The Kindness Podcast

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

John “Soho Johnny” Pasquale has always had a passion for music. He uses music, to celebrate life itself, and to help others.He has for years been producing major, star studded events in all areas of music, using the proceeds to raise funds for charities. Building on the success of his charitable endeavors, John founded the charitable foundation, “Let Me Help, Inc” whose funds are donated to whatever charitable cause is currently most in need. Learn more at https://letmehelpinc.org/.

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.

Caleb Smith is the 16 year old author/CEO/founder of Peacebunny Island where youth guardians train comfort rabbits to share hope and hoppiness during times of trauma, stress and grief. Learn more at https://www.peacebunnyisland.com.

Dr. Neal Nybo has been in the kindness business for more than 20 years. As a pastor, trainer, speaker and author, he moves more goodness into people's lives by teaching them the power of micro-actions. Learn more about Neal and his new guide and workbook, Workplace Positivity (co-authored by Kindness Podcast host, Nicole Phillips) at https://www.nealnybo.com.

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/.

Linda Cohen has been a “kindness catalyst” for over a decade. A nationally recognized kindness expert and professional speaker, she works with a wide variety of businesses and associations on the ROI of Kindness. Cohen offers insight into why kindness matters so much in the workplace now more than ever. It's imperative to your bottom line. Her first book, 1,000 Mitzvahs: How Small Acts of Kindness Can Heal, Inspire and Change Your Life was published by Seal Press in 2011. Learn more about Linda at https://lindacohenconsulting.com/.

Genevieve Piturro was a successful television marketing executive in New York City for twenty years when a little girl's question (“What are pajamas?”) changed the course of her life forever. Genevieve jumped off the corporate ladder and began delivering pajamas and books to children in shelters. In 2001, she founded Pajama Program (https://pajamaprogram.org), which has been recognized nationwide for both its success and Genevieve's story. Genevieve published Purpose, Passion and Pajamas in August 2020 about her transformation from the corporate life to starting a nonprofit.

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.

Rob Feakins spent his career as a writer and chief creative officer at some of the most respected advertising agencies in America. He has creatively led and won awards on some of the most recognized global brands in the world including: Target, Citibank, P&G, BMW, Porsche, Four Seasons, and Volvo to name a few. In 2015, Rob founded his company For All Humankind and is now taking his skills and applying it where it is needed most, helping charities activate their cause marketing and helping non-profits with issue raising instead of merely focusing on fund raising. Learn more at forallhumankind.com.

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.

Kindness is making a comeback in the new documentary, The Antidote, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Nicole talks with the award-winning producers, Kahane Cooperman and John Hoffman, about the film that explores how intentional kindness can transform society. Learn more at https://theantidotemovie.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.

Award winning singer/songwriter Nicole Lewis' pursuit of kindness is not only evident in her music but also in her training as a physical therapist; both in her work with elderly patients and in her music, she states that she has always found value in her desire to contribute as a healer … and views music as one of the greatest healing tools. Her new song “Keep It Kind" is an anthem for our world. You can connect with Nicole and watch the music video for her song Keep it Kind at https://www.nicolelewis.com.

An entrepreneur, advocate, and former Chairman & CEO of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games, TJ Nelligan is a man of action who has made it his life's mission to benefit others. Inspired after his son's sudden passing, TJ has written, Live Like Sean, which provides a first-person perspective of seeing the world through the eyes of his special-needs son, who taught the world more than it could ever teach him. You can connect with TJ and learn more about his book, Live Like Sean, at www.tjnelligan.com.

Corey Harnish has dreams, goals, & aspirations for the future and he's taking action! He's made a commitment to increase the overall well-being of the world and instill happiness within the hearts and minds of individuals everywhere. Corey is on a mission to build an ecosystem of social impact entertainment projects that are helping make this world a better place. Connect with Corey at https://www.kindnessmediastudios.com/, https://www.funfunding.org/ or at https://coreyharnish.com/.

