Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Explore the power of emotional awareness in an age dominated by AI. Discover why emotional skills are crucial for love, leadership, and creativity. Learn about 'high-functioning despair' and how it impacts connection, especially among men. Gain insights into building emotional agility with practical daily exercises. Hear powerful personal stories illustrating the journey from numbness to presence. Realize how emotions can be a source of strength and human connection, preserving what truly makes us irreplaceable.

In this discussion, Dr. Zelana Montminy, a behavioral scientist and positive psychologist, delves into the misunderstood nature of happiness. She emphasizes that true well-being is built through resilience and self-compassion rather than relentless positivity. Dr. Montminy introduces impactful concepts like the distinction between attention, focus, and concentration, while also debunking multitasking myths. She shares practical micro-habits to reclaim focus and highlights the significance of morning rituals and nature in enhancing attention and mental health.

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Zac Seidler, Global Director of Men's Health Research at Movember and advocate for mental well-being, shares his personal journey shaped by the loss of his father to suicide. He highlights the alarming 'friendship recession' men are facing, discussing the importance of vulnerability over traditional masculinity. Zac emphasizes how cultural changes can redefine manhood and the critical role of community in addressing mental health challenges. His insights offer practical steps for men to improve connections and combat isolation.

What if your life story isn’t truly yours? Explore how cultural and work influences shape your beliefs and values. Discover the difference between belonging and becoming, and how social media algorithms impact your identity. Learn to audit your inherited narratives and rewrite your life's script with courage. John emphasizes the importance of making intentional choices over following trends, inviting you to reclaim your authorship and craft a meaningful story that resonates with who you truly are.

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 DeeperAll 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_MilesTo learn more about Nick Thompson, visit nickthompson.comFuel your body with purposeGet 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen — clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.Use code PASSIONSTRUCK at bubsnaturals.comAfter checkout, tell them our show sent you!Feel younger, sharper, and stronger — from the inside outGet 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically proven Urolithin A.Head to timeline.com/passionstruckYour cells will thank you.🧠 About the EpisodeRunning 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 CommunityIf 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.netSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it. Wear it. Live it.Visit StartMattering.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 DeeperAll 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_MilesTo learn more about Claude Silver, visit claudesilver.comFuel your body with purposeGet 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen — clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.Use code PASSIONSTRUCK at bubsnaturals.comAfter checkout, tell them our show sent you!Feel younger, sharper, and stronger — from the inside outGet 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically proven Urolithin A.Head to timeline.com/passionstruckYour cells will thank you.🧠 About the EpisodeDiscover 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 CommunityIf 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.netSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it. Wear it. Live it.Visit StartMattering.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 DeeperAll 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_MilesTo 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 EpisodeDiscover 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 ConversationWhat’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.🌍 Support the MovementEveryone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it. Wear it. Live it.Visit StartMattering.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this engaging discussion, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg, known for his bestselling works on habits and communication, reveals the art of extraordinary conversations. He explains how to mend connections through specific strategies, like initiating repair conversations with empathy and mutual goals. Duhigg emphasizes the importance of listening to demonstrate mattering while addressing the nuances of conflict and emotional responses. He also shares techniques for reconnecting with estranged loved ones, enhancing relationships through intentional dialogue and daily practices.

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

Luck isn't just random chance—it's a hidden design that can be navigated. Discover how intuition acts as a biological radar, helping you spot opportunities others miss. Learn about the concept of 'settling for silver' as a strategic move rather than a compromise. The discussion explores the invisible structures shaping luck, like college admissions and equity. John shares his personal journey of overcoming adversity to design his own luck, providing listeners with practical steps to intentionally map their paths to success.