Live Inspired Podcast With John O'leary

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. Men’s National Soccer Team's Leadership and Team Dynamics Coach where he helps strengthen mental and leadership skills for each player, as well as oversee the culture that head coach Gregg Berhalter wants to maintain. Travis is no stranger to the Live Inspired community. When Travis first joined us on the podcast in March 2017, he shared how improvisation has shaped his life and how the three words “Live Yes And!” has helped others find their path to living with greater purpose and authenticity. Today, Travis shares what seemingly insignificant step led him to working with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team for the

“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.

In March 2020, as state of emergencies were issued, stay-at-home orders were mandated and the doors to schools, offices and businesses were shuttered, the fear of what was to come was undeniable. And yet, our essential healthcare workers courageously risked their own lives to fight for the lives of their patients… all while being woefully unprepared in terms of sufficient PPE, ventilators or ICU beds. Today, we're joined by Dr. Calvin Sun, an emergency room physician who has tirelessly worked in seven emergency rooms in New York City since the early days of the global pandemic. In addition to sharing how finding his life’s purpose lead him to his work in New York ERs, Calvin will share about his journey growing up as a young Asian American in New York, the grief he experienced after losing his father as a teen, and the lessons he learned from traveling to more than 190 countries in ten years. My friends, this conversation will help us reframe moments of anxiety, tragedy or uncertainty into possibility, hope a

“What was the most important thing anybody ever did for you?” I was asked this question by a 15-year-old student at Desert Christian School in Tucson, AZ last month. For the past hour, they had heard a story about profound challenge and tragedy as well as overwhelming grace and love. They had heard a story of repeated failures and continual overcoming. They had heard the story, ultimately, of individuals faithfully showing up when I desperately needed encouragement, what these people did, the impact they made and what it means for the rest of us today. So, what was the most important thing anybody ever did for me? Tune in now.

Did you know that in the United States, one in every four women, one in three teenagers and one in seven men will be abused in their lifetime? Growing up on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad, Lovern Gordon watched her father brutally abuse her mother and four siblings. After migrating to the United States as a young adult, Lovern never expected to find herself in her own abusive relationship. Today, Lovern has risen from the ashes of these two severe domestic violence situations and is helping others thrive after leaving toxic situations through her Love Life Now Foundation. With strength, positivity, and perseverance, Lovern joins us to share her journey and offers the tools to become part of the solution by providing resources to victims and survivors. Whether you’re a survivor of trauma or want to support those in need, this conversation is for you.

Have you ever had a hangover? Stayed out a little too late. Had one too many drinks. Come on, we’ve all been there! But the kind of hangover I’m referring to isn’t the kind that a glass of water and a few Tylenol can cure. No, I’m referring to the holiday hangover. Tune in to hear the sage advice to ensure we get the most out of this holiday season.

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 the original reason for this holiday + a new tradition I’ll be implementing at my family feast. Today’s episode will ignite an abundance of gratitude and help you celebrate Thanksgiving on fire.

Spending several decades as a hospice doctor, Dr. Ira Byock learned much about the process of death. Perhaps surprisingly, though, spending years among the dying taught him even more about living.   But here’s the good news, my friends: We do not have to wait until our own final days are upon us or until we are at the bedside of someone we care about to live out these end of life lessons. He’s distilled years of experience into four short but mighty statements that allow us all to be liberated from the burden of regret.

Susan Rogers is one of the most successful female record producers of all-time. Yet her journey to working with Prince during his iconic Purple Rain-era and other award-winning musical artists including the Barenaked Ladies and Rusted Root wasn’t always clearly laid out. Today, Susan shares how her enthusiasm opened the first doors for her career in music and how she was able to make her mark in a male-dominated industry. Plus, having studied music cognition and psychoacoustics and earning her doctorate in psychology, you’ll learn insights about how and why our brains decipher music. If you’re looking to deepen your connection to your favorite artists and change the way you listen to music, this conversation is for you.

Surrounded by so much divisiveness, anger and cynicism, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with despair and to focus on the negative. It’s common to lose hope in humanity and believe things have never been so bad. Yet in the midst of a recent tragedy that rocked my hometown, it’s important to not only share the calamity that occurred, but the heroes who leapt into action ensuring it wouldn’t be far worse. In witnessing the selfless love within this tragedy, perhaps we can choose to model it in our ordinary lives, too.

Even though pregnancy and infant loss are common, society often shrouds them in secrecy and sometimes even shame—starving grieving women and their partners of much-needed support. Women may leave the hospital feeling like strangers in their own bodies, facing postpartum life without a baby in their arms. And like many faced with grief, the well-intentioned but hurtful comments from loved ones may make them feel lonelier than ever. Today, we’re joined by Rachel Lewis, the friend bereaved mothers never hoped to need. Gleaning from her five losses, Rachel founded the online community Brave Mamas, to share the practical tips on coping she wished she had. With transparency and compassion, this conversation celebrates life’s profound blessings, unexpected struggles and the goodness that comes from healing. If you or someone you love is experiencing the loss of a child or pregnancy, this conversation is for you.  

