Live Inspired Podcast With John O'leary

During his eleven years as a business leader at Build-A-Bear Workshop, Manley Feinberg implemented solutions inspired by his extreme outdoor adventures in the Himalayas, Uzbekistan and El Capitan in Yosemite. Today, Manley shares compelling tales from the trails that led to lessons in leadership that will help you overcome your challenges and live more inspired. SHOW NOTES: Courage is contagious, a lesson Manley learned early from his mom and lives by today. Get On Belay! A belay is a tool used in climbing to protect each climber. Tips to be a great belayer on the mountain or a leader climbing mountains in life: Be present + encouraging. Don't give too much slack (don't avoid important, uncomfortable conversations). Don't hold the rope back (don't micromanage / hold someone back). Lock the rope off (immediately recognize / engage others). Failing does not mean falling: If you're pushing yourself, you're going to fall occasionally. Make meaningful, intentional connections. Ask:  Who do I need on belay (wh

Every Monday moving forward, join me for a quick burst of inspiration during Monday Moments. Each week, I'll cover a different topic that will spark you to live more inspired. Today, I share a story submitted by Mike F. of Alton, Illinois, one of our Live Inspired community members. Mike has done something truly amazing by applying the Live Inspired 7 – the questions we ask every guest at the end of our Live Inspired Podcast episodes – to his own life... You’ll love the result. Ask your loved ones the Live Inspired 7: What is the best book you’ve ever read? Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do? Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? What is the best advice you’ve ever received?  Looking

Gary Sinise is an award-winning actor – most notably is his Oscar-nominated role of Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. This role reshaped the trajectory of Gary’s life; not because of the acclaim for the film, but because it ignited a relentless drive in him to champion veterans’ sacrifices and ensure they’re never forgotten. Gary’s philanthropy has made him a beloved to countless and earned him prestigious awards including: Presidential Citizens Medal, Honorary Battalion Chief by New York City Fire Department, George Catlett Marshall Medal by US Army and Honorary Marine. Today, Gary joins us as part of his media tour for his book: Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service. It’s already a New York Times best seller and after hearing our conversation… you’ll understand why. Join us to for one of America’s favorite, heart-led leaders. You’ll get lessons on gratitude, service, celebrate America’s defenders, veterans, first responders and so much more. SHOW NOTES: His role as a gang member in his high schoo

Every Monday moving forward, join me for a quick burst of inspiration during Monday Moments. Each week, I'll cover a different topic that will spark you to live more inspired. I am honored to be joined by my dear friend Dennis Gillan to discuss a topic that desperately needs to be revisited: suicide prevention.  Today, we will break down the stigma around mental health and how to better care for ourselves + others who are struggling or suffering with suicide. Take this powerful episode as reminder that the best is yet to come. SHOW NOTES I share a poem written by 10-year boy titled I Am the Piece That Never Fits.  Dennis Gillan lost two brothers to suicide. Listen to his story on ep. #46 of the Live Inspired Podcast. Comic Adam Cayton-Holland shares about losing his sister to suicide on ep. #99 of the Live Inspired Podcast. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). ### If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on

SoulPancake is an entertainment company with a mission to make the world a better place. How? By creating content that explores meaningful topics with integrity, heart + humor. You've likely seen some of their viral hits (that have amassed nearly one billion views!) like Kid President, Tell My Story + My Last Days.  Shabnam Mogharabi, co-founder, shares the best tips she's discovered while curating the signature SoulPancake content for 10 years. SHOW NOTES It doesn’t matter what you do, just try to be of service to the world. Take it offline: Use relationships formed online to initiate offline experiences in order to build deeper connections.  Be present: The internet makes us feel more connected but, we're forgetting to actually show up in a real way for others outside of social media. Counteract negativity by embracing joy: Build a practice: Shift your brain to reinforce positive reactions. Express gratitude: Regularly expressing gratitude for others, without any strings attached, has a profound impact on

