Live Inspired Podcast With John O'leary

"There's always good that can come from the bad." Cohost of the nationally syndicated Bobby Bones Show and host of Love What Matters Podcast: Amy Brown is a ray of sunshine as she shares vulnerably with us about her life. From her father walking out on her family to her mother dying of cancer: Amy is a shining example of finding blessings in all of life's experiences. SHOW NOTES: Her dad leaving was a devastating experience that ultimately transformed her life in a positive way. "There's always good that can come from the bad." "My mom was an example of hard work while still making time for me and my sister. Every morning before work, she and her friends gathered at our house and prayed for us. That's a really cool memory for me." "Sometimes you have to be patient to see the blessings that will come from a bad experience." "My mom never spoke ill of my dad. That was so important." As a radio host, when Amy's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, her audience knew and was interested in the journey. They star

"If you're patient, you'll move past obstacles." Today I am honored to share with you a man who has profoundly inspired me. Koran Bolden is a speaker, author + voice in urban education and arts. He committed to breaking the cycle of growing up in a fatherless home. He overcame the grief of losing his brother to gun violence. His smile can be felt in every word he speaks... and he is about to give you an amazing analogy so you can pivot into your most inspired life. My friends, Koran Bolden: SHOW NOTES: I lost my brother to gun violence. After, it was hard to focus because I lost my father figure and I didn't know how to grieve. "I can't change your past, but if you're open to change I can show you how to be successful in life," Koran's counselor, Martha Christmas If you're patient enough with yourself, you can move past your obstacles. Order Koran's book: Rock, Paper, Scissors Rock, Paper, Scissors: 3 step analogy to pivot in life Rock - Believe Paper - Set goals on paper Scissors - Cut away distractions i

"Busy isn't productive. Your 'to do list' isn't most important. The list of commitments you actually honor is." Today I get to introduce you to the business coach who I began working with 10 years ago when I transitioned from real estate + construction into speaking + writing. Edie Varley has an undeniable energy that will absolutely captivate you. Get ready to recalibrate what is truly important in your life, relationships and business from my business coach and friend. SHOW NOTES: Be your best; not the best, your best. Because with that mindset, you are improving. You never have to apologize at your best. It means you've prepared, planned and executed. Live up to the fullness of your promise. Busy isn't productive. It isn't the 'to do' list that is important. It's the list of commitments that you actually honor. The root of all conflict is unmet expectations. Rarely do we ask, "What do you expect in this relationship?" But we should, so we can agree to it. Whats so horrible about your mind being changed? W

"The most important thing you'll do for your relationships is what you do for yourself." Our guest today is a co-creator of eHarmony, psychologist, professor, author, husband and father, Les Parrott. When I shared a stage with Les at the Dave Ramsey SMART Conference, I was blown away by his wisdom.  He's shared his expertise with Oprah, Barbara Walters and Tom Brokaw... and today he will share it with us. My friends, are you ready to improve your relationships with these amazing insights on sustaining life-long love? Here we go! 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're set up for heartache; nobody can complete

You can control and resist life or you can dive in. Let's take the wise words from season 3 guest Christine Hassler and: DIVE IN together. It's our day to LIVE INSPIRED! The guests on our show are ordinary people doing extraordinary things on purpose. On this episode, we'll celebrate the best insights from each Season 3 guest AND how it will impact the inspired life you're living.  After just 3 seasons, we've got 400,000 downloads! Which means more lives are  being touched and more people are living inspired with us. Thanks for being part of this Live Inspired movement and for sharing it with your friends.   Subscribe for Season 4 wherever you get your podcasts! Also, get inspiration and updates from me via email: JohnOLearyInspires.com/mondaymotivation SHOW NOTES: Brian Vander Ark, lead singer of The Verve Pipe: When asked if he gets sick of playing his 90s hit song The Freshman, he responded: "How can you get sick of playing a song that brings SO much joy to so many people?" Chris Hogan, author, radio and

