Kindness Matters Podcast

Mike
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

So. Much. Division. Let's talk about how to change that. Re-engage as neighbors, friends, co-workers and family. Let's set out to change the world. Strike that. Change A World. One person at a time, make someone's life a little better and then do it again tomorrow and the day after that, through kindness.Kindness is a Super-Power that each of us has within us. It is so powerful it has the potential to change not only your life but those around you, too. Let's talk about kindness.

  1. 4d ago

    AI And Kindness;

    Send us Fan Mail AI can write a beautiful apology, a perfect condolence message, and a calm response when you’re furious. The real question is not whether artificial intelligence is “good” or “bad” it’s whether we’ll use it to become more compassionate, more thoughtful, and more connected, or whether we’ll use it to avoid the hard work of being human. We talk through the everyday moments where AI can genuinely support kindness: helping us find words when we care but freeze, giving us a pause before we hit send on something cruel, and offering a new angle when we’re trapped in our own blind spots. We also name what can’t be automated: intention, responsibility, vulnerability, and the choice to understand someone even when we don’t agree. Along the way, we break down why language feels so personal, why “understanding” is different from agreement, and how kindness often looks like not making things worse. Then we get honest about the risks. If AI makes kindness effortless, does it make it less meaningful? What happens when empathy can be manufactured on demand, creating the appearance of care without the reality of care? And what about loneliness and AI companionship when a bot is easier than a person who can disappoint you, need you, and ask something of you? We end with simple boundaries and a practical filter we can run before we prompt: will this help me become more human, or help me avoid being human? If this sparked something for you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. 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 You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world. Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com  Support the show

    AI And Kindness;

  2. Sep 24

    When Community Cares

    Send us Fan Mail Someone walks out of a federal detention facility into a Minnesota winter with no phone, no coat, and no clear idea what comes next. Then a small crowd of strangers is waiting with hot chocolate, spare coats, cell phones, and rides. That moment captures the question I can’t shake: what makes ordinary people decide that a stranger shouldn’t have to face the cold alone? I trace how that same spirit spreads beyond one sidewalk into mutual aid networks across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Greater Minnesota. Accountants, parents, neighbors, and people with regular jobs start doing what they can: delivering groceries, driving to work and school, sharing information, helping with rent, translating, and connecting families to resources. The point isn’t that anyone has the power to solve immigration policy or overhaul a broken system. The point is that kindness starts when we focus on the person right in front of us and ask, “What can I do to help?” From there, we move into another crisis with a different shape: SNAP benefits ending and families losing essential food assistance. You’ll hear stories of a farmer donating crates of produce, a grocery owner keeping prices stable even when it carries real risk, and food shelves and volunteers scaling up to meet surging demand. It all comes down to one thread: someone noticed, someone cared, and someone used what they had. If this episode nudges you to show up for a neighbor, subscribe to this podcast, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. What do you have that someone else might need right now? You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world. Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com Support the show

    When Community Cares

  3. Sep 17

    The Ones Who Do

    Send us Fan Mail Somebody should do something. We all say it, we all mean it, and then life moves on. But there’s a moment when that sentence turns into a mirror, when a problem keeps tugging at you and the next thought lands hard: what if that somebody is me? That’s the heartbeat of Kindness Matters, and it’s where this conversation begins.  We walk through how meaningful community change actually happens, not through a single heroic gesture, but through ordinary people who notice what others have learned to overlook. We talk about the tiny first steps that matter, like making one call, volunteering one shift, starting one drive, or simply checking on the person who seems invisible. If you’ve ever wondered how nonprofits and community projects really start, you’ll hear the truth: the need comes first, and the organization comes later, if it comes at all.  We also name what people rarely post about. The unglamorous work behind kindness includes paperwork, budgets, grant applications, fundraising emails, and the sting of rejection. You’ll hear why “no” is part of the process and how persistence can be grounded in humility, not ego. And we spend time on sustainability, because caring deeply can drain you fast. Helpers need kindness too, and stepping back to breathe is sometimes the bravest, most responsible move.  If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems, you’ll leave with one clear question to hold onto: what have I noticed, and what is the next thing I can do? Subscribe for more stories and reflections, share this with someone who needs a nudge to start small, and please leave a review so more people can find the show. Support the show

