Damon Dunn is a former NFL wide receiver, Stanford scholar, powerhouse entrepreneur, and a man who never forgot where he came from. Raised by his grandparents in a trailer with ten people, Damon grew up boiling bathwater on the stove, eating mayonnaise sandwiches, and sleeping three to a bed. Today, he's a successful CEO, real estate developer, founder of multiple businesses, and a leader committed to serving those facing the same uphill battles he once did. In this conversation, Damon shares ho...
Jun 12, 2025•54 min•Season 16Ep. 784
Do you think beautiful things can grow out of horrible events? Recently, I was introduced to a young man who exudes a youthful, happy energy, and whose mission in life-despite being rooted in an experience that is anything but—filled me with joy. Let me explain.
Jun 09, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 783
Sister Monica Clare is a nun, author, and the Superior at the Community of St. John Baptist, an Episcopal convent in New Jersey. And yet, she didn't answer the call to religious life until age 46, after a failed marriage, a successful career and years spent searching for where she truly belonged. Today, Sister Monica shares what it was like to grow up in chaos, endure a painful marriage to an atheist, and journey from comedy clubs and ad agencies to the quiet rhythms of convent life. With honest...
Jun 05, 2025•55 min•Season 16Ep. 782
Robert Irvine is a world-renowned chef, successful entrepreneur, and champion for our military and first responders. Perhaps most recognized from Food Network's Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible , Robert has helped transform over 300 failing restaurants, and more importantly, the lives of those behind them. Today, Robert shares how a childhood marked by poverty and homelessness shaped his view of leadership and service. He explains how food became his way to connect, serve and heal a...
May 29, 2025•54 min•Season 16Ep. 780
Have you noticed it is frequently the people who say the least about themselves who have the most incredible stories to share? On this Memorial Day holiday, I wanted to share one such example of a heroic, humble servant who never needed to tell you how great he was.
May 26, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 779
Dr. Henry Cloud is an acclaimed leadership expert, clinical psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries , Necessary Endings , and more than 40 other life-changing books that have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. For the past four decades, Henry has coached CEOs, guided families, and walked alongside everyday people in their most vulnerable moments to help them grow, heal, and lead. Today, Henry shares what it means to rise through pain, reframe failure and rewire...
May 22, 2025•59 min•Season 16Ep. 778
Thirteen years ago, I was invited to visit a critically ill man in a hospital. All I knew was the hospital where he was being treated, his room number, that his first name was David and that he was dying. What happened during that visit, and over the years since, impacted my life. In reading about it today, it's my hope it impacts yours, too.
May 19, 2025•7 min•Season 16Ep. 777
Jessica Cox was born without arms, but she's never let that stop her from soaring. A certified pilot, fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, author, global speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities, Jessica is also the visionary behind The Impossible Airplane, a first-of-its-kind aircraft designed to be flown entirely by foot. Her life is a powerful reminder that our greatest limitations are often the ones we place on ourselves. Today, Jessica shares how she turned "Why me?" into "Why n...
May 15, 2025•49 min•Season 16Ep. 776
A tent in Colorado A canoe in Georgia Friend's couch Church pew Airplane seat ER waiting room Classroom desk This is a truncated list of places I dozed off as a child. Regardless of where I fell asleep, though, I always had the certainty of ultimately going back to my house, my room, my bed. But many children do not sleep with that same certainty. When Luke Mickelson learned this reality, he began to do something about it. And what he did changed not only his life, but his entire community. In l...
May 12, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 775
Luke Mickelson is the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace , a nonprofit that has built and delivered more than 300,000 beds to children in need across the world. With nothing but hope, hammers, and heart, Luke traded his corporate success for a movement rooted in dignity, compassion, and community. Today, Luke shares how one "tiny moment" changed everything. From witnessing a little girl named Haley receive her very first bed to walking away from a steady career to serve full time, Luke proves th...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 16Ep. 774
A couple of years ago, I had the immense honor of delivering the commencement address for the Class of 2023 at my alma mater, Saint Louis University . (Believe me, the only people more surprised than I that O'Leary was the commencement speaker…. were the professors who taught me back in the late 1990s!) As I watched the graduates cross the stage full of excitement, trepidation, nerves and ultimately hope, I couldn't help but think back to the miracle that appeared the night of my own graduation....
