Live Inspired Podcast With John O'leary

If you know my story, you know baseballs carry a special meaning to me. It seems whenever a baseball shows up in my life, it brings with it a lesson to apply. Such was the case earlier this year, when yet another ball landed in my mailbox. This one wasn’t off the bat of a major leaguer or signed by a Hall of Fame inductee. Instead, it was signed by a D2 baseball team in northeast Tennessee that you’ve likely never heard of, but one that I have grown to love. Friends, our successes, our failures and our stories are all connected. And it is in this connection that is born the opportunity to transform hearts and lives.

Ivan Maisel is a longtime sports journalist for ESPN known for his insightful analysis, compelling storytelling, and in-depth knowledge. With his ability to blend statistical analysis while highlighting the human side of the game and capturing the emotions and experiences of athletes, coaches, and fans, Ivan has earned a loyal following and widespread acclaim. Yet, when his 21-year-old son Max went missing, Ivan soon learned he’d have to accept the incomprehensible. Although not evident, the years of mental illness became too much to sustain and Max ended his life. Today, Ivan joins us to share his profoundly human and deeply empathetic story of a father’s relationship with his son, of its complications, and of the struggle so many parents face with their children— the struggle to connect. My friends, let this conversation serve as a beacon of hope, guiding us to embrace the joys and challenges that come our way, inspiring us to live each day boldly, and reminding us that even in the face of darkness, there i

“Here men endured that a nation might live.” -Herbert Hoover Although all of us will enjoy celebrating the federal holiday of Memorial Day today, many of us may not know the origin of it. Understanding it reminds us not only of the profound sacrifice others made for our country in the past, but stokes within us greater gratitude for the blessings we have in the present.

Dr. Marc Schulz is the author New York Times bestseller The Good Life and associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted. Since 1938, this study has tracked three generations of families to uncover what contributed to their happiness surrounding relationships, money, success and what really leads to a happy life. The simple but surprising answer is: relationships. The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying, and overall healthier lives. Today, Marc helps us understand how relationships in all their forms—friendships, romantic partnerships, families, coworkers, tennis partners, book club members, Bible study groups—all contribute to a happier, healthier life. My friends, in a world faced with unprecedented levels of unhappiness and loneliness, Marc empowers us through actionable guidance that it’s never too late to strengthen the relationships you have, and never too late to build new ones.

Over the weekend, I had the immense honor of delivering the commencement address for the Class of 2023 at my alma mater, Saint Louis University. As I watched the graduates cross the stage full excitement, trepidation, nerves and ultimately hope, I couldn’t help but think back to my own graduation. Let me explain.

Jade Warshaw is on top of the world and she’s bringing others up with her. Yet that wasn’t always the case. At 23 years old, Jade and her husband found themselves drowning in almost half a million dollars of debt. Between student loans, credit cards, two cars they couldn’t afford, and a small townhome, these newlyweds were blissfully ignorant about just how big of problem they were in. By taking responsibility for their decisions and using the guidance of legendary eight-time national bestselling author and personal finance and retirement expert Dave Ramsey, they were able to find financial freedom in seven and a half years. I want to repeat that – In just seven and half years, they clawed their way out of a staggering $460,000 in debt. Today, Jade joins us to share her journey to becoming debt-free including the sacrifices they had to make and the old habits they had to shake. Plus, learn the tools and money-management plans to embark on your own path to achieving financial peace. My friends, this episode is

Jaycen McBride didn’t set out to become an example of hope. He didn’t set out to become a voice for mental wellness in his school. He didn’t long to be seen as an ally for those experiencing personal challenges and wrestling with self-worth. But in quietly struggling with these realities in his own life, he decided he wanted to be there for others who might be struggling in theirs. Let me explain.

As a hospice chaplain, Kerry Egan quickly realized she’d been granted an invaluable chance to witness firsthand what she calls the “spiritual work of dying”—the work of finding or making meaning of one’s life. In her years spent working in hospice care, Kerry has listened to patients reflect on feelings of hope and regret, shame and pride, mystery and revelation and secrets held too long. Most of all, though, she listened as her patients talked about love—love for their children and partners and friends; love they didn’t know how to offer; love they gave unconditionally; love they, sometimes belatedly, learned to grant themselves. My friends, this conversation is not about dying. It’s about how to live boldly, love fiercely and dream extraordinarily. Join us as Kerry shares how to find courage in the face of fear, the strength to make amends, and how to be profoundly compassionate and incredibly empathetic.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” -William Arthur Ward To all the teachers who step into children’s lives daily, regardless the challenges in front of you, we thank you for your effort. For believing in your kids when others may not, loving them when they so desperately need to know that everything will be alright. And thanks for dropping pebbles of encouragement, inspiration, knowledge, passion, and humor into their life. As we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s take a moment to celebrate the teachers who have most profoundly influenced us. 

Caroline Gaynor is a testament to the power of dedication, compassion, and human connection. As an accomplished triathlete, Caroline dedicates her talents to guiding athletes who are blind or visually impaired. Acting as their eyes during a race, Caroline spends upwards of 16 hours tethered to a blind or visually impaired athlete keeping them safe while swimming, cycling and running (and often isn’t credited in the results of the competition!).   Today, Caroline shares her journey in completing ten Ironmans as a guide, yet her story doesn’t end there. Hear Caroline explain how serving as an endurance athlete has helped her in her career, in raising her daughter, in caring for her mother with Parkinson’s disease and in loving others as they are.   My friends, let this conversation serve as a reminder that in life, sometimes you’re the guide to others, but other times, it’s someone else taking your hand and guiding you forward Yet, what we know to be true is that we can’t do life by ourselves.

