Live Inspired Podcast With John O'leary

What’s your date? You know, the date when the phone rang, a friend moved, a partner walked out, the unexpected and unwanted became the new reality? What’s the date when the life you planned dramatically and painfully changed forever? We all have one. What’s yours? One such date for me is January 17, 1987. Let me explain...

There are numerous health and wellbeing challenges associated with isolation, cynicism, burnout, negativity, and divisiveness. And yet there is one surprising solution to circumvent each of the challenges: FUN. Having more fun improves your relationships, both at work and in life Fun makes us smarter Fun reduces stress Finding more fun in physical activity balances your hormone levels Fun can make you more energetic and youthful Fun elevates our culture, retention, impact, and profitability professionally Dr. Mike Rucker reminds us that fun is a resource available to each of us almost any time, yet most of us are not having nearly enough of it. As an organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist, Mike has critically evaluated modern approaches to happiness and has developed science-backed and actionable tips that reinforce the importance of seeking fun, rather than happiness, in our daily lives. Today, Mike shares how intentionally increasing your joyful moments can improve your health, relationships

My friends, despite the dissension technology may cause and the distraction it so often becomes, it can also be the source of profound beauty, wonderful connection and unyielding hope. I was reminded of this truth over the holidays as I spent time with my friend, Greg. After Greg miraculously survived a head-on collision, he lost his ability to see. Join me today as I share Greg's story and how a free, crowd-sourced app for the visually impaired called Be My Eyes is changing his world.

Laura Calder is perhaps best known for her James Beard Award-winning television series, French Food at Home. As a passionate home cook, homemaker and hostess, Laura is an enthusiast of all things art de vivre, or the French idea of getting the most out of everyday life by putting care into everything we do. Whether it’s setting a lovely table, putting a bit of extra effort into making a sandwich, or just walking a little taller in the street, there are moments every single day that we can seize upon to elevate life. Today, Laura reveals how cooking, feeding, and home-keeping can magically restore balance and calm in our out-of-sync lives. And yet, my friends, today’s conversation is far more than hosting your next meaningful dinner party… it’s about how to live each day with a desire and determination to turn the ordinary into something lovely.

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities..” -Terry Josephson Late Saturday night, many of us watched as the clock ticked toward midnight. We waved goodbye to 2022, hoped for a better New Year and even made resolutions to ensure it would be even better than the last. And although only 24-hours into the New Year, many of those resolutions have already been broken! Well, a conversation years ago in a café reminded me not only of our ability to excuse away opportunities, but of the chance we still possess to learn from yesterday, embrace the miracle of today and resolve to make tomorrow even better.

In the depths of the uncharted Amazon rainforest, Yossi Ghinsberg was tested to the extreme. After losing his three companions, and without food, fire, a weapon and bare to the bone, Yossi battled to survive for three harrowing weeks. As the inspiration for the movie Jungle starring Daniel Radcliffe, Yossi describes himself as a philosopher of life and believes that nothing promotes growth more than an unexpected experience and unconventional thinking. As Yossi shares his spectacular lessons of survival, you’ll find yourself inspired to expand your horizons, adapt to changing circumstance and rediscover your inner strength. My friends, while Yossi is joining us from his home in Israel, you’ll leave this conversation feeling profoundly connected to his story, mesmerized by his attitude and with a refreshed perspective that in spite of the headwinds, the best of our days remain ahead.

As we head toward the end of December and put a bow not only on Christmas presents, but on 2022, it’s wise to be a bit reflective about the year we’re concluding to ready us for the one we’re about to begin. And although there are many ways to summarize a year, we wanted to share a few numbers that mattered most to us as we conclude 2022. And to thank you for being part of it.

Dr. Jennifer Arnold proudly holds many titles including wife, mom, neonatologist, reality television star and cancer survivor, yet at her core she’s just trying to live her best life while doing as much good as she can. For 14 seasons, Jennifer, alongside her beloved husband Bill, starred on TLC’s hit docu-drama The Little Couple where they courageously shared their journey to starting a family and the daily challenges they faced. Today, Jennifer shares how she’s overcome several of life’s challenges including how dozens of childhood surgeries related to her rare type of dwarfism inspired her to become a doctor, how she faced a devastating Stage 3 cancer diagnosis after the adoption of her second child and so much more. My friends, this conversation is one of hope and reminds each of us that when life gets difficult, lessons become clearer, and the meaning shines through.

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.