Live Inspired Podcast With John O'leary

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. Writing has helped Anna find comfort + strength.   Today, Anna shares how to find hope within impossible circumstances, positive ways to cope with grief and support others navigating darkness. If you’re grieving a loss, or love someone who is, this conversation is for you. SHOW NOTES: After Jack's death, Anna was unable to find resources for her grieving daughter Margaret. This inspired Anna to write children's book A Hug From Heaven.  While home from college, Anna's mother unexpectedly died from a brain hemorrhage and although she was the "heart of the home", her family was unsure how to process the grief. "When you hav

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 connector when I needed a new opportunity, a pat on the back when I needed approval and frequently a kick in the pants when I needed to take action, be brave and grow. In other words, over the past 15 years, Rusty has been my friend. In the marketplace we all find ourselves in today, we long for friends. In the divisive, negative, and isolating world we find ourselves in, we desire authentic relationship. With the stress we’re experiencing as we try to manage the complexities of our lives, we are starved for genuine friendship. With 61% of us feeling as if we had no one to really share our hearts and truth with before the

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 clients. He wanted nothing out of these introductions other than to see a life-giving story spread into a marketplace. Subsequently, he’s challenged me as a friend and board member to dramatically grow as a speaker and business owner, not for my own self interest, but to better the lives of others.  It’s no surprise, then, that Rusty, CEO of Keeley Companies which does $500 million in revenue, describes his job as: “I get to make sure there is food on the table for the families of 1,800 Keeley’ns. I take that very seriously.” It’s his people-first mentality that has both grown his company’s bottom line 100x durin

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 and certainty of opinion, maybe living with a little more humility and acting a little less on assumptions will provide some desperately needed light. *** My new book IN AWE is now available... and became an instant bestseller! Learn how to rediscover your childlike sense of wonder to unleash inspiration, meaning and joy. Visit ReadInAwe.com today!  *** Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motivation email.

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 satisfying, less fulfilling, less hopeful lives and how to break that cycle.   This conversation will remind you that your life has significance and you have the potential to change the world through your life’s impact. SHOW NOTES: Over 20 years ago, Greg left corporate after being called to be a pastor because of a longing desire to make a difference. We're living in a VUCA - volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguious - world. “People are longing for a world view that gives us a way out of a VUCA world, while acknowledging we’re in it.” Here I stand, I can do no other. Greg leans on his trusted community to colla

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 surgeries, he opened his journal and wrote his commitment, prayer, promise, lyrics – a song he could serenade his little girl with as she recovered. Watch Eric perform Here I Am. Hear more about Anastasia + Eric Genuis on Live Inspired Podcast ep. 290. Eric and Anastasia’s story reminds us we can absolutely learn to love what we once feared. We can find peace where we once felt sadness. We can find magnificent beauty in what we once viewed as imperfect. In that awakening, not only can we transform into a far better, more accepting, human being,  but we’ll empower others to do the same in their lives, too. In a season of s

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 inspired. SHOW NOTES: Sara grew up on her family's tobacco farm in the rural Missouri town of New Franklin where she describes her childhood as idyllic yet simple "Family is the most important thing in the world, besides a relationship with God."  Understanding God's protection: At 8 years old, Sara was struck by a car, thrown 80 feet and suffered multiple broken bones and head trauma. As a mom, Sara made sacrifices in her career to be present in her children's life including not missing a Friday night football game of her son's. "Whenever possible, put your family first." Her song Letting You Go was written about watching h

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 greatest strengths, namely personal accountability, collective diversity and ferocious optimism. We’ve been distracted by trying to attain “beautiful, normal, successful and desirable” for so long that many of us were exhausted trying to attain these unrealistic standards before the epic untethering of 2020. And now that the world is changing, we feel like we just might be toppled by it. My friend, the good news is we’ve got the remedy from that transformational wisdom my mom uncovered decades ago: It is our great opportunity to rewrite the script. Imperfection isn’t something that we must hide, fear, or feel repulsed and

