourishing begins not in some future version of your life, but in this ordinary, imperfect moment At the heart of this episode are three questions worth carrying into your own life: What are you waiting to begin that has already begun? Who are you when there's nothing left to prove? Was I a safe place to come home to today? Because becoming fully alive isn't about finding another life. It's about inhabiting the one that's already here. Connect with John Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/ Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/ Keynotes, books, podcast, and resources: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/ Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/ Support the Movement : https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it. Disclaimer The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Today’s episode will change how you think about your connection to something greater — and give you simple tools you can use the next time life feels uncertain, painful, or overwhelming. Do you ever feel disconnected from guidance when you need it most? Do you struggle with grief, disappointment, health challenges, or despair and wonder if anyone is listening? Or maybe you’ve always sensed there’s more support available but don’t know how to access it. According to today’s guest, you are never alone. You are always connected. In this powerful conversation, John R. Miles welcomes Suzanne Giesemann back to Passion Struck. Suzanne is a former Navy Commander, aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, evidential medium, and Hay House author of the new book Always Connected. In this episode, you’ll learn: The missing piece most people ignore in spiritual practice— the Hara— and how it creates a rock-solid connection The 3-minute “SIP of the Divine” practice that works even if you think you can’t meditate How to tell real spirit guidance apart from fear or imagination Why physical challenges can become powerful spiritual teachers (including Suzanne’s own recent health scare) The incredible story of Wayne Dyer visiting Suzanne — and what it proves about life after death How evidence-based mediumship creates instant healing and peace Practical ways to handle grief, self-worth struggles, disappointment, and despair in today’s world Suzanne blends military discipline, mediumship precision, and deep spiritual wisdom into teachings that are both profound and immediately usable. Whether you’re new to this work or have been on the path for years, this conversation will leave you feeling more supported, peaceful, and connected than you have in a long time. For full show notes, resources, and Suzanne’s new book, visit the episode page. Download the companion workbook. If you liked this episode, go back and listen to Suzanne’s first appearance on Passion Struck (Episode 621). Connect with John Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/ Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/ Keynotes, books, podcast, and resources: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/ Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/ Support the Movement : https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it. Disclaimer The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with executive coach, former therapist, and former U.S. National Team rower Whitney Otto to explore one of the most personal struggles people carry: their relationship with their bodies. Drawing from her new book, Body Image Inside Out , co-authored with Deb Schachter, Whitney challenges the belief that body image is merely about appearance. Instead, she reveals how our feelings about our bodies are deeply intertwined with our experiences of belonging, family, achievement, health, and self-worth. Their conversation explores why negative body image often becomes a container for overwhelming emotions, how shame thrives in secrecy, and why curiosity may be a more powerful path to healing than self-improvement. John and Whitney discuss the hidden costs of being at war with ourselves, the role of relational mirrors in shaping identity, and why many high performers continue to struggle with feeling comfortable in their own skin despite outward success. Through personal stories, practical exercises, and compassionate insights, they offer a new framework for understanding body image—not as an enemy to conquer, but as a relationship that can be nurtured, understood, and transformed. In this episode, you'll learn: Why body image is shaped by relationships, culture, health experiences, and belonging—not simply physical appearance The hidden emotional and psychological costs of being at war with your body How negative body image often becomes a way of managing overwhelming feelings such as sadness, anxiety, fear, and loneliness Why curiosity and self-compassion are more effective than self-criticism when creating lasting change What "relational mirrors" reveal about the people who help us feel seen—and those who diminish our sense of self How jealousy can become a teacher that points us toward deeper desires rather than a source of shame or comparison The Body Image Rotary framework and how to interrupt cycles of self-criticism before they become habitual patterns Why the process of getting dressed can become a daily practice of self-awareness and sensory compassion rather than judgment How early experiences with caregivers influence our relationship with our bodies throughout adulthood The simple but profound question Whitney believes every person should ask themselves: "What are you feeling?" instead of "What do I need to fix?" This conversation offers a compassionate roadmap for moving from self-judgment to self-understanding, showing that flourishing begins not by changing our bodies, but by changing the relationship we have with them. As Whitney reminds us, our bodies are often carrying stories that our minds have not yet found the words to tell. Passion Struck is the #1 Health and Wellness Podcast and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping people live intentionally, unlock human potential, and create lives filled with meaning, purpose, and mattering. Limited Time Offers: Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at SHOPIFY.COM/PASSIONSTRUCK Function Health: functionhealth.com/PASSION or use gift code PASSION25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. FODZYME: Get 30% off your first order at ICanEatAgain.com/PASSIONSTRUCK Full Show Notes Download the Digital Workbook Learn more about Whitney Otto: Website: https://www.bodyimageinsideout.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-otto/ Connect with John Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: <a href="https://matteringeffect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer...