With the constant pace of change, dramatic shifts societally and significant challenges we face both locally and globally, a perspective of navigating these difficult days thoughtfully is critically important. Few offer a better example of serving others, leading effectively and living well than my grandfather. Grandpa was my hero growing up. Although he became a successful attorney, the lessons he learned growing up on a farm, enduring the Great Depression, and fighting for his country in World War II kept him humble, generous and shaped his worldview.   Today, as you scroll through social media or watch mainstream media, you’ll likely be repulsed to imagine that half your neighbors could feel differently about the issues you passionately support in tomorrow's midterm election. You’ll be stunned to imagine living in a country so different than you. You’ll be told by the channels you tune into that the very life of the country hangs in the balance. But even if we adamantly disagree with how he voted, I think

Duane Lee Chapman, more commonly known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, spent most of the first 23 years of his life on the wrong side of the law. It wasn’t until he was serving an 18-month prison sentence for a murder he didn’t commit that he recommitted to his faith and turned his life around. Considered by many to be the world’s greatest bounty hunter, Dog became famous for capturing fugitives on his iconic and top-rated television show Dog the Bounty Hunter.  Today, Dog shares how he turned his life around and went from ex-con to American icon before joining forces with his wife Francie. Francie shares how, through the DOG Foundation, they’re providing housing, counseling, training and intervention services to victims of sex trafficking. From troubled beginnings and tragedy to triumph and transformation, you’re going to love this conversation.

I love Halloween. And I love getting dressed up for it. But for many of us, masking our true selves isn’t reserved for once a year. For many, it’s Halloween all the time. We wear masks in seeking approval from others. We may mold our words, our opinions and even our appearance to fit whatever room we’re in. And in trying to fit in, we may go along with things we disagree with and pretend to be who we’re not. Removing the mask of inauthenticity, however, liberates us to fully embrace who we are, whose we are, why we’re here, and what matters most.

We all have moments of trauma, abuse, childhood wounds, or toxic relationships that have broken us. And yet, our past brokenness doesn’t have to stand in the way of a life of filled with hope, joy and peace.   In sharing her own journey of processing brokenness, Toni Collier reminds each of us of the bright light that stands on the other side of healing from shame and suffering.     As a speaker, author and leader of Broken Crayons Still Color ministry, Toni wants others to not only face our demons, but to quash the illusion of our brokenness and live the most colorful life possible.   Today’s conversation will reinspire the belief that you can be broken and worthy.

If you needed a motto to tell the world what matters most to you, what would it say? If a single tattoo could articulate what guides your life, how would it read? After returning safely from his first tour in Iraq, Cpl. Todd Nicely pondered these questions and then engraved a permanent reminder of lessons he had learned: Your choices change lives.   My friends, these words are a good reminder for a Marine preparing for a second tour of duty, an overwhelming injury, an agonizing recovery, and an ultimately redemptive life story. It’s also an important reminder for the rest of us as we step into the challenges and opportunities replete in each day. Choose wisely.

Six months into his second deployment, Corporal Todd Nicely of the United States Marine Corps stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) during a routine security patrol. The squad leader is one of only two modern day veterans that have endured battlefield injuries resulting in the loss of all four limbs and survived. Immediately after enduring the horrific blast and suffering massive injuries, his first two thoughts were of others: getting back to his wife and not frightening the young Marines he was responsible for. Today, Todd works to help and motivate other fellow disabled veterans through their life struggles and hardships. My friends, this conversation is undeniably painful. Yet it’s also a story of redemption and finding purpose from a hero with a resilient spirit, infectious enthusiasm, positive outlook, and a strength of mind and character that is second to none.

Over the past two months, I’ve had the honor of speaking to healthcare leaders across different disciplines, employed by different hospital systems, located in different geographic regions and serving very different populations. Regardless their size, geography, or patient population served, though, I’ve reminded these leaders of the profound impact in seemingly small acts of kindness. From the welcome desk to the C-suite, they possess the power to make mighty, positive and lasting effect on the lives of those in need. As evidence of this truth, let me share a sweet story from my book IN AWE about a young man, doing an ordinary job, who aided mightily in my recovery.  

Studies show that more than one out of every five students will be bullied this year. Chances are this is happening to someone you know and care about. With October being National Bullying Prevention Month, today’s guest is a reminder that everyone’s actions matter and we all have a role to play in bullying prevention. Tina Meier’s life changed on October 16, 2006 when her 13-year-old daughter Megan took her own life following a cruel cyberbullying hoax. On a mission to support and inspire actions to end bullying, cyberbullying and suicide since Megan's death, Tina founded Megan Meier Foundation. By empowering our society to celebrate individuality and the acceptance of others, Tina believes we can work together to make a difference and create a safer and kinder world. Today, Tina shares how she took her vengeance and turned it into a purposeful mission that’s making an impact.