Passion Struck with John R. Miles

What if becoming who you are meant to be depends less on adding more and more… and more on eliminating the things holding you back?In this special EPISODE 700 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with fellow veteran and former Navy SEAL combat operator Brent Gleeson, bestselling author of Embrace the Suck and All In.This milestone conversation goes deep into identity transformation under real pressure: military service, combat, losing a father, and rebuilding integrity from the inside out. Brent shares how the quietest decision of his life, choosing sobriety, unlocked discipline, connection, and clarity he didn’t know he was missing.If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who you know you could become, this one is for you.Listen. Watch. Go Deeper. All links gathered here — including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel: https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the Companion Workbook The Becoming Workbook: Build Discipline. Expand Identity. Choose Your Standard. Reflection prompts + daily structure tools → In this episode, you will learn:How comfort becomes a slow fade away from the person you’re meant to beThe identity crisis many veterans face after serviceHow to rebuild structure, purpose, and integrity from the inside outWhy becoming is a daily choice, not a dramatic reinventionHow to eliminate the habits that sabotage your potentialSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe 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.

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 DeeperAll 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_MilesDownload the Companion WorkbookThe Choose Yourself Again Activation Guide is available now at TheIgnitedLife.net.Support the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe 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 DeeperAll 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_MilesDownload the Companion WorkbookThe Becoming Workbook: How to Let Go of Old Scripts and Step Into the Next Version of YourselfIncludes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for loosening rigid thinking and building creative flexibility.https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/improv-skills-for-personal-growthIn 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 funnySupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe 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 DeeperAll 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_MilesDownload the companion workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/why-you-ignore-intuitionIncludes 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 revengeSupport the MovementEveryone 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 DeeperAll 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_MilesDownload the companion workbook: The Clarity Reset ToolkitAvailable at TheIgnitedLife.netIncludes 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 revengeSupport the MovementEveryone 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 DeeperAll 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_MilesDownload the companion workbook: The Connected Life ToolkitAvailable now at TheIgnitedLife.netIncludes 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 connectionSupport the MovementEveryone 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 DeeperAll 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_MilesDownload the free companion workbook: The Wavebreaker Healing ToolkitAvailable 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 yourselfSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://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 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 DeeperAll resources, including Passion Struck, You Matter, Luma, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering Store, are collected here:👉 linktr.ee/John_R_MilesWant to apply to today’s episode?Download the free companion workbook: The Human Edge Field Guide, available now at TheIgnitedLife.netInside, 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 MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.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 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 DeeperAll episode resources, including You Matter, Luma, Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, and YouTube channels, are gathered here: https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the free companion workbook: The Brain Bully Breakthrough ToolkitAvailable at TheIgnitedLife.net, our Substack.A step-by-step guide to quiet your inner critic, rebuild confidence, and communicate with intention.About the EpisodeGet 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 behindSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://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 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 DeeperAll 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_MilesTo go deeper, download the free companion workbook:The Disruption Decoder: available now at TheIgnitedLife.netInside, 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 EpisodeIn 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 disruptionSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.StartMattering.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.