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.Check the full shownotes here: https://passionstruck.com/how-to-go-all-in/All links gathered here — including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesThe Becoming Workbook: Build Discipline. Expand Identity. Choose Your Standard.Reflection prompts + daily structure tools → Download the Companion WorkbookIn 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.

What if the cure for modern loneliness… was sitting right beside you?In this powerful solo episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles explores the ancient, biological, and emotional forces behind the human–dog bond and why it may be one of the most potent antidotes to isolation in our accelerated, camera-off, hyper-distracted world.Drawing on insights from Elias Weiss Friedman (The Dogist) and Amina AlTai, John unpacks how dogs became our first empathy teachers, how belonging shapes every aspect of human flourishing, and why connection is the real currency of a meaningful life.You’ll discover how a 14,000-year-old partnership rewired our brains for companionship, what “the belonging equation” reveals about modern relationships, and why the micro-moments we share with dogs hold the blueprint for healing loneliness in families, teams, workplaces, and communities.This episode continues our acclaimed series, The Irreplaceables — a journey through the human capacities no algorithm can replace.If you’ve ever felt disconnected, invisible, or hungry for deeper relationships, this episode is your invitation to rebuild the bonds that make life matter.Read the full show notes 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 companion workbook:The Connection Compass — available now at TheIgnitedLife.netInside, you’ll find reflection prompts, science-backed exercises, and conversation starters to help you strengthen your empathy muscles, audit your relationships, and rebuild belonging in your everyday life.🧠 About the EpisodeDiscover how the human–dog bond became one of evolution’s greatest hacks for emotional regulation and safety.Learn why belonging isn’t accidental — it’s built through predictable patterns of trust, attention, and repeated positive regard.Explore the neuroscience behind loneliness, and why dogs may activate the same circuitry that heals social pain.Understand how modern work is unintentionally designing disconnection — and what Amina AlTai’s research reveals about rebuilding community and purpose.Gain practical steps to create a “purpose-aligned tribe” in your life: at home, at work, and in the relationships that matter most.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.

Amina AlTai, executive coach and author of The Ambition Trap, joins John R. Miles to expose why top achievers burn out despite “having it all.”They dismantle hustle culture’s grip, swap wound-driven ambition for gift-aligned purpose, and unpack Amina’s 3 E’s (Excellence, Enjoyment, Ease) plus the Resentment Line to end self-abandonment.From her near-death wake-up to systemic ambition penalties, they prove rest is resistance and wholeness at work heals teams and organizations.Listen + Watch + Go DeeperFull shownotes here: https://passionstruck.com/amina-altai-the-ambition-trap/All episode resources—including guest links, John’s 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 Amina AlTai, visit aminaaltai.com.🧠 About the EpisodeThe Wake-Up Call: How Amina’s workaholism and toxic relationship to success nearly cost her life—and what it took to rebuild both her health and her definition of success.Painful vs. Purposeful Ambition: The crucial difference between ambition driven by wounds and ambition driven by purpose—and how to know which one is guiding you.The 3 E’s Framework: How identifying what brings Excellence, Enjoyment, and Ease helps you uncover your inner genius and design a life aligned with it.The Resentment Line: Why burnout begins when we live below our “resentment line”—and how to set boundaries that honor your worth.The Ambition Penalty: How gender, race, and identity shape the way ambition is judged—and why historically excluded groups face a double bind when they strive.Rewriting Hustle Culture: Why “working more” doesn’t make you more valuable, and how leaders can redefine productivity through presence and permission.Collective Wholeness: What it means to move from individual achievement to collective ambition—a model of success where we rise by being more ourselves, together.🌱 Join The Ignited Life CommunityIf this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues.Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.🔗 Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net💫 Support the MovementEveryone deserves to feel valued and important.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.

