The Support and Kindness Podcast

Greg Shaw
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

🌟 The Support & Kindness Podcast – With Greg and Rich Life with mental health challenges, brain injury, TBI, chronic pain, or simply the weight of everyday struggles can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created The Support & Kindness Podcast — a space where compassion, community, and real conversations come together. Each week, Greg and Rich share stories, insights, and practical tools that remind you you’re not alone. From personal experiences to uplifting interviews, we explore how kindness and support can transform lives — one story, one act, one conversation at a time. Expect heartfelt talks, simple steps you can take to spread kindness in your world, and encouragement to keep going, even on the hardest days. Whether you’re seeking hope, healing, or just a gentle reminder that what you do matters, this is your place. 👉 New episodes weekly. Subscribe and join us in building a kinder, more supportive world.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 56: When You Can't Make Yourself Do Basic Things

    When You Can't Make Yourself Do Basic Things You need a shower. There's food to make and a letter you haven't opened. You know what needs doing, but getting started feels like too much. Then someone says, "It only takes five minutes." This week, Rich, Liam, Sarah, and I talk about the everyday tasks we struggle with and the shame that can come with them. We share what it's like when pain, brain injury, low energy, or trouble remembering things turns one job into a long list of steps. We talk about: Why calling something "basic" can make it harder to admit you're struggling. Showers, meals, medication routines, laundry, and unopened mail. Breaking a job into smaller parts and choosing what needs attention first. Reminders, asking for help, and having someone alongside you. Offering support without taking over or making someone feel judged. When changes in everyday life deserve a conversation with a health professional. In "What's on Your Heart This Week?", we talk about caregiving, sobriety, family, needing some peace, and feeling lonely. This week's kindness challenge: One Need, One Kind Step If you're struggling, choose one thing you need today. Make the next step clear or ask someone to help with one job. You could say: "I'm having a hard time with everyday things. Could you help me with one job?" If you're supporting someone, offer a choice: "Would it help if I brought you something to eat or sat with you while you open the mail?" Ask before moving their things or looking at anything private. Give them room to say no. If food, fluids, medication, or safety are already a concern, ask for help promptly. The challenge can wait. Listen and stay connected Follow The Support & Kindness Podcast and share this episode with someone you'd like to help understand. More episodes: https://kindnessrx.org/listen Free online peer-led support groups and current meeting times: https://kindnessrx.org/groups A note about this conversation We're sharing lived experience, not personal medical advice. Our peer support groups don't replace medical care, therapy, or crisis support. Speak with your clinician or pharmacist about medication concerns; don't change doses based on something heard in the episode. In the United States, call or text 988 for crisis support: https://988lifeline.org For immediate, life-threatening danger, call 911. Outside the United States, use your local emergency service or find support at https://findahelpline.com Content note: candid discussion of mental health, difficulty with personal care, alcohol recovery, and occasional strong language.

  2. 6d ago

    The Anxiety of Checking Your Phone | Episode 55

    You care about people. So why can opening their messages feel so hard? An unread text. A missed call. A voicemail you keep putting off. Sometimes a phone notification feels like one more demand before you even know what it says. Greg, Rich, Liam, and Sarah talk honestly about phone anxiety, the pressure to reply straight away, and how avoidance can make a message feel bigger. We share different experiences, a few laughs, and small ways to make communication easier. In this episode: Why a message can feel like a whole list of jobs Reply guilt, limited energy, and the fear of bad news Notification boundaries and deciding what is truly urgent Short replies you can borrow when you feel overwhelmed How to support someone without adding pressure The one-message reset and our weekly Kindo challenge This week's challenge: One Message, One Boundary. If messages feel overwhelming, choose one safe, manageable message and one small boundary. If you're supporting someone, send a kind message that lowers the pressure, then give them room. Listen and share Episode 55: https://kindnessrx.org/55 Free online peer support groups: https://kindnessrx.org/groups More episodes: https://kindnessrx.org/listen Article mentioned in the episode: TechRadar, every phone ping takes 7 seconds of your attention: https://www.techradar.com/phones/every-phone-ping-takes-7-seconds-of-your-attention-heres-how-to-get-it-back Research and practical resources: The original 2026 notification study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2026.108926 Notifications and attention, 2015 study: https://doi.org/10.1037/xhp0000100 Understanding the anxiety cycle: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/For-Clinicians/Panic Android notification settings: https://support.google.com/android/answer/9079661?hl=en iPhone Focus settings: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/allow-or-silence-notifications-for-a-focus-iph21d43af5b/ios The seven-second figure describes temporary slowing on a laboratory task, not a universal rule for every notification. This is a peer conversation, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Keep urgent medical, safety, financial, and caregiver messages in your contact plan. In the U.S., call or text 988 for crisis support: https://988lifeline.org/. For immediate danger, call emergency services. You do not have to be available every minute to be a caring person.

