The Kindness Podcast: Recent Episodes
Nicole Phillips
Here at The Kindness Podcast, we are on a mission to teach the world about the transformative power of kindness! Tell us your Kindness Story by leaving a voicemail at (701)428-1122.
Our host, Nicole Phillips is a champion for using kindness to overcome all of life’s difficulties, including her own battle with breast cancer. She spreads the message of the healing power of kindness through her books, speaking events and weekly column, Kindness is Contagious, which runs in newspapers in North Dakota and Minnesota. As Nicole often says, “Kindness has the power to transform a life, but it also has the ability to transform a single bad day-- and the life we transform with kindness is our own.” Nicole has worked as a television anchor and reporter in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin and Fargo, North Dakota. As Miss Wisconsin 1997, she spent the year touring the state talking to children and adults about overcoming crisis. Nicole lives in Aberdeen, South Dakota. During the basketball season, you can find her in the stands with her three kids cheering wildly for her husband, Saul Phillips, and his Northern State University Men’s Basketball team.
Check out Nicole’s books! The Negativity Remedy: Unlocking More Joy, Less Stress and Better Relationships Through Kindness Kindness is Contagious: 100 Stories to Remind You God is Good and So Are Most People Kindness is Courageous: 100 Stories to Remind You People Are Brave and Kind
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.
1 international best-selling author of A Child Called It, speaker and humanitarian Dave Pelzer welcomes readers into the next chapter of his life – and examines why, after spending decades saving others in the military, as a fire captain, and as an internationally acclaimed advocate, he is confronted with the need to save himself. His new book, Return to the River, was written for anyone who has been hurt, victimized, abandoned or feels alone, as a reminder there is always a way to rewrite your own story. Connect with Dave at DavePelzer.com.
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.
Sophia R. Tyler hopes to reintroduce the timeless message of the Golden Rule to young children. Currently a senior at Hope College, she will begin the Master of Social Work program at the University of Denver in Fall 2023. Sophia also interns for Ready for Life, a nonprofit organization that fosters an inclusive community and provides creative and engaging opportunities for college students with disabilities. Her children’s picture book, The Friendly Mouse, launched on March 21, 2022. Read the rave reviews about this debut book on Goodreads.
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
Josh Neumann is on a mission to end bullying and teach the world to speak through kind lips. He’s created his own lip balm company -- kind lips -- to spread the message, and it’s working! Kind Lips has been featured by Ellen, Forbes, and Reader’s Digest just to name a few. Learn more about his mission to end bullying at www.kindlips.com.
Twila True, a lifelong member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe, is a mega-successful entrepreneur whose businesses total more than one billion dollars. With roots from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the poorest community in the U.S., Twila overcame a challenging family upbringing to become a business megaforce, from investing and incubating, to owning and operating, multi-million dollar companies in entertainment, beauty, fashion, food and real estate. In addition to her businesses, Twila’s charitable ventures include an orphanage assistance foundation in China, and a Native American personal development foundation in the U.S.
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.
Jackie Moore received her Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Psychology, but it’s real life that has been her greatest teacher. Three years ago she launched Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project to teach Jordyn, her daughter with autism, job skills. Jordyn has not only learned valuable work skills, she’s also encouraging people to be kind to everyone. Find Jackie and Jordyn online at www.bekindtoeveryone.com and @summershirtproject.
Kim and Penn Holderness have been married for 16 years. For seven of those years, they have chronicled their marriage and their family with funny music videos, vlogs, skits, and a podcast. Their videos have garnered over a billion views worldwide. Penn and Kim honed their storytelling skills with 25 combined years in the TV news business. When the wonderful worlds of YouTube and Facebook appeared, Kim had the idea to ditch the traditional broadcast world and start making content in the digital space. When they aren’t dancing around like crazy people on the internet, Penn and Kim help international companies make videos of their own. Penn and Kim live in Raleigh with their two children and dog. Check out their new book, Everybody Fights and connect at https://theholdernessfamily.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
It’s hard to imagine how many times Micah Tyler spent his days wondering ‘what’s next,’ while driving a sausage delivery truck across southeast Texas. Surely he was questioning his own discernment to quit his youth pastor gig, sell half of what he owned to move his family into a single-wide trailer, and start traveling the region performing songs he’d written. It’s seems to all have worked out pretty well -- Fast-forward down that long road and the same guy behind the delivery truck wheel now has a record deal, multiple Dove Award & KLOVE Award nominations, two BMI Top 25 Christian Songs, and three #1 songs. His new album, “New Today” is out now. Learn more about the man and music at micahtyler.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.
Dr. Gary Chapman is an author, speaker, pastor, and counselor. He has a passion for people and for helping them build lasting relationships. He is an internationally recognized marriage counselor and director of marriage seminars. The 5 Love Languages is one of his most popular titles—it has been translated into 50 languages and has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide.
Dr. Chapman was a family counselor in private practice for 40 years. His nationally- syndicated radio programs air on more than 400 stations. Learn more at https://www.5lovelanguages.com.
