The Kindness Chronicles

Kevin Gorg, Steve Brown, John Schwietz, Jeff Hoffmann
  • 4.8 (37)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

We live in a world dominated by stories of divisiveness. The Kindness Chronicles hopes to give the world a dose of the "Minnesota Nice" it desperately needs. Hosted by Fox Sports North's Kevin Gorg, Steve Brown of Johnny Clueless fame and John Schwietz (a guy you've never heard of), the Kindness Chronicles delivers stories of kindness through the lens of Minnesotans who share their personal backstories and celebrate those who influenced them to become the people they are today.

  1. Sep 27

    Ep. 217 - The Kindness Experiment with Dylan Alverson

    What happens when you take the price off a restaurant menu and simply trust people? When South Minneapolis restaurant owner and chef Dylan Alverson removed the prices from Modern Times Cafe, he thought he was responding to a crisis in his neighborhood. Instead, he launched an unexpected experiment in human nature. Over the next seven months, more than 30,000 meals were served with no prices attached. People donated. Strangers showed up to help. Farmers brought food. Tradespeople fixed things for free. People from very different walks of life sat together at the same tables. And then things got complicated. Dylan discovered that removing the price tag didn't remove the challenges. It forced him and his staff to confront questions about dignity, fear, addiction, generosity, community, and what it really means to welcome people. What started as a gamble became something much bigger: a real-world experiment in what happens when we choose trust over transactions. In this episode of the Kindness Chronicles Podcast, Dylan shares what he learned—and why, after everything he witnessed, he still says: “I have hope for humanity, strangely.” 🎙️ The Kindness Chronicles Podcast Stories about kindness, character, community, and the people reminding us there’s still plenty of good in the world. Subscribe to join Kindness Nation and get your next oxytocin update. #TheKindnessExperiment #KindnessChronicles #Kindness #Humanity #Community #ModernTimesCafe #DylanAlverson

  2. Sep 18

    Ep. 216 - Robert “Briggsy” Briggs | Teacher, Musician & Family Man

    This week on The Kindness Chronicles, the KCP Crew welcomes Robert “Briggsy” Briggs: second-grade teacher, coach, musician, husband, and father of three. Robert shares how great teachers inspired him to enter the classroom, why second grade is such a special age, and how social-emotional learning helps kids build empathy, gratitude, and confidence. He also talks about balancing family, teaching, coaching, and a busy summer of live music—and how his loop pedal turns a solo performance into a full-band experience. Plus, Briggsy performs two original songs: “Going Strong,” a funny and heartfelt tribute to life with three young children, and “Hawaiian Shirt,” a moving remembrance of a teacher who made a lasting difference. It’s an episode about connection, creativity, kindness, and the people who shape us. Note: This episode includes a candid discussion of grief and cancer. Listen, share, and join Kindness Nation for another oxytocin update from The Kindness Chronicles.

  3. Sep 9

    Ep. 215 - Hearts of Hickory with Bob Pechman

    What if the most extraordinary thing about a life is how ordinary it was? In this episode of the Kindness Chronicles, longtime Mahtomedi friend and author Bob Pechman joins us to talk about Hearts of Hickory—the story of his parents, Clarence and Barb, and the extraordinary legacy they built through ordinary acts of love. Raising six children, they didn’t leave behind a life of fame or fortune. They left something far more meaningful: a legacy of faith, forgiveness, service, humor and showing up for the people they loved. Bob shares the stories and family memories behind his book, the journals that inspired it, and the moment he realized that many of his own beliefs about life had been quietly passed down through the way his mother lived. We also explore why “If everybody was perfect, we wouldn’t need kindness” might be one of the best definitions of kindness we’ve ever heard. Funny, nostalgic and heartfelt, this is a conversation about family, friendship, faith, imperfection—and the extraordinary power of ordinary love. You don’t have to live an extraordinary life to leave something extraordinary behind.

  4. Aug 28

    Ep. 214 - Field of Dreams' Meaning On The Screen

    What if the movies we love are trying to tell us something about ourselves?  Kevin Harris has spent the last decade exploring that question through his Meaning on the Screen YouTube channel, taking a deeper look at the stories, symbols, and themes hiding beneath the surface of the movies we love. In this episode of The Kindness Chronicles, Kevin joins us for a conversation about the movies that shaped him, the power of storytelling, and why films can sometimes help us understand ourselves a little better.  From Field of Dreams and E.T. to Cast Away and even Dumb and Dumber, we explore the deeper meaning behind some familiar stories—and discover how movies can become mirrors for our own lives, relationships, fears, and hopes. Kevin also shares the fascinating story behind his Haunted House Exit Plan, an approach to confronting the fears and unresolved experiences that can keep us stuck. And then there's the mysterious book. 📖 Maybe the greatest stories aren't just the ones that entertain us. Maybe they're the ones that change us.  🔗 Meaning on the Screen: https://www.youtube.com/@MeaningontheScreen  🔗 Haunted House Exit Plan: https://tinyurl.com/hhexitplan

