The Psychology Behind Why Smart People Make Terrible Decisions | Alex Edmans – EP 823

In this solo episode, John R. Miles explores how our need for external validation can shape our sense of worth, identity, and ability to move forward—and what it takes to trust yourself when the proof you're waiting for may never come.

Psychologist Marisa Franco reveals why lasting self-worth doesn’t come from achievement, confidence, or validation from others, but from learning to trust yourself, process your past, and reconnect with the parts of yourself you’ve learned to ignore.

In episode 820 of Passion Struck, Cole Brauer shares how purpose, resilience, and self-trust helped her overcome doubt, adversity, and other people’s limitations to become the first American woman to race solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world.

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles brings together two seemingly different ideas from his recent conversations with Martin Seligman and David Epstein to uncover what he calls The Agency Paradox: the belief that more freedom, more options, and more individual willpower will automatically make us more capable can actually leave us overwhelmed, disconnected, and unable to act.

In this episode, John R. Miles sits down with #1 New York Times bestselling author David Epstein, author of "Range" and "The Sports Gene," to explore a counterintuitive idea from his new book, "Inside the Box:" constraints can actually make us more creative, focused, and effective.