In this heartwarming and insightful conversation, John R. Miles sits down with Elias Weiss Friedman, the creator behind The Dogist, the beloved photo-documentary project with over 11 million followers, and author of This Dog Will Change Your Life.Together, they explore how dogs have become not only our best friends but also our greatest teachers: modeling presence, emotional regulation, and unconditional love. From rescuing animals in Puerto Rico to photographing 50,000 dogs around the world, Elias reveals how each encounter is a story of joy, resilience, and connection.John and Elias also discuss why dogs are “factories of empathy,” how they help combat loneliness and trauma, and what happens when we slow down long enough to really see and be seen by them.This episode is a celebration of light, loyalty, and the life-changing power of our four-legged companions.Read the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/how-dogs-help-us-remember-we-matter/↗Listen + Watch + Go DeeperAll episode resources—including guest links, John’s 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 Elias Weiss Friedman and The Dogist, visit thedogist.com.🧠 About the EpisodeThe Origin of The Dogist: How a layoff, a camera, and a love for storytelling sparked one of the most uplifting social media movements of our time.Dogs as Social Architects: Why walking a dog can transform neighbors into community and strangers into friends.The Light They Bring: How dogs embody optimism, presence, and nonjudgment—showing us what it means to live without ego.Healing Companions: From veterans with PTSD to overworked nurses, the science of how dogs regulate our emotions and restore hope.Human Invention, Canine Connection: Why breeds are a reflection of us—and what our relationship with dogs says about humanity itself.Rescue and Responsibility: The grit behind true rescue work and what it really takes to save a life.The Dog-Human Mirror: How dogs reflect who we are—and how, through them, we evolve into better versions of ourselves.Join The Ignited Life CommunityIf this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues.Each week, John shares 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.🛍️ 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 most advanced intelligence on Earth isn’t artificial, but emotional?In this opening episode of the new Passion Struck series, The Irreplaceables: Rediscovering Human Worth in an Age of Acceleration, host John R. Miles explores the rarest skill of all in the age of AI: how to feel.We’re racing to make machines seem human while forgetting how to be.Through powerful storytelling and science-backed insights, John reveals how we’ve optimized ourselves into emotional flatlines—mistaking numbness for strength and speed for progress.Drawing from leading experts like Dr. Zac Seidler, Dr. Zelana Montminy, and Dr. Susan David, this episode unpacks:Why emotional awareness is the root of every good thing—love, leadership, creativity, and connection.How “high-functioning despair” is stealing purpose from millions (especially men).The neuroscience behind emotional agility—and how to build it even if you’ve been numb for years.Simple Agility Reps you can practice daily to feel human again.Why the true danger isn’t AI replacing us—but us replacing ourselves.If you’ve ever felt like you’re running faster yet feeling less, this episode is your call to pause, breathe, and remember what makes you irreplaceable.Read the full show notes here:Listen + Watch + Go DeeperAll episode resources—including 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 go deeper, download the free companion guide:The Emotional Agility Toolkit — available now at https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/what-ai-cant-feel-and-why-im-scaredInside, you’ll find prompts and “Agility Reps” to help you rebuild emotional awareness, reconnect with your values, and reclaim your humanity in an automated 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 happiness isn’t something you chase—but something you build through resilience, purpose, and self-compassion?In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Zelana Montminy, a behavioral scientist, positive psychologist, and author of Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction to unpack the deeper science of happiness—and why our culture has misunderstood it for so long.Dr. Montminy, one of the foremost voices in positive psychology, reveals that true well-being doesn’t come from constant positivity, but from learning how to transform discomfort into growth. Her evidence-based approach draws on neuroscience, behavioral research, and decades of clinical work to help people cultivate resilient joy—the kind that endures even through pain, loss, and uncertainty.Together, John and Dr. Montminy explore the difference between “feeling good” and “doing well,” the myth of toxic positivity, and the powerful connection between meaning, mattering, and mental health.This episode continues our new series, “The Irreplaceables”—a deep look at the people, mindsets, and moments that make life meaningful, and why what matters most can never be replicated.👉 Read the full show notes:Listen + Watch + Go DeeperAll episode resources—including guest links, Passion Struck books, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store—are gathered here:👉 linktr.ee/John_R_MilesTo learn more about Dr. Zelana Montminy, visit zelanamontminy.com.💡 About the EpisodeDiscover why chasing happiness keeps us stuck—and how to cultivate resilient joy instead.Learn the four pillars of emotional fitness that anchor Dr. Montminy’s research: perspective, purpose, connection, and self-awareness.Understand how discomfort and emotional friction can serve as catalysts for growth.Explore the neuroscience of resilience and why our brains are wired more for survival than satisfaction.Hear Dr. Montminy’s personal story of loss and reinvention—and how it reshaped her understanding of well-being.Gain practical tools to strengthen your psychological flexibility and reconnect with what truly matters.🌿 Fuel Your Body, Fuel Your PurposeGet 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen — clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.Use code PASSIONSTRUCK at bubsnaturals.comReclaim your energy from the inside out.Get 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies from Timeline, powered by clinically proven Urolithin A.Head to timeline.com/passionstruck.Join The Ignited Life CommunityIf this episode sparked reflection, The Ignited Life is where transformation continues.Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, neuroscience-backed tools, and practical reflections to help you live more intentionally.🔗 Subscribe free at TheIgnitedLife.net❤️ Support the Mattering 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.