Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our “Monday Moments” segments.

Today's question was submitted by Live Inspired community member Dave from Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Dave asked: What are your summer plans with your family?

Tune in for my answer + an opportunity to reflect on how to make your summer inspired. 

If you have questions or want to share how the Live Inspired Podcast has impacted your life, send them to me and my team at podcast@johnolearyinspires.com. Can't wait to hear from you!

***

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Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Jeremy Cowart is the most influential photographer on the internet by Huffington Post. His photographs of Sting, the Obamas and Taylor Swift are fantastic, but what’s truly remarkable is how he’s using his photography for social good through programs like Help-Portrait and Voices of Reconciliations. 

As a speaker + author, Jeremey shares his journey from “normal, quiet kid” to internet fame by “exploring the intersection of creativity and empathy” through photography. He has spoken for the United Nations, TEDx and today – for us.

 Jeremy is a creative entrepreneur making real, sustainable change. If you’d like to be reminded of the power one person has to change the world, don’t miss this conversation.

SHOW NOTES

• "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13 was a running theme in his life, taught by his parents.
• Stay curious + jump into fear: Take safe risks. Jeremy shares that he took advantage of an opportunity to get a now-iconic portrait of Sting.
• In addition to photographing celebrities, Jeremy's philanthropic projects include:
  • Help-Portrait: a global movement to give, not take, pictures of people who otherwise couldn’t afford photography, a chance to capture a moment, a memory + a whole lot more.
  • Voices of Haiti: After hearing endless media reports on the "devastation", Jeremy's photo essay wanted to capture individual people + their stories from the 2010 earthquake.
  • Voices of Reconciliation: project showing survivors + perpetrators of genocide who have reconciled and are living life together peacefully in the same community.
  • The Poza Project: Through art therapy, rescued child soldiers and children orphaned by war share the pain of their past + dreams of their future.
  • The Purpose Hotel: a 250-hotel to be built in Nashville, TN where everything from soap to internet fees are connected to a cause or non-profit, allowing guests to "change the world in your sleep".
• In addition to needing humanitarian organization, Jeremy shares that we need new, creative ideas to rebuild after a disaster. 
• Leave a legacy of knowledge. Learn more about Jeremy's See University here.
• Ideas lead to ideas: If you're too afraid to pursue your first idea, you might be prohibiting a lifetime of ideas.
• Get Jeremy's latest book I'm Possible: Jumping into Fear and Discovering a Life of Purpose here.

If Jeremy's humanitarian efforts inspired you, you'll enjoy Live Inspired Podcast guest and charity: water founder Scott Harrison on ep. 104. Get ideas on how to serve others with Live Inspired guest Tom Logan and the Marion Medical Mission on ep. 96.

JEREMY COWART'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Confidence.

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? My hard drive. My life's work is on my hard drive. I don't want to lose all the things I've created in the last few decades.

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? Outside of Jesus himself. A lot of artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Billy Graham, Bono, and Pablo Picasso.  

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A friend of mine told me I should quit my job and work for myself. Then two years later he said I should buy a camera and start shooting. In addition to my dad and Philippians 4:13.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Don't be afraid. You got to go for it. You've got a lot of ideas and a lot of creativity. Just believe in yourself. Even if you fail, you're still going to learn.

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? He made the world just a little bit better.

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our “Monday Moments” segments.

Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had, and dealing with fears you didn't know existed. - Linda Wooten

My mother has played such an important role in my life. The greatest examples of leadership and love are from her. Today, I share how she so generously loved to me, my siblings, my father and so many more.

I mentioned my mother was the first guest on the Live Inspired Podcast. Listen to our conversation on ep. 000 here.

On Thursday, award-winning photographer, artist and entrepreneur Jeremy Cowart joins us to share how he's using his influence to change lives across the world.

If you have questions or want to share how the Live Inspired Podcast has impacted your life, send them to me and my team at podcast@johnolearyinspires.com. Can't wait to hear from you!

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

What drives happiness? Actually, what is happiness?

It sounds so vague, like “puppy dogs and rainbows,” doesn’t it? Well, today, we're going to define it, get our hands wrapped around how you measure it + see what the key drivers for happiness really are.

Our guest Meik Wiking is the founder + CEO of The Happiness Research Institute, is improving the quality of life across the globe and has consulted with the Danish government and the city of Goyang in South Korea among others to increase key drivers of happiness in their countries. 

When Meik realized his native Denmark is routinely ranked the highest in the United Nations Happiness Report, it sent him on a mission to unlock what drives (and what prohibits) human happiness.

Meik’s insights are fascinating and will give you practical steps to live a happier, more inspired life today.

