<p>What if revenge is not a moral failure, but a biological addiction?</p><p>In this gripping episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Yale psychiatrist James Kimmel Jr<strong>.</strong>, author of <em>The Science of Revenge</em>, to unravel one of the most dangerous and misunderstood forces shaping our lives, our politics, our relationships, and our inner worlds.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong>Get the full episode show notes here: </strong></p><p>Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper</p><p>All episode links are gathered here, including my books <em>You Matter, Luma,</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel:</p><p> <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</a></p><p><strong>Download the companion workbook: The Clarity Reset Toolkit</strong></p><p> Available at TheIgnitedLife.net</p><p> Includes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for breaking harmful emotional loops.</p><p>In this episode, you will learn:</p><ul><li>Why revenge produces the same dopamine surge as addictive substances</li><li>Why unresolved grievance becomes a compulsive loop</li><li>The childhood trauma that shaped James’s life mission</li><li>How the brain mistakes retaliation for relief and reward</li><li>How political polarization and online conflict are fueled by biological craving</li><li>Why forgiveness quiets the pain circuitry and restores clarity</li><li>How to choose healing over the temporary high of revenge</li></ul><p><strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.</p><p> Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p> <a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://StartMattering.com</a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>What if loneliness isn’t a personal failure, but a biological signal that you’re built for connection?</p><p>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, <em>Where Did Everybody Go?</em> unpacks one of the most misunderstood challenges of modern life: the loneliness crisis.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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..</p><p>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.</p><p>Get the full episode show notes here: <a href="https://passionstruck.com/the-loneliness-crisis/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://passionstruck.com/<strong>the-loneliness-crisis</strong>/</a></p><p><strong>Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode links—including my books <em>You Matter, Luma,</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel—are gathered here:</p><p><a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</strong></a></p><p><strong>Download the companion workbook: The Connected Life Toolkit</strong></p><p>Available now at <strong>TheIgnitedLife.net</strong></p><p>Includes reflection prompts, community-building practices, and science-backed tools for strengthening meaningful relationships.</p><p><strong>In this episode, you will learn:</strong></p><p>• Why loneliness is not an emotion but a biological survival signal</p><p>• The real reason half of Americans report feeling lonely (and why it’s not screens)</p><p>• Why kids and teens are the loneliest demographic in the U.S.</p><p>• How the decline of malls, walkable neighborhoods, and third places quietly rewired society</p><p>• Why feeling lonely in a crowd is normal and what your brain is trying to tell you</p><p>• How marginalized communities uniquely experience and overcome disconnection</p><p>• Why storytelling is a powerful tool for belonging and social change</p><p>• Practical steps you can take to rebuild connection</p><p><strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.</p><p>Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p><a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://StartMattering.com</strong></a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>What if the moment your life collapses is not the end of your story, but the beginning of your becoming?</p><p>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 <a href="https://amzn.to/3LYMEF1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Like a Wave We Break</em></a>.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Get the full episode show notes here:</p><p><strong>Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode links, including my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel, are gathered here:</p><p> <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</a></p><p><strong>Download the free companion workbook: The Wavebreaker Healing Toolkit</strong></p><p> Available now at TheIgnitedLife.net. It includes reflection prompts, identity-reconstruction exercises, and Internal Family Systems tools to help you reconnect with your inner self.</p><p><strong>In this episode, you will learn:</strong></p><p> • How childhood trauma shaped her identity as a high achiever and helper</p><p> • Why unresolved pain often drives our desire to save others</p><p> • The hidden emotional cost of heroism</p><p> • What really happened behind the scenes of Embrace, and why success without inner grounding almost destroyed her</p><p> • How meditation, Internal Family Systems, and psychedelic therapy opened her back to herself</p><p> • The truth she finally discovered: We are not the wave. We are the ocean beneath it</p><p> • How to surrender without giving up</p><p> • How to rebuild purpose after a public or private collapse</p><p> • How to finally come home to yourself</p><p><strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.</p><p> Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p><a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://StartMattering.com</a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>What if the future isn’t something that happens to us… but something we shape?</p><p>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.</p><p>Drawing on Scott’s new book <em>Epic Disruptions</em> 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.</p><p>This episode continues our acclaimed series, <em>The Irreplaceables: </em>a journey into the human capacities no machine can duplicate.