Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Kindness Podcast

Seventeen years ago, Bobby Hoffman was stuck in traffic on a Friday night with nothing waiting for him at home but laundry. A car cut him off. He was angry enough to consider ramming it. And then he heard a question that changed the direction of his life: were you paying attention?

That was the epiphany. Bobby called his friends, told them to show up with twenty dollars each, and sent them out into the community to "break the ball of stress." What started as one night with a handful of guys became ePIFanyNow, a Mid-Michigan kindness movement now in its seventeenth year. Their first community event drew 350 people, including a biker gang nobody remembers inviting.

In this conversation, Bobby and Nicole talk about what it actually takes to turn good intentions into a movement, why kindness is not a soft skill, and why the kindest people are so often the ones who have been hurt the most.

In this episode:

• The drive-thru moment and the highway moment that sparked ePIFanyNow in 2009
• Why the name is spelled the way it is (E-P-I-F stands for Pass It Forward)
• The free venue, the phone call to the mayor, and the 350 people who showed up to the first event
• The science of kindness: why the giver, the receiver, and the witness all get the feel-good chemicals
• Bobby's answer to the "you're so Pollyanna" pushback, and where the term "soft skills" actually came from
• The difference between being nice and being kind, and why kindness can carry authority
• What Bobby does when he is the one who needs a break from kindness work
• Growing up as the bullied kid, and how that became the fuel
• Nicole shares the Botox study that explains why your face changes the room
• "Kindness changes the room before you ever say a word."

About Bobby Hoffman Bobby Hoffman spent more than two decades as Public Relations Manager at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts before founding Thought Partner Services, a people-first consultancy focused on leadership, culture, customer experience, and communication under pressure. He co-hosts FOX 47's Morning Blend, produces the weekly Good Neighbors segment, and celebrates teachers through the Michigan Lottery's Excellence in Education. He was named Michigan's 2023 Volunteer of the Year.

Connect with Bobby

• ePIFanyNow: epifanynow.com
• Thought Partner Services: thoughtpartnerservices.com
• Email: bobhoffman11@gmail.com

Quotable "It's not a soft skill. It's a missing skill in our culture right now." "Kindness changes the room before you ever say a word."

Remember, what you look for is what you see.

The Kindness Podcast with Nicole Phillips Episode: What Does Kindness Look Like When Strangers Share a Name? Guest: Phil Campbell

In 1994, a college student in the Midwest was watching Hee Haw when he learned there was a tiny town in Alabama that shared his name: Phil Campbell. He went mostly because the coincidence made him laugh, and partly because he had a girlfriend nearby. He figured it was a one-time lark. Thirty years later, it has become one of the longest emotional relationships of his life.

This week I sit down with Phil Campbell, a former journalist, memoirist, and nonprofit fundraiser whose writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harvard Review, and Columbia Journalism Review. But his résumé is not why he is here. He is here because of what happened when he started gathering up unrelated Phil Campbells from all over the world and bringing them to one small Southern town that none of them came from.

What started as a joke, a loose collection of strangers half hoping to land on Letterman, slowly turned into something none of them saw coming. In 2011, six weeks before the town's centennial reunion, a tornado tore through Phil Campbell and took twenty-six lives. The Phil Campbells came anyway, and the reason for the trip changed completely. So did everything after it.

It is a story about how kindness becomes friendship, how friendship becomes responsibility, and how a person can come to love a community he has never lived in. If you have ever felt disconnected, or wondered where on earth you would ever find your people, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Phil: Learn more about Phil and his work at philcampbellconsulting.com. His memoir, "I Come From a Family That Won't Talk About It," tells the deeper story behind what we talked about today. You can also find him on Instagram @philcampbellnyc.

If this episode moved you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

And remember, what you look for is what you see.

Episode Description

This week, Nicole Phillips sits down with nationally recognized health and wellness expert Wendie Pett, a Doctor of Naturopathy with more than twenty years in practice and the creator of the Visibly Fit program. Wendie believes mind, body, and spirit cannot really be pulled apart, and she shares how a major shoulder injury more than a decade ago reshaped everything she thought she knew about strength and healing. From using your own body as your gym to ordering your life around faith, family, and work, this is a hopeful, no-excuses conversation for anyone who feels like they have run out of time, energy, or motivation to take care of themselves.

About Our Guest: Wendie Pett

Wendie Pett is a nationally recognized health and wellness expert and a Doctor of Naturopathy with more than twenty years in practice. Twin Cities listeners may know her as "Coach Wendie" from KTIS radio, where she has encouraged people toward health for over eight years. She is the creator of the Visibly Fit program, a holistic approach centered on whole-food plant-based nutrition, body weight resistance exercises that support joint health, and shifting unhealthy mental and emotional patterns.

Wendie has hosted a nationally syndicated television program and currently hosts two award-winning podcasts, Visibly Fit with Wendie Pett and Your Biggest Breakthrough. Her Visibly Fit TV show received the Exceptional Service Award from the Christian Women in Media Association, and she speaks at corporations, churches, and universities across the country. She has authored several books, including Every Woman's Guide to Personal Power.

Beyond her work, Wendie is a mother and community-minded volunteer who attributes her success to putting God first, her family second, and her business third. That same heart for families led her to Grace 'n Action, a nonprofit ministry that supports single moms and children in need, and she serves as an Ambassador for Gospel for Asia, advocating for women and children in India.

A Question to Sit With

What if the kindest thing you could do today is not wait for the perfect moment, but offer your body one small act of care right where you are?

Connect with Wendie

Website: wendiepett.com

Instagram: @wendiepett

Facebook: facebook.com/VisiblyFit

Episode Description

What does kindness look like when we treat it as the foundation of the future, and not just a nice thing to do today? This week, Nicole sits down with futurist, keynote speaker, and international best-selling author Michael Neece to find out. After delivering more than 750 presentations inside planetariums, Michael has developed a signature way of thinking about kindness through a cosmic lens, and he believes that lens changes everything about how we build teams, lead organizations, and imagine what comes next. From psychological safety at work to bridge-building across disparate communities, this conversation is a hopeful reminder that the future we end up with is the one we choose to build.