  5. Aug 19

    Ep. 213 - The Accidental Therapist

    What if lowering your expectations could actually make you happier?  Todd Smith has taken a pretty unconventional path. From forming the band Johnny Clueless with Steve Brown in the early ’90s, to stand-up comedy, becoming a licensed clinical therapist, and now sharing daily videos that blend humor, music and life lessons, Todd has spent a lifetime finding different ways to connect with people.  In this episode of the Kindness Chronicles, Todd joins us from Austin, Texas, to talk about that journey—and what he’s learned along the way about happiness, kindness and being a little easier on ourselves. We dig into why expectations can make us chronically disappointed, the pressure we put on ourselves and our kids, the importance of letting go of perfectionism, comparison, fear and other emotional baggage, and why finding a creative outlet doesn’t require you to be Picasso—or even particularly good at it. Todd also shares the story behind his daily social media experiment, how his wife encouraged him to pursue a career in therapy, and how music has unexpectedly become an important part of his life again.  And, of course, there’s plenty of nostalgia and laughs as Todd and Steve revisit their Johnny Clueless days—including some vintage footage from the band’s early years. Sometimes kindness starts with how we treat ourselves. And sometimes the best thing we can do is simply let go.  📺 🎧 Join the Kindness Nation by subscribing on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

  6. Aug 8

    Ep. 212 - Chilling Out: The A/C Tech Who Saved the Day

    When an A/C emergency collides with podcast night, you invite the technician to pull up a chair. In this episode of The Kindness Chronicles, the crew meets Mitchell—the HVAC tech who arrived to rescue John’s aging air conditioner and unexpectedly became the perfect guest.  What starts as a house call quickly becomes a conversation about working through brutal Minnesota heat, climbing into scorching attics, making late-night service calls, and helping stressed-out families get comfortable again.  Mitchell shares what it’s like to be the person everyone is counting on when the temperature climbs, including why a home holding at 74 degrees during extreme heat may actually be doing just fine, the importance of changing a furnace filter, and how he handles frustrated customers with a simple philosophy: kill ’em with kindness.  The night also delivers a true small-world moment when Mitchell reveals a surprising connection to Kevin Gorg’s family. Add in hockey talk with KG, golf, movie butter, and plenty of laughs, and you have an episode that reminds us how meaningful—and unexpected—human connection can be.  It’s a funny, warm conversation about patience, gratitude, great customers, and why a little kindness goes a long way—especially when the A/C is out.  Subscribe to The Kindness Chronicles for more stories that make the world a little kinder.

  7. Aug 1

    Ep. 211 - Keeping Cool When Life Heats Up

    The Kindness Chronicles

  8. Jul 24

    Ep. 210 - The World Cup of Kindness

    ⚽💧 What if the world's greatest team wasn't playing for a trophy...but for clean water? In this special episode of The Kindness Chronicles, we welcome the Salesforce and WASH for Life volunteers who traveled to Malawi, Africa, for what we call The World Cup of Kindness.  Representing five countries across four continents, this international team united with one mission: to bring hope, dignity, and clean water to children and communities in need. Together, they: 💙 Celebrated 7 new well boreholes providing easier access to clean water for more than 2,000 students 🌱 Supported regenerative agriculture at Tembwe Farm 🏫 Improved schools and dormitories through volunteer service and donor generosity 🎁 Delivered school supplies, clothing, bedding, soccer equipment, and countless acts of kindness Along the way, they were welcomed with joyful songs, traditional dances, heartfelt hospitality, and unforgettable moments that forever changed their perspective on service, gratitude, and what it truly means to be part of one team.  You'll hear inspiring stories from "Coach 'Papa' Steve," Jon and Julia Neustedter, Phillip, Sarah, and other volunteers as they reflect on a journey that proved kindness has no borders.  Because in this World Cup...Everyone wins. If this episode inspires you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us spread more stories that celebrate the power of kindness. #KindnessChronicles #WorldCupOfKindness #Malawi #WASHForLife #Salesforce #CleanWater #Volunteer #Kindness #Africa #Service #Hope #GivingBack

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4.8
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

We live in a world dominated by stories of divisiveness. The Kindness Chronicles hopes to give the world a dose of the "Minnesota Nice" it desperately needs. Hosted by Fox Sports North's Kevin Gorg, Steve Brown of Johnny Clueless fame and John Schwietz (a guy you've never heard of), the Kindness Chronicles delivers stories of kindness through the lens of Minnesotans who share their personal backstories and celebrate those who influenced them to become the people they are today.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Gorg, Steve Brown, John Schwietz, Jeff Hoffmann
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    214
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Kindness Chronicles
  • Show Website
    The Kindness Chronicles

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