Duke Behavioral Economist: Why You’ll Regret the Risks You Don’t Take | Dan Ariely - EP 811

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

What if the thing you regret most someday isn't what you did—but what you never tried?

In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with behavioral economist and bestselling author Dan Ariely to explore why we make decisions that don't always serve our long-term well-being.

Dan's research reveals a surprising pattern: in the moment, we tend to regret the risks we take. But when we look back over our lives, we often regret the risks we didn't take.

The conversation goes far beyond risk.

John and Dan explore why vulnerability is one of the biggest areas where people play it safe, how bureaucracy can drain passion from work, why companies struggle to measure the things that matter most, and what we may lose when we optimize everything for efficiency.

They also discuss:

Why we often choose short-term safety over long-term fulfillment
The difference between regretting action and regretting inaction
Why romantic relationships are one of the biggest areas where people avoid risk
How bureaucracy can quietly kill motivation and passion
Why companies measure productivity but struggle to measure care, connection, and meaning
What happens when organizations treat people like functions instead of human beings
Why AI's pursuit of efficiency could come at the expense of meaning and human development
How feeling appreciated can influence motivation and performance
Why investing in human capital should be treated differently than simply treating people as a cost
The question you should ask yourself: Where in your life are you playing it safer than you really want to?

Dan's larger message is difficult to ignore: the life we build isn't shaped only by the choices we make. It's also shaped by the chances we decide not to take.

Full shownotes here

Download the FREE Companion Digital Workbook

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/. Take the 90-second diagnostic to see if you're disappearing.

Explore the Show: https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. New to Passion Struck? Start with the best episodes curated for you.

Connect with John

Website: https://johnrmiles.com
Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/
Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Passion Struck — #1 Alternative Health Podcast. 85M+ downloads.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How to Stop Caring What Everyone Thinks of You & Find Yourself Again | Josh Duhamel - EP 810

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

What would change if you stopped worrying so much about what everyone else thinks of you?

Actor, entrepreneur, and father Josh Duhamel has spent decades in the spotlight, but he says one of the biggest things he has learned with age is that he no longer needs to pretend for anyone—and that caring too much about other people's opinions once kept him from living his “full version” of himself.

In this deeply personal conversation, John R. Miles sits down with the actor, entrepreneur, and father to talk about identity, success, fatherhood, presence, and what it means to build a life that actually feels like your own.

Josh opens up about:

Why success doesn't automatically make you feel like you've done enough
How the need for validation can keep you chasing the next achievement
What helped him stop caring so much about other people's opinions
Why his cabin in Minnesota brings out a different version of himself
How changing his environment helped him become more present
Why fatherhood completely changed his definition of success
What he hopes his children remember about him
Why family memories now matter more to him than material success
How he's learning to embrace simplicity, curiosity, and being present

One of the most revealing moments comes when Josh talks about what success means to him now. Despite everything he has accomplished, he admits that he still feels like he has more to prove and achieve.

Click here for the full show notes

Learn more about Gatlan