Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." - Maya Angelou Birthdays, anniversaries and holidays are obvious dates to celebrate. Bake a cake, light the candles, sing a song, gather together, toast to life. But what do we do with the dates that remind us not of what we have, but of all we lost? How should we treat those anniversaries? For my family and me, one such date is January 17th. On that date 35 years ago, I was burned on 100% of my body. We all face fires in life; we all get burned. Ultimately whether our life story is an epic to celebrate or a tragedy to mourn has surprisingly little to do with the events within our lives and far more to do with the manner in which we respond to those events.

Mattie Jackson Selecman dreamt of being an author, yet she never expected her first book Lemons On Friday would be about the tragic + unexpected loss of her beloved husband of 11 months. Daughter of country megastar Alan Jackson and New York Times bestselling author Denise Jackson, Mattie became a widow at 28 years old and was forced to navigate a future drastically different from the one she had planned. Relying on her faith, she embarked on a deeply personal journey through devastating loss and the difficult dance that followed. This conversation is a reminder that no heartbreak or loss is unredeemable and by confidently clinging to hope, we can truly heal. SHOW NOTES: Value of work + humility: Growing up in the quintessential country music family, Mattie is grateful for how her parents raised her and her siblings. In her book, It's All About Him, Mattie's mom Denise candidly shared her and Alan's marital struggles, giving Mattie the confidence to share her own difficult journey. Intrigued by the history, science and art of wine, Mattie spent six years owning a wine bar restaurant. "You are the sweetest and best thing that ever happened to me." Mattie describes her late-husband Ben as joyful, abundant and filled with momentum for each day. Eleven months into their marriage, Ben suffered a fatal traumatic brain injury while vacationing in Florida. Nearly a year later, Mattie surrendered, chose to trust God and did not need to understand the "why" of her loss. Advice to those with friends, families and others close to someone experiencing a devastating loss: It’s less about what you do and more about being present. In the midst of being emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted, open-ended questions are overwhelming. Direct questions like “do you want to get lunch today or can I drop something off?” helped her manage to make even the simplest decisions. During difficult moments, such as baby showers, Mattie would recite Romans 12:15: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Through researching heaven, Mattie found comfort in knowing where Ben was. Books that helped her were Randy Alcorn's Heaven and John Burke's Imagine Heaven. Approaching the two-year anniversary of Ben's death, Mattie wrote Racing the Dark, sung by her father, to fight the instinct to run away and find the courage to face challenges. "Grief is less about learning not to hurt. It's more about learning how you hurt and how to navigate it." Learn more about Mattie's give-back company NaSHEville, which helps women and children in need-specifically orphans, widows, and trafficked women, here. Get a copy of Mattie Jackson Selecman's Lemons On Friday here.  

When I was just nine-years-old laying on what was expected to be my deathbed after a house fire, my mother guided me with a question that changed the trajectory of my life: John, do you want to die? That day we made a commitment to faithfully, courageously and collectively fight on. We had no idea of what tomorrow might hold. All we knew was the fight was on.

After narrowly escaping the devastation of 9/11, Kushal Choksi recognized he had been so consumed in pursuing the “American dream” that he had forgotten to pursue his own. From being a Wall Street trader immersed in the material world, Kushal embarked on a quest to find answers to life's biggest questions. Today, hear Kushal share how he explored his doubts with spirituality, the peace he ultimately found and what it means for you. SHOW NOTES: Kushal grew up in a densely populated small town in India where he could drive a bike from one side to the other in 20 minutes. Beautiful balance: He admired his dad’s razor-sharp intellect and refreshing happiness. For the first time since being in America, Kushal witnessed fear on 9/11. Ecclesiastes 12:8: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” While initially uncertain, Kushal began practicing SKY breathing with spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. SKY Breathing: Uses the natural rhythms in our breath to harmonize the different functions in our system including perception, cognition, intellect, physical and memory. “To move forward in life, one must use the mind. To move inward one must drop the mind.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar “Effort is the key in the relative. Effortlessness is the key to the absolute.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar “You need not be afraid of losing control because you had none to lose.” If you enjoyed today’s episode… You’ll love hearing from Jeanne Celestine Lakin. As a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide, Jeanne reminds us that we all have the power to choose forgiveness, leave a legacy of peace and move forward.  Listen to ep. 346 now.   KUSHAL CHOKSI'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read? A. The Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A. Being naturally free. Q. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? A. My six-string guitar. Q. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be?  A. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?  A. Take life as a game. Enjoy the journey. Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? A. Enjoy the journey. Q. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  A. He lived a very content and happy life. *** About our sponsor: Keeley Companies wholeheartedly believes that if you get the people right -the results will follow. They set themselves apart with a forward-thinking culture that empowers their people and fosters loyal partnerships. Keeley Companies are a proud sponsor, partner, and super fan of the Live Inspired Podcast. Learn more about Keeley Companies.

"Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out." - John Wooden   Life will happen, challenges will mount, headwind will blow, difficulties will arise and the year ahead will become far different than the one you currently imagine. And yet, the power of one reminds us that although we cannot always choose the path we walk in life, we are always free to choose the manner in which we walk it. The choice we make makes a mighty difference in our lives – and the lives of those we encounter. Today, this week and into the year ahead, choose to treat others with dignity and compassion. Soften your voice, smile more often, laugh more easily, seek to understand, unclench your fist, open your heart and recognize that this life – that indeed your life – is a profound gift.

