Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

Celebrating National Siblings Month, my sister Susan O'Leary Ciapciak joined me via livestream for this special episode. We discuss her life-saving role the day of my fire, the challenges of being a working mother of five during a global pandemic, and more! Watch a replay of the livestream on Facebook or YouTube! If you enjoy this episode... You'll love hearing my episode about adult sibling relationships. I share three things we do to stay close as adults! Don’t miss it, listen to ep. 88 here. SUSAN O'LEARY CIAPCIAK'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read? A. On Fire by John O'Leary. Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A. Carefree, relaxed mentality. 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. Because I'm an organized person, I own a business, have five children and work, a box of all our important documents. 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. Today would be Grandma Cadey who passed away a year ago. Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A. Remain faith-filled and keep moving forward. Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? A. Enjoy your 20s! Convince your brother to go to Europe with you when he tries to bail on you. 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. Enjoy life for all the gifts it presents and find good in every situation. *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010. *** 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.

Studies show that Americans work longer hours and have more stress-related illnesses than their European and Japanese counterparts.  Bucking this statistic Megan Hyatt Miller is chief executive officer at Michael Hyatt & Co., recently named a 2020 Best Workplace by Inc. Magazine, a ranking of American companies’employee engagement. Megan and her father New York Times bestselling author + leadership expert Michael Hyatt wrote Win at Work and Succeed at Life to coach leaders through the principles that helped them rethink work and productivity to discover the "double win" —a perspective that sees work and life in partnership, not opposition.  Today's conversation is full of practical tips that will help you break free from the cult of overwork. Join us to rebalance, reprioritize and reimagine what success looks like for you. SHOW NOTES: "We either have regret or fear having regret." "We cannot do it all and have it all. What we can have and do are the most important things." To avoid being swept away by life's opportunities and challenges, Megan identifies nonnegotiables in self-care, her relationships and professional results. Double Win: a perspective that sees work and life in partnership, not opposition; producing excellent professional results while achieving significance in the 10 domains of life. Hustle Fallacy: doubling down during a particular busy period of work, never to return to "normal". Ambition Brake: Refrain from reaching full professional impact in fear of the Hustle Fallacy. “Breaking free from the cult of overwork requires interrupting the negative feedback loop with new and better ideas. That’s why we wrote Win at Work and Succeed at Life. We want to offer our fellow high achievers some of that hard-to-come-by common sense.”  Constraints foster productivity, creativity and freedom. As the global pandemic struck, Megan's team adopted a 6-hour work day. While reducing work time by about 25%, they've exceeded their profit goals by 50%. “Work is like water. It’s life-giving. It also flows wherever it can unless otherwise constrained. We need hard edges to access its life-giving properties." How to develop constraints in your life: Schedule what matters, turn off notifications on devices, establish boundaries with others, and empower loved ones to remind you when you're not living into your boundaries.  Megan refers to the mission-critical balance top-performing athletes like Tom Brady + Serena Williams must exhibit, reminding us that proper work-life balance is proven to produce positive results in both aspects. Make room for a profitable pause: A fulfilling, non-achievement hobby rejuvenates the mind and body, producing more engird and better ideas. Get a copy of Megan Hyatt Miller's Win at Work and Succeed at Life here. MEGAN HYATT MILLER'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 What is the best book you’ve ever read? Radical Candor by Kim Scott. [Kim Scott was a guest on the Live Inspired Podcast! Listen to our conversation here.] What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? My artistic abilities. 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? Memories and pictures of my boys in Uganda before we adopted them. 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? Martin Luther King to ask his insight on the cultural moments after his death. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My  dad, Micheal Hyatt says, "everything is figure-out-able." What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? I'd tell her to let go of the fear of public speaking because it's too small of a thing to let it control you and you'll actually succeed at it. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? Everything I did was motivated by love. *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010. *** 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.

Amy Wolff did everything wrong... and yet it worked. With more than 1,000,000 "tokens of encouragement" displayed across the United States and in over 26 countries, Amy's desire to make a difference is life-saving.  Today, remember that you may get everything wrong. But the simple act of courageously taking the next right step may lead to significance and impact you can’t yet imagine. Amy Wolff shared what ignited this global movement. Listen to Live Inspired Podcast ep. 350 here. *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010.

