What if living with an open heart, especially in times of loss, uncertainty, and division, is not a matter of willpower or optimism, but a quiet and courageous practice of presence?
In this episode of Passion Struck, poet, philosopher, and cancer survivor Mark Nepo joins John R. Miles for a deeply human conversation about acceptance, aliveness, and what it means to live with an open heart in a fractured world.
Drawing on his lifelong body of work, including The Book of Awakening and his newest book, The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life, Mark explains that acceptance is not resignation but an act of cooperating with truth. Together, John and Mark explore why the heart is our strongest muscle, how immersion, rather than achievement, brings us to life, and why caring fully for what is right in front of us may be the most meaningful form of compassion we have.
This episode weaves together stories of grief, creativity, aging, and meaning. From feeding a dying parent applesauce to the metaphor of the meteor that burns away what no longer matters, Mark reveals how life becomes clearer when we stop holding back.
At its core, this conversation is an invitation to stay present even when life is difficult, to say yes to life even when it breaks us open, and to remember that our presence, here and now, truly matters.
Passion Struck with John R. Miles was recently ranked #1 on FeedSpot’s list of the Top Passion Podcasts on the Web, recognizing the show’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful, human-centered conversations like this one.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/mark-nepo-interview-fifth-season-book/
All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel
https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
For more about Mark Nepo
https://www.marknepo.com/
Pre-order You Matter, Luma
https://youmatterluma.com/
The Fifth Season Companion Resources
Practical reflections and contemplative prompts inspired by Mark Nepo’s teachings on presence, creativity, and aging with intention.
Explore the companion guide: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/the-courage-to-stay-awake-to-life-mark-nepo
In this episode, you will learn
- Why acceptance is not about giving up, but about cooperating with truth
- How the heart functions as our strongest muscle and most reliable compass
- The difference between nostalgia and the healing use of memory
- Why dreams remain essential to aliveness in the second half of life
- How immersion, not excellence, creates meaning and creativity
- A simple question that reveals whether something is life-giving or life-draining
- How the metaphor of the meteor explains why aging can bring greater clarity
- Why caring deeply for the smallest detail connects us to the wider human story
- What it means to say yes to life in a way that affirms that you matter
- How widening your inner horizon helps right size fear, grief, and suffering
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Disclaimer
The 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 advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.
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