Listening to the radio a couple weeks ago, I came across an interview discussing the 25 recordings the US Library of Congress had selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry this year. Among this list were some familiar sounds like Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville,” Mariah Carey’s omnipresent “All I Want for Christmas is You,” John Lennon’s “Imagine” and the theme song for the Super Mario Brothers Game- which immediately took me back to many Saturday mornings trying to save Princess Peach and collect as many gold coins as possible.

But there was one recording that I was especially excited to hear had been selected. It’s the recording of “Pale Blue Dot” by Carl Sagan. You see, the photo of the Pale Blue Dot hangs in my office. And I believe it is the single most important photograph taken in the history of the world. Let me explain.

It's been 24 years since the unimaginable tragedy that took place at Columbine High School in Colorado — one of the deadliest mass shootings at a high school in U.S. history. Thirteen people were killed and 21 were wounded at the hands of two students.

Craig Scott is a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting. He was in the library, where ten students were killed, including two of his friends that had hidden next to him under a table. Craig escaped only to learn his sister, Rachel Joy Scott, was the first person killed.

For more than 20 years, Craig has dedicated his life to making a difference in schools. In speaking with more than a million people, Craig has positively impacted school cultures by sharing lessons learned from Columbine and challenging students to value themselves and others.

Today, Craig joins us to recall details of that terrifying day, his journey of healing and what we can do as a community to prevent another tragedy like Columbine from happening again.

One of my favorite poems is titled The Bridge Builder and was written by Will Allen Dromgoole. This poem challenges us to realize we can make a mighty difference regardless of our age. It prompts us to look for opportunities to empower others to achieve greatness in their lives.

And it reminds us that, despite mighty needs in the world today- and there are many- the time has never been better to knock down walls that separate in order to build up bridges that unite.

Today, let’s pause and give thanks to those who came, who risked, who built and who invested in us. We certainly could not have “crossed the chasm vast and deep and wide” without them.

My friends, yesterday we celebrated Easter. In the ultimate revelation of love, we rejoiced in the stunning victory over death. And it reminded me of all I had learned by attending three funerals a couple of weeks ago.

At the first funeral, I was reminded to live in such a way that I can die with no regrets. At the second, to endure the unfathomable heartache of loss with honesty, with patience, and with a heart opened to blessings in the midst of the storm. And at the third, that even in the midst of divisive times or at the end a long, successful life, that phone calls reminding others of their value matter to them. And speak volumes about the individuals choosing love.

Craig Groeschel is a senior pastor of Life.Church, one of the largest churches in the world and the creator of the free YouVersion Bible App. As a New York Times bestselling author, Craig writes on a wide variety of topics, including dating and marriage, social media, purpose, direction, church leadership, and more.

Today, Craig shares his unlikely journey to discovering his faith, how he remains hopeful in seasons of challenge and how to defy your thinking and change the course of your life for the better, revealing the strategies he’s found that help.

Plus, from his just released book, Winning the War in Your Mind for Teens, Craig shares how we can better support our children and young adults by helping them find freedom from the thoughts holding them back.

My friends, if you or someone you love is seeking to break free from the grip of harmful, destructive thinking, this conversation is for you.

"Dad, you're so lucky."

I heard these words while preparing for a business trip. Recognizing the truth within them transformed the way I saw myself that day. Embracing the truth within them will elevate the way you view yourself today. Let me explain.

Rob Angel turned a simple idea and an outrageous dream into a cultural phenomenon.

As a twenty-something year old waiting tables, Rob began his adventure in creating the remarkably successful and beloved board game Pictionary. Beating industry giants Milton Bradley and Mattel at their own game, Rob led Pictionary to selling a staggering 38 million (!!!) games in more than 60 countries.

Today, Rob shares how his intuition, passion and persistence led to creating the legendary game and how unconventional tactics led to unexpected success.

Yet, my friends, this conversation is about so much more than Pictionary being one of the bestselling board games of all time. It’s a roadmap to finding success on your own terms, the power of taking the first small step and embracing the challenges that lie ahead.

Growing up, my dream was clear. With absolute confidence, I not only knew that I’d play professional baseball, but that I’d play for my hometown St. Louis Cardinals. It was a certainty.

Until that dream, and the inevitability of obtaining it, was extinguished upon my waking up from one of more than a dozen surgeries after being burned at age nine. With great sadness, my dad shared that during the surgery the doctors were forced to amputate my fingers in order to save my life.

As we journey professionally and personally, we will never understand the miracle of life fully.

Until we allow the unexpected to happen.

rowing up on the east side of Detroit next to a drug house, Martinus Evans had to fight his entire life. In his early 20s when he was faced with the choice “lose weight or die”, Martinus vowed to run a marathon (without realizing a marathon is over 26 miles!). Since then, Martinus has run eight marathons and hundreds of other races in his 300-something pound body,  been featured in Men’s Health and Runner’s World and created his own devoted community for those who feel intimidated about running.

Today’s conversation is more than taking the next right step in believing in yourself. Join us on a journey of courage, determination, endurance and what it means to love ourselves unconditionally.

And my friends, as we celebrate Martinus’ accomplishments, you’ll gain encouragement for what you can do in your own life.

Today, I share when I missed the entire show.

"If he were a horse, I'd shoot him."

I’ll never forget the sting of hearing those words spoken about me by a physician who didn't see the hope and possibility in a 10-year-old boy hoping to regain the use of his hands.

Weeks later, I found a very different, kind-heart, visionary physician: Dr. Carlos Pappalardo. One who looked into my heart when he spoke with me, treated me as a person, and masterfully blessed me with the ability to again use my hands.

Earlier this week I learned that Dr. Carlos Pappalardo passed away at the age of 93. Today, I want to share four specific encounters with this man, how they each had a profound impact on my life and how we all can learn to live a meaningful, significant, servant-oriented, faithful and generous life.

My friend, we all go through dark times. The good news is that your life matters, the foundation remains firm, better days are ahead and you are not alone. These aren’t platitudes, but transformational truth.

You see, light is awesome. It shows us the way. It provides clarity.

And yet, it is in enduring the darkness that permits us to actually see the stars and more fully appreciate the light.

After a chaotic childhood, Tara Schuster hustled to appear glamorous, successful and well-adjusted on paper by earning an Ivy League education and securing the role of Vice President at Comedy Central. In her first bestselling book Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies, Tara recounts her years-long journey of re-parenting herself through simple daily rituals.