  3. Sep 30

    Episode 54: Are Influencers Ruining Kindness?

    Episode 54: Are Influencers Ruining Kindness? Someone pays for a stranger's groceries. The help is real. But did the person want their difficult moment shared with millions of people? Greg Shaw, Rich, Liam, and Sarah talk about kindness videos, money, consent, and what happens when someone's private struggle becomes online content. We leave room for different answers, including why these videos can move us and why some make us uncomfortable. We discuss: • Whether someone who needs help can freely say no to being filmed. • Why receiving help shouldn't come with a test of gratitude. • What changes when creators, brands, or television shows earn money from a good deed. • How to share kindness while protecting someone's privacy. • Sarah's family tradition of leaving dollar bills at hospital vending machines. • Small ways to help without asking for a public reaction. In What's on Your Heart, we talk about time with loved ones, challenging racism and homophobia, receiving unexpected kindness, and living with pain. This week's challenge Send a private thank-you to someone whose support mattered to you. Or offer a small act of help and let the other person choose what they share. If you want to tell their story online, make sure they can say no without losing the help. One question to take away: What rule would you want every kindness creator to follow? Listen to Episode 54: https://kindnessrx.org/54 More episodes: https://kindnessrx.org/listen Free online peer support groups: https://kindnessrx.org/groups Brain injury: Mondays. Chronic pain: Tuesdays. Mental health: Wednesdays. Research mentioned in the episode American Psychiatric Association, 2023 Healthy Minds Poll: https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-poll-small-acts-of-kindness-benefits Among 2,210 U.S. adults surveyed, 90% said receiving kindness made them feel at least a little better. This was a self-report poll, not a study of being filmed or of kindness videos. Further reading, added after recording Elizabeth Dunn's TED Talk on helping and happiness: https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_dunn_helping_others_makes_us_happier_but_it_matters_how_we_do_it UNICEF's ethical reporting guidance, including children's privacy and dignity: https://www.unicef.org/media/reporting-guidelines A clarification about recording Our discussion includes broad comments about filming people in public. Recording and publication rules vary by location and circumstances. Being in public doesn't settle every question about audio consent, privacy, or commercial use. A useful U.S. starting point is the Reporters Committee's state-by-state guide: https://www.rcfp.org/reporters-recording-guide/ Content note: Financial hardship, homelessness, vulnerability, caregiving, racism, homophobia, and occasional strong language. This is a peer conversation. Our groups and podcast do not replace therapy, medical care, or professional advice.

    Episode 54: Are Influencers Ruining Kindness?

  4. Sep 24

    Episode 53: Politics at the Kitchen Table: Can We Love People We Deeply Disagree With?

