Passion Struck with John R. Miles

In this powerful episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Olympic silver medalist and skateboarding legend Tom Schaar, the first person in history to land a 1080—a mind-blowing three full spins mid-air. But Tom’s story isn’t just about defying gravity. It’s about defying doubt, embracing failure, and staying grounded while the world spins around you.

At just 12 years old, Tom did what no one had ever done in skateboar...

What if the key to unlocking your next big career move isn’t just mentorship—but sponsorship?

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Rosalind Chow, a leading organizational behavior expert at Carnegie Mellon and author of The Doors You Can Open. Together, they unpack the transformative power of sponsorship—where people in positions of power actively advocate, endorse, and open doors for others in wa...

In Episode 601 of the Passion Struck podcast, host John R. Miles sits down with renowned Tibetan Buddhist meditation master, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, for a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends. Known for his radiant smile, open heart, and profound clarity, Rinpoche shares a perspective on emotional healing and inner peace that turns conventional thinking upside down.

Rather than offering a roadmap to “fix yourself...

We tend to think of serendipity as something that just happens—a lucky break, a happy coincidence, a moment of chance. But what if it’s something deeper?

In episode 600 of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles explores a powerful idea: serendipity becomes mattering the moment someone feels seen without expectation. It’s not just about luck. It’s about recognition—and how those unexpected, seemingly small moments can change the air we’r...

Imagine that your thoughts, cravings—even your emotions—aren’t entirely your own. That they’re being driven by trillions of microscopic organisms living inside you. It sounds like science fiction, but in Episode 599 of Passion Struck, Dr. Steven Gundry explains why this is scientific fact.

Dr. Gundry, a former cardiothoracic surgeon turned gut health expert, joined me to discuss his new book The Gut-Brain Paradox and the profound co...

In this deeply moving and empowering episode, John R. Miles sits down with Isabelle and Laura Hof—daughters of the legendary Wim Hof and trailblazers in their own right. They’ve taken the powerful techniques behind the Wim Hof Method and tailored them specifically for women through their new book Secrets of the Icewomen.

This conversation explores the intersection of science, personal healing, and feminine strength. Laura and Isabel...

In Episode 597 of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Gordon Flett, a pioneering psychologist whose decades of research have shaped our understanding of mattering—the feeling of being seen, valued, and significant.

Dr. Flett, author of The Psychology of Mattering and Mattering as a Core Need in Children and Adolescents, explains how mattering is distinct from belonging and self-esteem and why its absence—what he ca...

In Episode 596 of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Emily Falk, a leading neuroscientist and expert in the science of behavior change. Falk is the Vice Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and the author of the Next Big Idea Club Must-Read book What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change.

This powerful conversation explores how our brains weigh choices, how ou...

In Episode 595 of the Passion Struck podcast, host John R. Miles sits down with bestselling author and spoken-word artist Humble the Poet to explore the emotional terrain of anxiety, self-worth, and resilience in a world that never slows down. 

They discuss themes from Humble’s new book Unanxious: 50 Simple Truths to Help Overthinkers Feel Less Stress and More Calm, including how modern society fuels anxiety, the trap of overachieve...

What if the greatest disruption in business isn’t AI—it's a crisis of human connection? What if the leadership skills we once dismissed as “soft” are now the most essential powers for thriving in a fractured, fast-changing world?

That’s exactly what today’s guest, Dr. Christie Smith, unpacks in her groundbreaking new book Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership.

C...

What if the secret to lasting transformation isn’t bold, sweeping moves—but quiet, intentional actions?

In this thought-provoking episode, John R. Miles interviews Stanford University psychologist Dr. Gregory Walton, whose groundbreaking research has reshaped how we understand belonging, mindset, and behavior change. Walton’s new book, Ordinary Magic, reveals how small, psychologically wise interventions can catalyze extraordinary c...

In Episode 592 of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles welcomes renowned organizational psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Tasha Eurich to discuss her powerful new book, Shatterproof: How to Overcome Adversity with Strength and Resilience, which debuts today.

Full Shownotes here:  https://passionstruck.com/tasha-eurich-how-to-create-a-shatterproof-life/

Together, they dive deep into:

• The truth about resilience—and why it’s not ...

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Kurt Gray, professor of psychology and author of the new book Outraged, joins John R. Miles to explore why we live in such a morally charged world—and what we can do to repair it. Together, they unpack the psychology behind outrage, the evolutionary roots of our moral minds, and why our perceptions of harm often drive us apart.

Kurt shares powerful stories and groundbreaking research to help us ...

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Donald Miller, bestselling author and founder of StoryBrand, to explore the transformational power of storytelling. They discuss the release of Building a StoryBrand 2.0 and how leaders can use narrative frameworks to connect, inspire, and drive action. Donald reveals how storytelling applies not just in marketing, but in family, community, and self-leadership.

Tog...

What if the secret to career fulfillment isn’t a promotion, a new title, or more success — but something much deeper?

In this powerful episode, John R. Miles is joined by Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, co-authors of Meaningful Work, to explore the essential ingredients behind truly engaging and fulfilling work. Drawing from years of research and leadership development, they break down how to cultivate meaning in the workplace through p...

In this powerful and inspiring episode of Passion Struck, Olympic figure skater and gold medalist Vincent Zhou joins John R. Miles to reveal what it truly takes to make your gold medal dreams a reality. From his early days as a fiercely competitive child to landing the first-ever quad Lutz in Olympic history, Vincent shares the grit, sacrifice, and relentless mindset required to compete at the highest level.

He opens up about the un...

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles welcomes Anne-Marie Anderson, an accomplished broadcaster and author of "Cultivating Audacity." They discuss the importance of audacity in personal and professional growth, the role of preparation, and how to build a supportive "front row" of trusted individuals in your life. Anne-Marie shares her journey in sports broadcasting, the challenges she faced, and how she navigated he...

In this episode of Passion Struck, John welcomes Nir Eyal, a behavioral designer and author known for his insights into human behavior and technology's impact on our lives. Eyal shares his journey into understanding distraction, rooted in his childhood experiences with obesity and emotional eating. He emphasizes that the real challenge today is not the abundance of information but the ability to focus our attention and turn that in...

Financial security isn't just about numbers—it’s about emotions, security, and having control over your future. In this episode of Passion Struck, I bring you an insightful conversation from the Systems Catalyst podcast, featuring Carrie Joy Grimes (CJ), the founder of WorkMoney, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Americans save money, increase their financial stability, and build a better life.

With over 8.1 million members, WorkMone...