"What more can I do?" This epic question is the one I learned from the example of Hall of Fame Announcer Jack Buck. When our paths crossed, we were strangers. I had just been burned on 100% of my body and the doctors had given me less than 1% chance to survive.  On today's episode, I  share what has become my most requested story to share when I'm speaking at events. It's the story of an unlikely friendship. Hall of Fame Announcer and The "Voice of the Cardinals" Jack Buck absolutely changed my life and hearing it just might change yours. Can't wait to share the story with you again, or for some of you: For the very first time. Enjoy! SHOW NOTES: Think back to a time when you were experiencing a hardship: What might have changed if your hero walked in to help you? Is there someone you know going through a hardship you could step in and be a hero for today? Crying is a sign of great strength.  When someone is truly smiling, you can see it in their eyes. Leadership is about meeting people where they are; meeti

"We found ourselves in parachutes floating down over enemy territory." Charlie Plumb spent his impoverished yet idyllic childhood in Kansas "kicking cans and playing in the light of the moon.” When it was time for college, he won a scholarship and hopped on a Greyhound bus to the military academy in Annapolis. After graduating from the Naval Academy, he immediately married his high school sweet heart and went onto flight training. In 1963 he was in Vietnam and on his 75th mission, his plane was shot down. Charlie says what got him through captivity was his "why" or his purpose -- coming home safely to his bride. Years later when he finally got off enemy soil and called her, she shared that she had filed for divorce and was engaged to another man. Charlie was never bitter. He didn't regret not knowing that his wife had moved on. "I thought, how can I be unhappy? I’ve just been released from prison. 24/7 I didn’t know if I’d be alive [and today I'm free] you can’t rain on my parade." Charlie's spirit captivated

"I grew up in New York, in a small place..." Lolly Daskal grew up in Brooklyn, NY. One of the biggest most metropolitan cities in the world, and yet to Lolly "it felt like a very small place." Her life existed within a few city blocks and her community only spoke Yiddish, German and Hungarian. Her family was very religious and she was expected to be married and begin having children by 16. Lolly grew up very inquisitive, which was not supported in an environment where you were expected to just keep things "they way they are." When she first moved out of the community, she discovered the power of books and believed for the first time: "Wow!" I can ask any question, do anything, be anyone!" For the first time - her world felt expansive. While she felt she no longer had a home, she found "sometimes you have to get lost to be found." Lolly has been an insatiable student of books, the world and human behavior since. Today, she is a highly-sought business coach and author and her mission is to teach others how to "

"We need to stop judging each other and thinking we know, because you would never know my story unless I told you." Laila Ali is a fitness & wellness guru, podcaster, author, undefeated 4-time boxing champion, has appeared on Dancing with the Stars and Chopped and is the daughter of Muhammad Ali. Today she shares vulnerably the path to all that she has accomplished in her 39 years - and WOW is it a lot! Laila is one of the most focused, driven and loyal people I've met and you are going to love her story. SHOW NOTES   What was it like to grow up the daughter of Muhammad Ali? "That's all I knew! My Dad loved a crowd. There was always a lot of excitement and people. My home was like a public place growing up." My mom taught me how to be consistent through her example. Everyday I saw her working out and eating a plant-based diet. My dad taught me through his 'champion within.' When he got Parkinson's, he was an example of how to live your life with a positive mind and do things you want to do despite illnes

"Coaching is a vocation to reach men who need to be reached." His Dad left when he was 4. His Mom's 4th husband shot at him when he was 17. Bill Courtney didn't have male role models at home, but he found them on the field and in the classroom. Today, Bill is a business owner, husband and father who believes: Giving back isn't something nice to do. It is a responsibility.  Bill chose to coach football in an impoverished North Memphis High School for a team that had won 4 games in 10 years. Through the tenants of love, consistency and self-assurance, he turned the team - and many lives - around. This story won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2011 for UNDEFEATED. I recently watched this movie with my wife and we were both so moved I knew I needed to get Bill on the show to share his story with you. Here we go! SHOW NOTES: Growing up, I tried to figure out what was wrong with me "since my father didn't want me." It manifested into me doing things to prove I was worthy. In Undefeated, you see all of these fath