</p><p>If you're navigating change, leading through uncertainty, or simply trying to understand the world that’s coming, this conversation is your roadmap.</p><p><strong>Read the full show notes here:</strong></p><p><strong>Listen + Watch + Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode resources, including my books <em>You Matter, Luma</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store are gathered here: <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</strong></a></p><p>To go deeper, download the free companion workbook:</p><p><strong>The Disruption Decoder: available now at </strong><a href="https://www.theignitedlife.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>TheIgnitedLife.net</strong></a></p><p>Inside, 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.</p><p><strong>About the Episode</strong></p><p>In this episode, you'll learn:</p><ul><li>How 11 breakthroughs — from gunpowder to the iPhone — rewired the world</li><li>Why disruption is <em>predictably unpredictable</em></li><li>Why even great organizations fail</li><li>Why innovation is always a team sport</li><li>Why AI mirrors the printing press more than we realize</li><li>The human side of disruption</li></ul><p><strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.</p><p>Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p><a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>StartMattering.com</strong></a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>What if the cure for modern loneliness… was sitting right beside you?</p><p>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.</p><p>Drawing on insights from Elias Weiss Friedman (<em>The Dogist</em>) 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.</p><p>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.</p><p>This episode continues our acclaimed series, <em>The Irreplaceables </em>— a journey through the human capacities no algorithm can replace.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong>Read the full show notes here:</strong></p><p><strong>Listen + Watch + Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode resources—including my books <em>You Matter, Luma</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, The Ignited Life Substack, and Start Mattering store—are gathered here:</p><p>👉 <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</strong></a></p><p>To go deeper, download the free companion workbook:</p><p><strong>The Connection Compass — </strong>available now at<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/human-dog-bond" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>TheIgnitedLife.net</strong></a></p><p>Inside, 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.</p><p>🧠 <strong>About the Episode</strong></p><ul><li>Discover how the human–dog bond became one of evolution’s greatest hacks for emotional regulation and safety.</li><li>Learn why belonging isn’t accidental — it’s built through predictable patterns of trust, attention, and repeated positive regard.</li><li>Explore the neuroscience behind loneliness, and why dogs may activate the same circuitry that heals social pain.</li><li>Understand how modern work is unintentionally designing disconnection — and what Amina AlTai’s research reveals about rebuilding community and purpose.</li><li>Gain practical steps to create a “purpose-aligned tribe” in your life: at home, at work, and in the relationships that matter most.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.</p><p>Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p>👉 <strong>StartMattering.com</strong></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Amina AlTai, </strong>executive coach and author of <a href="https://amzn.to/47Ygrox" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Ambition Trap</em></a><em>, j</em>oins John R. Miles to expose why top achievers burn out despite “having it all.”</p><p>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.</p><p>From her near-death wake-up to systemic ambition penalties, they prove rest is resistance and wholeness at work heals teams and organizations.</p><p><strong>Listen + Watch + Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode resources—including guest links, John’s books <em>You Matter, Luma</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering Store—are gathered here:</p><p> 👉 <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</a></p><p>To learn more about <strong>Amina AlTai</strong>, visit <a href="https://www.aminaaltai.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">aminaaltai.com</a>.</p><p>🧠 <strong>About the Episode</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Wake-Up Call: </strong>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.</li><li><strong>Painful vs. Purposeful Ambition: </strong>The crucial difference between ambition driven by wounds and ambition driven by purpose—and how to know which one is guiding you.</li><li><strong>The 3 E’s Framework: </strong>How identifying what brings <em>Excellence, Enjoyment, and Ease</em> helps you uncover your inner genius and design a life aligned with it.</li><li><strong>The Resentment Line: </strong>Why burnout begins when we live below our “resentment line”—and how to set boundaries that honor your worth.</li><li><strong>The Ambition Penalty: </strong>How gender, race, and identity shape the way ambition is judged—and why historically excluded groups face a double bind when they strive.</li><li><strong>Rewriting Hustle Culture: </strong>Why “working more” doesn’t make you more valuable, and how leaders can redefine productivity through presence and permission.</li><li><strong>Collective Wholeness: </strong>What it means to move from individual achievement to <em>collective ambition</em>—a model of success where we rise by being more ourselves, together.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>🌱 <strong>Join The Ignited Life Community</strong></p><p>If this episode stirred something in you, <em>The Ignited Life</em> is where the transformation continues.</p><p> Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.