Passion Struck with John R. Miles

What if one of the most personal decisions a woman can make (when and whether to become a mother) became a public act of courage that shifted the conversation for an entire generation?In Episode 710 of Passion Struck, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA) joins John R. Miles for a deeply human conversation that has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with agency, worth, and vulnerability.At 31, newly sworn into Congress, Sara froze her eggs to preserve the option of motherhood on her own timeline. At 36, still serving, she returned for two more rounds and chose to speak openly about the physical toll, emotional weight, and empowering choice behind it.Sara shares the raw realities (hot flashes, intense cravings, acne, and the surprising joy of taking control), why she rejects pity for empowerment, and how radical vulnerability has become her superpower in leadership. She challenges the idea that women must be perfect to lead, explains why fertility is not just a “women’s issue,” and calls on male leaders to recognize their experience represents only half the story.If you’ve ever felt pressure to follow a prescribed path or wondered how authenticity can reshape both personal life and public policy, this conversation is for you.Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/sara-jacobs-egg-freezing/All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel: https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesFor more about Congresswoman Sara Jacobs: https://sarajacobs.house.gov/Pre-order You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/Radical Vulnerability Companion WorkbookReflect. Reclaim Agency. Redefine Worth.Gentle prompts and exercises to explore your own relationship with choice, vulnerability, and self-worth, inspired by Sara’s journey and the message that you matter exactly as you are.Download the free Companion Workbook at: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/sara-jacobs-radical-vulnerabilityIn this episode, you will learn:Why Sara Jacobs chose egg freezing twice while serving in Congress and why she frames it as empowerment, not lossThe surprising physical and emotional realities of the process (from hot flashes to intense cravings)How radical vulnerability became Sara’s leadership superpower and why perfection is the enemy of connectionWhy fertility and reproductive choices are not “women’s issues” but human issues that demand broader understandingThe danger of tying women’s worth to motherhood and how redefining agency frees us allWhat Sara wants the next generation of women (and men) to internalize about authenticity, choice, and speaking upSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe 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 entering "the zone" wasn't a rare accident reserved for elite athletes, but a repeatable skill anyone could train, just like strength or focus?In Episode 709 of Passion Struck, NBA mindset coach, bestselling author, and peak performance expert David Nurse joins John R. Miles to reveal why flow state has been misunderstood as elusive when a science-backed, step-by-step system actually governs it he calls The Flow Code Formula.Drawing from his work with over 150 NBA stars, Fortune 500 CEOs, and groundbreaking neuroscience research, including the 10-Hertz alpha wave state, David breaks down how optimal anxiety, identity shifts, and personal triggers turn stress into a superpower and distraction into deep immersion.Together, John and David explore the neuroscience of trainable flow, why "proving yourself" blocks the zone while "being yourself" unlocks it, and real stories from sprinting with Usain Bolt to climbing with Alex Honnold that prove peak performance is accessible to all.Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/unlocking-the-flow-code-formula-david-nurse/All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel: https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesFor more about David Nurse: https://www.davidnurse.com/Pre-order You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/Flow Code Companion WorkbookIdentify Your Triggers. Harness Optimal Anxiety. Enter the Zone.Reflection prompts and practical exercises to map your personal flow triggers, navigate the Yerkes-Dodson curve, and build daily habits for the 10-Hertz state.Download the free Companion Workbook at:In this episode, you will learn:The Flow Code system: A neuroscience-backed formula to trigger peak performance on demandWhy optimal anxiety is the gateway to flow—not the enemy—and how to use stress as fuelThe power of "The Shift": Moving from proving yourself to simply being yourselfReal lessons from elite performers, including Usain Bolt, Alex Honnold, and NBA superstarsHow the 10-Hertz alpha state works and practical ways to access itWhy your identity ("who") must always lead your actions ("do") for sustainable flowSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe 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 real reason most teams fail has nothing to do with talent, effort, or motivation?In Episode 708 of Passion Struck, New York Times bestselling author and Leadership IQ founder Mark Murphy joins John R. Miles to reveal why even the most innovative, most driven teams quietly fall apart. Drawing on decades of research and his latest work on high-performance teams, Mark explains why misalignment, unclear roles, and unspoken expectations are the hidden forces that derail results.Together, John and Mark explore the five critical roles every successful team needs, why traditional team building often backfires, and how leaders can diagnose what is missing before dysfunction sets in. From elite sports teams and legendary bands to Navy SEAL units and corporate cultures, this conversation reframes leadership as an act of alignment rather than control.If you are entering a new year thinking about leadership, culture, or the kind of team you want to build or belong to, this episode will fundamentally change how you see collaboration.Listen. Reflect. Build better.Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/building-winning-teams-mark-murphy/All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel: https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesTeam Players Companion WorkbookIdentify the Roles. Close the Gaps. Build Alignment.Reflection prompts and practical exercises to help you assess your team, uncover role gaps, and lead with clarity in the year ahead.Download the free Companion Workbook at: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/team-players-mark-murphyIn this episode, you will learn:Why most teams fail due to misalignment rather than lack of talentThe five essential roles every high performing team must have and what happens when one is missingWhy traditional team building often creates more friction instead of trustHow elite teams, from professional sports to special operations units, adapt leadership based on contextHow to identify your own natural role and help others play to their strengthsWhat leaders can do when they cannot hire new people but still need better performanceSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe 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 real transformation does not begin with what we add, but with what we finally allow to end?In this deeply reflective Christmas Day solo episode of Passion Struck, Episode 707, John R. Miles invites listeners into the quiet, liminal space between the year that is closing and the life that is still taking shape. Rather than rushing toward resolutions, this episode explores the power of gentle endings and the release of old stories, habits, and self-protections that have outlived their purpose.Drawing on psychology, lived experience, and the themes of The Season of Becoming, John unpacks the quiet cost of carrying what is finished, the unexpected beauty that emerges when we let go without violence to ourselves, and how gentleness creates the space where imagination, flow, and renewal can return.This episode is not a call to fix yourself. It is an invitation to lay something down.If you are entering the new year feeling tired, tender, or quietly ready for change, this episode offers a different starting point, one rooted in compassion, presence, and honest release.Before the resolutions come the revelations, before the beginning, let something end.Resources and LinksCheck the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/before-the-new-year-begins-let-something-end/All links gathered here (books, Substack, YouTube, community):https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesA Gentle Ending PracticeReflection prompts, a simple release ritual, and space to name what is ready to rest. Designed to help you enter the new year lighter, clearer, and more present.Download the free Companion Workbook at: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/let-something-end-before-the-yearSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of John R. Miles 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 creativity were just the spark, and the real power lay in turning ideas into unbreakable solutions?In Episode 706 of Passion Struck, innovation expert Nir Bashan returns (his first appearance was Episode 36) to unveil the repeatable framework behind his new book The Solution Mindset. He reveals why brilliant ideas alone leave most people stuck, and how activating 10 innate problem-solving superpowers can transform frustration into impact.Through gripping stories: a teenager who rebuilt the world’s largest coral reefs by refusing expert advice, a bicycle company that cut shipping damage 90% with one deceptively simple packaging trick, and Norway’s quiet revolution in prison reform. Nir proves that anyone can solve the seemingly unsolvable.If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by complexity, doubted your next step, or wondered how to move from inspiration to execution, this conversation is your clear, practical bridge.Listen. Watch. Go Deeper.Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/the-solution-mindset-nir-bashan/All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesThe Solution Mindset Workbook: 10 Superpower Activation Prompts to Turn Ideas into ImpactReflection prompts + daily practice → Download the Companion Workbook at https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/the-solutions-mindset-titouan-bernicottIn this episode, you will learn:The “Just Start” principle that turned a 16-year-old surfer into the leader of the planet’s most extensive coral restoration effortHow untangling complexity with a straightforward filter, like printing a TV on a bike box, can deliver 90% better results instantlyWhy long-term thinking (the kind bourbon makers use for 30-year barrels) creates a deeper legacy than chasing quick winsHow Norway redefined “failing successfully” in prisons to slash recidivism, while the U.S. stays stuck in punishmentWhy positivity isn’t naive, it’s the strategic fuel that powers sustained innovation.Support the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe 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.