Expected to die, today he’s inspiring others to truly live. World-renowned inspirational speaker + national bestselling author John O’Leary wants to help you wake up from accidental living so you can do, be, achieve and impact more through your life. Every Monday, John shares a quick burst of inspiration to help start your week on fire. Every Thursday, John interviews an amazing guest on their story, successes, failures, lessons, and life to help you uncover tips to apply in yours.
…
continue reading
Johnoleary Podcasts

1
The Ripple Effect of a Simple Act (Monday Moment ep. 807)
6:59
6:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:59While visiting patients at a children’s hospital last week, a little boy asked who my favorite nurse was during my own hospital stay. It felt a bit like being asked to pick a favorite child, but I shared the story of how one nurse’s seemingly simple acts had a mighty impact on my life. The list of extraordinary caregivers at Mercy who helped me sur…
…
continue reading

1
The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE: Mac Powell (ep. 806)
1:00:01
1:00:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:01This week, The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE series turns up the volume as we’re joined by the man whose song has become the heartbeat of the film: Mac Powell. Mac Powell has spent over three decades sharing his voice and his heart with the world. As the Grammy-winning lead singer of Third Day, he helped shape Christian music, selling over 10 million albu…
…
continue reading

1
Reframing the Goodbye (Monday Moment ep. 805)
5:19
5:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:19As we step into a new school year, many of us are in a season of transition. Sending little ones off to kindergarten, big kids off to high school, and young adults off to college means a time filled with backpacks, checklists, early bedtimes and busy mornings. It also means waving goodbye not just to the kids as they leave the house, but chapters o…
…
continue reading

1
The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE: Sean McNamara (ep. 804)
1:14:37
1:14:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:14:37As we begin the Voices of SOUL ON FIRE series, it only makes sense to start with the man who’s been with this story from the very beginning: Sean McNamara. Sean McNamara is the director behind beloved films like Soul Surfer, Spare Parts, The Miracle Season, Reagan, and many more. Known in Hollywood as an “actor’s director,” he’s celebrated not only…
…
continue reading

1
What's the Most I Can Give? (Monday Moment ep. 803)
6:45
6:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:45John Ruhlin built a wildly successful business and life practicing radical generosity. While many spend their lives asking, “How much do I have to give?” John asked, “What’s the most I possibly can?” That question—and the way he answered it—changed my life. And it changed the world around him. Let me explain.…
…
continue reading

1
Neal McDonough: Faith-Driven Actor and Producer (ep. 802)
1:09:34
1:09:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:09:34Neal McDonough is an award-winning actor known for memorable roles in Band of Brothers, Justified, and Desperate Housewives, as well as more than 150 film and TV credits. Beyond his on-screen success, Neal is a devoted husband, father of five, and storyteller whose real-life journey rivals any script he’s ever brought to life. Today, Neal shares ho…
…
continue reading

1
Seen, Scarred, and Still Worthy (Monday Moment ep. 801)
7:19
7:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:19True value doesn’t come from how others see us; it comes from knowing who we are. Sometimes the most important lessons are taught in unexpected places, by unforeseen people and in unpredicted ways. A recent experience provided such a reminder…even if it wasn’t a lesson I wanted to receive. Let me explain.…
…
continue reading

1
Dr. Rebecca Heiss: Transform Stress to Work for You (ep. 800)
55:42
55:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:42Did you know 84% of Americans say stress impacts them as deeply as trauma? Recognizing this, Dr. Rebecca Heiss is a stress physiologist whose work is reshaping how we think about pressure, performance, and resilience. Today, Rebecca shares how we can reframe stress as a tool for growth, how to move from trauma to post-traumatic growth, and why curi…
…
continue reading
Earlier this summer, I sat next to my dad in a darkened movie theater. We shared some popcorn, fought over Milk Duds, and watched a movie together. The film we watched—a retelling of the life we’ve lived together, now stunningly portrayed on the big screen—was a powerful reminder: when intuition whispers, listen. Let me explain.…
…
continue reading

1
John Kasich: How Communities Inspire Hope and Build the Future (ep. 798)
49:24
49:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:24Former Governor John Kasich has spent his life bringing people together to tackle tough problems, guided by a deep belief that we all have a role to play in making the world a little better than we found it. As a former Ohio governor and four-time New York Times bestselling author, it’s his deep commitment to faith and building community that matte…
…
continue reading

1
The Power in Showing Up (Monday Moment ep. 797)
4:42
4:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:42More than 20 years ago, my wife Beth and I volunteered to take on a Little Brother from our local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. We thought we would be helping a child who needed something we could give. What we didn’t expect was how much we’d grow—and how much that little boy would change our lives. You see, at the time, I was busy, distract…
…
continue reading

1
Rescue at the Reef: The Miraculous Story of Shark Attack Survivor Jameson Reeder Jr. (ep. 796)
52:42
52:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:42Jameson Reeder Sr. and his 10-year-old son, Jameson Jr., were swimming nine miles off the coast of Florida when a 9-foot bull shark appeared out of nowhere. In seconds, their peaceful snorkeling trip turned into a fight for life, and one that would test their faith, summon unexpected heroes, and reveal a little boy’s unshakable courage. Today, Jame…
…
continue reading

