Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Sean McNamara, ‘Soul on Fire‘ dramatizes the true story of John O’Leary, whose miraculous recovery from his life-threatening injuries has inspired many lives over the years. A 9-year-old John had a fire accident on January 17, 1987, and sustained third-degree burns all over his body. While multiple doctors gave him less than 1% chance of survival, let alone ever walking again, John ends up proving everyone wrong when he not only survives but also learns to walk again. However, the journey is far from easy, and the bonds he forges during his recovery end up transforming the rest of his life, for the better. This biographical drama film follows John’s journey to self-acceptance and faith as he overcomes his fear of the public and strengthens his personal relationships.
John is a World-Famous Motivational Speaker and Father of Four
In the years since his miraculous recovery, John has been on a long journey of instilling hope and courage into the lives of others through his motivational speeches and seminars. Through hundreds of live and virtual events worldwide, he has partnered with organizations in health and safety, faith, education, and numerous other fields, sharing his story and inspiring confidence in many. In March of 2016, he published ‘On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life,’ a book that in many ways serves as a response to his parents’ 2004 work, ‘Overwhelming Odds.’ John’s expansive commentary on life, faith, and the future went on to become a global bestseller, ensuring that his story continues to reach far and wide across the world.
Around the same time as the publication of his debut novel, John also began a blog detailing his personal experiences, interspersed with topical memories and ideas. This blog series, which continues weekly on his official website, is called Monday Motivation and is accompanied by his equally successful podcast series originally known as ‘Live Inspired Podcast!’. The podcast, which has been running consistently for nine years as of 2025, marks John’s collaboration with professional and creative minds who share his passion for doing good, and also serves as a behind-the-scenes peek into John’s life as a public speaker. In 2020, John published his second novel, ‘In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy,’ which talks about the many ways one can healthily reconnect with their childhood sense of wonder and curiosity.
When he is not recharging audiences worldwide with his magnetic charm and heartfelt reflections, John spends his time with his family. He is a proud father of four: Jack, Patrick, Henry, and Grace, and together with his wife, Beth, and their pet dog, Emma, lives in Webster Groves, St. Louis County, in Missouri. John’s blog and social media feed are alive with the many moments of fun and frolicking he shares with his family, be it at the beach, at popular talk shows, or simply in the warmth and comfort of their home. Through these various snapshots, it is evident that John and his family believe in making the most out of every moment.
John Worked Tirelessly to Pour Life Into Soul on Fire From Behind the Scenes
In November of 2023, John and his family hit yet another milestone, with production for the movie, ‘Soul on Fire,’ being greenlit. Based on John’s books and the information he has shared about his life in his speeches, the movie adopted an approach as close to authenticity as possible, and John went above and beyond to make director Sean McNamara’s dream true. John’s real childhood home in St. Louis County doubled as the on-screen representation. He shared that “Returning there for filming nearly four decades later (…) was a beautiful reminder that even after unthinkable loss, life continues to offer amazing moments.” Additionally, several other fixtures in the city were dressed up to recreate key scenes from John’s life, and he worked closely with the actors on-site to bring more depth to the narrative.
As detailed in John’s blog entries, his real-life pet dog, Emma, also participated in the filming of key sequences, and when the day would be over, John and family would often host dinner parties for the cast and crew, turning them into one large family. He was also closely involved in the post-production stages and even began a new podcast, titled ‘The Voice of SOUL ON FIRE,’ wherein he had conversations with the movie’s director, actors, and crew members about the many moving parts that make the movie a success.
On May 30, 2025, John’s father, Dennis O’Leary, passed away after battling Parkinson’s for over three decades. John has consistently expressed the sheer positive impact his father had on his life, especially in their final few months together. As a son, he has since carried those values forward and continued working with awareness groups and campaigns, ensuring that his global reach yields fruitful results for those in need. John also continues to be a family man through and through, whether it be celebrating Christmas with his loved ones or catching an exhilarating football match at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena early in January 2026. Thus, John’s positive outlook on things continues to shape his life philosophy and serves as an inspiration for many.
Read More: Soul on Fire: Is Roy Whitehorn Based on a Real Nurse?
