Best Johnoleary Podcasts (2025)

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Let the Parade Begin... Again (Monday Moment ep. 791) 5:22

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2d ago5:22

5:22

Remember 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 …

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What Is Toxic Productivity? Israa Nasir Explains (ep. 790) 54:30

7d ago54:30

54:30

Israa 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…

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Out of Darkness, Light (Monday Moment ep. 789) 5:05

10d ago5:05

5:05

During 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…

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Kyle Scheele: Champion of Crazy Ideas (ep. 788) 1:01:59

14d ago1:01:59

1:01:59

Kyle 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 …

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Make Time for Play (Monday Moment ep. 787) 4:39

17d ago4:39

4:39

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…

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Christine Handy: From Cancer to Courage and Inner Worth (ep. 786) 48:05

21d ago48:05

48:05

As 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…

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This is Real Love (Monday Moment ep. 785) 7:38

24d ago7:38

7:38

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…

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Damon Dunn: From Poverty to the NFL to CEO (ep. 784) 54:26

28d ago54:26

54:26

Damon 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…

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Where Music, Mission and Legacy Converge (Monday Moment ep. 783) 4:53

1M ago4:53

4:53

Do 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

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Sister Monica Clare: Leaving Behind Everything to Become a Nun (ep. 782) 55:23

1M ago55:23

55:23

Sister Monica Clare is a nun, author, and the Superior at the Community of St. John Baptist, an Episcopal convent in New Jersey. And yet, she didn’t answer the call to religious life until age 46, after a failed marriage, a successful career and years spent searching for where she truly belonged. Today, Sister Monica shares what it was like to grow…

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Robert Irvine: World-Class Chef and Philanthropist (ep. 780) 54:29

1M ago54:29

54:29

Robert Irvine is a world-renowned chef, successful entrepreneur, and champion for our military and first responders. Perhaps most recognized from Food Network’s Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible, Robert has helped transform over 300 failing restaurants, and more importantly, the lives of those behind them. Today, Robert shares how a chi…

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Let Us Not Forget (Monday Moment ep. 779) 5:15

1M ago5:15

5:15

Have you noticed it is frequently the people who say the least about themselves who have the most incredible stories to share? On this Memorial Day holiday, I wanted to share one such example of a heroic, humble servant who never needed to tell you how great he was.By John O'Leary

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Dr. Henry Cloud (ep. 778) 59:24

2M ago59:24

59:24

Dr. Henry Cloud is an acclaimed leadership expert, clinical psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries, Necessary Endings, and more than 40 other life-changing books that have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. For the past four decades, Henry has coached CEOs, guided families, and walked alongside everyday people in…

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The Gift of Second Chances (Monday Moment ep. 777) 6:50

2M ago6:50

6:50

Thirteen years ago, I was invited to visit a critically ill man in a hospital. All I knew was the hospital where he was being treated, his room number, that his first name was David and that he was dying. What happened during that visit, and over the years since, impacted my life. In reading about it today, it’s my hope it impacts yours, too.…

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Jessica Cox: Soaring Without Limits as the World's First Armless Pilot (ep. 776) 49:26

2M ago49:26

49:26

Jessica Cox was born without arms, but she’s never let that stop her from soaring. A certified pilot, fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, author, global speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities, Jessica is also the visionary behind The Impossible Airplane, a first-of-its-kind aircraft designed to be flown entirely by foot. Her life is …

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One Bed at a Time (Monday Moment ep. 775) 5:15

2M ago5:15

5:15

A tent in Colorado A canoe in Georgia Friend’s couch Church pew Airplane seat ER waiting room Classroom desk This is a truncated list of places I dozed off as a child. Regardless of where I fell asleep, though, I always had the certainty of ultimately going back to my house, my room, my bed. But many children do not sleep with that same certainty. …

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Luke Mickelson: Founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (ep. 774) 1:03:19

2M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Luke Mickelson is the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that has built and delivered more than 300,000 beds to children in need across the world. With nothing but hope, hammers, and heart, Luke traded his corporate success for a movement rooted in dignity, compassion, and community. Today, Luke shares how one “tiny moment” changed eve…

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Say Yes to Being Used for Good (Monday Moment ep. 773) 7:14

2M ago7:14

7:14

A couple of years ago, I had the immense honor of delivering the commencement address for the Class of 2023 at my alma mater, Saint Louis University. (Believe me, the only people more surprised than I that O’Leary was the commencement speaker…. were the professors who taught me back in the late 1990s!) As I watched the graduates cross the stage ful…

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Kim Becking: Grace, Grit, and Getting Back Up (ep. 772) 54:17

2M ago54:17

54:17

Kim Becking is a New York Times bestselling author, founder of the Unstoppable Momentum Movement, cancer survivor and mom of three. A leading voice on navigating change, she’s on a mission to help people lead with purpose, build real resilience, and face life’s challenges with courage. Today, Kim shares how she went from growing up in a trailer in …

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What We Seek, We Find (Monday Moment ep. 771) 5:12

2M ago5:12

5:12

Several years ago, I was getting ready for work when my oldest son, Jack, walked into the bathroom as I was shaving. Just five years old at the time, he stood next to me for a while pretending that he, too, was getting rid of the “stubble” on his cheeks. But then he stopped pretending and began gently touching the scars that cover my torso. These a…

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Dr. Blaise Aguirre: How to Overcome Self-Hatred (ep. 770) 56:25

3M ago56:25

56:25

Dr. Blaise Aguirre is a renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist who has dedicated his life to helping thousands of young people struggling with thoughts of suicide and self-hatred. As a father of four and the author of I Hate Myself, Blaise brings both clinical expertise and a compassionate presence to his work by offering hope and healing to th…

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SOUL ON FIRE Movie (Monday Moment ep. 769) 5:41

3M ago5:41

5:41

So many powerful stories go untold. Most books are never read, most scripts never make it to screen, and most independent films never find distribution. That’s why we’re especially excited to share the news about the SOUL ON FIRE movie... let me explain.By John O'Leary

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Diane Kahn: Founding Member of Humans of San Quentin (ep. 768) 47:30

3M ago47:30

47:30

As a former elementary school teacher and founding member of Humans of San Quentin, Diane Kahn is a fierce advocate for second chances and shared humanity. By spending the past seven years working inside the walls of California’s most notorious prison, Diane empowers those incarcerated to earn their high school diplomas, tell their stories, and be …

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The Best Standing Ovation I've Ever Witnessed (Monday Moment ep. 767) 5:41

3M ago5:41

5:41

It can be rare to receive – or maybe more importantly to give – meaningful recognition for the important work being done all around us. In our race to the next activity, next location, next appointment, we often hurry right past the individuals providing worthy service directly in front of us. Rarely do we pause and thank the janitor for the clean …

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Jeff Glasbrenner: First American Amputee to Climb Everest (ep. 766) 55:31

3M ago55:31

55:31

Jeff Glasbrenner is a three-time Paralympian, two-time wheelchair basketball world champion, 25-time Ironman finisher, and the first American amputee to summit Mount Everest. And yet, beyond the titles and the records, Jeff is a man who’s said yes to life again and again, even when the odds were stacked against him. Today, Jeff shares what it reall…