Don't give up. You are worthy of love. Your mistakes don't define you. These simple phrases launched a global movement. Overwhelmed by the staggering suicide rates in her small Oregon town, Amy Wolff was determined to support those struggling.  With her husband and two young daughters, Amy anonymously staked 20 yard signs with encouraging phrases across their community, never anticipating it would ignite a powerful + life-saving movement of hope, love and encouragement. Today, these phrases are displayed on yard signs, wristbands, stickers and cards across the United States and over 26 countries. After a year of uncertainty, struggle and unrest for so many, today's conversation will inspire you to be generous with love... for yourself and others. SHOW NOTES: "Your brother saved you and I couldn't save mine." As a teenager, Amy watched helplessly as her older brother Jeremy drowned teaching her purpose, perspective, fragility of life and urgency. Walk with others in their suffering by showing up, staying tender and offering pain as empathy. Instead of building a fence around his grief, Amy's dad chose to build a bridge to others suffering by gifting a handmade waterproof wooden box for their loved ones to hold letters. "We exist to give others tangible ways to show up, do something that will provide hope and stir courage for those hurting." Amy and John share stories of how an unexpected encounter with a sign triggered a chain of hope. Moments of sovereignty: facilitating moments where others see hope and take it for themselves. Learn more about Signs of Hope at dontgiveupsigns.com. Get a copy of Amy Wolff's book Signs of Hope here. AMY WOLFF'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read? A. New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton. "What you think of God is more a reflection of who you are than who he is." Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A. Playfulness. 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. Jeremy carved a heart and my name into a slab of wood. 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. My brother Jeremy but equally, as a person of faith, God to ask him, "are we doing this right?" Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A. After feeling compelled to get outside of my echo chamber and get with people who are different, God told me, "I need you to hate your sin more than anyone else's." Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? A. You're doing it. Keep doing it. 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. She loved people really well. *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010. *** 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.

As winter surrenders to spring and the number of those vaccinated soar, our office has been receiving far more requests for both live and virtual presentations including several as their commencement speaker. With less than ten minutes to speak with graduates who are turning the page on an important chapter of their lives, stepping into a post-pandemic world, and likely dealing with significant anxiety around what their life will be like next... what do I say? Today, I share the one sentence that reminds all of us, including today's graduates, where to find real success, recognizing what really matters, and embracing the awesome gift that this life is. *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010.

Research suggests that our experiences in childhood will have a profound impact on the overall wellbeing + trajectory of our life. Never acknowledged by his father and abandoned by his mother at three years old, Steve Pemberton spent his childhood being shuffled through the foster care system where he was abused, neglected and forgotten. Yet small gestures of kindness from ordinary people helped Steve forge a new path that that led to personal and professional success. Today, Steve is a husband, father, bestselling author of A Chance in the World and a trail-blazing executive championing workplaces where employees feel recognized, respected, and appreciated for who they are and what they do. This conversation is a reminder that we’re all able to impact others simply by being a beacon of hope. SHOW NOTES: “Comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.” As Chief Human Resources Officer for Workhuman, Steve champions leaders worldwide to build workplaces where every employee feels recognized, respected, and appreciated for who they are and what they do. Never acknowledged by his father, three-year-old Steve was placed in foster care while his mother was losing her battle with alcoholism. Dual battle: While fending off a terribly abusive family for 11 years, Steve was attempting to solve the mystery of his identity. Reading was Steve’s sanctuary, allowing him into a great student and providing a vision of a world outside of the world he was currently suffering in. The Lighthouse Effect: Ordinary people in young Steve’s life provided hope + encouragement including a construction crew that reminded him he was not a boy of circumstances but of possibility. Struggling to find permanent foster placement, high school counselor John Sykes took in Steve, changing the arc of his life. Despite numerous social collisions, Boston College provided Steve with a sense of belonging and security. On a mission to find his identity, Steve meets his late mother’s + late father’s families, providing insight to inform his life moving forward. “Be careful about the labels you assign to people and the judgements that you make.” “If the most important thing I think I can know about you is your label, I miss this deeper, richer narrative.” “We are a society of correction. That correction requires us to take stance to understand we’re not enemies.” Coming full circle: Hoping to surprise a fifth-grade fan, Steve reconnected with his second-grade teacher who was now the principal of the school. Not for themselves to enjoy, but for the benefit of future generations. A Greek proverb reads, “A society grows great when the elders plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Directed toward eight- to 12-year-old, Steve Pemberton’s young readers adaptation of A Chance in the World with sensitivity, honesty + hope. Get a copy here. Get Steve Pemberton’s bestselling book A Chance in the World here. Pre-order Steve Pemberton’s book The Lighthouse Effect, available Fall 2021, here. STEVE PEMBERTON'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read? A. Watership Down by Richard Adams and Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A. My sense of wonder was my armor. 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. A 1970 interview of my father, Kenny Pemberton, the only video I have of him. 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. My mother. Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A. John Sykes would encourage me to be a man of good character and Ruby of the Upward Bound program said, "you can be 100% correct in what you're saying and 100% incorrect in the way that you are saying it." Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? A. I wouldn't offer advice but affirmation. A lot of your instincts about family, new beginnings, hope and dreams is 1000% correct 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. From poet Edith Hamilton: He was, first and last, the born fighter, to whom the consciousness of being matched against a great adversary suffices and who can dispense with success. Life for him was an adventure, perilous indeed, but men are not made for safe havens. The fullness of life is in the hazards of life. And, at the worst, there is that in us which can turn defeat into victory. *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010. *** 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. ***

It’s easy to not respond... to remain passive, indifferent, busy.   But as I was reminded last week, the most effective, transformational and life-giving leaders are the ones who respond and pay attention. They are the ones who step up and step forward. And, they aren’t always the individuals you thought they’d be.