When Tara lost her job, the one on which she had staked her entire adult identity, she found her harshest childhood traumas resurfacing as she battled severe depression amidst the isolating pandemic.

Today, Tara shares her journey to reclaiming her agency by healing her deepest wounds and how you too can shine even in bleak circumstances.

With actionable advice for taking charge of your emotional health, this conversation with help you find true resilience.

After an uncompromisingly courageous 18-year-long battle against ALS, one of the most resilient, impactful and joyful individuals I’ve ever met died last week.

The lessons Augie Nieto taught before dying, though, should be learned and applied by the rest of us as we determine to start more fully living. And while he died last week, he taught those he encountered what real courage, real success and real life looked like in action.

With a love for extreme sports and adventure, Mike spent his childhood taking on any sport that would push his personal limits. After finding his passion in freestyle skiing, Mike began performing professionally at international levels.

After numerous injuries, Mike was forced to shift his plan and began coaching the British Columbia Freestyle Ski Team which allowed him to continue skiing the best competition venues imaginable.

During a seemingly normal practice, though, life as Mike knew it changed in an instant. While demonstrating stunts to his athletes, he suffered a ‘scorpion-like’ crash, dislocating and breaking his neck and leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.

Determined to not only walk again, but to ski, Mike set down a new path riddled with hardship and seemingly insurmountable challenges.

My friends, today’s conversation reminds us that others cannot define your possibilities and even when things don’t go to plan, we can still achieve great things.

My friends, productivity and focus have an important place in all our lives.

But this week, and during this season of reflecting, slow down long enough to take inventory on what actually matters the most. And then be audacious enough to take the time to do exactly that.

Because your time is limited, don’t waste it. Just make sure you’re busy living a life that truly matters.

We’re all familiar with the saying “it takes a village”—meaning that for children to grow in a safe and healthy environment, they need to feel supported by an entire community.

Yet when the global lockdowns heightened feelings of loneliness and isolation, Florence Ann Romano had a realization: our villages take us well beyond our childhoods. In fact, it’s been found that those with a strong community and support system are living longer than those without.

Today, Florence Ann guides us through how to build lasting and meaningful connections that define the grounding foundation in your village.

You’ll leave this conversation inspired to build your village, let love in, and gain the courage to ask for help.

What is the first thing you look for in the morning?

Reaching to hit snooze on an alarm likely ranks high on your list. Perhaps followed by reaching for that cell phone, grasping for those glasses, grabbing that robe, and stumbling into the kitchen for a coffee filter. All worthwhile things to seek in the morning.

Two weeks ago, though, I met a woman who reminded me not only of the importance of seeking what truly matters most, but also the power of sharing it with others.

Today’s guest has arguably become the most famous Olympian to ever finish last in an Olympic race. 

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Derek Redmond was amongst the favorites in the 400m semi-final. As he passed the 250m mark, the unthinkable happened: he tore his hamstring. Grabbing his leg and hobbling forward, Derek ultimately fell onto the track in agony.

Determined to finish the race, he began to stumble towards the finish line, but not without the help of his father. Jim Redmond jumped over the stadium railing, dodged Olympic security, and raced to his son’s aid. With a crowd of 65,000-strong, this race became synonymous with one of the most inspirational moments in sports.

Join us as Derek details that tumultuous journey that led to the iconic moment at the 1992 Olympics as well as the lessons he’s learned in perseverance, teamwork and self-belief. 

This conversation will leave you inspired you to never give up and to finish strong.

Although marketers have simplified Valentine’s Day by focusing solely on romantic love, the day could be so much more. What if it wasn’t just couples celebrating their love with a box of chocolates, wrapped flowers, or dinner dates, but a day that animated real, unconditional love in every relationship in our life?

My friends, for a moment put the paper down and imagine people holding doors for one another, looking others in the eye, greeting everyone with genuine smiles, putting others’ needs ahead of their own.

Have you ever unconsciously hurt someone's feelings by the words you chose? Whether managing diverse teams at work, navigating issues of inclusion at school or challenging biased comments at a family function, having constructive diversity and inclusion conversations is important.

David Glasgow is the Executive Director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging and an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law. As a practical, shame-free guide, David shares the skills to avoid common conversational pitfalls, disagree respectfully, apologize authentically and better support others.

My friends, today’s conversation will help you listen to the perspective of others more generously and share your perspective more tentatively.

In our society today, it seems as if every topic immediately polarizes, fragments us and quickly leads to rigidly drawn lines between two opposing sides. Those on our perceived side are right, they’re our allies, the good guys.

And those on the other side?

They’re just wrong. They are to be pitied for their unawareness, canceled for their ignorance or attacked for their stupidity.

So, what will be the result of this elevating anger? What happens as our media complicity sows seeds of outrage each day and our political leaders jam a larger wedge into society?

What are the consequences if we choose to continue down the hostile, divisive path we’re on?

Adversity is much more common than we think. And yet, so is resilience, strength and tenacity.

Dr. Meg Jay is a clinical psychologist and author of The Defining Decade and Superhuman. Specializing in adult development and in twentysomethings in particular, Meg joins us to explain our ability to overcome adversity, the power of being a support for others, and the courage to rise up above one’s circumstances.

Whether you’re entering your 20s or the backside of your 70s, this conversation will empower you to face life’s uncertainties and its complex challenges.

There is a significant gap between living from a place where we feel obligated to perform and living with a mindset that views service as an opportunity. I was reminded of this several years ago through the simple action and words of my wife. And with last week being her birthday, I wanted to share her awesome example with you this week.

It’s not uncommon for famous athletes to visit children in hospitals. Sometimes these visits are well publicized but many times it’s done quietly. Undoubtedly, it has a profound impact on the young patients and their families by providing joy, hope and positivity.

As a young St. Louis Blues player, Gino Cavallini would repeatedly show up for the five months I was in the hospital, always smiling and bursting with encouragement. Sometimes he’d come with signed hockey tickets or seven-foot-tall stuffed bunny, and other times with pizza, soda, beer and his fellow Blues teammates. Regardless, every time this typical, Canadian tough-guy would brighten the dark, lonely days of my hospital stay.

Today, it’s an honor to welcome on my friend and hero Gino Cavallini. Join me as we celebrate his story of humble beginnings to playing nine NHL seasons, why he decided to repeatedly visit a 9-year-old boy with burns on 100% of his body, and how he continues to make his career and life about something bigger than himself.

