Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

Jodi Wellman is a positive psychology expert in pursuit of igniting others to lead a zero-regret life. As the founder of Four Thousand Mondays, Jodi shines light on the scarcity of time and how we have the power to lead squander-free lives with urgency and meaning. With the average life expectancy being 80 years, we get roughly 4,000 Mondays in our lifetime. Today, Jodi joins us to share how her m...

Last week, country music lost one of its most iconic stars. Over the course of several decades, Toby Keith's perfectly deep, rich voice belted out 42 songs that became top-10 on the Billboard Country chart. While many of those songs were about bars, or girls, or his love for his country, it is one of his most gentile songs that remains not only one of my favorite songs, but an anthem we should try...

Paul Ollinger is a nationally-touring comedian and a former Facebook VP of Sales. As one of Facebook's first 250 employees, Paul managed a team that generated about 35% of the company's revenue. After retiring from Facebook at 42, Paul found himself bored, lonely and unfulfilled. Wondering why the wealth windfall he had so long pursued didn't deliver the contentment he expected, Paul launched the ...

John O'Leary shares what the upcoming Super Bowl and Denny O'Leary can teach us about embracing change on this Monday Moment segment. Change is inevitable, sometimes forced by the conclusion of a sports season, the ending of a relationship or the loss of a job. Whether perceived as positive or negative, none of us will be spared the shifts to our identities that happen throughout the course of our...

Tarek El Moussa is best known for HGTV shows like Flip or Flop and Flipping 101 , but he's so much more. He's a thriving businessman, two-time cancer survivor, and devoted husband and father. Today, Tarek opens up about the transformative chapters that have shaped his life. Join us to hear about the peaks and valleys of how he navigated the distressing subprime mortgage crisis in the early 2000s,...

Each month in 2024, we'll be celebrating individuals who are On Fire For Good. This month, we share the incredible work of Tom Wiley and the December 5th Fund. Thank you, Tom, for showing us what it means to be On Fire For Good. My friends, do you know someone living On Fire For Good? Tom's story was submitted by a member of the Live Inspired community, Ryan Farmer. If you know someone you want to...

As the curator of TED for more than twenty years, Chris Anderson has seen first-hand how the world's boldest thinkers have shared their most uplifting ideas and the ways in which ideas can spread. In his recent book Infectious Generosity released earlier this week, Chris explores how simple, ordinary, and seemingly unremarkable acts of human kindness have the potential to impact the lives of milli...

Six weeks after completing the filming for ON FIRE, I am still digesting the experience of having a full-length feature film capture the most tragic, intimate, painful, redemptive, and joyful aspects of my life. It was a surreal experience that moved me deeply, reinforced the profound gift of life, and shined a brilliant light on the power of unconditional love. Sometimes that love was captured in...

Erin Stafford is a burnout and peak-performance expert who surrounded herself with some of the most motivated, ambitious, famous overachievers in the world. And yet, even these leaders suffer from severe cases of burnout as they struggle to adjust to a post-pandemic world and the pressures it put on their personal and professional lives. With 52% of all workers feeling burned out and 67% saying th...

How do you want to be remembered? It's paradoxical that answering a question about death can be so wildly important to living a more vibrant life.  Perhaps even more surprising, though, is realizing the very thing that is assured to us all is also so rarely considered. And yet my friends, it turns out that while we may indeed share equally in the profound gift of this day, we also share in the cer...

Dr. Margaret Rutherford is a clinical psychologist, author and host of The SelfWork Podcast. She focuses on helping others lead healthier mental and emotional lives. Today, Dr. Margaret shares how living through her "lost decade" taught her resilience, hope and the transformational power of being more transparent with one another. Known for coining the term "perfectly hidden depression", Dr. Marga...

A few years ago, I spoke at a conference in Washington. It was for leaders serving in emergency services. I reminded these firefighters, first responders and EMTs of the value of their work, the impact of their efforts, and the ripple effect of their lives. Today, I share a story that will inspire you to honor your mentors by  letting them know their impact.

