In episode 661 of Passion Struck, trauma psychologist Dr. Ingrid Clayton explains why so many high-achievers, caregivers, and leaders default to “keep the peace at any cost,” and how that pattern quietly erodes identity, boundaries, and well-being.

We unpack how complex/relational trauma encodes “safety over self,” why talk-only approaches often stall, and the practical sequence for unfawning: notice → name → normalize → lower the bar → practice tiny boundary reps. Ingrid shares bottom-up tools for down-shifting physiological threat (breath, orienting, somatic tracking), scripts for gentler boundaries that don’t spike panic, and ways to rebuild self-trust after years of self-abandonment—at home, at work, and in leadership.

If you’ve ever over-functioned at the office, shape-shifted in relationships, or felt invisible while doing “everything right,” this conversation gives you language for what’s been happening and a roadmap out of it.

Visit this link for the full show notes

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe🔗  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

About Dr. Ingrid Clayton

Ingrid Clayton, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and author whose work focuses on trauma, complex PTSD, and recovery. Her new book, Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves—and How to Find Our Way Back, offers a step-by-step approach to healing the appease response and reclaiming your voice.

Catch more of Dr. Ingrid Clayton: https://www.ingridclayton.com/

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the debut of the Decoding Humanity series, John R. Miles explores what he calls The Living Code: the deeper foundation beneath our lives that determines whether we stand strong or collapse when the inevitable storms come. Drawing on timeless wisdom from the Gospel of Matthew, insights from neuroscience, and reflections from recent guests Dr. Bruce Miller, Dr. Virginia Sturm, and Dr. Caroline Fleck, John reveals the four pillars of C.O.D.E. — Core Values, Open Empathy, Deep Rest, and Embodied Practices.

This episode challenges listeners to run a “system check,” confront where their foundations may be built on sand, and take practical steps toward recoding their humanity.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick—and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Caroline Fleck—clinical psychologist, researcher, and author of Validation—explores why so many of us struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout, not because we’re broken, but because our need for validation has gone unmet. She explains how validation is more than comfort—it’s proof that we matter.

Drawing on her clinical work and scientific research, Dr. Fleck demonstrates why validation is the foundation of resilience, connection, and well-being, and how learning to validate ourselves and others can bridge the gap between feeling invisible and living with purpose.

Visit this link for the full show notes

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe🔗  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

Catch more of Dr. Caroline Fleck: https://drcarolinefleck.com/

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 658 of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with renowned neuroscientists Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Virginia Sturm, co-authors of the book "Mysteries of the Social Brain," to explore their groundbreaking work on the social brain. Together, they explore how empathy, fairness, altruism, and connection are not just cultural ideals but are also hardwired into our neural architecture. From the role of specific brain networks in shaping moral behavior to how purpose and creativity emerge from our capacity to connect, this conversation redefines what it means to be human. Bruce and Virginia also share insights into how understanding the social brain can help us combat loneliness, strengthen relationships, and build cultures where people truly matter.

Visit this link for the full show notes

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe🔗  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

Catch more of Virginia and Bruce: https://amzn.to/47k9LCD

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most people think of flow the way psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described it — being “in the zone” during peak performance. But in this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles redefines flow as something much deeper: the coherence of living one life instead of many fractured selves.

Drawing on conversations with Dr. Jodi Blinco and Jay Vidyarthi, John explores the Fragmentation Gap — the hidden divide between the roles we perform (at work, at home, online, and in private) and the integrated life we long to live. Jodi reveals what it feels like to appear whole on the outside while unraveling on the inside, and Jay shows how our digital world slices our attention into pieces, leaving us scattered and spiritually depleted.

Through powerful stories and a four-step framework — Notice, Name, Nurture, Navigate — this episode explores how to close the Fragmentation Gap, reclaim your attention, and integrate your values, roles, and identity into a cohesive, authentic whole.

