Passion Struck with John R. Miles

We spend much of our lives searching for meaning through work, relationships, contribution, and purpose. But beneath that search lives a quieter, more fragile question, one we rarely say out loud:
Do I matter even when nothing is being made of me?
In this solo episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles moves beneath meaning itself to explore what actually holds a life together when direction, productivity, and explanation fall away. Through a deeply personal reflection on his final walk with his sister, Carolyn, he reveals how worth is not something we build or earn, but something that must first be felt and recognized.
This episode explores why meaning can feel unstable when the sense of mattering underneath it has not fully landed and why so many people feel unsettled, because worth has been quietly tied to motion, usefulness, or presence in others’ lives.
Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health podcast and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering. It is ranked #1 on FeedSpot’s list of the Top Passion Podcasts on the Web, recognizing the show’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful, human-centered conversations like this one.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/the-question-beneath-meaning/
All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel:
https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
In This Episode, You Will Learn
The Question Beneath Meaning: Why worth precedes purpose and stabilizes identity at a deeper level.
Mattering vs. Meaning: How contribution organizes action, while mattering allows the self to rest without fracture.
Quiet Disorientation: Why internal drift can emerge even when life feels externally complete.
Why Modern Systems Can’t Register Worth: How productivity, engagement, and output crowd out presence.
Carolyn as the Proof Point: How shared presence transmits belonging without instruction or legacy-building.
Contingent Worth: Why motion becomes a stabilizing strategy when worth hasn’t fully integrated.
Stillness as Recognition: How pause, silence, and rest allow worth to land without performance.
The January Inquiry: A gentle question to carry forward without urgency or fixing.
What Comes Next: How the upcoming You Matter series turns recognition outward into daily life, choice, and belonging.
Companion Reflection & Integration Resources
Inside The Ignited Life, each episode in The Meaning Makers series is paired with reflection prompts and grounding practices designed to help you stay with the question long enough for real integration to occur—not to solve it, but to let recognition settle.
Explore the community: https://TheIgnitedLife.net
Connect with the Ecosystem
Pre-order You Matter, Luma (releasing February 24): https://youmatterluma.com/
Support the Movement: https://StartMattering.com
Disclaimer
The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of the host and guests 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 happens when the systems we trust most struggle to correct themselves and the cost is paid by patients, families, and society?
In this deeply consequential episode of Passion Struck, investigative journalist Charles Piller joins the show to discuss his groundbreaking book Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s. Piller, a senior writer for Science magazine, has spent years examining how Alzheimer’s research became shaped by incentives, reputation, and institutional inertia—and what that meant for scientific progress and human lives.
At the center of this conversation is a pivotal 2006 Nature paper that helped cement the amyloid hypothesis as the dominant explanation for Alzheimer’s disease. That study shaped decades of funding, drug development, and clinical trials. Years later, independent analysts and researchers began raising concerns about manipulated images and the integrity of the data—concerns that moved slowly through formal channels while the research continued to guide practice.
In this episode, John R. Miles and Charles Piller explore how systems communicate mattering through responsiveness, how delay and diffusion affect trust, and how institutional silence carries human consequences. They also examine the role of independent watchdogs, whistleblowers, and investigative journalism in preserving scientific integrity, even when doing so carries personal and professional risk.
This conversation is not about cynicism toward science. It is about accountability, permeability, and the conditions that allow truth to remain alive within powerful systems.
If you care about medical ethics, scientific integrity, or how institutions shape human mattering, this episode offers a vital and clarifying perspective.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/charles-piller-alzheimers-research-fraud/
Download a Free Companion Reflection Guide: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/when-systems-decide-whether-people-matter
Connect with John
Keynote speaking, books, and podcast: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
Pre-order the Children’s Book
You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
Learn More About Charles Piller
https://www.science.org/author/charles-piller
Book:
Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s
Available wherever books are sold.
In This Episode, You Will Learn
How Alzheimer’s research became shaped by incentives, prestige, and institutional coherence
Why responsiveness is a central signal of trust and mattering inside systems
How a single scientific paper influenced decades of funding and drug development
The role of independent analysts like Elisabeth Bik in protecting scientific integrity
Why whistleblowers such as Matthew Schrag face extraordinary personal and professional pressure
How delays and procedural diffusion affect patients and families in real time
The human story of Stephen Price and what clinical trials represent for those living with Alzheimer’s
What healthy systems require in order to remain open to correction and learning
Support the Movement
Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.
Wear it. Live it. Show 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 peak performance isn’t created by intensity, control, or relentless self-pressure, but by inner stability?
In this powerful episode of Passion Struck, Jim Murphy, performance coach to elite athletes and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Inner Excellence, joins the show to explore what truly sustains excellence under pressure.
Many listeners first encountered Inner Excellence when A.J. Brown was shown reading it on the NFL sideline during a playoff game. That moment sparked a national conversation—but Jim’s work has been shaping elite performers quietly for years.
In this conversation, John and Jim examine the inner architecture that allows people to remain grounded when the stakes are high. Jim explains how fear, ego, and self-centered thinking destabilize performance, and how cultivating love, wisdom, and courage creates inner freedom that carries across athletics, leadership, parenting, and everyday life.
Rather than focusing on tactics or motivation, this episode centers on the internal conditions that allow clarity, presence, and sustained performance to emerge. It offers a framework for anyone seeking excellence that endures—without burnout, anxiety, or collapse under pressure.