    What happens when someone you love sees an important issue in a completely different way? A conversation at the kitchen table can turn tense quickly, especially when politics, values, and family history are all tangled together. I’m joined by Rich, Liam, and Sarah for a candid conversation about what happens inside us when we disagree, why it can hurt more with family, and how to listen without pretending we agree. We talk about news fatigue, taking a pause, and setting boundaries when a conversation stops helping. We also share what gives us hope that people can still connect across differences. This is a conversation among friends. We don’t have perfect answers, and kindness does not require anyone to accept insults, threats, or harm. In this episode: Why disagreements with loved ones can feel so personal.Listening to understand without giving up your own views.How to say, “I care about you, but I need to pause this conversation.”The effect of headlines, feeds, and repeated arguments on how we see one another.Two small challenges: pause before sharing a story or set one news boundary.This week’s question: How do you stay connected to people you love when you see important issues in different ways? Listen and share: https://KindnessRX.org/listen Our free online support groups: https://KindnessRX.org/groups Support: If you’re in the U.S. and need immediate emotional or suicide crisis support, call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/. Outside the U.S., look for local support at https://findahelpline.com/. If you’re in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. Further reading: American Psychological Association, Stress in America 2024: https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024/ Pew Research Center, Americans’ feelings about politics and political discourse: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/americans-feelings-about-politics-polarization-and-the-tone-of-political-discourse/ This podcast offers peer conversation, not therapy or crisis care.

    Episode 53: Politics at the Kitchen Table: Can We Love People We Deeply Disagree With?

  5. Sep 19 ·  Bonus

    Schedule Update: New Episodes Are Moving to Wednesdays

    For the past year, The Support & Kindness Podcast has consistently released new episodes on Mondays. Because of changes in schedules and the demands of this season, we’re moving our regular release day. Going forward, look for new episodes on Wednesdays. Nothing else is changing. Greg, Rich, Liam, and Sarah will continue bringing you honest and supportive conversations about mental health, brain injury, chronic pain, disability, kindness, and everyday life. Thank you for listening and being part of our community. Listen and follow the podcast at KindnessRX.org/listen Whilst you wait, remember we offer free weekly support groups: KindnessRX.org/groups

    Schedule Update: New Episodes Are Moving to Wednesdays

  6. Sep 13

    Episode 52: When Depression Doesn’t Lift - Treatment Options, Crisis Support, and Hope with Dr. Mark Blair

    CONTENT NOTE This episode discusses depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide prevention. In the U.S., call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org for free, confidential crisis support. If there is immediate life-threatening danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Outside the U.S., find local support at https://findahelpline.com. What happens when medication and therapy have not brought enough relief? Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Mark Blair joins Greg, Rich, Liam, and Sarah to explain treatment-resistant depression and why “treatment-resistant” does not mean “untreatable.” They discuss the importance of reviewing the full diagnosis and treatment history before deciding what comes next. Dr. Blair explains Deep TMS with the BrainsWay H-coil, Spravato (esketamine nasal spray), IV ketamine used off-label for depression, and when ECT may be considered. He also discusses treatment access, monitoring, realistic expectations, choosing a responsible provider, crisis warning signs, asking directly about suicide, and creating a written safety plan before a crisis. Episode 52 also marks one year of The Support & Kindness Podcast. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome, content note, and 988 01:04 When depression treatment has not helped enough 02:06 Meet Dr. Mark Blair 03:08 Hospital crisis care and founding Optimum 05:08 Clinical depression, sadness, grief, and stress 06:42 What treatment-resistant depression means 08:32 Rechecking the diagnosis and treatment history 10:30 Deciding what treatment may come next 12:42 TMS, Deep TMS, and the BrainsWay H-coil 16:12 Spravato and IV ketamine 21:02 Choosing a provider, access, cost, and safety 23:10 Crisis warning signs and immediate danger 25:17 How to ask directly about suicide 27:09 Supporting a loved one and creating a safety plan 29:00 Practical next steps and realistic hope 30:36 Three rapid-fire questions 31:34 One-year anniversary reflections 36:29 Dr. Blair’s practice information 37:15 Key takeaways and weekly kindness challenge 38:48 KindnessRX support groups and closing ABOUT DR. MARK BLAIR Mark E. Blair, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist and founder and medical director of Optimum Wellness & TMS in Columbus, Ohio. Optimum Wellness & TMS 500 E Main Street, Suites 110 & 130 Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-933-4200 Email: info@optimumtms.com Website: https://www.optimumwellnessandtms.com New patients: https://www.optimumwellnessandtms.com/two-ways-to-begin SAFETY-PLAN RESOURCES Create an interactive safety plan: https://www.mysafetyplan.org/ Download a blank safety-plan PDF: https://www.mysafetyplan.org/static/NationalSPA-f57dd48ae60b5b1e9c5a1a980a978693.pdf LEARN MORE NIMH brain-stimulation therapies: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies Official BrainsWay information: https://www.brainsway.com/ Official Spravato information: https://www.spravato.com/ KINDNESSRX Website: https://kindnessrx.org/ Free online peer-led support groups: https://kindnessrx.org/groups KindnessRX groups provide peer support and do not replace therapy, medical care, professional advice, or crisis services. Read the complete companion article, treatment information, safety-plan resources, and further reading:https://kindnessrx.org/when-depression-doesnt-lift DISCLAIMER This episode is for general education only and is not individual medical advice. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare professional who can consider your diagnosis, medical history, prior treatment, risks, benefits, and alternatives. IV ketamine for depression is an off-label use. No treatment is guaranteed to work.

