Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello, my friends. My name is John O'Leary, and
when I was nine years old, I was burned on
one hundred percent of my body. Eighty seven percent of
those burns were third degree. Given no chance of survival,
I decided that first day in hospital, and then each
day afterwards for five and a half months, to take
the hand of God, to walk the journey with him,
(00:21):
and to fight like enough a fuck before. It did
not make the journey easy, what would. But I think
that decision as a kid made the journey possible. And
yet when I came home, my goal in life was
not to stand out and shine reflect his mercies. My
goal was to fade. So that's what I did. For
decades after being burned. I covered up the scars. I
(00:44):
hid from the struggle. I'm turned toward addictive behavior. And
when my life truly was transformed was not at age nine.
It was at age twenty eight, in a church service
in the back row, arms crossed, looking down when the
pastor said, and for those of you who feel as
if God has blessed you with no talent, not five,
(01:04):
not to not even one, but none, listen to me.
Your life is a precious gift. You got one job,
say yes to be a niece for good. Well. I
wrote that down and the following day I was invited
by it the girl Scouts, to speak it to truth.
I never told anybody how I was burned. I never
showed anybody my scars, But on that day, on the
(01:24):
heels of that message, I said yes.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
That yes has led to twenty seven hundred additional speeches
around the world. It has led to two bestselling books,
and now it leads to a fourthcoming major motion film
released by Sonia Firm.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
October tenth, called Soul on Fire. The best thing about
this film is it's not about a kid who got
burned who figured out, ultimately about the end of it,
how God was using his story. Now, this is a
film ultimately about heroes. It's a film about love. It's
a film about family and faith and what can happen
when we recognize God used all all people and all
(02:01):
experiences for his perfect purposes. My friends, I hope you
will join me October tenth and afterwards in theaters around
the country to take in, be inspired by and transformed
through the film Soul on Fire.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
John is the two time national best selling author of
On Fire, and in awe. He's a world class inspirational speaker,
the host of the Live Inspired podcast, and he's the
real life inspiration behind the major motion.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Picture Soul on Fire.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Each week, John interviews extraordinary individuals about their life stories
so you can more fully live your life story.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Here's your host, John O'Leary. We continue forward with the
voices of Soul on Fire, and this week we bring
on one of the more difficult individuals to cast for
the film, Soul on Fire. Why was it difficult to
cast this person? It's a question. The person had to
be extraordinarily athletic, that had to be daily intellectual, that
(03:02):
had to be outrageously handsome, that had to be skilled
with the piano, ping pong, pool, basketball, card games, et cetera,
et cetera. Because this person had to portray the man
currently in front of you. His name is John O'Leary.
That's all right. We had to cast for the role
of John O'Leary, and what a joy it was when
(03:24):
we bumped into a guy who actually could portray that
goofy broken eventually redeemed character. So brilliantly we found him
and a man who was first really well known for
his role in Super eight, his breakout role in the
Netflix series That Kissing Booth Up. Sure most of you
have seen that, if not you, your kids, and now
(03:44):
you're going to know him as John O'Leary in the
forthcoming film Soul on Fire. In this episode, we're going
to be talking to Joe Courtney about what it was
like to pursue this Hollywood terrain, to be pursuing commercials
where he was getting one hundred dollars to ultimately being
a film star in major motion films including Jesus Revolution,
(04:07):
among others. My friends're gonna hear about his humble upbringing.
You're gonna hear about his family. You're gonna hear about
his wife. You're gonna hear about his role as John
o leary. You're gonna hear what it's like to portray
someone who's real and broken in damage and ultimately redeemed
and what it means for you. You're gonna love this conversation.
Films Live with my buddy Jill Cortey. So here's my encouragement.
(04:29):
Grab a bag of popcorn, grab your favorite live inspired journal,
open up your heart and your mind as I bring
on my friend. And that is what he is and
now yours. His name is Joel Courtney. Joel, Welcome to
Live Inspired with John O'Leary. I had the honor of
inviting our actors to participate in this, and I don't
(04:49):
know if you remember, but I invited you personally with
a video and there was a word I used to
describe how I hope people who watch the film ultimately
leave the theater. I don't know if you remember what
that word was us. I remember your video, Okay, do
you only remember the word? You just used it about
seven different times and describing the trailer and the feel
on the set, and it was joy. And I said, Joel,
(05:11):
the way the goofy reaction you had as you were
watching your wife walk towards you. Because I watched your
wedding video, I wanted to see the real you, not
the Super eight, not all the other things on Netflix
and beyond. I wanted to see you, and so I
was looking for the actual videos of who the human
being was, and you had this goofy, joyful look on
(05:31):
your face. And so my invitation to you and joining
on fire was that's the look I want is people
walk onto theater joy. I think we succeeded. So let's
back up a little bit. And because a movie about
a little kid gets burned and loses his fingers and
struggles mightily and turns to addictive behaviors and seems to
stumble his way through life doesn't seem like it's going
(05:53):
to be the kind of film that is joyful or
the kind of life ultimately that would be joyful. And
yet anoddedly it is now. So I'm a little bit
less interested on the front side of our conversation into
my joyful journey as much as I end yours. So
let's back up a little bit from Nashville, Tennessee, where
we are recording this interview together right now, into California,
(06:16):
and then we're going to go way up north to Idaho.
