Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

Jameson Reeder Sr. and his 10-year-old son, Jameson Jr., were swimming nine miles off the coast of Florida when a 9-foot bull shark appeared out of nowhere. In seconds, their peaceful snorkeling trip turned into a fight for life, and one that would test their faith, summon unexpected heroes, and reveal a little boy's unshakable courage. Today, Jameson Sr. and Jameson Jr. share how a terrifying sha...

In the early 2000s, I worked in residential construction. As a general contractor, my days were long, dusty, and jammed with deadlines difficult to hit. I rehabbed homes, managed teams, solved problems, raced the clock, and frequently fell short. On one specific job site, a man challenged me through his presence to slow down, celebrate the gift of the moment and authentically connect with others....

Cristina Baker is a speaker, author, and digital creator whose short videos have brought hope and encouragement to millions. And yet, before she became a voice of inspiration, she was a teen battling addiction, a young mother at rock bottom, and a woman who felt completely alone in the world. Today, Cristina shares what it was like growing up in a home filled with chaos and instability. She opens...

"I do."  57 years ago, Mom spoke those words while holding Dad's hands. I thought of their commitment to one another last week as I was seated across from her at breakfast. It was their 57 th wedding anniversary. And her first without him. I expected our time together to be a bit downtrodden, quiet, sad. After all, how do you celebrate the thing you built your life around when the person you built...

John Register is a two-time Paralympian, a silver medalist, a Persian Gulf War veteran, and a TEDx motivational speaker. He's also someone who knows what it means to lose everything you planned for, and build something even more meaningful in its place. A rising Olympic hopeful, John's dreams were shattered by a training accident that led to the amputation of his left leg. What followed wasn't jus...

Remember being little, and how natural it was to dive fully into life? We raised our hands when questions were asked, made best friends with everyone on the playground and were the first ones in and last ones out of the pool. Then we got a bit older. We stopped raising our hands quite as much. We stopped opening up to others. Heck, not only did we stop being the first one in the pool, we stopped e...

Israa Nasir is a psychotherapist, speaker, writer, and the founder of WellGuide, a digital platform dedicated to making mental health tools accessible to all. Her work has been featured in Forbes , Time , and Harvard Business Review , and her new book, Toxic Productivity , helps readers reclaim their time and emotional energy in a world that constantly asks for more. Today, Israa shares how her ow...

During five agonizing months in the hospital, physical pain, emotional anguish and unceasing monotony were constant companions. And yet, one thing I treasured was the sound of the door opening each afternoon with the hospital volunteer delivering mail. Over those months, I was blessed to receive hundreds of get-well cards, love notes and care packages. Sometimes I'd recognize the sender's signatur...

Kyle Scheele is a speaker, author, content creator, and self-described "maker of weird stuff for the internet." He's built a Viking ship out of cardboard, faked a marathon that went viral, and inspired thousands to let go of regret. And yet it's the heart behind it all that will move you most. Today, Kyle shares what it was like to grow up feeling like the "dangerous kid" no one wanted around, how...

I don't enjoy convertibles in August. Especially not in the southern Florida heat. I don't typically eat at the Olive Garden. In particular, two nights in a row. It's not the norm on a business trip for me to stay up late eating popcorn in bed while watching the Disney Channel. And I don't often play mini golf, float on lazy rivers or go down a large waterslide repeatedly… all before a speaking ev...

As a high-profile model and bestselling author, Christine Handy built a life that seemed picture-perfect as she graced campaigns for iconic brands like Pepsi, Victoria's Secret, and Budweiser. And yet behind the glamour was a woman facing unimaginable trials. A breast cancer diagnosis, along with a series of painful setbacks, would strip away her identity and force her to rebuild from the inside o...

This weekend marked the first Father's Day I've ever celebrated without my dad. It was a bittersweet milestone- filled with both gratitude for the way he shaped my life yet also an ache for his absence. As I reflected on his legacy yesterday, it's not just his laughter, strength or faith that I carry with me most vividly- it's the quiet, consistent way he loved. Let me explain.

