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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 through turmoil or leading a cross-functional team through change.

We dig into the real mechanics of human-centered leadership. You’ll hear why transactional management falls flat in a world that needs independent thinkers and collaborators, how Gen Z stays loyal when coached and respected, and the crucial distinction between cognitive empathy (perspective-taking that strengthens outcomes) and affective empathy (absorbing others’ pain that can cause burnout). Paul offers concrete ways to create belonging and recognition so people bring their whole selves to work—and willingly go the extra mile because it matters, not because they’re pressured.

The conversation also steps outside the office into our neighborhoods. Stories of strangers helping each other, even across political lines, remind us that most people are decent and eager to contribute when given the chance. That spirit scales at work through small, sincere actions: ask a real question, listen without fixing, and follow through on support. If you’re ready to replace outdated grind culture with a culture of care, this episode gives you language, frameworks, and examples to start today.

"This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.com

to learn more.

Enjoyed this episode? Stay connected with us! Follow our podcast community on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok for uplifting, inspirational, and feel-good stories. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and more content designed to brighten your day."

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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 Thursday. Hit follow and join a community choosing compassion over cynicism.

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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 reflexive judgment to informed response, especially when behavior is driven by pain, fear, or medication changes. From there, we zoom into schools. What happens when empathy is built into the culture? Kids take intellectual risks, ask real questions, and navigate conflict instead of fearing it. We compare U.S. realities with Norway’s long-standing commitment to empathy training and emotional regulation across grades, as well as cooperative learning and dialogue-first conflict resolution.

We also push back on the idea that “feelings” distract from learning. Emotional regulation strengthens focus, problem solving, and resilience—the bedrock of academic success. Cutting counselors and relying on policing as a first response creates brittle systems that punish rather than teach. We talk about what breaks down when empathy is dismissed—trust, communication, accountability—and how that shows up at home, at school, and online. Then we get practical: simple scripts you can use today, like “Help me understand what you’re feeling” or “Tell me more about how you see this,” and small acts of curiosity that rebuild connection in everyday places.

If you’re ready to replace hot takes with human skills, this conversation offers hope and a toolkit. Listen, share with someone who cares about kids and community, and leave a review to help others find the show. Subscribe for more stories and practice you can use this week.

"This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.com

to learn more.

Enjoyed this episode? Stay connected with us! Follow our podcast community on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok for uplifting, inspirational, and feel-good stories. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and more content designed to brighten your day."

Join the movement of kindness! When you shop The So Do You Collection, you’re not just getting inspiring merch—you’re helping make a difference. A portion of every purchase supports local and national nonprofits that spread kindness where it’s needed most. Explore the

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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 and learning trauma-informed parenting the hard, human way. She explains why a child in crisis isn’t the problem but is having a problem, and how our calm presence becomes the medicine that nervous systems seek. Along the way, we talk about the unsung kindness that holds families together—meals on the porch, an hour of respite, and a foster family who prepared kids to trust new parents on day one.

We also dig into leadership. As founder and CEO of Anchor Point, Debbie builds a culture where extreme grace meets clear accountability. Assumptions are challenged, curiosity leads hard conversations, and the default posture is we are for each other. She walks us through Anchor Point’s ecosystem—medical clinic support for unexpected pregnancy, case management, parenting education, a maternity home for homeless moms, and therapeutic camps for adoptive families—showing how practical tools and stable relationships lift the tide of parenting across a community.

If you’re navigating loss, adoption, team dynamics, or the desire to build something that lasts, this conversation offers a blueprint: lead yourself first, ask better questions, accept help, and keep taking the next best step. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories of grace at work.

"This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.com

to learn more.

Enjoyed this episode? Stay connected with us! Follow our podcast community on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok for uplifting, inspirational, and feel-good stories. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and more content designed to brighten your day."

Join the movement of kindness! When you shop The So Do You Collection, you’re not just getting inspiring merch—you’re helping make a difference. A portion of every purchase supports local and national nonprofits that spread kindness where it’s needed most. Explore the collection now.

“I

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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 bitter.