Where'd you grow up? I was born in California, but
my family moved when my dad retired from the Navy
to Idaho. Grew up in a very small town. It's
like twenty thousand people. I'm a small town kid at heart.
Moved to the big city at the age of fourteen,
started trying to work. But you know, back home was family, friends, structure, community,
(06:42):
my school, my church, everything that made me me happened
in Idaho. Why do you leave Idaho and go to
the finger quote big city? What were you looking for?
My goal for the summer was a commercial. I wanted
to get a hundred bucks dream big. Yeah, you know
(07:04):
big is like in perception, right, so like if you
think it commercials big, then you know you think it
commercial is big. I should have dreamed bigger. I believe that,
you know, gone dreamed bigger for me, And that's what
eventually ended up happening later in that summer. Is I
booked too great? So a wild process throughout the summer.
(07:26):
I think I had thirteen callbacks. It started early summer
and then the last time that I went down to
Los Angeles to do a final callback was week two
of my eighth grade year and I was thinking, you
guys missed your opportunity. We had the summer to work,
(07:48):
but now I'm back in school, so I'm busy, Like
I can't go film a movie anymore. And it was
explained to me that you know, school and set and
there's a lot of diferent things that we can do
to wait the that have been So let's talk about
super right first, because you are a kid who's left Idaho,
no real experience in front of a camera hoping for
(08:10):
one hundred dollars commercial. Yeah, and then you're called into
something potentially even larger than that. You used the term callback.
Not everybody listening or watching us right now and knows
where a callback is. Where it's a callback. A callback
takes place when your initial audition goes very well, they
are interested in you, and they call you back to
re audition. I've never heard of anyone doing thirteen. I
(08:34):
will say, like, I want to premise this with I
don't know that anyone has done thirteen before if they
have good on them, because that's quite the props. And
why do you think it took so many times for
you to be invited back again and again and again.
What were they looking for that kept bringing them back
to you? So there's a So chemistry is a huge
deal when it comes to making a film. You want
(08:56):
your actors to get along fit right as the puzzle
pieces that are the characters bringing this story to life.
So there's one aspect of chemistry reads where they bring in,
you know, five kids to audition for this character, five
kids to audition for this character, five over or five
over here, and then they basically take turns circling one
(09:19):
out and then figure out who works best together interest
and they start to discover the group. Right. The other
reason why I took thirteen callbacks is because they needed
to be sure that someone who was completely indoctrinated in
the world, like never worked before. Yeah, this is my
first audition, so I'd never been to set. I'd never
(09:43):
worked a ten hour day, twelve hour day. I'd never
done anything in the world or industry that this is
taking place in, right, So they needed to be sure
that they could get from me what they needed on
set with the pressure of being on set along day
and not necessarily the maturity that I'd be able to
(10:03):
push your fourteen it's not mature at all, but that
I was coachable, communicative enough to be able to have
a conversation about the circumstances that are going on in
that script, and that the jj Abrams would be able
to get from me what he needed. It's funny story there.
There's a scene in there where I'm having an argument
(10:25):
with my father, and it took a really long time
to film because at the end of the scene, I'm
supposed to be in an emotional state, and you know,
optimally there would be tears, but I didn't really know
how to do that, And what ended up getting me
to cry was my fear that I was going to
let jj Abrams down. Had nothing to do with the
(10:47):
circumstances because I didn't really know how to act. It
was just my fear of letting down JJ. So from
that very first commercial ends up being a major film.
What was it you learned about acting that you realized
I want to do more of this. It's just fun
and not just fun, it's fulfilling in that you get
(11:10):
to tell stories that you're passionate about that I think,
will you know, impact my life, impact other people's lives.
We want to entertain and we want to maybe introduce
a new consideration. I thought maybe a change of beliefs,
tram with someone's beliefs a little bit. You know. I
(11:33):
love getting to work with creative people on set. I
love to bring stories to life like yours. This is
an honor of a lifetime to be able to tell
your story with such amazing people like I mentioned earlier.
