Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

How do you respond when tragedy strikes?   As we face storms in life, we have a choice. We can choose anger, yell about it, and remain negative about what happened and all we’ve lost.   Or we can choose to accept it, make the best of it, grow from it and realize that in spite of those unwanted changes that the best of life remains in front of us.   Learn more at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

There are about 7,000 languages in the world, all with different vocabularies, sounds, and alphabets—but how do these structural differences influence how we interpret the world?   Lera Boroditsky is a cognitive scientist recognized for studying how the languages we speak shape the way we think.   After emigrating to America from Belarus, Lera learned English and began to recognize how differences in languages can shape an argument and exaggerate the differences between others.   Today, Lera shares how people view the world differently based on their linguistic backgrounds and how her research has provided influential insight in the fields of psychology, philosophy, and linguistics.   To learn more about today's episode, visit JohnOLearyInspires.com/podcast.

To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day today I wanted to share a story of a family who received a diagnosis they didn’t desire…and ultimately a gift far greater than they could have imagined.   Learn more about today's episode at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Michelle Hord is no stranger to tragedy. She started her professional career as a producer on America's Most Wanted, where she came face to face with the unthinkable on a daily basis.   But when her own beloved 7-year-old daughter Gabrielle Eileen was murdered by her ex-husband, Michelle’s entire life crashed down around her.   Today, with compassion + insight, Michelle joins us for a raw and powerful conversation about resilience, hope, and defiant faith and how it can lead to powerful transformation even in the midst of our darkest hours.   You’ll leave this conversation with a compassionate blueprint on how to harness your inner strength and the tools you need to reclaim your story.   Plus, Michelle reads a short excerpt from her book The Other Side of Yet, released earlier this week, that is profoundly special.   Learn more about this episode at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." -William James   As we race through this day, and read about tragedies overseas, challenges in our nation, difficulties in our region, and feel discouragement that there is little we can do to influence positive change, be reminded that your one life is a sacred gift.   While big numbers might grab headlines, the most important number recognizes that what you do matters, that the words you speak influence, that the dreams you cast impact the path you take, and that while your road forward may be difficult, your best is yet to come.   Let’s act as if what we do makes a difference. Let’s remember that indeed it does. And today, let’s choose to not just read about it, but to act like it.   Subscribe to the #LiveInspired Podcast + learn more at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Mark Victor Hansen co-founded Chicken Soup for the Soul in hopes of sharing motivational stories with people all over the world. But it wasn’t always the successful publishing franchise we know today.   Despite originally being turned down 144 times by publishers, Mark persisted. To date, Chicken Soup for the Soul has now sold more than 500 million books and had 57 different titles on the New York Times bestseller list.     Today, Mark joins us to share the four principles to which he credits his success and to remind us that we all have a story to share.     Subscribe to the Live Inspired Podcast on your favorite streaming platform. Learn more at JohnOLearyInspires.com

In a world filled with many individuals concerned primarily with taking care of themselves, the courage of the Ukrainian people to fight for their home, their neighbors and their freedom has been humbling and inspiring to observe. To be reminded of the beauty of showing up for others- even when our commitment to doing so is tested beyond imagination- look no further than Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.     Today, be reminded of the strength and resiliency borne from showing up for someone we love.     Doing so may not keep injustices from occurring, difficulties from happening or bombs from dropping, but it will remind us in the midst of conflict that we are not alone, there remains reason for hope and the best is yet to come.     Learn more at JohnOLearyInspires.com

Celeste Headlee is an award-winning journalist who has appeared on PBS, the BBC and NPR’s Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, and All Things Considered. With over 25 years of on-air radio experience, Celeste has a unique perspective on what makes for a good conversation.   Today, Celeste joins us to illuminate the path forward in having conversations (even difficult ones!) that actually matter.    In a time when there seems to be an abundance of talking at rather than talking with, today’s conversation is captivating, engaging and worthwhile, and emphasizes the importance of having real conversations with people on all sides of every equation.   Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com/podcast.

"I’ve discovered that a person begins aging only when they stop learning and stop loving." For nearly a century, Pat Hyndman showed us how we could live our lives with childlike awe. He knew that life was a gift, that every person matters, and that each day was packed with limitless possibilities. My friends, in the midst of the chaos in our journey forward, the foundation is firm, the headwind may be real but the best is yet to come. Learn more at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Top career adviser Laurie Ruettimann has spent more than 20 years advocating for better employment experiences to increase retention rates and improve job satisfaction.   After a season as a young professional, Laurie was uninspired and blaming others for her unhappiness, until she decided to take hold of life—the good, the bad, and the downright ugly—in order to transform her future.   Today, Laurie shares the framework to approach work in a smart and healthy manner and the tactical advice to champion your interests and create a life you actually enjoy.   Visit JohnOLearyInspires.com/podcast for the entire show notes.