Season 2, Episode 5: John Ondrasik

Thanks for tuning into the Back to Life: Finding Fulfillment After 50 Podcast. Today, I am honored to talk with Grammy Nominee, John Ondrasik, who is known by his stage name Five for Fighting, is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, record producer, and philanthropist. 

In this episode, John and I discuss what the past 16 months have been like for him. He shares his internal struggles during Covid, and how turning his attention to his family business has grown and stretched him in ways he has never experienced before. 

John shares his personal ways of staying centered and how he finds fulfillment as a creative at 57. Listeners will also get to hear what he’s been up to in Hollywood during the pandemic and what’s on the horizon for him. 

It was fun and insightful getting to hear from the legendary musician. You don’t want to miss it. 

In my life, I’ve just tried to be honest and I didn't try to be something I wasn't. And, I put a group of people around me that I trusted. - John Ondrasik

There are some things that are out of my control and I can't obsess on those because my personal stress and my personal wellbeing will get to a point where I'll have a breakdown and I won't be able to help anybody. - John Ondrasik

“If you're everything for everybody, sometimes there's not enough left for yourself.” - John Ondrasik

“In my song, Superman doesn't want to be Superman. He doesn't want to be everything for everybody, because if you're everything for everybody, sometimes there's not enough left for yourself.” - John Ondrasik

“Just raise your hand and say, Hey, I feel like shit and I need a little help here.” - Danny Bader

“That's one thing that a crisis does, it kind of forces you to show parts of yourself that were never there.” - John Ondrasik

“Sometimes you just need to absolutely surrender. Not out of weakness, more out of wisdom.”

 - John Ondrasik

“It's just important for writers to write and speakers to speak and performers to perform.” - John Ondrasik

“The important thing when you're collaborating is you don't want to have to feel you always have to be right.” - John Ondrasik

“I love to fail. Failure to me is incredibly valuable. I've learned way more from my failures than from my successes.” - John Ondrasik