Episodes

  • Why Success Won’t Save You: The Alchemy of Real Change | John R. Miles - EP 771

    Why Success Won’t Save You: The Alchemy of Real Change | John R. Miles - EP 771
    May 22 2026
    In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles reveals why achieving everything you ever wanted can still leave you feeling profoundly empty—and what real, radical transformation actually requires.

    Most of us treat personal growth like a home renovation project: we try to stack better habits, tighter routines, and sharper skills on top of the same old foundation. But true change—the kind that rewires who you are at the core—doesn’t work through simple addition. It demands dissolution.

    In part three of our solo series, Forged in Adversity, John explores the hidden architecture of profound human change through raw, unvarnished conversations with Amy Purdy and Blake Mycoskie, weaving in the timeless, cautionary, and triumphant lessons from The Count of Monte Cristo.

    Together, their stories expose a critical truth: Healing is not about patching up or returning to your old self. It is an alchemical process of burning away the armor that once saved you so that something entirely new can emerge.

    In this episode, you will learn:
    • The Modification Myth: Why trying to fix your life with new habits on a broken foundation is doomed to fail.
    • The Scoreboard Trap: How to stop tying your inherent worth to external achievements and performance.
    • The "Enough" Realization: How Blake Mycoskie transcended the hollow trap of "having it all."
    • Bounce Forward vs. Bounce Back: Why Amy Purdy’s philosophy of innovation is the key to surviving any crisis.
    • The Alchemy of Suffering: How to stop rearranging the furniture in a burning house and allow true transmutation.
    • Radical Identity: How to move from performance-based value to the liberating truth: I am enough simply because I exist.


    If you’ve ever succeeded on paper but felt hollow inside, lost your identity after a major crisis, or sensed that you are being asked to dismantle your old life to make room for something new—this episode will give you the vocabulary and the hope to step directly into the fire.


    Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping you live intentionally, unlock your human potential, and create a life filled with meaning, purpose, and mattering.

    Special Offer: Take control of your health with Function Health—160+ lab tests a year for $365. Join at https://www.functionhealth.com/tcm/passion or use code PASSION25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.

    Full Show Notes & Resources:
    Download the Workbook for episode 771:

    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.
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    21 mins
  • The Courage to Believe You Are Enough | Blake Mycoskie - EP 770

    The Courage to Believe You Are Enough | Blake Mycoskie - EP 770
    May 21 2026
    In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Blake Mycoskie, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of TOMS, to discuss the hidden emotional cost of success, the mental health crisis affecting high-achievers, and the powerful message behind the We Are Enough movement. After building one of the world’s most iconic purpose-driven brands and donating over 100 million shoes, Blake had everything society tells us should create happiness—wealth, recognition, impact, and success. Yet beneath it all, he was privately battling depression, burnout, feelings of inadequacy, and suicidal ideation.

    Through his healing journey, Blake discovered a truth that changed his life: nothing external can heal the belief that you are not enough. This conversation explores why so many people tie their worth to achievement, productivity, comparison, and validation—and how reclaiming intrinsic self-worth can transform mental health, leadership, relationships, and purpose.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • Why success and achievement often fail to create lasting fulfillment
    • How the belief of “not enough” shapes identity, ambition, and mental health
    • The hidden emotional toll of entrepreneurship and high-performance culture
    • Why comparison and external validation keep people trapped in cycles of inadequacy
    • How Blake Mycoskie’s healing journey inspired the We Are Enough movement
    • Practical tools for emotional healing, vulnerability, and self-acceptance
    • Why redefining worth can transform leadership, parenting, and relationships
    • How to stop chasing external validation and build a life rooted in intrinsic value
    • The importance of normalizing conversations around depression, burnout, and mental wellness
    • Why human connection is one of the most powerful antidotes to shame and isolation
    If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, identity loss, emotional emptiness, or the feeling that no matter what you achieve, it’s never enough, this episode offers a powerful roadmap toward healing, authenticity, and self-worth.

    Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping people live intentionally, unlock human potential, and create lives filled with meaning, purpose, and mattering.

    Full Show Notes: https://passionstruck.com/mycoskie-how-to-stop-chasing-external-validation/
    Get the Companion Workbook:
    Join the Movement: We Are Enough

    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.
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    55 mins
  • Amy Purdy on Resilience, Adversity, and How to Bounce Forward | EP 769

    Amy Purdy on Resilience, Adversity, and How to Bounce Forward | EP 769
    May 19 2026
    In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Paralympic medalist and bestselling author Amy Purdy to discuss resilience, adversity, gratitude, and reinvention. Amy shares the story of surviving meningococcal meningitis at age 19, losing both legs below the knee, rebuilding her life through adaptive snowboarding, and later facing another devastating health crisis that inspired her new book Bounce Forward. The conversation explores how to transform grief into hope, navigate uncertainty, build emotional resilience, and create meaning through hardship.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Amy Purdy transformed unimaginable adversity into purpose and possibilityWhy resilience is about “bouncing forward,” not bouncing backThe mindset shift that helped Amy rebuild her identity after losing both legsHow uncertainty can become a gateway to growth and reinventionWhy Paralympians often develop a deeper relationship with purpose and meaningPractical tools for moving from grief to hopeHow gratitude can reshape your perspective during difficult seasonsWhy taking small, intentional steps creates lasting momentumThe importance of passion, creativity, and self-definition in overcoming hardshipHow to stop letting adversity define your futureIf you’ve ever faced loss, uncertainty, burnout, identity shifts, physical challenges, or moments where life forced you to rebuild from the ground up, this conversation offers powerful insights on resilience, hope, and living beyond perceived limits.Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to helping people live intentionally, unlock human potential, and create lives filled with meaning, purpose, and mattering.Limited Time Offer – Check out Function Health— 160+ lab tests a year for $365. Join at https://www.functionhealth.com/tcm/passion or use gift code PASSION25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.Full Show Notes: https://passionstruck.com/amy-purdy-how-to-overcome-adversity/Get the Companion Workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/identity-after-trauma-amy-purdyOrder Amy Purdy's new book, Bounce Forward: https://amzn.to/4tItuU4Connect 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_MilesChildren’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.DisclaimerThe 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.
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • The Prison of Protection: Why Your Armor is Blocking Your Life | John R. Miles - EP 768

    The Prison of Protection: Why Your Armor is Blocking Your Life | John R. Miles - EP 768
    May 15 2026
    What if the armor that once saved your life is now the very thing keeping you from living it?

    In this second solo installment of the Forged in Adversity series, John R. Miles explores the Recovery phase of the human journey. He dives into the "Birth of Survival Identities," explaining how the nervous system prioritizes safety over authenticity, creating protectors such as the perfectionist, the achiever, and the intellectual.

    Drawing on the cinematic archetypes of Iron Man and Will Hunting, John breaks down the distinction between Armor (protection) and Strength (capacity). He challenges the listener to move beyond "polishing the hood" of their external performance and start the internal work of reclaiming their Generative Drive.

    Key Discussion Points:
    • The Birth of Survival Identities: Why the brain creates adaptive strategies to navigate emotional unpredictability and trauma.
    • The Iron Man Paradox: Lessons from Tony Stark on how survival strategies can rescue us in one season only to imprison us in the next.
    • Will Hunting and Emotional Safety: Why the collapse of armor is the prerequisite for true connection and intimacy.
    • Armor vs. Strength: Redefining resilience as emotional flexibility and the capacity to feel without being destroyed.
    • Taxonomy of Protection: Identifying the Achiever, the Caretaker, and the Intellectual armor in your own life.
    • Previewing Transformation: A look ahead at next week’s guest, Amy Purdy, and the shift from survival to significance.
    Full Shownotes: https://passionstruck.com/survival-identity-john-r-miles/
    Explore the Companion Episode Workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/survival-identity-emotional-armor

    Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering.