"Sometimes we hold onto the life we think we're supposed to have. But in letting go, we get new possibilities." Janine Shepherd grew up an athlete in rural Australia. At 24, she was training for her first Olympics. On a 5-hour training ride, she was hit by a truck.  Janine was left with a broken neck and back, massive internal bleeding and blood pressure at 40 over nothing. Janine Shepherd was not expected to survive. Miraculously, 10 days later, the internal bleeding stopped. She was in the hospital for six months. When she came home, she was paralyzed from the waste down, wrapped in a plaster body cast and attached to a catheter. She was told she'd never be able to do any of the things she did before. Janine decided "Maybe I can't do the things I did before, but I am going to do something extraordinary!" You don't want to miss what Janine has done in the 20+ years since her accident. Join us on this amazing interview. SHOW NOTES: A one time Olympic-destined skier, Janine has found deeper purpose in "hills

"Enough was never enough." Christine Hassler was an over achiever. Each time she'd reach a milestone - she'd hurry off to the next big goal... never taking time to pause, recoup or celebrate. Early in her career, she was a high level producer in Hollywood... and completely unhappy. Today, she realizes that she was keeping busy and "achieving" in order to not have to truly feel her feelings. To get this sense of clarity, Christine had to have a mighty fall... Embrace the lessons from that fall and then build her new, fulfilling life. You are going to love the concrete insights and how-to's from Christine Hassler, bestselling author, podcaster, life coach and counselor. SHOW NOTES Choose new thoughts and habits. Use discipline to transform education and awareness into integration in your life. Just having the information is psychological entertainment. Numbing out is easier. When you gossip and watch reality TV you can just be entertained. If you listen, engage with content that makes you feel: You have to pr

Don't miss my big, time-sensitive announcement in this episode!  "Time allows you to seek wisdom and understand what you've gone through so you can help other people with what you've learned." From homeless to bestselling author. From small-town Alabama to on-stage in front of thousands. From hating 6th grade football to working with the last nine college football national championship teams: My guest today has spent his lifetime gathering unbelievable observations and insights many of us would miss - and then - packaging them up to share with the world. Andy Andrews has written 20 books with more than 3 million copies in circulation. I am one of Andy's biggest fans and he is one of the most pure-hearted people I've met. Let me introduce to you our newest Live Inspired friend, Andy Andrews. SHOW NOTES His 8th grade teacher has been one of the most influential people in his life. THANK YOU to all of our teachers in the Live Inspired community. YOU make a huge difference! Andy's worked on mental toughness and

"I don't want you to be a been brother: a would-a-been, could-a-been or should-a-been. Focus, be well-rounded and give your effort at all times." Chris Hogan received this advice from his Mom. He was bless to grow up with seven or eight parental figures - from uncles and grandparents to teachers and coaches - in a small town in Kentucky. These role models helped him to dream big and never rest on his laurels. Today, Chris is a husband, father, bestselling author, radio and podcast host, expert on retirement and personal finance and part of the Dave Ramsey speaker team. Today, Chris shares simple, life-changing financial tips and nuggets of wisdom gleaned from mentors throughout his life. SHOW NOTES:  Information that gets applied in your life time and again becomes wisdom. Above all else I realize my time spent with my boys is to help them become productive young men in society. Time spent talking about what and how they are thinking so I can share my experiences and they can see that Dad is not perfect, but

Today's guest is going to give you 90s nostalgia in the best way. He sold 2 million records. Played the David Letterman and Tonight Show. Friends, today's guest is Brian Vander Ark, lead singer of the band Verve Pipe, who produced 90s hits Freshmen and Photograph. Brian is still playing today with the band and as a solo artist. From small town Michigan to opening for KISS in sold-out arenas: Brian shares simple yet profound lessons on life... and even a little live music, too! SHOW NOTES:  Having been in the army, Brian is "more patriotic. I'm one of the more patriotic artists. I can't help but get chills when I hear the national anthem at a stadium." Brian's big break: When Willy Nelson asked him to play at Farm Aid. He went from playing for 20 people at the Holiday Inn lounge to 20,000. 8 years ago he started writing kids music as well. Listen to I'm Not Sleeping in (Cuz It's Saturday) here. On his creative process: "I listen to what's going on in the world, my world and beyond. Something will jump out an

