Aaron Golub is the first legally blind athlete to ever play in a Division I football game. With no vision in his right eye and only a small, central "tiny hole" field of sight in his left (and roughly 20/200 in that limited view!), Aaron spent years being underestimated and defined by what others believed he couldn't do, until he decided to rewrite the story himself. Today, Aaron shares what it means to build resilience early, how internal motivation changes everything, and why the challenges we...
Jan 08, 2026•47 min•Season 17Ep. 844
As we stand at the start of a new year, with to-do lists drafted, words chosen and intentions set, I want to offer you a question to consider. One that has a way of slowing us down, sharpening our focus and gently but firmly calling us to do more. That question? Are you a turkey person? Not in the holiday-meal sense, but in the way you show up for others. Years ago, that question changed the trajectory of a football team, a community and a life. And years later, when I heard it, it did the same ...
Jan 05, 2026•5 min•Season 17Ep. 843
Jason O. Harris is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, fourth-generation service member, professional pilot, best-selling author, and nationally sought-after keynote speaker on trust and leadership. Jason spent nearly three decades serving our country in the U.S. Air Force, flying 11 combat deployments and more than 470 combat sorties, ultimately commanding a Boeing KC-46 Tanker Aircraft Squadron. He carries those hard-earned lessons beyond the cockpit and into boardrooms, equipping leaders and teams ...
Jan 01, 2026•49 min•Season 17Ep. 842
One of the great joys of On Fire For Good is celebrating people who change lives through a kind word or a quiet act. And every so often, we meet a leader who has figured out how to do that—at scale. Miren Oca is one of those leaders. Let me explain.
Dec 29, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 841
Colleen Costigan is the co-founder and executive director of BEAM Kenya, an organization built on the belief that every child deserves the chance to heal, learn, and lead. While living a successful corporate life and doing everything "right," a one-month volunteer trip to Kenya redirected her future and became a lifelong commitment now serving thousands of children through education and mental health support. Today, Colleen shares how that one short trip became a lifelong calling, why education ...
Dec 24, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 16Ep. 840
With Christmas just days away, excitement fills our homes… twinkling lights, festive music, and hardly any sleep. Growing up, every tradition seemed to build toward Christmas morning and the thrill waiting just beyond my bedroom door. But before the presents, before the surprises, there was one simple ritual that mattered most. Let me explain.
Dec 22, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 839
Dave Sanderson is a nationally recognized leadership speaker, accomplished author, and the last passenger of US Airways Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson. On January 15, 2009, Dave survived what should have been a tragedy, emerging from the icy Hudson River alive and forever changed. In the years since, he has dedicated his life to sharing lessons on leadership, faith, preparation, and purpose. Today, Dave shares what it means to face fear head-on, how the decisions we make in uncertain mom...
Dec 18, 2025•55 min•Season 16Ep. 838
I've held many titles in my life, and I'm grateful for all of them. But my favorite job title, by far, has always been Dad. As Patrick moves through his senior year of high school and toward a future that looks a little different than I once imagined, that role has never meant more. Let me explain.
Dec 15, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 837
Josh Pauls is a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, longtime captain of Team USA Sled Hockey, and a keynote speaker whose story of resilience has inspired audiences around the world. Born without shinbones and losing both legs before his first birthday, Josh has spent his life defying expectations... and lifting others as he rises. Today, Josh shares how he fell in love with sled hockey, the lessons learned from becoming a young captain on the world stage, and the personal journey that led him t...
Dec 11, 2025•47 min•Season 16Ep. 836
In preparing to close the chapter on another year, I find myself reflecting on the innumerable ups and downs of 2025. If your year looked anything like mine, it held moments of soaring joy but also heartbreaking loss. Let me explain.
Dec 08, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 835
Dr. Gregory Ross is President and Head of School at the remarkable West End School in Louisville, Kentucky. A nationally recognized educator and transformational leader, Greg has created one of the most successful K–8 programs in the state, where every student attends on full scholarship and consistently outperforms state averages. His journey from humble beginnings in Paducah to leading one of the country's most inspiring schools is nothing short of extraordinary. Today, Greg shares how growing...
