Kindness & Courage: John O'Leary's Inspiring Healing Journey

From a childhood fire that left him with burns over his entire body to becoming a bestselling author and global speaker, John O'Leary's story is one of resilience, faith, and the power of love in action. In this conversation, John reflects on the ordinary people who showed up during his darkest hours—family, teachers, and friends—whose courage and kindness helped him heal. His journey reminds us that we don't need a cape to be a hero; we simply need to choose love, offer kindness, and believe that even the smallest actions can change a life. With the upcoming release of his film Soul on Fire, John continues to inspire others to see their life as a gift and to live it with purpose.  Key Takeaways:  Love and kindness have the power to heal and inspire — even in life's most difficult moments.  Small actions can create big ripple effects that impact generations.  Courage often shows up in ordinary people who choose to step forward.  Community support plays a key role in resilience, reminding us we don't heal alone.  Each of us has a purpose to use our life for good and to lift others along the way.  Join us for the Kindness Campaign and help create a ripple of compassion in your community! Sign up today at SmallChangesBigShifts.com/Kindness to receive daily acts of kindness and inspiration.   We're also inviting sponsorship partners to help us expand this movement and touch even more lives. If your organization would like to be part of spreading kindness across communities, explore the opportunities here: https://smallchangesbigshifts.com/download/9926/?tmstv=1757105005     About John O'Leary:  John O'Leary, #1 National Bestselling Author & Speaker Once expected to die, now teaching others how to Live Inspired.  In 1987, John O'Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given less than a 1% chance to live.   This epic story of survival was first showcased in Overwhelming Odds, the book his parents wrote in 2006. It was this book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the world.   Today, John inspires tens of thousands of people at more than 100 live and virtual events each year. He partners with companies and organizations across fields, such as: sales, healthcare, safety, marketing, finance, faith, education and insurance.   Consistently described as "the best speaker we've ever had," John's tireless schedule is a testament to the power of his message. His emotional storytelling, unexpected humor and authenticity make each presentation unforgettable.   John is a two-time bestselling author of On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life and In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy.   John's award-winning Live Inspired Podcast has more than seven million downloads and enjoys world-class guests such as Brené Brown, Mitch Albom, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Bob Costas.   Amazingly, John's story is taking on a new form: a full-length feature film starring Joel Courtney, John Corbett, and William H. Macy. SOUL ON FIRE will be release in theaters nationwide on October 10, 2025.    Regardless of his professional accomplishments, John considers his greatest success to be his marriage to his wife Beth, their four children and his relationships with friends and family.    Connect with John O'Leary at:  https://johnolearyinspires.com/   https://soulonfiremovie.com/    https://www.facebook.com/JohnOLearyRisingAbove  https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-leary-08b2805/   https://www.instagram.com/johnoleary.inspires/,   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRXJIPZAni0_zakjCFh5VTQ    Connect with Dr. Michelle and Bayleigh at:  https://smallchangesbigshifts.com  [email protected]  https://www.linkedin.com/company/smallchangesbigshifts  https://www.facebook.com/SmallChangesBigShifts  https://www.instagram.com/smallchangesbigshiftsco    Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.  Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!  Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.  Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.