About Michael

Michael G. Neece is a futurist, keynote speaker, and international best-selling author who believes kindness is essential to building the future we want to live in. His experience spans leadership and educational roles in traditional corporate settings as well as planetariums, where he has delivered hundreds of presentations about team building, kindness, and the wonders of the universe. He is the author of In Kind: Consciously Craft a Meaningful Life and Career and co-author of Joy Unleashed: The Ultimate Guide to Living Your Best Life, and he hosts the podcast Our Future is Kind. Michael is also a co-founder of The Human Summit, which brings together people working to drive more connection among disparate communities.

In This Episode

• How standing under the vastness of a planetarium dome reshapes the way we think about kindness on the ground
• What it means to be a futurist who sees kindness as a strategic advantage, not a soft skill
• Why psychological safety is the real engine of innovative, productive teams, and how kindness creates it
• The conviction that every person is worthy of a seat at the table, and how being a father to members of the LGBT community has shaped Michael's work
• The story behind The Human Summit and why bridge-building across disparate communities matters now
• What the kindest possible future actually looks like, and one small act any listener can offer the world today

A Question to Sit With

What should the future be like? Who will be there? How can we craft it carefully into what we want and deserve?

Connect with Michael

Website: ourfutureiskind.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yournextkeynotespeaker Instagram: @michaelgneece YouTube: @YourNextKeynoteSpeaker Facebook: facebook.com/meteormike

Books: In Kind: Consciously Craft a Meaningful Life and Career and Joy Unleashed: The Ultimate Guide to Living Your Best Life Podcast: Our Future is Kind

If This Episode Moved You

Share it with a friend who is dreaming about a better future, or who needs a reminder that the world we end up with is the one we choose to build. And remember, what you look for is what you see.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Kindness Podcast, Nicole Phillips sits down with Lauren Wu, keynote speaker, attorney, former healthcare privacy executive, and founder of Heart Led Leadership, for a conversation about what happens when life forces us to rethink everything we thought we knew. Lauren shares the unexpected thread that connects her journey from ballerina to healthcare executive to founder, and how a life-threatening health event reshaped her understanding of success, leadership, and her own worth. Together, Nicole and Lauren explore what it means to build a career and a life around being human rather than around endurance, why empathy, authenticity, accessibility, and resilience are strategic advantages in the age of AI, and what kindness actually looks like inside a workplace. Lauren also offers a tender invitation for anyone who has built their identity around being the strong one, the dependable one, the high performer, and is quietly running on empty.

About our guest: Lauren Wu

Lauren Wu, Esq., CIPP/US, is a keynote speaker, attorney, former healthcare privacy executive, and founder of Heart Led Leadership, where she helps organizations rethink leadership, burnout, and performance in the age of AI. Before stepping onto stages, Lauren spent nearly two decades leading privacy, regulatory, and compliance strategy at companies including Roche, Exact Sciences, and Evidation Health.

A former ballerina turned executive, Lauren's work explores what happens when high-performance cultures are built around constant endurance instead of sustainable human systems. After surviving a life-threatening health event that forced her to step away from her executive career, she began speaking about empathy, authenticity, accessibility, and resilience not as soft skills, but as strategic advantages.

Today, Lauren speaks at the intersection of leadership, healthcare, ethics, technology, and human-centered design, helping audiences build systems where people can succeed without losing themselves in the process.

Links and Resources

Lauren's website: https://www.heartledleadership.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-foster-wu/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/heartledlauren

Episode Description

In this episode of The Kindness Podcast, Nicole Phillips sits down with Jessica Moyer, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and creator of the R.E.A.L. Wellness Framework, for a conversation that goes far beyond healthy habits. Jessica opens up about how grief, burnout, illness, and loss reshaped her understanding of strength and what it truly means to care for the whole self. Together, Nicole and Jessica explore what kindness looks like when your body, heart, and life all need care at the same time, why self-advocacy is its own form of kindness, and how transformation is still possible even in the hardest seasons. Jessica also offers a practical, hope-filled invitation for anyone who is feeling exhausted or discouraged and wondering where to begin.

About our guest: Jessica Moyer

Jessica Moyer is a TEDx speaker, Amazon best-selling author, host of The R.E.A.L. Wellness Podcast, and a certified leadership, wellness, nutrition, and hormone coach with over 25 years of experience. She helps individuals and organizations build health as the foundation for purposeful, high-impact living.

A former gym owner and multi-certified fitness professional, Jessica specializes in sustainable habit formation, strength-based wellness, metabolic health, and hormone balance, particularly for high-achieving women and leaders.

She is the creator of the R.E.A.L. Wellness Framework, a holistic approach centered on realistic changes, energy creation, aligned action, and self-love. Through her coaching programs, books, and keynote presentations, Jessica equips audiences with practical, science-informed tools to optimize health, regulate stress, and achieve lasting results without burnout.

Jessica is also a passionate community advocate, helping raise over $2 million for Cure SMA and serving in multiple nonprofit leadership roles. As a reality show competitor and international model, she brings both grit and creativity to every organization she partners with to drive meaningful transformation.

She is the proud wife of Jason of 28 years and mom to four beautiful children, including her angel Steven. Her message is simple yet powerful: when you steward your health well, you expand your capacity to lead, impact, and live with intention.