    Episode 52: When Depression Doesn’t Lift - Treatment Options, Crisis Support, and Hope with Dr. Mark Blair

  7. Sep 6

    Episode 51: The Cost of Survival — Money Stress, Disability Budgets, and Economic Shame

    Episode 51: The Cost of Survival — Money Stress, Disability Budgets, and Economic Shame A budget can be careful, detailed, and honest—and still come up short. In this episode, Greg is joined by Rich, Liam, and Sarah for an open conversation about disability, fixed incomes, rising costs, benefit rules, and the shame people are often expected to carry when the numbers simply do not work. Money stress is not only about spreadsheets. For many disabled people, it can mean a fixed income that does not keep up with expenses, complicated benefits rules, inaccessible transportation, medication costs, special diets, household supplies, car trouble, and the added time and energy needed to cook, clean, travel, or make it to an appointment. The group talks about the hidden math of disability: pain, fatigue, and brain fog that can change plans without warning; the differences between SSI and SSDI; fears around saving money or trying to work; and why a haircut, a hobby, or coffee with a friend should never be treated as proof that someone does not deserve support. They also discuss financial shame, isolation, and practical ways to ask for or offer help without making anyone justify their needs. In this episode: The extra costs that can come with disability Budgeting when pain, fatigue, and brain fog change day to day The difference between SSI and SSDI Why benefit rules can create fear around work and savings Why financial hardship is not a personal failing Small comforts, dignity, and the right to remain human during hardship Asking for one clear, specific form of help—and offering support without pressureChapters 00:00 Welcome, co-hosts, and a note on today’s topic 04:30 The hidden math of disability income 10:00 Budgeting when pain, fatigue, and brain fog change day to day 15:00 SSDI vs. SSI, and the fear of getting it wrong 19:00 The poverty trap: benefits that do not move, bills that do 25:00 When money becomes a verdict on character 28:00 Do people in hardship have to give up joy? 35:00 Asking for help without feeling like a burden 39:30 What’s on your heart this week 45:30 Takeaways, the weekly challenge, and closingChoose one: Take five minutes for a judgment-free money check-in. Notice what is coming in, what is going out, and where you may need support—without blaming yourself. Offer someone one clear form of practical help with no pressure attached: a grocery run, a ride, a meal, help making a call, or simply checking in.Free Peer Led Support Groups Brain Injury: Monday, 1 PM ET Chronic Pain: Tuesday, 12 PM ET Mental Health: Wednesday, 7:30 PM ETSign up / RSVP: https://kindnessrx.org/groups Help keep groups free: https://buymeacoffee.com/kindnessrx Connect with KindnessRX: https://kindnessrx.orgYouTube: @KindnessRXNewsletter: https://kindnessrx.beehiiv.com/ Content note: Financial stress, poverty, disability benefits, food insecurity, housing pressure, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The Support & Kindness Podcast offers peer support, not financial, legal, medical, or benefits advice. Before making changes to work, savings, or benefits, seek guidance specific to your situation. If you are in the United States and need immediate emotional support, call or text 988. If there is immediate danger, contact emergency services.