May 05, 2025•7 min•Season 16Ep. 773
Kim Becking is a New York Times bestselling author, founder of the Unstoppable Momentum Movement, cancer survivor and mom of three. A leading voice on navigating change, she's on a mission to help people lead with purpose, build real resilience, and face life's challenges with courage. Today, Kim shares how she went from growing up in a trailer in small-town Missouri to becoming a lawyer and public servant. Plus, she shares the bold choice to leave a high-powered career to prioritize family, the...
May 01, 2025•54 min•Season 16Ep. 772
Several years ago, I was getting ready for work when my oldest son, Jack, walked into the bathroom as I was shaving. Just five years old at the time, he stood next to me for a while pretending that he, too, was getting rid of the "stubble" on his cheeks. But then he stopped pretending and began gently touching the scars that cover my torso. These are the deep red scars, with ridges and lumps that traverse my stomach. These are the scars that remind me of all I went through and would rather forge...
Apr 28, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 771
Dr. Blaise Aguirre is a renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist who has dedicated his life to helping thousands of young people struggling with thoughts of suicide and self-hatred. As a father of four and the author of I Hate Myself , Blaise brings both clinical expertise and a compassionate presence to his work by offering hope and healing to those navigating deep emotional pain. Today, Blaise shares why self-hatred isn't something we're born with, but rather a story we learn through life's ...
Apr 24, 2025•56 min•Season 16Ep. 770
So many powerful stories go untold. Most books are never read, most scripts never make it to screen, and most independent films never find distribution. That's why we're especially excited to share the news about the SOUL ON FIRE movie... let me explain.
Apr 21, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 769
As a former elementary school teacher and founding member of Humans of San Quentin, Diane Kahn is a fierce advocate for second chances and shared humanity. By spending the past seven years working inside the walls of California's most notorious prison, Diane empowers those incarcerated to earn their high school diplomas, tell their stories, and be seen not for what they've done, but for who they are. Today, Diane shares what inspired her to launch the Humans of San Quentin platform and why story...
Apr 17, 2025•48 min•Season 16Ep. 768
It can be rare to receive – or maybe more importantly to give – meaningful recognition for the important work being done all around us. In our race to the next activity, next location, next appointment, we often hurry right past the individuals providing worthy service directly in front of us. Rarely do we pause and thank the janitor for the clean bathroom, the cashier for taking the order, the driver for safe transport, or the hotel clerk for working the night shift. By contrast, through a lot ...
Apr 14, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 767
Jeff Glasbrenner is a three-time Paralympian, two-time wheelchair basketball world champion, 25-time Ironman finisher, and the first American amputee to summit Mount Everest. And yet, beyond the titles and the records, Jeff is a man who's said yes to life again and again, even when the odds were stacked against him. Today, Jeff shares what it really means to overcome adversity, achieve the impossible, and say yes to big, mighty goals. He opens up about the farm accident that took his leg at age ...
Apr 10, 2025•56 min•Season 16Ep. 766
I only cried once during high school. No, it wasn't the first day when Mom dropped me off. And it wasn't when I saw my first report card, received my first demerit, or experienced my first detention. It wasn't even when a friend accidentally ran over my foot in the parking lot or when none of my friends stood up to a bully making fun of my hands. Nope. The one time I cried during my high school career was in a theology class. That day, our teacher rolled a television and VCR into the room (for t...
Apr 07, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 765
Dr. Jessica Peck has spent more than two decades as a pediatric nurse practitioner, a professor, and a nationally recognized advocate for children and families. She's treated teens battling anxiety, depression, and self-harm, helped parents navigate the challenges of raising children in a rapidly changing world, and fought to protect young people from modern-day dangers like cyberbullying and trafficking. But her most important role? A mom of four who has learned firsthand the power of forgivene...
