The Kindness Matters Podcast
So. Much. Division. Let's talk about how to change that. Re-engage as neighbors, friends, co-workers and family. Let's set out to change the world. Strike that. Change A World. One person at a time, make someone's life a little better and then do it again tomorrow and the day after that, through kindness.Kindness is a Super-Power that each of us has within us. It is so powerful it has the potential to change not only your life but those around you, too. Let's talk about kindness.
Art, Memory, And The Power Of Care;
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What if Alzheimer’s didn’t close a life, but opened a new way to see it? That’s the question at the heart of our conversation with author and advocate Marilyn Raichle, whose book “Don’t Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey” chronicles how a reluctant daughter discovered joy, humor, and dignity alongside her mother living with dementia. We move from fear to curiosity as Marilyn shares the moment a simple painting class changed everything—the hum of focus, the pull of community, and the art that silenced stigma with beauty.
Togethe...
Kindness Isn’t A Soft Skill, It’s A Power Move
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Ever feel like you’re sprinting through life in the wrong shoes? We sat down with inner glow coach and author Angie Hawkins to unpack how compassion, boundaries, and vulnerable honesty can move you from chasing approval to living with grounded confidence. Angie’s memoir, Running in Slippers, becomes a vivid metaphor for growth: sometimes playful, sometimes painful, always real. She opens up about the childhood patterns that fuel people pleasing and perfectionism, then shares how an emotional rock bottom led her to rebuild from the inside out.
We dig into the...
How Chocolate And Coffee Spark Safer, Kinder Communities
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What if a warm cup and a square of chocolate could turn fear into trust? We sit down with speaker and community builder Andrea Putting, the heart behind Chocolate and Coffee Break, to explore how small, shared rituals help people feel safe, heard, and human again. Born from the aftermath of the Sydney siege and the #IllRideWithYou wave of solidarity, Andrea’s simple practice has grown from a single day into a year-round movement that workplaces, neighborhoods, and friends can use to bridge differences.
We unpack why familiar rituals matter: holding a...
New Here? Listen to These First: 5 Stories That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity | Kindness, Hope & Real Stories
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New to The Kindness Matters Podcast? Start here.
If you’re looking for uplifting podcast episodes, real stories about kindness, or inspiring conversations that restore hope, this episode is the perfect place to begin.
With over 150 episodes, we’ve pulled together 5 of the most impactful, meaningful, and inspiring stories that truly represent what The Kindness Matters Podcast is all about—kindness in action, real people making a difference, and hope in a world that needs it.Â
From “M...
Strength Through Compassion
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Compassion gets called a “soft skill,” but what if it’s the hardest form of strength? We sit down with Tammy Ward, a former RCMP leader who spent 24 years across federal, provincial, and municipal policing—from major crimes to remote northern posts—to unpack how empathy saves relationships, reduces conflict, and sustains teams in the toughest moments. Tammy shares clear, lived examples of de‑escalation through listening and presence, including why speaking with rather than at people can prevent force and build trust that lasts beyond a single call.
The conversation goes deep on...
Kindness That Advocates
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What if the strongest form of advocacy didn’t sound loud, but felt deeply human? We sit down with Whitney Price, founder and executive director of Unpuzzled Parents Connect, to unpack how empathy, clarity, and community can move mountains for families raising neurodiverse kids. From West Virginia’s resource deserts to two-hour doctor trips and long insurance battles, Whitney shows how facts over fury and kindness over shame can open doors that frustration often slams shut.
We trace the family journey from the shock of an early autism diagnosis to the quie...
Leading With Compassion At Work And Home
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What if the strongest performance tool you have isn’t a dashboard, but dignity? We sit down with Paul Meunier, executive director of the Youth Intervention Programs Association, and author of the book Relationships Are Everything: What Youth Workers Teach Us About Leadership, to unpack why kindness and empathy are not soft—they’re the hard, practical skills that power trust, retention, and meaningful results. Drawing on decades as a psychotherapist, community leader, and advocate, Paul shares what youth workers already know: relationships are the foundation of growth, whether you’re guiding a teenager...
