607: How to Live and Love Fully with John O'Leary
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
Release Date: 10/15/2025
625: The Coaching Habit That Brings Out The Best In People with Michael Bungay Stanier
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
What if the fastest way to create deeper conversations, improve your leadership abilities, and your relationships wasn’t a better plan—but a better question? My guest today is Michael Bungay Stanier, bestselling author of , the most popular coaching book of the century, to unpack why most of us rush to give advice too quickly and how staying curious just a little longer can change everything. You’ll hear Michael talk about why we’re all “advice-giving maniacs,” how asking better questions leads to better outcomes, and the simple coaching framework Michael has taught to...
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624: How to Be More Charismatic and Have Great Conversations with Vanessa Van Edwards
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
Have you ever walked into a room or given a presentation and immediately felt awkward? Or maybe you struggle with confidence or imposter syndrome at live gatherings or even on Zoom meetings? If so, this episode is for you. As you’ll hear from today’s guest, confidence isn’t the absence of awkwardness—it’s feeling it, acknowledging it, and showing up anyway. And she has the tools to help you do just that. Vanessa Van Edwards is a behavioral researcher, the founder of Science of People, and the best-selling author of and . Her is phenomenal and has over 6 million views for good...
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623: The Money Habits That Cure Financial Stress with Mike Michalowicz
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
Rising inflation has turned everyday expenses into a constant source of stress, leaving millions of people stuck living paycheck to paycheck and wondering if they’ll ever feel truly “okay” with money. While traditional budgeting plans promise control, they often deliver guilt and overwhelm instead. That’s why I’m excited to be joined by Mike Michalowicz, bestselling author of 11 financial books, including the , to talk about his newest book, Mike’s helped over a million people build real financial peace, and in this conversation, he breaks down what “financial independence”...
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622: How Cannabis Changed My Life And Can Change Yours with Joe Sheehey, CEO of CURED Nutrition
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
If you struggle with sleep, pain, or anxiety, you’ve probably tried many medications and sleeping pills only to end up frustrated by side effects, poor results, and thinking that you’re treating symptoms instead of actually feeling better. That’s why I’m excited to welcome back Joe Sheehey, founder of and a former aerospace engineer who left his corporate career at Lockheed Martin to improve the lives of millions of people. Joe’s path to entrepreneurship was influenced by his own mental health battles, a life-saving turning point in college, and a growing conviction that there has...
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621: 6 Books That Will Change Your Life in 2026
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
If you want 2026 to be your best year yet, one of the simplest ways to accelerate personal growth is to let a great book challenge the way you think, lead, love, and live. In today’s episode, I’m sharing six (6) books that I believe can genuinely change your life this year. Whether your focus is setting bigger goals, strengthening your marriage, becoming a more effective leader, building a thriving family culture, or shifting your relationship with money, there’s something here for everyone. I’ll walk you through why each book made the list, what I learned from it, and how you can...
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620: How to Navigate Conflict Without Losing the People You Love with Kelsey Blahnik
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
If you’ve been feeling emotionally drained from relationship conflict or disagreeing with people that you love, this episode is for you. Despite how technology and social media have made it incredibly easy to stay connected with family, friends, and our communities, many people feel more divided and disconnected than ever. That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce you to Kelsey Blahnik, a clinical social worker and therapist who works on the front lines of emotional and relational tension. From families and friendships to workplaces, in our increasingly divided political culture, Kelsey helps...
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619: The 3 Ego Beliefs That Quietly Run Your Life with Aaron Abke
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
If you’ve ever felt trapped in your own thoughts, frustrated by repeating emotional patterns, or exhausted from chasing happiness that never quite lasts, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about personal growth. As today’s guest reveals, a lot of our suffering doesn’t come from our circumstances—it comes from the unconscious beliefs that shape how we experience reality. Aaron Abke is a spiritual teacher, founder of 4D University, and the author of With a background in theology, a masters degree in biblical studies, and millions of followers drawn to his...
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618: Return to Real: How To Live Authentically In The Digital World with Ryan Levesque
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
As the digital world of AI accelerates faster than ever, it’s tempting to automate, optimize, and outsource nearly every part of our lives. But what if the path we’re on is, ironically, pulling us further away from a meaningful life and genuine happiness? In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my good friend Ryan Levesque to explore a powerful, yet contrarian concept he calls —and why it may be the thing we need most when AI is making us feel more disconnected than ever before. Ryan is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and creator of the ASK Method, who has built...
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617: How to Rewire Your Brain to Overcome Self-Sabotage with Thais Gibson, PhD
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
If you've ever struggled with challenges in your relationships, emotional triggers, or just feeling stuck in old patterns, you’re not alone. Those cycles are hard to break, and it often feels like no matter how hard you try, you end up repeating the same behaviors, sabotaging your goals with limiting beliefs. But as today’s guest reveals, you’re not broken; this is your subconscious telling you that you’re ready to heal. Thais Gibson, PhD, is an author, researcher, and founder of The Personal Development School, whose groundbreaking work has helped millions of people unravel emotional...
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616: How to Prepare NOW for Your Best Year Ever
Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod
During the holiday season, many people break from their daily routines by staying up late, having drinks, and overeating, and tell themselves they’ll get serious again on January 1st. But if you want next year to be the best year of your life, waiting until the new year to begin is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. In today’s episode, I’m sharing why the final weeks of the year are your greatest opportunity to prepare mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the future you want to create. The truth is, the decisions you make in December will undoubtedly impact...
info_outlineWhen life knocks us down or tragedy strikes us or our loved ones, it’s easy to think life is unfair and wonder, “Why me?” But what if your greatest challenges—past and present—are actually divine opportunities for growth and contribution?
My good friend, John O’Leary, knows this better than most. At just 9 years old, a gas can exploded, burning 100% of his body, and he was given virtually zero chance of survival. Yet he not only survived, he thrived, and has shared his inspiring story with millions of people around the world.
And if that wasn’t enough, his life story was told in the new Sony Pictures film, Soul on Fire, which was released last week. I took my wife and teenage kids to see it, and we all agreed that it is literally one of the best movies we have ever seen!
In today’s podcast episode, John joins me to share many heartfelt life lessons he learned from his father (who passed away 15 days after watching the movie), and he gives the backstory on one of the most powerful things his dad ever said: “I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
You’ll hear how John turned his pain into purpose and suffering into a life of service and gratitude. From learning to say “yes” to being used for good, to discovering that real heroes are the people who show up and ask for nothing in return in our darkest moments.
John’s sincerity and wisdom may move you to tears, and hopefully inspire you to see your biggest challenges as divine opportunities for growth and contribution.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Powerful Life Lessons John Learned From His Dad
- The Power of Presence and Loving People Where They Are
- A Different Way To Go Through Life and Face Death
- Why Ordinary People Are the Real Heroes
- Saying “Yes” to Being Used for Good
- Being of Service to Others Unlocks Fulfillment
- Imagine Yourself Starting Every Interaction with Love
- The Mindset Shift From Victimhood to Victor
- John’s Message for Anyone Struggling With Pain or Regret
- Why Soul on Fire Is a Movie Everyone Needs to See
- Three Words from John’s Dad: “What a Gift”
Get The Full Show Notes
To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/607
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