Composer and pianist Eric Genuis began his music career with a simple philosophy: never say no to an opportunity to perform. Today, he has played for millions of captivated audiences around the world and reaches even more hearts and ears through the music he writes for film and television. What do I admire most about Eric? ...That he chooses to share his amazing talent to bring joy, grace and dignity to people in prisons, hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes and inner-city schools through his foundation Concerts For Hope Eric's heart, courageous mission and beautiful music will breathe light into your day. SHOW NOTES: Before composing, Eric was a math + physics teacher.  Within the first 20 seconds of his first performance in a prison, Eric recalls the profound positive impact he had on the audience. "My hope is not to entertain. My hope is to provide dignity." "If we all collectively take our little gifts, we can make the world a better place." To learn more about Eric Genuis + Concerts For Hope, visi

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. Twenty years ago Bill Clinton was in office, Mark Zuckerberg was in high school, Amazon was a forest in South America and John O'Leary was a single man having dinner with an old friend. An old friend that would someday become my beautiful wife, Beth. *** My new book IN AWE is now available... and became an instant bestseller! Learn how to rediscover your childlike sense of wonder to unleash inspiration, meaning and joy. Visit ReadInAwe.com today!  *** Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motivation email.

Mary Marantz would have been her family’s third generation of loggers in rural West Virginia; an impoverished life filled with days of hard, dangerous work. But, one choice Mary’s father made sparked a much different path for her: He used what little money he had to buy learning materials to prepare her for school as he saw education as her opportunity to lead a big, beautiful life of her choosing. Mary joins us today – a Yale graduate and recent author of the book Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful – sharing what it was like to grow up in a deteriorating, single-wide trailer and, more importantly, with a father who would sacrifice it all to ensure she had a bright future.   Today's conversation is beaming with resilience and hope and will inspire you to find comfort and appreciation in your roots. SHOW NOTES: Giant tin can: Mary grew up in a deteriorating single-wide trailer with a leaky roof, mushrooms growing out of the carpet and missing floorboards. One part firecracker, one p

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. “Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance ourselves. And only through working on ourselves can we begin to enhance our connectedness to others.”  – HG Lerner Have you ever visited with someone you expected to be completely different from you, but soon discovered great similarities, the feeling of connectedness, and the gift of a budding friendship? I experienced this during a visit with someone from a dramatically different background than mine, Laila Ali. As we conversed, though, it was clear that what unites us is so much more significant than anything that separates us. In the face of so much divisiveness, it’s important to remember that what unites us remains far more significant than anything that divides us. With so much negativity, it’s important to know that there remains reason for hope. And with so much outward anger, it’s worth knowing that love still wins. Hear

Are you facing obstacles that seem impossible? Have you made so many mistakes that forgiveness seems unreasonable? Have you lost hope that you can pull yourself back up? Today’s episode is for you. Just three months after her first sip of alcohol, Tiffany Jenkins was on her way to a decade long opioid addiction. From varsity cheerleader to high school dropout; dating a sheriff to committing two dozen felonies: Tiffany shares her hard-won journey to redemption and sobriety. This emotional conversation  breaks through the stigma surrounding the Opioid crisis and offers hope and encouragement to anyone who is battling addiction or loves someone who is. SHOW NOTES: Growing up, Tiffany + her sister were frequently left alone leading to unhealthy eating habits + self-deprecating humor. Epitome of success: After unexpectedly making the cheerleading team, outwardly Tiffany was viewed as attractive yet she still felt ugly inside + out of place. Within three months of taking her first drink of alcohol, Tiffany d

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment Today, every topic broached is immediately polarizing and leads to rigidly drawn lines between two opposing sides. Join me as I share how to veer away from this hostile, divisive path and instead draw a new inclusive one. *** My new book IN AWE is now available... and became an instant bestseller! Learn how to rediscover your childlike sense of wonder to unleash inspiration, meaning and joy. Visit ReadInAwe.com today!  *** Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motivation email.