Links and Resources

Jessica's website https://www.jessica-moyer.com Get R.E.A.L. Health (book) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963294394The R.E.A.L. Wellness Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/641le6K6xAnXAuaiXAPgkP LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-moyer-290bb0b/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Purposefullifewellnesscoach/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jessmoyer/ Email jessmoyercoach@gmail.com

Episode Description

In this episode of the Kindness Podcast, Nicole Phillips speaks with Kelly King, a male breast cancer survivor whose journey has reshaped his views on time, purpose, and kindness. Kelly shares his unique experience of being diagnosed through a DNA blood test, navigating treatment, and the ongoing challenges he faces post-cancer. He emphasizes the importance of community, kindness, and gratitude in overcoming adversity, and encourages others to reach out for support during difficult times.

About our guest: Kelley King

My Why Changed Everything. For over four decades, I’ve helped people build legacies—crafting estate and life insurance strategies to protect families and futures. But I’ve learned that money alone doesn’t lead to a meaningful retirement.

In 2023, that lesson became deeply personal. Through a new DNA blood test, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer—despite feeling healthy and having no symptoms. That diagnosis changed how I viewed everything: my health, my time, my why. For me, the answer was clear—my family, especially my seven grandchildren. They are my anchor and my “why.”

After completing treatments, I became a co-founder of The Retirement Life, a program that prepares people for more than finances in retirement—focusing on values, relationships, faith, and purpose. My mission has grown from helping dads become better dads to helping men build lives of goodness, health, and vitality in every season.

I’ve served on the board of Youth for Christ for 17 years, completed the Prime Movers program, and am a Certified Kingdom Advisor. I live in Alexandria, Ohio, attend Jersey Church, and take great joy in watching my three grown children lead boldly in their churches and communities.

Purpose doesn’t end at retirement. In many ways, it begins.

Links and Resources

The Retirement Life https://www.theretirement.life/pages/home

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Retirement-Life-61558988862516/

Galleri early cancer detection test https://www.galleri.com

Kelley King Financial Services http://www.king-fs.com

Kelley’s male breast cancer story https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/post/my-male-breast-cancer-story

John Hancock feature Early detection, lifelong impact

John Hancock podcast episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-why-with-kelley-king-the-value

What does kindness look like when we learn to train our minds instead of being controlled by them?

In this thoughtful conversation, Nicole sits down with Shashin Surkund, a technology leader who has spent his career building data and AI systems that shape how people experience products and services. But after a deeply personal life event, Shashin turned that same curiosity inward and began asking a different question: what if we trained our minds the way we train AI?

That question became the foundation for a powerful new way of thinking.

Shashin has spent the last decade raising awareness around mental health and helping people build lives rooted in gratitude, trust, and a more supportive inner voice. In his TEDx talk, he introduced the world to the idea of “inner ChatGPT,” a way of befriending the mind by being more intentional about what we feed it. In his world, GPT means something a little different: Gratitude and Positive Thoughts.

Together, Nicole and Shashin talk about mental spirals, self-talk, positivity, and the quiet but powerful practice of being kinder to ourselves. They explore what it means to interrupt negative patterns, why small consistent messages matter, and how we can begin building an inner voice we actually trust.

This episode is a reminder that kindness is not only something we offer to others. It is also something we practice in the way we speak to ourselves.

About Shashin Surkund:

Shashin Surkund is a seasoned technology professional who works for a leading financial organization and has spent much of his career enabling data platforms where analytics and AI are used at scale to create better products, services, and customer experiences.

A personal life event led him to discover a deeper purpose: raising awareness around mental health. For the past decade, he has dedicated himself to fostering a culture of gratitude, trust, and positivity in both his personal and professional life.

In November, Shashin introduced his best friend, POSH, short for Positive Shashin, on the TEDx stage. Through vulnerability and insight, he shared an innovative approach to mental wellness by encouraging people to treat their minds like AI language models and train them like their own inner ChatGPT. In his framework, GPT stands for Gratitude and Positive Thoughts.

To kickstart each day, Shashin sends a simple email with a few uplifting thoughts to thousands of people in his organization. He calls it Daily Dose of Positivity, or DDOP.

His story and openness have deeply resonated with others, earning him an unofficial but meaningful title from colleagues: Chief Happiness Officer.

Connect with Shashin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashin-surkund-4288a7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerchatgpt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18SshKoJu3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Watch or read more: TEDx: Harness Your Inner ChatGPT https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/harness-your-inner-chatgpt-shashin-surkund-cdake https://youtu.be/BsZg2y9XCQ4?si=hn8tdHVBhXtyDcfu

Episode Description:

In this honest conversation, Nicole sits down with Asha Miller, breast cancer survivor, vitiligo advocate, storyteller, and founder of Asha Miller Creative. Diagnosed with stage 3B aggressive breast cancer at just 33, Asha shares how that experience reshaped not only her health, but her sense of self, her voice, her faith, and her understanding of what it means to live fully in the body she has now.

Together, they talk about visible difference, truth telling, motherhood, healing, community, and the courage it takes to stay open when life gets hard. Asha’s story is powerful, grounded, and deeply human. This episode is for anyone navigating illness, identity shifts, or the quiet work of learning to be kind to yourself in a life you did not plan.

In this episode, we talk about: • What life looked like before Asha’s breast cancer diagnosis at 33 • How cancer impacted her identity, not just her body • What it means to live fully in the body you have now • How vitiligo shaped her relationship with visibility and self acceptance • Why telling the truth matters more than telling the polished version.

Why this conversation matters Asha reminds us that kindness is not denial. It is not pretending everything is fine. It is honesty. It is tenderness. It is learning to stay with yourself, even when your body feels unfamiliar and your life has taken a turn you never asked for.

Her story offers hope without sugarcoating. Truth without performance. And a powerful reminder that healing is rarely neat, but it can still be meaningful.

