Episode Overview

Podcast: Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Episode: 672 – The Stories That Shape Us: Why Your Narrative Defines Your Future
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Host: John R. Miles

This episode is the climactic finale of the “Decoding Humanity” series, centering on the hidden power of the stories we tell ourselves and how our personal narratives not only define our identity, but also determine our trajectory. John explores why recognizing, reclaiming, and rewriting your story is a vital skill, shares his original STORY framework for self-authorship, and draws on inspiring examples from recent guests.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hidden Power of Personal Narratives

• [00:51] John R. Miles:
  "We all live inside an ongoing narrative, a personal myth that explains who we are, what we value, and how we interpret every moment. But here’s the thing. Those stories aren’t neutral. Some liberate us, some limit us."
• John explains that the stories we tell ourselves act as invisible scripts, shaping not only our identity but also our potential. They are dynamic, rooted in early experiences, cultural scripts, and self-interpretations.
• Examples referenced:
  • Joel Beasley (tech entrepreneur-turned-comedian) and Sandy Ysupovic (overcame paralysis) both re-authored their stories against considerable odds.
  • The notion of the “self-narrative” is explored as our operating code; it can be limiting ("I’m not enough") or empowering ("I’m resilient").

2. Tracing the Origin and Evolution of Our Stories

• [09:45] John R. Miles:
  "Most of them are seeded early in childhood… They’re often written before we’re even aware we’re living them."
• Stories are shaped first by the voices of parents, teachers, and peers.
• Cites past guest Bo Eason’s transformation of his “origin story” (“Did they measure your heart?”) as a shift from externally imposed limits to self-forged narratives of perseverance and heart.

3. The Impact of Stories on Perception and Possibility

• Stories serve as filters for experience—whether we interpret feedback as proof of inadequacy or building blocks for growth.
• Donald Miller’s insight: "If you confuse, you lose." Not only applies to business, but also to personal stories—lack of clarity creates confusion, stagnation, and drifting.
• Charles Duhigg’s framework: every conversation has practical, emotional, and social levels. Stories help align these and make life coherent rather than just data points.

Framework: The STORY Model

John distills his approach to rewriting personal narratives into the “STORY” framework:

S – Sense Making

• [15:22] John R. Miles:
  "Sense making and storytelling are deeply intertwined… Stories provide the structure that our brains crave, organizing information, assigning meaning, and making the uncertain feel at least understandable."
• Stories aren’t luxuries—they’re survival strategies that help us bring order to chaos, both personally and collectively.

T – Truth

• [18:04] John R. Miles:
  "Not every story we tell ourselves is true. Some are distorted, some are inherited, some are flat-out lies we’ve repeated so often they feel like facts."
• Cites Matt Abrahams: "Mistakes aren’t failures, they’re missed takes."
• Reclaiming truth is about stripping away false, limiting scripts and focusing on what is real and liberating.

O – Origin

• [21:36] John R. Miles:
  "Our origin stories are powerful because they carry both our deepest wounds and our earliest wisdom. They’re the scripts first handed to us, often before we had the language to question them."
• Echoes Bo Eason: your origin story is your "differentiator."

R – Resonance

• [24:08] John R. Miles:
  "Resonance is what makes stories stick in our bones… They don’t just inform us, they move us."
• Resonant stories bypass surface details and connect with identity and longing (examples: MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’, ancient parables).

Y – You

• [27:05] John R. Miles:
  "Because no matter what you’ve inherited… the story of your life is still being written, and the author is you."
• You can always pick up the pen; agency and authorship are fundamental to creating a meaningful life.

Actionable Steps to Rewrite Your Story

• Sense making: When facing confusion or pain, ask "What’s the story here?" and write it down.
• Truth: Assess whether the story is real or burdened by inherited fear or comparison.
• Origin: Identify and question the early scripts you absorbed; rewrite those that no longer serve you.
• Resonance: Pay attention to stories that move you—ask why, and use that insight as your compass.
• You: Take responsibility to author your next chapter; decide if you’ll be a passive character or an active author.

“Your story isn’t fixed—it’s a draft, and you hold the pen.”
– John R. Miles [29:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On rewriting scripts:

  "The stories we inherit are not destiny. They are drafts. And the pen is still in your hand."
  – John R. Miles [14:57]

• On clarity and authenticity:

  "When we edit our story back to its truth, when we strip away all the noise and name what’s real, clarity returns, direction returns. And suddenly, our lives start making sense again."
  – John R. Miles [13:23]

• On resonance and connection:

  "Stories aren’t passive, they’re participatory. We feel them, we carry them, and sometimes, they rewrite us."
  – John R. Miles [25:52]

• Empowering call-to-action:

  "Stop waiting for someone else to narrate your life. Pick up the pen… become the storyteller of your own becoming."
  – John R. Miles [28:13]

Important Timestamps

• [00:51] – Introduction to the theme; recap of “Decoding Humanity” series
• [06:13]–[14:57] – Real-life stories (Joel Beasley, Sandy Ysupovic, Bo Eason), power of self-narratives
• [15:22]–[29:30] – Detailed breakdown of the STORY framework
• [30:00] – Episode wrap-up, announcement of next week’s guest (Dr. Brennan Spiegel) and upcoming book

Closing Thoughts

John R. Miles delivers a powerful, structured reflection on why the narratives we accept and craft can either imprison us or set us free. By adopting the STORY framework, listeners are invited to become conscious authors of their own lives, rewriting limiting scripts, embracing agency, and forging a future driven by meaning and intention.

Next episode preview: A discussion with Dr. Brennan Spiegel about his new book Pull and the hidden ways gravity shapes mind, body, and health.

Final reminder:
"You’re not just a character in someone else’s story—you are the author. So live like you matter and become passion struck."
– John R. Miles [31:42]