In honor of Valentine's Day I went deep into the vault -- we're over 100 episodes deep now! -- to feature one of our resident love experts Les Parrott. He'll give us practical tips to love (and live!) more inspired. This episode originally aired in June 2017. Les is a co-creator of the match-making software behind eHarmony, psychologist, professor, author, husband, and father. He’s shared his expertise with Oprah, Barbara Walters, and Tom Brokaw and today he shares it with us.  Are you ready to improve, maintain and ignite all of your relationships to live more inspired? SHOW NOTES: Fight Night – the event Les and Leslie (his wife) host where couples talk about their conflict and how to leverage it to bring them closer together. Saving Your Marriage before It Starts is their most popular book. We aren’t entitled and don’t always get what we feel we deserve – so we must learn how to adjust to the things beyond our control. Have you faced marriage myths with honesty? Ex: This person should make me whole. We’r

Are you ready to celebrate Valentine's Day right this year?   This holiday is about so much more than Hallmark cards and boxes of heart-shaped chocolates. It's about the power of love - all love not just romantic love - in our lives.   I'll share two love letters I've written, the life-changing impact they've had and challenge you to write one, too. [The winner of the challenge will get a $100 gift card to take their loved-one to their favorite restaurant.] Today's episode will leave you ready to live (and love!) inspired on Valentine's Day... and everyday.   Will you accept the #LoveLetterChallenge?   SHOW NOTES How to Accept the Love Letter Challenge: 1. Identify someone in your life that inspires you + write him/her a love letter. It can be your partner, spouse, child,  parent, loved one, neighbor, colleague, friend, coach, anyone! 2. Take a picture (of you and your loved one, you holding a pen about to write, of your letter, whatever you choose). 3. Post + tag me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and with

The book Proof of Heaven ignited a conversation around the globe about how heaven can be scientifically proven by examining near-death-experiences (NDE). It shared the NDE of the author, neurosurgeon Eben Alexander, MD, and it soared to the top of the New York Times bestsellers list. Today we are joined by Dr. Alexander to discuss his NDE, how it changed his understanding of science, the world we live in today, the life beyond it and what it means in your inspired life.  SHOW NOTES Dr. Alexander was agnostic + studied neuroscience until falling into coma from meningitis, leading to a NDE, which he should not have survived. This incident completely changed his world view.  Today, he shares what NDE can teach us about consciousness and researches how elements of science and spirituality intersect. Learn more about 2 NED cases Dr. Alexander mentioned: Anita Moorjani wrote Dying to Be Me after being treated for advanced lymphoma in February 2006.  Dr. Mary C. Neal, orthopedic surgeon, wrote To Heaven and Back

Embracing your emotions at work is the key to being more fulfilled, genuine + professional. Liz Fosslien, co-author + illustrator of the just-released book No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work,  joins us to share how to recognize, understand + channel emotions to be the best versions of ourselves. This light-hearted conversation will help you value and feel your emotions so you can live + work more inspired. SHOW NOTES:  Suppressing emotions is not sustainable. Processing your emotions will allow you to feel better. Currently we (1) seek jobs we're passionate about + (2) our work is literally in our hands (via phone) 24/7. Therefore, our self worth is tied more closely to the work we do. Combat the stress + burnout that come from caring about work "too much" by intentionally striking a balance between work and home + feeling your feelings. Tips to Embrace Your Emotions: Engage in what's happening in the moment to ignite happiness. A wandering mind leads to obsessively thinking

True or false: The world is worse than ever before. FALSE. My friends, today’s guest shares hard facts as to why this is the best time in human history. He’ll expose which elements of your life are making you feel otherwise. Most importantly, he'll share the value of recapturing a true, positive perspective + what it could mean for your relationships, business, life + world. Gregg Easterbrook is the New York Times Bestselling author of the book It’s Better Than It Looks: Reasons for Optimism in an Age of Fear.  Today, he reminds us that it’s great day and the best is truly yet to come. SHOW NOTES The United States is in its best condition it’s ever been: Pollution, discrimination, rate of heart disease + cancer are trending down. Life expectancy, education, living standards, middle class income, human freedom are trending up. Globally, we are better off: Global malnutrition and extreme poverty are at the lowest levels in history. Twenty five years ago, 40% of the global population was malnourished. Twenty fi

