Podcasts about Kindness

A quick little snack for you all this week as we're all preparing for the chaos of the holidays. You all submitted the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you and I think it's the perfect thing to remind us that truly (like TRULY) we have all been through some sh*t and all need the kindness of one another to keep us going. I hope you all have a safe & loving Holiday this week

In this unforgettable conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with viral kindness creator Jimmy Darts, author of Undercover Kindness to talk about the stories behind his videos and his book: the grandparents sleeping in their car who stopped to help wrap a gift, the mom who handed over a burrito from her backpack without hesitation, and the quiet power of people who give even when they don't have much. The heart of this episode is simple and surprisingly practical. You don't have to fix anyone. You don't have to be heroic. You just have to notice people. Jimmy shares how generosity shaped him as a child, why five dollars matters more than we think, and how walking, slowing down, and being present opens the door to real connection. It's a conversation about faith, parenting, and choosing an outward posture in a culture that trains us to look away. If you've ever wondered how to raise generous kids or how to soften your own heart again this episode will stay with you. Jimmy on Instagram: @jimmydarts Jimmy on YouTube: @JimmyDarts Undercover Kindness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enhance your English fluency with some great (and odd!) UK news: pink fog, online habits, reindeer carrots, and Tree of Kindness. These are just a few of the heartwarming and intriguing stories we're exploring today. Listen, build your vocabulary and get some great English listening practice today! Free Transcript: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/learn-english-language-pink-fog-reindeer-carrots-kindness-stories/As you listen https://adeptenglish.com/english/listening/ to a native speaker discuss these topics, you'll absorb authentic English https://adeptenglish.com/language-courses/ language naturally, which is the secret to fluency! We'll wander through the enchanting phenomenon of pink fog, carrots, trees and how much time people in the UK spend online.Each story is brimming with advanced vocabulary and natural expressions, perfect for B2 and C1 learners. Immersing yourself in real English conversations like this helps you remember words without effort.Subscribing is easy! Just visit our FAQ page, choose Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and start listening to 8 new, ad-free episodes every month.- FAQ: https://adeptenglish.com/faq/subscription-faq/- Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adeptenglish/subscribe - Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/learn-english-through-listening/id1134891957 So press play and let's uncover these fascinating stories together, all while boosting your English fluency.#LearnEnglish #ESL #EnglishFluency #B2English #C1English #UKNews #AdvancedVocabulary #PodcastForEnglish

Broadway's Desi Oakley joins The Art of Kindness podcast for our holiday extravaganza! The Wicked and Waitress star gets festive with host Robert Peterpaul about: Her new holiday single Christmas on the Coast + holiday favorites The challenges and rewards of working on Broadway during Christmas The power of "trying" and much more! DESI OAKLEY is a self-described Jane of all trades. She's a Broadway performer and recording artist you've seen in Waitress, Chicago, Wicked, Annie, and Les Misérables, with TV appearances on Elsbeth, Gotham, The Gilded Age, and Only Murders in the Building. You've also heard her voice in films like Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen, tick, tick… BOOM! and Spirited. Beyond the stage and screen, Desi is a heartfelt mental-health advocate, music educator, and NYC-based coach. Follow Desi @desioakley Follow us: ⁠@artofkindnesspod⁠ / ⁠@robpeterpaul⁠ ⁠youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast⁠ ⁠Support the show⁠! (⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok⁠) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: artofkindnesspodcast@gmail.com Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Start your mornings with a little bit of insight and a lot of positivity. Let Morning Affirmations help empower you each day!

You can send and text and we love them.. but apparently we cant respond. Sorry!!A daily dose of good news in two minutes time... give or takeSupport the showJoin us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/awesomenewsdailyor email me at awesomenewsdaily@gmail.com

What is God's kingdom like?Reading Plan: Old Testament - Micah 1-4Psalms - Psalm 145:8-14Gospels - John 18:33-40New Testament - Revelation 17:7-18Visit https://www.revivalfromthebible.com/ for more information.

This last episode of 2025 finds Dana and Vincent reflecting on a year full of high highs, low lows and everything in between in the world of pop culture and their own lives. 