My friends, this conversation will leave you asking yourself, “what more can I do?”

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Confucius

Did you finish strong?

Whether we view this question through the lens of how we conclude each of our days or how we cross the finish line at the end of our lives, finishing strong should be something for which we all strive. And one of the greatest examples I know of what it looks like to finish strong is British runner Derek Redmond.

Let me explain...

After decades of teamwork and the highest levels of accountability as an F-15 and F-22 fighter pilot, Weapons School Instructor and Squadron Commander Robert “Cujo” Teschner concluded that every team can become what he personally experienced and lived on the front-line.

Today, Cujo joins us to share about his current mission: helping organizations build teams that win amid disruption.”

He’ll share stories from his time as a F-15 “Eagle” instructor at the prestigious U.S. Air Force Weapons School (think Tom Cruise in “Top Gun”), but more importantly, he’ll share how teams- whether that’s the hockey team on the ice, the sales division at work or the family unit at home- can build trust and achieve performance even when plans fall apart.

My friends, if you’re looking for guidance on how to be a better parent, partner, coworker or friend, this conversation will show you how accountable leadership can help.

What’s your date?

You know, the date when the phone rang, a friend moved, a partner walked out, the unexpected and unwanted became the new reality? What’s the date when the life you planned dramatically and painfully changed forever?

We all have one. What’s yours?

One such date for me is January 17, 1987. Let me explain...

There are numerous health and wellbeing challenges associated with isolation, cynicism, burnout, negativity, and divisiveness. And yet there is one surprising solution to circumvent each of the challenges: FUN.

• Having more fun improves your relationships, both at work and in life
• Fun makes us smarter
• Fun reduces stress
• Finding more fun in physical activity balances your hormone levels
• Fun can make you more energetic and youthful
• Fun elevates our culture, retention, impact, and profitability professionally

Dr. Mike Rucker reminds us that fun is a resource available to each of us almost any time, yet most of us are not having nearly enough of it.

As an organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist, Mike has critically evaluated modern approaches to happiness and has developed science-backed and actionable tips that reinforce the importance of seeking fun, rather than happiness, in our daily lives.

Today, Mike shares how intentionally increasing your joyful moments can improve your health, relationships, and productivity, while also providing specific guidance to help you make the most of your time and create more space for having fun.

Whether you’re a frustrated high-achiever trying to find a better work-life balance or someone who is seeking relief from life’s overwhelming challenges, this conversation is for you.

My friends, despite the dissension technology may cause and the distraction it so often becomes, it can also be the source of profound beauty, wonderful connection and unyielding hope. I was reminded of this truth over the holidays as I spent time with my friend, Greg.

After Greg miraculously survived a head-on collision, he lost his ability to see. Join me today as I share Greg's story and how a free, crowd-sourced app for the visually impaired called Be My Eyes is changing his world.

Laura Calder is perhaps best known for her James Beard Award-winning television series, French Food at Home.

As a passionate home cook, homemaker and hostess, Laura is an enthusiast of all things art de vivre, or the French idea of getting the most out of everyday life by putting care into everything we do.

Whether it’s setting a lovely table, putting a bit of extra effort into making a sandwich, or just walking a little taller in the street, there are moments every single day that we can seize upon to elevate life.

Today, Laura reveals how cooking, feeding, and home-keeping can magically restore balance and calm in our out-of-sync lives.

And yet, my friends, today’s conversation is far more than hosting your next meaningful dinner party… it’s about how to live each day with a desire and determination to turn the ordinary into something lovely.

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities..” -Terry Josephson

Late Saturday night, many of us watched as the clock ticked toward midnight. We waved goodbye to 2022, hoped for a better New Year and even made resolutions to ensure it would be even better than the last. And although only 24-hours into the New Year, many of those resolutions have already been broken!

Well, a conversation years ago in a café reminded me not only of our ability to excuse away opportunities, but of the chance we still possess to learn from yesterday, embrace the miracle of today and resolve to make tomorrow even better.

In the depths of the uncharted Amazon rainforest, Yossi Ghinsberg was tested to the extreme. After losing his three companions, and without food, fire, a weapon and bare to the bone, Yossi battled to survive for three harrowing weeks.

As the inspiration for the movie Jungle starring Daniel Radcliffe, Yossi describes himself as a philosopher of life and believes that nothing promotes growth more than an unexpected experience and unconventional thinking.

As Yossi shares his spectacular lessons of survival, you’ll find yourself inspired to expand your horizons, adapt to changing circumstance and rediscover your inner strength.

My friends, while Yossi is joining us from his home in Israel, you’ll leave this conversation feeling profoundly connected to his story, mesmerized by his attitude and with a refreshed perspective that in spite of the headwinds, the best of our days remain ahead.

As we head toward the end of December and put a bow not only on Christmas presents, but on 2022, it’s wise to be a bit reflective about the year we’re concluding to ready us for the one we’re about to begin.

And although there are many ways to summarize a year, we wanted to share a few numbers that mattered most to us as we conclude 2022.

And to thank you for being part of it.

Dr. Jennifer Arnold proudly holds many titles including wife, mom, neonatologist, reality television star and cancer survivor, yet at her core she’s just trying to live her best life while doing as much good as she can.

For 14 seasons, Jennifer, alongside her beloved husband Bill, starred on TLC’s hit docu-drama The Little Couple where they courageously shared their journey to starting a family and the daily challenges they faced.

Today, Jennifer shares how she’s overcome several of life’s challenges including how dozens of childhood surgeries related to her rare type of dwarfism inspired her to become a doctor, how she faced a devastating Stage 3 cancer diagnosis after the adoption of her second child and so much more.

My friends, this conversation is one of hope and reminds each of us that when life gets difficult, lessons become clearer, and the meaning shines through.

John O'Leary recommends a Christmas gift that all are sure to love on this Monday Moment segment.

At a packed Great Clips last week, I was reminded that sometimes it’s the seemingly insignificant conversations and simple questions that remind us to recognize what matters most.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is coming to a close! Of the 80 teams that qualified for the sport's biggest event, the final two teams, Argentina and France, will face off this Sunday in Qatar with billions of viewers tuning in.

And while my home country of USA was knocked out earlier this month, today’s guest recognizes what an accomplishment it was to compete on the world’s stage.

