Kindness & Courage: John O'Leary's Inspiring Healing Journey
Release Date: 09/14/2025
The Heart of 2025 Kindness: Closing Thoughts and Community Stories
Small Changes Big Shifts
As the 2025 Kindness Campaign comes to a close, Dr. Michelle Robin and Bayleigh Soza reflect on a month filled with heartwarming stories and meaningful moments that prove how small acts can create powerful ripples of change. From classrooms embracing daily kindness challenges to communities uniting across the US, they celebrate the impact of connection, compassion, and generosity. Together, they honor the partners, sponsors, and kindness influencers who helped make this year’s campaign a success, reminding listeners that kindness isn’t just...
info_outline
Championing Change: How Benjamin Gardner Uses Pickleball to Create Kindness and Community
Small Changes Big Shifts
At just 11 years old, Benjamin Gardner is proving that kindness, creativity, and purpose can spark powerful change. Alongside his dad, Kyle, Benjamin shares how his love for pickleball led to the creation of Stinger Prints—a small business with a big heart. What started as a 3D-printed bag tag has grown into a ripple of generosity supporting the Kansas City Stingers Youth Foundation. Through entrepreneurship, giving, and community, Benjamin reminds us that no one is too young to make a difference and that the best businesses are built with heart. Key Takeaways: ...
info_outline
The Power of Connection: Dr. Karyn Shanks on Healing and Transforming Lives
Small Changes Big Shifts
True healing begins when we reconnect with ourselves, with others, and with deeper wisdom within. Dr. Karyn Shanks shares how her four-decade journey as a physician led her to reimagine medicine through compassion, connection, and personal agency. From her own experience navigating chronic illness to helping others reclaim their energy and wholeness, she reveals why the best medicine starts from within. Through her grounded insights and gentle guidance, Dr. Shanks reminds us that healing is not about fixing what’s broken, it’s about remembering that we were never...
info_outline
The Power of Healing Through Play: Carron Montgomery's Wisdom on Parenting Success
Small Changes Big Shifts
Healing often begins with awareness—the quiet moment you choose to look within and face what’s beneath the surface. In this conversation, Carron Montgomery, author, counselor, and trauma specialist, shares how her work through The Invisible Riptide and upcoming graphic novel The Real Truth About Lena helps others navigate anxiety, grief, and emotional growth with compassion. Drawing from her experience as a mother, therapist, and advocate for mental health, Carron reminds us that true healing isn’t about avoiding the waves but learning to move through them with grace, empathy, and...
info_outline
Legacy of Kindness: Marcy Langhofer’s Mission for Do Good for Erin
Small Changes Big Shifts
After the tragic loss of her daughter Erin to gun violence, Marcy Langhofer transformed heartbreak into hope by founding Do Good for Erin, a nonprofit devoted to ending violence and supporting those it affects. What began as a simple clothing drive in Erin’s memory has grown into a powerful movement that’s donated over $650,000 to local agencies and awarded scholarships to future social workers. Through courage, compassion, and community, Marcy shows that even in our darkest moments, love can rise, kindness can heal, and purpose can be reborn. Key Takeaways: ...
info_outline
Before the Breakthrough: Bayleigh’s Reflections Ahead of the Hoffman Process
Small Changes Big Shifts
Before the breakthrough comes the pause, the moment when you choose to look within and prepare your heart for what’s next. In this intimate conversation, Bayleigh Soza sits down with Dr. Michelle Robin to share her reflections before beginning The Hoffman Process- a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery. At just 26, Bayleigh opens up about the courage it takes to face generational patterns, practice self-awareness, and extend grace to herself and others. Through the lens of motherhood, leadership, and inner growth, she reflects on what it means to...
info_outline
Rekindling Community and Belonging: Jerry Colonna on Kindness
Small Changes Big Shifts
Real leadership begins when we stop striving to prove our worth and start remembering who we are. Jerry Colonna blends wisdom, vulnerability, and experience in a heartfelt conversation that reimagines what it means to lead with purpose. From the fast-paced world of venture capital to guiding others through Reboot, Jerry reveals how self-awareness, courage, and belonging can transform not only our work—but our lives. With honesty and compassion, he reminds us that true growth starts within. Key Takeaways: Kindness begins with doing your own inner work so...
info_outline
Kindness Unleashed: How John Wang Transforms Lives Through Compassion
Small Changes Big Shifts
From facing personal ceilings to becoming the founder of the OneKindness Challenge, John Wang’s journey is one of growth, courage, and the power of choosing kindness. As the author of Big Asian Energy—recognized as one of Amazon’s Best Books of 2025—John has inspired millions through his writing, coaching, and global speaking. His story reflects how embracing authenticity and leading with compassion can break barriers, spark transformation, and create ripples of impact far beyond ourselves. Key Takeaways: Acts of kindness can transform lives and...
info_outline
Hope, Healing, and Community: The Inspiring Story of Matt and Chrissy Stewart
Small Changes Big Shifts
Longtime partners, parents of three, and now both cancer survivors, Matt and Chrissy Stewart’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and the power of choosing hope in the face of adversity. Diagnosed within months of each other—Chrissy with angiosarcoma and Matt with colorectal cancer—they turned their trials into testimony, leaning on family, community, and kindness to carry them through. Their story reflects how even in life’s hardest seasons, love and purpose can shine brighter than fear, inspiring others to live fully in each moment. Key Takeaways: Hope...
info_outline
Transforming Lives with James Swanwick: The Alcohol-Free Movement
Small Changes Big Shifts
Once an ESPN anchor and now the founder of Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, James Swanwick’s journey is one of self-discovery, transformation, and the power of choosing kindness for yourself. After giving up alcohol in 2010, James experienced dramatic improvements in his sleep, health, and clarity—changes that inspired him to create Project 90, a program helping high achievers break free from alcohol and unlock their full potential. His story shows that one intentional shift can spark a ripple effect of resilience, purpose, and lasting well-being. Key Takeaways: Quitting alcohol...
info_outlineFrom 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://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
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.