Dan Tran is bringing kindness to the doctor's office and other cancer survivors after he was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 30 during his second year of medical residency as an oral surgeon. It started out with back pain and numbness in his legs. When an MRI showed a tumor on his spine, Dan knew it was serious, but nothing prepared him for the unexpected diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. Dan was a health-conscious, non-smoker, just embarking on a hard-earned career. Following surgery to remove his tumor, Dan received treatment that targeted a specific mutation that was driving his cancer growth. Dan is now back to work with a whole new perspective on what it's like to be on the other side of the stethoscope. The experience taught the young father that life isn't guaranteed, and we could all benefit from a dose of kindness. He's also advocating for other patients like him so they know they aren't alone. Follow Dan's journey at danfightscancer.com.

If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses… think again. Straight No Chaser is back with some Christmas cheer. The a cappella group released a new holiday album, appropriately titled Social Christmasing, on November 6. Social Christmasing was recorded in quarantine, with all nine -- count 'em -- nine members contributing their parts from their hometowns across the country. In addition to holiday classics like "Silver Bells," "Away in a Manger" and "Holly Jolly Christmas," the album also includes five new original songs, plus a cover of Counting Crows' "A Long December." A lyric video for that tune is streaming now. Keep tabs on when and where they will be popping up live and virtually at SNCMusic.com.

Laura Schroff is an international and #1 bestselling author and keynote speaker. Since the launch of her books, An Invisible Thread, An Invisible Thread Young Readers' Edition, An Invisible Thread Christmas Story, and Angels on Earth, Laura has become a passionate and compelling voice on the power of acts of kindness and human connections. Laura is a former advertising executive, who worked with major media companies, including Time Inc. and Condé Nast, and was part of the USA Today advertising launch team and worked at Ms. Magazine. Connect with Laura at www.AnInvisibleThread.com.

Beth Walker has partnered with her husband for twenty years, in leadership and ministry both on and off the football field. Beth is passionate about encouraging women to pursue their individual callings from God. In her first book, Lessons from the Sidelines (September 2020) and on her blog by the same title, Beth offers practical advice for other coaches' wives as well as a behind-the-scenes look at her family's life as they serve their football players and their community. Connect with Beth at lessonsfromthesidelines.com.

Just a few short years ago, Christy Hughes decided it was time to make some changes. This self-described fearful, shy introvert walked right out of her comfort zone and discovered something wonderful! She's on a mission to help people unlock their own courage and compassion through her online community called, The Brave Kind. You can find Christy at www.wearethebravekind.com, Instagram: @the_bravekind or on Facebook: Cultivating the Brave Kind (@kindnesschristy).

Jack Eason serves ministries and non profits throughout the United States and around the world sharing principles for fundraising, growth and development, board governance, and other areas of ministry leadership. He enjoys serving as one of the pastors at Cross Roads Baptist Church in the Upstate of South Carolina as well as the of Crossover CUPS Mission, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that has been privileged to serve the local Church and missions-related organizations around the world for 30 years. Jack also travels speaking to students in high school and college and talks about the issue of loneliness, how we can make good friends, and the power of togetherness. Connect with Jack at JackEason.org and find his book, The Loneliness Solution, wherever books are sold.

In a time when businesses are trying to do more with less, one restaurant chain is extending its Southern hospitality. Sonny's Barbeque appointed its first CKO - Chief Kindness Officer earlier this year. Kennon Adkinson is the guy who gets to Q the Kindness! Learn more at sonnysbbq.com or through the hashtag #Qthekindness.

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.

Mary Katherine Backstrom is a viral blogger, speaker, and author. She offers humor and spiritual inspiration to anyone in the trenches of this messy, beautiful life. MK is the dynamic personality behind Mom Babble, a growing community of 600,000+ followers. She has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and awarded The Today Show Iris Award. Join her community at https://www.facebook.com/MomBabble.

As a singer and songwriter, Austin Atteberry has always had a love affair with music. But while spending time as a volunteer at a children's hospital, he witnessed the power of music to heal. He created The Sing Me a Story Foundation to connect thousands of songwriters with children in need throughout the world. Learn more at SingMeAStory.org.

As an Emmy Award winning journalist, Lu Parker has worked in the television news business as an anchor and reporter for more than two decades. She currently anchors several news shows at KTLA in Los Angeles. She is also an inspirational speaker, author, former Miss USA, animal advocate, and founder of Be Kind & Co., a lifestyle media brand that inspires people to redefine kindness and use it to create change in their lives and the lives of others. Find Lu on her social media pages @LuParker and at https://bekindandco.com.