</p><p> 🔗 Subscribe free at <a href="https://theignitedlife.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TheIgnitedLife.net</a></p><p>💫 <strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel valued and important.</p><p> Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p> 🛍️ <a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">StartMattering.com</a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>In this heartwarming and insightful conversation, <strong>John R. Miles</strong> sits down with <strong>Elias Weiss Friedman</strong>, the creator behind <em>The Dogist, </em>the beloved photo-documentary project with over 11 million followers, and author of <em>This Dog Will Change Your Life</em>.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>This episode is a celebration of light, loyalty, and the life-changing power of our four-legged companions.</p><p><strong>Read the full show notes: </strong><a href="https://passionstruck.com/?p=26194" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://passionstruck.com/how-dogs-help-us-remember-we-matter/↗</a></p><p><strong>Listen + Watch + Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode resources—including guest links, John’s books <em>You Matter, Luma</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, <em>The Ignited Life</em> Substack, and the Start Mattering store—are gathered here:</p><p>👉 <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</a></p><p>To learn more about Elias Weiss Friedman and <em>The Dogist</em>, visit <a href="https://thedogist.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedogist.com</a>.</p><p>🧠 <strong>About the Episode</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Origin of The Dogist:</strong> How a layoff, a camera, and a love for storytelling sparked one of the most uplifting social media movements of our time.</li><li><strong>Dogs as Social Architects:</strong> Why walking a dog can transform neighbors into community and strangers into friends.</li><li><strong>The Light They Bring:</strong> How dogs embody optimism, presence, and nonjudgment—showing us what it means to live without ego.</li><li><strong>Healing Companions:</strong> From veterans with PTSD to overworked nurses, the science of how dogs regulate our emotions and restore hope.</li><li><strong>Human Invention, Canine Connection:</strong> Why breeds are a reflection of us—and what our relationship with dogs says about humanity itself.</li><li><strong>Rescue and Responsibility:</strong> The grit behind true rescue work and what it really takes to save a life.</li><li><strong>The Dog-Human Mirror:</strong> How dogs reflect who we are—and how, through them, we evolve into better versions of ourselves.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Join The Ignited Life Community</strong></p><p>If this episode stirred something in you, <em>The Ignited Life</em> is where the transformation continues.</p><p>Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.</p><p>🔗 Subscribe free at <a href="https://theignitedlife.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TheIgnitedLife.net</a></p><p><strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel valued and important.</p><p>Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p>🛍️ <a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">StartMattering.com</a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>What if the most advanced intelligence on Earth isn’t artificial—but emotional?</p><p>In this opening episode of the new Passion Struck series, <strong>The Irreplaceables: Rediscovering Human Worth in an Age of Acceleration</strong>, host <strong>John R. Miles</strong> explores the rarest skill of all in the age of AI: <em>how to feel.</em></p><p>We’re racing to make machines seem human while forgetting how to be.</p><p>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.</p><p>Drawing from leading experts like <strong>Dr. Zac Seidler</strong>, <strong>Dr. Zelana Montminy</strong>, and <strong>Dr. Susan David</strong>, this episode unpacks:</p><ul><li>Why emotional awareness is the root of every good thing—love, leadership, creativity, and connection.</li><li>How “high-functioning despair” is stealing purpose from millions (especially men).</li><li>The neuroscience behind <em>emotional agility</em>—and how to build it even if you’ve been numb for years.</li><li>Simple <em>Agility Reps</em> you can practice daily to feel human again.</li><li>Why the true danger isn’t AI replacing us—but us replacing ourselves.</li></ul><p>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.</p><p>Read the full show notes here:</p><p><strong>Listen + Watch + Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode resources—including my books <em>You Matter, Luma</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, <em>The Ignited Life</em> Substack, and the <em>Start Mattering</em> store—are gathered here:</p><p> 👉 <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</a></p><p>To go deeper, download the free companion guide:</p><p> <strong>The Emotional Agility Toolkit</strong> — available now at <a href="https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/what-ai-cant-feel-and-why-im-scared" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/what-ai-cant-feel-and-why-im-scared</a></p><p>Inside, 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.</p><p><strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.</p><p> Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p>👉 <a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">StartMattering.com</a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>What if happiness isn’t something you chase—but something you <em>build</em> through resilience, purpose, and self-compassion?</p><p>In this episode of <em>Passion Struck</em>, host <strong>John R. Miles</strong> sits down with <strong>Dr. Zelana Montminy</strong>, a behavioral scientist, positive psychologist, and author of <em>Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction</em> to unpack the deeper science of happiness—and why our culture has misunderstood it for so long.