Dr. Zelana Montminy on the Science of Meaningful Happiness | EP 686

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Passion Struck Network

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4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if happiness isn’t something you chase—but something you build through resilience, purpose, and self-compassion?

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Zelana Montminy, a behavioral scientist, positive psychologist, and author of Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction to unpack the deeper science of happiness—and why our culture has misunderstood it for so long.

Dr. Montminy, one of the foremost voices in positive psychology, reveals that true well-being doesn’t come from constant positivity, but from learning how to transform discomfort into growth. Her evidence-based approach draws on neuroscience, behavioral research, and decades of clinical work to help people cultivate resilient joy—the kind that endures even through pain, loss, and uncertainty.

Together, John and Dr. Montminy explore the difference between “feeling good” and “doing well,” the myth of toxic positivity, and the powerful connection between meaning, mattering, and mental health.

This episode continues our new series, “The Irreplaceables”—a deep look at the people, mindsets, and moments that make life meaningful, and why what matters most can never be replicated.

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All episode resources—including guest links, Passion Struck books, The Ignited Life Substack, and the Start Mattering store—are gathered here:

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To learn more about Dr. Zelana Montminy, visit zelanamontminy.com.

💡 About the Episode

Discover why chasing happiness keeps us stuck—and how to cultivate resilient joy instead.
Learn the four pillars of emotional fitness that anchor Dr. Montminy’s research: perspective, purpose, connection, and self-awareness.
Understand how discomfort and emotional friction can serve as catalysts for growth.
Explore the neuroscience of resilience and why our brains are wired more for survival than satisfaction.
Hear Dr. Montminy’s personal story of loss and reinvention—and how it reshaped her understanding of well-being.
Gain practical tools to strengthen your psychological flexibility and reconnect with what truly matters.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Coming up next on Passion Struck.
0:02.1	We're always going to have things that are thrown at us.
0:04.5	So that's inevitable having the noise of life consume us.
0:08.6	So the real work is in the micro habits, the day-to-day functions that we employ the boundaries that we cultivate around our days and our time in order to choose how to respond to things versus just be super, super
0:23.3	reactive. So most of the time people have content and information coming at them. It all feels
0:29.3	very urgent. Our brain is in fight or flight. Someone else's emergency is also ours and it becomes
0:35.2	very sort of nebulous and contagious, right?
0:38.6	Welcome to Passionstruck. I'm your host, John Miles. This is the show where we explore
0:43.9	the art of human flourishing and what it truly means to live like it matters. Each week, I sit down
0:49.9	with change makers, creators, scientists, and everyday heroes to decode the human experience
0:55.2	and uncover the tools that help us lead with meaning, heal what hurts, and pursue the fullest
1:00.7	expression of who we're capable of becoming. Whether you're designing your future, developing
1:05.6	as a leader, or seeking deeper alignment in your life, this show is your invitation to grow with purpose
1:11.6	and act with intention. Because the secret to a life of deep purpose, connection, and impact
1:17.1	is choosing to live like you matter.
1:26.1	Welcome back, friends, to Passion Struck episode 686. I'm your host, John Miles, and I am so glad you're here. Whether you're a long-time listener or joining for the first time, welcome. You're part of a growing movement to live intentionally and to create a world where people feel seen, valued, and like they truly matter. If this show has ever helped
1:45.2	you take a step toward that life, here's how you can help it grow. Share this episode with someone
1:50.6	who needs it. Leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. It's the best way to
1:56.1	help others discover these conversations. And lastly, join our rapidly growing community hub at the ignited
2:02.1	life.net. My substack, where I share weekly frameworks, workbooks, reflections, and behind-the-scenes
2:07.4	insights to help you live with greater purpose and connection. This week, we launched our brand-new series,
2:13.4	The Irreplaceables, rediscovering human work in an age of acceleration. In a world where machines
	...

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