    Episode 51: The Cost of Survival — Money Stress, Disability Budgets, and Economic Shame

  8. Aug 30

    Episode 50: The Diagnosis That Never Comes: Living in Medical Limbo

    Content note: This episode discusses undiagnosed illness, medical uncertainty, and the emotional toll of waiting for answers. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). You are not alone. Episode 50 of The Support and Kindness Podcast sits in a place that is honestly a little hard to name. Medical limbo, the space between knowing something is wrong and getting anyone to confirm it, is one of those experiences that can wear you down in ways that don't show up on a chart. Greg, Rich, and Liam work through ten listener questions on this topic together: why diagnosis takes so long, how to advocate without being dismissed, what happens to your relationships when you have no label for what you're carrying, and how to hold on to hope when the timeline keeps stretching. The What's on Your Heart section brings some real warmth and a bit of humor, and the weekly challenge gives listeners a practical tool they can take into their next appointment. This is peer support, not medical advice, and it is the kind of honest conversation that the show does best. Greg Shaw, Host Rich, Co-Host Liam, Co-Host Sarah is not in this episode (family engagement). [00:00] Welcome and content warning [00:01] What is medical limbo? Intro read [00:03] Stats and context on diagnostic error [00:04] Episode overview and format [00:04] Q1: What does medical limbo mean to you? [00:07] Q2: Why does diagnosis take so long? [00:09] Q3: Why can a hard diagnosis feel like relief? [00:10] Q4: How do you advocate without coming across as difficult? [00:13] Q5: When should you get a second opinion? [00:14] Q6: How does mental health support fit in? [00:16] Q7: What does ongoing uncertainty do to the body and mind? [00:18] Q8: How does no diagnosis affect your relationships? [00:21] Q9: What's it like going through every step with no answer? [00:25] Q10: Undiagnosed vs. unexplained vs. misdiagnosed [00:25] Q11: Separating anxiety from physical symptoms [00:26] Q12: Can preexisting conditions cause doctors to miss new symptoms? [00:30] Q13: How do you balance work, relationships, and hope? [00:34] What's on Your Heart [00:38] Closing summary and weekly challenge [00:42] Call to action and support group information Medical limbo is real. It is the space between having symptoms and getting a diagnosis, and it carries its own form of suffering. A normal test result does not mean nothing is wrong. It means that specific test did not find a cause. Receiving even a difficult diagnosis can bring relief, because it gives you a target. Advocacy tips: bring a short written list of symptoms, book a longer appointment, ask for next steps in writing, and bring someone you trust. You are entitled to a second opinion. Your doctor's feelings will survive it. Mental health support is not a substitute for physical care. It is a parallel track. The stress of not knowing can be just as draining as the physical symptoms themselves. When you have no diagnosis, relationships can fray. Communication and honest conversations matter. Just keep showing up. One day at a time, one hour at a time. Approximately 5% of US adults receiving outpatient care experience a diagnostic error each year. Most people will encounter at least one in their lifetime.  (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2015) People with rare diseases wait an average of nearly 5 years for a diagnosis, after visiting numerous specialists.  (EURORDIS Rare Diseases Europe, 2020 Patient Survey) Episode 6: Medical Gaslighting (kindnessrx.org/podcast/medical-gaslighting) — Greg references this episode directly during the show. The closest companion piece on the podcast.

    Episode 50: The Diagnosis That Never Comes: Living in Medical Limbo
See All (58)

About

🌟 The Support & Kindness Podcast – With Greg and Rich Life with mental health challenges, brain injury, TBI, chronic pain, or simply the weight of everyday struggles can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created The Support & Kindness Podcast — a space where compassion, community, and real conversations come together. Each week, Greg and Rich share stories, insights, and practical tools that remind you you’re not alone. From personal experiences to uplifting interviews, we explore how kindness and support can transform lives — one story, one act, one conversation at a time. Expect heartfelt talks, simple steps you can take to spread kindness in your world, and encouragement to keep going, even on the hardest days. Whether you’re seeking hope, healing, or just a gentle reminder that what you do matters, this is your place. 👉 New episodes weekly. Subscribe and join us in building a kinder, more supportive world.

Information