Travis Thomas is U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team's Leadership and Team Dynamics Coach where he helps strengthen mental and leadership skills for each player, as well as oversee the culture that head coach Gregg Berhalter wants to maintain.

Travis is no stranger to the Live Inspired community. When Travis first joined us on the podcast in March 2017, he shared how improvisation has shaped his life and how the three words “Live Yes And!” has helped others find their path to living with greater purpose and authenticity.

Today, Travis shares what seemingly insignificant step led him to working with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team for the past three years, and how he builds team camaraderie while also focusing on each of the players individually.

My friends, in whatever match you’re faced with in life, this conversation will leave you inspired to be victorious.

“Le marchand de la mort est mort”

And with these printed words, the life of not only one man who read them profoundly changed, but so did the entire world. Let me explain what happened and why it matters to you.

In March 2020, as state of emergencies were issued, stay-at-home orders were mandated and the doors to schools, offices and businesses were shuttered, the fear of what was to come was undeniable.

And yet, our essential healthcare workers courageously risked their own lives to fight for the lives of their patients… all while being woefully unprepared in terms of sufficient PPE, ventilators or ICU beds.

Today, we're joined by Dr. Calvin Sun, an emergency room physician who has tirelessly worked in seven emergency rooms in New York City since the early days of the global pandemic.

In addition to sharing how finding his life’s purpose lead him to his work in New York ERs, Calvin will share about his journey growing up as a young Asian American in New York, the grief he experienced after losing his father as a teen, and the lessons he learned from traveling to more than 190 countries in ten years.

My friends, this conversation will help us reframe moments of anxiety, tragedy or uncertainty into possibility, hope and reason to believe that the best of our days truly remain ahead.

“What was the most important thing anybody ever did for you?”

I was asked this question by a 15-year-old student at Desert Christian School in Tucson, AZ last month. For the past hour, they had heard a story about profound challenge and tragedy as well as overwhelming grace and love. They had heard a story of repeated failures and continual overcoming. They had heard the story, ultimately, of individuals faithfully showing up when I desperately needed encouragement, what these people did, the impact they made and what it means for the rest of us today.

So, what was the most important thing anybody ever did for me? Tune in now.

Did you know that in the United States, one in every four women, one in three teenagers and one in seven men will be abused in their lifetime?

Growing up on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad, Lovern Gordon watched her father brutally abuse her mother and four siblings. After migrating to the United States as a young adult, Lovern never expected to find herself in her own abusive relationship.

Today, Lovern has risen from the ashes of these two severe domestic violence situations and is helping others thrive after leaving toxic situations through her Love Life Now Foundation.

With strength, positivity, and perseverance, Lovern joins us to share her journey and offers the tools to become part of the solution by providing resources to victims and survivors.

Whether you’re a survivor of trauma or want to support those in need, this conversation is for you.

Have you ever had a hangover?

Stayed out a little too late. Had one too many drinks. Come on, we’ve all been there!

But the kind of hangover I’m referring to isn’t the kind that a glass of water and a few Tylenol can cure. No, I’m referring to the holiday hangover.

Tune in to hear the sage advice to ensure we get the most out of this holiday season.

I consider Thanksgiving one of my favorite family holidays. It’s certainly a wonderful time away from work, enjoying good food, viewing football, and taking inventory of the many blessings in life.

Join me as I share the original reason for this holiday + a new tradition I’ll be implementing at my family feast. Today’s episode will ignite an abundance of gratitude and help you celebrate Thanksgiving on fire.

Spending several decades as a hospice doctor, Dr. Ira Byock learned much about the process of death. Perhaps surprisingly, though, spending years among the dying taught him even more about living.

But here’s the good news, my friends: We do not have to wait until our own final days are upon us or until we are at the bedside of someone we care about to live out these end of life lessons. He’s distilled years of experience into four short but mighty statements that allow us all to be liberated from the burden of regret.

Susan Rogers is one of the most successful female record producers of all-time. Yet her journey to working with Prince during his iconic Purple Rain-era and other award-winning musical artists including the Barenaked Ladies and Rusted Root wasn’t always clearly laid out.

Today, Susan shares how her enthusiasm opened the first doors for her career in music and how she was able to make her mark in a male-dominated industry. Plus, having studied music cognition and psychoacoustics and earning her doctorate in psychology, you’ll learn insights about how and why our brains decipher music.

If you’re looking to deepen your connection to your favorite artists and change the way you listen to music, this conversation is for you.

Surrounded by so much divisiveness, anger and cynicism, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with despair and to focus on the negative. It’s common to lose hope in humanity and believe things have never been so bad. Yet in the midst of a recent tragedy that rocked my hometown, it’s important to not only share the calamity that occurred, but the heroes who leapt into action ensuring it wouldn’t be far worse.

In witnessing the selfless love within this tragedy, perhaps we can choose to model it in our ordinary lives, too.

Even though pregnancy and infant loss are common, society often shrouds them in secrecy and sometimes even shame—starving grieving women and their partners of much-needed support. Women may leave the hospital feeling like strangers in their own bodies, facing postpartum life without a baby in their arms. And like many faced with grief, the well-intentioned but hurtful comments from loved ones may make them feel lonelier than ever.

Today, we’re joined by Rachel Lewis, the friend bereaved mothers never hoped to need. Gleaning from her five losses, Rachel founded the online community Brave Mamas, to share the practical tips on coping she wished she had.

With transparency and compassion, this conversation celebrates life’s profound blessings, unexpected struggles and the goodness that comes from healing.

If you or someone you love is experiencing the loss of a child or pregnancy, this conversation is for you.

With the constant pace of change, dramatic shifts societally and significant challenges we face both locally and globally, a perspective of navigating these difficult days thoughtfully is critically important. Few offer a better example of serving others, leading effectively and living well than my grandfather.

Grandpa was my hero growing up. Although he became a successful attorney, the lessons he learned growing up on a farm, enduring the Great Depression, and fighting for his country in World War II kept him humble, generous and shaped his worldview.

Today, as you scroll through social media or watch mainstream media, you’ll likely be repulsed to imagine that half your neighbors could feel differently about the issues you passionately support in tomorrow's midterm election. You’ll be stunned to imagine living in a country so different than you. You’ll be told by the channels you tune into that the very life of the country hangs in the balance.