In April 1994, nine-year-old Jeanne Celestine Lakin's parents and nearly all of her adult relatives were some of the one million people killed during the Rwandan government’s ethnic massacre. For 100 days, Jeanne and her three-year-old twin sisters hid in bushes to stay safe. Heartbreaking and unimaginable, Jeanne shares her harrowing story of survival, courage and strength. Jeanne reminds us that we all have the power to choose forgiveness, leave a legacy of peace and move forward. SHOW NOTES: "For nine years, my parents gave me the love to carry me to this day." In addition to having a large immediate + extended family, Jeanne felt closeness with many other families in her village. because of how welcoming her parents were. Power shift in the 1960s: While being colonized, Rwanda was divided into ethic groups with the largest being the Hutus (85%), frequently accompanied by Twa (1%) and the former ruling class of Tutsis (13-15%). April 7, 1994: The Rwandan government seals the border, preventing any Tutsis from escaping, and in the following 100 days, over one million people would be killed.  Anticipating they'd only have to flee for a few days, Jeanne's dad divides the children into groups of three. Jeanne, first seeking refuge with her aunt before being kicked out into the wilderness, was responsible for her twin three-year-old sisters. In the midst of Rwanda's rainy season + hearing voices of those being slaughtered, Jeanne relied on prayer and faith to cope with the chaos. Filled with raging pain + defeat after watching her dad get murdered, Jeanne would pray, "let them be blind and not see me." "Life will continue to happen. It's not necessarily what happens to us, it's what we do with what happens." After giving her family a proper burial, Jeanne's pregnant mother was preparing the flee the country prior to April 7. Just weeks later, Jeanne's uncle shared that her mother and three-week-old brother was murdered. "I'll be with you." At a refuge camp lined up to be murdered, a woman claims Jeanne as her child, miraculously sparing her life.  Unanswered questions: Propaganda fueled hatred towards Tutsis yet Jeanne chooses to leave a legacy of peace, honor those lost and express her feelings about her life experiences. “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.” - Nelson Mandela Who do you have to forgive? Forgiving someone that harmed us isn't letting them off the hook but rather giving yourself the best gift. Learn more about Jeanne Celestine Lakin's non-profit One Million Orphans here. JEANNE CELESTINE LAKIN'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Gift by Dr. Edith Eva Eger. 2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Extreme mental flexibility.  3. 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? Photo albums of my husband as a child. 4. 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? The sweet woman that saved my life. 5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My dad would say, "envision what you want to be in the world." 6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Love yourself because when you love yourself you can go out and love others. 7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  I survived and I'm leaving an impact on the world.  *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010. *** 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.

As a child, I never understood why Jack Buck was so generous. Even after his death, I couldn’t comprehend why he did so much, so selflessly for some random little boy. Years later, his son Joe shared the reason... In a world where many look for evidence of things that divide, diminish, cause pain or excuse poor behavior, let’s seek to be the ones who unify, elevate, reflect hope and take positive action. The very act of showing up, sharing love, being kindness and offering encouragement will in fact change the world one life at a time. Want to see the heartwarming videos of Deyvion? Text VIDEO to 314-207-5010. *** Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In the span of a few weeks, Nora McInerny experienced three unimaginable losses: a miscarriage, the death of her father and the death of her husband. Yet in the wake of loss, Nora, host of the popular podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking and author of bestselling books No Happy Endings and The Young Hot Widows Club reminds us that we get to assemble something new from what is left behind. Today, Nora shares about the painful experiences we inevitably face, how to cope with the emotional aftermath and the important balance between finding happiness and holding space for the unhappy experiences that have shaped us. In a year riddled with painful losses, political divisiveness, social isolation, and so much more... This conversation is a reminder that life will have incomprehensible tragedy... And yet, the foundation is firm and the best of our days remain ahead.  SHOW NOTES: Fall 2014: October 3: Nora loses her pregnancy. October 8: Nora's father loses his battle with cancer. November 25: Aaron loses his battle with brain cancer. While Nora wishes she had more video of Aaron, she's thankful they wrote his obituary + planned his funeral together. Read Aaron's viral obituary here. "Your job when talking to someone suffering is not to fix it. Acknowledge what is and let them know you're thinking of them." Showing up for others: Do what you can do + what you will do competently, consistently and humbly.  Nora on hearing others share memories of Aaron: "The most beautiful part is realizing how many part of your person live within others." “Even if you’re surrounded by people you love, figuring out grief is a solo project.” “Ernest Hemingway wrote “the world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are stronger in the broken places.”  Listen to Nora McInerny's Terrible, Thanks for Asking here. Get Nora McInerny's books No Happy Endings, It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too) and The Young Hot Widows Club. NORA MCINERNY'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 Q. What is the best book you’ve ever read? A. Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl. Q. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? A. Bizarre 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. Portrait of my dad that my grandfather painted. 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. Aaron for guidance and validation. Q. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A. Aaron would say “Who cares?” and a teacher at school would say, “What other people say of you is none of your business.” Q. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? A. All of your worry is a waste of time because things will be better than you can ever imagine, harder than you can ever imagine and you’re not in control of any of it. Also, spend more time with getting to know yourself because having a firmer sense of who you are is the key to everything. 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. Well, she tried. *** Join our Live Inspired Together community, text PODCAST2021 to 314-207-5010. *** 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.