SHOW NOTES

• The Happiness Research Institute is taking a scientific approach to answer these questions:
  1. How do you measure happiness?
  2. Why are some people happier than others?
  3. How can we improve the quality of life?
• Happiness often feels vague and soft. The institute breaks happiness down into two components: Overall life satisfaction + immediate satisfaction.
• Capture happiness: By following large groups of people over time, they see how life events impact emotions and happiness.
• The Happiness Research Institute has served cities, governments + organizations globally, impacting their policies + infrastructures, allowing their citizens to flourish. 
•  Meik refers to Denmark as the "least unhappy country": 
  • Since "genetics" plays a small role in someone's level of happiness,  the main explanation is the Nordic way of life.
  • Policies + infrastructure are in place in Scandinavian countries to reduce causes of unhappiness: unemployment, lack of access to healthcare, paid university-level education.
• Meik's book The Little Book Hygge details the Danish national culture of art of creating a nice atmosphere: 
• Hygge is the idea of feeling relaxed, at peace, a sense of togetherness and enjoying simple pleasures. It's a key success parameter when socializing in Denmark.
  • Light a candle: Meik shares a fascinating story of a Canadian family making the simple environmental change of eating dinner in candlelight that led to a longer, more enjoyable experience for the entire family. 
• Happiness-suicide paradox: It's more difficult to be unhappy in happy country.
  • Why? Our satisfaction is impacted by how we see others (and social comparison).
  • Increasing wealth does not correlate with increased happiness because we increase our expectations, creating a new benchmark for happiness.
• The Little Book of Lykke is Meik's global treasure hunt for happiness, covering 6 topics: togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness. Hear more about each of these in our Live Inspired IN STUDIO membership community*.

If you enjoyed hearing practical tips to be happier in your work + life, listen to Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project & The Four Tendencies on ep. 64 and Liz Fosslien, co-author + illustrator of the just-released book No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work on ep. 122 of the Live Inspired Podcast.

* Hear more on Meik's global treasure hunt for happiness by joining IN STUDIO, my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. I'll share his practical tips + proven real-life examples from The Little Book of Lykke. Registration is open now for less than 48 hours. Register today!

MEIK WIKING'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Factualness by Hans Rosling.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Optimism.

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? My photo albums.

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? My mom. died at 49 nice things to say to her.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? John Helliwell,  Editor of World Happiness Report in reference to the work we do: Let the data shape the signs but let the story spread the signs.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? It's all going to be fine.

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? Just happy. 

***

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Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email

We've been producing these Live Inspired Podcast Monday Moment segments for two months. I hope they're giving you a quick burst of inspiration to start your week ON FIRE.

Today I share a preview of this Thursday's guest Meik Wiking, founder + CEO of The Happiness Research Institute. Meik’s native Denmark routinely ranks highest in United Nations Happiness Report, inspiring his six-year journey to discover what drives human happiness + how to increase it around the globe.

On Thursday, Meik joins us to share how the Danes embrace what they call 'hygge' and what practical steps you can take to live a happier + more inspired life.

The conversation is one of my favorite to date, so I invited Miek back to join me 5/20 for an exclusive webcast for Live Inspired IN STUDIO, my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together.

Registration for IN STUDIO is opening soon! Join the waitlist now.

***

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Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Singer-songwriter Walker Hayes shares his unlikely path to the top of the Country Music Billboard Charts. You’ll hear the stories behind the songs on his latest album, boom., like platinum-hit You Broke Up with Me about losing a record deal and Craig, which is a tribute to a life-changing friendship.

More exceptional than hearing “behind the scenes” stories of big Nashville country music are the raw conversations Walker and I have in between – about life, loss, love, sobriety, failing and trying again.

Many say Walker broke into the mainstream by sounding different than anyone else; our conversation is a reminder that to live inspired, we must be ourselves. If you could use a reminder that the path to "success" isn’t always easy, but is always worth it – this episode is for you.

SHOW NOTES

• "It hasn't always made sense. I've had a lot of arguments with my dreams."
• The song Craig was Walker's personal "thank you" note to a dear friend who selflessly gave and inspired him to do things like that for others.
  
  • While attending church, Walker met Craig and immediately felt accepted.
  • After losing a record deal, Craig lent Walker their minivan to safely transport his six children, teaching Walker the important lesson of accepting help.
• Walker wrote platinum hit You Broke Up With Me, which can be interpreted many ways, about losing a record deal.
• One of Walker's big breaks was when Bobby Bones Show, a nationally syndicated radio show, played his song Beer in the Fridge, a song Walker wrote as a pep talk to himself sober.
• On his wife Laney, Walker says her steady is as rock solid as his whimsical. How she loved him through his alcoholism helped him address his fear of facing his struggles sober.
• The morning of the CMT Awards, his first performance on an award show on public television, Laney went into labor with their seventh child. Oakleigh Klover Hayes died after Laney's uterus ruptured, resulting in internal hemorrhaging
• Finding beauty in the pain: Tragedy strengthened Walker and Laney's relationship as they learned to communicate how they grieve differently.
• Oakleigh inspires Walker's purpose of making a difference for others.
• Get Walker Hayes' latest album boom. here.
• Walker Hayes wrote Joy Like Judy for the mother of past Live Inspired Podcast guest Amy Brown from ep. 37. Amy is the co-host of The Bobby Bones Show and a shining example of finding blessings in all of life’s experiences. Listen to ep. 37 here.
• During the Live Inspired 7, Walker shares he'd love to sit on a bench, overlooking the ocean with his dad. On Live Inspired Podcast's Monday Moments ep. 129 a listener shared how applied the Live Inspired 7 to his own life.

If you like this podcast, you will love Live Inspired IN STUDIO. It’s my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. Registration opens soon! Join the waitlist.

WALKER HAYES' LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? I was a little more carefree growing up. Age + responsibilities have tapered that. I need to remind myself that you live on this earth once, leave it different + better. We can do that by taking ourselves less seriously.

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? I picked up a piece of scrap metal from my first date with Laney, bending it into a ring. She still has that ring. She wore it all through college. 