It can be rare to receive -or more importantly give- meaningful recognition for the important work being done. As we race to our next activity or task, we hurry right past the individuals providing worthy services directly in front of us. Today, rather than waiting to be recognized for something we’ve done well, let’s strive to seek opportunities to acknowledge and encourage someone else. That simple act of being seen and appreciated is certain to elevate their day. And in observing their reaction, it will positively change your day, too.

When Stephan Wolfert was 24 years old, he found himself at a crossroad. After serving as a medic and infantry officer in the US Army, Stephan’s lifetime of grief and trauma became overwhelming. Drunk and suicidal, Stephan wandered into a random theatre’s production of “Richard: III” where his life was transformed when he recognized himself as a misfit like the main character. After choosing to leave the service, Stephan began examining Shakespeare from a military veteran’s perspective, working with fellow military veterans and scientists, and using Shakespeare’s text and classical actor training to heal trauma and to aid in the transition from military service back into life as a civilian. Today, Stephan powerfully shares his story in order to broaden the understanding of PTSD and other mental health challenges faced by our veterans through his theatre-therapy network DE-CRUIT. My friends, if you or someone you love is seeking to understand trauma and how to start coming back from it, this conversation is for

Listening to the radio a couple weeks ago, I came across an interview discussing the 25 recordings the US Library of Congress had selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry this year. Among this list were some familiar sounds like Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville,” Mariah Carey’s omnipresent “All I Want for Christmas is You,” John Lennon’s “Imagine” and the theme song for the Super Mario Brothers Game- which immediately took me back to many Saturday mornings trying to save Princess Peach and collect as many gold coins as possible. But there was one recording that I was especially excited to hear had been selected. It’s the recording of “Pale Blue Dot” by Carl Sagan. You see, the photo of the Pale Blue Dot hangs in my office. And I believe it is the single most important photograph taken in the history of the world. Let me explain.

It's been 24 years since the unimaginable tragedy that took place at Columbine High School in Colorado — one of the deadliest mass shootings at a high school in U.S. history. Thirteen people were killed and 21 were wounded at the hands of two students. Craig Scott is a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting. He was in the library, where ten students were killed, including two of his friends that had hidden next to him under a table. Craig escaped only to learn his sister, Rachel Joy Scott, was the first person killed. For more than 20 years, Craig has dedicated his life to making a difference in schools. In speaking with more than a million people, Craig has positively impacted school cultures by sharing lessons learned from Columbine and challenging students to value themselves and others. Today, Craig joins us to recall details of that terrifying day, his journey of healing and what we can do as a community to prevent another tragedy like Columbine from happening again.

One of my favorite poems is titled The Bridge Builder and was written by Will Allen Dromgoole. This poem challenges us to realize we can make a mighty difference regardless of our age. It prompts us to look for opportunities to empower others to achieve greatness in their lives. And it reminds us that, despite mighty needs in the world today- and there are many- the time has never been better to knock down walls that separate in order to build up bridges that unite. Today, let’s pause and give thanks to those who came, who risked, who built and who invested in us. We certainly could not have “crossed the chasm vast and deep and wide” without them.

My friends, yesterday we celebrated Easter. In the ultimate revelation of love, we rejoiced in the stunning victory over death. And it reminded me of all I had learned by attending three funerals a couple of weeks ago.   At the first funeral, I was reminded to live in such a way that I can die with no regrets. At the second, to endure the unfathomable heartache of loss with honesty, with patience, and with a heart opened to blessings in the midst of the storm. And at the third, that even in the midst of divisive times or at the end a long, successful life, that phone calls reminding others of their value matter to them. And speak volumes about the individuals choosing love.

Craig Groeschel is a senior pastor of Life.Church, one of the largest churches in the world and the creator of the free YouVersion Bible App. As a New York Times bestselling author, Craig writes on a wide variety of topics, including dating and marriage, social media, purpose, direction, church leadership, and more. Today, Craig shares his unlikely journey to discovering his faith, how he remains hopeful in seasons of challenge and how to defy your thinking and change the course of your life for the better, revealing the strategies he’s found that help. Plus, from his just released book, Winning the War in Your Mind for Teens, Craig shares how we can better support our children and young adults by helping them find freedom from the thoughts holding them back. My friends, if you or someone you love is seeking to break free from the grip of harmful, destructive thinking, this conversation is for you.

"Dad, you're so lucky." I heard these words while preparing for a business trip. Recognizing the truth within them transformed the way I saw myself that day. Embracing the truth within them will elevate the way you view yourself today. Let me explain.

Rob Angel turned a simple idea and an outrageous dream into a cultural phenomenon. As a twenty-something year old waiting tables, Rob began his adventure in creating the remarkably successful and beloved board game Pictionary. Beating industry giants Milton Bradley and Mattel at their own game, Rob led Pictionary to selling a staggering 38 million (!!!) games in more than 60 countries. Today, Rob shares how his intuition, passion and persistence led to creating the legendary game and how unconventional tactics led to unexpected success. Yet, my friends, this conversation is about so much more than Pictionary being one of the bestselling board games of all time. It’s a roadmap to finding success on your own terms, the power of taking the first small step and embracing the challenges that lie ahead.