Start Here: The Kindness Matters Podcast Trailer
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Welcome to The Kindness Matters Podcast — a space for people who believe small acts still change the world.
In a culture that feels loud, divided, and quick to judge, this podcast explores something quieter but stronger: kindness. Not as a cliché. Not as a slogan. But as a daily decision that shapes families, communities, and the tone of our hearts.
If you’re tired of outrage fatigue and ready for conversations that challenge you to live differently — this is your place.
New episodes drop every Thursda...
Start Here: The Kindness Matters Podcast Trailer
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 New here? Start with this 82-second overview of what this show is about.Â
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Empathy Isn’t Weakness
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A bold claim said empathy is “toxic.” We took that personally—and turned it into a rich, practical conversation about what empathy really is, how it works, and why it makes families, classrooms, and communities stronger. With consultant, author, and caregiver Linda Lemos, we move past slogans and look at empathy as a skill you can learn, teach, and use every day without lowering standards or excusing harm.
We start with caregiving, where pain and patience collide and where boundaries and compassion must live together. Linda shares how empathy shifts reactions from r...
From Loss To Legacy
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Grief can stop you in your tracks—or it can become the ground where purpose takes root. We welcome Debbie Simmons, a “legacy architect” whose life moved from devastating loss to intentional impact, as she shares how she traded the unanswerable why for the empowering how and designed a life that serves families for generations.
Debbie tells the story of losing her quadruplets at 26 weeks and the two questions that reshaped everything: how do I survive, and later, how do I thrive. That shift led to adopting nine children from sibling groups...
Bonus Episode Three: Staying Soft in a Sharp World
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The world feels sharper than it used to. Conversations cut faster. Systems feel colder. And many good people feel tempted to harden—not because they don’t care, but because they’re tired.
In this final bonus episode of The Kindness Matters Podcast, Mike shares why staying soft in a harsh world is not weakness—it’s courage. Drawing from his new book, Still Changing A World: Small Acts of Kindness That Make a Big Difference, he explores how we can protect our humanity without burning out, disappearing, or becoming b...
Bonus Episode Two: Kindness Isn’t Neutral; It’s A Brave, Daily Choice
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In this bonus episode of the Kindness Matters podcast, host Mike Rathbun dives into one of the core ideas from his book Still Changing a World: Small Acts Of Kindness That Make A Big Difference;  kindness is not neutral—it is courageous.Â
He explores why neutrality is passive while kindness is an active, often costly choice that can require comfort, convenience, and even approval. Mike reads a powerful section from the book that unpacks how kindness asks us to stay human in dehumanizing moments, choose compassion over convenience, hold boundaries without crue...
Bonus Episode One: I Wrote A Book
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In this bonus episode of the Kindness Matters podcast, host Mike Rathman shares the heart and hope behind his new book, Still Changing a World: Small Acts of Kindness that Make a Big Difference.Â
Instead of a sales pitch, Mike offers an invitation into the “why” behind the project and reflects on what it means to keep choosing kindness in a world that feels sharper, faster, and more divided than ever. He reads a short passage from the book’s introduction, exploring how true change has always depended on quiet, everyday choices...
Kindness That Saves Lives
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What if the smallest act of kindness could shift someone from isolation to hope? We sit down with mental health advocate, peer support specialist, and nonprofit founder Maddie Andrews to unpack what recovery really looks like for people living with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder—and why stigma keeps too many from asking for help. Maddie’s candid story moves from a year of medical crisis to a mission: make mental health care equitable, accessible, and free of shame through peer-led support and community education.
Across this conversation, we explore how...
Kindness And School Safety
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What if the safest schools aren’t the ones with the toughest rules, but the ones where every kid feels seen? We sit down with Dr. Beth Sanborn—26-year police veteran turned school safety coordinator—to unpack how compassion, trust, and everyday presence can prevent harm long before discipline or court becomes part of the picture.
Beth takes us inside the real work of a school resource officer: mentor, educator, and, when necessary, law enforcement. She explains why a “stolen Oreo” is a moment for curiosity, not cuffs, and how asking why behavi...
