Oli Raison & Boris Maguire on Leadership Beyond the Boardroom | EP 703

What if the leadership answers you’ve been searching for can’t be found in another keynote, framework, or performance review but only by stepping completely out of the world you know?In Episode 703 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles is joined by Oli Raison and Boris Maguire, founders of Safarini Leadership, for a conversation that challenges everything we think we know about growth, leadership, and belonging.At a time when we are more globally connected than ever—and yet more polarized, distracted, and disconnected—leaders are facing pressures no playbook prepared them for: AI acceleration, climate anxiety, generational fracture, burnout, and a deep erosion of trust.Oli and Boris believe the problem isn’t a lack of leadership training. It’s that we’re trying to become wiser leaders without changing the environments that shaped us. Their work takes executives out of boardrooms and into the Kenyan bush, immersed in nature, culture, and relationships, walking alongside Samburu elders to rediscover leadership as a lived, relational practice rather than a performative role.Download the companion workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/ancient-wisdom-for-modern-leadersThis episode is part of The Season of Becoming series, following conversations with Brent Gleeson on the danger of comfort and Henna Pryor on why awkwardness is the frontline of growth.Listen. Watch. Go Deeper.👉 Read the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/leadership-in-the-wild-oli-raison-boris-maguire/🔗 All links in one place — books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesIn this episode, you will learn:Why today’s global challenges require elevated leadership, not louder leadershipHow cultural immersion rewires creativity, self-awareness, and decision-makingWhy nature sharpens focus, learning, and emotional regulationWhat Samburu elders can teach modern executives about belonging and purposeWhy leadership cannot be developed in isolation—or in comfortHow stepping out of familiar systems reveals who you actually are as a leaderWhat it means to lead when connection isn’t optional—it’s survivalAbout the GuestsOli Raison has spent over a decade founding, leading, and selling businesses in Kenya. He specializes in organizational culture, leadership development, and cross-cultural teams. Oli is fluent in Swahili, holds an MBA from Aston Business School, and a Certificate in Executive Coaching from UC Berkeley.Boris Maguire has worked in over two dozen countries and lived in five. He has led teams across ten African nations, served as a startup CEO and Managing Director of a solar firm, and now leads global operations for one of Africa’s fastest-growing HR fintech companies. Boris holds an MPA from Columbia University, a BA from Duke, and a certificate from the African Management Institute.Support the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.👉 https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the only thing standing between you and the person you’re meant to become isn’t talent, time, or even confidence, but one small, uncomfortable decision you haven’t made yet?In this powerful solo episode, Episode 702 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles closes the Season of Becoming by distilling the single most consistent lesson from hundreds of world-class performers, Navy SEALs, near-death survivors, and everyday courage-builders:Courage is not a trait you’re born with. It’s a vote you cast every single day.Drawing directly from four transformative conversations this season (Susan Grau, Anne Libera, Brent Gleeson, and Henna Pryor), John reveals the Four Daily Decisions of Courage that anyone can make starting today:The courage to Listen when life breaks you openThe courage to Unscript and show up realThe courage to Commit and stop negotiating with your potentialThe courage to Practice awkwardness on purposeIf you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for confidence, clarity, or permission, this episode is your wake-up call. You’re not behind. You’re one courageous 10-second vote away.Listen. Reflect. Become.Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/courage-is-a-daily-choice/All links gathered here (books, Substack, YouTube, community):https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesThe Season of Becoming Workbook: Your Next Courageous VoteReflection questions + the exact micro-action planner for the Four Daily Decisions→ Download the free Companion Workbook at https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/the-10-second-vote-build-courage-habitSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of John R. Miles and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the very thing you’ve been trying to hide, your awkwardness, was actually the key to deeper connection, stronger leadership, and unbreakable confidence?In Episode 701 of Passion Struck, workplace performance expert and bestselling author Henna Pryor joins John R. Miles to unpack her groundbreaking book Good Awkward and expose the hidden crisis she calls Social Muscle Atrophy, the slow erosion of our ability to handle normal human interaction in a world gone hybrid and hyper-polished.Henna drops the stat that stops everyone cold: 30 % of employees would rather clean a toilet than ask a coworker for help. The cost? Billions in lost innovation, fractured trust, and a growing “mattering gap” at work.But the fix isn’t more communication training.It’s learning to get good at being awkward on purpose.If you’ve ever stayed silent when you wanted to speak up, rehearsed a conversation 47 times and still didn’t have it, or felt like an imposter in your own life, this episode is your permission slip to stop polishing and start connecting.Listen. Watch. Go Deeper.Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/good-awkward-psychological-safety-confidence/All links gathered here — including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesThe Good Awkward Workbook: 7 Micro-Courage Challenges to Rebuild Your Social MuscleReflection prompts + daily practice → Download the Companion WorkbookIn this episode, you will learn:Why awkwardness is the price of growth and how to pay it gladlyWhat Social Muscle Atrophy is costing your team and how to reverse itThe confidence myth we all need to retireHow embracing cringe builds psychological safety faster than perfectionHenna’s 5 science-backed practices to turn awkward moments into leadership superpowersWhy the future of work belongs to the willingly awkwardSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if becoming who you are meant to be depends less on adding more and more… and more on eliminating the things holding you back?In this special EPISODE 700 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with fellow veteran and former Navy SEAL combat operator Brent Gleeson, bestselling author of Embrace the Suck and All In.This milestone conversation goes deep into identity transformation under real pressure: military service, combat, losing a father, and rebuilding integrity from the inside out. Brent shares how the quietest decision of his life, choosing sobriety, unlocked discipline, connection, and clarity he didn’t know he was missing.If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who you know you could become, this one is for you.Listen. Watch. Go Deeper.Check the full shownotes here: https://passionstruck.com/how-to-go-all-in/All links gathered here — including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesThe Becoming Workbook: Build Discipline. Expand Identity. Choose Your Standard.Reflection prompts + daily structure tools → Download the Companion WorkbookIn this episode, you will learn:How comfort becomes a slow fade away from the person you’re meant to beThe identity crisis many veterans face after serviceHow to rebuild structure, purpose, and integrity from the inside outWhy becoming is a daily choice, not a dramatic reinventionHow to eliminate the habits that sabotage your potentialSupport the MovementEvery human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Wear it. Live it. Show it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There is a moment when you look at your life and realize something important. You have been waiting. You have been giving your energy away. You have been putting everyone else first. And somewhere along the line, you started disappearing from your own story.This solo episode is about that moment.The moment you choose yourself again.John R. Miles explores why so many of us learn to shrink to fit other people’s expectations, and what happens when you finally decide that your voice, your needs, and your well-being matter too.He breaks down the four core patterns that lead to self-abandonment and explains how a single shift can change your confidence, your relationships, your energy, and your future. When you choose yourself even once, your life begins to reorganize around that truth.If you have ever felt stuck or invisible, or like you have been living a version of your life that no longer feels like your own, this episode will help you take the next step back home to yourself.Read the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/stop-abandoning-yourself/Listen, Watch, and Go DeeperAll episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and the Start Mattering apparel store:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the Companion WorkbookThe Choose Yourself Again Activation Guide is available now at TheIgnitedLife.net.Support the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if becoming who you want to be has less to do with control and more to do with letting go?In this insightful episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Anne Libera, longtime Second City director, educator, and author of Funnier: A New Theory for the Practice of Comedy. Together, they explore how improvisation offers a powerful model for personal growth, creativity, and identity transformation.Anne’s work blends comedy, psychology, and human behavior. Drawing from decades at The Second City working with performers such as Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Tim Meadows, and Jordan Peele, she reveals that improv is not ultimately about being funny. It is about presence, awareness, emotional flexibility, and learning to respond to life as it actually is, rather than how you wish it would be.This episode continues our December series, The Season of Becoming. It explores who we are in the moments in between when one version of our life is fading, and another has not yet taken shape.Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/life-lessons-from-improv/Listen, Watch, and Go DeeperAll episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and the Start Mattering apparel store:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the Companion WorkbookThe Becoming Workbook: How to Let Go of Old Scripts and Step Into the Next Version of YourselfIncludes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for loosening rigid thinking and building creative flexibility.https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/improv-skills-for-personal-growthIn this episode, you will learn:Why improvisation is not about comedy. It is about attention, awareness, and responding to realityHow humor helps us navigate discomfort, uncertainty, and identity changeWhy trying to control the scene often makes life harderHow to practice Yes, and in real relationshipsWhy reinvention requires play, curiosity, and emotional riskThe psychology behind why we cling to scripts that no longer fitHow to use comedic tools to expand your sense of identity and possibilityWhy becoming is not reinvention. It is responsivenessHow to build creative confidence even if you do not consider yourself funnySupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.comDisclaimerThe Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if intuition isn’t mystical, but a form of deep perception we’ve forgotten how to trust?In this transformative episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with internationally respected intuitive and spiritual teacher Susan Grau, host of Infinite Life, Infinite Wisdom, to explore one of the most profound capacities of the human mind: our ability to sense truth, meaning, and connection far beneath the surface of ordinary awareness.Susan’s work blends lived experience, grief healing, and what she calls “soul-level perception” to help people rediscover inner guidance in a world overwhelmed by information, noise, and emotional overload. Through her near-death experience, profound empathic abilities, and decades of guiding others, Susan reveals how intuitive knowing emerges not from superstition but from biology, trauma healing, and our innate drive for meaning.Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/signs-you-are-ignoring-your-intuition-susan-grau/Listen, Watch, and Go DeeperAll episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the companion workbook: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/why-you-ignore-intuitionIncludes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for breaking harmful emotional loops.In this episode, you will learn:Why revenge produces the same dopamine surge as addictive substancesWhy unresolved grievance becomes a compulsive loopThe childhood trauma that shaped James’s life missionHow the brain mistakes retaliation for relief and rewardHow political polarization and online conflict are fueled by biological cravingWhy forgiveness quiets the pain circuitry and restores clarityHow to choose healing over the temporary high of revengeSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.com***Disclaimer: The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if revenge is not a moral failure, but a biological addiction?In this gripping episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Yale psychiatrist James Kimmel Jr., author of The Science of Revenge, to unravel one of the most dangerous and misunderstood forces shaping our lives, our politics, our relationships, and our inner worlds.This episode continues our acclaimed series The Irreplaceables, which explores the human qualities no machine can replicate. Yesterday’s episode with Don Martin explored loneliness, the crisis between us. Today, we explore revenge, the crisis within us. James explains why the pull toward retaliation can feel intoxicating, righteous, and impossible to resist.Through neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and Kimmel’s own harrowing personal story, we examine how grievance hijacks the brain, why revenge activates the same dopamine pathways as cocaine and gambling, and why forgiveness is not moral niceness but a neurobiological reset.If you have ever held a grudge, fantasized about getting even, or wondered why our culture feels increasingly reactive and enraged, this conversation is essential.Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/the-science-of-revenge-james-kimmel-jr/Listen, Watch, and Go DeeperAll episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the companion workbook: The Clarity Reset ToolkitAvailable at TheIgnitedLife.netIncludes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for breaking harmful emotional loops.In this episode, you will learn:Why revenge produces the same dopamine surge as addictive substancesWhy unresolved grievance becomes a compulsive loopThe childhood trauma that shaped James’s life missionHow the brain mistakes retaliation for relief and rewardHow political polarization and online conflict are fueled by biological cravingWhy forgiveness quiets the pain circuitry and restores clarityHow to choose healing over the temporary high of revengeSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.com***This podcast is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Passion Struck, its subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This podcast is not intended as a substitute for a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if loneliness isn’t a personal failure, but a biological signal that you’re built for connection?In this powerful Thanksgiving Day episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with author, researcher, and longtime podcaster Don Martin, whose upcoming book, Where Did Everybody Go? unpacks one of the most misunderstood challenges of modern life: the loneliness crisis.This conversation continues our acclaimed series The Irreplaceables, exploring the human qualities no machine can ever replicate. Today, Don illuminates why true healing also requires returning to each other.Airing this episode on Thanksgiving is intentional. It’s a day framed around togetherness, but for millions of people, it is one of the loneliest days of the year. Whether you’re surrounded by family, on your own, grieving, working, or simply navigating the quiet, this conversation offers science, compassion, and practical hope.Don dismantles the myths we’ve been taught about loneliness, reveals the societal structures that have quietly unraveled our sense of belonging, and shows us how connection can be rebuilt..If you’ve ever felt invisible, disconnected, overwhelmed by the state of the world, or unsure how to create stronger relationships in your community, this episode is a grounding companion.Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/the-loneliness-crisis/Listen, Watch, and Go DeeperAll episode links—including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel—are gathered here:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the companion workbook: The Connected Life ToolkitAvailable now at TheIgnitedLife.netIncludes reflection prompts, community-building practices, and science-backed tools for strengthening meaningful relationships.In this episode, you will learn:Why loneliness is not an emotion but a biological survival signalThe real reason half of Americans report feeling lonely (and why it’s not screens)Why kids and teens are the loneliest demographic in the U.S.How the decline of malls, walkable neighborhoods, and third places quietly rewired societyWhy feeling lonely in a crowd is normal and what your brain is trying to tell youHow marginalized communities uniquely experience and overcome disconnectionWhy storytelling is a powerful tool for belonging and social changePractical steps you can take to rebuild connectionSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.com***This podcast is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Passion Struck, its subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This podcast is not intended as a substitute for a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the moment your life collapses is not the end of your story, but the beginning of your becoming?In this intimate, live-recorded episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Jane Marie Chen, global humanitarian, cofounder of Embrace (the infant warmer that has saved more than 1 million premature babies), and author of the stunning new memoir Like a Wave We Break.Filmed in front of an audience at the Oxford Exchange in Tampa, this conversation dives beneath Jane’s public achievements to reveal the deeply human story she has never told on stage. It is a story of childhood trauma, a decade-long mission that consumed her identity, the burnout that nearly shattered her, and the healing journey that helped her rediscover who she truly is.This episode continues our acclaimed series The Irreplaceables. It is a journey into the traits no machine can replicate, including resilience, tenderness, reinvention, and the courage to belong to yourself again.If you have ever felt crushed by expectations, lived for others at your own expense, or struggled to understand your own worth, this conversation is a lifeline.Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/letting-go-and-becoming-your-true-self/Listen, Watch, and Go DeeperAll episode links, including my books You Matter, Luma and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and Start Mattering apparel, are gathered here:https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesDownload the free companion workbook: The Wavebreaker Healing ToolkitAvailable now at TheIgnitedLife.net. It includes reflection prompts, identity-reconstruction exercises, and Internal Family Systems tools to help you reconnect with your inner self.In this episode, you will learn:• How childhood trauma shaped her identity as a high achiever and helper• Why unresolved pain often drives our desire to save others• The hidden emotional cost of heroism• What really happened behind the scenes of Embrace, and why success without inner grounding almost destroyed her• How meditation, Internal Family Systems, and psychedelic therapy opened her back to herself• The truth she finally discovered: We are not the wave. We are the ocean beneath it• How to surrender without giving up• How to rebuild purpose after a public or private collapse• How to finally come home to yourselfSupport the MovementEveryone deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter.Show it. Wear it. Live it.https://StartMattering.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.