But even if we adamantly disagree with how he voted, I think my stoic, wise and strongly opinionated grandfather points us not only to a different, more idyllic time, but to a future we must choose together. His example is of a time when opinions were held so firmly that we actually had the fortitude to visit with, live with and even love those who held opinions different than ours.

My friends, I encourage you to deeply care about issues, to have strongly held and well-informed opinions and to vote in elections. But I also encourage you to turn off the news channels, stop the scrolling, and get back to living together.

It served the greatest generation well. It will serve this next greatest generation, too.

Duane Lee Chapman, more commonly known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, spent most of the first 23 years of his life on the wrong side of the law. It wasn’t until he was serving an 18-month prison sentence for a murder he didn’t commit that he recommitted to his faith and turned his life around.

Considered by many to be the world’s greatest bounty hunter, Dog became famous for capturing fugitives on his iconic and top-rated television show Dog the Bounty Hunter. 

Today, Dog shares how he turned his life around and went from ex-con to American icon before joining forces with his wife Francie. Francie shares how, through the DOG Foundation, they’re providing housing, counseling, training and intervention services to victims of sex trafficking.

From troubled beginnings and tragedy to triumph and transformation, you’re going to love this conversation.

I love Halloween. And I love getting dressed up for it. But for many of us, masking our true selves isn’t reserved for once a year. For many, it’s Halloween all the time.

We wear masks in seeking approval from others.

We may mold our words, our opinions and even our appearance to fit whatever room we’re in. And in trying to fit in, we may go along with things we disagree with and pretend to be who we’re not.

Removing the mask of inauthenticity, however, liberates us to fully embrace who we are, whose we are, why we’re here, and what matters most.

We all have moments of trauma, abuse, childhood wounds, or toxic relationships that have broken us. And yet, our past brokenness doesn’t have to stand in the way of a life of filled with hope, joy and peace.

In sharing her own journey of processing brokenness, Toni Collier reminds each of us of the bright light that stands on the other side of healing from shame and suffering.  

As a speaker, author and leader of Broken Crayons Still Color ministry, Toni wants others to not only face our demons, but to quash the illusion of our brokenness and live the most colorful life possible.

Today’s conversation will reinspire the belief that you can be broken and worthy.

If you needed a motto to tell the world what matters most to you, what would it say? If a single tattoo could articulate what guides your life, how would it read? After returning safely from his first tour in Iraq, Cpl. Todd Nicely pondered these questions and then engraved a permanent reminder of lessons he had learned: Your choices change lives.

My friends, these words are a good reminder for a Marine preparing for a second tour of duty, an overwhelming injury, an agonizing recovery, and an ultimately redemptive life story. It’s also an important reminder for the rest of us as we step into the challenges and opportunities replete in each day.

Choose wisely.

Six months into his second deployment, Corporal Todd Nicely of the United States Marine Corps stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) during a routine security patrol. The squad leader is one of only two modern day veterans that have endured battlefield injuries resulting in the loss of all four limbs and survived. Immediately after enduring the horrific blast and suffering massive injuries, his first two thoughts were of others: getting back to his wife and not frightening the young Marines he was responsible for.

Today, Todd works to help and motivate other fellow disabled veterans through their life struggles and hardships.

My friends, this conversation is undeniably painful. Yet it’s also a story of redemption and finding purpose from a hero with a resilient spirit, infectious enthusiasm, positive outlook, and a strength of mind and character that is second to none.

Over the past two months, I’ve had the honor of speaking to healthcare leaders across different disciplines, employed by different hospital systems, located in different geographic regions and serving very different populations.

Studies show that more than one out of every five students will be bullied this year. Chances are this is happening to someone you know and care about. With October being National Bullying Prevention Month, today’s guest is a reminder that everyone’s actions matter and we all have a role to play in bullying prevention.

Tina Meier’s life changed on October 16, 2006 when her 13-year-old daughter Megan took her own life following a cruel cyberbullying hoax.

On a mission to support and inspire actions to end bullying, cyberbullying and suicide since Megan's death, Tina founded Megan Meier Foundation. By empowering our society to celebrate individuality and the acceptance of others, Tina believes we can work together to make a difference and create a safer and kinder world.

Today, Tina shares how she took her vengeance and turned it into a purposeful mission that’s making an impact.

Fear and love are the two great motivators. While fear suffocates, love liberates.

With which lens do you most frequently choose to see the world?

With so much negativity, violence and brokenness in the world, it’s common to grasp onto and utilize the perspective of fear to view the world. Fear of others. Fear of the unknown. Fear of tomorrow. Fear of life.

Today, I share one of my favorite quotes on the power of our perspective today determining what happens tomorrow was written by Pedro Arrupe.

When Adam Robarts was asked by a family member what he would choose to do for a career if he were not an architect. Without hesitation he replied: A hospice nurse.

It was just five years earlier that he had a profound experience accompanying his father through the final weeks of life before he died of cancer in Uganda.

And yet, Adam could not have imagined then that nine months after that conversation with his family, he would begin to accompany his 19-year-old son Haydn through a battle with a rare and aggressive brain cancer.

My friends, today Adam joins us to share how Haydn’s dignified response to his own suffering provides essential wisdom and hopeful possibilities for each of our lives.

This conversation will renew your mindset to live this precious life with purpose and clarity.

My friends, I don’t remember what hotel I stayed while in Las Vegas last week.

I don’t recall if I rented a car or took an Uber. I didn't have any interest in gaming or going out; I didn't have time for meals or shows. In other words, so much of my experience in Las Vegas is already a blur further validating the slogan that what happens there, stays there.

But I do remember Steve. Let me explain...

Does money buy happiness? According to Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton, yes… if you’re spending it right.

Named by Wired Magazine as one of '50 People Who Will Change the World', Michael has spent decades uncovering the fascinating human truths that influence our relationship with money, social norms and political correctness.

Today, Michael joins us to share how smarter spending can lead to happier, more fulfilling lives.

Using numerous real-life examples and three specific practices, this conversation reimagines how to buy happiness.

“What advice would you give yourself at age 20?”

It’s a question I’ve asked every single guest on the Live Inspired Podcast. And after 500 episodes, the answers always move me.

As the interviewer, I always learn something from the answer. But it wasn’t until the tables were turned and I was asked that question that I realized the true power of taking a moment to consider the answer in our own life. It forces us to take stock of both who we are today and revisit who we were.