We've all heard laughter is the best medicine, and according to Forbes, laughing has science-based benefits that stimulate healing, strengthen relationships and promote brain activity. As we're facing headwinds of divisiveness, negative headlines and mounting stress, comedian Trey Kennedy brings some much-needed reprieve. You may be familiar with his tasteful humor + poignant parodies like “couples during quarantine”, “millennials at a hardware store” and “moms pre-pandemic” that have earned tens of millions of video views. Making some of today’s struggles relatable + humorous, Trey reminds us not to take ourselves so seriously that we cannot find joy in the moment. Today’s episode is sure to uplift as Trey shares how his career exploded as a social media sensation, what inspires his humor and his pride in delivering clean laughter that can be enjoyed by all. SHOW NOTES: Sometimes shy + reserved, Trey has gained confidence through his humor. Getting his start on the now-defunct video-based social media app V

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment.   We see things not as they are, but as we are." - Immanuel Kant The above is one of my favorite quotes and comes from a poet who wrote eloquently and extensively on living a more meaningful, impactful and worthwhile life regardless of the challenges around us. With all the challenges we face as individuals and as a society, I thought today might be a good day not only to send our own children back to school, but for us to get a refresher on what remains possible in our lives, too. *** My new book IN AWE is now available... and became an instant bestseller! Learn how to rediscover your childlike sense of wonder to unleash inspiration, meaning and joy. Visit ReadInAwe.com today!  *** Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motiv

Patricia Heaton is one of TV’s most recognizable and beloved female leads from her role as Debra Barone on the long-standing comedy Everybody Loves Raymond. Today, the three-time Emmy winner shares about the unexpected + sudden loss of her mother as a child, the pockets of hope that kept her acting dream alive + how she's thriving in her "second act" of life as an ambassador for World Vision. This warm conversation will remind you that no matter what stage of life you're in, crisis can serve as a golden opportunity for reinvention.  SHOW NOTES: After reeling from the unexpected death of her mother, Patricia's father found ways to be loving + supportive. For nearly a decade of working odd jobs in New York City, enough meaningful encouragement came along the way to keep Patricia's hope of becoming an actor alive. Using the residuals from a commercial, Patricia produced and starred in a play in Hollywood where casting directors came + she started getting auditions. After a short mission trip, Patricia refocused

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others. - Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Today I share an open letter of gratitude to teachers, who have historically been selfless in serving youth, and today more than ever. My friends, our educators have demonstrated repeatedly in the midst of turmoil, natural disasters, human tragedies and ordinary life their commitment to the children in their classroom. And yet, as summer fades to fall, as a nation remains on edge, and as schools navigate wildly difficult circumstances, let’s have confidence that the same profession that has served nobly in the past will be effective, instructive and invaluable during these times, too. Be assured that the light will shine, we’ll get through this together and the best days remain ahead.  *** My new book IN AWE is now available... and became an instant bestseller! Learn how to rediscover your childlike

Dr. Gary Chapman is just the man to turn to for help on strengthening our most important relationships. Two decades after publishing his continuous New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages, millions of readers credit him with saving their relationships by providing simple and practical ways to communicate their love. As we face great uncertainty, there is a profound need for love in our life. Today's encouraging conversation will inspire you to better express your love + develop stronger relationships. SHOW NOTES: Growing up, Gary's parents worked opposite shifts at the local textile mill to ensure someone was home with the children. As his dad was serving in WWII, Gary recalls how every generation faces challenges + how fragile life is. In its first year, The Five Love Languages only sold 4,000 copies. Today it's sold more than 13 million and has been on the New York Times bestseller list since 2007. "The deepest emotional need we have is the need the feel love by the significant people in our lives."

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moments segment. Today I share about the difficult times we’re experiencing and how it’s easy to get stuck in the negativity. You'll hear what it means to actually live and learn one simple thing to reestablish meaning in your life. *** My new book IN AWE is now available... and became an instant bestseller! Learn how to rediscover your childlike sense of wonder to unleash inspiration, meaning and joy. Visit ReadInAwe.com today!  *** Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motivation email.