You can send and text and we love them.. but apparently we cant respond. Sorry!!A daily dose of good news in two minutes time... give or takeSupport the showJoin us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/awesomenewsdailyor email me at awesomenewsdaily@gmail.com

I wasn't planning to begin a new season of the podcast just yet — and yet something called me back.So this feels like a bonus episode. A moment of reconnection. A gentle hello.In this short reflection, I share what's been feeling most present for me as we move through this season — particularly the intertwining of kindness and boundaries, and how deeply they belong together.I explore:Why boundaries often come into sharper focus at this time of yearHow clarity can be an act of kindness — to ourselves and othersThe quiet confidence that comes from knowing what feels OK, and what doesn'tThe beauty of honouring each other's needs with attention and careThere's no fixing or teaching here — just a naming of what feels alive, and an invitation to notice what might be asking for your attention too.I'll be back with a new season in the new year. For now, this is a pause, a bridge, and a warm hello.With love. ★ Support this podcast ★

Today I'm joined by Catherine for a chat about rediscovering magick, trusting intuition, and allowing creativity to unfold without pressure. I hope you enjoy it!In this episode we explore:1. Reclaiming magick later in lifeCatherine shares her experience of returning to magick after years away. Once deeply connected as a child, she describes how religion and relationships pulled her off that path, and how she now feels a clear calling to reclaim her inherent magick. Not as something new, but as something remembered.2. “Everybody is inherently magickal”Rebecca reframes the idea of being a “newbie witch,” emphasising that magick is not earned or bestowed but reclaimed. This conversation gently dismantles the idea that witchcraft requires lineage, expertise, or perfection, and instead centres embodiment, relationship, and presence.3. Divination as humanity's oldest language of meaningTogether they trace divination far beyond tarot and oracle cards, exploring how humans have always sought meaning. From birds, bones, smoke, stars, and entrails, to modern medicine and prediction-based science, divination is revealed as our instinctive way of making sense of uncertainty.4. Trusting the body after a lifetime of being taught not toThe conversation turns to how many of us were taught, as children, to override hunger, tiredness, discomfort, and intuition. Divination and ritual become ways of gently relearning self-trust and restoring a relationship with the body's wisdom.5. Ritual and relationship From cleansing cards to asking permission before taking a deer bone, Catherine and Rebecca speak about reverence rather than rules. Cards, crystals, bones, and objects are framed not as tools to control outcomes, but as allies we build relationships with over time.6. Slowness as a magickal actCatherine reflects on learning to go slowly in this phase of her life. Gathering objects, thrifting intuitively, nesting into her practice, and allowing curiosity to lead rather than goals. Rebecca affirms that magick has no end point, no checklist, and no finish line.7. Art as spellwork and becomingArt emerges as a central theme. Catherine shares how returning to painting after decades away has become part of her magickal rediscovery. Painting over old work, starting again, and allowing the process to lead mirrors her wider journey of becoming. Rebecca reflects on art as knowledge created through making, not output.8. Noticing as everyday magickFrom winter roses and unexpected tomatoes in December, to robins, daffodils, chalk pits, ancient skull sites, and dandelions breaking through concrete, this episode celebrates noticing as one of the most powerful magickal practices we have.9. Kindness, boundaries, and transmuting angerThe conversation closes with reflections on love, justice, protest magick, and discernment. Witchcraft is named as a path that does not deny anger or grief, but gives us ways to transmute them into action, boundaries, care, and change.This episode is for you if you:feel called back to magick after time awayare learning to trust themselves againfeel overwhelmed by noise, content, and certainty cultureare rediscovering creativity again in your lifewant magick without pressure, hierarchy, or performancebelieve slowness, noticing, and kindness are radical actsJoin us for a conversation that invites you to exhale, to soften, and to remember that you do not need to know where you're going to walk a magickal path.-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --All of the Magick:The A Pinch of Magick App:IPhone - download on the App StoreAndroid - download pn the Google PlayOur (free) magickal Community: Facebook GroupMagickal JournalsExplore on Amazon Rebecca's Author PageWebsiteRebeccaAnuwen.comMagickalHabits.comInstagramFor Magick: Click hereFor a Sacred Pause in Nature: Click hereFor CharmCasting: Click hereFor Merlin, my Dog: Click here

In this episode, Bob 'n Joyce explore key findings from Gallup's 2025 World Happiness Report. The United States experienced a notable decline, ranking 24th — its lowest position ever. The report highlights how social connection, financial wellbeing, emotional health, and physical wellness all play a critical role in overall happiness. While these findings may not come as a surprise, they should serve as a wake-up call for business leaders and OD practitioners. Unhappy employees don't just affect morale — they impact business results and workplace culture in very real ways. In the spirit of the season, we focus on what we can do to address chronic unhappiness, drawing directly from insights in the Gallup poll. What emerges are solutions that don't require big budgets or more time. In fact, small, subtle shifts by leaders — being fully present, asking thoughtful questions, and helping people feel seen and validated — can make a meaningful difference. On a personal level, we invite you, our listeners, to use this holiday season as a moment to pause, look around, and make someone's day. Kindness is contagious — and when it spreads, it lifts all of us. No better time to begin than now. Come on in, grab a snack. Welcome!

