Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Today, you'll discover why some changes feel effortless while others seem impossible to stick with.

In this solo episode, John R. Miles reveals one of the biggest reasons we struggle to change—and it has less to do with willpower than you think.

If you've ever wondered why you keep checking your phone, overworking, getting distracted, or falling back into habits you wanted to leave behind, this episode will completely change how you think about personal growth.

Drawing on powerful conversations with neuroscientist Dr. Dana Suskind and behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz, John explains why the environments around you quietly shape your attention, your decisions, and ultimately the person you're becoming.

This episode will help you:

Understand why your environment influences your behavior more than you realize

Stop blaming yourself for habits your surroundings are quietly reinforcing

See how your home, office, phone, and calendar shape your daily decisions

Recognize why familiar environments become invisible—even while they're changing you

Create spaces that make healthier choices feel easier and more natural

Understand why small environmental changes often create bigger results than willpower alone

Ask one simple question that can transform how you approach every habit

Design a life that supports the person you're trying to become

Here's the truth:

Every environment is teaching you something. The question isn't whether your surroundings are shaping you. It's whether they're helping you become the person you want to be.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.
Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.
Connect with John
Website: https://johnrmiles.com
Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.
Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's episode will change how you think about the places you spend your life.

Most of us believe that if we want to feel happier, more productive, or more connected, we need to change ourselves.

But what if one of the biggest influences on your well-being isn't your mindset—it's your environment?

If you've ever felt drained at work, disconnected at home, or wondered why certain places instantly make you feel calm, creative, or like your best self, this conversation will help you see your surroundings in a completely different way.

Joining me is Leidy Klotz, engineer, award-winning researcher, and bestselling author of In a Good Place. His groundbreaking work explores how the spaces we live, work, and gather in quietly shape our relationships, memories, happiness, creativity, and even our sense of who we are.

Together, we explore why your environment may be one of the most overlooked drivers of flourishing—and the simple changes that can dramatically improve the way you live every day.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why your home and workplace influence your happiness more than you realize

How the places you spend time in shape your memories, relationships, and identity

The surprising reason where you are matters more than you think

Why children experience the world differently—and what adults can learn from them

How to create spaces that reduce stress and increase creativity

The simple "Space Before Screen" habit that can change the way you start every day

Why building and creating with your hands strengthens confidence, belonging, and connection

How your environment quietly communicates your values—to yourself and everyone around you

The truth is, we don't just shape the places we live in. Over time, those places shape us. And once you understand how your environment influences your life, you'll start seeing opportunities for positive change that have been hiding in plain sight.

 

Full shownotes

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Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.
Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.
Connect with John
Website: https://johnrmiles.com
Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.
Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's episode will change how you think about parenting, childhood, and what it really means to be human in the age of AI.

Artificial intelligence is changing education, work, relationships, and nearly every aspect of modern life. But according to today's guest, the greatest challenge isn't what AI is becoming—it's whether we will forget what makes us human.

If you're a parent, grandparent, educator, leader, or simply someone who cares about the future of the next generation, this conversation will completely change how you think about raising children and preparing them for the world ahead.

Joining me is Dr. Dana Suskind, renowned pediatric surgeon, developmental researcher, and bestselling author of the groundbreaking new book Human Raised. After decades of studying how early relationships shape the developing brain, Dana explains why the qualities that matter most in the future aren't the ones AI can master—they're the deeply human capacities that only we can cultivate.

Together, we explore why connection, curiosity, resilience, empathy, and critical thinking have become the most important skills we can pass on to our children—and why those abilities begin developing much earlier than most of us realize.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why the first three years of life shape far more than language and learning

The uniquely human skills AI will never be able to replace

How children develop the lifelong belief that they truly matter

Why "good enough" parenting creates more resilient children than perfect parenting

The hidden cost of optimizing children for achievement instead of flourishing

How AI can either strengthen human relationships or quietly replace them

Why productive struggle is essential for developing creativity, confidence, and emotional resilience

Dana's HOPE Framework for raising flourishing children in an AI-driven world

The future isn't determined by technology alone. It's shaped by the choices we make every day about how we connect, care, and raise the next generation. And as Dana explains, those deeply human choices may be our greatest advantage in an AI-powered world.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.
Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.
Connect with John
Website: https://johnrmiles.com
Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.
Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's episode will change the way you think about personal transformation.

Have you ever caught yourself doing something you promised yourself you wouldn't do again?

Maybe it's overworking when you said you'd slow down.

Maybe it's checking your phone instead of being present.

Maybe it's saying yes when you desperately wanted to say no.

Or maybe you keep returning to the same habits, relationships, or patterns—even though you know they're no longer serving you.

If you've ever wondered, "Why do I keep becoming the same person?" this episode is for you.

Drawing on two powerful conversations with bestselling authors Nick Ortner (Rewired) and Jon Gordon (The Power of Positive Habits), John reveals why lasting change isn't simply about discipline, motivation, or trying harder.

Instead, you'll discover why your brain is wired to choose what's familiar over what's healthy—and how small, repeated actions can teach your nervous system that a new way of living is finally safe.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why your brain naturally chooses familiarity over growth—even when familiar is no longer serving you

The surprising reason discipline alone rarely creates lasting transformation

How your nervous system quietly pulls you back toward old habits, relationships, and behaviors

Why discomfort is often a sign you're growing—not a sign you're failing

How tiny daily habits reshape your identity more effectively than dramatic life changes

Why confidence usually comes after change—not before it

How ordinary repetitions gradually teach your brain that healthier patterns are safe

The connection between neuroscience, habits, and the science of flourishing

Practical ways to stop living on autopilot and begin creating lasting change

Here's the truth:

Real transformation doesn't happen because you finally become more disciplined.

It happens because your mind and body slowly learn to trust a different way of living.

Because flourishing isn't about becoming someone new. It's about becoming at home with the person you've always been capable of becoming.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.
Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.
Connect with John
Website: https://johnrmiles.com
Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.
Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In today's episode, you'll learn why the habits that shape your life aren't the obvious ones—they're the small, daily choices that quietly determine how you think, lead, and respond when life doesn't go according to plan.

If you've ever found yourself battling negative thoughts, comparing your success to everyone else's, or wondering how to stay motivated when the excitement fades, this conversation will give you a practical framework for building habits that create lasting growth.

Joining me is bestselling author and leadership expert Jon Gordon. For more than two decades, Jon has helped Fortune 500 companies, championship sports teams, military organizations, and millions of readers understand how positive habits become the foundation for extraordinary leadership and meaningful lives. In his newest book, The Power of Positive Habits, he shares the simple practices that helped transform his own life—and the lessons he's taught to some of the world's highest-performing organizations.

Together, we explore why success isn't built on dramatic breakthroughs but on consistent decisions that compound over time.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why talking to yourself instead of listening to yourself can completely change your mindset

How to stop comparing your journey to everyone else's and start running your own race

Why trusting your bigger life plan creates resilience during uncertainty

The surprising habit that improves your energy, metabolism, and mental clarity every day

How purpose statements help leaders stay focused when motivation disappears

Why celebrating other people's success accelerates your own growth

How to recognize the "energy vampires" that quietly drain your confidence and performance

Why the legacy you leave is created through thousands of small habits—not one defining moment

The truth is this: your future isn't determined by a single decision. It's shaped by the habits you repeat every day. And as Jon explains, even one small change in how you think, lead, or serve others can create extraordinary results over time.

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.
Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.
Connect with John
Website: https://johnrmiles.com
Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.
Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.