Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

After an uncompromisingly courageous 18-year-long battle against ALS, one of the most resilient, impactful and joyful individuals I've ever met died last week. The lessons Augie Nieto taught before dying, though, should be learned and applied by the rest of us as we determine to start more fully living. And while he died last week, he taught those he encountered what real courage, real success and...

With a love for extreme sports and adventure, Mike spent his childhood taking on any sport that would push his personal limits. After finding his passion in freestyle skiing, Mike began performing professionally at international levels. After numerous injuries, Mike was forced to shift his plan and began coaching the British Columbia Freestyle Ski Team which allowed him to continue skiing the best...

My friends, productivity and focus have an important place in all our lives. But this week, and during this season of reflecting, slow down long enough to take inventory on what actually matters the most. And then be audacious enough to take the time to do exactly that. Because your time is limited, don't waste it. Just make sure you're busy living a life that truly matters.

We're all familiar with the saying "it takes a village"—meaning that for children to grow in a safe and healthy environment, they need to feel supported by an entire community. Yet when the global lockdowns heightened feelings of loneliness and isolation, Florence Ann Romano had a realization: our villages take us well beyond our childhoods. In fact, it's been found that those with a strong commun...

What is the first thing you look for in the morning? Reaching to hit snooze on an alarm likely ranks high on your list. Perhaps followed by reaching for that cell phone, grasping for those glasses, grabbing that robe, and stumbling into the kitchen for a coffee filter. All worthwhile things to seek in the morning. Two weeks ago, though, I met a woman who reminded me not only of the importance of s...

Today's guest has arguably become the most famous Olympian to ever finish last in an Olympic race.  At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Derek Redmond was amongst the favorites in the 400m semi-final. As he passed the 250m mark, the unthinkable happened: he tore his hamstring. Grabbing his leg and hobbling forward, Derek ultimately fell onto the track in agony. Determined to finish the race, he bega...

Although marketers have simplified Valentine's Day by focusing solely on romantic love, the day could be so much more. What if it wasn't just couples celebrating their love with a box of chocolates, wrapped flowers, or dinner dates, but a day that animated real, unconditional love in every relationship in our life? My friends, for a moment put the paper down and imagine people holding doors for on...

Have you ever unconsciously hurt someone's feelings by the words you chose? Whether managing diverse teams at work, navigating issues of inclusion at school or challenging biased comments at a family function, having constructive diversity and inclusion conversations is important. David Glasgow is the Executive Director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging and an adjunct p...

In our society today, it seems as if every topic immediately polarizes, fragments us and quickly leads to rigidly drawn lines between two opposing sides. Those on our perceived side are right, they're our allies, the good guys. And those on the other side? They're just wrong. They are to be pitied for their unawareness, canceled for their ignorance or attacked for their stupidity. So, what will be...

Adversity is much more common than we think. And yet, so is resilience, strength and tenacity. Dr. Meg Jay is a clinical psychologist and author of The Defining Decade and Superhuman . Specializing in adult development and in twentysomethings in particular, Meg joins us to explain our ability to overcome adversity, the power of being a support for others, and the courage to rise up above one's cir...

There is a significant gap between living from a place where we feel obligated to perform and living with a mindset that views service as an opportunity. I was reminded of this several years ago through the simple action and words of my wife. And with last week being her birthday, I wanted to share her awesome example with you this week.

It's not uncommon for famous athletes to visit children in hospitals. Sometimes these visits are well publicized but many times it's done quietly. Undoubtedly, it has a profound impact on the young patients and their families by providing joy, hope and positivity. As a young St. Louis Blues player, Gino Cavallini would repeatedly show up for the five months I was in the hospital, always smiling an...

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius Did you finish strong? Whether we view this question through the lens of how we conclude each of our days or how we cross the finish line at the end of our lives, finishing strong should be something for which we all strive. And one of the greatest examples I know of what it looks like to finish strong is Br...

After decades of teamwork and the highest levels of accountability as an F-15 and F-22 fighter pilot, Weapons School Instructor and Squadron Commander Robert "Cujo" Teschner concluded that every team can become what he personally experienced and lived on the front-line. Today, Cujo joins us to share about his current mission: helping organizations build teams that win amid disruption." He'll share...

What's your date? You know, the date when the phone rang, a friend moved, a partner walked out, the unexpected and unwanted became the new reality? What's the date when the life you planned dramatically and painfully changed forever? We all have one. What's yours? One such date for me is January 17, 1987. Let me explain...

There are numerous health and wellbeing challenges associated with isolation, cynicism, burnout, negativity, and divisiveness. And yet there is one surprising solution to circumvent each of the challenges: FUN. Having more fun improves your relationships, both at work and in life Fun makes us smarter Fun reduces stress Finding more fun in physical activity balances your hormone levels Fun can make...

My friends, despite the dissension technology may cause and the distraction it so often becomes, it can also be the source of profound beauty, wonderful connection and unyielding hope. I was reminded of this truth over the holidays as I spent time with my friend, Greg. After Greg miraculously survived a head-on collision, he lost his ability to see. Join me today as I share Greg's story and how a...

Laura Calder is perhaps best known for her James Beard Award-winning television series, French Food at Home. As a passionate home cook, homemaker and hostess, Laura is an enthusiast of all things art de vivre , or the French idea of getting the most out of everyday life by putting care into everything we do. Whether it's setting a lovely table, putting a bit of extra effort into making a sandwich,...

" Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities. ." -Terry Josephson Late Saturday night, many of us watched as the clock ticked toward midnight. We waved goodbye to 2022, hoped for a better New Year and even made resolutions to ensure it would be even better than the last. And although only 24-hours into the New Year, many of those resolutions have already bee...

In the depths of the uncharted Amazon rainforest, Yossi Ghinsberg was tested to the extreme. After losing his three companions, and without food, fire, a weapon and bare to the bone, Yossi battled to survive for three harrowing weeks. As the inspiration for the movie Jungle starring Daniel Radcliffe, Yossi describes himself as a philosopher of life and believes that nothing promotes growth more th...

As we head toward the end of December and put a bow not only on Christmas presents, but on 2022, it's wise to be a bit reflective about the year we're concluding to ready us for the one we're about to begin. And although there are many ways to summarize a year, we wanted to share a few numbers that mattered most to us as we conclude 2022. And to thank you for being part of it.

Dr. Jennifer Arnold proudly holds many titles including wife, mom, neonatologist, reality television star and cancer survivor, yet at her core she's just trying to live her best life while doing as much good as she can. For 14 seasons, Jennifer, alongside her beloved husband Bill, starred on TLC's hit docu-drama The Little Couple where they courageously shared their journey to starting a family an...

John O'Leary recommends a Christmas gift that all are sure to love on this Monday Moment segment. At a packed Great Clips last week, I was reminded that sometimes it's the seemingly insignificant conversations and simple questions that remind us to recognize what matters most.  

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is coming to a close! Of the 80 teams that qualified for the sport's biggest event, the final two teams, Argentina and France, will face off this Sunday in Qatar with billions of viewers tuning in. And while my home country of USA was knocked out earlier this month, today's guest recognizes what an accomplishment it was to compete on the world's stage. Travis Thomas is U.S....

"Le marchand de la mort est mort" And with these printed words, the life of not only one man who read them profoundly changed, but so did the entire world. Let me explain what happened and why it matters to you.