Friendships matter to God and thrive when you nurture them with encouragement, care, and thoughtful actions. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

You can send and text and we love them.. but apparently we cant respond. Sorry!!A daily dose of good news in two minutes time... give or takeSupport the showJoin us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/awesomenewsdailyor email me at awesomenewsdaily@gmail.com

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The post Unexpected Kindness – 2 Samuel 9:13 – December 18, 2025 first appeared on Enduring Word.

In today's devotional, Pastor Kerrick shares about the goodness of God and the fruit of the Spirit within us.----Link For RIV Translation & Other Recommended Books:https://shop.recomsale.com/KerrickOrder your copy of the Rhythm of Rest today:https://www2.fccga.com/storeSubscribe to the Faith in the Morning Newsletter:https://www.kerrickbutler.com/subscribe

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy Thompson is joined by pastor and longtime ministry leader Tuck Knupp for a thoughtful conversation on kindness. Drawing from a men's Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit, they explore how kindness is often misunderstood as niceness or weakness, when in reality it is rooted in strength, humility, and generosity of spirit. Together, they discuss kindness in relationships, leadership, work, self-reflection, and even cultural and political discourse. The conversation challenges listeners, especially men, to grow in kindness by embracing humility, receiving God's kindness personally, and allowing that transformation to shape how they live, lead, and relate to others, particularly during the Christmas season. Key Takeaways- Kindness is not the same as niceness, it is rooted in strength and truth- True kindness requires humility and an honest view of our own brokenness- Kindness reflects a generosity of spirit that believes the best about others- Protecting someone's reputation is a powerful expression of kindness- Kindness should extend to work, home, relationships, and public discourse- Receiving God's kindness fuels compassion toward others- Self-kindness is essential for growth and freedom from performance- Kindness may lose short-term battles but can win long-term warsTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Kindness05:09 Reframing Kindness Beyond Niceness11:22 The Strength and Truth Within Kindness18:23 Growing in Kindness Through Humility25:36 Kindness in Relationships and Self-Compassion32:09 Reflecting on Kindness During Christmas36:20 Kindness in Society, Culture, and Politics45:42 A Challenge to Men47:11 Final Reflections and ClosingLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In the quiet of this meditation time, let these words bring the truth of God's heart for us into our minds, remining us to be as merciful and kind to others as He is toward us. Mercy dispels fear and kindness soothes the soul. May we overflow with acts of compassion for others today.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this podcast, please consider supporting us. Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser

You can send and text and we love them.. but apparently we cant respond. Sorry!!A daily dose of good news in two minutes time... give or takeSupport the showJoin us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/awesomenewsdailyor email me at awesomenewsdaily@gmail.com

You can send and text and we love them.. but apparently we cant respond. Sorry!!A daily dose of good news in two minutes time... give or takeSupport the showJoin us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/awesomenewsdailyor email me at awesomenewsdaily@gmail.com

Embracing Love and Kindness: This meditation helps you become a vessel of love and kindness. Picture a golden light within you expanding with each breath, filling you with warmth and love.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hiding report cards, presents from listener Lisa, and kindness is easy!- h1 full 2091 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:43:04 +0000 mmdjkMlBvigeM6snTGF4yFVf9TcMCzY1 comedy,religion & spirituality,society & culture,news,government The Dave Glover Show comedy,religion & spirituality,society & culture,news,government Hiding report cards, presents from listener Lisa, and kindness is easy!- h1 The Dave Glover Show has been driving St. Louis home for over 20 years. Unafraid to discuss virtually any topic, you'll hear Dave and crew's unique perspective on current events, news and politics, and anything and everything in between. © 2025 Audacy, Inc. Comedy Religion & Spirituality Society & Culture News Government False https://player.am