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 identities we mistake for who we truly are. The result isn't failure. It's forgetting. Drawing on the enduring story of Hook, John examines why Peter Pan's greatest tragedy wasn't growing up—it was forgetting who he had been all along. Through insights from psychology, attachment theory, identity research, and the remarkable conversations that shaped the Connection Crisis series, John explores how modern life pulls us away from authenticity and what it means to finally find our way home. This episode challenges one of the biggest assumptions in personal development: that flourishing requires becoming someone new. Instead, John argues that flourishing begins when we stop performing, remember who we are, and trust ourselves enough to live from that place. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why adaptation is essential for survival—but dangerous when it becomes identity • How childhood expectations and social environments shape the person we believe we must become • What Hook teaches us about memory, identity, and the gradual process of forgetting ourselves • The hidden difference between participating in life and merely performing it • Why success often feels empty when it is disconnected from authenticity • How perfectionism, people-pleasing, hyper-independence, and overachievement become emotional armor • Why self-discovery is never a solitary journey—and how other people help us remember who we are • The profound connection between belonging, mattering, and authentic identity • Why courage is less about reinvention and more about trusting the person you've always been • What it truly means to flourish: returning to the life you already have with a different heart and a renewed awareness of yourself This episode is an invitation to stop chasing a better version of yourself and begin remembering the person who has been waiting patiently beneath years of responsibility, expectation, and adaptation. Because the life you've been searching for was never somewhere else—it has been waiting inside the person you've been all along. Passion Struck is the #1 Health and Wellness Podcast and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping people live intentionally, unlock human potential, and create lives rooted in meaning, purpose, belonging, and mattering. Limited-Time Offers: Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at SHOPIFY.COM/PASSIONSTRUCK Function Health: Visit functionhealth.com/PASSION or use code PASSION25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. FODZYME: Get 30% off your first order at ICanEatAgain.com/PASSIONSTRUCK. Full Show Notes Download the Digital Workbook If this episode resonated with you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who may have forgotten a part of themselves along the way. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can offer another person is helping them remember who they have been all along. Connect with John Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/ Book John to Speak: <a...

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 research involving hundreds of thousands of employees and leaders, Adrian reveals why recognition is far more than a leadership skill—it is a fundamental human need. Together, John and Adrian examine why people don't simply want praise; they want evidence that they matter. Their conversation explores how unexpressed appreciation quietly fuels anxiety, disengagement, loneliness, and burnout, while cultures rooted in visible gratitude unlock trust, innovation, resilience, and extraordinary performance. John and Adrian also discuss why workplace anxiety has reached unprecedented levels, how leaders unintentionally create fear through uncertainty, and why the best managers act less like supervisors and more like stewards of human potential. Through compelling stories, practical frameworks, and decades of behavioral research, they show how recognition, empathy, and purpose can transform both organizations and the lives of the people within them. In this episode, you'll learn: Why leaders consistently overestimate how appreciated their employees feel How the "gratitude gap" silently undermines engagement, trust, and performance Why recognition is a biological and psychological need—not simply a management technique How uncertainty fuels workplace anxiety and what great leaders do differently Why people perform at their best when they know their work contributes to something larger than themselves The difference between generic praise and meaningful recognition that changes behavior How situational leadership helps leaders meet the unique needs of every individual Why empathy, curiosity, and knowing people's stories are becoming essential leadership skills Practical ways to create cultures where people feel seen, valued, and motivated to contribute How leading with gratitude strengthens resilience, retention, innovation, and organizational performance This conversation offers a practical roadmap for closing the gap between good intentions and lived experience, showing why the organizations that thrive aren't simply those with the best strategies, but those where people consistently experience that they matter. Passion Struck is the #1 Health and Wellness Podcast and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping people live intentionally, unlock human potential, and create lives filled with meaning, purpose, and mattering. Limited Time Offers: Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at SHOPIFY.COM/PASSIONSTRUCK Function Health: functionhealth.com/PASSION or use gift code PASSION25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. FODZYME: Get 30% off your first order at ICanEatAgain.com/PASSIONSTRUCK Full Show Notes Download the Digital Workbook Learn more about Adrian Gostick: Website: https://adriangostick.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriangostick/ X: https://x.com/adriangostick Connect with John Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: <a...

