Dr. Sunita Sah on How to Stand Firm When It Matters Most | EP 679

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Passion Struck Network

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4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Sunita Sah—physician, behavioral scientist, and author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes—to explore one of the most overlooked yet essential human forces: defiance.

Part of our ongoing series The Forces That Shape Us, this conversation dives into why we struggle to say no, even when our inner voice knows we should. Dr. Sah reveals how subtle social pressures—from authority, hierarchy, and culture—can override our values and decisions without us realizing it. She explains the neuroscience behind compliance, why defying those pressures feels so uncomfortable, and how to develop the moral courage to stand firm when it matters most.

Catch more of Dr. Sunita Sah: https://www.sunitasah.com/

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Coming up next on Passionstruck. We are often rewarded so much for being compliant.
0:05.6	Society doesn't just reward compliance. It teaches it in pretty much everything that we do.
0:10.6	We're praised for going along, for keeping quiet, for not making trouble, for being a team
0:14.9	player. All of these aspects, we get these rewards. But often they come with so many individual costs.
0:22.6	That cost is real. We have regret. We have burnout. We have stress. We have anxiety. We have depression.
0:27.6	We have chronic inflammation. We have so many costs that we don't think about.
0:31.6	We spend so much time thinking about the costs of defiance, we need to spend some time think about the
0:37.8	costs of compliance. Welcome to Passionstruck. I'm your host, John Miles. This is the show where
0:44.3	we explore the art of human flourishing and what it truly means to live like it matters. Each week,
0:50.4	I sit down with change makers, creators, scientists, and everyday heroes to decode the
0:55.3	human experience and uncover the tools that help us lead with meaning, heal what hurts,
1:00.7	and pursue the fullest expression of who we're capable of becoming. Whether you're designing
1:05.5	your future, developing as a leader, or seeking deeper alignment in your life, this show
1:10.5	is your invitation to grow
1:12.0	with purpose and act with intention. Because the secret to a life of deep purpose, connection,
1:17.6	and impact is choosing to live like you matter.
1:27.4	Welcome back, friends, to episode 679 of Passionstruck.
1:31.8	I'm John Miles, and I'm so glad you're here.
1:34.3	Over a third of you come back every single week.
1:37.0	And whether you've been with us from the start or this is your very first episode, welcome.
1:42.0	You're not just supporting a show.
1:43.2	You're part of a moment to create a
	...

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