Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

After yet another catastrophe devastating our neighbors in Haiti, I wanted to share with you the amazing work being done by an organization striving to make a difference there. Today, I share a story was shared with me by last week's Live Inspired Podcast guest Tim Brand, Founder of Many Hands for Haiti. They are making a profound, positive impact during a time when need is so overwhelming. It’s a message that will remind you of the ripple effect of your life. Even when you don’t see it. Learn more about Tim Brand + the life-changing work his organization is doing in Haiti on Live Inspired Podcast ep. 388 here.

Headlines often leave us feeling overwhelmed and like we can’t make a positive impact. Today's guest reminds us that we can absolutely make a transformative impact through love in action. Tim Brand founded Many Hands for Haiti after a life-changing mission trip to the small, tropical country. A decade later, they've served 7.5 million meals, educated 1,200 children, constructed 990 safe homes... and so much more. His strategy focuses on six key elements in order to bring about lasting change: education leadership development agronomy (soil management and crop production) safe homes medical assistance economic development Don’t miss this conversation. It will inspire you to join me in supporting this organization that is caring for our neighbors after yet another devastating earthquake again this month. SHOW NOTES If you didn't grow up with a strong foundation, are you going to be that for your family and those in your community? At 18 years old, Tim planned his first mission trip to Haiti after being inspired by his dad. There he felt unconditional love, grace and forgiveness and learned to let God guide him. Reverse Offering: With $100 offered by his church in 2004, Tim raised $15,000 to build a school in Haiti. After an infliction point, Tim quit his corporate job, made numerous sacrifices and wrote a $10,000 check to build a school, freeing him of his chains of processions. Whatever talents you have, you are called to multiply them. Sometimes you have to let go to receive. "Transform together through love and action." "We hold that dream until they can hold that dream for themselves." Love in Action: Jerry + his grandmother are proof that by strengthening familial + community bonds, long-term sustainable change is happening. To learn more about Many Hands for Haiti and offer your support, click here. TIM BRAND'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 What is the best book you’ve ever read? Outside the Bible, Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A dreamer. 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? My Bible. 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? Paul the Apostle. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Never burn a relationship. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? You don't always have to experience something to learn. Forgive yourself. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? Fully surrendered to dream God dreams to serve the world.

“When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really, really PLAYED!”― Dr. Seuss My friends, doesn’t it seem children have more fun than adults? They smile far more often, skip more frequently, laugh a bit louder and enjoy life a lot more.  Today, I share how my daughter reminded me how fun travel can be and how good life still is during our annual tradition.

Jim McCloskey founded Centurion Ministries, the first organization devoted to exonerating wrongfully convicted prisoners serving life sentences or sentenced to death. Jim has helped free 65 innocent people. Today, Jim shares how his path was first one of destruction, followed by redemption and only then was he able to begin his amazing, life-giving work. Tune in for Jim’s awe-inspiring reflections on the emotional responses from his clients. In hearing his telling of the laborious process of re-investigating cases, you will be reminded of the value of hope and sacrifice. Don’t miss my conversation with this dedicated advocate for justice. SHOW NOTES: The National Registry of Exonerations tracks over 2,800 cases of individuals who were wrongly convicted of crimes, based on new evidence. Centurion Ministries has taken on over 80 cases, freeing 66 people.  Collectively, these individuals have served 1,488 years in prison. When Jim's mother contracted polio in 1947, his father modeled the importance of responding to adversity with love, loyalty and devotion. Six hours a week, Jim would visit inmates at New Jersey's Trenton State Prison as a requirement for seminary. Do you believe I'm innocent? With no legal or investigative training, Jim worked for three years to free Jorge de los Santos from prison after presenting new evidence. Learn more about Centurion Ministries here. Get a copy of Jim McCloskey's When Truth Is All You Have here. JIM MCCLOSKEY'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 What is the best book you’ve ever read? We Were Soldiers Once... and Young by Lt. Gen. Harold Moore. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Courage to stand against the group. 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? The Bible. 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? Abraham Lincoln. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My dad told us to always be honest and always be prepared. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Be your own man. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? Micah 6:8 What the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.