Your journey is limitless and your life is profound. The guests on our show are ordinary people doing extraordinary things on purpose. On this episode, we'll celebrate the best insights from each guest AND how it has impacted the inspired lives we're living.  After just two seasons, we've got 250,000 downloads. Which means more lives are  being touched and more people are living inspired with us. Thanks for being part of the this Live Inspired movement and for sharing it with your friends.   Make sure you're subscribed for Season 3 (starts next week)! We'll be announcing exciting news about the Live Inspired community that you won't want to miss. Also, get inspiration and updates from me via email: JohnOLearyInspires.com/email Show notes: Hear my full Jack Buck story here (at 32:30). See the MLB Hall of Fame crystal baseball Jack gave me here. Jinny Ditzler (author, Your Best Year Yet) "Live your best life by answering these 10 questions; begin by looking back at where you've been." Jon Gordon (author of

"Most of us don't know how to have real honest conversation. Culturally today there's a lot of yelling and finger pointing. Radical candor creates a bridge to connect the two sides." Kim Scott, who literally wrote the book on radical candor (released this week!), will ROCK the way you communicate with colleagues, loved ones, neighbors and everyone in between. Whether working at her own start up or at Apple or Facebook, Kim has spent her career disproving the old saying "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Kim believes that - when coming from a place of love and humanity -honesty is the only policy. Stay-at-home moms, CEOs, educators, everyone: Radical candor is going to help you make a bigger impact. Here are my main takeaways: The most important thing is to stop looking up. There's nothing more damaging to intimacy than hierarchy. We often get so focused on what we have to accomplish we forget the person standing in front of us is a human being. (Don't look at your boss as a tyrant

What does improvisation bring to business and life? The idea that we are not competing. We are in agreement, working together, have each others' back and building a relationship.  Travis Thomas is an author, speaker, coach, improviser and expert at applying the cornerstone of improv - "YES AND!" - to succeed in life and business. Today, you'll learn how improvisation has shaped Travis's life and how it will shape yours. Don't miss this fun, intensly meaningful conversation. You will leave with a concrete tool that will  help you to live inspired like never before. My Main Takeaways: Being nervous means you care. As an improviser, we don't think "oh no" instead, we reframe it from nervous energy to excited energy. "You cannot progress until you say yes." The bedrock of improvisation, whether you are on a stage or the "stage of life" is Yes and... YES is acceptance (not trying to control because you can't change the facts). In improvisation, you have an understanding that no matter what the other person says,

"Just because you work through your stuff and you own it doesn't mean the evidence of it disappears." - William Paul Young William Paul Young's childhood broke him. As a husband and father, he hit rock bottom and began a journey to reconstruct the life he was meant to lead. Young shared this process in his book The Shack, written as a gift for his children to better understand his experience. He printed copies at his local printer to give them in 2005. To date, 22 million have sold... and The Shack Movie is premiering in theaters around the world today! Paul shares how to move past trauma, embrace consequence and stay within the grace of one day. This is one of the most epic interviews I’ve been a part of. Don’t miss it.   Key Takeaways: "Good creative works open up space for people to hear for themselves, what matters to them." How could this "little book" so deeply with so many around the world? Paul attributes it to "timing - where we are in human history. The Shack has given people a language to have

If you don't have motors in your life and you do have anchors, the anchors are going to pull you down and drown you. Be around positive people that pull you up and plant positivity, not fear. Jill Blashack Strahan shared this when reflecting on how she found significance and success as Founder & CEO of Tastefully Simple, despite experiencing tragic loss when her spouse and two brothers died much too early in life.  As a speaker, Jill often asks her audiences to "Think back to a time when you have been filled with fear. Did you get through it? Do you believe you are stronger because of it?" She continues by sharing her personal story as a mirror: "I tell them, I've been there. I made it through. You can make it through too." You are going to love hearing from my dear friend, client & author. From simple joys growing up on a dairy farm in Minnesota to the wisdom her grandmother continues to share today through books she recommended decades ago: Jill's story will remind you that you were put on this eart