Today we discuss a topic that many families are dealing with quietly, quietly... 72,000 Americans died from drug overdose last year. That’s a two-fold increase in a decade. I’m sure you’ve heard similar stats like this in the news, along with headlines including words such as “opioid crisis” + “heroine epidemic.” Today, my friend Steve Grant joins us to share his story, how this epidemic has deeply touched his life + what it means for you on your journey to live inspired. SHOW NOTES: Learn more about Chris + Kelly's Hope here. Read the original essay I wrote when I first met Steve here. The original essay was part of our Monday Motivation. Sign up to receive Monday Motivation each week in your inbox here. "An issues so many families are dealing with quietly, quietly..." "I have grief, but I don't have guilt. I did everything I could. If I could re-do something, I'd send him to a 12 - 16 month rehab program. He needed to be rewired." What tips would Steve give to parents? When friends come: No back packs up

Today's episode is about you. Specifically, how to make sure 2019 is absolutely your best year yet. I'll give you a peek at the exercise (created by Jinny Ditzler) I complete every year to ensure I have my best possible year. Since starting this process 10+ years ago, I've: Become more inspired + stayed focused on living inspired Improved my spiritual health + focused on my marriage Built a speaking business Written ON FIRE, which became a #1 national bestseller + has been translated into 12 languages Launched the Live Inspired Podcast, of which you are a part! Grown top line revenue + bottom line profitability for my organization My friends, these are just a few of the goals I set and then achieved thanks to this process. Join me to get clear on what you want to achieve personally and professionally in 2019 + set yourself up to make this your best year yet. SHOW NOTES: Goals must not just be set, but lived into every day. Have you identified what worked (and did NOT work) last year?  Your best is within r

Today we are going to talk about how you can get better results in life and business by activating your creativity. I first became aware of this concept when my book ON FIRE made a must read list by The Business Journals along side the book of today's guest, Natalie Nixon. Natalie's book is called Strategic Strategic Design Thinking. Today, you'll learn how this concept will help you live more inspired. SHOW NOTES: We don't understand creativity; that's why we don't use it. Be curious. Humble yourself to ask for help: "How would you approach this?" Using the phrase "How might we?" shifts the onus of expertise. It is inclusive, focusing on a process, not solution. Natalie referenced Warren Burger's book A More Beautiful Question. Asking questions does not = ignorance. Cultivate an environment where you can ask questions - at the dinner table, etc. - lead by asking questions.  See Natalie's Ted Talk on the 7 Ways to Improvise at work here. Embrace mistakes + errors. In jazz there is no such thing as a mistake,

30 years ago I was burned on 100% of my body and not expected to survive. I beat the odds and recovered thanks to the care, encouragement + love of my family, friends, healthcare team, MLB baseball players and countless individuals I'll never know. From this, I have a profound sense of gratitude for my life + perspective on overcoming challenges. Today, I share 3 of the most formative lessons I learned during my recovery. One is a favorite I share on stage from time to time. One I shared in my #1 National Bestselling book ON FIRE. One I've never shared before. I hope they fuel you to live inspired today. SHOW NOTES: Start each week with Monday Motivation email! Get it here. "You have two eyes, two ears + one mouth. Use them proportionally." - Dr. Avazian John shares his favorite quote + what it means in your life: "When you know your why you can endure any how." Get Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning to read it in context. People matter. Words matter. Be aware of the words you're listening to + th

Today, we've got a really fun treat for you! An awesome lesson on love and how to fill your home with it just in time for the holidays... from HGTV stars, Erin + Ben Napier.  Erin + Ben share about their new book, Make Something Good Today, and how this motto has transformed their lives. My friends, rehabbing isn't just meant for homes, but more importantly, for our hearts, lives and towns, too. SHOW NOTES: As I mentioned, today is the last day to place an order + receive it in time for Christmas! Head to the Live Inspired Shop + use code podcast for 15% off t-shirts, calendars + autographed copies of ON FIRE. Erin + Ben Napier are stars of the HGTV show Home Town Get Erin + Ben's book Making Something Good Today here You just need enough faith to take the first step. "If I could make my faith more real than my fear, I could do this." Take time to find one thing that is great in every day + it will make the things that are uncertain feel less scary. Renovating life - making something that seems bad, old, us

