"I. YOU. WE. MATTER." To the outside world, Matt Emerzian was living the "American Dream". He was a gifted athlete, successful in the entertainment industry, hung out with famous people, and was living the "Hollywood lifestyle". Until one Monday morning when it fell apart and his life changed forever. The author of Every Monday Matters, Matt tells his story of brokenness and the long process of rebuilding his spirit. He now shares his story and experiences around the country, speaking to people ...
Nov 30, 2017•52 min•Season 6Ep. 58
"Pay attention to the movements in your soul." Fr. Jim Martin is an author, speaker, editor for American Magazine , contributor to the New York Times, Jesuit priest and consultant to the Vatican. SO MUCH in the marketplace is secular so I know this may feel unfamiliar. Actually, question #13 on the survey I give clients to help me prepare my presentation is this: "What topic do you not want me to speak to?" Nearly each of the 1,500+ presentations I've given I've received the same answer: Religio...
Nov 23, 2017•57 min•Season 6Ep. 57
"I wanted the same opportunities as the next person. I was no different, other than skin color." In 1954, the Supreme Court decided with Brown vs. Board of Education that separate schools for black and white students were unconstitutional. In the spring of 1957, Little Rock, Arkansas was the epicenter of racial tension as Little Rock Central High School prepared for the integration of its first nine students of color. Carlotta Walls LaNier was a member of the "Little Rock Nine." In the decades s...
Nov 16, 2017•45 min•Season 6Ep. 56
"Success leaves a blueprint." My friends success leaves a blueprint and we are lucky to have 10 amazing guests who shared their blueprint - trials, errors, challenges, wins, successes, joys - with us this season. Learning from their model, we will become more inspired in the way we lead our lives. I can't believe we get to hang out with these amazing friends. II'll recap my favorite lessons, so you can be reminded and/or encouraged to go back to the episodes that are most relevant for you; so th...
Nov 09, 2017•39 min•Season 5Ep. 55
"We are so much more than mortals suffering on this planet." Each of the 50+ episodes of the Live Inspired Podcast I end by asking our guest the "Live Inspired 7 Questions." The first - What is your favorite book? - has been answered SO MANY times with: Johnathan Livingston Seagull. So intrigued by the impact this little book had on so many of our amazing guests (and from a little research quickly learned on millions worldwide since it was published in 1970) I knew we had to have the author on t...
Nov 02, 2017•53 min•Season 5Ep. 54
"Hard work and applying yourself to be the very best you can be everyday: That is what life is all about." Today my boyhood hero joins us. Introducing him as a friend is a dream come true. Ozzie Smith is a 13-time, MLB Gold-Glove-winning short stop for the St. Louis Cardinals. When I was burned as a 9-year-old, Cardinals' announcer Jack Buck promised me John O'Leary Day at the Ballpark when I recovered. At John O'Leary Day: I got to meet Ozzie for the first time. This summer, on the 30th anniver...
Oct 26, 2017•53 min•Season 5Ep. 53
"Are you sewing seeds for 50-year relationships or 5-minute relationships?" John Ruhlin grew up 1 of 6 kids on a farm in Ohio. He learned first hand that, when you're poor - generosity does not go unnoticed. When working his way through college, he met a mentor who shaped the trajectory of his life. The foundation for success in his mentor's relationships, business and life was: Generosity. Today, 15 years later, John teaches generosity as a competitive advantage in business for clients like NAS...
Oct 19, 2017•52 min•Season 5Ep. 52
"I'd rather die on a mule in Mexico then on a bed at home." Edie Littlefield Sundby had just mortgaged her home to start a new business when she received a diagnosis of stage 4 gallbladder cancer. After months of treatment, she decided she needed to take a walk to "pour out her overflowing emotions." She set out on the impossible: Walking the entire 1,600 miles of El Camino Real "Mission" trail from Mexico to California. Edie trekked - dodging drug smugglers, rattlesnakes, mountain lions and sco...
Oct 12, 2017•51 min•Season 5Ep. 51
Every 6 minutes people check their phones. Married adults spend more time online than with their spouse. People spend 1 - 4 hours loafing on the internet during a work day. Wow -- it's easy to see the problem! But today, we're talking about solutions so you can live inspired in this tech-centered world. Curt Steinhorst shares hacks to better focus and communicate regardless of tech distractions and insights from his new book, Can I Have Your Attention? SHOW NOTES: Order Curt's new book Can I Hav...
Oct 05, 2017•50 min•Season 5Ep. 50
"Profits are the applause you get for taking care of your employees and customers." Dina Dwyer-Owens learned this lesson early when she took her first job working at her father's car wash at age 13. Years later, she took her lessons from the car wash and a leap of faith to drop out of college and join her dad at his new company: The Dwyer Group. She has never looked back. Today, Dina is co-chairwoman, has more than 3,000 franchisees across North America and appeared on the CBS hit Undercover Bos...
Sep 28, 2017•46 min•Season 5Ep. 49
"It was out of abject failure that I learned to speak." My friends, today we get to hang out with a legendary speaker. Mark Sanborn has spoken around the world 2,500+ times, authored the wildly popular Fred Factor and just released The Potential Principle . Mark will share his story about being a boy in 4H Club who failed at presenting a 5-minute speech... and how he transformed that failure into a successful speaking career. As Mark says: "We enjoy our successes but learn more from our setbacks...
Sep 21, 2017•45 min•Season 5Ep. 48
So many of us are experts at identifying what is wrong in the world, aren't we? What sets today's guest apart is that he didn't just identify what was wrong in his industry, he created a solution to the problem... and built a business around it. I am so inspired by Daniel Silverstein, who you'll know as "Zero Waste Daniel" after our conversation today. I'm thrilled to share with you, during New York Fashion Week and fashion "season" around the world, a man who is adding an inspired twist to the ...
Sep 14, 2017•43 min•Season 5Ep. 47
Today is a special episode of the Live Inspired podcast in light of September being Suicide Prevention Month 2017. Dennis Gillan joins us to share his story on a topic that affects us all: Mental health. He's committed his life to reducing the number of completed suicides and removing the stigma around mental health after losing his own two brothers to suicide. Today's episode will help us break down the stigma around mental health and better care for ourselves, those we love and those who are i...
Sep 07, 2017•41 min•Season 5Ep. 46
What are your qualities that people are most attracted to? What makes you intrinsically you ? Sally Hogshead, author of Fascinate: How to Make Your Brand Impossible to Resist , was in a car accident as a girl. The resulting damage to her face left her feeling that her "smile had turned into a grimace." As an extrovert who connected through her smile, this left her insecure and unsure how to connect with others. Sally has come a long way in the 30 years since the accident, but it's still at the h...
Aug 31, 2017•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 45
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost I love this quote from Robert Frost. Each of our guests from Season 4, though very different from each other (from co-founder of eHarmony to a super model and ESPN host to my personal business coach), chose the path less travelled... and it "truly made all the difference." On episode 44, I'm sharing with you my favorite take aways from each Season 4 guest. You'll not only g...
Aug 24, 2017•37 min•Season 4Ep. 44
"Take a breath and focus on what is important right now . Don't get too far ahead and miss what you need to do now." This advice comes from Chris Norton. You've likely "met" him through the viral video of him walking across the stage at his graduation. Why was this so meaningful? Chris was paralyzed while playing NCAA football. Accomplishing this walk became his biggest goal. His walk, story and determination will give you amazing insight to live more inspired today. SHOW NOTES: "I didn't think ...
Aug 17, 2017•51 min•Season 4Ep. 43
"Our job on this planet is to perpetuate love." Today's guest is the host of ESPN's Sports Science show, has won 6-emmies and wrote the New York Times bestseller The Perfection Point . John Brenkus realized early in his college career that he wanted to be in the entertainment industry. With this as his singular focus - and without any connections in the field - he took a personal oath to learn the ins and outs of of producing entertainment himself... and just started. In his parents' basement. "...
Aug 10, 2017•57 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Born on a farm in Oklahoma, the first 15 years of Leah's life allowed her quiet space to and hope and dream about what life could be. When her family moved when she was 15, Leah found herself scrambling to fit in and willing to bend and conform to societal pressures to ensure she did. This ultimately led her to have the prestigious role of "America's Next Top Model." Until one day - she couldn't do it any more. Tune in to hear what finally broke Leah Darrow of her willingness to maintain an unha...
Aug 03, 2017•43 min•Season 4Ep. 41
"You must be present to win. To win in your relationships at work and at home - you must be present." Bestselling author of Nice Bike , phenomenal leadership guru and longtime speaker, Mark Scharenbroich is going to school us on how to connect more effectively with people AND: remind us the importance of doing it. SHOW NOTES: My shop teacher, Leroy, had a big influence on me. One day he asked how I was doing. I said fine. He said, did you think that through? Fine ? Is that the kind of life you w...
Jul 27, 2017•51 min•Season 4Ep. 40
"How you respond to adversity determines the story you write." Life came at Ben hard and fast. When he was 6 months old, his divorcee mom was diagnosed with a rare disease and given only a few years to live. The above quote is one Ben gleaned from his mother's journal*, which he received 10 years after she passed. The time capsule of her positive attitude preserved in the journal swept Ben away. Today, he shares her worldview as a performance coach, speaker and author. You're going to love Ben's...