About Asha Miller Asha Miller is a breast cancer veteran, vitiligo advocate, storyteller, and consultant based in Columbus, Ohio. Diagnosed with stage 3B aggressive breast cancer at 33, she transformed her diagnosis into a life rooted in advocacy, truth telling, and building community. She is the founder of Asha Miller Creative and the voice behind Dear Cancer, It’s Me, where she creates space for honest conversations about identity, healing, faith, visible difference, and what it means to live fully in the body you have now. Through writing, speaking, and storytelling initiatives with hospitals and national organizations, Asha helps people reclaim their voice and push back darkness with love. At the heart of everything she does are her two children, who remind her daily that kindness begins at home, in the smallest moments, and in the courage to stay tender even when life has been anything but.

Connect with Asha:

Instagram: @dearcancer_itsme

Everyday Health contributor page: Asha Dee Miller

Linktree: Dear Cancer, It’s Me

Outro If this conversation meant something to you, share it with someone who might need it too. And if you’re walking through something hard right now, you’re not alone in it.

And remember, what you look for is what you’ll see.

Episode Summary What if getting older didn’t mean fading into the background… but stepping more fully into who you are?

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Gaylynn Baker, actor, director, writer, and the vibrant force behind Mabel from Retirement House. With over 30 years in the industry, Gaylynn is not slowing down. She is expanding, creating, and showing up in bold, joyful ways that challenge everything we’ve been taught about aging.

Together, they explore what it means to stay visible, embrace reinvention, and practice kindness toward yourself in every season of life.

At the center of the conversation is a powerful question: What does kindness look like when you refuse to disappear as you age?

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why aging does not have to mean becoming less
• What it really looks like to “embrace aging without getting old”
• How Gaylynn continues to show up creatively and visibly in this season
• Lessons from playing Mabel in Retirement House and why humor matters
• A powerful reminder for anyone who feels invisible or unsure of their place

About Gaylynn Baker: Gaylynn Baker is an actor, director, writer, and storyteller with more than three decades of experience across film, television, and stage. She is widely known for her role as Mabel in the viral comedy Retirement House, which has built a global audience of over 10 million followers and more than 5 billion views.

She is also the creator of three award winning documentaries, including We Know Not What We Do, The Trail of Painted Ponies (PBS), and When Buffalo Roam. Her work has earned multiple honors, including the Accolade Humanitarian Award and Best Woman Director at the White Sands Film Festival.

Gaylynn is the author of Gifts of Gratitude and continues to create content centered on joy, spirituality, and living a daring, visible life. She currently connects with audiences through livestreams and social media, where she encourages people to embrace aging with humor, depth, and presence.

Connect with Gaylynn

Website: https://gaylynnbakerofficial.com

TikTok: @gaylynnbakerofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaylynnbakerofficial/

Retirement House IG: https://www.instagram.com/retirementhouse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethgaylynn.baker

Final Thought Aging is not about shrinking. It is about expanding into who you really are.

If you’ve been feeling invisible, consider this your reminder. You still get to show up. You still get to create. You still get to be seen.

And remember, what you look for is what you’ll see.

What Does Kindness Look Like When We Treat Our Body as a Friend with Camellia Jade

In this episode of The Kindness Podcast, I’m joined by Camellia Jade, a creative visionary helping women build confidence, community, and a healthier relationship with their bodies. Through fashion, vulnerability, and a lot of courage online, Camellia has turned style into a vehicle for self love. She is the founder of Confidera, a speaker, and the creator of events that invite women to show up fully as themselves.

We talk about the difference between visibility and validation. How stepping on camera can expose old wounds. And why so many women feel isolated inside bodies they live in every day. Camellia shares what viral attention did to her mental health, how burnout showed up physically, and what healing body dysmorphia taught her about kindness toward herself.

This is a conversation about more than clothes. It is about identity, safety, and the quiet courage it takes to be seen. It is about building circles of women who choose honesty over performance and connection over comparison.

Big question this episode explores: What does kindness look like when we treat our body as a friend instead of a project?

In this episode, we talk about: • How Camellia describes her work to someone meeting her for the first time • When fashion became a doorway to deeper healing • The hidden problem she sees women struggling with • Lessons from stepping into public visibility • Viral fame and its impact on mental health • Why social media can turn toxic and how she navigates it • Body image, vulnerability, and practicing self kindness • Healing body dysmorphia in a public space • What victory in vulnerability actually looks like • One kind thing women can do for themselves today

About Camellia Jade

Camellia Jade is a Creative Visionary for Confidence and Community dedicated to helping women look good, feel good, and live boldly. As Founder and CEO of Confidera, she designs clothing that blends style, comfort, and purpose. She also creates empowering events that celebrate movement, connection, and self expression.

A sought after speaker, Camellia inspires audiences to embrace their unique style, own their story, and build communities where confidence thrives.

Website: www.camelliajade.com Instagram: @camellia_jade

Thank you for listening to The Kindness Podcast.

If this episode made you think of someone who could use a little encouragement, share it with them.

And remember, what we look for is what we will see.

Finding the Eye of the Storm with Richard Greene

In this episode of The Kindness Podcast, I’m joined by Richard Greene, author of Finding the Eye of the Storm. After a near death experience, Richard returned with a new way of seeing the world. Less separation. Less urgency to be right. More awareness of how we treat each other in ordinary moments.

We talk about what it means to live from the “eye of the storm.” A place of calm, clarity, and presence even when life feels chaotic. Richard shares how this experience shaped the five pillars he now lives by and how curiosity and humility can completely change the tone of hard conversations.

This is a conversation about kindness that goes deeper than being nice. It is about being awake. Paying attention. Choosing connection.

Big question this episode explores: What does kindness look like when you have seen the end and come back more awake to the beginning?

In this episode, we talk about: • Growing up feeling both the biggest and the smallest • Richard’s near death experience and how it changed his life • What “the eye of the storm” really means • The five pillars he now lives by • How curiosity and humility shift difficult conversations • Kindness as awareness, not performance • One small shift that can change how you move through the world • A favorite kindness story

About Richard Greene (He/Him)

Richard Greene is an author, speaker, and seasoned business leader who helps organizations create lasting success with a strong human foundation. He is CEO of Clarus Advisors, where he supports mission driven organizations through mindful leadership, cultural alignment, and clear strategy.

