You built the life you were supposed to want. So why doesn't it feel like enough? Passion Struck is the #1 Health and Fitness podcast — and it exists to answer exactly that question. I'm John R. Miles — Navy veteran, former Fortune 50 executive, bestselling author — and I built this show because I lived the "successful but empty" version of life myself, and I wanted to find a better way. Each week, I sit down with the world's top voices in neuroscience, psychology, medicine, and elite performance — including Angela Duckworth, Susan Cain, Robert Waldinger, Daniel Amen, and Ryan Holiday — to…
Passion Struck host John R. Miles interviews Shawn Achor, a positive psychology researcher and bestselling author, to explore how our beliefs shape happiness, success, and future outcomes. The episode centers on Achor's research into the power of beliefs—not as wishful thinking, but as grounded convictions connected…
Worth it if you're interested in positive psychology, want to understand how beliefs drive outcomes, or seek practical frameworks for building grounded optimism and a sense of mattering.
Passion Struck host John R. Miles sits down with Mick Hunt (from Mick Unplugged) to discuss Miles' new book, The Mattering Effect. The core premise is a paradox: you can achieve conventional success—be productive, admired, needed—and still feel like you don't matter. Miles shares his personal journey, including a…
Worth it if you struggle with feeling empty despite external success, or are drawn to personal development narratives and frameworks for rebuilding self-worth.
John R. Miles launches his book 'The Mattering Effect' by exploring five foundational insights into why burnout, loneliness, and disconnection plague modern life—even among successful, productive people. The core thesis reframes these struggles not as individual failings but as systemic issues rooted in a fundamental…
Worth it if you're drawn to philosophical frameworks about meaning and belonging, or curious about Miles' 'Mattering Effect' book before committing to it.
This is the finale of Passion Struck's 'Adaptive Human' series, in which host John R. Miles synthesizes lessons from ten prior conversations with guests including Angela Duckworth, Martin Seligman, David Epstein, Cole Brauer, and Alec Litowitz. The episode introduces the concept of 'The Great Erasure'—the cultural…
Worth it if you've followed the entire Adaptive Human series and are interested in philosophical frameworks about identity, productivity culture, and meaning—but not if you're seeking research-backed strategies or practical guidance.
Passion Struck episode 827 features Alec Litowitz, investor and founder of Magnetar Capital, discussing his concept of adaptability as a meta-skill for thriving in uncertain environments. The episode centers on Litowitz's core metaphor: you're not stuck, you're swimming in the wrong direction. This framework…
Worth it if you're interested in decision-making frameworks, leadership philosophy, or how to think about AI's broader impact beyond tool adoption.
Passion Struck host John R. Miles interviews Dr. Peter Gray, a developmental psychologist and author of 'Restoring Childhood,' to discuss how modern parenting and education have stripped children of independence and free play—with significant consequences for their mental health and development. Gray argues that…
Worth it if you're a parent questioning achievement-focused parenting culture, interested in child development research, or seeking practical ways to foster independence and autonomy in your children.
John R. Miles explores the cognitive bias that draws human attention toward visible, dramatic, and immediate things while overlooking quiet, foundational elements that create lasting value. The episode opens with the famous Joshua Bell experiment—where a world-class violinist playing a $3.5 million Stradivarius in a…
Worth it if you're interested in decision-making psychology, organizational culture, or personal reflection on where you're investing attention—less so if you need evidence-based health or fitness guidance.
Passion Struck episode 824 features Scott Simon and Gregory Stock discussing their new book, *The Book of Questions: Courage*. The episode centers on the thesis that asking yourself hard questions requires more courage than taking physical action, and that the questions we avoid are often the ones we most need to…
Worth it if you're interested in personal development, self-discovery through questioning, and philosophical exploration of courage and vulnerability—less relevant if you expect evidence-based health or fitness guidance.
Passion Struck episode 823 features Professor Alex Edmans from London Business School discussing psychological biases that lead intelligent, well-informed people to make poor decisions. Edmans, a finance professor and Fellow of the British Academy, draws on his book 'The Madness of Markets' to explain how cognitive…
Worth it if you want to understand your own decision-making blind spots and appreciate behavioral finance concepts explained by a credible academic in an accessible format.
John R. Miles explores 'The Verification Trap'—the tendency to wait for external validation before believing we're capable or worthy enough to move forward. The episode weaves together two case studies: sailor Cole Brauer, who circumnavigated the world solo without ever receiving the apology or reversal she'd been…
Worth it if you struggle with self-doubt despite external success, or find yourself waiting for validation or apologies before moving forward.
Marisa G. Franco, a psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Platonic, returns to discuss her new book Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment. The episode challenges the conventional wisdom that achievement, accomplishments, and positive affirmations build self-worth. Franco argues…
Worth it if you struggle with achievement-based self-worth, feel perpetually inadequate despite external success, or are interested in attachment theory and psychological healing frameworks.
This episode features Cole Brauer, a sailor who circumnavigated the world solo after being told she was too short to compete in ocean racing. The conversation centers on her journey of self-belief in the face of rejection and doubt. Cole's story spans her unconventional path: growing up on Long Island, moving across…
Worth it if you're drawn to motivational narratives about overcoming self-doubt and pursuing unconventional dreams, or interested in adventure stories with psychological depth.
John R. Miles explores the counterintuitive idea that unlimited freedom and options can paradoxically limit adaptability and creativity. Drawing on conversations with psychologist Martin Seligman (author of *Agency*) and researcher David Epstein (author of *Inside the Box*), Miles argues that real adaptability isn't…
Worth it if you're interested in productivity, personal development, or how constraints can fuel creativity, and you appreciate evidence-based psychology applied to real-world challenges.
Passion Struck host John R. Miles interviews David Epstein, bestselling author of Range and The Sports Gene, to discuss his new book Inside the Box. The central thesis challenges the modern assumption that unlimited freedom and options lead to better outcomes. Instead, Epstein argues that constraints can unlock…
Worth it if you're interested in productivity, innovation strategy, or challenging assumptions about freedom and choice, and want concrete examples of how constraints drive breakthroughs.