Dec 04, 2025•52 min•Season 16Ep. 834
Have you ever had a holiday hangover? No, I am not referring to the kind you might get from staying out too late or having one too many drinks. I mean how you feel after all the build-up of Christmas- the preparation, the cooking, the eating, opening of presents, and racing to parties- comes to an end often leaving you a little tired, a good bit in debt, and emotionally beat down. Several years ago, a woman with nine and a half decades of experience gave me some advice to help prevent that type ...
Dec 01, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 833
Donnie Campbell is a longtime math teacher, four-decade coach, national leadership speaker, and the real-life inspiration behind the beloved TV character Ted Lasso. Donnie has spent 40 years shaping students and athletes with a simple but powerful philosophy: build people first, players second. Today, Donnie shares the lessons that humbled him during his early years at Kansas State, the shift that turned him from frustrated athlete to extraordinary teammate, and the coaching approach that shaped...
Nov 26, 2025•47 min•Season 16Ep. 832
Some people carry a light within them that's impossible to miss. It isn't loud or showy — it's steady, warm, and contagious. That's how I felt the first time I learned about James Chalmers. One of five children, James' parents noticed early on that he was a little different than his siblings. He was born with Cri-du-chat Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects development and communication. As he grew up, James wrestled with questions many of us ask: Why am I different? Do I matter? What...
Nov 24, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 831
Chris Trapper is the platinum-selling singer-songwriter whose unmistakable blend of honesty, humor, and heart has made his music a source of comfort for listeners around the world. With more than a dozen albums, major-label success, and a long career of writing songs that feel like they were pulled straight from real life, Chris has become a trusted voice in the art of turning struggle into something beautiful. Today, Chris shares how music became his refuge during a childhood marked by a speech...
Nov 20, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 16Ep. 830
Everywhere we look the world highlights everything separating us. From our news headlines, social media feeds, even across the dinner table, differences are magnified, divisions are emphasized and it can leave us feeling distant, isolated, discouraged. And yet, what I've learned is that despite everything seemingly pulling us apart, we're far more alike than we realize. In fact, our hope with SOUL ON FIRE was simple: to remind people of our shared humanity, to encourage moviegoers to embrace the...
Nov 17, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 829
Claude Silver is on a mission to bring more humanity into the workplace. As the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, she partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success and redefine what leadership looks like. Instead of striving for perfection, Claude reminds us that the real power lies in showing up as ourselves. Her debut book, Be Yourself at Work , makes a bold case that authenticity and empathy aren't soft skills… they're the strongest tools we have. Today, Claude shares h...
Nov 13, 2025•58 min•Season 16Ep. 828
Looking back at last month, I'm in awe of all we've been a part of. I had the honor of speaking at dozens of events around the country, participated in more than 100 media interviews, and shared SOUL ON FIRE with nearly half a million new friends at movie theaters nationwide. It was a month overflowing with goodness, gratitude and grace. And yet in the midst of that race, if I'm honest, I occasionally felt exhausted, a little lost and in need of others to guide me forward. One of those moments o...
Nov 10, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 827
Glen Henry is a creator, husband, father of four, and the heart behind Beleaf in Fatherhood, a YouTube community of more than a million people. Once a hip-hop artist who didn't want kids, Glen is now one of the most powerful voices reshaping what it means to be a modern dad. Through his podcast How Married Are You?, his new book Father Yourself First, and his storytelling online, Glen brings humor, honesty, and hope to the everyday chaos of parenting. Today, Glen shares how becoming a father led...
Nov 06, 2025•52 min•Season 16Ep. 826
A few critics said SOUL ON FIRE couldn't possibly be true: that no one survives burns that severe, that Jack Buck wouldn't visit a stranger's hospital room, that the "O'Reily" home could never be rebuilt. But every bit of it happened. And if you think that's unbelievable… wait until you hear what happened inside the prison. Let me explain.
Nov 03, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 825
David Green is the founder of Hobby Lobby, one of the largest privately owned arts and crafts retailers in the world. Bill High is the CEO of Legacy Stone, a nonprofit that helps families build lasting legacies of faith, generosity, and purpose. Together, they've spent decades guiding leaders, parents, and communities to think beyond success and toward significance. Today, David and Bill share how humble beginnings, hard-earned wisdom, and a lifetime of faith have shaped their understanding of l...