Kindness, Grit, And A New Hip
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What happens when grit, humor, and sharp self-advocacy meet a system that still talks over disabled people? We sit down with author, podcaster, and athlete Win Charles for a wide-open conversation about cerebral palsy, pain that won’t be ignored, and the stubborn hope that keeps her training for Kona even as she prepares for a hip replacement at 37.
Win breaks down what CP actually feels like—spasticity that clamps like a rubber band, a startle reflex that can derail recovery—and the cascading impact of a fall that left her hip 50...
Hello Starts Here
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A terrified hello on a budget flight became a life raft—and then a blueprint for community. We sit down with photographer and connection-builder Adam Schluter to explore how he turned awkward street moments into lasting friendships, a global chorus of stories, and a backyard tradition that has welcomed more than 10,000 neighbors to the same picnic tables.
Adam traces the origins of Hello From A Stranger from early rejection to a pivotal encounter with a young refugee in Milan who had never been asked for his photo. That moment reframed the mi...
Kindness That Changes Trajectories
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What if kindness could rebuild a city block by block—and it started with a free concert? We sit down with Stephan Palmer, founder and CEO of Youth on Fire, to trace the journey from community shows in Hartford to a full-scale mentoring and family support network changing how youth grow, learn, and lead. Stephan’s approach is disarmingly simple: build trust first, then layer in faith, academics, and real-world creativity. When a mentor says, “We’re the GPS; you pick the destination,” kids stop bracing for judgment and start mapping their futures.
Y...
Where Empathy Meets Action, Communities Thrive
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A single kind gesture can flip an entire day—and sometimes an entire town. That’s the spark behind this heart-forward conversation with musician and photographer Cathy Catterson, where we explore how small, visible acts of care become a neighborhood’s safety net. From a local pizza shop offering slices to anyone who’s hungry to little free libraries turning into little free pantries, we trace the real-world ways generosity scales at the community level long before it trends online.
We dig into the practical side of compassion: how to support small bu...
Healing Trauma With Curiosity, Boundaries, And Real Kindness
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What if kindness isn’t about being agreeable, but about choosing love that expands you? We sit down with energy healer and 13-sidereal astrologer Tiffany O’Hearn to unpack the real difference between performative niceness and the kind of kindness that heals trauma, strengthens boundaries, and rebuilds community. From the first moments, Tiffany grounds the conversation in integrity—why intent matters, how language shapes energy, and how a simple thank you can open a closed nervous system.
We explore the three P’s of people-pleasing—prevent, persuade, please—and how they quietly drai...
Seeds To Bliss
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What if bliss isn’t something you hunt, but something you remember? We sit down with meditation teacher and healer Anni Eza, co-founder of Seeds of Bliss, to explore a grounded path to emotional freedom that blends ancient wisdom with modern psychotherapy. Annie shares how she created a structured yet flexible method that honors each person’s story, nervous system, and pace—so healing stops feeling like a maze and starts feeling like a homecoming.
Across the hour, we unpack the difference between joy, happiness, and bliss; why linear productivity burns us out...
How Much Of Your Thinking Is Really Yours?
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What if kindness wasn’t a mood but a method? We sit down with leadership coach and former educator Matthew Reynolds to explore how a daily equity lens can turn compassion into measurable change at work, in classrooms, and across communities. Matthew shares the origin story behind Crafting Your Equity Lens—born from years of watching metrics eclipse humanity—and why co-creating norms, inviting play, and centering dignity can transform culture faster than any slogan.
We dig into the core question, “How much of my thinking is my thinking?” and unpack how cultur...
Seeing People, Not Labels
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Ever notice how fast a comment thread jumps from one story to “they’re all like that”? We take a close, compassionate look at overgeneralization—why our brains reach for it, how it spreads through media and memes, and what it does to real people on the other end of the label. With clear examples and an accessible dive into social psychology, we unpack the mental shortcuts that once kept us safe and now flatten complex identities into easy categories.
Mike shares the subtle ways language shapes reality, exploring how repeated phrases...
Teaching Kindness Through Story
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A rainbow that loses its colors is a striking image—and the perfect doorway into a conversation about how small acts of kindness can change a day, a classroom, and a community. We sit down with preschool teacher and author Kelly Turner to unpack the heart and craft behind The Little Rainbow Who Lost Its Colors, a children’s book where friends restore brightness through caring deeds and gentle encouragement.
