Passion Struck with John R. Miles

In this Passion Struck episode, I sit down with Tien Tzuo—visionary founder and CEO of Zuora, bestselling author of Subscribed and Founders, Keepers, and one of the early architects of Salesforce—to explore how agility, transformation, and purpose can redefine not just business success but personal fulfillment. Together, we explore why the future belongs to those who prioritize relationships over products, why agility is a...

In episode 652 of Passion Struck, John Miles speaks with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas and Christopher Wong Michaelson, co-authors of Is Your Work Worth It? Together, they unpack the hidden costs of chasing achievement, the myths surrounding “do what you love,” and why meaning—not just money—drives true fulfillment. Drawing from research, stories, and practical insights, they reveal how to align career, calling, and purpose, and w...

In this pivotal episode of the Reclaiming Wellness series, John R. Miles tackles the hidden cost of safetyism — the cultural obsession with eliminating risk — and how it’s creating what he calls the “Exposure Gap.” Drawing on insights from Dr. Wolfgang Linden’s work on exposure therapy, Jonathan Haidt’s research on safetyism, and Dr. Kevin Tracey’s groundbreaking vagus nerve science, John explains why avoiding discomfort w...

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Kevin Tracey, a pioneer in neuroimmunology, to explore the remarkable healing potential of the vagus nerve. Dr. Tracey explains how this hidden superhighway between the brain and body regulates inflammation and how targeted stimulation is providing life-changing results for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and other autoimmune condition...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Wolfgang Linden—renowned psychologist and relationship expert—unpacks the psychology of risk-taking in relationships, career moves, and personal change. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, he explains how fear, avoidance, and repeating old patterns can keep us stuck, and why calculated risks are often the catalyst for growth. Dr. Linden is the author of the new book: The Illusion o...

You’re meditating. Biohacking. Eating clean.

But still feeling… off?

In this solo episode, John R. Miles explores a silent disruptor in our wellness journey: The Absorption Gap.

What if your body isn’t broken—but simply unable to receive the healing you’re offering?

John shares his own story of optimizing everything—yet unraveling—and breaks down the four hidden filters that block absorption:

• Biological (gut, hormones, circ...

In this powerful conversation, John R. Miles is joined by Dr. Erika Schwartz—pioneering physician and author of The New Hormone Solution—breaks down why so many people are silently suffering from hormonal imbalances and misdiagnosed symptoms. From misunderstood menopause and andropause to flawed healthcare models and outdated assumptions about aging, Dr. Schwartz offers a bold new vision for vitality at any age.

She shares ...

In this powerful conversation, psychiatrist and nutritional psychiatry pioneer Dr. Drew Ramsey joins John R. Miles to explore the critical intersection of food, thought, and mental health. Based on insights from his groundbreaking book Healing the Modern Brain, Dr. Ramsey challenges the outdated paradigm of reactive mental healthcare and instead introduces a proactive framework for cultivating mental fitness.

Together, they...

You follow the routine. You track the habits. You optimize everything… and yet you still don’t feel well.

In this kickoff episode of the “Reclaiming Wellness” series, John R. Miles names the elephant in the room: the wellness gap. Why are so many people doing the right things—yet still feeling anxious, exhausted, or misaligned?

John shares the deeper truth behind this quiet crisis and outlines a bold new framework for healin...

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Brian Keane—bestselling author, ultra-endurance athlete, and one of Ireland’s leading voices in health and fitness—to unpack the mindset and habits behind sustainable discipline. Brian shares his personal transformation from professional footballer to fitness entrepreneur, detailing how failure, vulnerability, and identity shifts helped him create a more fulfi...

In this illuminating episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles welcomes Helen Ye Plehn—intuitive spiritual psychologist, Zen Executive Coach, and author of The Aura Color Wheel: What Your Soul’s Aura Reveals About Your Inner Gifts, Wounds, and Lessons. Together, they unpack the soul’s inner knowing and how tuning into it can radically shift how we live, lead, and heal.

Helen reveals how the colors of your aura reflect more t...

In Episode 642 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles reveals how to move beyond the productivity trap and into a life of deep alignment. Drawing from conversations with Oliver Burkeman, Susan Kilrain, and research by Dacher Keltner, John introduces the Awe Map—a 4-part framework (Pause, Prioritize, Protect, Practice) for designing time around what truly matters.

With stories from his recent trip to Maine and reflections on awe, ...

What happens after you’ve lived the dream—and it’s over?

In this profound conversation, astronaut and Navy fighter pilot Susan Kilrain joins Passion Struck to explore her journey from humble beginnings in Georgia to piloting two Space Shuttle missions, becoming one of the few women to fly the F-14 Tomcat, and raising a family while married to a Navy SEAL.

But this isn’t just a story about spaceflight. It’s about grit, reinve...

What if the real key to emotional wellness isn’t in doing more, achieving more, or finally “getting it all together”—but in letting go of the need to?

In this deeply grounding episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Oliver Burkeman, acclaimed author of Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals, to explore why our obsession with control, productivity, and optimization may be the very things keeping us f...

In this essential episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with cybersecurity expert Brad Deflin, founder of Total Digital Security, to explore why digital protection is no longer optional—it’s personal. As cyber threats evolve faster than ever, most people still rely on outdated solutions or remain dangerously unaware of their vulnerabilities.

Brad explains how cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it's a h...

In Episode 638 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Michelle Chalfant—renowned therapist, author, and creator of The Adult Chair model—to explore one of the most transformational frameworks for emotional and relational healing.

At the heart of Michelle’s approach is a deceptively simple but powerful idea: we all live from one of three “chairs”—the Child, the Adolescent, or the Adult. Most of us, without realizing...

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Steven Heine—pioneering cultural psychologist and author of Cultural Psychology and Start Making Sense—joins John R. Miles to explore how the self is not something we’re born with, but something shaped by the cultural systems we inhabit.

Drawing on decades of research, Heine reveals how East and West construct identity in profoundly different ways—affecting everything from how we proce...

In this powerful solo episode, John R. Miles explores the emotional architecture of transformation—starting with shadow awareness and ending with integration. You'll learn how your inner world shapes everything you lead, create, and care about. Through the R.A.R.E. Method (Recognize, Acknowledge, Reveal, Exchange), John offers a practical framework to help you stop reacting from old wounds and start responding from clarity...

In this powerful episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Christopher D. Connors—executive coach to Fortune 100 leaders, bestselling author of The Champion Leader, and top instructor on LinkedIn Learning—to explore what it really takes to lead with impact in today’s fast-moving world.

Christopher breaks down the difference between reactive and intentional leadership and shares the daily practices that help el...