Michael Morris on Why We Divide and How to Reconnect

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

John R. Miles

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4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2025

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Michael Morris, a leading cultural psychologist and professor at Columbia University, to explore the psychology of tribalism and belonging. Drawing from his new book Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together, Michael explains how three evolutionary instincts—the Peer, Hero, and Ancestor Instincts—drive our group behavior, shape identity, and influence leadership. T

he conversation unpacks how these instincts manifest in politics, corporate culture, and social movements—and how understanding them can help us bridge divides, build trust, and lead intentional change. Whether you’re managing a team, navigating conflict, or trying to understand your own biases, this episode offers a powerful lens for personal and collective transformation.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Coming up next on Passionstruck.
0:02.1	Every generation thinks things are falling apart.
0:04.8	It's incumbent on us to not despair and not engage in mystical fatalism about our problems
0:13.0	instead to try to understand them as best we can and understand what levers we have
0:18.2	and how we can go about remediating the problems. And at the same time,
0:23.2	problems are dramatic and they dominate our attention. The good things that happen as a result of
0:29.3	our tribal motivations happen at a more tacit, implicit level, and we don't stop to think about
0:36.8	them very much. Welcome to Passionstruck.
0:39.3	Hi, I'm your host, John R. Miles. And on the show, we decipher the secrets, tips,
0:44.4	and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turned their wisdom into practical advice
0:50.1	for you and those around you. Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality
0:56.4	so that you can become the best version of yourself. If you're new to the show, I offer
1:01.4	advice and answer listener questions on Fridays. We have long-form interviews the rest of the
1:07.1	week with guests ranging from astronauts to authors CEOs, creators, innovators,
1:13.6	scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes. Now, let's go out there and become
1:19.4	Passionstruck. Welcome to episode 628 of Passionstruck. I'm your host John Miles, and this is the show
1:27.2	where we ignite change
1:28.8	from the inside out, so you can live life with more intention, meaning, and connection. All
1:34.1	month, we've been exploring a connected life, what it means to build real relationships,
1:39.5	lead with emotional intelligence, and thrive in a culture that often pulls us apart.
1:45.1	Last Tuesday in episode 625, we covered the neuroscience of craving and connection with Dr.
1:51.8	Anna Lumpke.
	...

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