🎙️ Podcast Intro: Taking Chances – Why Not You?

Today’s episode is personal. It’s about grit, sacrifice, and the kind of quiet strength that doesn’t ask for applause—but damn well deserves it.

Our guest is my dad, John Joseph O'Brien Jr., born and raised in Peabody, Massachusetts. A proud Peabody High graduate, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1962, served in Vietnam, and came home in 1966 to start a new chapter—one marked by hard work, humility, and unwavering dedication.

He clocked third shift at GE Aircraft Engines in Lynn, Massachusetts, held down two jobs, and raised three boys—me, John Joseph O'Brien III, along with my brothers Michael and Mathew. Back then, he was making $100 a week. But what he gave us was priceless: a blueprint for resilience, responsibility, and love.

He’s 81 years old now—and still works every single day. That’s not just longevity. That’s legacy.

We lost my mom, his wife, on September 16th, 2001—just days after 9/11. She battled small cell lung cancer with grace and courage. Her absence is felt deeply, but her spirit lives on in the man who never stopped showing up.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they have what it takes. My dad didn’t ask “Why me?”—he lived “Why not me?” And today, we honor that.

Let’s dive in.