"Be remembered for your love." My friends, today we have as our guest Bob Goff, bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody, Always. Bob's books have sold millions of copies and after hearing our whimsical conversation - ripe with lessons on how to love everybody, always - you'll know why. My friend, you are in luck. You won't be able to listen to Bob and not live inspired. Join us. SHOW NOTES:  Get a copy of Bob's recent book Everybody Always here. Get a copy of Bob's classic book Love Does here. "Why are you doing what you are doing? If it is for the applause - join the circus." All the time you spend investing in your family is worth it. that's what you'll be remembered for. People think about open + closed doors. That God or fate closed the door. But I say, kick a couple down! If you have a dream to contribute, go do it. Don't take no for an answer. We're rivers not reservoirs. just let it flow. My greatest teachers weren't trying to teach me anything. Be remembered for your love. If you're doing thi

Wars cannot be won only on the battlefield. Jake Harriman realized this truth while completing 4 tours as a Marine. During his service in the Middle East, Africa + Asia, he saw how extreme poverty caused desperation which directly fueled the growth of terrorist groups. After completing his service, Jake started NURU International to address the extreme poverty in war-torn countries -- and in doing so, combat terrorist groups. Jake has been honored as the Unsung Hero of Compassion by the Dali Lama, the White House Champion of Change + named one of the top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs. Today, Jake joins us to share his passion for serving, entrepreneurial brilliance + genuine heart. Jake gives new depth to the idea of "living inspired." Join us.  SHOW NOTES: Learn more about Jake's work with NURU International here. "It's not fair that the GPS coordinates of someones birth place dictates what choices they have in this world." - Jake Harriman The humble leader will always be able to persev

Mondays in November, I'm releasing a special, Ask John episode. During this season of gratitude, I thought it would be a fun way to say thank you, answer your questions + shine a light on YOU, our wonderful Live Inspired Community members. Today's question was submitted by Mary from Missouri. She finds the podcast to be counter cultural and that it is good news in a negative news culture. Her favorite episode was with Sue McCollum, a strong woman sharing strong ideas of overcoming and doing great things. Mary's main takeaway from the show is that her experience and circumstances do not define her. Mary asked: How do you stay energized, committed + motivated with all of the different areas of your life pulling you in different directions? Tune in for my answer!   *** If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday (and Monday during November!)! Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, I

Today Jason Kotecki, artist, speaker + author, is here to help us combat what he calls adult-itis, or being stressed out, boring and no fun.  Jason will help us rekindle our childlike spirit. Join us to harness the magic of being a kid + see the benefits it could have in your work and life. SHOW NOTES: "Enthusiasm is important because it gives you the energy to start + overcome early failures." Growing up, it's so important to have people who believe in you. Notice something good about him + tell him about it. Every once in a while, we need someone to tell us what we are good at.  It's amazing what you can learn + how quickly when you try  something new you are interested in. Get a tinker project. You don't need a reason, sometimes your heart has a reason to do something that your head doesn't yet understand. Do something that sounds fun; let it naturally rekindle some of your curiosity and playfulness. Tinkering - work on something in an unskilled or experimental manner. As adults we're too afraid of lookin

Mondays in November, I'm releasing a special, Ask John episode. During this season of gratitude, I thought it would be a fun way to say thank you, answer your questions + shine a light on YOU, our wonderful Live Inspired Community members. Today's question was submitted by Rich from Tennessee. Rich became part of the live inspired community after hearing me speak at his office, he work for Dave Ramsey and Dave has something he calls "Devos" to inspire his 750 employees each week. Rich asked: What is the best book I've read in the last six months? Tune in to hear my answer!   *** If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday (and Monday during November!)! Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email. Get a John's #1 National Best-selling book ON FIRE here (use code podcast at checkout for 15% off).