Apr 03, 2025•58 min•Season 16Ep. 764
With so much negativity spewed by the media, each month we share examples of individuals who are grateful for all they have, joyful in all they do and profoundly impactful in the communities where they serve. This month's On Fire For Good honoree's journey is remarkable and his professional impact is stunning, but what he celebrates most are the three letters signifying his achievements behind his name. Let me explain.
Mar 31, 2025•7 min•Season 16Ep. 763
Carlos Whittaker, renowned thought leader and bestselling author of Reconnected , is on a mission to help us rediscover the art of real connection. In a world dominated by screens and constant noise, Carlos did something radical. For seven weeks, he lived among Benedictine monks and Amish farmers, immersing himself in silence, simplicity and the rhythms of deep, intentional connection. Today, Carlos shares what happened when he stepped away from technology and into a world without distractions. ...
Mar 27, 2025•53 min•Season 16Ep. 762
What do you do when the weight of the world seems to fall directly on your shoulders? And how do you show up when you're pulled in so many directions that it feels hard to do anything particularly well? As I struggled with these questions in my own life, one person cruising past me showed me not only how to turn around my outlook but also revealed how to avoid the struggle in the first place moving forward. Let me explain.
Mar 24, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 761
By 28, David Vincent had been arrested over 30 times, faced 18 felonies, and was staring down a 15-year sentence. Raised in the streets of Memphis by a mother who taught him to steal and a violent stepfather, his future seemed set—until he cried out for another chance. Today, he's the founder and CEO of the Warrior Center, a faith-based rehabilitation program that helps men, women, and veterans battling homelessness and addiction find hope, healing, and a new future. Join me as David shares his ...
Mar 20, 2025•53 min•Season 16Ep. 760
Why me? This was the question I wrestled with frequently after getting burned. When I was finally able to communicate with my parents after more than a month, the first question I asked wasn't "When will I get out of here?" or "What's next?" or " Who is watching my siblings while you sit at my bedside around the clock?" No, it was simply, "Why me?" Let me explain.
Mar 17, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 759
Orphaned at eight years old, Orv Kimbrough spent his childhood navigating the foster care system, facing setbacks that could have defined his future. And yet, he instead chose a different path. Today, he's the chairman and CEO of Midwest BankCentre, leading with purpose and creating opportunities for others to thrive. Join me as Orv shares how he refused to let his circumstances determine his future, the mindset shifts that helped him break generational cycles, and the power of choosing resilien...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 16Ep. 758
Each summer I have the honor of speaking at a camp for children who have one thing in common. No, it isn't a political party or a shared ethnicity. It's not a singular sex nor a similar economic background. What galvanizes the children at Midwest Children's Burn Camp is the shared experience of being burned. One of the most difficult aspects of enduring a fire is the lifelong mark embossed on a survivor's skin. These scars serve as a visible reminder not only of the agonizing struggle endured, b...
Mar 10, 2025•4 min•Season 16Ep. 757
Human trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to more than 25 million individuals around the world. Gina Jernukian is the founder of Soul Survivor Ink, a nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking and former gang affiliation heal from the pain of their past by assisting them in the removal of "branding" tattoos and scars. Through this work, she helps survivors reclaim their identities, dignity, and freedom. Today, Gina shares the moment that...
Mar 06, 2025•49 min•Season 16Ep. 756
Life's most beautiful moments are often wrapped in imperfection. We all wonder if we are enough and worry about the opinion of others. Reading a book recently reminded me that the most beautiful things are often imperfect. Let me explain.
Mar 03, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 755
Scott LeRette is a husband, father, and author of The Unbreakable Boy , the book that inspired the feature-length film of the same name. At its heart, his story is about one family's journey through brokenness, healing, and embracing life's messy, beautiful moments. Today, Scott shares what it was like raising a son with brittle bone disease and autism, how his own battle with alcoholism nearly tore his family apart, and the moments of grace that changed everything. He opens up about his mother'...
Feb 27, 2025•54 min•Season 16Ep. 754
