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Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod

607: How to Live and Love Fully with John O'Leary

Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod

Hal Elrod

Goals, Lifesuccess, Success, Goalsetting, Halelrod, Business, Achievement, Lifestyle, Motivation, Productivity, Miraclemorning, Self-improvement, Education

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 15 October 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When life knocks us down or tragedy strikes us or our loved ones, it's easy to think life is unfair and wonder, "Why me?"  But what if your greatest challenges—past and present—are actually divine opportunities for growth and contribution?

My good friend, John O'Leary, knows this better than most. At just 9 years old, a gas can exploded, burning 100% of his body, and he was given virtually zero chance of survival. Yet he not only survived, he thrived, and has shared his inspiring story with millions of people around the world. 

And if that wasn't enough, his life story was told in the new Sony Pictures film, Soul on Fire, which was released last week. I took my wife and teenage kids to see it, and we all agreed that it is literally one of the best movies we have ever seen!

In today's podcast episode, John joins me to share many heartfelt life lessons he learned from his father (who passed away 15 days after watching the movie), and he gives the backstory on one of the most powerful things his dad ever said: "I love you, and there's nothing you can do about it." 

You'll hear how John turned his pain into purpose and suffering into a life of service and gratitude. From learning to say "yes" to being used for good, to discovering that real heroes are the people who show up and ask for nothing in return in our darkest moments.

John's sincerity and wisdom may move you to tears, and hopefully inspire you to see your biggest challenges as divine opportunities for growth and contribution. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Powerful Life Lessons John Learned From His Dad
  • The Power of Presence and Loving People Where They Are
  • A Different Way To Go Through Life and Face Death
  • Why Ordinary People Are the Real Heroes
  • Saying "Yes" to Being Used for Good
  • Being of Service to Others Unlocks Fulfillment
  • Imagine Yourself Starting Every Interaction with Love
  • The Mindset Shift From Victimhood to Victor
  • John's Message for Anyone Struggling With Pain or Regret
  • Why Soul on Fire Is a Movie Everyone Needs to See
  • Three Words from John's Dad: "What a Gift"

Get The Full Show Notes

To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/607

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To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes.

Connect with Hal Elrod

 

Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to the Achieve Your Goals podcast, the show that empowers you to wake up to your full potential and achieve your biggest goals and dreams.

0:09.6

I am your host, Hal Elrod, and I invite you to join us each week as we share actionable strategies to take your life to the next level,

0:16.5

as well as interview world-class experts and entrepreneurs who have achieved extraordinary goals themselves,

0:22.6

and we ask them to give you a peek behind the curtain and teach you exactly what you need to do to do the same.

0:28.0

Ready? Here we go.

0:31.4

Wow, wow, wow. That's all I can say about today's conversation with John O'Leary. Welcome to the Achieve Your Goals podcast. I am your host,

0:38.8

Hal Elrod. And John O'Leary's been a friend of mine for a little over 10 years. He and I both

0:45.0

spoke at an event over 10 years ago that my kids and my wife were at and everyone was blown away

0:49.4

by his story. When he was nine years old, John's entire body, 100% of it was burned and he barely

0:57.5

survived. In fact, his fingers were burned so bad they had to remove them and he would live the

1:02.5

rest of his life with an entirely burnt body and no fingers and a lot of other challenges that

1:08.0

came along with it. Well, today, a movie about John and his life

1:12.2

are being released or is being released in theaters nationwide. It's called Soul on Fire. I saw

1:18.4

the movie last night. I got to watch an advanced screening, and it is incredible. It will change the way

1:23.2

you look at life. I'm going to go see it with my family, bring my kids this weekend. I highly

1:27.5

recommend you do the same. If you can find it in a theater near you, you know, check out

1:31.8

soul on firemovie.com to get tickets, soul on firemovie.com. And if you're listening to this

1:38.0

episode, months from now when it's not in theaters, go find it online. I'm sure soul on firemovie.com

1:43.8

will point you in whatever direction you

1:45.8

need to watch that film. You will be glad you did. John is phenomenal. He's inspiring in this episode

1:52.0

today. I'm going to ask him some questions right off the bat about his father who passed away a few

1:56.2

months ago, but got to watch the film 14 days before his dad unexpectedly died.

...

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