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? There is still time but my dad. I'd put aside all the fear, pride and messing around to just talk to him for a little while.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My father told me, "the way the actually judge a man is how he helps someone that cannot help him in return." That's who Craig and Laney have been for me. 

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? One, don't drink. Two, I would tell my 20-year-old self the same thing I'd tell my 38-year-old self... It's going to be okay. I'd hug him and tell him you're going to be alright. 

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? He loved her. He loved. I have the desire to leave every person I talk to feeling better, better than I found them. 

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our “Monday Moments” segments.

Today, I share a story submitted by Grace M. of Naperville, IL, a listener + Live Inspired community member. 

Grace shared that some of her favorite Live Inspired Podcast guests include 5x New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown (ep. 103) and lawyer-turned-bestselling author Bob Goff (ep. 115).

If you have questions or want to share how the Live Inspired Podcast has impacted your life, send them to me and my team at podcast@johnolearyinspires.com.

If you like this podcast, you will love Live Inspired IN STUDIO. It’s my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. Registration opens soon! Join the waitlist.

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

You know the beloved children's classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? Today we talk with the amazing author, Judith Viorst!

Judith shares her warmth, wisdom + cheeky humor about what it’s like to write books across genres for more than six decades – and what it was like not getting published for her first three decades!

In honor of national poetry month, Judith will read an excerpt from her “decades series” most recent is her book Nearing Ninety: And Other Comedies of Late Life. Judith’s perspective on the joys + tribulations of life will remind you that laughter is truly the best medicine, at any age, to live an inspired life.

SHOW NOTES: 

• As a young girl, Judith began writing as poetry felt like a natural second language to her. Her first piece was published in her 30s.
• Say yes and we'll figure it out. Advice from her husband before being published for the first time.
• The capacity for child-like wonder lives inside a lot of us, even as we get to be a middle-aged person. [click to tweet!]
• Remaining playful is something you cultivate.
• Judith's first children's book The Tenth Good Thing About Barney was inspired by a conversation with her young son about death. Get a copy of it here.
• Her original publisher turned down Alexander and the Terrible Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day which has sold more than 4 million copies. Get a copy of it here.
• Inspired by the characters in The Secret Garden, Judith creates characters that are "hard-likes": not easily likable but always redeemable by the end.
• Judith shares her personal life through her writing, highlighting the ways people are more connected than they're different.
• "When nobody reads this book, and nobody likes this book, please remind me of the joy I had writing it and how proud I am of it."– Judith to her husband when submitting the manuscript of Necessary Losses. This book went on to be on the New York Times bestseller list for almost two years. Get a copy of it here.
• Judith's latest book, Nearing Ninety, is a collection of poetry from her "decades" series. These include Hard to be Hip Over Thirty, How Did I Get to be Forty, Forever Fifty, Suddenly Sixty, I’m Too Young to be Seventy, Unexpectedly Eighty.
• Judith reads her favorite poem from Nearing Ninety "My Legacy". 
• "To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." - George Santayana

If today's episode inspired you to cultivate your childlike spirit, you'll love Live Inspired Podcast ep. 112 with artist, speaker + author Jason Kotecki and combat "adult-itis".

If you like this podcast, you will love Live Inspired IN STUDIO. It’s my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. Registration opens soon! Join the waitlist.

JUDITH VIORST'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Reliable.  

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? [She's been asking herself the same questions for 20 years and will call us when she has the answer!]

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? I can't count my husband because he'd be my #1 date even after 60 years. I wouldn't mind seeing my mother and asking her all the questions I was too dumb to ask her when she was alive.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Listen to people's stories, don't gossip, enjoy their joys, sympathize with their sorrows and be trustworthy of their secrets.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Don't; be so dumb and self-absorbed. Open your eyes. Look around a little more and stop worrying about what your hair looks like.

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? A line from Sunlight on the Garden by Louis Macneice: And grateful to have sat under thunder and rain with you. And grateful, too, for sunlight on the garden.

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our "Monday Moments" segments. 

We've had nearly 120 guests on the Live Inspired Podcast. As you know, at the end of the interview, each guest answers the Live Inspired 7 questions, with the first question being: What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

As we gear up to celebrate World Book Day, I want to share the most mentioned books by our guests.

1. The Bible has been mentioned by 11 guests including my mentor Brian Buffini from ep. 1 and human rights activist Christine Caine from ep. 82.
2. A Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Franklin has been mentioned by “expectation hangover” expert Christine Hassler from ep. 26 and author Matthew Emerzian from ep. 58. (It's my favorite book, too!)
3. And we have a TIE for the third favorite book! 
   
   1. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach has not only been mentioned by five guests but we had the author Richard Bach on ep. 54!
   2. My book ON FIRE has been mentioned by comedian Kathy Buckley from ep. 7, Sergeant Rocky Sickmann from ep. 16 and musician Matt Mattingly from ep. 66.

Get a copy of ON FIRE here with the coupon code PODCAST for 15% off. 

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

We live, play and work at an ever-increasing pace, amidst a lot of noise – yelling, fear, anxiety, texting, streaming, email. In this environment, we long for hope and humanity, but often give more reactive responses than ever. 

Today, we identify how we can influence our daily moments to make them more inspired. Rand Stagen, Managing Director of Stagen Leadership Academy, joins us to share how to create a little space between key stimuli – think of your triggers: a colleague’s sarcasm, your spouse leaving dishes in the sink, morning traffic – and our responses to them.