Kelly brings 14 years in the classroom to her writing, starting every story with a clear moral and building characters and scenes arou...
Holidays, Grief, And Genuine Kindness
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The holidays can feel like a spotlight—bright, demanding, and sometimes blinding—especially when there’s an empty chair at the table. We sit down with certified grief educator Maria Belanic, whose loss of her son reshaped how she understands healing, to talk candidly about what helps, what hurts, and how kindness can make the season more human. Instead of pushing forced cheer or tidy endings, we build a framework for real support that honors memories and respects limits.
Maria unpacks why grief doesn’t follow stages or timelines and offers her CARE...
Reclaiming Yourself
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Ever felt that dizzy aftertaste of a conversation where everything somehow becomes your fault? We sit down with coach and mentor Kyle Miller to untangle the confusion around narcissistic abuse, the misuse of the word “narcissist,” and the practical steps that help survivors reclaim clarity, confidence, and peace.
Kyle shares a grounded way to tell patterns apart, focusing on three crucial signals: accountability, empathy, and compassion. From there, we explore how emotional abuse hides in plain sight—not as one dramatic event, but as a string of small, explainable moments that add up...
Unbinding Perfection
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What if the strongest antidote to perfectionism isn’t tougher goals, but kinder ones? We sit down with life coach and former Dartmouth swim coach Jenn Verser to explore how compassion—especially the kind we offer ourselves—can loosen the grip of people pleasing, fear of failure, and the constant need to outperform. Jen brings candid stories from elite athletics and real-world coaching, showing how high achievers can reframe identity, find alignment, and rebuild confidence without burning out.
We dig into why perfectionism is rising among students and professionals, how cultural pressu...
Stage Lights, Soft Hearts
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What if a classroom could feel like a rehearsal room—brave, focused, and full of possibility? We sit down with 25-year-old performing arts teacher Avelyn Simons to explore how kindness, boundaries, and creative practice can transform shy teens into confident speakers and generous teammates. From building a drama program from scratch to steering a mixed-ability public speaking class, Avelyn shares real stories, simple systems, and a service-first approach that makes empathy actionable.
We dig into the realities of earning respect as a young educator and why “phone jail” isn’t about control...
Hot Mess, Big Heart
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What if a mop and a kind word could change the way someone sees herself? We sat down with Brittinie Tran, founder of Hot Mess Express, to explore how a single Facebook plea turned into a national, women-led nonprofit that cleans homes, organizes chaos, and restores confidence—without judgment. From the first eight volunteers with dollar-store supplies to 150+ affiliates across all 50 states, this is a story about practical help meeting profound human need.
We walk through what a “mission” really looks like: music on, sleeves up, and an atmosphere where conversation matter...
Myths, Meet Reality: Homelessness in America.
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A lot of people talk about homelessness. Fewer people step inside a shelter and see what actually works. We sat down with Helen Kuchera to pull back the curtain on a low‑barrier, trauma‑informed approach that treats people as people—and the results are both practical and hopeful.
We start by dismantling the myths: laziness, “choice,” and the assumption that everyone on the street is addicted. Helen shares the real barriers—no ID, no address, no clean clothes—and how those small missing pieces shut people out of jobs, health care, and housi...
Hope 4 Youth: Inside Minnesota’s Quiet Crisis and the Community Solving It
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A teenager can ace a math test at 10 a.m. and still have nowhere safe to sleep by 10 p.m. Our conversation with Hope 4 Youth’s associate director, Mark McNamer, pulls back the curtain on the hidden crisis of youth homelessness—and the clear, practical steps a community can take to solve it. We explore why 16–24 year-olds often fly under the radar, how couch surfing masks instability, and what it takes to turn basic needs into long-term stability without shame or red tape.
We walk through Hope 4 Youth’s two-part model: a low-ba...
Beyond the Flames: A Firefighter's Journey Through Trauma and Healing
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Trauma doesn't have to be the end of your story—it can become the foundation for profound healing and service to others.
