http://www.JohnOLearyInspires.com/

John O'Leary - Live Inspired, St. Louis, MO (2026)

01/06/2026

Earlier today, my introduced you to the concept of being a “turkey person”…and why that’s not a good thing.

If you want to hear more about the concept directly from the person who shared it with me, you should check out Ep. 28 with Bill Courtney !

Years ago, Bill shared this story as one of my earliest guests on the podcast and it’s a lesson that’s stuck with me ever since. Check out—or revisit—his lessons on love, leadership, and self assurance today!

Episode linked here ➡️ https://johnolearyinspires.com/podcast/archive/live-inspired-podcast-s3-ep-28-bill-courtney/

01/05/2026

As we stand at the start of a new year, with to-do lists drafted, words chosen and intentions set, I want to offer you a question to consider. One that has a way of slowing us down, sharpening our focus and gently but firmly calling us to do more.

That question? "Are you a turkey person?"

Not in the holiday-meal sense, but in the way you show up for others.

Years ago, that question changed the trajectory of a football team, a community and a life. And years later, when I heard it, it did the same for me. Let me explain.

When Bill Courtney was coaching in North Memphis, he asked his team captain why there was so little engagement in the team. He learned it was because the players didn’t believe in him. They worried he’d be like all the other people who were there to “save” them. The type who show up once a year, roll down their windows, drop off a turkey for the holidays and then leave.

The players had a name for it.

Turkey people.

Then came the question that cut straight to the heart: Are you a turkey person, Coach?

Bill heard the question and realized that if his stint with the team was temporary on the way to something else- something more desirable, more opportunistic, easier- then his impact would be too. So he recommitted himself. He stayed. And showed up, again and again. And everything changed.

What started as 19 players grew to 75. A losing program became a perennial winner. And most importantly, more of his seniors went on to college.

That kind of impact is not possible with gifts from a turkey person. That’s the kind of impact that changes lives.

So my friends, as we ease into 2026, here’s the challenge for all of us. This year, let’s go beyond the generosity so popular during the holiday season.

Because consistent generosity does something powerful. It tells people they matter today, not just on special occasions. And when people feel seen consistently, they begin to believe differently about themselves and about what’s possible.

So as 2026 begins, let this be our challenge:

Be consistent.
Be generous.
Don’t be a turkey person.
And Live Inspired.

P.S. Over the years, one of my personal reminders to not be a “turkey person” has been my involvement with . I’ve learned far more than I’ve ever given, and it’s reinforced for me that real impact is built slowly through commitment, consistency, and relationships. I’d love to hear how you try to live this out in your life, too! Because stories like this have a way of encouraging all of us to keep showing up.

01/03/2026

One of the best ways to begin a new year is in good company.

This Monday, January 5 at 4 PM CT, our community will gather on Zoom to reflect on the year behind us, look ahead to 2026, and hear from a special guest who will help us do just that.

If you’re craving a meaningful pause—and a hopeful start to the year—I hope you’ll be there.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vZka8X_nTMagW7YByxSS8w

01/02/2026

A few weeks ago, I asked a simple question: How would you sum up 2025 in one sentence?

Your answers were honest and real. Some named major losses and hard seasons. Others shared growth, gratitude, new relationships, or the simple truth that the year asked a lot—and you’re still here.

Together, those responses told a meaningful story of a year that stretched us and shaped us. And now, here we are—standing at the start of something new.

So as 2026 begins, I wanted to ask a companion question—not to rush past what was, but to gently look ahead:

In just a few words, what do you hope the next year holds?

There’s no pressure to have it all figured out. Hope can be simple. It can be specific. It can even feel unfinished.

I’m grateful to step into this next chapter with you, and I’m looking forward to reading what you share.

01/02/2026

‘I’m glad we did this’

Heard this from Jack earlier today. We hadn’t been into the Rose Bowl, hadn’t seen the B2 Stealth Bomber fly over, hadnt bumped into a bunch of his buddies, hadn’t seen a snap of football and hadn’t seen his team, Indiana, roll over Alabama 38-3.

We made a decision just a few days ago to sneak away, use some airline miles, get some tickets and head out to Pasadena for 23 hours.

With so many moving pieces and complexities and the busyness of life, we almost passed on the chance to attend.

I’m glad we didn’t.

My friends, time together with the people we love is so fleeting and is so sacred. Take time intentionally throughout this year to spend time together. You don’t need to board a plane or step foot into a stadium.

You’ll be glad you did.

01/01/2026

Jason O. Harris is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, fourth-generation service member, professional pilot, best-selling author, and nationally sought-after keynote speaker on trust and leadership. Jason spent nearly three decades serving our country in the U.S. Air Force, flying 11 combat deployments and more than 470 combat sorties, ultimately commanding a Boeing KC-46 Tanker Aircraft Squadron. He carries those hard-earned lessons beyond the cockpit and into boardrooms, equipping leaders and teams to build trust, accountability, and peak performance when it matters most.

