John O’Leary: Inspirational Speaker

John O’Leary is a burn survivor, bestselling author, and internationally acclaimed keynote speaker who teaches audiences how to ignite inspired living through resilience, mindset, and hope.

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • Burned on 100% of his body, given 1% chance to survive
  • Author of On Fire and In Awe, both #1 national bestsellers
  • Featured keynote speaker for global organizations across industries
  • Host of the Live Inspired Podcast
  • Story adapted into a feature film (Fall 2025)

Formats: Keynote 45–60 min, Leadership & Inspiration Workshops, Faith-based Events

Audiences: Corporate teams, healthcare professionals, educators, associations, and faith-based communities

Outcomes:
  1. Recognize life as a sacred gift worth living boldly
  2. Learn resilience strategies to thrive through adversity
  3. Embrace mindset and connection as drivers of purpose and impact
  • Reading Time: 2 min
  • Bio Word Count: 275
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: St. Louis, MO
  • **Fee range: $20,001 - $35,000

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

There was a time when we once joyfully raised our hand high to answer every question, connected more easily with others around us, believed that anything was possible and fearlessly jumped into new experiences; when we experienced our days, not as something to endure, but as a marvelous gift to absorb and savor; when we danced through our days In Awe of the ordinary moments of the day and eager for the promise of tomorrow.

Unfortunately, many of us experience life very differently today. The pace of change has never been so stunningly rapid, and it will never be this slow again. With engagement within our professional organizations waning and burnout rising, many of us find ourselves caught in a life of dogged responsibility and mind-numbing repetition, we feel disconnected and burned out. Social media reminds us we don’t measure up and mainstream media barrages us with constant negativity. The years of testtaking, relentless striving toward someone else’s goals, and the daily struggle to earn a living, have caused us to lose the sense of wonder that we once awoke with every day.

In his new book, In Awe, John O’Leary invites us to return to the joy of navigating life like a child. He identifies the five senses children innately possess, explains why those senses fade, and shares emotional, humorous and inspirational stories of how we can return to them.

Where John’s first book On Fire leveraged his life experiences and challenges as a mirror for readers to better navigate their own, In Awe specifically identifies the most substantial challenges readers face in living more fully. It then calls out the cause of those challenges, while providing practical and inspired solutions to address them.

Strengthened by the past, and empowered for the future, In Awe shows us how to seek fresh insights, reach for new solutions, and live our best lives.

Objectives

  • Innovation: Whether they want to play professional sports, think they can fly, or expect there is a solution to every problem, children are born with a naturally curious spirit that challenges the status quo. John invites us to explore what might happen when we no longer see obstacles as impossibilities, or rely on what has always been done, but reengage our natural curiosity that asks questions, pushes boundaries, and liberates us to innovate with new ways of thinking, solving, leading, and living.
  • Collaboration: Many of us find ourselves in a society where we feel isolated, alone, and enduring an epidemic of loneliness. Yet, we once were in touch with our sense of openness. Kids are always looking to expand their world, see potential friends everywhere and aren’t afraid to start conversations with those around them. John invites us to stop building fences focusing on our differences, and instead show our vulnerability and need for others, which resuscitates the feeling of acceptance, belonging and community. Learn how to reignite an environment built on shared goals, values and focus.
  • Empowerment and Accountability: Despite our best exhortations, kids don’t like to play it safe, but are natural risk-takers and adventurers, dreaming big and boldly going after what they want. John invites to see what’s possible when we set aside the protectionism that keeps us safe, begin to own our choices, claim our power, and live again as if anything is possible.

We live in a world where “accidental living” mindlessly moving through routines, wasting countless hours on social media, or complaining about what’s wrong in our jobs, families and society has become the norm. But John O’Leary reminds us that just because we got out of bed this morning, does not mean that we are truly living.

What would our day, impact and output look like if we lived a radically inspired life, every, single day?

Living radically inspired means you learn from past mistakes, rise above challenges and thrive no matter the circumstances. No one embodies this more than powerhouse inspirational speaker John O’Leary who was nearly killed in a devastating fire at age nine. Today, John inspires 50,000+ people each year around the world.

In his #1 national bestselling book ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, John has identified choices to transform your life and business. ON FIRE has sold more than 200,000 copies and has been translated into 12 languages.

John shares the critical truth that “inflection points” moments in time that change everything that follows occur daily. He empowers you to realize that your life has far less to do with what happens to you, and much more to do with how you respond. Although you can’t always choose the path you walk, you can always choose the manner in which you walk it. Are you ready to live on fire?

