The Mattering Instinct: Why We Long to Matter | Rebecca Newberger Goldstein – EP 727
10 February - 1 hour 26 minsWhat if the most human thing about us isn’t happiness, survival, or even love but the relentless need to feel we matter?
In this profound installment of the You Matter series on Passion Struck, MacArthur Fellow and National Humanities Medalist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein joins the show to unpack her groundbreaking book The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us (Liveright, January 13, 2026).
A philosopher and novelist celebrated for Plato at the Googleplex and The Mind-Body Problem, Goldstein argues that this primal instinct is uniquely human. Rooted in self-reflection and our resistance to entropy, it propels our greatest achievements and darkest conflicts. T...
Series Episodes
The Cost of Stagnation: Is Your Safe Bet Killing Your Future? | John R. Miles EP 744
Drawing on the practical philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, John deconstructs the "high-definition, high-functioning" quiet desperation of modern life.
25 mins
20 March Finished
How to Rebuild Your Identity When Everything Falls Apart | Bianca D’Alessio — EP 743
This episode explores identity, resilience, and intentional reinvention with Bianca D’Alessio, a powerhouse real estate broker, entrepreneur, TV personality, and author of Mastering Intentions.
52 mins
19 March Finished
How AI is Transforming Healthcare and Restoring Humanity | Dr. Robert Wachter - EP 742
Joining me is Dr. Robert “Bob” Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF and the "father of the hospitalist field," to discuss his landmark new book, "A Giant Leap."
55 mins
17 March Finished
Close the Identity Gap: Finding Yourself When You Feel Lost | John R. Miles EP 741
In this powerful solo deep dive, John R. Miles continues the Life Beyond the Script series by naming the "identity gap."
24 mins
13 March Finished
Become the CEO of Your Health Through Resilience | Dr. Tara Narula — EP 740
Joining me is board-certified cardiologist, ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, and author Dr. Tara Narula to discuss her powerful new book, The Healing Power of Resilience.
1 hour
12 March Finished
How to Biohack the Brain to Remove Emotional Triggers | Dave Asprey - EP 739
Joining me in Passion Struck episode 739 is the legendary Dave Asprey to discuss the groundbreaking insights in his new book, "Heavily Meditated."
57 mins
10 March Finished