    The Ones Who Do

  4. Sep 10

    Capitalism, But Make It Human

    Send us Fan Mail Capitalism gets talked about like a cage match: winners on one side, everyone else on the other. I’m not an economist, but a single line stopped me cold: capitalism actually works better when it’s built on a foundation of empathy and equity. So I follow that thread where it really matters, not in charts or jargon, but in people’s lives and the systems that shape their chances. We start by naming what capitalism is at its best: innovation, risk, work, and the freedom to build something real. Then we ask the uncomfortable question: how many successful people truly did it alone? From public schools to roads to mentors to the invisible safety of community, none of us rises without support. That’s where kindness stops being “nice” and starts looking like practical infrastructure for economic opportunity. To test the idea, we look at proof points. The GI Bill shows what happens when a country treats help as an investment: education, training, homeownership, and a stronger middle class. We also talk about Denmark, a capitalist country that pairs markets with a strong social safety net, and why that challenges the belief that compassion and prosperity must be enemies. Along the way, I make the case for libraries as one of the smartest community investments we’ve ever created. If you’re tired of everything becoming a competition, this is a different frame: protect dignity, expand opportunity, and watch what people build. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a hopeful lens, and leave a review with your take: is empathy a strategic advantage? 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 You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world. Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com  Support the show

    Capitalism, But Make It Human

  5. Sep 3

    The Bravest Seat In The School

    Send us Fan Mail The loudest room in a school can be the most honest one. We’re talking about the cafeteria, that daily moment when kids carry a tray into a crowded space and have to answer a deceptively hard question: where do I sit, and what does that choice say about me? We map the “ecosystem” almost every lunchroom develops; the confident table with its hidden hierarchy, the quiet table adults tend to overlook, the newcomers taking a social test with no study guide, the floaters who may be flexible or just searching for a home base, and the students who sit alone by choice or because exclusion taught them not to try. Along the way, we share four small stories that prove kindness isn’t a poster on the wall; it’s survival, courage, and real community building. Then we get practical with four tools you can use immediately at school, at work, or anywhere people cluster and sort themselves: the one-minute scan, the brave invite (“Hey, you can sit with us if you want”), the kindness exit when subtle bullying shows up, and a better after-school check-in that opens the door to your kid’s real social world. If you care about empathy, inclusion, anti-bullying, and helping kids build social confidence, this is a simple guide to doing the next kind thing on purpose. Subscribe for more stories and tools like this, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show. 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 You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world. “Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com  Support the show

    The Bravest Seat In The School

  6. Aug 27

    Bridging The Divide

    Send us Fan Mail This is the Number One downloaded episode of the Kindness Matters Podcast. You can feel the country pulling apart in tiny, personal ways: the friend you stop texting, the family group chat you mute, the coworker you avoid because one comment could turn into a fight. We want a different path, so we sit down with Bill Groner, a longtime trial lawyer who represented more than 10,000 Ground Zero responders after 9/11 and now teaches depolarization and civil dialogue skills to college students. His work is rooted in one big idea: society gets healthier when we practice “we” instead of “me,” especially when it’s hardest.  We dig into why political polarization escalates so fast, how confirmation bias and stereotypes load conversations with negative emotion before anyone speaks, and why intellectual humility is a real-world communication tool, not a slogan. Bill shares lessons from applied positive psychology, including the importance of balancing negative emotions with positive ones, and how shifting your goal from winning to understanding can change the entire tone of a disagreement.  From there, we get practical. Bill breaks down curious questions that invite honesty rather than defensiveness, the subtle difference tone makes when you ask something hard, and the active listening habits that build trust quickly. We also talk about workshop tools like paraphrasing, the “one mic rule,” and the LAPP framework from Braver Angels (listen, acknowledge, pivot, perspective), plus how these skills apply to marriages, parenting, friendships, and workplace conflict, not just politics.  If you want better conversations with people you love, even when you disagree, hit play. Subscribe to Kindness Matters, share this with someone who values connection, and leave a review so more listeners can find these dialogue skills. 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 You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world. “Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com  Support the show