It's been five years, 11 months and four days since the Live Inspired Podcast launched and 499 episodes later, I'm in awe that the Live Inspired movement has grown to hundreds of thousands of weekly listeners from all 50 states and more than 115 countries across the world.

It's been an honor to have you alongside me as I had some of the most life-giving and life-changing conversations with luminaries and thought-leaders including New York Times bestselling authors, Hall of Fame athletes, Grammy-winning recording artists, and literally a man who traveled to the moon TWICE!

When deciding how to celebrate this special occasion, my team and I had some pretty grandiose ideas yet nothing seemed as meaningful and full circle as handing the microphone over to the person who was there when it all got started.

Join me as Susan O'Leary, my mom and our very first guest, takes the reins to interview me with unexpected and hard-hitting questions, including for the first time ever -- the Live Inspired 7. 

Whether you're brand new or helped build the community from the ground up, this episode is for you. 

When you look at your life, what do see? When you read the headlines, what leaps off at you? While you visit with family, or work with colleagues or commute through life, what do you see?

What we seek, we find.

Choosing to see life like this doesn’t make challenges fade. It just ensures the next time you glance into a mirror, struggle in a relationship or feel discouraged by life you can honestly proclaim, “It may be red, it may be bumpy, it may be ridgy, it may be far from perfect…but I love it.”

And that kind of perspective not only changes what you see, but also what happens next in life.

The race to the Major League Baseball post-season is on… and it’s heating up as teams are looking for a path to victory.    The players you know are on the teams you love because of those 30 individuals sitting in the General Manager’s office.   Today, as my favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals make their push to the postseason, I’m joined by their Vice President and General Manager, Mike Girsch.

While visiting at Busch Stadium, Mike shares seldom-told stories about his journey from an Amateur Scouting Coordinator to one of the most coveted and elite jobs in professional sports. While today’s conversation may seemingly focus on baseball, it’s actually so much more. Hear Mike share how to…

• Courageously take risks in pursuit of a dream
• Manage a losing streak 
• Celebrate the relationships that matter most
• Trust the timing of life  

Mike is a dear friend, and while his team is closing in on another playoff birth, this conversation will remind all of us it’s never too late to pursue a dream.

How do you cope when things go wrong…even when we do everything right?

Today, learn about Ryan Jastrzembski, a vivacious, playful and joy-filled boy. Last week, on Friday, September 2, 2022, Ryan went home... Just not at all the home any of us had been praying for.

At 25 years old, Amy Florian tragically lost her husband, leaving her widowed with a seven-month-old baby. While surrounded by a multitude of others who were loving and well-intentioned, she felt isolated and alone. Determined to heal, Amy began her lifelong mission to help others recover from life’s crushing losses.

As a certified thanatologist and a leading expert on death, loss, grief, aging and transition, Amy’s practical and insightful work has been crucial in helping others navigate life’s toughest times.

Amy’s groundbreaking work on grief, including loss that others may not deem worthy of grief, will liberate you to heal, dare you to fully live and love fiercely. If you’ve ever been left to cope with death, the end of a relationship, loss or faced disappointment, today’s conversation is for you.

We don't know exactly where Rembrandt is buried. We do, however, have the masterpiece he produced at the end of his life as an example of the perfect acceptance and love still possible in our lives.

Jay Fantom is a persistent and passionate speaker, award-winning filmmaker and writer who strives to be the best, most authentic, honest, loving, kind, and excellent version of himself daily.

As the host of the chart-topping podcast The Story Box, Jay calls upon his own vulnerability to unbox the stories of world-class thought leaders.

Today, Jay shares how he learned to embrace the past with truth, courage, and sincerity and how he’s helping others find their worth.

This conversation will remind you just how valuable and precious life is and offer the encouragement to live it fully.

***

Cue the confetti! As we celebrate 500 Live Inspired Podcast episodes, we want to hear from YOU.

• What do you love?
• Who has been your favorite guest?
• What have you always wanted to know?
• Who do you want to see join in the next 500 episodes?

Plus, learn how you can earn a $100 gift card!  manage.com/track/click?u=106e425ed2424ce016e60a308&id=3101588866&e=d6a14b255e">Take the Short Survey Now.

“If you don’t change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” -Lao Tzu

What truly matters most?

As we race through life, it’s rare we pause long enough to honestly consider this question. A single conversation with a man I’d never met before – and would never see again – challenged me to not only ask the question, but attempt to live the answer.

Between a global pandemic, changes in financial markets, or entering new seasons of life, many of us are facing more anxiety for tomorrow than ever before.

This increased anxiety is elevated for the more than 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s Disease, their caregivers and their families.

Today, Larry and Rebecca Gifford, hosts of the acclaimed When Life Gives You Parkinson's podcast, share how they're navigating the disease, raising awareness and giving a voice to others facing similar challenges. Much like my parents, this married couple refuses to let a lifelong degenerative condition stifle their lives and instead uses it as an excuse to begin truly living.

If you or someone you love needs courage, hope and reason to believe that the best is yet to come, this conversation is for you.

For many, the start of school ushers in a welcome shift from summer.

It means reunion with friends, the return of routine and the familiar sights, sounds and smells of the school building. Yes, we may miss the freedom of summer, but it’s certainly a joy to be surrounded by others and in places we feel welcome, are encouraged to learn, and fit in with others.

For many this is a wonderful transition.

For many. But not for all.

We have a chance daily to make others feel welcomed and loved. We have an opportunity to remind them that they matter and that their life is a gift. It might, in fact, be the most important thing they learn this school year.

Recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of twenty speakers you shouldn't miss, Jeff Henderson is an expert at taking the next right step when life is uncertain.

After leaving his marketing position at Chick-fil-A to start a church and nonprofit, and leaving his non-profit in the midst of a global pandemic, Jeff recognizes that navigating what's next in life--whether in your career, personal life, or relationships--often brings a level of uncertainty and anxiety.

Today, Jeff shares the difference between success and excellence and outlines how to reduce the risk yet not be bounded by fear in a season of change.

If you or someone you love is facing uncertainty and not sure what to do next, this conversation is for you.

As schools prepare to open, it’s a great time to reflect on some highlights from summer before it fades.

For me, the list includes morning walks with Beth, a slower pace at work, evening swims with Grace, playing cards with my boys and family vacations to Michigan and Florida. One highlight, however, started as a bad experience, became even worse and through a new friend’s generosity was transformed into a highlight.