As the school year begins, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate a teacher taught me invaluable lessons on school and life. Mrs. Cathy Collins showed me that regardless the subject we may teach, there is no finer foundation, no clearer lesson plan, and no more effective motivation than love.

Design expert Ingrid Fetell Lee has spent over a decade researching the relationship between happiness + our surroundings. She's worked with iconic brands such as Target and Kate Spade and her wildly popular TED Talk has been viewed more than 17 million times. Today's conversation will empower you to be more intentional on what joy means to you and dedicating yourself to finding more joy in life and at work. Join us to hear Ingrid's actionable tips to find joy all around you and to be reminded of the impact joy has on your health, resilience and well-being. SHOW NOTES: By nurturing her creative spirit, Ingrid credits her Nana as the reason she became inquisitive of the power within the physical world. “We think of joy as this light, fluffy, airy thing but joy is so integral to what it means to be a healthy, fulfilled human.” Moments of joy have a positive effect on physical health, productivity, creativity and resilience. What is joy? An intense momentary experience of positive emotion. When happiness is pinned to life’s milestones it can feel vague and amorphous yet designing more moments of joy in every day can be life-changing.   Aesthetics of Joy: Identifiable sensory qualities that have a distinct + universal connection to joy. For example, color is a suggestion of energy, ripeness + nourishment. A Japanese nursing home redesigned by the architect Emmanuelle Moureaux features an inviting common room with colorful balls hanging from the ceiling and bright springy green chairs. Since the redesign, families of residents spend more time visiting with their loved ones than before. Create repeatable moments of joy: Paint your front door with your favorite bold color, bring nature indoors with plants, wallpaper the inside of a closet or drawer with a bright pattern for a surprise burst of joy. Research shows numerous benefits to having moments of joy in our every day, including: A sense of trust, intimacy and connection when shared with others Better decision-making after considering more scenarios Increase of productivity by up to 12% “The thing about joy, in order to feel it fully, we must embrace our sadness too.” “Burnout often has as much boredom in it as it does exhaustion.” “The blossoming of the tree. The rising of the sun. The flow of the tides. These reoccurring events remind us of times circular nature and create an underlying cadence of joy that we can rely on.” Start your day with joy: Ingrid shares 10 ways to start your day with joy including reading a poem immediately after waking up and fixing a joyful breakfast. Learn the others here. Joy-spotting: Tuning your senses to joyful things in the world around you will help you reconnect + rediscover joy. INGRID FETELL LEE'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 What is the best book you’ve ever read? A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Resilience. 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 box of photos that are really precious to me. 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? My husband. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? From my dad: The only constant in life is change. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? You don't have to have all the answers ever. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? She made joy.

Tom Vanderbilt, New York Times bestselling author of Traffic, is known for writing about the mundane to the obscure, shedding light on surprising patterns of human behavior. Through his extensive research + first-hand experience, Tom shares the remarkable benefits of pursuing new skills and hobbies, the pressure-free approach we had as children and its transformative impact on our lives. Whether you're 17 or 70, today's conversation will inspire you to take the next right step in unlocking the joys that come with starting something new. SHOW NOTES: While at University of Wisconsin – Madison, Tom dropped out of the journalism department finding working at the school newspaper was the best way to learn the craft of journalism and allowing time to study other intriguing subjects. Tom’s work focuses on insightful research of everyday life such as design, technology, science, and culture and how things really work. New York Times bestseller Traffic is an eye-opening investigation at human behavior while driving. Get a copy here. Compliancy effect: There is a simple mantra you can carry about you in traffic: When a situation feels dangerous to you, it's probably more safe than you know; when a situation feels safe, that is precisely when you should feel on guard. Most crashes, after all, happen on dry roads, on clear, sunny days, to sober drivers. While writing Beginners, Tom visited the Infant Action Lab at New York University to see the pressure-free approach children have to learning. In his quest to learn new skills, Tom broaden his social circle and found inspiration from others in his community Falling in love with learning: Studies show that couples learning new skills together can reenergize a relationship. The only limit apart from your own body is your own imagination. We often interrupt people at the beginner stage, forgetting that talent can take time. TOM VANDERBILT'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 What is the best book you’ve ever read? Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? The promise of new chapters being written in life; endlessness. 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 family photo album. 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? Barrack Obama. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Don't try to write a book and have fun with it. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? It will be okay. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He was a good listener.