This episode is about boundaries instead of walls, rest instead of retreat, and why small, everyday acts of kindness matter more—not less—when big systems feel broken.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the urge to harden your heart is often about exhaustion, not lack of compassion
• The difference between boundaries and emotional walls
• How staying “soft and strong” helps you remain human without self-erasure
• Why small acts create real change, even when they don’t go viral
• How to keep showing up with kindness without carrying the weight of fixing everything

Featured readings from the book:

• “When You’re Tempted to Harden Your Heart”
• “Small Acts Matter More When Big Systems Feel Broken”

Key takeaway:

You are not responsible for fixing the whole world.
You are responsible for how you show up in the part of it you touch.

Kindness doesn’t require perfection, consensus, or constant output. It requires presence, boundaries, and the courage to stay human—especially when the world makes that hard.

Resources & Links:

• Still Changing A World: Small Acts of Kindness That Make a Big Difference by Mike Rathbun
  (Available wherever books are sold — link in show notes)

If this episode resonated:

• Share it with someone who feels tired but hasn’t given up
• Leave a review to help others find the show
• Or do one small act of kindness today—those still count

Thank you for listening.
Thank you for caring.
And thank you for staying soft in a sharp world.

If you would like to purchase this book in either Kindle format or Paperback you can do that here.

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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.

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 cruelty, and interrupt harm even when it’s uncomfortable.

Speaking directly to those who feel tired, overwhelmed, or tempted to go quiet, he offers validation and hope, reminding listeners that they don’t have to be loud to be brave or fix everything to matter. This episode is an invitation to keep showing up as yourself, consistently, even when the emotional cost feels high.

Who This Episode Is For

• Anyone who cares deeply but feels emotionally worn down by division and harshness.
• People who don’t want to match the cruelty they see but aren’t sure how to stay open.​
• Listeners wondering if their quiet, consistent kindness still makes a difference.

• Grab the book on Amazon (available in either Kindle or Paperback format).

Take the Next Step
If this episode spoke to you, consider sharing it—or the book—with someone who is tired but hasn’t given up yet. Let it be a reminder that choosing kindness, again and again, is one of the bravest things we can do.

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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.

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—how we treat one another when no one is watching and how we respond when it would be easier to harden than to care.

Mike also unpacks why kindness today can feel almost defiant, and why continuing to lead with humanity is both simple and incredibly hard. If you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unsure how to stay kind without disappearing, this conversation will feel like a gentle, needed reminder that you’re not alone.

Who This Episode Is For

• Listeners who feel worn out by division, outrage, and constant noise.
• Anyone who wants to make a difference but wonders if small acts still matter.
• People trying to stay kind without ignoring harm, injustice, or their own boundaries.

Link to the book: Available in Paperback or Kindle.

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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 lived experience builds instant trust in support groups, why “I’ve been there” can open a door that clinical language can’t, and how kindness lowers the barrier to resources like therapy, medication, and crisis planning. Maddie explains the structure of JE Support Group’s free offerings: a national virtual group for schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar communities and two local, in-person groups for broader mental health needs. We dig into concrete tools members share—daily routines, sleep strategies, medication management, and communication skills—and the deep relief of being seen without judgment.

We also get practical about inclusion at work and school. From flexible policies and accommodations to trauma-informed training, small shifts create safer spaces where people can speak up early and avoid crises. Affordability remains a pressing barrier, even with insurance, so we talk navigation tips, sliding-scale options, and why grassroots organizations matter. The takeaway is clear: recovery isn’t the absence of a diagnosis; it’s the presence of support, agency, and community. If you or someone you love needs connection, JE Support’s virtual group is open nationwide.

If this conversation lifts you up, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and subscribe so you never miss a new story of kindness in action. Your one share might be the spark someone needs today.

"This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.com

to learn more.

Enjoyed this episode? Stay connected with us! Follow our podcast community on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok for uplifting, inspirational, and feel-good stories. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and more content designed to brighten your day."

Join the movement of kindness! When you shop The So Do You Collection, you’re not just getting inspiring merch—you’re helping make a difference. A portion of every purchase supports local and national nonprofits that spread kindness where it’s needed most. Explore the

Support the show