    Bridging The Divide

  7. Aug 20

    Coffee That Fights Homelessness

    Send us Fan Mail This is the second most listened to episode of The Kindness Matters Podcast.  A tent city on the news can be easy to scroll past. For Rob Bergfalk, it became the moment he could not ignore, and it grew into Compassion Church and Compassion Coffee in Anoka, Minnesota. We talk with Rob about what it really looks like to feel “called” to something, and how purpose becomes tangible when you build a place where people who are often overlooked are seen, known, and supported. Rob walks us through the long, careful path from 2018 to launching the church in 2021, including why they chose suburban Anoka, how proximity to shelters shaped the mission, and how a coffee shop can be more than a business. We dig into the nuts and bolts of the model: starting with a coffee cart, learning through community events, then opening a permanent coffeehouse that serves high-quality local coffee while creating a stable environment for connection. The most powerful part is the work behind the counter. Compassion Coffee hires people affected by homelessness and focuses on both job training and life skills: barista skills, customer service, safety and sanitation, budgeting, meal planning, and navigating conflict. We also explore why partnerships with organizations like Hope for Youth, Stepping Stone, and Family Promise matter, and why humility and listening often do more than “playing hero.” If you care about homelessness solutions, community partnerships, social enterprise, faith-based outreach, or workforce development, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what help can look like on an ordinary street. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find stories that bring us a little closer together. 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 You can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world. “Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com” Support the show

    Coffee That Fights Homelessness

  8. Aug 13

    A Small Idea Turns Into One Good Deed

    Send us Fan Mail This is the third-most-listened-to episode of The Kindness Matters Podcast.  A craft night with a few moms, a pile of extra gloves, and a simple desire to stay connected somehow turns into two coach buses packed with winter gear and volunteers. I’m joined by Michelle Christensen from Golden Valley, Minnesota, the founder of One Good Deed, to tell the story behind Scarf Bombing, a direct, practical kindness project that puts warmth where it’s needed most across Minneapolis and St. Paul. Michelle walks me through the early days: asking friends and coworkers for hats, gloves, and scarves, then realizing the donations outgrew what shelters could store. We talk about the pivot from drop-offs to placing tagged items in parks where unsheltered neighbors actually live, the city permits that keep park staff from clearing the supplies, and the small detail that changes everything: a bright tag that says, “Take me, I’m not lost, I’m yours.” It’s a powerful way to offer dignity and clarity at the same time. You’ll also hear the human moments that stick with you, like a bus driver who asks to join the mission, the muffin handoff at a stoplight, and the unforgettable sight of a neon pink blanket “moving” because someone has already claimed it. From there, the kindness ripple spreads into a full nonprofit calendar, one good deed a month, including cards for seniors and Meals on Wheels, an International Women’s Day showcase, community cleanups, Little Free Libraries, backpacks for unsheltered youth, blankets for kids, and comfort care for cancer patients. If you want to volunteer, donate, or simply remember that kindness still thrives, listen now and check out onegooddeed.org. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find stories like this. Support the show

    A Small Idea Turns Into One Good Deed
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About

So. Much. Division. Let's talk about how to change that. Re-engage as neighbors, friends, co-workers and family. Let's set out to change the world. Strike that. Change A World. One person at a time, make someone's life a little better and then do it again tomorrow and the day after that, through kindness.Kindness is a Super-Power that each of us has within us. It is so powerful it has the potential to change not only your life but those around you, too. Let's talk about kindness.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kindness Matters Podcast
  • Show Website
    Kindness Matters Podcast