Former firefighter Natalie Newgent takes us through her remarkable journey from a career-ending injury to creating specialized healing spaces for first responders. After 14 years of running toward emergencies while carrying her own silent battles with stress and PTSD, a single moment changed everything when a workplace accident left her with severe physical injuries and unable to continue the career that had become her entire identity.
What saved he...
Earth Angels Among Us
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What happens when strangers appear at our lowest moments, offering help with no expectation of anything in return? Kate Torode, author of "Chicken Nugget Girl and Other Midlife Traumas," joins us to share her extraordinary encounters with what she calls "Earth Angels" – mysterious helpers who materialized precisely when she needed them most.
Kate's journey begins with the story behind her quirky, heartfelt book about a character named Mallory who feels stuck in life – a feeling many of us can relate to. "I still have this dream, and I'm going to follow it,"...
When Nature Heals What Humanity Breaks
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What happens when kindness goes wrong? When James Francisco Bonilla was legally blind, well-meaning strangers pulled him into busy intersections, walked him into call boxes, and nearly guided him off cliffs – all while trying to "help." These harrowing yet illuminating experiences form just part of his remarkable journey from a visually impaired Puerto Rican child facing racial discrimination to becoming a nationally recognized social justice educator.
Born with congenital cataracts and losing most of his remaining vision after a racially motivated assault at age nine, Bonilla's world changed dramatically when groundbreaking ul...
Can Kindness Be Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool?
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What if your biggest business mistakes could become your greatest marketing opportunities? What if teenagers could successfully run million-dollar operations? Dr. Mark Leonard, human performance expert and certified high-performance coach, challenges conventional wisdom about leadership, success, and the younger generation.
Having studied human psychology for over two decades, Dr. Leonard shares the fascinating insights that led him to develop a leadership approach based on coaching rather than dictating. He draws a powerful parallel between how we encourage toddlers learning to walk and how we should approach failures in business and life. "...
Healing Through Generations: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma
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What happens when childhood trauma becomes the catalyst for profound healing? Heather Ann Ferri's journey from victim to healer offers a roadmap for anyone struggling with their past.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Heather endured severe abuse that left her with physical and emotional scars, including brain damage and deep-seated feelings of unworthiness. After years in show business where she "played other people" but couldn't connect with her authentic self, Heather embarked on a healing journey that would transform not only her life but the lives of countless others she now guides.<...
Unleashing Kindness: How Service Dogs Transform Lives
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What happens when a veteran ICU nurse combines her medical expertise with 30 years of dog training experience? Pauline Hoegler reveals the remarkable answer on this episode of Kindness Matters.
Pauline's organization, GOFIDog (Golden Opportunities for Independence), has developed innovative programs that harness the extraordinary capabilities of Golden Retrievers to serve communities in ways that transform lives daily. The stories she shares will leave you astonished at what these four-legged heroes accomplish.
Picture a police officer approaching a child in crisis—a situation that typically escalates to ambulance calls, emergency ro...
The Power of Being Witnessed: Transforming Nursing Burnout
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What if the most powerful act of kindness isn't fixing someone's problems, but simply being present with them? Pediatric cardiothoracic intensive care nurse Natalie Miller Binkley brings this revolutionary perspective to life in our conversation about healing, presence, and the unique challenges facing healthcare workers today.
Natalie takes us inside the specialized world of pediatric cardiac care, where tiny patients with congenital heart abnormalities undergo complex surgeries that literally reroute how blood flows through their bodies. She explains why some pediatric cardiac units now treat patients into adulthood - these unique...
Compassionate Productivity: Finding Peace Through Self-Kindness
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Discover the transformative power of compassion in productivity with Lisa Zawrotny, founder of Positively Productive Systems. In this heartfelt conversation, Lisa shares her profound journey from overwhelmed caregiver—simultaneously raising two young children while caring for her mother with Alzheimer's—to becoming a coach who champions a radically different approach to getting things done.
Lisa introduces us to "whole life decluttering," a framework that goes far beyond organizing physical spaces to address the mental and emotional clutter weighing us down. Unlike traditional productivity methods that often generate shame when we fail to m...