He has held executive roles at Bank of America, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, and served as Executive Director of the NC Craft Brewers Guild. His work blends strategy, emotional intelligence, and presence.

Richard is the author of Building Value: The 5 Keys for Achieving Success and Finding the Eye of the Storm, a memoir and reflection on life, loss, and resilience.

He grew up in New Jersey, earned his BA from the University of Florida, and has lived in several states across the country.

Get the book: Finding the Eye of the Storm

Purchase at a discounted price here: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=PTvA0Y4X5dz5ti9cHTlVYYdxi16zi3am4V7ZpW4KGv4

Thank you for listening to The Kindness Podcast.

If this episode made you think of someone who could use a little encouragement, share it with them.

And remember, what we look for is what we will see.

Episode Description

What if kindness wasn’t soft at all, but one of the most powerful biological forces we have?

In this episode of The Kindness Podcast, Nicole Phillips talks with David R. Hamilton, a former pharmaceutical scientist and one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of kindness.

Dr. Hamilton explains why kindness is literally wired into our genes, how it counteracts stress at a physiological level, and why genuine kindness changes inflammation, immunity, aging, and mental health. They also talk about why “being nice” out of duty does not count, why kindness has real teeth, and how small moments of compassion can ripple out to change lives we will never meet.

This conversation is honest, science-backed, and deeply human.

Show Notes

Guest: Dr. David R. Hamilton Author of 12 books including The Joy of Actually Giving an F*ck Former pharmaceutical scientist turned kindness researcher Based in Scotland, UK

What We Cover

• Why calling someone a “kindness expert” can feel uncomfortable • How Dr. Hamilton’s work in pharmaceuticals led him to study kindness • The placebo effect and why kindness is a mind-body phenomenon • What actually counts as kindness and what does not • Why duty-based kindness gives no benefit to the giver • “Nature’s Catch-22” and why kindness has to be genuine • How kindness directly reduces stress, blood pressure, and inflammation • The link between kindness and slower cellular aging • Why kindness is the true physiological opposite of stress • A powerful personal story about compassion at the exact right moment • What to do when life feels too heavy to be kind • The ripple effect of kindness and how one small act can impact over 100 people

Key Takeaways

• Kindness is not weak. It is biologically powerful. • The benefits only happen when kindness is real. • You don’t need grand gestures. Small moments matter. • You are already creating ripple effects, whether you see them or not. • Kindness changes the quality of other people’s days, and your own body.

Memorable Quotes

“Physiologically speaking, the opposite of stress is kindness.”

“You only get the benefits of kindness if you mean it.”

“Kindness has teeth. Powerful teeth.”

“You are setting waves in motion that reach people you will never meet.”

Resources

Dr. David Hamilton’s website: https://drdavidhamilton.com

Better You Backed By Science vlog: https://www.youtube.com/@davidrhamiltonphd

Sign up for weekly science-backed kindness emails and check out his books!

Dr. David Hamilton's latest online course (Why Woo Woo Works) starts in January. Sign up here: https://drdavidhamilton.com/online-courses/

***A quick heads up. The audio quality in this episode isn’t perfect. We’ve corrected the issue moving forward and chose to share this conversation anyway because Jess’s perspective is too valuable to miss.

Season 7, Episode 5

• Mic Drop Bootcamp Registration is open now. Bootcamp begins January 16.

• New book coming May 2026 Making It Without Losing It How to Stay Motivated in a World Where We Are Never Done https://a.co/d/0CeFDJg

• Free weekly Hype Text Text HYPE to 704-228-9495

Question: What does kindness look like when women encourage women?

Nicole Phillips sits down with Jess Ekstrom for a real conversation about women supporting women without competition, comparison, or performative cheerleading. This episode is about what encouragement actually looks like in practice and why it matters.

What we talk about

• Encouragement that builds confidence instead of pressure • Turning frustration into meaningful ideas • Why optimism is a strategy, not a mood • Helping more women step onto stages • Staying motivated when the work never feels finished

About Jess

Jess is the founder of Headbands of Hope and Mic Drop Workshop. She is a two time bestselling author, Forbes Top Rated Speaker, investor in women owned businesses, and mom.

She launched Headbands of Hope with a $300 grant and has since donated millions of headbands to children facing illness, reaching every children’s hospital in the U.S. and 22 countries. The brand is now the official headband provider for the NBA and WNBA and is sold in Kohl’s nationwide.

Jess founded Mic Drop Workshop to help more women share their message as public speakers and authors. Her work has been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Forbes, Vanity Fair, and People Magazine.

Books

• Chasing the Bright Side • Create Your Bright Ideas • Making It Without Losing It coming May 2026

Ways to connect with Jess

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom • Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessekstrom • X: www.twitter.com/jess_ekstrom • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessekstrom • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-59160342/

Key takeaways

• Women lift each other by being specific and generous • Relatability builds trust faster than polish • Purpose grows when your work connects to others • Kindness shows up in action, not just intention

Listen to The Kindness Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.

The Kindness Podcast

Episode Overview:

In this episode, Nicole talks with Dr. Caitlin Ryan about what real support looks like for families with an LGBTQ child. Dr. Ryan has spent decades listening to young people and their caregivers, and she brings a clear, grounded view of what helps and what harms.

They focus on the work of the Family Acceptance Project, which has shown how everyday family behaviors strongly influence a child’s health, safety and sense of belonging. Nicole and Dr. Ryan talk about why small relational shifts matter so much, why families sometimes react in painful ways without meaning to, and how practical guidance can change outcomes for both kids and parents.

