Rise and Thrive: Conversations For Greatness with John Merkus

Some conversations stay with you long after the recording ends. This is one of them.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by life, weighed down by responsibility, or unsure how to keep going through hardship, today’s episode will meet you exactly where you are. Author and chaplain Sam Wegner returns for Part 2 of a powerful conversation that opens the heart and strengthens the spirit.

Sam speaks with honesty and humility about caregiv...

What if the hardest seasons of your life were shaping you in ways you cannot yet see? What if the weight you are carrying is not a sign of defeat, but a doorway to courage, hope and quiet inner strength?

In this deeply human conversation, host John Merkus sits down with author, pastor and chaplain Sam Wegner to uncover truths about waiting, hope, grief, love and what helps us keep going through the moments that stretch us.

Sam shar...

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the state of the planet or wondered whether meaningful change is still possible, this episode will lift your spirit and strengthen your hope.

In one of the most inspiring conversations yet, John Merkus sits down with Tim Christophersen, a global leader in climate action, to explore how nature heals, how humans can rebuild our relationship with the planet, and why optimism is not naive but necessar...

Humanity is in a relationship crisis with nature, and most of us don’t even realise it. This episode opens a doorway to something bigger: the moment we remember that we are not separate from nature. We are nature.

In this uplifting and expansive conversation, John Merkus sits down with global climate leader Tim Christophersen to explore how repairing our bond with the natural world can create a future of balance, beauty, and shared...

100 conversations. A thousand insights. One unstoppable community of greatness. Join host John Merkus as he celebrates 100 episodes of Rise and Thrive  filled with powerful reflections, inspiring voices, and a brand-new anthem of resilience and hope.

✨ A hundred conversations. A thousand insights. One unstoppable community of greatness.

In this milestone celebration, host John Merkus reflects on an extraordinary journey 100 powerfu...

What if the only thing standing between you and your greatest life… was a single thought?

In this electrifying and heartfelt conversation, host John Merkus sits down with Nick Batchelder creator of Building the Blueprint for a powerful exploration of what it really takes to move from fear into freedom, and from thinking into doing.

Together, John and Nick open up about the daily practice of living with intention, the lessons found ...

What if you’re not burned out just disconnected from your purpose?

In this powerful continuation of John’s conversation with Mitch Harrison, award-winning speaker, executive coach, and author of Running on Full: A Plan to Beat Burnout and Replenish Your Inner Tank, you’ll uncover how to move from drifting through life to living with intention, clarity, and purpose.

In Part 2, Mitch and John dive deeper into what it means to find yo...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, John Merkus welcomes Mitch Harrison, award-winning speaker, executive coach, and author of Running on Full: A Plan to Beat Burnout and Replenish Your Inner Tank.

Together, they explore what it truly means to live and lead with a full tank how to recognise the early signs of burnout, why self-care isn’t selfish, and...

🔥 What does it really take to face fear, embrace truth, and live with courage?

In this powerful continuation of my conversation with resilience expert and author Ken Miller, we go deeper into the mindset shifts and life lessons that turn pain into power.

If Part 1 showed us how compliments, forgiveness, and gratitude shape resilience, Part 2 reveals: ➡️ How courage transforms fear into action ➡️ Why acceptance unlocks peace ➡️ How...

What does it take to rise after you’ve hit rock bottom? In this powerful episode of Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness, host John Merkus sits down with author, speaker, and resilience expert Ken Miller, whose life journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From Ivy League success to the depths of addiction, incarceration, and despair, Ken has turned adversity into action and now dedicates his life to inspiring others to d...

✨ What if the key to success wasn’t about luck or talent, but about who you choose to become every day?

In this powerful continuation of Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness, host John Merkus sits down once again with Jim Cathcart Hall of Fame speaker, bestselling author of 27 books, and one of the most respected voices in personal development.

In Part 2, John draws out Jim’s wisdom on confidence, clarity, and creating a li...

✨ What if one simple habit could transform your entire life?

In this powerful episode of Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness, host John Merkus sits down with one of the true legends of the speaking world, Jim Cathcart. From humble beginnings as a government clerk with no clear direction, Jim became a Hall of Fame speaker, bestselling author o...

✨ What do birthdays, gratitude, and an ancient sea captain have in common? More than you think.

In this uplifting episode of Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness, John Merkus The Positive Change Guy shares stories that blend humour, reflection, and timeless lessons on leadership and change.

• 🎂 Birthday Reflections – why milestone...

What if the quality of your conversations both with yourself and with others was the very thing shaping the quality of your life?

In this powerful solo episode of Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness, host John Merkus invites you to pause, reflect, and reimagine the conversations you’re having every single day. From everyday moments in traffic to the dreams that...

✨ What happens when you put a world-class change leader in the same room as his own AI clone?

That’s exactly what unfolds in this episode of Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness.

🌟 John Merkus, The Positive Change Guy takes listeners on a playful yet powerful journey as he introduces “John 2.0,” his AI-powered voice clone. And here’s the fun part you can try it ...

What if the gap between your current life and your dream life came down to just 11 traits?

In this energising and unforgettable episode of Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness, John Merkus unpacks the proven habits, mindset shifts, and daily actions that set champions apart in business, sport, and life.

First delivered on stage over 20 years ago, these lessons have stood the test of time inspiring people to dream boldly, ...

This is the most listened-to episode in Rise and Thrive: Conversations for Greatness history and for good reason.

In this heartfelt and uplifting conversation, John Merkus sits down with Emily to explore her incredible journey of resilience, hope, and personal transformation. Emily’s openness and courage have touched thousands of listeners, offering a reminder that even in lif...

💥 Something powerful has been brewing for 20 years and it’s finally ready to meet the world.

In this heartfelt solo episode, your host John Merkus invites you behind the curtain and into the soul of his greatest creative work yet: a transformational book that’s been two decades in the making.

Titled Break Free. Your Life. Your Power. Your Freedom., this isn’t just a book it’s a...

Have you ever felt like something inside you needed fixing? In this powerful continuation of John Merkus’s conversation with transformational coach Jai Thomas, we flip that belief on its head and show you a much greater truth.

This episode is a journey through mindset, confidence, and what it really takes to create lasting change. John and Jai uncover the hidden narratives that shape your...