Whether you're leading a large corporation, stuck in carpool traffic, or both: Today's conversation will give you tips and motivation to live a more inspired life – one intentional interaction at a time.

 SHOW NOTES:

• Stagen Leadership Academy strives to link the soft side of leadership with the pragmatic side. 
• Leaders get the organizations and the families they deserve: Leadership is oriented around a sense of identity + taking responsibility.
• Power of transformation: organizations don't change, people do. If you want to transform a business, work on the leaders transforming themselves.
• How to start taking responsibility:
  1. Be grateful for the people in our lives who allow us to reflect on the gaps or holes in yourself, instead of being annoyed.
  2. Notice when you're triggered, or emotionally grabbed, and take unconditional responsibility.
  3. Recognize the gifts around us as opposed to pointing fingers.
• Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. 
• Be the author of your own life story.
• Most effective leaders have strong emotional awareness, both intrapersonal (self-awareness + self-management) and interpersonal (social awareness)
• Read Daniel Goleman's Harvard Business Review article What Makes a Leader here.
• Moods are contagious: The way you walk into a room will influence the room.
• Take note of the feedback loop of the experiences in your life.
• With awareness there is choice. Without awareness, there are only habits.

If you liked learning about how your mood can influence others, you'll love Live Inspired Podcast guest Jon Gordon, author of The Energy Bus, from ep. 13. Listen to Live Inspired Podcast ep. 49 with Dina Dwyer-Owens, co-chairwoman of The Dwyer Group, on someone who is leaning into conscious leadership.

RAND STAGEN'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Scott Peck's The Road Less Traveled.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Curiosity.

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? A photo album that has family photos that don't exist digitally.

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? Pope Francis to try to understand how he is managing such a complex + important time in his institution. I think his answer would be a combination of intellect and spirituality because he's operating in the context of a multigenerational time horizon. I'm in awe of how he's showing up and the courage he's exhibiting.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Scott Peck said life is difficult and it's a journey. The journey is about engaging with life + learning to relate to life. Life is a dance between being shaped and shaping life.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? All we have is right here, right now. Learn to be present, not worry about the future, and not be critical of the past.

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? He cared.

***

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Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

I had so much fun talking with my new friend + country music star Walker Hayes, that we stayed on the phone for two hours! We only had 45 minutes scheduled for his interview. That, my friends, has never happened before.

I couldn’t wait to share a little of the fun with you. So today, you get a preview!

Get the entire conversation on upcoming Live Inspired Podcast ep. 146.

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Almost 13 years ago, I read Judith Shulevitz's New York Times article Taking Back Sabbath and still today, it has a profound effect on me. As a society, we've put such an emphasis on work and being busy and this article reminds us of the importance of Sabbath, what “Sabbath” is and what it means in all of our lives – regardless of our faith background.

Today, our conversation with Judith will challenge you to build a pause into your week, nourish your community and remember that you are so much more than what you do.

SHOW NOTES

• Judaism is an "orthopractic religion" (right living, not right belief) and the culture puts ritual, community + study above faith which is referred to as "practice."
• Judith references Derek Thompson's Atlantic article about our society making a religion out of work or "work-ism". Read it here.
• Depression + a sense that something was missing brought Judith back to practicing Judaism through the Sabbath.
• Sabbath: a day of religious observance and abstinence from work. Simply a day when we don’t work – all of us – at the same time so we can spend intentional time and create community together to remind us we are more than what we do for a living.
  
  • The Sabbath is a central Jewish practice that later, over centuries, Christians took it over, moving it to Sundays for many reasons including it was a chance to differentiate Christians from Jews and Christ rose on a Sunday.
• Read Judith Shulevitz's New York Times article Bring Back the Sabbath here.
• Puritans + pilgrims came to America in quest of a perfect Sabbath and enacted the Blue laws, which were strict laws meant to maintain a calm atmosphere by closing civic institutions, allowing others to celebrate Sabbath.
• For many reasons, the Sabbath practice has faded.
  • Fragmented time era: we no longer share a common schedule with others, leading to loneliness.
  • Push back by putting electronic devices away together and connect as a group.
  • Be conscious of the way we let commerce and capitalism colonize our time and isolate ourselves from others.
  • Stop to reflect + enjoy what you have.
• The easiest way to take back the Sabbath: Have a meal together. Create a community with a tradition of breaking bread with others.
• Judith is currently working on a book that will answer the question, "why is the most important work anyone can do (reproduce + raise the next generation of workers) not compensated?"
• Get Judith Shulevitz book The Sabbath World here.

If you were inspired by Judith's take on Sabbath, you'll love Live Inspired Podcast guests Mark Scharenbroich + Radha Agrwal. On ep. 40, Mark shared the importance of acknowledging, honoring, + connecting with those around us and Radha shared concrete ideas on how to combat the loneliness epidemic + build your community on ep. 98.

If you like this podcast, you will love Live Inspired IN STUDIO. It’s my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. Registration opens soon! Join the waitlist.

JUDITH SHULEVITZ LIVE INSPIRED 7 

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Bible.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Take in the wisdom of our elders.

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? Books with photographs of my children.

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? Founders of Karaitism [Nehemia Gordon and Ḥakham Meir Rekhavi] or Martin Luther.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Before you make a major change in your life, ask yourself, "what would it be like every morning to do that thing? Would it feel good or would it feel bad?"

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Trust yourself. Stop doubting everything you do. Stop wishing you'd done everything differently and realize that everything happened for a reason and move on.