A key part of the conversation explores the tension families feel when faith or cultural beliefs seem at odds with their child’s identity. Dr. Ryan shares how she has seen families honor those beliefs while still choosing understanding, curiosity and love, and how that choice often opens the door to healing.

The episode returns to one guiding question. What does kindness look like for families who want to support their LGBTQ child? Dr. Ryan offers simple, realistic steps that bring the answer within reach.

Our guest is LGBTQ expert, Dr. Caitlin Ryan.

Caitlin Ryan, PhD, ACSW is a clinical social worker, educator and researcher who has worked on LGBTQ health and mental health since the the 1970s and whose work on LGBTQ health has shaped policy and practice for LGBTQ children and youth. She directs the Family Acceptance Project® (FAP) at San Francisco State University – a research, education, intervention and policy project – to help ethnically, racially and religiously diverse families to support their LGBTQ children. Dr. Ryan and her team conducted the first research on LGBTQ youth and families and developed the first evidence-based family support model to help diverse families and caregivers to prevent health risks and to promote well-being for LGBTQ children and youth in the context of their families, cultures and faith traditions. Dr. Ryan’s work has been recognized by national professional groups in the fields of counseling, medicine, nursing, psychiatry, psychology and social work, and from civic, LGBTQ, advocacy, arts and faith-based groups. This includes recognition for her work by the American Psychological Association’s Division 44 that gave her the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award for groundbreaking research on LGBTQ youth and families, by the American Psychiatric Association and by the Human Rights Campaign for lifetime contributions to well-being for LGBTQ youth. Dr. Ryan is implementing FAP’s trauma-informed family support model across systems of care and has trained more than 130,000 families, providers, religious leaders and youth on FAP’s family support approach across the U.S. and in other countries. She works with organizations, faith communities, families and providers to integrate FAP’s family-based support model to build healthy futures for LGBTQ children, youth and young adults across disciplines, services and systems.

https://lgbtqfamilyacceptance.org

https://familyproject.sfsu.edu

Behaviors that help/behaviors that hurt posters: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/posters

https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/publications

In Season 7, Episode 3 of The Kindness Podcast, Nicole talks with Adam Schluter.

Together, they answer the questions: What does kindness look like when we're talking to strangers? and What does kindness look like when we're trying to connect in a world that feels disconnected?

Our guest, Adam Schluter has spent over eight years independently exploring the dying art of genuine human connection – unfunded. It’s not a trick or special skill—he’s an artist, not a psychologist—driven by the intrinsic value of something he believes the world is losing. He’s been published multiple times in National Geographic and given a TEDx talk on it (below) so his spontaneous and intuitive approach belies the emotional intelligence required to actually do what he does so naturally. Adam’s lens on life is both curious and compelling. However, it’s his ability to hold space for others in a way that enables people to candidly share their own perspectives with us that is so powerful. In listening radically to each other in a respectful and undivided space people are able to share their beautiful, humanising vulnerability and wisdom with us. In capturing this seemingly dying art of genuine connection, we aim to celebrate something we all need as humans – real, face-to-face community.

Be sure to check out these links:

• To the whole project: hellofromastranger.com
• For the Monday Night Dinners: https://www.hellofromastranger.com/monday-night-dinner
  • The trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPT4qlo-PZ0

The documentary on the whole project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W72niMR2Dwo&t=4s

The Kindness Podcast

Episode: What Does Kindness Look Like When We’re Talking to Our Teens? Guest: Shanna Reyes, MS, LCMHCS

Episode Overview

Talking to teens can bring out the best — and sometimes the worst — in us. In this episode, host Nicole J. Phillips talks with trauma expert Shanna Reyes about how kindness can reshape the way we communicate with our kids, especially when conversations get uncomfortable.

They explore how to connect instead of control, how to set expectations when college kids return home for the holidays, and what to do when we inevitably get it wrong. Because kindness in parenting isn’t about saying all the right things — it’s about being willing to repair when we don’t.

About the Guest

Shanna Reyes is the founder of Counseling Integrity and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor with nearly two decades of experience specializing in complex PTSD, dissociation, and developmental trauma. She combines cutting-edge neuroscience with deep clinical intuition to help clients heal at the root level.

She is one of only four EMDR Institute Facilitators in North Carolina and serves as Co-Coordinator for the NC Trauma Recovery Network (EMDR HAP). Shanna is also EMDRIA Certified and trained in Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Parts Work/Ego State Therapy, and Transactional Analysis/Redecision Therapy.

Key Takeaways

• How to open conversations when your teen seems shut down or defensive.
• Why setting expectations before college kids come home can prevent conflict.
• How to recover when you say something you regret.
• Why repair — not perfection — builds lasting connection.
• Simple ways to bring curiosity and calm to tough moments.

Resources Mentioned

• Counseling Integrity – Shanna Reyes
• The Gottman Institute – Parenting Resources
• The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson (“Repair, repair, repair.”)

What does kindness look like when we can't fix what's wrong in someone's life? In this moving kickoff to Season 7 of The Kindness Podcast, host Nicole Phillips sits down with trauma chaplain Robyn Hare, who spends her days walking into the hardest moments imaginable — emergency rooms, trauma bays, and hospital waiting areas where lives change in an instant.

Nicole and Robyn talk about what it really means to show up for people when their world has fallen apart, how to offer comfort instead of control, and the smallest gestures that bring light to unbearable situations.

If you’ve ever wondered what to do when someone you love is hurting — or how to stay kind and grounded in a world that feels heavy — this conversation is for you.

Be warned -- Nicole and Robyn are good friends and find humor in almost everything.

We thought you'd want to know about this new podcast! You can listen today wherever you get your podcasts and at wowgod.com

Hear the brand-new podcast called "Wow God Stories", with hosts, Lisa WIlliams and Ann Sorenson. This podcast reminds us of a God who is able, alive, and active in our lives. https://www.wowgod.com/podcasts/wow-god-stories/ Click the link, or subscribe on Apple, Google, or Spotify today.