Jenna Kutcher is a born-and-raised Minnesota wife, mother, and entrepreneur who aims for two things daily: helping others wake up to life and staying in comfy pants.

Creator and host of the top-rated Goal Digger Podcast, she’s helped thousands redefine success and chase bold dreams through her decade-long work as a leading online personality and educator. And just a few weeks ago, Jenna’s debut book How Are You Really? became a New York Times bestseller.

Today, Jenna shares how she learned to value experiences over “things”, the ongoing journey of self-love and how she protects her most valuable asset: time.

If you’re looking to truly enjoy being alive and not merely suffering through it, this episode is for you.

Kyle Petty was born into racing royalty. As a third-generation driver and the only son of NASCAR’s winningest driver ever Richard Petty, Kyle spent decades competing at motorsports’ highest divisions earning a reputation as a classy competitor and one of the greatest philanthropists that NASCAR has ever known.

For more than 20 years, Kyle has hosted the annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America to raise more than $20 million for Victory Junction. Founded in honor of his son Adam, Victory Junction is a year-round camp that exists to enrich the lives of children, ages six to 16, with chronic and serious medical conditions.

Today, Kyle shares an insider's perspective on stock-car racing’s rise in popularity in American culture, how he weathered the untimely death of his son and how he uses his platform to provide life-changing and life-giving experiences for others.

Have you ever silenced an idea, worried it would be rejected or thought it wasn’t as good?

Have you ever sidelined an opportunity to speak up because you were worried you wouldn’t measure up to others?

Have you ever stifled an ‘I love you’ or an ‘I’m sorry’ because it was too late to matter to someone else?

Often, we think our own words, ideas and actions won’t make a difference. We listen to the voice of fear whispering we’re just one person, we’re too inexperienced, too insignificant. We clam up when it’s our turn to share. We play small instead of taking a risk. We stay quiet when our words could change everything.

And in doing so we fail to recognize that the contribution we see as insignificant is oftentimes life changing. Possibly even world changing.

Take a moment to inventory every commitment you’re making in your life. Of those commitments, what are you doing with actual generosity and what are you doing out of sheer obligation?

Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, global relationship and empowerment expert, and the author of the book Boundary Boss.

With actionable strategies, Terri empowers others to consciously take control of every aspect of their emotional, spiritual, physical, personal, and professional life.

Today’s conversation reminds each of us that we hold the ability the create more satisfaction, deeper relationships and a more joy-filled life.

If you or someone you love is exhausted from over-giving, overdoing, and even over-feeling, this episode is for you.

“There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.” – R.M. Hensel

John O'Leary reminds us why accepting help is not a sign of weakness on today's Monday Moments segment.

Kelvin Beachum is a 2-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. After being drafted in the seventh round in the 2012 NFL Draft, Kelvin will start his ninth NFL season with the Arizona Cardinals next month.

While he plays football professionally, it’s Kelvin’s passion and purpose that is making a positive impact both on and off the gridiron that I find most intriguing.

As the oldest of four siblings in rural Texas, Kelvin grew up in a family hovering around the national poverty level. Yet, with his parents’ guidance, he learned to share whatever excess they’d have with the community.

Today, you’ll hear a bit about his role as an offensive lineman and far more about his gratitude toward society and compassion towards others.

If you're looking to hear from a catalyst for positive change, this episode is for you.

When we give of our time, our talent or our treasure we feel amazing and the outcome contributes to the greater good. And yet, many times when faced with the opportunity to live generously, we hesitate to do so.

A conversation with a new friend last week about the levity that results from practicing radical generosity reminded me of a story about my son, Patrick. I first recounted the story in my book IN AWE. I hope this memory serves as a reminder that when it comes to generosity, the best results happen when we give our all.

Did you know that one single act of generosity ripples out to four degrees of separation?

Ami Campbell is the author of Love Let Go and champions generosity to help others rediscover their giving selves. She has led stewardship classes at LaSalle Street Church for over a dozen years.

Today, Ami shares how generosity frees us from the grip that fear and insecurity have on us.

You’ll leave this conversation ready to transform your community, live generously and to love and let go.

St. Francis of Assisi reminds us somewhat paradoxically that it is in giving that we receive. Therefore, for more meaningful victories, our focus must shift from how we can use our gifts for our success to instead how our lives can be used to positively impact others.

Zibby Owens is the host of Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books podcast and founder of Zibby Owens Media, a privately-held media company designed to help busy people live their best lives by connecting to books and each other.

Today, Zibby reveals the loves and losses that have shaped her life and discovers what it means to truly find your place in the world.

With infectious energy, tasteful authenticity and steadfast support, Zibby reminds us that wherever you are in life, you haven’t missed the boat and today is the day to take the next right step.

As we celebrate another 4th of July packed with mouth-watering BBQ, refreshing pools, and awe-inspiring fireworks, I can’t help but think back to one of my most memorable experiences from this day- and to share why it matters to you.

While silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone, shared gratitude sets others on fire for life.

We often think of the word persuasion as corrupt, shady or untrustworthy. And while it may have that connotation, Jason Harris sees it differently.

Jason is co-founder & CEO of award-winning creative advertising agency Mekanism and bestselling author of The Soulful Art of Persuasion. Blending soul and science, Jason helps iconic brands like Peloton and Ben & Jerry’s thrive.

Using originality, generosity, and empathy, Jason shares his secrets to cultivating character-building behaviors that are critical for both personal and professional success.

If you’re looking for the framework to build meaningful relationships in all aspects of your life, this conversation is for you.

My friends, while Dad spent the majority of his life working hard, being kind and making a profound difference in the lives of others, he’s spent the last several decades accepting help from others, embracing the life that is his and continuing to make a profound difference in the lives of others.

In a fractured and polarized world, Dad reminds us that an arch consists of two weaknesses, which, leaning on each other becomes a strength.

In many ways, we’re living more comfortable lives than ever before. We can drift through life while almost never being too hot, too old, too hungry, too physically exhausted, too dirty, or even too bored?

Yet, could the modernization of cars, computers, climate control and processed foods be chipping away at our physical, mental and emotional health?

Investigative health journalist Michael Easter shares how we can leverage the life-enhancing power of discomfort in our daily lives to relieve tension, lower the risk of disease and dramatically improve our overall well-being.

If you're looking to find real connection in our world, today’s conversation will help you to embrace discomfort to reclaim your wild, happy and healthy self.