Laura Formentini's curious and empathic personality has led her to travel the world and bring aid wherever she goes, be it in the form of raising funds to renovate an entire orphanage in Kenya, a run-down clinic in Malawi, or Co-Found an animal sanctuary in Sicily, Italy. She is also a nonprofit photographer who has worked with countless organizations around the world. Laura says she believes Love in Action heals not only the world, but also holds the key to our own healing. Learn more at www.lauraformentini.com or on her animal sanctuary website, www.RifugioIsolaDelSole.com

“You get what you celebrate.” That's the powerful lesson former Home Depot CEO Frank Blake learned while engineering a corporate turnaround. While he has spent most of his life in the business world, Frank and former Home Depot VP Brad Shaw decided to take a crazy turn and create an organization to celebrate people who are doing something right. With their podcast “Crazy Good Turns,” Blake and Shaw are bringing that idea to the world at large. If we celebrate those who do good deeds, will we see more of them? If you hear a story about an inspiring person doing something amazing for somebody else, will you try to be a little better too? They invite you to join and see at https://crazygoodturns.org.

We are mixing things up a little bit for this episode of The Kindness Podcast. Nicole's friend and fellow kindness advocate, Nathan Hofer from Lost & Found, has offered to take over the microphone to interview Nicole about her new book, The Negativity Remedy: Unlocking More Joy, Less Stress and Better Relationships Through Kindness. You can find it on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

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.

Debbie Matenopoulos has consistently proven herself to be a versatile talent in the entertainment industry. For nearly two decades, this five-time Emmy® nominee has successfully sustained her career as a compelling journalist, talk show host, lifestyle expert, and bestselling cookbook author. She has become one of the most recognized and respected personalities on television today. She currently co-hosts Home & Family on Hallmark Channel weekdays 10am/9c. Follow Debbie on Instagram @iamdebbiem.

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.

Kristen Eargle has worked as a sports reporter covering college, high school and professional sports. She's interviewed some of the most recognized athletes and coaches, but to medically fragile children, she is the superstar. Kristen joins us to talk about her non-profit, Ruler of Hope, which was inspired by her daughter.

Mina Samuels was a practicing human rights attorney and activist. Though she was good at it, it became clear it wasn't right for her. Mina started running and never looked back. That's when she began to really think about what it was she wanted to do with her life. Today she is a successful writer, playwright and performer. However, her particular interest is the transformative impact of sports in women's lives. In her newest book, RUN LIKE A GIRL 365 DAYS A YEAR: A Practical, Personal, Inspirational Guide for Women Athletes, Mina shares daily wisdom as a spiritual running buddy for women on the move. Check out Mina's new workshops at ImagiNation Playshops. You can learn more at https://www.minasamuels.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/MinaRunsLikeAGirl/.

Apparently, no one ever told Andrea Abbate that we can't do it all. She is a wife, mom, TV writer and founder of the non-profit Acts of Kindness LA who happens to run a free drug rehab program in her backyard. Find out what keeps her fueled in this episode of The Kindness Podcast.

Jessica Patay is the Founder and Executive Director of We Are Brave Together, a supportive community of moms with special-needs children. It is her own experiences in life that fuels her passion to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all Special Needs Moms in their unique and difficult journeys. Join the community online at https://wearebravetogther.com/ or on instagram @wearebravetogether.

It's estimated that 45 million people are currently providing unpaid care for a loved one. 45 million caregivers. Donna Thomson and Zachary White are part of that statistic. In THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY OF CARING: THE TRANSFORMATION FROM LOVED ONE TO CAREGIVER, these seasoned caregivers offer a look at the new normal that is formed when life is re-routed. Read Donna's blog at The Caregivers Living Room (www.donnathomson.com) and take advantage of the caregiver resources at Zachary's site, www.unpreparedcaregiver.com.

A friend hurts us, an angry driver takes their rage into our lane of traffic, or our opinions conflict and misunderstanding occurs. Is there a way to reroute a bad day? Yes! Author and psychotherapist Micki Fine Pavlicek is using her new book, May All People and Pigs Be Happy, to teach kids and adults how to love through the hurt. You can learn more about Micki's work on social media and at www.livingmindfully.org.