Motivational Speaker and Bestselling Author
John O’Leary: Biography at a Glance
- John O’Leary is a bestselling author and nationally acclaimed speaker who has inspired millions with his story of surviving burns over 100% of his body after a childhood explosion.
- He now speaks to over 50,000 people each year at events across industries—from healthcare and financial services to education, faith, and sales.
- His debut book, On Fire, became a #1 national bestseller, and his life story is the basis for the feature film Soul on Fire, directed by Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer, Reagan).
- Known for his emotional storytelling, humor, and authenticity, John is consistently described as “the best speaker we’ve ever had,” with most of his bookings coming from referrals.
- John speaks with impact on resilience, purpose, and choosing courage in the face of adversity, offering tools for transformation that resonate across both personal and professional lives.
Videos
Biography
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 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 takes on a new form in the full-length feature film, starring Joel Courtney, John Corbett, and William H. Macy, Soul on Fire.
Regardless of his professional accomplishments, John considers his greatest success to be his marriage to his wife Beth, their four children and his relationships with friends and family.
Topics
The Power of One
In John O’Leary’s most popular keynote, the #1 bestselling author shows us how one attitude, one action, and one person can absolutely change the world.
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.
And 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.
In this talk, John uses emotional storytelling and unexpected humor to:
- Remind us of the profound significance of daily attitudes, the power of gratitude, and the impact of serving others with courage.
- Revitalize engagement by reminding us that our work matters to our loved ones, our organizations and our communities.
- Reawaken audiences to realize the gift of today and the possibility of tomorrow.
ON FIRE: Ignite a Radically Inspired Life
Bestselling author John O’Leary reminds us that just because we got out of bed this morning, does not mean that we are truly living.
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 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.
In this talk, John:
- Shares the critical truth that “inflection points” - moments in time that change everything that follows - occur daily.
- Empowers audiences through mighty examples that life has far less to do with what happens to us, and much more to do with how we respond.
- Uses key questions to explore the difference between a victim and victor mindset, sharing tactics for how to apply them in ways that can catalyze transformational growth in life and in your organization.
IN AWE: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder
Based on his #1 bestselling book, John O’Leary shows us how to rediscover our childlike sense of wonder to unleash inspiration, meaning, and joy.
There was a time when we once joyfully raised our hand high to answer every question, believed that anything was possible, and fearlessly jumped into new experiences. 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. 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 at work and at home. We feel disconnected and depleted.
In this talk, based on his book In Awe, John:
- Invites us to return to the joy and creativity of navigating life like a child
- Defines 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.
- Identifies the most substantial interpersonal challenges we face in living more fully and calls out the roots of those challenges, while providing practical and inspired solutions to address them.
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FAQs
How do I book John O’Leary for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book John O’Leary to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is John O’Leary's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for John O’Leary’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all John O’Leary in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact John O’Leary's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check John O’Leary's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list John O’Leary, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is John O’Leary's speaking fee?
John O’Leary's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, John O’Leary's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for John O’Leary's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book John O’Leary as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book John O’Leary as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- John O’Leary's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for John O’Leary's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact John O’Leary for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all John O’Leary speaking engagements.
Official contact for John O’Leary bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/john-oleary
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking John O’Leary.
Is John O’Leary available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, John O’Leary speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
John O’Leary's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining John O’Leary's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for John O’Leary's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book John O’Leary for?
Book John O’Leary for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. John O’Leary customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
John O’Leary engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how John O’Leary can customize their presentation for your specific event.
John O’Leary booking information and availability
Check John O’Leary's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure John O’Leary for your preferred event date.
Book John O’Leary keynote speaker through CAA
Book John O’Leary through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for John O’Leary, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to John O’Leary's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book John O’Leary for your next event.
Will John O’Leary speak at private events?
Yes, John O’Leary speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for John O’Leary's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking John O’Leary?
CAA Speakers responds to John O’Leary booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book John O’Leary?
Book John O’Leary 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get John O’Leary pricing information?
Get John O’Leary pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.