In 1937, Stephanie Stuckey's grandfather opened one roadside pecan stand. At its peak, Stuckey's was a one-stop oasis for travelers along America's highways, with their iconic pecan log rolls available in more than 350 stores in 40 states. After her grandfather's death and decades of outside ownership however, the once beloved Stuckey's brand fell into disrepair. And yet, it's never too late to re...

Turning the calendar from December to January is supposed to usher in new hope, goals, and possibility. To absolve us of our holiday indulgences and pave the way for commitments to eat better, work out more and grow spiritually. All this to become better versions of ourselves. But in reality, ringing in the New Year can sometimes feel deflating. Instead of a focus on possibility, it can be a fixat...

Josh Wilson had a vision to make an impact on deeply rooted systemic poverty in his community. In learning the importance of listening over telling and how to act with more than just good intentions, Josh has connected families with resources as prevention methods for violent outcomes for more than 16 years. Today, Josh shares how his non-profit Mission: St. Louis has become a lighthouse for the c...

With everything the season's been culminating toward just a single night's sleep away, what child sleeps well on Christmas Eve? A s the time off school, holiday parties, drives to see lights, visits to Santa and preparations come to a peak before tomorrow's Christmas celebration, John shares one tradition that helps his family remember the reason for the season.

Ash Beckham is an equality advocate, on a journey toward creating a world of inclusion, where everyone's voice is heard and valued—even when our perspectives may differ. Today, Ash shares stories of her own transformation from a place of isolation and anger to one of greater openness and connection. Reminding us of the importance of having empathy, humility and authenticity for each other,  Ash gu...

It started with a speech seven years ago where one producer asked me for the right to turn the story she heard into a movie. Several months later, she brought in a couple of her producer friends who agreed to propel the project forward. They brought in a screenwriter who delivered a brilliant screenplay. And a genius film director who agreed to lead the project. Countless rejections followed from...

As a singer-songwriter and musician, Colton Dixon – who appeared on season 11 of American Idol – turns personal truths, stories and experiences into universal anthems. Recently nominated for the GMA Dove Song of the Year for his massive hit "Build a Boat," Colton joins us to share his journey of faith, family and discovering his true calling. Today, Colton helps us get into the holiday spirit with...

What are you wishing for? It's a question many of us ask our children this time of year. But what if the question was asked of you? What if you could arrange a one-to-one meeting with Santa? What would you wish for? Near the end of a tumultuous year for so many around the world and in the midst of an array of personal challenges so many face, I was reminded of a remarkable little boy's answer to t...

For the past five weeks, I've had the pleasure to work alongside hundreds of talented producers, stunt coordinators, set designers, production assistants, boom operators, award-winning actors, makeup artists… and so many other crucial contributors in bringing a feature-length film to life. Today, as we're just two days from calling "it's a wrap!" on filming of the On Fire movie, I invite you to jo...

Do you ever have days where you ask yourself the self-defeating question: Why do I even bother ? Sure, sometimes it's asked in different ways- Do I matter? Do I make a difference? Does my work here impact anything? - but we've all had those days. Last week, my friends from Hollywood filmed a scene for the On Fire movie that reminded me of the unseen impact we all have the potential to make- even i...

In 1995, a 16-year-old Bobby Bostic found himself caught up in a series of poor choices including robbery and armed criminal action. Judge Evelyn Baker, convinced he was a lost cause, handed down a jaw-dropping 241-year sentence on him, parole only becoming a glimmer of hope at the ripe age of 112. While serving the longest sentence in Missouri for a non-homicide juvenile offense, Bobby didn't cru...

Regardless of where the event is, how large the group is, or what the makeup of the crowd is, I love the audiences we get to serve. By the end of our brief time together, there is always a connection, always a bond. That shared experience and exchange of energy is what makes this work truly life-giving. It's also why I leave each room with more friends than when I walked in. So to describe the fee...

I consider Thanksgiving one of my favorite family holidays. It's certainly a wonderful time away from work, enjoying good food, viewing football, and taking inventory of the many blessings in life. Join me as I share a tradition I've been implementing at my family feast the last few years. Today's episode will ignite an abundance of gratitude and help you celebrate Thanksgiving on fire .