Nobel Laureate Alvin Roth: How Incentives Shape Your Life | EP 757

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

John R. Miles

Mental Health, Alternative Health, Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 779 Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if the choices you make every day aren’t entirely your own?In this episode of Passion Struck, I sit down with Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth to explore how incentives, systems, and hidden structures shape human behavior—often in ways we don’t even realize.Drawing from his new book, Moral Economics: Why Good Incentives Are No Substitute for Good Citizens, Roth reveals a powerful truth: markets aren’t just about money—they are systems that decide who gets what, who gets access, and what society considers acceptable.We explore why banning certain behaviors often pushes them underground, how so-called “repugnant transactions” reveal our moral boundaries, and why understanding incentives is essential if you want to make better decisions—in your life, your work, and the systems you operate within.This conversation challenges how you think about choice, control, and responsibility—and offers a new lens for understanding the forces shaping your decisions every day.Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering.Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/moral-economics-alvin-roth-market-design/Explore companion insights for this episode at: https://www.theignitedlife.netThank You to Our SponsorsLimited Time Offer – Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code PASSION at huel.com/passion. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show!Connect with JohnKeynotes, books, podcast, and resources: https://linktr.ee/John_R_MilesChildren’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How incentives shape your decisions—often without you realizing it
Why markets are systems of allocation, not just exchange
What “repugnant transactions” reveal about society’s moral boundaries
Why banning something doesn’t eliminate it—it often creates black markets
How hidden systems influence behavior in business, policy, and everyday life
What it means to design better systems that align with human values

Support the MovementUnderstanding how systems shape behavior is the first step toward living more intentionally.Explore tools, insights, and frameworks to help you align your life with what truly matters: https://www.theignitedlife.netDisclaimerThe 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, legal, or financial advice.

Connect with John

Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/
Book John to Speak: https://johnrmiles.com/speaking/
Keynotes, books, podcast, and resources: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
Substack: https://www.theignitedlife.net/

Support the Movement: https://startmattering.com/. Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it.

Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Coming up next on Passion Struck.
0:02.2	So in the 1920s, we passed a constitutional amendment that forbid most sales of alcohol,
0:08.9	alcoholic beverages, and a dozen years later, we repealed it.
0:13.7	And the reason was prohibition didn't actually limit consumption of alcohol by all that much.
0:19.6	And it gave rise to organized crime. Now, having
0:23.9	repealed prohibition, we now have legal markets for alcohol, that doesn't mean the problems of
0:29.1	alcohol went away, right? There's still alcoholism. They're still driving under the influence.
0:34.1	But one thing you can't do anymore is buy moonshine whiskey from gangsters right we've taken a lot of a
0:39.9	crime out of alcohol we still have alcoholism and the birth of alcoholics anonymous came just around
0:44.9	the time of the repeal of prohibition welcome to passion struck i'm your host john miles this is the
0:51.7	show where we explore the art of human flourishing and what it truly means to live
0:56.2	like it matters. Each week, I sit down with change makers, creators, scientists, and everyday
1:01.5	heroes to decode the human experience and uncover the tools that help us lead with meaning,
1:07.3	heal what hurts, and pursue the fullest expression of who we're capable of becoming.
1:12.6	Whether you're designing your future, developing as a leader, or seeking deeper alignment in
1:16.8	your life, this show is your invitation to grow with purpose and act with intention.
1:22.2	Because the secret to a life of deep purpose, connection, and impact is choosing to live like you matter.
1:35.1	Hey friends, and welcome back to episode 757 of Passionstruck. Over the past few weeks,
1:41.4	we've been building something intentionally together in this April series, Purpose by Design. We kicked off the series few weeks, we've been building something intentionally together in this April
1:44.2	series, Purpose by Design.
1:46.6	We kicked off the series with Arthur Brooks exploring the growing crisis of meaning.
1:52.0	Then with Wharton Professor Corinne Lowe, we looked at how the systems around us quietly
	...

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