It's a true honor that I get to be a
part of your story. There's something about spreading positivity, joy,
(11:57):
gratitude that I'm kind of obsessed with that can't kind
enough of it. Well, so the marketplace is longing for
it that it is, and there's not a lot of
it than to borrow from. So I think the work
you're doing is critically important and life saving, big of
a deal. It's one thing to get a part in
the movie. It's another thing, ultimately to recognize you're called
(12:19):
to a career in it. You know, there's a big
difference between the two. When did you realize I'm good
at this? I think not the moment that I realized
I'm good at this. The moment I realized I wanted
to do more of it was follow along films after
Super eight. I'm not good at this, but I love
(12:43):
the camaraderie on set, and I want to get better.
So I've pursued acting classes. I've pursued community that desires
to be better, to always push themselves, to always grow,
to never remain stagnant. As is reference to a pretty
good book that every wish should go again. So the
way we go out to the source and buy now
(13:04):
on Fire by John O'Leary, The refusal of stagnation in
all aspects of my life. I think that there was
something on Super eight that allowed me to be great,
and it was the excellence of everyone else in their
jobs on set and J. J. Abrams leading, you know,
with the head of the spear, the hair and makeup
(13:25):
department just being very sweet and kind to me, and
the beginning of every day, my first job ever, I
asked them, why is it hair and makeup and not
makeup and hair? Like what a silly question? But they
were so patient, would give me like fun answers, and
you know, they were just everyone was so great on
that film, and I realized I want to do more
of this. And then when I realized I wasn't as
(13:48):
good at acting as it came across on Super eight,
I realized I want to get better. And I think
the pursuit of doing something better, pushing myself, asking myself
to demand myself for more, I think I discovered somewhere
along the lines, I'm getting it and picking up on it.
I've got some momentum, I've got some definitely like excitement,
(14:10):
enjoy for the work. And then there's times on set
right that was really good and it's usually like with
another actor, do you know when it's shod or is it.
You hear from the guy the lady behind the camera,
wow that was really good, and then you recognize, wow,
it was really good. There are times when I can
get a gut feeling, yeah, that was it. And there's
(14:35):
times where, you know, if it's a very emotionally heavy
scene and I'm just so locked into the moment, I
become maybe a little blinded to reality because in the moment,
my reality is in the scene. So I get lost.
I you know, on some takes, I forget I'm on set,
(14:58):
forget everything and you know, outside of that little world
that we're building on set, And that happened multiple times. Smmars,
I think I'm just gonna jump into that now. I
was gonna ask about The Kissing and Jesus Revolution and
several other films that you are in that I love.
But I also love the fact that you are in,
and I love a film called Soul on Fire. There
(15:20):
was one other thing I mentioned to you when I
invited you to participate the fact that everyone else in
the film is a hero in one way or another.
Your future wife, Beth is a hero. Undoubtedly, your mother
and father are unquestionably heroes. A guy you meet later
on named Jack Block is, without a doubt a hero.
A man you've worked with in the past name Devon
(15:42):
is a hero in the version of Nurse Roy, a
huge hero and the only one I said that isn't
a hero in this film. Joel, you should be aware
of this before you say yes. Is the guy you
are about to portray, Beam John Oader. He's the recipient
of heroism. And yet you still, as an actor who
wants to play the part of here I would imagine,
said yes to Soul on Fire. So I'm curious what
(16:06):
was it about the script and the story of Soul
on Fire that you said yes to. The reason I
said yes too on Fire was an obvious and clear
journey of hope and of love and of faith and
of gratitude. And then before saying yes, I looked into
(16:28):
who you were, and I clearly see the hero that
you are to other people. You have your heroes in
your life, but you are a hero in many people's lives,
and that is something I may be jealous of. I
think it's an incredible and powerful thing that you do,
where you open up your soul to people and show
(16:54):
what's going on in here and welcome everyone to journey
and walk with you. And I could get that from
the script. For like the earliest draft, the drafts just
got better and better and better, and I just wanted
to be a part of telling your story that they
came across so beautifull and powerfully to me, and from
(17:16):
a moment of saying yes, it's just so, everything got
better better talking to you, talking with Sean arriving table reads.
This lot of table read is when you get the
whole cast together, you get your producers, you got your director,
and you all sit down and read the script together
out loud for the first time. And it was so memorable.
(17:40):
I don't think I'll ever forget that table read. It
was unforgettable. I'd never been in one, and hopefully I'll
never be in another. One thing Woman done for O'Leary.