Damon Dunn is a former NFL wide receiver, Stanford scholar, powerhouse entrepreneur, and a man who never forgot where he came from. Raised by his grandparents in a trailer with ten people, Damon grew up boiling bathwater on the stove, eating mayonnaise sandwiches, and sleeping three to a bed. Today, he's a successful CEO, real estate developer, founder of multiple businesses, and a leader committe...

Do you think beautiful things can grow out of horrible events? Recently, I was introduced to a young man who exudes a youthful, happy energy, and whose mission in life-despite being rooted in an experience that is anything but—filled me with joy.  Let me explain.

Sister Monica Clare is a nun, author, and the Superior at the Community of St. John Baptist, an Episcopal convent in New Jersey. And yet, she didn't answer the call to religious life until age 46, after a failed marriage, a successful career and years spent searching for where she truly belonged. Today, Sister Monica shares what it was like to grow up in chaos, endure a painful marriage to an athe...

Robert Irvine is a world-renowned chef, successful entrepreneur, and champion for our military and first responders. Perhaps most recognized from Food Network's Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible , Robert has helped transform over 300 failing restaurants, and more importantly, the lives of those behind them. Today, Robert shares how a childhood marked by poverty and homelessness shaped...

Have you noticed it is frequently the people who say the least about themselves who have the most incredible stories to share? On this Memorial Day holiday, I wanted to share one such example of a heroic, humble servant who never needed to tell you how great he was.

Dr. Henry Cloud is an acclaimed leadership expert, clinical psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries , Necessary Endings , and more than 40 other life-changing books that have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. For the past four decades, Henry has coached CEOs, guided families, and walked alongside everyday people in their most vulnerable moments to help them grow...

Thirteen years ago, I was invited to visit a critically ill man in a hospital. All I knew was the hospital where he was being treated, his room number, that his first name was David and that he was dying.  What happened during that visit, and over the years since, impacted my life.  In reading about it today, it's my hope it impacts yours, too.

Jessica Cox was born without arms, but she's never let that stop her from soaring. A certified pilot, fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, author, global speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities, Jessica is also the visionary behind The Impossible Airplane, a first-of-its-kind aircraft designed to be flown entirely by foot. Her life is a powerful reminder that our greatest limitations...

A tent in Colorado A canoe in Georgia Friend's couch Church pew Airplane seat ER waiting room Classroom desk This is a truncated list of places I dozed off as a child. Regardless of where I fell asleep, though, I always had the certainty of ultimately going back to my house, my room, my bed. But many children do not sleep with that same certainty.  When Luke Mickelson learned this reality, he bega...

Luke Mickelson is the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace , a nonprofit that has built and delivered more than 300,000 beds to children in need across the world. With nothing but hope, hammers, and heart, Luke traded his corporate success for a movement rooted in dignity, compassion, and community. Today, Luke shares how one "tiny moment" changed everything. From witnessing a little girl named Hale...

A couple of years ago, I had the immense honor of delivering the commencement address for the Class of 2023 at my alma mater,  Saint Louis University . (Believe me, the only people more surprised than I that O'Leary was the commencement speaker…. were the professors who taught me back in the late 1990s!) As I watched the graduates cross the stage full of excitement, trepidation, nerves and ultimat...

Kim Becking is a New York Times bestselling author, founder of the Unstoppable Momentum Movement, cancer survivor and mom of three. A leading voice on navigating change, she's on a mission to help people lead with purpose, build real resilience, and face life's challenges with courage. Today, Kim shares how she went from growing up in a trailer in small-town Missouri to becoming a lawyer and publi...

Several years ago, I was getting ready for work when my oldest son, Jack, walked into the bathroom as I was shaving. Just five years old at the time, he stood next to me for a while pretending that he, too, was getting rid of the "stubble" on his cheeks. But then he stopped pretending and began gently touching the scars that cover my torso. These are the deep red scars, with ridges and lumps that...