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 inherited definitions of success and why safety often becomes the greatest obstacle to authenticity. Together, John and Spencer examine why belonging without authenticity ultimately leaves us feeling empty, how identity becomes distorted over time, and why flourishing begins the moment we stop asking who the world wants us to be and start asking who we truly are. Their conversation explores the psychological mechanics of what Spencer calls "the trap," the profound difference between simple belonging and true mattering, and how he redefined his disability from a medical circumstance into a core pillar of his identity. Spencer also introduces practical frameworks from his new book, Breaking Free , including how to find your personal spotlight, cultivate a sense of play, and pivot from a life of passive passion to one of deep, systemic purpose. In this episode, you'll learn: Why so many people fall into the trap of living a safe, uninspired life instead of an authentic one. The critical distinction between simple belonging and true mattering, illustrated by Spencer's childhood gym and cheerleading experiences. How identity distortion occurs when we shelve our authentic selves to meet external structures. Spencer's transformative experience in Kenya that redefined his disability into a superpower and calling. What "the trap" looks like in daily life and how to recognize when you are caught in a cage of your own design. How to find your personal spotlight through low-stakes creative exploration and intentional play. The evolutionary shift from personal passion to systemic purpose, using the context of his historic ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. The symbol of the cairn and how we all have the capacity to serve as navigational markers for others. Spencer's keys to impactful public speaking: knowing your audience completely and sharing universal human lessons. Why embracing vulnerability and mistakes on stage creates deeper human connection. This conversation offers a powerful roadmap for understanding why we become who we are, how to reject a safe but uninspired life, and what it takes to intentionally build a life focused on authentic purpose. Passion Struck is the #1 Health and Wellness Podcast and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping people live intentionally, unlock human potential, and create lives filled with meaning, purpose, and mattering. Limited Time Offers: Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at SHOPIFY.COM/PASSIONSTRUCK Function Health: functionhealth.com/PASSION or use gift code PASSION25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. FODZYME: Get 30% off your first order at ICanEatAgain.com/PASSIONSTRUCK Full Show Notes Download the Digital Workbook (Ignited Life Article) Learn more about Spencer West: Website: https://www.spencer2thewest.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spencer2thewest Instagram: <a...

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 identities we developed to survive childhood are still quietly shaping our relationships, careers, and sense of self today? In this episode, John introduces a powerful new framework: The Backpack We Never Chose—a metaphor for the emotional survival strategies, protective identities, and hidden attachments we carry long after they have outlived their purpose. Drawing on attachment psychology, neuroscience, William James' concept of the "I" and the "Me," and his own journey through burnout and corporate leadership, John reveals why so many of us confuse our coping strategies with who we really are. You'll discover why perfectionism, hyper-independence, people-pleasing, and the relentless pursuit of achievement often begin as adaptive responses to early life experiences—and how those same strategies can quietly become barriers to authentic connection, belonging, and mattering. In this episode, you'll learn: Why hidden attachments are often more powerful than attachment styles alone How childhood survival strategies become adult identities Why perfectionism, people-pleasing, hyper-independence, and overachievement are forms of emotional self-protection The surprising reason your brain prefers familiar pain over unfamiliar freedom How your nervous system influences your relationships, choices, and emotional reactions William James' powerful distinction between the "Me" and the "I"—and how it can transform the way you see yourself Why identities often feel safer than intimacy A practical framework for recognizing the emotional "backpack" you've been carrying throughout your life How to begin releasing outdated survival strategies through intentional micro-choices and self-compassion The one question that can change everything: "Does this still belong to me?" This episode is an invitation to stop mistaking your protective patterns for your identity. Because the version of you that learned how to survive your past isn't necessarily the version that's meant to lead your future. Healing doesn't begin by becoming someone new—it begins by choosing what you're finally ready to set down. Passion Struck is the #1 Health and Wellness Podcast and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping people live intentionally, unlock human potential, and build lives rooted in meaning, purpose, belonging, and mattering .Limited-Time Offers Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at SHOPIFY.COM/PASSIONSTRUCK Function Health: Visit functionhealth.com/PASSION or use code PASSION25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. FODZYME: Get 30% off your first order at ICanEatAgain.com/PASSIONSTRUCK. Full Show Notes Download the Digital Workbook If this episode resonated with you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be carrying an invisible backpack of their own. Together, we can create a world where more people feel seen, valued, and deeply connected. Connect with John Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: <a href="https://matteringeffect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer...