Live Inspired Podcast With John O'leary

Every Thursday for the last five weeks we’ve shared interviews full of tips + inspiring conversations as part of our Electing Gratitude series. This special series was designed to help you navigate + find joy within the complexities of life this year. Today's episode serves as a guide to living inspired while navigating holiday stress + winter blues. I share much-needed perspective + practical tips from past Live Inspired Podcast guests to help stay inspired throughout the season. The foundation is firm and the best of our days remain in front of us. Gregg Easterbrook, New York Times bestselling author of the book It’s Better Than It Looks shared hard facts as to why this is the best time in human history. He exposed which elements of your life are making you feel otherwise and most importantly, shared the value of recapturing a true, positive perspective + what it could mean for your relationships, business, life + world.  Listen to ep. 121 and ep. 238. When you know your why, you can endure any how. Th

As this week ushers us toward my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I wanted to say to try to help reduce the anxiety, divisiveness, anger and general exhaustion you may be feeling.   It’s been a profoundly difficult year. The need to slow down, count blessings and come together not only as a family around a Thanksgiving meal, but as a nation, is critical. [I had the pleasure of interviewing Julia Jackson’s pastor of more than 30 years on our most recent Live Inspired Podcast episode. Pastor James Ward profoundly influenced Ms. Jackson’s life. When you listen, he’ll undoubtedly influence yours, too. Listen here.] Let’s use this important season to come together and rejoice in our gifts, challenges we’ve endured, lessons we’ve learned, and in the truth that in spite of our many mistakes and differences, that we are indeed better together, we are made for greatness and that the best is yet to come. Enjoy your Thanksgiving week. Lower your voices. Open your hearts. *** My new bo

"Are you angry with the police?”   Just days after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back, Pastor James Ward, the pastor of Blake’s mother, was asked this question by a reporter from a major cable news show. His response – one of grace, peace, forgiveness, and righteous indignation was a catalyst; drawing others into a critically important conversation as a nation.   Today, Pastor James shares on the deeply rooted cultural and spiritual issues we’re experiencing and gives concreted ideas on how we as individuals can begin to fix these.   Join me in this incredibly timely, life-affirming conversation to help make our tomorrow far better than yesterday. SHOW NOTES: "My faith comes before my ethnicity." Thermostats versus thermometers. Thermometers reflect what's going on in the room whereas thermostats dictate. Growing up in Tuscaloosa, Ala. at the end of segregation, Pastor James expected hostility when his school system became integrated in third grade. Proverbs 4:23: Guard your heart, for out of it sp

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Motivation segment. “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstance, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor Frankl During a time when so many feel that life is out of control, overwhelmed with challenges, and trapped in isolation, let’s choose to galvanize around an opportunity that is alive and well: To be love, to extend grace and to do life better, together. Learn more about our coaching program, virtual events and how we're here to serve you at JohnOLearyInspires.com. *** 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, You

Does having the world at your fingertips 24/7 ever feel overwhelming? Do you ever find yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media, only to be left feeling anxious, frustrated and unproductive? Today, Tiffany Shlain, bestselling author of 24/6 and founder of the Webby Awards, shares her expertise on how to enjoy + leverage technology by first setting healthy boundaries with it! (After hearing the results of her brilliant tips, my entire team has adopted it!)  For more than a decade, Tiffany and her family have practiced a "tech Sabbath" and today's conversation is packed with actionable tips that will help you reset + rebalance. If you find yourself connecting via technology more than ever during the pandemic… this episode is for you.

Last week, my wife Beth + I witnessed a microcosm of what happens every day in this country and around the world. People, living their lives the very best they can. Struggling. Dreaming. Striving. Hoping to provide for families, and run errands, and live their lives.... But when there is a need, when an individual is in pain, when someone regardless of their differences is in need of help, people step up. Turns out, during times of adversity our own arrogance and selfishness and political leanings fade as we realize we are all in the same family. And we do care. My friends, this too shall pass, we’re truly in this together and the best is yet to come. The struggles of the world won’t fade, but you’ll be inspired and empowered to joyfully move forward, together.

Earlier this week, we officially cast votes in local + national elections. Regardless of our personal politics or if our candidates won the results of tomorrow’s election, this season has been nothing short of tumultuous. As we're reeling with elevated emotions, I wanted to make space for our Live Inspired Community to be present to the uncertainty that we are experiencing together. Today, I'm listening to your thoughts and questions and share my thoughts and hopefully, some inspired perspective. As bridge-builders, let's remember that we have the power to make a difference, things are far better than they seem and the best of our days remain in front of us.   SHOW NOTES: Catherine G. asked, "What are you doing with your kids during this time to make sure they are part of this season, yet not swallowed up by this season?" Give yourself grace. Have honest conversations about how to make a difference Dan R. asked, "What is your perspective on the current climate? Will your message change when we find out

In the midst of this fractious season, I’m reminded of witnessing an alternative possibility at a burn camp for children decades ago. While there, I was reminded of the transformational possibility of coming together to heal wounds, unify differences and aspire to true greatness. As painful as physical recovery from a severe burn is, the assimilation into your “old life” can be even more difficult; having a strong community helps. As excruciatingly painful as burns, bandage changes, or therapy might be, physical pain can be masked with drugs, endured with grit, or overcome with time. The far greater challenge for a survivor is the emotional pain of the trauma. Away from my family and close friends for the first time, I tried to stay to myself, remain relatively quiet and felt rather uneasy. I didn’t know anyone else there and wasn’t sure I fit in with the group. One of the camp counselors, a larger than life firefighter named Charlie positively changed my perspective.

Just days away from what might be the most impactful American presidential election in history, in the midst of a pandemic, with high stakes + anxiety regardless the side of the aisle you sit on...  It’s all unprecedented.  Or is it? The headlines continue to refer to this election as “unprecedented” – but I’m not so sure it is! Join me and the host of the award-winning Presidential Podcast Lillian Cunningham for a bipartisan conversation about past elections, presidents, their legacies + what this lens means for us as we near our“unprecedented” election day 2020.   If you could use a reminder that the best days of our nation’s history remain in front of us, this episode is for you! SHOW NOTES: As life-longer learners, Lillian's parents instilled the importance of education both formally + by taking initiative to seek out knowledge. Fiction writer or astronaut? What drew Lillian to pursue her undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago was their expectation of students to take classes in across a wide

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Motivation segment. Just a week before the election, in the midst of a pandemic, with recessionary winds blowing, and personal challenges mounting, so many of us are beginning to feel we’re trapped in an impossible situation.   It is more important than ever to remember that impossible is just a word thrown around by people who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given, rather than to explore the power they have to change it.  Use this season to be reminded of the limitless possibility within your life. It will change your world. And the world. *** 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,

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?  Kara Goldin left her Vice President job at AOL to launch Hint Water with one simple goal: Make water that tastes great.  Finding herself overweight, with low energy + adult acne, Kara discovered her diet soda habit was the culprit. To entice herself to drink water in its place, she added “hints” of fruit flavor to plain water. This was the inspiration behind the fastest growing, #1 flavored water in America: Hint. Today, Kara shares how she uses rejection as motivation, balances work with raising her four children and how “success” looks different for each of us. Get your favorite Hint Water ready because this conversation will have you racing forward with ferocious optimism! SHOW NOTES: Huffington Post listed her as one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg.  Teamwork: Growing up with five siblings, two over 15 years older than her, she had great role models. As a leader in the community, Kara's mother taught her to "love what you'r

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our Live Inspired Podcast Monday Motivation segment. “Were you born stupid? Or have you just become stupid over time?” As a 20-year old college finance major, I had an amazing opportunity to work at a world-class financial service firm. When a successful adviser called asking me, “were you born stupid? Or have you just become stupid over time?” I was startled. Although the conversation rattled me as an intern, the reason I am rehashing the story is less about my hurt feelings or someone’s assessment of my intelligence, and much more about my manager Don Embree's response and what it means for all of us today. *** 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 F

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