Expected to die, John O’Leary now teaches others how to truly live. John was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, he created a massive explosion in his garage and was burned on 100% of his body. Given less than 1% chance of survival, John is proof of the power of the human spirit.

His unlikely recovery meant a journey of pain and loss that could have easily been insurmountable. However, far from being an example of someone who simply endured tragedy, John is a luminous example of thriving through adversity.

Surprisingly, this “survivor” story isn’t focused on John – rather, it is a celebration of heroes who intimately served him and his family. From a dedicated Hall of Fame sports announcer to a visionary burn nurse (and countless others), every individual involved in this 1987 fire teaches us this truth: One person can make a profound difference in the lives of others.

With emotional storytelling and unexpected humor, John reminds audiences of the significance of daily attitudes, the power of gratitude, and the impact of serving others with courage. He reawakens audiences to realize the gift of today and the possibility of tomorrow.

John is consistently referenced as “the best speaker we’ve ever had” – earning five-star reviews and inspiring 50,000+ individuals at 100+ events each year. His Live Inspired Podcast is a top rated podcast on Apple Podcasts, and his book, On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life was an instant #1 national bestseller, has sold 200,000+ copies and has been translated into 12 languages.

Talent Short Bio

At nine years old, John O’Leary was burned on 100% of his body and given a 1% chance to live. His miraculous survival, resilience, and family’s journey were chronicled in Overwhelming Odds, which has sold nearly 100,000 copies. Over time, John embraced his story and began speaking, eventually inspiring millions across the world.

He is the author of two #1 national bestsellers, On Fire and In Awe, and hosts the Live Inspired Podcast. John’s message is now being adapted into a feature film (On Fire, releasing Fall 2025). His mission: to wake people from accidental living and inspire them to embrace life as a sacred gift, choose their mindset, and change the world starting with their own story.

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

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Talent Videos

John O’Leary – Keynote Speaker & Author Sizzle Reel

Burn survivor and bestselling author John O’Leary shares his powerful story of resilience, gratitude, and hope—reminding audiences everywhere that the best is yet to come.

In this sizzle reel, John O’Leary reflects on the life-changing explosion he survived as a child. Though burned on 100% of his body, he shares that he would not erase the experience—it shaped his faith, character, and future. The accident led to transformative encounters, including with broadcaster Jack Buck and eventually with his wife, Elizabeth Grace, with whom he has four children.

John emphasizes that life’s real dangers often come from what we don’t see—the “fumes”—and that resilience comes from how we choose to respond. He reminds us that hope is not a strategy, action is, and challenges us to keep fighting, keep serving, and keep inspiring. Testimonials from leaders affirm John’s ability to make audiences laugh, cry, and recommit to their values. His closing message: together, “one by one by one,” we can break down walls and embrace the belief that the best is yet to come.

Key Moments

00:00 – John asked if he’d change the past—his answer: “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
00:25 – Childhood explosion and encounters that shaped his future.
00:55 – Message: adversity fuels gratitude, character, and purpose.
01:25 – “Hope is not a strategy”—call to action for growth and responsibility.
01:55 – Testimonials highlight John’s authenticity and impact.
02:20 – Call to resilience: “Keep fighting, keep serving.”
02:40 – Closing message: “The best is yet to come.”

A feature film inspired by John O’Leary’s bestselling book On Fire—the true story of survival, hope, and building a life of purpose out of ashes.

The trailer opens with a dramatic scene of paramedics rushing to save nine-year-old John O’Leary, burned over 100% of his body. As he fights for his life, a radio host (Jack Buck) encourages him to hold on and promises he will walk again.

Against all odds, John survives, but the challenges continue learning to live without hands, facing self-doubt, and daring to love and build a future. We see glimpses of John meeting Elizabeth (his future wife), starting a construction business despite physical limitations, mentoring children, and finding his calling as a public speaker.

Voiceovers underscore the film’s central themes: having a reason to thrive bigger than your challenges, loving the life you’re living right now, and turning ashes into purpose. The trailer closes with the line: “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

Key Moments

00:00 – Emergency scene: young John burned 100% of his body
00:20 – Jack Buck encourages John: “You will walk again”
00:40 – John survives; glimpses of recovery and self-doubt
01:00 – Meeting Elizabeth; starting life as a contractor
01:20 – Invited to speak to a scout troop; discovers public speaking
01:40 – Message of thriving despite adversity
02:00 – Building a good life out of ashes
02:20 – Closing quote: “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

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Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.

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Resilience, leadership, purpose, hope, and inspired living.

He speaks powerfully to both secular and faith audiences.

Yes, John adapts stories and outcomes to match event themes.

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