Today, Jason shares how trust is built under pressure, why leadership is revealed in moments of uncertainty, and what it truly means to “make the dash count.” He opens up about growing up in chaos, learning the power of environment and influence early in life, and how high-risk combat missions shaped his belief that you don’t rise to the occasion… you fall to the level of your training.

My friends, if you’re craving clarity in your leadership, confidence in your decisions, or stronger relationships at work and at home, this conversation is for you. You’ll leave with a renewed understanding of how trust is earned, practical ways to show up with intention, and a powerful reminder that your presence matters more than you think.

Listen to Jason O. Harris on Live Inspired Podcast ep. 842 now.

12/30/2025

Each month, we at Live Inspired celebrate individuals in our community who are grateful for all they have, joyful in all they do, and changing the world one life at a time. In other words, people who are On Fire For Good.

In 2025, we’ve celebrated people like:

James Chalmers, who reminds us through his service to Special Olympics Minnesota that the most meaningful impact doesn’t have to come from grand gestures but in choosing to show up.

Briana Morales, who shows us that even in the face of uncertainty and challenge, hope can be taught, shared, and lived out.

Matthew Butz, whose work with the Angel Band Project proves that leadership rooted in humility, faith, and service can create a lasting impact.

Check out the amazing stories of James, Briana and Matthew, as well as the stories of other honorees who are On Fire For Good, here: https://johnolearyinspires.com/category/on-fire-for-good/.

And if you know someone worthy of recognition in 2026, nominate them today: https://johnolearyinspires.com/onfireforgood/

12/29/2025

One of the great joys of On Fire For Good is celebrating people who change lives through a kind word or a quiet act. And every so often, we meet a leader who has figured out how to do that—at scale.

Miren Oca is one of those leaders.

For more than 30 years, Miren has taught life-saving water safety skills through Ocaquatics Swim School. That work matters deeply as they have taught thousands how to swim. And yet, that’s not what makes her extraordinary.

What makes Miren inspirational is how fiercely she invests in people.

Professionally, she doesn’t treat her team like line items on a spreadsheet. She treats them as if loving them is her primary responsibility as a leader. It’s a simple philosophy, but a rare one: take care of your people, and they’ll take care of everyone else.

And for Miren, “taking care” isn’t a slogan. It’s real. It shows up through mental health support, language classes, financial literacy training, and legal services for her team. It shows up in the way she treats each team member like family. It showed up when she, as a small business owner, invited me to speak with her team years ago. And in 2024, it showed up when she took an even bolder step—transferring ownership of her company to her employees.

Ownership changes the question from “What do I have to do today?” to “What are we building together?”

It creates dignity. Deepens responsibility. Amplifies impact. And protects shared values. Miren doesn’t just help people do their jobs—she equips them to elevate their lives.

What makes her story even more powerful is how it began.

As a teenager, Miren was on track for medical school when life took an unexpected turn. Pregnant at nineteen, her plans changed overnight. Fear showed up. Survival became the goal.

She did what she knew: taught swim lessons.

And in that detour, she found her calling. What began as survival became service. A small operation became a trusted institution. And a business became a platform for multiplying good. She even launched a nonprofit—Ripples of Impact —to expand access to swim lessons through scholarships and tuition support.

Miren often talks about leadership as dropping pebbles into the water—small, faithful decisions that create ripples far beyond what we can see. Into families. Into communities. Into futures.

As we step into 2026, that idea is an invitation for all of us.

Most of us won’t transfer company ownership. But every one of us can encourage, equip, and uplift the people around us—at work, at church, in our communities, and especially at home.

Invest in someone this year.

Keep showing up.

Apply steady pressure in the direction of goodness.

That’s how ripples of impact become a tidal wave.

Today is your day. Live Inspired.

12/29/2025

This stretch of days between Christmas and the New Year has always felt different to me.

The calendar slows down. Many of us are off work. Emails quiet. Routines loosen their grip. And for a brief moment, life feels a little more spacious—almost the way it used to.

Years ago, I read a New York Times article by Judith Shulevitz called Bring Back the Sabbath, and I’ve carried its message with me ever since. Judith wrote about a time not so long ago when entire communities shared a built-in pause—when stores closed, work stopped, and people rested together. Not for productivity. Not for efficiency. But because it was understood that we needed it.

That need hasn’t disappeared. If anything, it’s grown louder.

Our relationship with work, constant connectivity, and the pressure to always be “on” is out of balance. And this rare window—between holidays, between years—is a quiet reminder of what life can feel like when we give ourselves permission to stop.

This is why my conversation with Judith on the remains so relevant today. Her wisdom isn’t about religion or rules—it’s about reclaiming space for rest, reflection, and the people who matter most.

As you move through these final days of the year, my encouragement is simple: don’t rush past the pause. Protect it. Practice it. And consider how you might carry a version of this rest with you into the year ahead.

Check out our full discussion here: https://johnolearyinspires.com/podcast/archive/take-back-sabbath-judith-shulevitz-140/

12/25/2025

✨ Merry Christmas! ✨

Wherever this morning finds you, my hope is that you find space to slow down and be present. May today be filled with warmth, meaning, and moments—big or small—that stay with you long after Christmas morning has passed.

John O'Leary - Live Inspired

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