It was awesome. Though there's an easter egg in the
film where people may or may not bump into the
actual John O'Leary at some point, I have a grand
total of six words, and I'll have my sad card
(18:01):
so I'm an official, which meant I not only had
to sit in that room passively, but at some point
actively participate. I could barely get out the six words
because it was so emotional for people who are just
listening to your conversation or watching our two faces dance
on their screen. What is it about the Soul on
Fire film that you found to be most emotional? The
(18:24):
most emotional thing about the on Fire story, I think
has to be your gratitude for your family and for
your heroes. And I think that's really the heart of
your story is there's no joy without gratitude. Also a
great little chapter your book on Fire, which you should
(18:46):
go and buy everywhere, There's no joy without gratitude, and
your gratitude and being able to see what people did
for you and how it affected you and saved you
in their little ways. You know, Amy glass, water in
your face, your sister holding you, your brother putting the
(19:07):
fire out to like his own burns like we were saying,
Nurse Roy jack Buck, your parents in their in their
different ways. You had so many heroes, and sometimes people
miss their heroes and they don't acknowledge or don't even
see that there are heroes in their lives. So I
(19:30):
think that your your story of showing acknowledgement of heroes.
I think is something that we really need today's culture
and just but obvious and overwhelming sense of gratitude enjoy So,
as a speaker my other job, and I'm not busy
(19:52):
making Hollywood film. About halfway through, I'll oftentimes invite them
to identify who their hero is. This if the question
is one person who poured into you at just the
right time and in doing so positively change your life.
And I look out of this audience and almost always
there's ten percentage who sit there with their arms crossed,
(20:13):
recognized and they have no one. And then I have
an opportunity of speaking to them, reminding them here's the trick.
You may not want to hear this. None of you
are in this room by yourself. None of you climbed
the hill all by yourself. We all sit on the
shoulders of giants. Be aware of who came before you,
and then recognize the call to do likewise. And then
they start to sit up and take notes and maybe
recognize all maybe I did have a parent, a rabbi,
(20:34):
a pastor, a guardian, a teacher, a coach, someone, Because
none of us get to where we get in life
by ourselves. Absolutely true. So in this I asked you
first about the emotional part of the overall film. Was
there a scene for you in particular that as you
were shooting this, you're preparing to shoot it, you recognize, gosh,
this is going to be a pretty heavy one. Absolutely,
(20:56):
there are moments scattered throughout that are a writer, Gregory,
he just did such a great job. It's so nuanced,
and I think he really just got to the heart
of so many of the scenes, so many of the
moments that you share. I mean, a couple that stand
out is the moment that I'm sitting with Devonne and
(21:20):
we're catching out you and Nurse Roy in a real
moment that actually happened after he's brought up on stage
and you're speaking to album in power, the recounting of
your life story to this man who played such a
massive part of your life and telling him that he mattered,
(21:43):
and in the spoiler alert, his reaction that he never
knew that he mattered. He loved his job, he always
enjoyed his job, he loved helping people get better, but
he never knew that he mattered. It just breaks my heart.
I feel like so many people have never been told
that they mattered. So I mean, that's a huge moment
with Jack Buck at his headstone in that graveyard of
(22:07):
Pallen soldiers. Just that was a really really powerful day
and so cold and windy. I remember that it was
so cold and windy. But it was December fourth in
the Midwest, was it the fourth? Yeah? Right, you had
sunshine but little else man, so it looked like it
(22:27):
was warm enough out there, but it was chilly and
it was windy, Joel. I thought you were outstanding on
day one, but I thought you got better every single
day after day one, And that was near the end
of filming, and I thought, in some regards, that was
your high water mark. I thought the way you authentically
performed what happened and what happens to all of us.
(22:50):
So for the folks who may not know what cemetery
you were in or who you were speaking to, just
set the table a little bit for what brought you
to that grave site that day. It is a military
graveyard and a memorial to men and women who gave all.
(23:13):
You know they're saying, I'll give some some gagle. It is.
It's a hallowed ground. I mean, it's humbling to be there,
and Jack Buck is buried on this beautiful hill with
his you know, fellow brothers and norms, and you go
(23:35):
to speak with him and kind of by your heart
to a long lost friend that you never got to
say goodbye to in the way that you wanted to.
It was a long time coming, and it was a
powerful moment and a moment that you needed as much
(23:57):
as wanted. And I'll never forget that day. That day
actually might be one of my most clear, vivid memories
of filming. That day is walcked in. So some of
us are hearing you talk about a guy named Jack
Buck buried there. It's clearly a warrior, a veteran for
our nation. But they may not know how we became friends.