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 set a good example for my children. 

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our "Monday Moments" segments. 

Today, we celebrate National Sibling's Day this Wednesday, April 10 by reaching out to your sibling (or chosen sibling!) to share your love + gratitude for them. 

Listen to Live Inspired Podcast ep. #88 to hear the heroic acts of my siblings that saved my life 30 years ago and three ways to enhance your adult sibling relationships.

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

I've been so eager to bring Sparsh Shah onto the Live Inspired Podcast since I was first introduced to him in March 2017.  Fifteen-year-old Sparsh shares about being born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or "Brittle Bone Disease", and how he hasn't let it define his life.

Sparsh, also known by his rapper name Purythem, went viral with his rendition of Eminem's Not Afraid and since sang the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden. He radiates positivity while owning his disability with awe-inspiring grace. 

Today's conversation is beaming with contagious optimism + resilience that will leave you inspired.

SHOW NOTES

• Sparsh was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bone Disease. 
• Sparsh has suffered almost 130 fractures, including his skull.
• "I've dissed my disability."
• There is always a valley before the hill. Sometimes the deeper the valley, the higher the hill.
• Ragarap: Sparsh began studying classical Indian + Western vocal music, blending aspects of each into his performances and creating his own sound he calls "ragarap".
• Rapper Eminem became an inspiration to Sparsh because of his dedication to improving his skills + overcoming a troubled background.
• Sparsh chose to sing Eminem's Not Afraid because of the uplighting lyrics that made him feel unstoppable; it ultimately became a viral hit viewed over 75 million times.  
• Watch Sparsh Shah's TEDx Talk, where he speaks of turning the impossible to "I am possible", here.
• "When one door closes, another opens. We often look so long, hard and regretfully at the closed door, we forget that there was a door open for us."
• Why waste our life in the past when we can think about what to do now.
• "The past is history, the future is a mystery. The present is the greatest gift we can receive." - Bil Keane
• "Sometimes the storms interrupt our daily lives."
• Follow Sparsh on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

If you enjoyed Sparsh's optimistic outlook of his disability, listen to Live Inspired Podcast ep. 7 with hearing-impaired comedian Kathy Buckley and Live Inspired Podcast ep. 63 with paralyzed barrel racer Amberly Snyder.

SPARSH SHAH'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Resilience and optimism. My dad said I had a smile that would light up anyone's face. 

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? My MacBook.

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? Jesus and I would ask him, "how and why is it that the life that is so imperfect, you made it perfect the way it is?" I've realized in life things are perfectly imperfect.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? No matter what happens in your life, don't give up on your passion. No matter how many bones you break, your voice will never break. You can do anything in life, you've come here for a reason.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? (Sparsh it not 20-years-old yet!)

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? Though I struggled, I refused to suffer. And because I refused to suffer, I conquered. 

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our "Monday Moments" segments. 

Today, I take pause to celebrate Doctor's Day and share the important role play in all our lives. With a special shout out to my childhood physician,  Dr. Tsifutis, who I recently got to have lunch with and thank in person.

I reference the three lessons I learned from my burn doctors that I still live by today. Hear about these and how they apply in your life on one of our most listened to episodes: Live Inspired Podcast ep. #117.

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

The Kindness Diaries, streaming on Netflix, is a series that follows Leon Logothetis as he travels the world relying solely on the kindness of strangers, which he pays back in unexpected, inspiring ways.

Leon joins us to share how a once “lonely kid” grew up to be a successful stock broker and then, upon discovering his passion for human connection and kindness, has embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.

His new book, Go Be Kind, and this conversation will leave you ready to do exactly that. Join us to rekindle your belief in human kindness and its power to change the world… starting with your own.

SHOW NOTES

• "We need at least one person to see us for who we truly are." For Leon, this was an after-school teacher Mrs. Mann. She changed his life profoundly.
• Watching The Motorcycle Diaries sparked Leon's courage to quit his job and follow his dream.
• First, Leon hitchhiked from Times Square to Hollywood Sign with just $5 a day, documented in The Amazing Adventures of a Nobody.
• During Season 1 of The Kindness Diaries, a homeless man taught Leon two lessons:
  1. True wealth is not in our wallets but in our hearts.
  2. Kindness is free.
• Kindness is a win-win. You win and the person you're being kind to wins.
• Your presence + kindness are the greatest gifts you can ever give.
• Until we are connected to our hearts, we are not living.
• Leon is filming Season 3 of The Kindness Diaries where he travels from Scotland to Singapore relying solely on the kindness of strangers.
• Leon Logothetis' latest book Go Be Kind is now available here.
• Watch Leon Logothetis' series The Kindness Diaries now streaming on Netflix.
• Learn more about Leon Logothetis on his website.

I discovered Leon and his amazing story after I enjoyed his series streaming on Netflix. If you enjoyed hearing the story behind the series, check out Bill Courtney (ep. 28) from Undefeated, 2012 Oscar winner for Best Documentary and Jim Lovell (ep. 90) from Apollo 13.

If you like this podcast, you will love Live Inspired IN STUDIO. It’s my membership community where like-minded friends join me via live webcast to live inspired together. Registration opens soon! Join the waitlist.

LEON LOGOTHETIS' LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? I am a child. Many of us lose our inner kid and I haven't. 

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? My passport.