If you’ve ever wondered why success alone doesn’t steady the inner world—or how to remain anchored when everything is on the line—this conversation offers a path inward.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/inner-excellence-jim-murphy/
Download a Free Companion Workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/jim-murphy-inner-excellence-pressure
Connect with John
Keynote speaking, books, and podcast: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
Pre-order the Children’s Book
You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
Learn More About Jim Murphy
Website & newsletter: https://innerexcellence.com/
Book: Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life
Available wherever books are sold.
In This Episode, You Will Learn
What Inner Excellence really means and why inner stability precedes peak performance
Why fear escalates under pressure and how “fear of fear” disrupts clarity and presence
How ego destabilizes performance by creating self-centered thinking and internal noise
The three pillars of Inner Excellence: love, wisdom, and courage
Why the heart plays a central role in sustained performance and fulfillment
How elite athletes remain grounded when expectations, scrutiny, and stakes rise
How to apply Inner Excellence beyond sports—in leadership, relationships, and daily life
What creates excellence that endures rather than collapses under pressure
Support the Movement
Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.
Wear it. Live it. Show 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 the most important things you will ever say to those you love are the things you never speak aloud?
In this moving solo episode, John R. Miles shares a deeply personal story about a final walk with his sister, Carolyn, by Lake Austin. He explores the "wordless tie" that binds us together and explains the science of why silence often carries more weight than speech. Drawing on the groundbreaking fMRI research of Dr. Lisa Miller and her work on The Awakened Brain, John reveals how our brains are biologically wired with a "sensing system" for significance.
You will learn why success often feels hollow when we lose our wordless connection to others, and how to use the "Presence Pause" to clear the mental clutter that blocks your sense of purpose. This is an invitation to move beyond the noise of constant doing and rediscover the "mortar" that holds a meaningful life together.
Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health podcast and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering. It is ranked #1 on FeedSpot’s list of the Top Passion Podcasts on the Web, recognizing the show’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful, human-centered conversations like this one.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/how-to-find-meaning-without-words/
All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
In This Episode, You Will Learn
The Inherited Knowing: How legacy, belonging, and love are passed through presence rather than instruction.
The Science of the Awakened Brain: A deep dive into Dr. Lisa Miller’s research (episode 532) on the high-power neural circuit that handles stress and hope.
Quiet Disconnection: Why our brains are wired to amplify the negative and how to reset your internal "noise-to-signal" ratio.
The Three Bricklayers: A powerful lesson on how shifting your lens transforms the daily grind into a sacred mission.
The Presence Pause: A 3-minute practical habit to reopen your brain's channel for purpose.
Small Acts of Resonance: How wordless gestures like a smile or a simple touch recalibrate the nervous system for safety and connection.
The Meaning Without Words Companion Resources
Download our free digital companion workbook featuring guided prompts to help you notice the silence, open to presence, and let meaning land without forcing it through words. Explore the guide
Connect with the Ecosystem
Pre-order You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
Support the Movement: https://StartMattering.com
Join The Ignited Life Community: https://TheIgnitedLife.net
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 the moments where you feel most "disengaged," "perfectionistic," or "paralyzed" as a parent aren't character flaws, but the result of a "Trauma App" running in the background of your brain?
In this groundbreaking episode of Passion Struck, Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, clinical child psychologist and author of the definitive guide Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be, joins the show. With over 20 years of experience helping more than 10,000 families, Robyn explains why post-traumatic parenting is fundamentally different from typical parenting. She reveals how "Secret ACEs" (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and hidden trauma history can hijack your nervous system, making it nearly impossible to "share your calm" with your children.
John and Robyn discuss the neurological reality of parenting after trauma, moving past the "fad" social media trends of gentle parenting to focus on the science of nervous system regulation. Koslowitz introduces her trademarked AIM Method (Acceptance, Integration, and Meaning-making) to help parents reclaim their "admin permissions" from their trauma. The conversation centers on a profound truth: your inner child cannot raise a child, but raising your real-world child can be the ultimate path to healing trauma through parenting.
If you have ever asked, "How can I give my kids a normal childhood when mine was anything but?"—this episode provides the validation, neuroscience, and practical "hacks" needed to break generational trauma and foster an earned, secure attachment.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/post-traumatic-parenting-robyn-koslowitz/
Download a Free Companion Workbook with reflection prompts tied to this episode.
To contact John about Keynote speaking, his books, and podcast: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
Pre-order You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
For more about Dr. Robyn Koslowitz: https://posttraumaticparenting.com
Book: Post-Traumatic Parenting available wherever books are sold.
In this episode, you will learn
Post-traumatic parenting explained: Why your body reacts to your child's behavior as a survival threat.
The "Trauma App" Metaphor: How early experiences shape emotional regulation and override your parenting instincts.
The 5 Subtypes of Post-Traumatic Parents: Identifying if you lean toward paralysis, perfectionism, or disengagement.
Building Secure Attachment: How to move from trauma responses in parents to creating attachment and emotional safety.
The AIM Method: A 3-step clinical framework for intergenerational healing and trauma recovery.
Why "Gentle Parenting" isn't enough: The importance of structure, play, and nervous system regulation for the "cycle breaker."
Healing the Inner Child: How to stop "Trauma Poker" and start raising emotionally secure children after trauma.
Support the Movement
Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show 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.