Backstage Pass: Ep. 29 - The Soul On Fire Mindset For Purpose That Lasts with John O'Leary

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 29 - The Soul On Fire Mindset For Purpose That Lasts with John O'Leary

Backstage Pass: Ep. 29 - The Soul On Fire Mindset For Purpose That Lasts with John O'Leary

John O’Leary bio

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 his parents’ book, Overwhelming Odds, in 2006. Originally printing 200 copies for friends and family, his parents have sold 60,000+ copies. It was this book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the world.

John inspires 50,000+ people at 100+ events each year. He speaks to companies and organizations across industries, such as: sales, healthcare, safety, marketing, finance, faith, education and insurance.

Consistently described as “the best speaker we’ve ever had,” John receives nearly 100% of his engagements from referrals. His schedule is a testament to the power of his message and who he is as an individual.
His emotional story-telling, unexpected humor and authenticity make each of his presentations truly transformational.

John is a two-time #1 National bestselling author. His first book ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life has sold 250,000+ copies and been translated into 12 languages. IN AWE: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy published in May 2020 with many saying it is the message we all need right now.

Filming is currently underway to bring John's bestseller, SOUL ON FIRE, to the silver screen. Directed by Sean McNamara, the movie has an impressive cast list including William H. Macy (Shameless), John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Joel Courtney (The Kissing Booth), DeVon Franklin (Jesus Revolution), and Stephanie Szostak (A Million Little Things).

SOUL ON FIRE counters the belief that we are defined by our mistakes or the difficulties we endure. It instead celebrates the parts of John's story that are most enduring and most universal—that when community comes together, when personal imperfections are embraced and when we allow who we wish we were to finally give way to the gift we already are, amazing things happen.

John's award-winning Live Inspired Podcast has more than 2.5 million downloads and enjoys world-class guests like Brene Brown, Mitch Albom, and Shawn Achor.

John considers his greatest success to be his marriage to his wife Beth, their four children and his relationships with friends and family.

Learn more about john o'leary
 
Overwhelming Odds
By O'Leary, Susan, O'Leary, Denny
Buy on Amazon
 

show notes

On this episode of Backstage Pass, John O'Leary shares his inspiring journey from a tragic childhood accident to becoming a motivational speaker and author. He discusses the recent premiere of the film based on his life story 'Soul on Fire,' the importance of community, and the impact of storytelling. John emphasizes the significance of pursuing a life of purpose and the power of individual choices in making a difference.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • John O'Leary's journey is about resilience and community support.

  • The creation and premiere of the film 'Soul on Fire' and how it reflects deeper life lessons.

  • Storytelling is a powerful tool for connection and healing.

  • The seven choices in John's book that guide personal growth.

  • The power of one individual can change lives.

  • Tailoring messages for audiences enhances their impact.

  • Life is a gift, and recognizing this can transform perspectives.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing John O’Leary to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 28 - The Ethics Trap Every Leader Faces with Andy Fastow

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 28 - The Ethics Trap Every Leader Faces with Andy Fastow

Backstage Pass: Ep. 28 - The Ethics Trap Every Leader Faces with Andy Fastow

andy fastow bio

Andy Fastow was the Chief Financial Officer of Enron Corp. from 1998 – 2001. In 2004, he pled guilty to two counts of securities fraud, and was sentenced to six years in federal prison. He completed his sentence in 2011, and now lives with his family in Houston, Texas. Andy currently consults with management, directors, attorneys, and hedge funds on how to best identify potentially critical finance, accounting, compensation, and cultural issues.

His training sessions focus on risk in the “gray zone”, where decisions that may technically be allowed give rise to risks that are not properly considered. He helps attendees better understand the limited role of auditors and attorneys, how technically-correct but ethically-challenged decisions may be interpreted by the market, and the steps they can take to become more self-aware and able to identify, price, and manage these risks.

Andy is the only Enron executive that has taken full responsibility for his actions and has both repeatedly and publicly expressed remorse. In addition to serving his prison sentence, Andy forfeited far more money than he ever earned at Enron. He is credited with being the individual most responsible for helping recover $6 billion for Enron shareholders.

His sessions are also typically awarded 1 ½ hours of CLE and CPE Ethics credits.

Learn more about andy fastow

show notes

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis is joined by Andy Fastow, the former CFO of Enron, to discuss about ethics, leadership, and decision-making in business. Andy shares his journey of taking responsibility for his role in the collapse of Enron, the importance of understanding risk in the gray areas of business, and how corporate culture plays a crucial role in ethical decision-making. He emphasizes the need for leaders to ask critical questions and to foster an environment where risks are identified and managed effectively. The discussion also touches on the relevance of the Enron case in today's business landscape and the importance of continuing education in ethics and risk management.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Andy Fastow takes full responsibility for his actions at Enron.

  • The importance of understanding risk in the gray zone.

  • Corporate culture is crucial for fostering ethical decision-making.

  • Loopholes can lead to unethical behavior despite following the rules.

  • Human nature often leads to overlooking hidden risks in business.

  • Risk assessment should take precedence over mere compliance.

  • Continuing education in ethics is vital for professionals.

  • Andy encourages open dialogue and questions in corporate settings.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Andy Fastow to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 5 - Peter Sheahan: Owning & Accelerating Transformation

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 5 - Peter Sheahan: Owning & Accelerating Transformation

Backstage Pass: Ep. 5 - Peter Sheahan: Owning & Accelerating Transformation

peter sheahan bio

After decades of standing in the fire with leaders of high-performing organizations, Peter Sheahan has come to believe that an organization will only go commercially where its leaders first go personally.

