Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Why Mental Health Is the Root of a Meaningful Life w/John R. Miles | EP 606
02 May 2025
In this solo episode, John R. Miles explores how mental health isn’t just about managing stress—it’s the invisible infrastructure of everything that gives life meaning. From personal breakdowns to societal myths about strength, John shares why ignoring mental well-being doesn’t delay the cost—it multiplies it—and what we can do to reclaim emotional sustainability.Join the new Passion Struck Community, The Ignition Room: https://station.page/passionstruckThis episode is part of Passion Struck’s Mental Health Awareness Month series, setting the tone for upcoming episodes on emotional resilience, internal reframing, and intentional habits for psychological well-being.Key Takeaways: Mental health is not a side conversation—it’s the foundation of purpose, clarity, and connection. Emotional erosion happens slowly and quietly, not all at once. We’ve internalized the belief that needing help means failure—but in reality, it reflects emotional intelligence. Disconnection begins when we stop believing we matter. Productivity without presence leads to quiet burnout. You don’t need to hit a breaking point to start tending to your mind. Sponsors: Factor Meals: http://factormeals.com/factormeals50off and use code “FACTOR MEALS 50 OFF” Rosetta Stone: Unlock 25 languages for life at “ROSETTASTONE.com/passionstruck.” Prolon: Reset your health with 15% off at “ProlonLife.com/passionstruck.” Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at “MINT MOBILE dot com slash PASSION.” Hims: Start your journey to regrowing hair with Hims. Visit hims.com/PASSIONSTRUCK for your free online visit. Quince: Discover luxury at affordable prices with Quince. Enjoy free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/PASSION Next on Passion Struck:In the next episode of Passion Struck, John sits down with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a world-renowned meditation teacher and Buddhist monk. We'll explore how joy, awareness, mattering, and emotional turbulence can coexist, and how you can use the mind itself as a tool for healing, clarity, and purpose. It's a profound conversation on presence, transformation, and what it really means to be alive in this moment. You don't want to miss it.For more information on advertisers and promo codes, visit Passion Struck Deals.Speaking Engagements & WorkshopsAre you looking to inspire your team, organization, or audience to take intentional action in their lives and careers? I’m available for keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership training on topics such as intentional living, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Let’s work together to create transformational change. Learn more at johnrmiles.com/speaking.Episode Starter PacksWith over 500 episodes, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We’ve curated Episode Starter Packs based on key themes like leadership, mental health, and personal growth, making it easier for you to dive into the topics you care about. Check them out at passionstruck.com/starterpacks.Catch More of Passion Struck: My solo episode on The Mattering Mindset in Love – Choose the Love You Deserve Can't miss my episode with Jennifer B. Wallace on the Consequences of Prioritizing Achievements Over Mattering My episode with The Art of Listening: How to Make People Feel Like They Matter Catch my interview with Laurie Santos on How to Matter in a Busy World Listen to my solo episode on Fading into Insignificance: The Impact of Un-Mattering in Our Interconnected Era 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.How to Connect with John: Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMiles Follow him on Instagram at @John_R_Miles Subscribe to our main YouTube Channel and to our YouTube Clips Channel For more insights and resources, visit John’s website Want to explore where you stand on the path to becoming Passion Struck? Take our 20-question quiz on Passionstruck.com and find out today!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Full Episode
Coming up next on Passion Struck, what if the most important part of your life wasn't visible? Not your goals, not your productivity, but the quiet system underneath it all. In episode 606, I'm diving into the part we rarely talk about, your mental health, not in crisis terms, not in clinical language, as the baseline for connection, creativity, purpose, and resilience.
If you've ever felt like you're performing on the outside, but quietly unraveling underneath, this one's for you. Welcome to Passion Struck. Hi, I'm your host, John R. Miles. And on the show, we decipher the secrets, tips, and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you.
Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you can become the best version of yourself. If you're new to the show, I offer advice and answer listener questions on Fridays. We have long-form interviews the rest of the week with guests ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes.
Now, let's go out there and become passion struck. Hey, everyone, john here and welcome to Episode 606 of passion struck. Before we dive in, I just want to say thank you. This past week has been filled with meaningful moments for the show in this community. passion struck was just ranked number three on million podcast list of best life leadership podcast.
alongside the Jocko podcast and School of Greatness. And we were honored with the Gold Stevie Award for Best Independent Podcast at the 2025 American Business Awards. Those are incredible honors, but they matter most because of you. Because of this community, this movement, people who don't just listen, but act, reflect, And now we step into a new chapter. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
And here at PassionStruck, we're dedicating the month's episodes to the conversations that often go unsaid. We kicked off the week with two powerful interviews. On Tuesday, I sat down with Gretchen Rubin for live taping in front of 200 plus people, diving into the secrets of adulthood and the small truths and big realizations that shape a meaningful life. Then on Thursday...
I was joined by Elizabeth Weingarten, whose new book, Fall in Love with the Questions, explores how the right questions don't just shift our thinking, they unlock deeper connection and self-discovery. And today, I'm bringing you something different, something personal, a solo episode about something foundational, your mental health.
not in terms of a crisis or clinical diagnosis, but is the quiet root system that everything else in your life grows from. This episode is about the erosion we don't always see, the slow drift that happens when we're still performing, still producing, still showing up, but slowly disconnecting from ourselves.
We'll talk about why mental health is the baseline for everything that matters, why it's so often ignored until it's too late, and what it looks like to build an emotionally sustainable life before burnout, before breakdown.
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