Oct 30, 2025•52 min•Season 16Ep. 824
Throughout the promotion of SOUL ON FIRE , one name kept coming up around our office- Jan Roseberry! She was booking theaters, posting constantly on social media, even sending "you got this" notes to my team during one of the busiest seasons of our professional lives. And it made me wonder: what kind of person gives so freely of their time and heart for something bigger than themselves? Over the past few weeks, I've gotten to know Jan even better than I previously did. And what I've discovered i...
Oct 27, 2025•5 min•Season 16Ep. 823
This week, The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE series concludes by welcoming Mark Isham, the award-winning composer for film and television whose music has shaped some of the most moving stories of our time. From A River Runs Through It to Crash to his latest masterpiece in SOUL ON FIRE, Mark's work carries emotion, depth, and grace. Yet what shines even brighter than his talent is his humility. He views music not as notes on a page, but as a way to communicate love, courage, and connection. Today, Mark ...
Oct 23, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 16Ep. 822
The past few weeks have been humbling and joy-filled. Interviews, headlines, sold-out theaters, and messages from around the world have celebrated SOUL ON FIRE. But the greatest joy has been watching how this story has lifted the people I love most. My sisters glowed on the red carpet after years of cheering from behind the scenes. Mom hasn't stopped smiling, and Beth's quiet grace is being recognized everywhere. But my favorite hero to celebrate is the one who likes attention the least: my brot...
Oct 20, 2025•8 min•Season 16Ep. 821
This week, The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE series welcomes John Corbett, the beloved actor, musician, and storyteller who portrays my dad Denny O'Leary on the big screen. Long before he became known for his roles in My Big Fat Greek Wedding , Northern Exposure , and Sex and the City , John was a kid from a small West Virginia town, whose path from humble beginnings to Hollywood success reads like a movie script itself. Today, John shares the moments that shaped him from hydro-testing steel pipes to d...
Oct 16, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 16Ep. 820
Returning to school after the fire 38 years ago, I worried if I'd still belong. That day, my classmates embraced me, and last Thursday they again showed up in love, reminding me just how much has changed… and how much hasn't. Let me explain.
Oct 13, 2025•7 min•Season 16Ep. 819
This week, The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE series welcomes the man who brought one of America's most beloved voices to life: legendary broadcaster Jack Buck. To capture Jack's courage and compassion, we turned to William H. Macy, the award-winning actor and master storyteller whose humility and heart shine through every frame. Today, William shares lessons from his father's humor and integrity, the heartbreak and resilience that shaped his mother, and how a young man in Vermont stumbled into acting a...
Oct 09, 2025•53 min•Season 16Ep. 818
None of it really makes sense. Last Thursday, a black SUV picked up the O'Leary family and transported us to the gorgeous Powell Hall in St. Louis, MO. As the car doors opened, flashbulbs blinded our eyes and cheers filled our ears. Beth and I hopped out, followed by our boys and our daughter. We stood together by the car, waved confidently as if we had done this before, then made our way onto the red carpet and into the world premiere of SOUL ON FIRE. Let me explain.
Oct 06, 2025•6 min•Season 16Ep. 817
This week, The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE series welcomes the actor tasked with the impossible job of being as charming, joyful, and good-looking as yours truly: Joel Courtney. Known for his breakout role in Super 8 and Netflix's beloved The Kissing Booth trilogy, Joel's latest role in SOUL ON FIRE may be his most inspiring yet. With a gift for bringing heart to every role, Joel shines brightest when the story he tells can spark hope in others. Today, Joel shares how a boy from Idaho chasing a $100 ...
Oct 02, 2025•50 min•Season 16Ep. 816
In just over a week and a half, SOUL ON FIRE will light up theaters across the country. And last week, as part of The Voices of SOUL ON FIRE podcast series, you heard from one of the people who helped to bring this story to life, Stephanie Szostak. For me, Stephanie's role in this film is especially personal. She portrays one of the greatest heroes of my life: my mom, Susan O'Leary. Let me explain.
Sep 29, 2025•4 min•Season 16Ep. 815