(24:20):
What's the backstory that led Jack Buck to John O'Leary,
to this deep friendship, to this deep regret, to ultimately
this beautiful reconciliation. Your story with Jack Buck comes through
a link of multiple phone calls, and he hears about
a boy who was injured, is very much struggling and
(24:42):
having a hard time, and he, the selfless man that
he is, came to the hospital to visit you, and
he pulls up that chair. And so the journey of
him calling you kid begins and he spoke hope into
(25:03):
your life. And after exiting your room, overcome with emotion,
I believe it's that day he's told that you have
absolutely no chance of living, and so as to encourage
you to continue and to keep fighting. To believe is
the words. He comes back to your bedside the following
(25:24):
day as a sign that there is more to come
in your life, not just from him, but from everything.
There is hope here. It's worth it to keep coming back.
And he tells you as meet John A Leary day
at the ballpark, which is the coolest thing you've ever
heard in your life. This man is your hero. This
(25:45):
man is a true hero in your life, as well
as the radio announcer for your baseball team, the Cardinals,
and a voice that you immediately know and are comforted by.
And he was faithful to continue showing up for you
and spurring you on to great and greater things, encouraging
(26:12):
you that life will look different, but that you are
not limited by anything more than your imagination. And there's
there's moments of heartache, there's moments of grief. He gives
you a gift and it is not only his time
(26:33):
and his encouragement and sharing. Also his love of the
big game of baseball and that you both share. It's
also his Hall of Fame Crystal Ball when he was
inducted nineteen eighty four four closely well round up to
nineteen eighty seven, nineteen eighty seven, that's what it was.
(26:54):
And also the the You Were Bird. The story you know,
goes along many, many years, and at some point he
becomes sick and he goes to the hospital and there
was an internal struggle with you that kept you from
going and seeing him, and you tried a few times
(27:17):
and you weren't able to go inside. Why do you
think that is? And maybe more importantly, why does that
matter to people in their own struggles in life? Because
I don't think this story is ultimately about me or you. Yeah, no, absolutely,
I think it's the fear that you were not going
to be able to provide to him what he gave
to you personally. I think that's what that was. You
(27:42):
don't that's something many people wrestle with. Yes, yes, absolutely,
I think that As someone who has received an unfathomable
grace in my life on the Cross, I can't possibly
give that to anyone else else. It's such a great
(28:02):
and monumentous thing that I can only hope to live
up to, and I fail all the time. And so
similarly to that, I think what Jack gave to you,
I think there was a fear that you would not
be able to reciprocate. Or maybe it's the fear of
(28:24):
seeing your hero in a weakened state and one of
your last memory of him to be the strong man
that he was, This this giant on whose shoulders that
you were lifted up on at one point in a
cacophony of many things. It's never just one thing right right.
It's always complicated, it's always deep, it's always just like
(28:49):
heavily felt, it was a number of PHAs.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
It's producer Amy here with a special invitation from Joannel Leary.
First things first, thank you so many of you have
done so much over the years, and together we've made
it to this moment. We are just days away from
the world premiere of Soul on Fire, and as we
head into this final stretch, we want to have a
little fun and of course give something back to you,
(29:14):
our loyal live inspired podcast listeners. John's goal is to
touch one million lives on opening weekend, it's bold, but
with your help, we believe this can happen. Here's how
join the Soul on Fire movement. It is a raffle
tied to a few simple actions, many of which you've
(29:34):
probably already been, and it's giving you a chance to
win some pretty amazing prizes. The grand prize is a
Soul on Fire after glow VIP experience with John O'Leary.
John will personally take you to the landmark spots from
the movie, introduce you to the heroes from his story,
(29:56):
and show you his hometown through his very own eyes.
The pack it also includes two first class flights to
Saint Louis, a night at the Ritz Carlton, and so
much more. To join, just head over to John o'learyinspires
dot com board slash Soul on Fire Again. That's John
o'learyinspires dot com forward slash Soul on Fire.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Now let's get back to the show. We'll beginning slowly
moving toward our launching point, not the finish line. We're
gonna launch for it from this point. So you had
a chance to work with some amazing people, not only
in hair and makeup. No one spent more time with
those folks than you. In fact, I'll ask about that
You're sitting next to a guy and you ultimately became
(30:37):
a guy who has scars from his neck to his
toes who's missing his fingers on both hands. And you
could either pretend like that did not happen and portray
a different story, or actually tell the story as it was.
You decided to tell the story as it was, including
having scars and lack of fingers. Was there any concern
as you got ready to take this role that that
was a bridge too far that you don't you don't
(30:58):
want to necessary really present yourself on a screen as
someone who's less than, not at all. I also don't
believe that you are less than. I believe that there's
a veneer of like outward expression. People show themselves in
a way that can be you know, false, inaccurate, better
(31:19):
than I am. And I think that your red coat
is this thing that you just beautifully came to terms with.