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? Nelson Mandela and I'd ask, "How did you spend 27 years in prison and be kind to the people who put you in there?" I think his answer would be, "Love is the only way".

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? "Never, never, never give up" from Winston Churchill.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Keep going. It's all going to be okay.

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? He came, he saw, and he loved.

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our “Monday Moments” segments.

Today, my friends, we are stepping into spring! Nature is blossoming in front of us; offering a reminder that the best in life is yet to come. Today, let’s celebrate the three life lessons my beautiful magnolia tree offers. I promise, they will get you ready to launch into spring + beyond.

Three lessons from magnolia trees:

1. Life is seasonal.
2. Loss is painful and leads to opportunities for growth.
3. Life happens quickly.

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

“You can’t imagine your life without it, but you desperately want to let it go.”

This is addiction as defined by today’s guest, Fr. Tom Hoar, President + CEO of Enders Island Retreat Center, a treatment facility that helps addicted adults. More than seven million Americans struggle with some form of addiction.

Today, Fr. Tom debunks an often-taboo topic by sharing stories of redemption and healing – including his own. Don’t miss this critical conversation or the life-changing intent behind Fr. Tom’s poignant question "have you had enough?”

SHOW NOTES

• Fr. Tom references Jean Valjean's story in Les Miserables and how it reminds us that the best days remain in front of us.
• We live in a society where we are too ready to judge others and write them off instead of allowing them to show us who they really are.
• Martin Luther King, Jr.: Be known for the content of your character.
• According to Cigna's Loneliness Index, almost half of Americans feel isolated or lonely, and those struggling with addiction or any mental challenge often feel alone in the room of a hundred people.
• To combat addiction, we need a healthy sense of self. 
  • We've filled our lives with noise + stuff, but it's not the noise + stuff that gives us meaning.
  • We've taken God and the sense of the sacred out of our society; causing a loss of inner self-awareness and contentment. 
  • Genesis 1:26: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
• After Fr. Tom stopped drinking, he felt empty until being introduced to Alcoholic Anonymous. 
  • Alcoholic Anonymous meetings offer a sense of authenticity + genuineness where people are sharing their story of experience, strength and hope.
  • Addiction is a disease that has physical, emotional and spiritual components. 
• Allow people to grow, develop + learn. Accept them for who they are today. 
• Fr. Tom’s poignant question "have you had enough?": Are you ready to really let go of the way you've been living, thinking and really allow God's grace to bring you down a new path, a path of healing and hope?
• Read a Boston Globe article about Fr. Tom Hoar here.
• Learn more about Alcoholics Anonymous here.

Thank you to my dear friend, Live Inspired community member Mary B. for recommending Fr. Tom Hoar! If you have questions or feedback, you can always send them to me and my team at podcast@johnolearyinspires.com.

If you enjoyed today's episode, Live Inspired Podcast guests Teri Griege share her story of overcoming addition on ep. 2 and Fr. Jim Martin on discovering our best life on ep. 57.

FR. TOM HOAR'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Gospel of Matthew. It challenges us not to live minimally but to strive for the life of virtue.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Curiosity. 

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? A pair of rosary beads my aunt Helen gave me on the day of my ordination. It represents my relationship with God through true prayer and my family. 

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? Jesus, of course. I'd ask, "Didn't your dad do a great job with this view?"

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Don't drink and go to meetings.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? There is nothing to be afraid of.

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? He saw people in pain and tried to bring them a message of healing and hope.

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration during Monday Moments. Each week, I’ll cover a different topic that will spark you to live more inspired.

Today, I share a sneak peek from upcoming Live Inspired Podcast guest Fr. Tom Hoar and, his poignant question "have you had enough" + what asking it could mean in your life. 

Thank you to my dear friend, Live Inspired community member Mary B. for recommending Fr. Tom Hoar! If you have questions or feedback, you can always send them to me and my team at podcast@johnolearyinspires.com.

***

Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Michele Cushatt is a self-proclaimed expert of trauma, pain and the deep need for human connection. As a three-time cancer survivor, mother of six, author and speaker, Michele's warmth, strength and transparency will remind you that you're not alone.

Michele shares her story, how hope got her through her struggles and how it will help you through yours. Today, you'll be reminded that your best days remain in front of you to live a more inspired life. 

SHOW NOTES:

• Fear + worry give a false sense of control. Acknowledge the reality but don't ruminate.
• Learn to laugh + gravitate towards other who do, too.
• How do we show up for loved ones with cancer (or other big things)
  
  1. Show support + be willing to do it wrong.
  2. Be willing to carry a measure of pain yourself.
• Hope gives meaning to life: We need to know there is meaning on the other side of pain and these challenges are not going to be wasted.
• The worst thing that can happen doesn't need to be the end of your life.
• If we are victims to our circumstances, we don't have a hand free to lend to anyone else. We're too busy trying to save ourselves.
• How to heal after trauma:
  1. Make a list and grieve.
  2. Acknowledge what you lost + what opportunities you have as a direct result of your loss.
  3. Healing is not done in isolation. Get emotional health and wholeness with help from a counselor, pastor or someone in that space. Find people who would want you to step in and do live with them.
  4. Hope is critical. Michele reminds herself daily that no matter what happens today, it can only get better from here.
• Live with compassion rather than constant disappointment.
• To overcome trauma, Michele suggested the book Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk and Dr.  Daniel J. Siegel work.
• Get Michele Cushatt's book Undone here.
• Get Michele Cushatt's book I Am here.

