Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

"It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others." – Dalai Lama This time of year, we frequently ask children, "what are you wishing for?" But what if the question was asked of you? What if you could arrange a safe, socially-distant, one-to-one meeting with Santa? Near the end of this wildly difficult year and in the midst of...

In 2019, there were 69 million files of child sexual abuse material reported to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. As CEO of Thorn, a non-profit founded by Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Julie Cordua is driving innovation to connect the tech industry, law enforcement and government to end the viral distribution of abusive   material and rescue children faster. Today, Julie shar...

"Live every day as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right." - Muhammad Ali This 'trivial exercise' might be the push you need to start living your values and your best life. Assuming a lifespan of 75 years, you can look forward to living 27,375 days. If you've graduated high school, you're down to 20,000. If you're in your early 30s, you've got about 15,000 days left.  If yo...

The odds of surviving a plane crash  r esulting  in one or more fatalities  is  one in 3.4 million.  Today's guest survived two, the odds of which are one in more than 11 quadrillion. In the span of eight years, Austin Hatch survived two plane crashes that claimed five people closest to him. In 2003, eight-year-old Austin Hatch lost his mother, younger brother, and older sister in a plane crash th...

"Being resentful is like taking poison…. and waiting for the other person to die."   – Nelson Mandela My friends, how long should you stay mad? I must admit that in my life, and perhaps you've found in yours, that even with the door open and the bridge of reconciliation available, I tug on my jacket, turn around in anger, and walk into the cold rain by myself. But going forward, let's determine to...

Every Thursday for the last five weeks we've shared interviews full of tips + inspiring conversations as part of our Electing Gratitude series. This special series was designed to help you navigate + find joy within the complexities of life this year. Today's episode serves as a guide to living inspired while navigating holiday stress + winter blues. I share much-needed perspective + practical tip...

As this week ushers us toward my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, I've been thinking a lot about what I wanted to say to try to help reduce the anxiety, divisiveness, anger and general exhaustion you may be feeling.   It's been a profoundly difficult year. The need to slow down, count blessings and come together not only as a family around a Thanksgiving meal, but as a nation, is critical. [I had t...

"Are you angry with the police?"   Just days after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back, Pastor James Ward, the pastor of Blake's mother, was asked this question by a reporter from a major cable news show. His response – one of grace, peace, forgiveness, and righteous indignation was a catalyst; drawing others into a critically important conversation as a nation.   Today, Pastor James shar...

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Motivation segment. "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstance, to choose one's own way." – Viktor Frankl During a time when so many feel that life is out of control, overwhelmed with challenges, and trapped in isol...

Does having the world at your fingertips 24/7 ever feel overwhelming? Do you ever find yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media, only to be left feeling anxious, frustrated and unproductive? Today, Tiffany Shlain, bestselling author of  24/6   and founder of the Webby Awards ,  shares her expertise on how to enjoy + leverage technology by first setting healthy boundaries with it! (After...

Last week, my wife Beth + I witnessed a microcosm of what happens every day in this country and around the world. People, living their lives the very best they can. Struggling. Dreaming. Striving. Hoping to provide for families, and run errands, and live their lives.... But when there is a need, when an individual is in pain, when someone regardless of their differences is in need of help, people...

Earlier this week, we officially cast votes in local + national elections. Regardless of our personal politics or if our candidates won the results of tomorrow's election, this season has been nothing short of tumultuous. As we're reeling with elevated emotions, I wanted to make space for our Live Inspired Community to be present to the uncertainty that we are experiencing together. Today, I'm lis...

In the midst of this fractious season, I'm reminded of witnessing an alternative possibility at a burn camp for children decades ago. While there, I was reminded of the transformational possibility of coming together to heal wounds, unify differences and aspire to true greatness. As painful as physical recovery from a severe burn is, the assimilation into your "old life" can be even more difficult...

Just days away from what might be the most impactful American presidential election in history, in the midst of a pandemic, with high stakes + anxiety regardless the side of the aisle you sit on...  It's all unprecedented.  Or is it? The headlines continue to refer to  this   election  as "unprecedented" – but I'm not so sure it is! Join me and the host of the award-winning  Presidential P odcast...

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Motivation segment. Just a week before the election, in the midst of a pandemic, with recessionary winds blowing, and personal challenges mounting, so many of us are beginning to feel we're trapped in an impossible situation.   It is more important than ever to remember that impossible is just a word thrown a...

What would you do if you weren't afraid?  Kara Goldin left her Vice President job at AOL to launch Hint Water with one simple goal: Make water that tastes great.  Finding herself overweight, with low energy + adult acne, Kara discovered her diet soda habit was the culprit. To entice herself to drink water in its place, she added "hints" of fruit flavor to plain water. This was the inspiration behi...

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Motivation segment. "Were you born stupid? Or have you just become stupid over time?" As a 20-year old college finance major, I had an amazing opportunity to work at a world-class financial service firm. When a successful adviser called asking me, "were you born stupid? Or have you just become stupid over tim...

After the sudden death of her 12-year-old son Jack, Anna Whiston-Donaldson felt lonely, heavy with guilt and uncertain if she could ever be happy again. Anna began to courageously share her family's tragedy + the puzzling, unclear territory of grief in hopes of helping others, first through her blog and then her  New York Times  bestselling book  Rare Bird  and children's book  A Hug From Heaven. ...

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. "Don't walk in front of me… I may not follow. Don't walk behind me… I may not lead. Walk beside me… just be my friend." - Albert Camus Today I share the profound impact my friend Rusty Keeley had on my life. He was encouragement when I needed a lift. Sage advice when I needed wisdom. A connec...

In my late twenties, I did not believe in myself. Before I realized I had a story worth sharing – or in the truth that we  all  have a story worth sharing – my longtime friend, Rusty Keeley, believed enough to invest in having me speak to his company. He was my first client. That inflection point launched my speaking career. He then directly and indirectly introduced me to more than 100 speaking c...

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. "Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in." ― Isaac Asimov Our assumptions of others say far more about us than they do about the person or group of people we are judging. In a darkened marketplace with so much negativity...

Twenty years ago, Greg Holder left corporate America because of an unyielding ache to make a difference. Since then, Greg has been lead pastor of The Crossing, non-denominational church, passionately calling tens of thousands of people from a diverse spiritual backgrounds to consider what it means to follow Jesus in today's world. Today, Greg shares how many slowly, over-time begin to lead less sa...

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. I've interviewed and met some of the most remarkable recording artists in the world. I've never met an artist with a heart as beautiful as Eric Genuis' nor heard a song as beautiful as the one he composed for his daughter Anastasia. While waiting for her to recover from one of her early surge...

Sara Evans is a fan-favorite, multi-platinum country artist with hits like  Born to Fly  and  Suds in the Bucket  spanning decades. Today, Sara shares about her simple, idyllic childhood on her family's tobacco farm, a tragic accident that grew her faith and a look behind-the-scenes at the inspiration for her new book and her most iconic songs. Her genuine and resilient spirit will leave you inspi...

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. My friend, many of us today find ourselves in a less than ideal reality. It's true. But that doesn't concern me – I've endured far worse. What does concern me is that we are beginning to risk losing the brilliant, galvanizing power of a collective hope in tomorrow. We're overlooking our great...