Because the opposite of fragmentation isn’t productivity.

The opposite of fragmentation is wholeness.

And that’s the flow that truly sustains us.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick—and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, deeper dives into the episodes, workbooks, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s hyperconnected world, our attention has become one of the most valuable—and contested—resources. In this Passion Struck episode, John speaks with Jay Vidyarthi, author of Reclaim Your Mind, about why technology feels so addictive, how it fragments our lives, and what we can do to take back control. Jay shares practical tools for mindful tech use, explains how design can either empower or exploit us, and reveals how to realign our digital lives with our values. This conversation is a wake-up call to anyone who feels scattered, overstimulated, or trapped by the constant pull of screens—and an invitation to build a life of deeper focus, clarity, and flow.

Visit this link for the full show notes

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe🔗  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

Catch more of Jay Vidyarthi: https://www.jayvidyarthi.com/

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Jodi Blinco—educator, entrepreneur, and author of Inner Alchemy: Transforming Everyday Bullsht Into Sunshine.* Together, they explore how resilience is built rather than inherited, why energy matters more than time management, and how feminine leadership is redefining the future of work and well-being. Dr. Blinco shares practical tools to rewrite self-defeating stories, identify emotional patterns before they become life patterns, and embrace authentic power. This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing and growth aren’t about chasing perfection—they’re about reclaiming clarity, courage, and flow in everyday life.

Visit this link for the full show notes

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe🔗  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

Catch more of Dr. Jodi Blinco: https://jodiblinco.com/

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles unpacks the Fulfillment Gap—the hidden divide between the work we do every day and the meaning we hope it will bring. Drawing on Gallup’s latest research, personal stories, and powerful interviews, John reveals how misaligned work erodes health, fuels burnout, and undermines our sense of mattering.

John then introduces a practical four-step framework—Audit, Align, Adjust, Advance—to help you reclaim your work as a source of strength, resilience, and wellness. This episode is a call to stop trading health for achievement and start building a career—and a life—that sustains you from the inside out.

Visit the Link for the Full Show Notes.

Drawing on personal stories, expert interviews, and real-world insights, John explores the science behind why work is quietly making us sick—and invites listeners to realign with what their body and mind truly need.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Passion Struck episode, I sit down with Tien Tzuo—visionary founder and CEO of Zuora, bestselling author of Subscribed and Founders, Keepers, and one of the early architects of Salesforce—to explore how agility, transformation, and purpose can redefine not just business success but personal fulfillment. Together, we explore why the future belongs to those who prioritize relationships over products, why agility is a lifelong wellness practice, and how leaders can adopt a transformational mindset to thrive in a world of constant change.

Visit this link for the full show notes

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe🔗  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

Catch more of Tien Tzuo: https://tientzuo.medium.com/

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In episode 652 of Passion Struck, John Miles speaks with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas and Christopher Wong Michaelson, co-authors of Is Your Work Worth It? Together, they unpack the hidden costs of chasing achievement, the myths surrounding “do what you love,” and why meaning—not just money—drives true fulfillment. Drawing from research, stories, and practical insights, they reveal how to align career, calling, and purpose, and why legacy and contribution often matter more than status or salary. This conversation is a guide for anyone seeking deeper significance in their work and life.

Visit this link for the full show notes.

Go Deeper: The Ignited Life Substack

If this episode stirred something in you, The Ignited Life is where the transformation continues. Each week, I share behind-the-scenes insights, science-backed tools, and personal reflections to help you turn intention into action.

Subscribe🔗  and get the companion resources delivered straight to your inbox.

Catch more of Jennifer Tosti-Kharas & Christopher Wong Michaelson: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/christopher-wong-michaelson/is-your-work-worth-it/9781541703407/?lens=publicaffairs

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

Get the full companion workbook at TheIgnitedLife.net

Full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnRMiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Everyone deserves to feel valued and important. Show it by wearing it: https://startmattering.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.