What if the key to thriving in 2026 isn't expanding your network or chasing global impact, but intentionally shrinking your world to the size your brain was built for?
In this first solo episode of 2026, Episode 711 of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores the profound mismatch between our hunter-gatherer brains (evolved for tribes of under 150 people) and the demands of an 8-billion-person world. Drawing on Dunbar's number, psychology, and the themes of The Season of Becoming, John unpacks why endless social feeds, polarized news, and constant connectivity leave us anxious, burned out, and divided.
He explains how focusing on your true "tribe" of 150 restores peace, deepens connections, and amplifies your real impact, without the exhaustion of treating everyone as a potential ally or threat. This isn't about isolation. It's about reclaiming energy for what truly matters: presence, meaning, and relationships that sustain you.
If you're entering 2026 feeling overwhelmed by the world's noise or ready to reset for deeper fulfillment, this episode offers a compassionate blueprint to come home to your natural scale.
Before the goals and habits, reclaim the space where true flourishing begins.
Resources and Links
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/dunbars-number-explained-why-we-need-150-in-2026/
All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
Pre-order You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
Tribe Mapping Companion Workbook
Identify Your 150. Release the Rest. Build True Belonging.
Reflection prompts and exercises to map your core tribe, name what to release from large-group weight, and create habits for deeper connections in 2026.
Download the free Companion Workbook at: https://open.substack.com/pub/passionstruck/p/dunbars-number-150-thrive-2026/
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why our brains are wired for tribes of 150 and how modern life creates constant mismatch and exhaustion
- The science of Dunbar's number and its role in anxiety, burnout, and division
- How shrinking your world restores focus, empathy, and real impact without isolation
- Practical ways to identify and nurture your true tribe in 2026
- Why large-group thinking treats others as threats and how small-scale living rebuilds peace
- Reflections on The Season of Becoming and stepping into a year of intentional presence
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Disclaimer
The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed are those of John R. Miles 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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