I don't see you as less than physically as you
know in the performance. Getting to play you who is
definitely something to consider. And I think that you know,
(31:40):
every day putting on hair and makeup, getting into kind
of the mindset of what do these scars mean to me?
And at different times of the script they mean very
different things. In college they mean something, you're younger and
you're married to mean something when you're a little older,
they need something to completely different And so it's what
(32:02):
are we filming today? What do these scars mean to
me on this day and at this time of my life?
And through my scars? How can I show myself? And
how much do I show of myself? I loved getting
to spend so much time with the hair makeup team.
They were awesome, they were hysterical, Carrie awesome. I missed them.
(32:26):
I love them. I can't wait to work with them again.
But I was regularly first one in now and we
got it down. It's a long day. It's a long day,
but I wouldn't I wouldn't trade it for anything. Is right.
It was right, and I think we got it to
a really great place and never looked mornings. He's reading
(32:51):
the script right now exactly like I wrote it. He's
just a great forward. My my gosh, he's solid. So
I'm gonna ask you about three people you work with
on set, and then moving to what we call the
lip inspired seven, someone who will helped you finally recognize
how handsome you were, becomes your wife. Talk about working
with Mason McLain as Beth, and what did she help
(33:14):
John l leary understand about himself that he did not
understand before she pulled it out of them. Absolutely. Yeah,
Maze's awesome. First off, foremost, she's a very like giving
actress in terms of like for me, what that means
is when we are filming together, she's very selfless. She's
(33:36):
very giving in her performance and her energy. She works
hard on my coverage, being like, if the camera is
on me and I amazing over here, she's in it
just as much as she was when she was on camera,
and the coverage is her deal, right. I couldn't ask
for anything more in a scene partner, in a co star,
(33:59):
and it was truly a just pleasure to work with
her and she got Beth. Yeah, she understood. And Beth
and I both passed away tragically. Joel and Macy can
just move into the house. The kids may not miss
a beat. I mean, it was the oddest deal to
look up at a screen or onto a set and
feel like you're seeing a bit of a reflection of yourself.
(34:22):
And I sort of know Beth more than I know me,
because you don't know yourself, tard of really see how
you walk and move and speak your mannerisms. But Macy
was Beth, even the way they sounded. And what I'll
say about you, my friend, is my team knows if
something tragic should happen, they're covered now because Joel Courty
can just move into Saint Louis become a speaker and
(34:44):
they're fine. And so they credit you for becoming John.
One of my favorite scenes and I'd rather have you
not unpacked specifically what takes place, but it's in the
dorm when John and Beth are just pocking life and
you and Macy just were so honest and vulnerable and
real and did a phenomenal job. And we'll leave it
(35:06):
there for now, but so well done. Very conflimentated that
you also had an opportunity of working with a gentleman
named William H. Macy said, Billy boy, what was it
like working with William Macy? Working with William Macy was amazing.
I actually had some history with him. I got to
speak with him about a film that he was going
to direct, and this was many years ago, six or
(35:27):
seven at least. And I got to go to his
house in Hollywood and I got to sit down with
him and have a conversation with him, and he was
talking to me like an adult and with respect at
the caliber of work that he requires. And I was
not there. I was not there, and it called me
(35:51):
to change many things that I was doing, the way
that I worked, the people that I was working with.
I changed acting class. I stepped up my game and
it was because of so getting to work with him
was on it. It was a dream, I'm true. It
was a total joy and a total pleasure. Great guy, uh,
infectious and fun on set, a powerhouse actor. Oh my goodness,
(36:17):
I feel like Jack Buck comes to life. I never
had the pleasure of meeting him, but I feel like
he was walking around on set, which is gotta be
fun for you to see, but a phenomenal for me
to get to work with him. Oh, it's great. And
then one of my favorite human beings. I did not
know this man six months ago, and now I feel
(36:38):
like we are brothers. And his name is Devon Franklin.
You've worked together in the past, so you knew him,
you knew his heart, you knew his gifts. But then
you got to work with him on Soul on Fire.
What was it like working with your buddy Devon? It
was amazing. So Devon and I go back to Jee's Revolution,
which was his first film as an actor, and he's
(36:58):
got it, He's got naturally, getsed it so good, truly
a joy. And when I saw I think he was
one of the first people that I texted and reached
out to without on Fire, because I had no idea
he was attached until there was a news break that
had him myself William Macy and I think it was
Stephanie or something, and I texted him, like, dude, I
(37:24):
was so excited. I couldn't believe it. And as I
mentioned earlier, one of one of my scenes with him
is one of my most memorable on set. It was
a massive day and he was just right there with
me in the moment. And I appreciate him so much.