Brad Aronson knows the transformative power of kindness. When his wife, Mia, was diagnosed with leukemia, Brad began caring for his wife and walking their young son through the journey. But they didn’t walk alone. Brad was so overwhelmed by the abundance of kindness that he began taking note - literally. Then he began to collect the stories of people around the world. That became his Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling book, Human Kind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time. Brad provides more stories and inspiration on his website, bradaronson.com. The author’s royalties go to support charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Scott Sauls is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville. Before this, he served with Tim Keller at New York City's Redeemer Presbyterian Church as a lead and preaching pastor. Scott has authored five published books: Jesus Outside the Lines, Befriend, From Weakness to Strength, Irresistible Faith, and A Gentle Answer. Scott also blogs weekly on his website scottsauls.com and is active on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at @scottsauls.
Penn and Kim Holderness have produced more than 100 videos since the global pandemic started, including over 50 songs - some with multiple tracks in a medley format. Their videos on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram have garnered over 365 million views from all over the globe! They receive thousands of comments per day from viewers thanking them for helping bring levity to such an uncertain, scary time.
Get to know this hysterical family at https://theholdernessfamily.com/ or check out The Holderness Family on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Jason Mraz’s new album begins and ends with the same phrase: “Look for the good.” Those four words are not just a lyric or the title of his seventh studio album, but also an all-encompassing world philosophy for the musician, who believes that in dark and challenging times we should search for something positive.
The musician also runs the Jason Mraz Foundation, which has donated over $1 million to organizations supporting inclusive arts education and equality. The foundation recently put on an event in San Diego, “SHINE,” to celebrate all-inclusive arts education and become more fully immersed in the community using Jason’s music as a backbone. In many ways, Jason, a two-time Grammy winner, Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoree and board member of the ASCAP Foundation, aims to use his position to empower others and inspire real-world change and positivity. Everything he does and every song he writes comes back to the idea of love. Look For The Good is not just an album – it’s a refreshing way of seeing and experiencing the world we live in.
You can connect with Jason at :
https://www.facebook.com/JasonMraz/
https://twitter.com/jason_mraz
https://www.instagram.com/jason_mraz/
https://www.youtube.com/jasonmraz
And on his website at https://jasonmraz.com.
Tony Bennett is the only living three-time winner of the Henry Iba Award for national coach of the year. A Wisconsin native, Tony took over as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Virginia in 2009 and set the goal of building "a program that lasts." Originally inheriting a 10-win team, his Virginia Cavaliers have since had four 30-win seasons and won the NCAA Tournament Championship in 2019. Follow Bennett’s Cavaliers this season at https://virginiasports.com.
Like many of us, Dr. Peter Kapsner wears dozens of hats. As a business owner, professor, radio host and church leader, there is one thread that is a constant in his life: Kindness. Peter talks with me about his thoughts on kindness as a form of practical theology in this episode of The Kindness Podcast.
Bob Goff is a New York Times best selling author and was a recognized lawyer for over 25 years. In 2001, he saw a need in India and founded what is now known as Love Does. You can learn more about Bob at BobGoff.com and at LoveDoes.org.
Speaker, mother, podcaster and radio host, Lisa Williams has shared her thoughts about life from behind a mic since 1990. Lisa’s voice may sound familiar to you. She joined the nationally broadcast klove morning show in 2009. Now she’s branched out on her own with help from Cure International and is producing her own podcast called Life with Lisa Williams.
You can connect with her on Twitter @godsradiogirl and listen to her podcast on lifewithlisawilliams.com.
Author and columnist Shaunti Feldhahn has made a career helping people with their lives and relationships. Her newest book, The Kindness Challenge, claims only 30 days of kindness can lead to improving even the most difficult relationships.
You can connect with Shaunti on social media @ShauntiFeldhahn and learn more about her book at jointhekindnesschallenge.com
Crystal McVea is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Waking Up in Heaven and the follow-up story, Chasing Heaven. Crystal’s journey to Heaven and back has given her a deep rooted passion for the needy and lost.
Kindness, hope and redemption are central to the message she now shares with audiences across the country. Back home, Crystal boldly ministers under bridges to the homeless and ventures into the dark of night to reach women working in the adult entertainment industry.
Crystal is a schoolteacher and lives in Oklahoma with her husband, Virgil, a US Army veteran, and their four children. To learn more, go to CrystalMcVea.com.
Ron Hall is an international art dealer whose long list of regular clients includes many celebrity personalities. He is the writer and producer of the Paramount Pictures film, Same Kind of Different As Me and the book released in 2008 by the same name. He and his wife Beth divide their time between Dallas, New York, and their Brazos River ranch near Fort Worth.
Same Kind of Different as Me was released into theaters in October of 2017. You can learn more at https://www.samekindofdifferentasmefoundation.org.
Leon Logothetis is a global adventurer, motivational speaker & philanthropist. It wasn’t always that way. He used to be a broker in the city of London where he felt uninspired and chronically depressed. He gave it all up for a life on the road when he was inspired by the movie The Motorcycle Diaries.
Leon has visited more than 90 countries and traveled to every continent. In his newest show, The Kindness Diaries, Leon circumnavigates the globe on his vintage yellow motorbike, Kindness One, giving life changing gifts along the way to unsuspecting good Samaritans. All while relying on the kindness of strangers.
Leon has documented his travels for Good Morning America, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Outside, Good, Psychology Today, and The New York Times, among others.
The Kindness Diaries is available on Netflix. His books, Amazing Adventures of a Nobody, The Kindness Diaries and Live, Love, Explore: Discover the Way of the Traveler a Roadmap to the Life You Were Meant to Live are in stores now.
You can connect with Leon at leonlogothetis.com.