1
Love the One in Front of You (Monday Moment ep. 795)
4:34
4:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:34In the early 2000s, I worked in residential construction. As a general contractor, my days were long, dusty, and jammed with deadlines difficult to hit. I rehabbed homes, managed teams, solved problems, raced the clock, and frequently fell short. On one specific job site, a man challenged me through his presence to slow down, celebrate the gift of …
…
continue reading

1
Cristina Baker: A 60-Second Voice of Hope (ep. 794)
46:33
46:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:33Cristina Baker is a speaker, author, and digital creator whose short videos have brought hope and encouragement to millions. And yet, before she became a voice of inspiration, she was a teen battling addiction, a young mother at rock bottom, and a woman who felt completely alone in the world. Today, Cristina shares what it was like growing up in a …
…
continue reading
"I do." 57 years ago, Mom spoke those words while holding Dad’s hands. I thought of their commitment to one another last week as I was seated across from her at breakfast. It was their 57th wedding anniversary. And her first without him. I expected our time together to be a bit downtrodden, quiet, sad. After all, how do you celebrate the thing you …
…
continue reading

1
John Register: Resilience, Reinvention, and Running a New Race (ep. 792)
52:51
52:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:51John Register is a two-time Paralympian, a silver medalist, a Persian Gulf War veteran, and a TEDx motivational speaker. He’s also someone who knows what it means to lose everything you planned for, and build something even more meaningful in its place. A rising Olympic hopeful, John’s dreams were shattered by a training accident that led to the am…
…
continue reading

1
Let the Parade Begin... Again (Monday Moment ep. 791)
5:22
5:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:22Remember being little, and how natural it was to dive fully into life? We raised our hands when questions were asked, made best friends with everyone on the playground and were the first ones in and last ones out of the pool. Then we got a bit older. We stopped raising our hands quite as much. We stopped opening up to others. Heck, not only did we …
…
continue reading

1
What Is Toxic Productivity? Israa Nasir Explains (ep. 790)
54:30
54:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:30Israa Nasir is a psychotherapist, speaker, writer, and the founder of WellGuide, a digital platform dedicated to making mental health tools accessible to all. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Time, and Harvard Business Review, and her new book, Toxic Productivity, helps readers reclaim their time and emotional energy in a world that constantly…
…
continue reading

1
Out of Darkness, Light (Monday Moment ep. 789)
5:05
5:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:05During five agonizing months in the hospital, physical pain, emotional anguish and unceasing monotony were constant companions. And yet, one thing I treasured was the sound of the door opening each afternoon with the hospital volunteer delivering mail. Over those months, I was blessed to receive hundreds of get-well cards, love notes and care packa…
…
continue reading

1
Kyle Scheele: Champion of Crazy Ideas (ep. 788)
1:01:59
1:01:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:59Kyle Scheele is a speaker, author, content creator, and self-described “maker of weird stuff for the internet.” He’s built a Viking ship out of cardboard, faked a marathon that went viral, and inspired thousands to let go of regret. And yet it’s the heart behind it all that will move you most. Today, Kyle shares what it was like to grow up feeling …
…
continue reading
I don’t enjoy convertibles in August. Especially not in the southern Florida heat. I don’t typically eat at the Olive Garden. In particular, two nights in a row. It’s not the norm on a business trip for me to stay up late eating popcorn in bed while watching the Disney Channel. And I don’t often play mini golf, float on lazy rivers or go down a lar…
…
continue reading

1
Christine Handy: From Cancer to Courage and Inner Worth (ep. 786)
48:05
48:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:05As a high-profile model and bestselling author, Christine Handy built a life that seemed picture-perfect as she graced campaigns for iconic brands like Pepsi, Victoria's Secret, and Budweiser. And yet behind the glamour was a woman facing unimaginable trials. A breast cancer diagnosis, along with a series of painful setbacks, would strip away her i…
…
continue reading
This weekend marked the first Father’s Day I’ve ever celebrated without my dad. It was a bittersweet milestone- filled with both gratitude for the way he shaped my life yet also an ache for his absence. As I reflected on his legacy yesterday, it’s not just his laughter, strength or faith that I carry with me most vividly- it’s the quiet, consistent…
…
continue reading

1
Damon Dunn: From Poverty to the NFL to CEO (ep. 784)
54:26
54:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:26Damon Dunn is a former NFL wide receiver, Stanford scholar, powerhouse entrepreneur, and a man who never forgot where he came from. Raised by his grandparents in a trailer with ten people, Damon grew up boiling bathwater on the stove, eating mayonnaise sandwiches, and sleeping three to a bed. Today, he’s a successful CEO, real estate developer, fou…
…
continue reading

1
Where Music, Mission and Legacy Converge (Monday Moment ep. 783)
4:53
4:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:53Do you think beautiful things can grow out of horrible events? Recently, I was introduced to a young man who exudes a youthful, happy energy, and whose mission in life-despite being rooted in an experience that is anything but—filled me with joy. Let me explain.By John O'Leary
…
continue reading