I respect his outlook, his insight, his wisdom, his long
(37:45):
history as a producer. He's he's awesome, and he's so
good in every every facet of filmmaking that he takes on,
whether it's producing or acting. I just I can't to
work with him again. What I was so enamored by
and impressed by was how authentic and loving all these
(38:07):
people you're mentioning right now, and those we don't have
time to mention right now are and were just excellent people.
So final question around Soul on Fire, Then we'll put
this baby to bed. When individuals see the film, when
they walk out of that darkened theater, out of their
family room, back into their life, what do you and
I know you can't decide what they feel and ultimately
(38:28):
what they do next, what do you hope for them?
My hope is I want people to leave the theater
with ownership of their lives and perspective from someone else's
life that has been so difficult. I want people to
be moved. Two tears would be great. I want people
(38:54):
to be moved and have a perspective shift. I want
people's paradigm is to be altered. I want them to
leave with a sense of I can do this, and
there's people that I should thank forgetting me to where
I am today and for being powerful implements in my
(39:15):
life that will help me get to where I'm going.
I want people to just leave with an overwhelming joy
and excitement for life because tomorrow's not guaranteed and all
too close. Was your tomorrow not guarantee for five months?
(39:36):
And the takeaway it's not that bad. The takeaway is
you got this.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
So, my friend, we have seven questions that tether all
of our guests together. Whether their name is William H. Macy,
John Corbett, Stuffie Showstack, or Jim Levell, the man who
was on a pole at thirteen and went around the
dark side of the moon twice, they've all been asked
these having questions, they're safe. So here we go. Question
number one, what's been the most impactful book you've ever read? Well,
I'm gonna throw out the Bible, but that's a given,
(40:11):
frankly yours. I read your book maybe ten or twelve
times at this point. I listened to your voice. That's
how I kind of learned is from you. I'm apologizers
that they'll hear my voice through Jewel Cordney. It's the
strangest thing, No, but I am constantly taken aback by
(40:35):
your heart and your joy for life and also the
wisdom that you pour out. This isn't mean I'm trying
to sell your book again. This is actually me reading
your book. I am a new man since taking on
your world on fire, your book and the family that
(40:57):
put together this film, and that's not me just been like, Oh,
it's your book. Obviously, I am a new man since
reading your book. In my marriage, in my professional career,
in my life, I have truly changed the way that
(41:19):
I see things and actively choose to see things, not
passively wearing my red jacket. I am more I think,
loving towards people in my life, more appreciative of people
in my life, and I am more aware of things
to appreciate. And I think also a whole lot of
(41:40):
other stuff that is not coming to mind right now.
But your book has changed my life. Thank you. If
you can imagine yourself as a little boy, what's one
positive characteristic that little fella had in Moscow, Idaho? Then
you wish this successful good luck he in handsome model
(42:02):
like man possesses brilliantly today. So what's that characteristic that
you once had that maybe I've lost sight of that
a little bit. I think there's a childlike fearlessness to
imagine freely, and I've got a pretty good imagination that
(42:22):
helps with my work. But I think there's a there's
a fearlessness of failing as a kid because you're just
having fun. Yeah, I think I've become fearful in my
life of many things, of failing, of letting people down,
looking silly, of being judged, or litany of things. I
(42:46):
think we're called to a live so joy, peace, patience,
kindness through the Holy Spirit, and not a fear. Fear
is the mind killer. Fear is something that can just
totally hold you down and hold you back, letting go,
letting go. If you're home caught fire, and I know
(43:09):
we're transitioning between alms right now, but if you're home
caught fire and all living people, including me, are out safely,
you have an opportunity of running in and grabbing one item.
What's the one thing you would grab? That's a good question.
Would I grab? There's stuff in life that we accumulate.
I would probably grab my phone simply because that it
(43:33):
has my life in pictures stored on it. I've got
photos of my wedding day, I've got photos of my parents,
my siblings, and you know, past films that I've gone through.
A store somewhere on the cloud wherever that is, Yes,
looking up right now. I were so much home are
(43:56):
up there? I guess I It sounds like a silly answer,
like my phone, but it's got so many memories that
I cherish and fondly look back at. I mean, the
phone and computer are the most common answers we get. Really,
it's pretty, it's just realistic. We can rebuild around that information.