Thank you Live Inspired Podcast listener + community member Jennifer K. for recommending Michele Cushatt! Have someone you want to hear on the show? Email me at podcast@johnolearyinspires.com.

We've welcome other guests onto the Live Inspired Podcast that have overcome cancer diagnoses and are living inspired. Listen to author Christine Cain on ep. 82, Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton on ep. 68 and author Edie Little Sundby on ep. 51.

MICHELE CUSHATT'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller and  The Inner Voice of Love by Henri Nouwen.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? I was very playful and full of imagination. I've lost some innocence and natural playfulness and I miss that. I'm trying to rediscover play, joy and laughter.

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? My Bible. I used my Bible through the darkest days of my life. I wrote all the ugly, hard questions in there and have become part of my journey. It's evidence of the grace that got me through.

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? I would love to pick the  brain of Henri Nouwen and all he experienced. The other would be my dad. He died of terminal pancreatic cancer eight weeks before my third diagnosis. I would love to hear him share how all the different pieces of his hard life came together.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? You're not failing, you're learning. I was frustrated that I allowed my emotional triggers to get the best of me. It's changed how I talk to myself and how I approach all my children and to teach them that they're going to make mistakes.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Sister, you're in for a long road. It's going to be harder than you can possibly imagine. It's going to take you to a point where you're not sure you're going to want to live. But I promise you, if you hang in there and keep making the choice to wake up and live you're going to be so glad that you did.

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? She never stopped believing that love would win.

***

Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Every Monday moving forward, join me for a quick burst of inspiration during Monday Moments. Each week, I'll cover a different topic that will spark you to live more inspired.

This week, I answer questions submitted from three Live Inspired community members. Tune in to hear my answers!

Lisa K. asked: Have you interviewed anyone that has left you speechless? You’ve had so many amazing guests. Which has been your favorite, and why? And who are some of your “dream” guests?

Chris F. asked: Do you have a dog? You seem like a person who one of my best friend's, my dog, would love! What lessons could dogs teach humans?

Alison J. asked: I don't have a lot of free time. What are some small things I can do day-to-day to help others?

Lisa K. shared her favorite Live Inspired Podcast was ep. #87 with guest Mel Robbins. Listen here.

Chris F. mentioned his favorite Live Inspired Podcast guests have been Ozzie Smith from ep. # 28 and Coach Bill Courtney from ep. 53.

Alison J. enjoys Live Inspired Podcast episodes that feature guests who've changed the course of their life and are helping others do the same, like Scott Harrison with charity:water from ep. #104 and Jill Blashack Strahan of Tastefully Simple from ep. #18.

If you ever have questions or feedback, you can always send them to me and my team at podcast@johnolearyinspires.com.

***

If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

During his eleven years as a business leader at Build-A-Bear Workshop, Manley Feinberg implemented solutions inspired by his extreme outdoor adventures in the Himalayas, Uzbekistan and El Capitan in Yosemite.

Today, Manley shares compelling tales from the trails that led to lessons in leadership that will help you overcome your challenges and live more inspired.

SHOW NOTES:

• Courage is contagious, a lesson Manley learned early from his mom and lives by today.
• Get On Belay! A belay is a tool used in climbing to protect each climber. Tips to be a great belayer on the mountain or a leader climbing mountains in life:
  1. Be present + encouraging.
  2. Don't give too much slack (don't avoid important, uncomfortable conversations).
  3. Don't hold the rope back (don't micromanage / hold someone back).
  4. Lock the rope off (immediately recognize / engage others).
• Failing does not mean falling: If you're pushing yourself, you're going to fall occasionally.
• Make meaningful, intentional connections. Ask: 
  1. Who do I need on belay (who do I need support from)?
  2. Who needs me on belay(who needs support from me)?
• Overcome a fear: Write down a plan to get an objective lens.
• Stop chasing behaviors and start challenging beliefs. 
• Build momentum towards your goal by celebrating successes no matter how small. 
• Get Manley Feinberg's book Reaching Your Next Summit: 9 Vertical Lessons for Leading with Impact  and his Momentum Planner and Journal.

Did you enjoy hearing Manley rock out LIVE? You'll love hearing Jonathon Cain of JOURNEY perform on episode #100 here.

MANLEY FEINBERG'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? Jonathon Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, Untethered Soul by Michael Singer, The War of Art by Sun Tzu and The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch.

[Listen to Richard Bach on ep. #54 of the Live Inspired Podcast.]

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? My endless, boundless energy level.

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? A couple of guitars my mother bought me when she passed away.

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? My mother. It's been 18 years since we've had a physical conversation and we have a lot to catch up on. I miss most her unwavering, relentless enthusiasm and  encouragement, commitment and love. 

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My mother always told me I could do anything I wanted to do, and believed in me. She always reminded me I have an amazing purpose in this world.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Don't worry about what people think. I'd tell my 46-year-old self the same thing.

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? Manley was an amazing father, husband and friend to everyone he met with no exceptions, loved them and they knew it.

***

If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motivation email.

Every Monday moving forward, join me for a quick burst of inspiration during Monday Moments. Each week, I'll cover a different topic that will spark you to live more inspired.

Today, I share a story submitted by Mike F. of Alton, Illinois, one of our Live Inspired community members. Mike has done something truly amazing by applying the Live Inspired 7 – the questions we ask every guest at the end of our Live Inspired Podcast episodes – to his own life... You’ll love the result.