In 2021, we’ve encountered challenges, experienced cheerfulness and witnessed change, together. As we celebrate over four million downloads, I’m incredibly grateful for our Live Inspired community. Whether subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or another listening platform, sharing episodes with friends + family or engaging with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn, this milestone would have been reached without you. Today, join me as I recap the most downloaded episodes of the last year. From Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph to New York Times bestselling author Mel Robbins, today’s episode is the best way to close out the year and start 2022 off right. SHOW NOTES: Peter Montoya, an apolitical unification expert, shares practical strategies to unify our divided society on ep. 376. Marc Randolph, the co-founder of Netflix, shares stories about starting the iconic brand and his unconventional idea of success on ep. 388. Howard Behar, retired president at Starbucks, shares his tips on how to be a servant leader + why leading with values is the best recipe for success on ep. 378. Ben Nemtin of MTV's The Buried Life acts on the question "what do you want to do before you die?" and the practical steps you can implement today to build and accomplish your list on ep. 336. Matt Miller, coach at Live Inspired, reminds us how to set attainable goals and make the next year meaningful on ep. 324. Doug Lindsay shares his journey in developing the treatment to a mysterious, debilitating illness that impacted his family on ep. 322. Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author, shares her proven + empowering techniques to overcome negative mental repercussions of the COVID-19 global pandemic on ep. 372. Jonathan Pitts shares about the loss of his wife Wynter and finding peace, strength + hope in keeping her legacy alive on ep. 328. Dr. Tim Jordan shares practical advice to build closer relationships based on trust and understanding with our children on ep. 330. Sebastian Maniscalco, known as “the hottest comic in America” by New York Times shares how perseverance and hustle have been the key ingredients to attaining success, the challenges that come with it and where he finds inspiration on ep. 344. Hear more of our most downloaded episodes of 2021 here and our most downloaded episodes of all time here.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller What can a basketball team in southwest Texas teach us about real victory? It turns out real victory isn’t merely about what we can do for ourselves and get for our team, but ultimately what we can invest into others and achieve together. Watch the video of Coronado High School's Marcus Mitchell here.

"To be content with little is hard; to be content with much, impossible." - Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach In the midst of this holiday season, what better time to take pause and celebrate the amazing blessings already present in our lives. For the past five years, every podcast guest has been asked a series of rapid-fire questions known as the Live Inspired 7. The third question is: Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? Join me as I share what I would retrieve. Plus, I share some of the most remarkable responses that remind us that real joy, real peace and real love are seldom wrapped and almost never found under the tree. SHOW NOTES: What would you go back in and save? These past Live Inspired Podcast guests share the important reminder that real joy, peace and love are seldom wrapped and found under the tree. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle from ep. 248. Bestselling author and post-traumatic growth expert Michaela Haas from ep. 4. Former Navy fighter pilot and POW Charlie Plumb. Hear our entire conversation here. Congressional Gold Medal Recipient Carlotta Wells LaNier from ep. 56. Apollo 13 Spacecraft Commander Captain Jim Lovell from ep. 90. Entrepreneur, executive headhunter, nonprofit developer Laura Gassner-Ottig from ep. 152.  Author + law reform advocate Jeanne Bishop from ep. 246. Most common responses: Photos, Bible (including Kansas City Royals manager Mike Matheny), computer, journals, guitars... and nothing. Unexpected answers: Legendary entertainer John Tesh would go in for his 9-foot grand piano. Rebekah Gregory, a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing would save her waterproof prosthetic leg Ariel because nothing sets my soul more on fire than being at the beach. Well-known standup comic Sebastian Maniscalco, goes back in for cheese since his wife and kids are out safely! Bestselling author of The Shack, William Paul Young would retrieve a first edition George McDonnell Unspoken Sermons book. Amy Wolff, the mastermind behind a life-saving global movement, would save a carved piece of wood from her late brother. Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr would retrieve a letter he wrote to himself after his consecutive inning streak ended in September 1987.  Seth Godin, 20-time bestselling author, would fetch a canoe paddle he carved for his wife in 1979.

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when [adults] are afraid of the light." - Plato Many people send out Christmas cards this time of year. These cards typically feature pictures of smiling kids, happy couples, cute dogs, new homes. Many cards include images of beautiful Christmas trees, Santa leaving gifts, Snoopy driving sleighs, or nativity scenes. But several years ago, it was a seemingly bland card, with a seemingly odd message, that most deeply moved me. On a plain blue card weren’t pictures, images, families or snowflakes, but four words.

Fr. Ray Kelly, affectionally known as the singing Irish priest from Britain's Got Talent, became a worldwide sensation. The video of him singing a touching rendition of "Hallelujah" went viral with more than 80 million views. With an astonishing ability to connect with others through his remarkable singing, Fr. Ray joins us to share his fascinating journey from parish priest to Britain's Got Talent fame. Today's episode is an early Christmas blessing that's sure to delight. SHOW NOTES: Moving from civil service, Fr. Ray became called to priesthood, becoming an ordained priest at 36 years old. Understand the power of Christmas. Say "no" to overconsumption + commercialism and "yes" to helping others. After recently losing his beloved dog Buddy, the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" takes on even more of emotional meaning. Watch Fr. Ray Kelly sing his rendition of "Hallelujah" for newlyweds Chris and Leah here. Learn more about Fr. Ray Kelly here. If you enjoyed today's episode, you'll love our Musicians playlist. Hear lessons (and music!) from legendary performers including Lauren Daigle and Walker Hayes. Listen to the Musicians playlist now. FR RAY KELLY'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read? A. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A. Confidence. Q. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? A. The platinum disc of my debut album Where I Belong. Q. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be?  A. I'd want to have my sister back with me again. Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?  A. I've been inspired by my parents' hard work and their parenting. Q. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  A. My heart is in my songs.