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The first week of May this year was a bit exhausting for me. That week, I entered Immaculate Conception school physically in pain, emotionally drained and professionally wiped out.

And yet, it was one of the most surprising - and humbling - moments I’ve had as a speaker.

Today, I encourage all of us to strive to be a source of inspiration for others.

David Horsager hopes to make a dent in the global trust crisis by developing trusted leaders and organizations.

As the bestselling author of The Trust Edge, David is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute and director of one of the nation's foremost trust studies: The Trust Outlook.

With decades of research and by working with organizations including FedEx and Toyota, global governments, the New York Yankees and the Department of Homeland Security, David has captured the full picture of leadership both personally and professionally.

If you’re looking to grow as a leader, today’s conversation is for you.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness.- Victor Hugo

Today, John shares how a ticket agent's small act of kindness had a tremendous impact. 

Catherine Price is an award-winning science journalist, screen/life balance expert and the author of books including The Power of Fun and How to Break Up with Your Phone.

In our always-on, productivity-addicted lifestyles, we tend to think of the pursuit of fun as being indulgent or even childish. We claim not to have time for it even as we spend hours a day engaging in what today’s guest calls “Fake Fun”—binge-watching Netflix, endlessly scrolling through Twitter, or indulging our FOMO on Instagram, all in hopes of filling some of the emptiness we feel inside. 

Today, Catherine shares her evidence-backed resources to help others design lives in which they control their technology, rather than the other way around—with the ultimate goal of increasing happiness, productivity, creativity, health and wellbeing.

This conversation will empower each of us to scroll less, live more, and have fun.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

“You can easily tell the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Years ago, I ran a small construction company. Continuously running material, picking up tools, and dropping lumber, I spent significant time in a truck with my General Contractor, Harold Stewart.

Working together for almost a decade, Harold certainly taught me much about framing, wiring, plumbing and painting. The greatest lesson, though, was the power of consistent generosity.

My friends, there are so many examples of selfish people, tragic events and senseless violence today. In a world as broken as ours we often wonder what we can do to make a difference.

The example my friend- my brother- Harold models is a simple solution to the profound challenges we face today: Love people.

Choose to be kind to the one in front of you. Choose to invest in relationships for the long term. And choose to be generous to those who can’t repay it.

It may not change the entire world, but unquestionably it will change the life of the one you serve. And perhaps that's how we begin making the actual change the world longs for today.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Today’s guest is an Emmy award-winning journalist, reinvention expert and intelligent risk-taker.

With a successful television career that spanned 28 years, some of Liz Brunner’s most memorable highlights involve exclusive interviews with prominent figures and cultural icons including President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

After leaving a successful career as co-anchor of Boston’s #1 rated newscast, Liz is now dedicated to helping others find their authentic voice, tell their story and lead with presence.

Today, Liz leads us through a number of her career chapters that include High School Music teacher and entrepreneur with the intention of inspiring others to transform their lives.

This conversation will give you permission to discover your authentic self and remind you that no knowledge, obstacle or experience is ever wasted.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

“In our own woundedness, we can become sources of life for others.” – Henri J.M. Nouwen

For more than a decade I’ve worked with the FOCUS Marines Foundation. This organization hosts struggling veterans for week-long retreats designed to provide support for complex physical and emotional issues related to military service.

On this Memorial Day, I share the story of how the simple act cooking a meal can come to mean so much more. For nearly a decade, four military moms - all of whose lives have been impacted by veteran suicide - pour their hearts into a homemade meal for groups of veterans seeking support for the complex and often traumatic emotional burdens resulting from deployment.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

I’m honored to share a story of not just surviving impossible odds but thriving in a world that is too often caught up with how we look on the outside rather than seeing that our true value is within.  

When Kechi Okwuchi was 16 years old, she was one of just two survivors of a devastating plane crash that killed more than 100 people, many of them her classmates.

Spending months in hospital recovering from the third-degree burns that covered more than 65% of her body, Kechi learned the power of perseverance, unrelenting faith and music’s profound ability to heal.  

With courage, honesty and wit, Kechi shares her journey of healing, her fortitude in becoming a finalist on America’s Got Talent and her boldness in choosing to not be defined by her scars.  

This conversation will give you the hope, strength and boldness to face life’s challenges directly.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

“Just because I am happy and loved, doesn’t mean everyone else is. I know someone might be walking behind me who doesn’t feel happy and doesn’t feel loved. Maybe I can help them.” – Evan Ernst

While we’re thrilled our Live Inspired Podcast has been downloaded nearly 5,000,000 times, it’s the stories of impact from individual listeners that most inspire our efforts. And there is something particularly special when one of the lives being impacted is a 12-year-old boy from South Dakota. Today, I share the story of Evan Ernst.

Kiana Clay is the first adaptive female motocross racer, top-ranked para-snowboarder and 2026 Paralympic hopeful.

At 12 years old, Kiana suffered a traumatic brachial plexus injury on a motocross practice run that left her right arm paralyzed. While recovering from this accident, she was hit by a drunk driver, reversing any strength she was recovering and leaving her dominant arm permanently paralyzed. 

Although these circumstances certainly changed her life, Kiana is not letting them define her. 

Today, Kiana shares how she learned to accept her body, her struggle with depression, how she’s learned to trust God and what led to her recent decision to have her injured arm amputated. 

This conversation is a reminder that you can't always choose the path you walk (or race!) in life, but you can always choose the manner in which you walk (or race!) it.

Learn more about this Live Inspired Podcast episode and more at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Being heard is so close to being loved that they are almost indistinguishable. – David Augsburger

Today, we celebrate Augie Nieto and his quest to cure ALS.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Maggie Doyne's mission is to create a world where children are safe, educated and loved.

At age nineteen, Maggie used $5,000 of her babysitting money to co-found BlinkNow Foundation which helped to build the Kopila Valley Children’s Home and School, a safe place for orphaned children in war-torn Nepal.

Since 2010, Maggie + her team have served 500 of the region’s most impoverished children and worked to deepen and grow the organization’s impact through grassroots community development efforts.

Today, as you hear from a humanitarian, activist, CNN Hero of the Year and Forbes "Top 30 under 30" Social Entrepreneur, you'll learn just how tremendous + unlikely her work has been.

Plus, Maggie shares specific and practical ways to take action for a cause that’s meaningful to you.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast at JohnOLearyInspires.com