Join us for a heartfelt and inspiring episode of The Kindness Podcast, as host Nicole Phillips bids farewell for a season. In this special episode, producer Jason Rackow sits down with Nicole for an interview, where she shares some of the most valuable kindness lessons she's learned over the years.

From touching anecdotes to personal experiences, Nicole opens up about the transformative power of kindness and how it has shaped her life. Through heartfelt storytelling, she reflects on the importance of empathy, compassion, and God's kindness towards her 

Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the show, this episode is not to be missed. Tune in and be inspired by Nicole's journey of kindness and the lessons she imparts along the way.

Steve Sjogren is the founding pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife Janie started with a small group of 5 that ultimately grew under his leadership to a weekend attendance of over 6,000 attendees. During this journey, Steve has mentored numerous church planters and leaders.  

Steve’s first book, Conspiracy of Kindness, has been translated into several languages with more in the works. His first book has sold over 300,000 copies.  Conspiracy of Kindness has gained attention across a broad base of church leaders as an effective and creative approach to sharing the love of Christ. Steve’s passion for evangelism, church planting, and leadership development are reflected in his writing. You can connect with him at https://www.stevesjogren.com 

Author of the Mom's Choice Gold Award honorees What's Under Your Cape? and the picture book Mr. Quigley's Keys, Barbara Gruener is a bilingual educator, speaker, coach and beloved school counselor who works passionately to influence school culture. Barbara is in her 38th year in education. Barbara grew up on her family's dairy farm in Wisconsin, but today home is Texas, where she and her husband John raised their three now-adult children. Connect with Barbara at https://barbaragruenerauthor.com. 

In a culture where constant offense and polarization dominate so many interactions, singer, songwriter and bestselling author Mike Donehey (formerly of the Grammy-nominated CCM band Tenth Avenue North) offers good news about a more productive way to disagree. His new book is called Grace in the Gray: A More Loving Way to Disagree. Check out Mike’s podcast, Chasing the Beauty, and visit him at www.MikeDonehey.com. 

Steven Shields is passionate about helping others regain their freedom through processing trauma. In 2016, he started the UnashamedUnafraid podcast to be a voice of hope, speaking personally about sexual addiction recovery. Now as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC), Steven works with others to help them experience the freedom of healing. He also leads groups and individuals through life-changing workshops. Steven says hope is possible for every heart no matter how big the trauma or how hopeless it seems. Connect with Steven at  https://www.stevenwshields.com and https://acceptedlife.com. 

Author Thomas J. Penisten’s new release, A Time for Color, A Book About Joy, is a vibrant and poignant story about living with joy and not losing yourself and your zeal for life when things get tough. Thomas has always loved the arts and writing, having attended the Metropolitan School of Art where he studied the classics. His wife, Landa, is instrumental in his editing and publishing process. He was also inspired by the goodness of his late sister, Chrissy, a schoolteacher who was kind to all.  

A kid at heart, when he isn't busy writing thought-provoking books, Thomas enjoys hiking, camping, snowmobiling, ATVing, and bicycle riding with his wife. They have two daughters, one son and two grandchildren. They live in Platteville, Wisconsin, with their two Boston Terriers, Gertrude and Winston.   

You can find Thomas’s books online at GammaBurstBooks.com. 

Charlie Berens is an Emmy-winning journalist, comedian, and creator of the Manitowoc Minute. The Wisconsin native has been featured on Fox, CBS, Funny or Die, TBS Digital, Variety, MTV News, and more. He's really funny. And I think he's also a pretty good guy. Tell your folks I says Hi and hustle on over to https://www.charlieberens.com. 

Dr. Scott Morris is a leading voice in the field of faith and health, and is the founder and chief executive officer of Church Health in Memphis, Tennessee. The clinic opened in 1987 to provide healthcare for working, uninsured people and their families. It has grown into the largest faith-based health care ministry of its type.   

Connect with Church Health at https://churchhealth.org. 

Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and bestselling author with more than 145 million products in print that have been translated in 45 languages and distributed in 80 countries worldwide. Max entered the ministry in 1978. As a writer, Max is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, and “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest. He was awarded the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for outstanding contribution in publishing. Max currently serves as Teaching Minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Max and Denalyn live nearby in Central Texas. They have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren. Visit his website at www.MaxLucado.com. 

Bruce Reyes-Chow speaks and writes on issues of faith, technology, race, parenting, and church culture. He was the Moderator of the 218th General Assembly and is currently the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto. He is also a Senior Consultant and Coach with The Convergence Network, and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.

Bruce hosts the podcast, BRC & Friends and is the author of four books. His latest, In Defense of Kindness: Why It Matters, How It Changes Our Lives, and How It Can Save the World was published by Chalice Press in 2021. He has an active online presence and can be found on most social networks via @breyeschow.

Diana Knott began Asher’s Gift Box after receiving the news of hearing loss in her seven month old son, Asher. The mission of Asher’s Gift Box is to support and empower newly diagnosed children under 3 years old, who are hard of hearing, and their families. Each Asher’s Gift Box contains a children’s book with hard of hearing characters, an American Sign Language book, a stuffed animal with a hearing device, among other treasures. Head to Diana’s Facebook page to read testimonies and find out how you can get involved. 

Noel and Alex Miranda are co-founders of Bravebird, a woman and indigenous-owned video production agency that brings dignity through visuals. Alex spent 15 years working in Hollywood, first as a professional actor and later in creative development at a top Hollywood studio. His credits include TV shows like The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Walker Texas Ranger. Noel produced Bravebird's first competitive short film, Fantasy in D Minor, which premiered at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and won Best International Short Film at Oxford. Check out their work at https://www.wearebravebird.com. 