Ask your loved ones the Live Inspired 7:

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read?
2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do?
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?
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?
5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 
6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20?
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? 

Listen to last week's Monday Moments with Dennis Gillan on ep. #127 on the Live Inspired Podcast.

***

If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Gary Sinise is an award-winning actor – most notably is his Oscar-nominated role of Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. This role reshaped the trajectory of Gary’s life; not because of the acclaim for the film, but because it ignited a relentless drive in him to champion veterans’ sacrifices and ensure they’re never forgotten.

Gary’s philanthropy has made him a beloved to countless and earned him prestigious awards including: Presidential Citizens Medal, Honorary Battalion Chief by New York City Fire Department, George Catlett Marshall Medal by US Army and Honorary Marine.

Today, Gary joins us as part of his media tour for his book: Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service. It’s already a New York Times best seller and after hearing our conversation… you’ll understand why.

Join us to for one of America’s favorite, heart-led leaders. You’ll get lessons on gratitude, service, celebrate America’s defenders, veterans, first responders and so much more.

SHOW NOTES:

• His role as a gang member in his high school's production of West Side Story initiated his passion for acting.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company was formed with his three friends in 1974, subsequently becoming the nation's premiere ensemble theatre.
• Of Mice and Men: Gary directed + starred in Of Mice and Men, fulfilling a life-long dream leading to his opportunity to audition for Forrest Gump.
• Forrest Gump: Gary had a deep affection to veterans his entire life and felt compelled to play Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump.
  
  • The scene with Lieutenant Dan shouting on top of the shrimp boat is pivotal because he's fighting his demons, overcoming guilt and PTSD from war, eventually allowing him to make peace. Making peace is something the Gary Sinise Foundation strives for all veterans.
• Turning point: The commitment to serve and honor veterans began before Forrest Gump. September 11th was an inflection point deepened that devotion.
• The Gary Sinise Foundation supports those who sacrifice on our behalf including active duty, veterans, first responders + their families. Learn more here.
• Get Gary Sinise’s New York Times bestselling book Grateful American.
• I shared my essay on my dear friend and former US Navy SEAL Scott Wirtz. Read it here.

Listen to more Life Inspired Podcast episodes celebrating veterans with Rocky Sickmann from ep. #16 and Jim Lovell from ep. #90.

LIVE INSPIRED 7

To shine light on veterans, Gary asked me to share responses to the  Live Inspired 7 from past guests who served our country. Enjoy Captain Charlie Plumb, Vietnam Navy veteran and Prison Of War, from ep. # 31 and Jake Harriman, Marine veteran, from ep. #114 answers.

Charlie Plumb's Live Inspired 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Bible, chapter of Job. Unbroken, it epitomizes your philosophy and mine on winning through adversity.

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do?Bolder Crest supports vets with PTSD to expand their reach bc they’re doing a lot of good for veterans.

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? A tin cup with holes in it that I brought back from the prison camp. I keep that cup just to remind me of the challenges I face and the value of the challenge.

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?My mother. She endured so much while I was over there, but never placed blame. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone. The longer I live, the more I appreciate her approach to forgiveness. I’d love to talk to her about how to forgive the unforgivable.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A coach told me it wasn’t the things around me that would change my life, it’s the choices you make about the things around you. You can choose to be a loser or a winner or choose to give away that choice.

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? Believe in a purpose as the highest priority.

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? He was a servant.

Jake Harriman Live Inspired 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Bible.

2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Dreaming! I could dream big. I tried to do crazy stuff as a kid. We made a potion out of crayons and dirt to make me fly. Then, I put on a cape and jumped into cow manure!

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? A medallion that I carried in combat. It says: [Joshua 1:9] “Be strong, courageous and remember that the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” It sealed my faith + gave me courage. I gave it to the love of my life when we got engaged. When she has to go into dark places, I wanted her to have the same medallion with her.

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? Abraham Lincoln. I’d ask: How in the world did you get through that time? And hold everything together with a nation that was literally pulling itself a part? I think he’d say “Find commonality – there are threads and values that run through all of us. Get back to those basics.” I think that is what he did and succeeded.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Never say you can’t do something, you have to believe in yourself and those who love you.

6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? It’s going to be dark. You are going to have a lot of really horrific moments that you didn’t even know were possible. But in those moments, know that there is light coming. There is truth and love in people in this world. There is more light and hope than darkness. Never forget that.

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? He learned to love and learned to leave by serving others.

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If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram+ get his Monday Motivation email.

Every Monday moving forward, join me for a quick burst of inspiration during Monday Moments. Each week, I'll cover a different topic that will spark you to live more inspired.

I am honored to be joined by my dear friend Dennis Gillan to discuss a topic that desperately needs to be revisited: suicide prevention. 

Today, we will break down the stigma around mental health and how to better care for ourselves + others who are struggling or suffering with suicide. Take this powerful episode as reminder that the best is yet to come.

SHOW NOTES

• I share a poem written by 10-year boy titled I Am the Piece That Never Fits. 
• Dennis Gillan lost two brothers to suicide. Listen to his story on ep. #46 of the Live Inspired Podcast.
• Comic Adam Cayton-Holland shares about losing his sister to suicide on ep. #99 of the Live Inspired Podcast.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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If you enjoyed today’s episode: Subscribe, rate & review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. See you here next Thursday!

Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.