Dara Torres made  history as the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympic Games and again as the oldest swimmer to win an Olympic medal at age 41 in 2008.   Today, Dara shares the "heart-racing, thrilling" feeling of earning her first medal in 1984, what it felt like to defy expectations with two comebacks and how she balanced her career while being a mother.   With the 2020 Olympics in full swing, this conversation  continues the celebration of inspiring moments in global sports. SHOW NOTES: Before becoming a 12-time Olympic medalist, Dara recognized her love for swimming at a YMCA competition at 12 years old. Caught up in excitement of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, her first, Dara recalls how rival Jill Sterkel helped her refocus after swimming poorly during qualifying. Heart-racing, thrilling, adrenaline-filled for days: Dara shares the indescribable feeling of winning her first gold in 1984 and her appreciation of her 2008 silver. At University of Florida, Dara earned 28 All-American swimming honors – the maximum possible in a college career – yet she sees that time as a dark period in her life. Her underrated battled with bulimia: After five years, Dara sought help and set small, daily goals to overcome the disease. After three Olympics + four medals, Dara left the sport for seven years before making her first comeback at 33 at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Eight years later, now 41 and a mom, Dara returns for her second comeback at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Earning three silver medals, she became the oldest U.S. Olympic swimmer in history, the first American swimmer to appear in five Olympic Games and the oldest swimmer to win a medal in Olympic history. There is no “I” in team: Dara shares her gratitude for those who played a role in her accomplishments. DARA TORRES' LIVE INSPIRED 7 What is the best book you’ve ever read? The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. – Eleanor Roosevelt What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Treating everyone equal. 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? Something that represents my family, like a photo album. 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? Jesse Owens to learn how he overcame adversity. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Treat everyone equal. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Don’t worry what other people think of you. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? Always on the go. Longevity in the sport.

Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far reaching effects that change the world. - Dalai Lama You won’t believe the impact the sweet, simple gift these Starbucks baristas gave had on their customer. This is beautiful reminder that you matter and your actions and words shape the lives of those around you. Don’t underestimate that doing little things well greatly elevates the lives of those around you. *** This story was shared with me by my friend Howard Behar, retired president of Starbucks. He saw Starbucks grow from a couple dozen stores to more than 15,000 around the world. How did he do it? By reminding his team they were in the People business serving coffee. Click here to hear my conversation with Howard on ep. 378.

Howard Behar, retired president of Starbucks, joined the company when they had 28 stores and grew that number to over 15,000 during his tenure. A successful leader, speaker, author and mentor, Howard is best known for his generosity and integrity. Hear how Howard influenced the growth of Starbucks, his tips on how to be a servant leader + why leading with values is the best recipe for success. Rewatch the livestream on Facebook or YouTube SHOW NOTES: At  15 years old, Howard's father left his family in Bulgaria to immigrant to Seattle where he saved his money from pushing carts in Pike Place Market to open a small grocery store. Not everything we do in life do you need to be paid for. By not charging a struggling family for strawberries, Howard's father taught him a valuable lesson that influenced how Howard began his work at Starbucks. Dreaming of the benefits he'd offer employees if he owned a company, Howard noticed how in sync they were with Howard Schultz, recognized as the modern-day founder of Starbucks. Be one of the most well-known and respected organizations in the world known for nurturing + inspiring the human spirit. While a young professor at Stanford, Jim Collins joined to develop Starbucks iconic mission statement.  Howard Behar's 6 Ps: Purpose, Passion, Persistence, Patience, Performance and People “The person who sweeps the floor should pick the broom.“ “The enemy of life …. is indifference.” Get a copy of Howard Behar's bestselling books It's Not About the Coffee and The Magic Cup. Did you know the Live Inspired Podcast has nearly 5 million (!!!) downloads? Tune into the most downloaded episodes in 2021 featuring the inspiring stories of comic Sebastian Maniscalco, Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph, ABC New’s Paula Faris and more here! HOWARD BEHAR'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Be less serious. 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? My photographs. 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? Desmond Tutu. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? You're capable. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Figure out who you are early. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? He set out to nature + inspire the human spirit and guess what he did.