Chrystal Evans Hurst is a gifted writer, speaker, and worship leader. Being the eldest child of Dr. Tony and Lois Evans, Chrystal been surrounded by the Word of God her entire life. Chrystal recently co-authored Divine Disruption with her dad and three siblings. You can find Chrystal writing on her blog—Chrystal’s Chronicles—where she poignantly reflects her thoughts about her faith and day-to-day experiences. Chrystal is a dedicated wife and homeschooling mother of five. She considers herself to be the COO (Chief Operating Officer) of the Hurst household which is located in a small town just outside of Dallas, Texas. Learn more at https://chrystalevanshurst.com.

Nicole turns the tables on Fargo’s Life 97.9 morning show icon Allen Jones! Nicole is usually the one to share kindness stories on his show – now it’s his turn!

In her debut children’s book, Christina Dankert takes us into Mr. Wilson’s second grade classroom where students learn the power within themselves to be kind. Even adults will feel the encouragement of The Kindness Machine!

Adam Weber is the founder and lead pastor of Embrace, a church based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Author of Love Has A Name and Talking with God, he also hosts a podcast called The Conversation. Adam likes sitting on his front porch, singing in his car at the top of his lungs, and meeting strangers (the stranger the better). He still cheers for the Cincinnati Bengals but no longer drives a Rambler. He’s married to his (patient) wife, Becky, and has four kids: Hudson, Wilson, Grayson, & Anderson. He also has seven chickens, two dogs, & three fish, but what he really wants is a sheep. You can find out more at adamweber.com.

As a Top-3 finalist on Season Eight of American Idol, Danny Gokey quickly became a favorite of millions. Following Idol, Gokey dropped his first album, My Best Days, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. Since that time, Danny has cemented his place on the radio charts with multi-week, multi-chart top-ten runs in the United States, Canada and now Latin markets with his Spanish singles. He has been honored with three Grammy nominations, three wins as KLOVE Male Vocalist of the Year, two Dove Awards and numerous Dove Award nominations. You can connect with Danny at https://www.dannygokey.com.

In this special episode of The Kindness Podcast, we are kicking off Season 5 by introducing our new listeners to our host, Nicole Phillips. Nicole is a champion for using kindness and the power of prayer to overcome all of life’s difficulties, including her own battles with alcoholism, depression and breast cancer. You may have seen Nicole on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family show, HGTV’s House Hunters or on The Price is Right. She was also Miss Wisconsin 1997. Nicole is the author of five books, including Kindness is Contagious and The Negativity Remedy. She is married to her childhood crush, Saul, who is the college men’s basketball coach at Northern State University. The couple lives in Aberdeen, South Dakota with their three children and oversized Goldendoodle. You can connect with Nicole at www.NicoleJPhillips.com.

Christine Caine is a sought-after international speaker, author and activist. Known for her ability to effectively communicate a message of hope, Christine has a heart for reaching the lost, strengthening leadership, and championing the cause of justice. Together with her husband, Nick, she founded the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign – a recipient of the Mother Theresa Memorial Award for their work combating human trafficking among refugees. They also founded Propel Women, an organization designed to celebrate every woman’s passion, purpose, and potential. Christine and Nick make their home in Southern California with their daughters, Catherine and Sophia.

See more at https://christinecaine.com/.

You can also connect on social media at https://www.instagram.com/christinecaine/

https://www.facebook.com/theChristineCaine/

https://twitter.com/ChristineCaine

One of Twila’s latest projects involves bringing up young musicians at 1500 Sound Academy, a state-of-the-art music college based in Inglewood, California.

Learn more about Twila at https://twilatruecollaborations.com/.

Kevin Williams has been Chick-fil-A franchisee for 28 years. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Management Information Systems degree. Kevin began his career in banking prior to his career with Chick-fil-A. He was first introduced to the Chick-fil-A brand by the founder Truett Cathy as a teenager when he spoke to his church. Kevin operates three Chick-fil-A Restaurants in Canton, GA. Kevin recently released his first book, “Irrational Kindness: A Crazy Pursuit of an Extraordinary Life” written as part-operating manual for life and part-employee handbook. He and his wife Gwen have 4 children and they love a good walk, cheering on UGA and exploring creative places & spaces.

Connect with Kevin at www.irrationalkindness.com.

Nicki Koziarz is a two-time ECPA bestselling author and speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She speaks nationally at conferences, retreats, and meetings and hosts her own podcast. An evangelist at heart, Nicki inspires others to become the best version of who God created them to be. Nicki and her husband and three girls run a small farm just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, which they affectionately call The Fixer Upper Farm.

In her new book, Flooded: The Five Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising, Nicki bravely shares her own struggles with doubt and the man with the arc who became her role model for faith.

Visit Nicki's website : www.nickikoziarz.com

Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP is the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee, where she works alongside her counseling assistant/pet therapist, Lucy the Havanese. Since 1993, she has been helping girls and their parents find confidence in who they are and hope in who God is making them to be, both as individuals and families. Sissy is a sought-after speaker for parenting events and the author of twelve books, including the bestselling Raising Worry-Free Girls and Braver, Stronger, Smarter (for elementary aged girls) and her new release for teenage girls, Brave. Sissy is a regular contributor to various podcasts and publications as well as her own podcast called Raising Boys and Girls.

You can find more information and resources at raisingboysandgirls.com and follow Sissy on Instagram at @sissygoff.

Carol McCloud, the “Bucket Lady,” is the author of ten books, which began with the blockbuster Have you Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids in 2006. By trade, Carol is a speaker, author and certified emotional intelligence trainer. Her books have sold three million copies and have been translated into many different languages. A champion for bucket filling, Carol works with a powerful presenter team who strive to help all ages and occupations grow in kindness, self-control, resilience and forgiveness, all leading to a happier life.

Connect with Carol at : https://bucketfillers101.com.