    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.
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    29 mins
  • What to Do When Work Hijacks Your Life | Dr. Guy Winch - EP 767

    What to Do When Work Hijacks Your Life | Dr. Guy Winch - EP 767
    May 14 2026
    In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with clinical psychologist, TED speaker, and bestselling author Dr. Guy Winch to explore the hidden psychological effects of burnout, chronic work stress, emotional exhaustion, and the modern culture of overwork.

    Drawing from his new book Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life, Dr. Winch explains why so many high performers feel emotionally numb, disconnected, and trapped in survival mode despite outward success. He reveals how work stress quietly spreads into every area of life—impacting relationships, identity, mental health, emotional presence, and even our ability to experience meaning and joy.

    Together, John and Dr. Winch discuss burnout recovery, work-life balance, rumination, emotional regulation, workplace pressure, boundaries, and why many people unknowingly normalize functioning while emotionally disconnected. They also explore how chronic stress keeps the nervous system in a constant state of activation and why intentional recovery is essential for emotional health and resilience.

    Throughout the conversation, John reflects on his own experiences with corporate burnout, emotional numbness, and the feeling of insignificance that can emerge when work slowly consumes every other part of life.

    This episode is part of Passion Struck’s May series: Forged in Adversity — How Struggle Shapes Meaning, Resilience, and Transformation.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • The hidden emotional signs of burnout
    • Why high performers often feel emotionally disconnected
    • How chronic work stress impacts relationships and mental health
    • The difference between exhaustion and emotional numbness
    • Why rumination keeps people trapped in stress loops
    • How survival mode gradually becomes identity
    • Practical strategies for burnout recovery and emotional resilience
    • Why intentional recovery matters for emotional well-being and performance
    If you’ve ever felt emotionally exhausted, detached from yourself, consumed by work stress, or unable to fully disconnect from performance mode, this conversation offers practical and psychologically grounded insights for reclaiming your emotional health and life.

    Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering.

    Full Show Notes: https://passionstruck.com/burnout-recovery-guy-winch/
    Get the Companion Workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/when-you-fail-as-yourself

    Order Dr. Guy Winch’s new book, Mind Over Grind: https://amzn.to/4nw3PMW

    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.
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    57 mins
  • How to Rebuild Mental Health and Heal Emotional Wounds | Dr. Paul Conti - EP 766

    How to Rebuild Mental Health and Heal Emotional Wounds | Dr. Paul Conti - EP 766
    May 12 2026
    What if healing isn’t about asking, “What’s wrong with me?”—but understanding what’s happening inside of me?

    In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with psychiatrist and trauma expert Dr. Paul Conti to explore how adversity reshapes our emotional lives, identity, and sense of self—and what it truly means to heal what hardship leaves behind.

    Drawing from his new book What’s Going Right, Dr. Conti challenges the traditional way we think about mental health. Instead of reducing people to diagnoses or dysfunction, he explains how unresolved emotional pain, shame, trauma, and chronic stress quietly shape the stories we tell ourselves and the way we experience the world.

    John and Dr. Conti also explore emotional recovery after adversity, how trauma impacts self-worth and identity, why so many people feel emotionally disconnected, and what it takes to rebuild mental health from the inside out. Dr. Conti also shares powerful insights on cynicism, self-awareness, emotional repair, and what he calls the “generative drive”—our innate human capacity to heal, reconnect, and move toward wholeness even after hardship.

    This conversation is part of Passion Struck’s May series: Forged in Adversity — How Struggle Shapes Meaning, Resilience, and Transformation.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • How adversity reshapes identity and emotional health
    • Why emotional wounds often linger after hardship ends
    • The hidden causes of emotional disconnection
    • How self-awareness supports emotional healing
    • Why rebuilding mental health begins internally
    • Practical insights for emotional recovery and resilience
    If you’ve ever struggled with emotional exhaustion, disconnection, burnout, or the feeling that adversity changed you internally, this episode offers a powerful framework for healing and recovery.

    Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering.

    Full Show Notes: https://passionstruck.com/rebuild-mental-health-heal-emotional-wounds/
    Get the Companion Workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/generative-drive-emotional-disconnection-paul-conti

    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.
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Why Does Adversity Reveal Character Instead of Building It? | John R. Miles - EP 765

    Why Does Adversity Reveal Character Instead of Building It? | John R. Miles - EP 765
    May 8 2026
    What if the struggle currently breaking you is actually the diagnostic tool required to reveal who you truly are?

    In this kickoff to the Forged in Adversity series, John R. Miles challenges the conventional wisdom that struggle "builds" character. Instead, he presents a compelling case—backed by neurobiology and psychology—that adversity serves as a diagnostic tool, revealing and refining the character already within us.


    John leverages the cinematic metaphors of the Island from Cast Away and the Pit from The Dark Knight Rises to explain the two distinct phases of human endurance: Accepting the Baseline and Identifying the Barriers. This solo episode anchors the Endure phase of the series by integrating the scientific and clinical perspectives of this week’s featured experts.

    Key Discussion Points:
    • The Diagnostic Power of Adversity: Why struggle isn’t a construction crew, but a tool for revealing eulogy virtues over resume virtues.
    • The Science of the Island (The Baseline): Drawing on insights from Kathy Giusti, John explores finding agency inside a fatal diagnosis and why you cannot solve a reality you are still resisting.
    • Neurological Recalibration: Building on the work of Dr. Majid Fotuhi, John explains how the brain enters a state of heightened plasticity and forced reorganization when the old map no longer works.
    • The Pit Phase (The Barriers): Analyzing the ropes of ego and false security that prevent true transformation.
    • Previewing Recovery: A transition into the work of Dr. Paul Conti on the Structure of Self and why we must move from a mindset of what is wrong to understanding the internal engine.

    Full Shownotes: https://passionstruck.com/why-does-adversity-reveal-character-instead-of/

    Explore the Companion Episode Workbook:

    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.
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    20 mins
  • Regrow Your Hippocampus: The Science of an Invincible Brain | Dr. Majid Fotuhi – EP 764

    Regrow Your Hippocampus: The Science of an Invincible Brain | Dr. Majid Fotuhi – EP 764
    May 7 2026
    What if protecting your brain is not about fighting time, but about learning how to partner with it?

    In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Majid Fotuhi, world-renowned neurologist and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, to explore the revolutionary science of neuroplasticity. Dr. Fotuhi, author of The Invincible Brain, challenges the conventional narrative that cognitive decline is irreversible, proving instead that the human brain is a highly adaptive muscle capable of physical growth at any age.


    Through extensive clinical research, Dr. Fotuhi dismantles the fear surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia by explaining how modifiable factors impact brain volume. He provides evidence-based strategies for physically regrowing the hippocampus and sharpening cognitive performance in as little as 12 weeks.



    Key Discussion Points:
    • The Neuroplasticity Revolution: Why cognitive decline is not a one-way street and how the brain reorganizes itself during periods of adversity.
    • The Five Pillars of Brain Health: A practical blueprint for optimizing cognitive function through intentional daily habits.
    • Hippocampus Regeneration: The clinical reality of increasing brain volume and reversing the symptoms of "permanent" decline.
    • Vascular Health vs. Neurodegeneration: Understanding the critical biological differences that determine long-term mental clarity.
    • Purpose as a Biological Shield: Why a strong sense of purpose—or Generative Drive—is one of the most powerful shields against the aging process.

    Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering.

    Full Show notes: https://passionstruck.com/the-invincible-brain-majid-fotuhi/

    Get the Companion Workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/reversing-cognitive-decline-in-12-weeks-majid-fotuhi

    Thank You to Our Sponsors. Get Huel today with 15% OFF using code PASSION at huel.com/passion. New customers only.

    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.
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    1 hr and 14 mins