Jul 20, 2017•43 min•Season 4Ep. 39
"Today we're going to talk about the power of one. One individual. One action. One impact." The truth that one person can absolutely change the word is one I learned from my burn team when I was in the hospital. Today I am going to share one example of this truth. After being burned on 100% of my body, I wasn't expected to survive much less walk. But, Roy taught me to do exactly that; walk and SO much more. On today's episode, I share the story of Nurse Roy; a story I used to share from the stag...
Jul 13, 2017•17 min•Season 4Ep. 38
"There's always good that can come from the bad." Cohost of the nationally syndicated Bobby Bones Show and host of Love What Matters Podcast: Amy Brown is a ray of sunshine as she shares vulnerably with us about her life. From her father walking out on her family to her mother dying of cancer: Amy is a shining example of finding blessings in all of life's experiences. SHOW NOTES: Her dad leaving was a devastating experience that ultimately transformed her life in a positive way. "There's always ...
Jul 06, 2017•52 min•Season 4Ep. 37
"If you're patient, you'll move past obstacles." Today I am honored to share with you a man who has profoundly inspired me. Koran Bolden is a speaker, author + voice in urban education and arts. He committed to breaking the cycle of growing up in a fatherless home. He overcame the grief of losing his brother to gun violence. His smile can be felt in every word he speaks... and he is about to give you an amazing analogy so you can pivot into your most inspired life. My friends, Koran Bolden: SHOW...
Jun 29, 2017•45 min•Season 4Ep. 36
"Busy isn't productive. Your 'to do list' isn't most important. The list of commitments you actually honor is." Today I get to introduce you to the business coach who I began working with 10 years ago when I transitioned from real estate + construction into speaking + writing. Edie Varley has an undeniable energy that will absolutely captivate you. Get ready to recalibrate what is truly important in your life, relationships and business from my business coach and friend. SHOW NOTES: Be your best...
Jun 22, 2017•49 min•Season 4Ep. 35
"The most important thing you'll do for your relationships is what you do for yourself." Our guest today is a co-creator of eHarmony, psychologist, professor, author, husband and father, Les Parrott. When I shared a stage with Les at the Dave Ramsey SMART Conference, I was blown away by his wisdom. He's shared his expertise with Oprah, Barbara Walters and Tom Brokaw... and today he will share it with us. My friends, are you ready to improve your relationships with these amazing insights on susta...
Jun 15, 2017•53 min•Season 4Ep. 34
You can control and resist life or you can dive in. Let's take the wise words from season 3 guest Christine Hassler and: DIVE IN together. It's our day to LIVE INSPIRED! The guests on our show are ordinary people doing extraordinary things on purpose. On this episode, we'll celebrate the best insights from each Season 3 guest AND how it will impact the inspired life you're living. After just 3 seasons, we've got 400,000 downloads! Which means more lives are being touched and more people are livi...
Jun 08, 2017•41 min•Season 3Ep. 33
"What more can I do?" This epic question is the one I learned from the example of Hall of Fame Announcer Jack Buck. When our paths crossed, we were strangers. I had just been burned on 100% of my body and the doctors had given me less than 1% chance to survive. On today's episode, I share what has become my most requested story to share when I'm speaking at events. It's the story of an unlikely friendship. Hall of Fame Announcer and The "Voice of the Cardinals" Jack Buck absolutely changed my li...
Jun 01, 2017•26 min•Season 3Ep. 32
"We found ourselves in parachutes floating down over enemy territory." Charlie Plumb spent his impoverished yet idyllic childhood in Kansas "kicking cans and playing in the light of the moon." When it was time for college, he won a scholarship and hopped on a Greyhound bus to the military academy in Annapolis. After graduating from the Naval Academy, he immediately married his high school sweet heart and went onto flight training. In 1963 he was in Vietnam and on his 75th mission, his plane was ...
May 25, 2017•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 31
"I grew up in New York, in a small place..." Lolly Daskal grew up in Brooklyn, NY. One of the biggest most metropolitan cities in the world, and yet to Lolly "it felt like a very small place." Her life existed within a few city blocks and her community only spoke Yiddish, German and Hungarian. Her family was very religious and she was expected to be married and begin having children by 16. Lolly grew up very inquisitive, which was not supported in an environment where you were expected to just k...
May 18, 2017•36 min•Season 3Ep. 30
"We need to stop judging each other and thinking we know , because you would never know my story unless I told you." Laila Ali is a fitness & wellness guru, podcaster, author, undefeated 4-time boxing champion, has appeared on Dancing with the Stars and Chopped and is the daughter of Muhammad Ali. Today she shares vulnerably the path to all that she has accomplished in her 39 years - and WOW is it a lot ! Laila is one of the most focused, driven and loyal people I've met and you are going to...
May 11, 2017•51 min•Season 3Ep. 29