</p><p>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 <em>resilient joy</em>—the kind that endures even through pain, loss, and uncertainty.</p><p>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.</p><p>This episode continues our new series, <strong>“The Irreplaceables”</strong>—a deep look at the people, mindsets, and moments that make life meaningful, and why what matters most can never be replicated.</p><p>👉 <strong>Read the full show notes:</strong></p><p><strong>Listen + Watch + Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode resources—including guest links, <em>Passion Struck</em> books, <em>The Ignited Life</em> Substack, and the <em>Start Mattering</em> store—are gathered here:</p><p>👉 <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</a></p><p>To learn more about Dr. Zelana Montminy, visit <a href="https://drzelana.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">zelanamontminy.com</a>.</p><p>💡 <strong>About the Episode</strong></p><ul><li>Discover why <em>chasing happiness</em> keeps us stuck—and how to cultivate <em>resilient joy</em> instead.</li><li>Learn the four pillars of emotional fitness that anchor Dr. Montminy’s research: perspective, purpose, connection, and self-awareness.</li><li>Understand how discomfort and emotional friction can serve as catalysts for growth.</li><li>Explore the neuroscience of resilience and why our brains are wired more for survival than satisfaction.</li><li>Hear Dr. Montminy’s personal story of loss and reinvention—and how it reshaped her understanding of well-being.</li><li>Gain practical tools to strengthen your psychological flexibility and reconnect with what truly matters.</li></ul><p>🌿 <strong>Fuel Your Body, Fuel Your Purpose</strong></p><p><strong>Get 20% OFF BUBS Naturals Collagen</strong> — clean, NSF Certified, and veteran-founded.</p><p>Use code <strong>PASSIONSTRUCK</strong> at <a href="https://bubsnaturals.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bubsnaturals.com</a></p><p><strong>Reclaim your energy from the inside out.</strong></p><p><strong>Get 20% OFF Mitopure Gummies</strong> from Timeline, powered by clinically proven Urolithin A.</p><p>Head to <a href="https://timeline.com/passionstruck" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">timeline.com/passionstruck</a>.</p><p><strong>Join The Ignited Life Community</strong></p><p>If this episode sparked reflection, <em>The Ignited Life</em> is where transformation continues.</p><p>Each week, John shares behind-the-scenes insights, neuroscience-backed tools, and practical reflections to help you live more intentionally.</p><p>🔗 Subscribe free at <a href="https://theignitedlife.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TheIgnitedLife.net</a></p><p>❤️ <strong>Support the Mattering Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p>Visit <a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">StartMattering.com</a></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>In this raw and timely conversation, John R. Miles sits down with <strong>Dr. Zac Seidler</strong>, global director of men’s health research at <strong>Movember</strong> and one of the world’s leading voices redefining masculinity. Together, they explore how modern men are facing a silent crisis—one rooted not in strength or stoicism, but in <em>disconnection, loneliness,</em> and <em>loss of mattering</em>.</p><p>From the heartbreaking story of losing his father to suicide to leading Movember’s groundbreaking new report <em>The Real Face of Men’s Health</em>, Zac shares what he’s learned about the “friendship recession,” why so many men struggle to ask for help, and how culture, compassion, and community can save lives.</p><p>This episode is both a mirror and a call to action: a reminder that helping men heal isn’t just a men’s issue—it’s a human one.</p><p>Read the full show notes: <a href="https://passionstruck.com/mens-mental-health-hidden-crisis-dr-zac-seidler/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://passionstruck.com/mens-mental-health-hidden-crisis-dr-zac-seidler/</strong></a></p><p><strong>Listen + Watch + Go Deeper</strong></p><p>All episode resources—including guest links, my books <em>You Matter, Luma,</em> and <em>Passion Struck</em>, <em>The Ignited Life</em> Substack, and the Start Mattering store—are gathered here:</p><p>👉 <a href="https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linktr.ee/John_R_Miles</a></p><p>To learn more about Dr. Zac Seidler and Movember, visit <a href="https://us.movember.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Movember.com</a>.</p><p>🧠 <strong>About the Episode</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Friendship Recession: </strong>Why one in seven men report having no close friends and what it’s doing to our collective well-being.</li><li><strong>Healthy Masculinity Reimagined: </strong>The difference between <em>masculinity</em> and <em>manhood </em>and why flexibility is the new strength.</li><li><strong>Belonging Over Biohacking: </strong>Why connection matters more than cold plunges, and how authentic friendship can be life-saving.</li><li><strong>Grassroots Healing: </strong>How barbershops, basketball courts, and bike shops are becoming hubs of hope through Movember’s <em>Making Connections</em> program.</li><li><strong>The Real Face of Men’s Health: </strong>A landmark new report revealing the data, disparities, and the urgent call for cultural renewal.</li></ul><p>🌍 <strong>Join The Ignited Life Community</strong></p><p>If this episode stirred something in you, <strong>The Ignited Life</strong> is where the transformation continues.</p><p>Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and reflections to help you turn intention into action.</p><p>🔗 Subscribe free at <a href="https://theignitedlife.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TheIgnitedLife.net</a></p><p>💪 <strong>Support the Movement</strong></p><p>Everyone deserves to feel valued and important.</p><p>Show it. Wear it. Live it.</p><p>🛍️ Visit <a href="https://startmattering.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">StartMattering.com</a></p><p><br></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>