Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

Although health care practitioners are often cautioned to avoid becoming emotionally invested in a critically ill patient’s outcome, the reality on the ground is it’s impossible not to become engrossed. They spend significant time with the patient, get to know them intimately, and often become friends with the family. Such was the case during the five months I spent in the hospital after the fire. These nurses were the servants who never missed a single shift. Whether it was a holiday, weekend, or night, they were there for me and every other patient on the floor. My family and I remained in contact with many of these nurses even after being released. We’d come back to the floor to visit them, exchange birthday calls and Christmas cards. We had Thanksgiving dinner with one of them for more than a decade afterwards and invited as many as we could track down to my wedding 16 years after being discharged from their care. And yet, one of the most meaningful gifts these nurses provided occurred recently. Let me explain...

Jimmie James is a radiant symbol of possibility. Born into poverty in 1959 in the Jim Crow South, Jimmie was one of eight children raised by a devoted single mother. From humble beginnings, he was determined to shatter every expectation by being the first person in his circle to graduate from high school. This dream was only the beginning as he then soared through college and launched into a transformative 33-year career at ExxonMobil. His climb from an entry-level engineer to a globe-trotting executive proved that where you start doesn’t dictate where you end up. And as he transitioned into retirement, Jimmie laced up his golf shoes and set out on a new adventure—playing all of Golf Digest's Top 100 golf courses in America within a single year. Today, Jimmie shares his remarkable journey as he teaches us about persistence, unshakable determination, breaking barriers, and the power of chasing our dreams. My friends, this conversation is about more than golf or overcoming adversity. It’s a beautiful reminder to keep swinging, keep dreaming and keep believing that anything is possible.  

"Legacy is not leaving something behind for other people. It’s leaving something behind in other people." -Peter Strople Because of an unexpected gift from his late father, Blake Brewer is now on a mission to help one million parents write at least one well-written, meaningful legacy letter to their children. Let me explain.

Blake Brewer, founder of Legacy Letter, shares how a letter from his late father inspired his mission to help parents leave lasting legacies. Topics include the power of heartfelt letters, building connections through words, and the importance of expressing love and emotions in relationships.

“The voicemail you have reached is currently full.” If you try leaving a message on my cell phone, you’ll often get that recording. The reason it’s full is that I don’t always delete the messages of friends and family. I love the tone of Mom as she practically sings out my name to begin her messages. I savor the softened, muted, sweet voice of my father checking in on me. I’ve kept several from my wife just letting me know she was thinking of me, and I’ve kept one from each of my kids so I can hear their voices when I’m traveling. But sometimes it’s in permanently losing a voice, that we are reminded through the voices of others how special our loved one was.  Let me explain.

Kim Goldman is a victims’ rights advocate, championing justice and remembrance for victims. After her brother Ron Goldman was murdered alongside friend Nicole Brown on June 12, 1994, Kim suddenly found herself thrust into the media spotlight while vulnerably trying to grieve. Today, less than a week after the death of one the key players within this story, I revisit my conversation with Kim. Join us as we reflect on the part of her life that was changed permanently and her feelings on speaking with prosecutors, investigators, and witnesses who never got to speak and jurors who voted not guilty for her podcast series Confronting: O.J. Simpson. Plus, she’ll share how she continues to honor her brother by supporting victims and families that face similar tragedies. My friends, this episode reminds us of the non-linear journey of grief and yet, the transformative power of turning personal losses into impactful support for others.

To ensure the content we share with our Live Inspired community is timely and relevant, I meet with my team monthly to plan future social posts, newsletters, and podcast episodes.  As we meet and discuss, our goal is always to provide inspirational and engaging content to help you navigate your months, one day at a time. These meetings can be fun as we think of stories around big holidays, special birthdays, or celebratory anniversaries. And yet, taking time to remember the anniversaries we’d rather erase from our collective consciousness is equally crucial, especially this month.  Let me explain.

For more than a quarter of a century, Robin Sharma has been devoted to helping others realize their native gifts. As a legendary personal growth expert, Robin has advised business leaders, superstar athletes, and heads of state to do brilliant work, thrive amidst change and realize their highest leadership capacities. Beyond being a renowned mentor, Robin’s international bestselling books — including The Everyday Hero Manifesto, The 5AM Club, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and Who Will Cry When You Die? — have influenced millions of people to become their highest selves, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. Today, Robin joins us to share his latest book The Wealth Money Can't Buy and walk us through the thinking patterns, daily habits and life lessons to build lasting happiness, peak health, career mastery and a life of honest serenity. My friends, you’ll leave today’s conversation ready to enjoy a genuinely rich life—filled with personal power, unusual authenticity, exceptionally fulfilling work, and a lifestyle that will make you feel that fortune has finally smiled upon you.

Have you ever noticed that the best moments in life are frequently unplanned and completely unscripted?  It’s not the big trip, fancy dinner, or lavish party that are most meaningful, but the little moments in life that we don’t see coming. One such moment for me was the highlight of the entire filming process for the On Fire movie.  Let me explain.

Cassie Holmes is an award-winning teacher and researcher on time and happiness, and bestselling author of Happier Hour. Cassie’s research examines how focusing on time increases happiness, how the meaning of happiness changes over the course of one’s lifetime, and how much happiness people enjoy from extraordinary versus ordinary experiences. Today, Cassie shares her research, including the concept of “time poverty,” her own experiences as a busy working mother, and the practical tools we can apply to improve our day-to-day. My friends, if you’ve ever asked yourself how can I - given the limited time that I have - find greater enjoyment and satisfaction in my days, this conversation is for you.