If you could sit on a park bench on a
(44:18):
gorgeous day and have a long conversation with anyone living
or to ceast, who do you want to be seated
next to? Maybe the Apostle Peter, That dude, we that too,
You had a light. I get to talk to my
wife all the time, and I cherish that. But maybe
the Apostle Peter, because I think I see a lot
(44:39):
of myself in him. Hard headed, I'm crazy sometimes and
I get it so wrong so many times. But he
got to sit with Jesus and live with Jesus and
see things that I long to see, and you know,
take his testimony all the way to the grave in
(45:01):
a fearless way. What's the best advice Peter or anyone
else ever gave you? So the best advice Joel Courtney
has ever received is pray about it and then follow
your gut, I'd say that's my answer, because too often
do I get things wrong. I think the perspective of
patience and of peace and of looking for wisdom, I
(45:25):
think is always the right approach to something, and with
a heart, a mind, gut feeling that is in community
with God. I think from that position you can make
a good decision. And I think those are where my
best decisions come from, for sure. So, speaking of best decisions,
(45:49):
if you could go back in time and speak to
yourself at age twenty eight years or so, now, so
if you could say, hey, Manngel, pay attention to this.
What advice would you keep yourself at age twenty? Be patient?
I would tell myself to be patient, because at twenty
I thought I was needing something or trying to get somewhere,
(46:14):
trying to build this life. I wanted it, I was
hungry for it, and I think it became a little
too much. It became overwhelming, this desire to build a
life that I wasn't quite ready for. Grow up. But
be patient. Awesome. Final question, You ran the gauntlet, Joel Corney,
(46:36):
my friend, it has been said that all great people
can have their lives summed up in one sentence, how
would you like your one sentence to read? But you said, great, people,
I'm in front of one right now, already for what
you've already accomplished at your age, it's stuning great. I'm
a man who's imperfect and fallen, but I worship with
(46:58):
God who's not. I'm married to an amazing woman and
there's a lot to come. And that's technically a run
on sentence. So, Paul, is a lot of commas there,
But here we go. Joel, I thank you for being
not only the portrayal of a guy named John o
leary in a film called Soul on Fire, but I
(47:18):
thank you more importantly for being my friend and a
model of a guy people can look up to, not
just on film but in life. It is worthy of following. Man. So,
my friends, this is Joel Courtney. My name is John O'Leary,
and today is your day. What a gift it is,
live inspired genius. Well, my friends, I told you on
(47:42):
the front side of the conversation that you are going
to love Joe Courtney, and now you do. What you
may not know is as much as you love the individual,
you will absolutely love his performance in the film Soul
on Fire rolling into all great theaters around the country
on October tenth, and then going forward from there, if
(48:03):
you'd like to ensure you have a seat in that
theater as it rolls out, If you want to ensure
that you're able to bring your family when it rolls out,
if you want to make sure you can bring your kids, schools,
your businesses, the places where you worship, the place where
you work out, and why would you not want to
bring all these people with you? Do me a favor.
Go online right now to Soul on firemovie dot com.
(48:26):
It's where you can reserve entire theaters. It's where you
can ensure that you get your tickets for opening night
October tenth and beyond. Go to Soul on firemovie dot com.
My friends, here's what we should know. Hollywood is a democracy.
And if we keep voting that we want garbage films,
that we want these movies filled with violence and the
(48:47):
kinds of behaviors that you would have to cover your
kid's eyes from observing on screen, well that's what they're
going to keep giving you. But if you want to
see films that are faith friendly, that are family centric,
that model resilience and gratitude and joy in the midst
of a world in agony and chaos and divisiveness. Then
vote with me. Go to the film, check it out,
(49:07):
bring your friends, tell them that they should bring in
their friends. Let's tell Hollywood that we want more films
like Soul on Fire. So do that with me right
now by voting with your time and your attention. Go
to Soul on firemovie dot com. You're gonna love it
and I can't wait to have you as one of
my guests in the theater. So, my friends, if you
(49:30):
enjoy receiving these episodes, and how get you not, then
do me a favor. Subscribe and like anywhere that you
tune in. That way, we'll ensure that you're able to
get these going forward. I want to make sure you
know that I love you. I want to make sure
you know that there's nothing you can do about it.
So family, friends, leaders, for this time and until next time.
My name is John O'Leary. Today's your day. What a
(49:53):
gift it is Live with your Soul on Fire. Well.
People are asking me a lot these days, what's my
favorite part about the film Soul on Fire. Well, my
name is John O'Leary. I'm featured in that film Still
on Fire. After getting burned, I'm one hundred percent of
(50:14):
my body as a kid. My favorite aspect of the film, though,
is it's not about the kid. It's not about the
man he grows into. It's not about his wife or
his kids. Even the film is about how God uses
ordinary people for his perfect purposes. My friends, check out
the film Soul on Fire October tenth and going forward
(50:35):
in theaters around the country and around the world, and
be reminded that you can be used in mighty ways
for good