Having grown his own companies by accelerating the growth and transformation for clients that include: Apple; Chick-fil-A; DeBeers; and AT&T -- Peter will provoke you to get bigger, by getting better! When leaders are true to their purpose, they gravitate towards doing work that matters and solving higher-order problems. The journey to get there requires that they have the courage to tell themselves the truth, take intelligent risks, and assume ownership for driving the alignment necessary to build an organization which behaves in ways worthy of its leadership position.

In being true to his own ambitions and relentless pursuit of growth, Peter has published seven books, built three global companies and delivered more than 2,500 presentations in 40+ countries. Today he is focused exclusively on inspiring leaders to do the hard work required to accelerate growth and transformation.

Learn more about peter sheahan

show notes

Peter Sheahan is an entrepreneur, strategist, C-suite advisor, and in-demand speaker. After writing Generation Y, his first book, he quickly found himself in boardrooms speaking about understanding and connecting with the next generation. Since then, Peter has written several books and has headlined countless speaking events. During the episode, Peter shares the importance of owning change to accelerate transformation on teams.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Where Peter’s career started and the trajectory it took from there.

  • Why Peter wanted to write about the value shifts of young people.

  • How he ended up teaching about change and disruption globally.

  • How he got the nickname “CEO whisperer,” and his method for pushing people.

  • Peter’s process for preparing for a keynote speech and the interview he must have first.

  • What it takes to be a great leader in today’s organizations.

  • Why he decided to sell some of his businesses and what he’s focusing on instead.

  • Peter’s ideal audience and who he loves speaking to the most.

  • What happened when he crossed paths with Brené Brown and why he’s a big fan.

  • How speakers set expectations for their events and why some seem high maintenance.

  • Why speakers are prone to depression (despite what it looks like on the outside).

  • The advice Peter has for event planners when making speaker selections.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Peter Sheahan to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 27 - War-Time Interrogator’s Secret to Trust with Eric Maddox

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 27 - War-Time Interrogator’s Secret to Trust with Eric Maddox

Backstage Pass: Ep. 27 - War-Time Interrogator’s Secret to Trust with Eric Maddox

Eric Maddox Bio

Upon graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1994, Eric Maddox joined the U.S. Army as an infantry paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division. After spending three years as a paratrooper, jumpmaster and a qualified ranger, Eric reenlisted as an interrogator and Chinese Mandarin linguist. Since 9/11, Eric has conducted over 2,700 interrogations while deploying eight times in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) to include multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

In 2003, while assigned to a special operations task force in Tikrit, Eric conducted over 300 interrogations and collected the intelligence which directly led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. As a result, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Director’s Award and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. After being hired as a civilian with the Department of Defense, Eric continued to help fight the Global War on Terror (GWOT) until 2014. In May 2015, he earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and is now a private consultant and negotiator and lives in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Eric is also the author of Mission: Black List No. 1 (Harper Collins, 2008), which he wrote with the permission of the Department of Defense.

Learn more about eric maddox
 
 

show notes

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Eric Maddox discusses the importance of empathy-based listening in building trust and effective communication in both personal and professional settings. 

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Empathy-based listening is crucial for building trust.

  • Organizations need to focus on understanding their clients.

  • Listening is more important than pitching in conversations.

  • Trust is the foundation of effective partnerships.

  • Empowerment within teams leads to better outcomes.

  • How Eric’s techniques can be applied across various industries.

  • Empathy-based listening vs. sympathy-based listening.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Eric Maddox to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 15 - Josh Linkner: Everyday Innovation

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 15 - Josh Linkner: Everyday Innovation

Backstage Pass: Ep. 15 - Josh Linkner: Everyday Innovation

josh linkner bio

Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.

On the business front, he’s been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (mooDEE-tah) Venture Partners – an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he’s helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He’s twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.

While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. He’s been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world.

His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world’s foremost experts on innovation. Josh is the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he’s on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.

Learn more about josh linkner

show notes

On the latest Backstage Pass episode, Gail Davis is joined by Josh Linkner who shares insights on the transformative power of everyday innovation, turning disruption into opportunity, and embracing creativity.

Josh Linkner, a five-time tech entrepreneur and expert in innovation and leadership. The conversation explores the parallels between jazz music and business leadership, emphasizing the importance of creativity and innovation in today's rapidly changing landscape. Josh shares insights on overcoming misconceptions about innovation, the significance of everyday innovation, and real-world examples of companies that have successfully embraced creative approaches. The discussion also highlights the importance of tailoring messages for diverse audiences and engaging them effectively during presentations. In this engaging conversation, Gail and Josh delve into the themes of innovation, disruption, and the art of keynote speaking. They explore the concept of the 'judo flip' as a method for embracing change, the importance of audience-centric keynotes, and how to turn disruption into opportunity. The discussion also highlights the significance of micro innovations and the transformative potential of AI.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Jazz musicians operate like effective business leaders.

  • Today's leaders must embrace creativity and innovation.

  • AI is automating traditional skills, leaving creativity as a key human asset.

  • Companies often overestimate the risks of innovation and underestimate the risks of stagnation.

  • An experimentation mindset can de-risk innovation efforts.

  • Everyday innovations can lead to significant results.

  • Real-world examples illustrate the power of creative thinking.

  • Sales roles require creativity and adaptability.

  • Tailoring presentations to the audience enhances engagement.

  • Creating a fear-free environment fosters creativity. The 'judo flip' is a powerful tactic for embracing change.

  • Keynotes should focus on the audience, not just the speaker.

  • Disruption can be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat.

  • Micro innovations are a practical approach to managing change.

  • AI is a transformative force, comparable to the internet.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Josh Linkner to your next event!

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