Who's ready for a good year in review? Look, we get it, you're scratching your head and questioning our sanity for using the adjective 'good' to describe this here specific spin around the globe. But remember: this is what we do. We find the everyday people making good happen each and every day. World Gone Good show producer Lisa joins us to co-host as we revisit some of our favorite stories from 2025. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll find yourself realizing, 'Hey, I missed that one, I better go back and give it a listen.' Celebrate the good with us, a full year's worth, on this very special episode which includes a good interview with Mike Rust, who volunteers with Sheriff Chris Swanson, and a preview of our upcoming slate of 2026 good new episodes featuring Christine Whisler, Anthony Dyer, Doug Page, and Champale Anderson. Let's party, people! _________________ GOOD HOLIDAY GIFT ALERT: Steve's third book in his cozy mystery series, THE DOG WALKING DETECTIVES is finally here: SEASON'S SLAYINGS lights up the holidays! Get your copy on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3WYTPiR or Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4hOjILR Grab the first two: Book 1: DROWN TOWN Amazon: https://amzn.to/478W8mp Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3Mv7cCk & Book 2: MURDER UNMASKED Amazon: https://shorturl.at/fDR47 Barnes & Noble: https://shorturl.at/3ccTy

In today's devotional, Pastor Kerrick shares about the kindness of God and the fruit of the Spirit within us.----Link For RIV Translation & Other Recommended Books:https://shop.recomsale.com/KerrickOrder your copy of the Rhythm of Rest today:https://www2.fccga.com/storeSubscribe to the Faith in the Morning Newsletter:https://www.kerrickbutler.com/subscribe

Are you feeling the weight of leadership decisions that seem to pull you away from your core values? You're not alone in wrestling with what it means to lead authentically when the world around us feels increasingly divided and transactional. What happens when kindness becomes your greatest strength, not your weakness? In a year marked by global upheaval, AI transformation, and workplace challenges that have disproportionately affected women, the question of authentic leadership has never been more critical. This reflection episode comes at a time when many executives are facing impossible choices between convenience and character. From ICE raids affecting Venezuelan asylum seekers to the McKinsey study showing gender parity gaps widening, from AI bias in compensation algorithms to the cultural wars targeting women in the workplace. The stakes for values-driven leadership have never been higher. I share personal reflections on navigating leadership challenges this year, including difficult decisions about walking away when values alignment disappeared. Drawing from childhood Christmas traditions in Venezuela to recent experiences in Denmark's hygge culture, this episode explores what it means to choose integrity over convenience. The courage to exit misaligned situations - Why walking away when values don't align isn't failure, but integrity, and how to recognize when it's time to make that difficult choice. Listening as leadership in divided times - How genuine listening to understand becomes your most powerful tool when relationships have become increasingly transactional. Human-centered approaches in the AI era - Why protecting dignity, voice, and agency matters more than ever as artificial intelligence transforms how we work. The strength of kindness framework - How to reject the false choice between being kind and being strong, and why authentic leaders embody both simultaneously. Building psychological safety through vulnerability - Practical ways to create environments where people can push back, make mistakes, and grow without fear of retaliation. The episode also touches on global perspectives that shape authentic leadership, from celebrating Maria Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize to learning from Denmark's egalitarian happiness model. These experiences remind us that our differences aren't the problem. They're the path forward. If you've ever questioned whether you can maintain your values while navigating complex organizational politics, or wondered how to lead with both strength and humanity, this reflection will help you clarify what matters most as you head into the new year. What You'll Discover The courage to exit misaligned situations - Why walking away when values don't align isn't failure, but integrity, and how to recognize when it's time to make that difficult choice. Listening as leadership in divided times - How genuine listening to understand becomes your most powerful tool when relationships have become increasingly transactional. Human-centered approaches in the AI era - Why protecting dignity, voice, and agency matters more than ever as artificial intelligence transforms how we work. The strength of kindness framework - How to reject the false choice between being kind and being strong, and why authentic leaders embody both simultaneously. Building psychological safety through vulnerability - Practical ways to create environments where people can push back, make mistakes, and grow without fear of retaliation. https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com Subscribe, leave a review, and share episode 10% off therapy Master the Career Pivot. 10% off with code: DIFFERENT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Amy Dott Harmer, executive director of the Utah Refugee Connection, discovered a forgotten note tucked inside Santa's chair after a holiday celebration for refugees, she didn't know what to do. The letter listed humble wishes: clothes, diapers, even toilet paper. Overwhelmed and out of time, Amy turned to social media, and that's when Lenice Paulsen stepped up. In this special Light the World episode of Uncomfy, host Julie Rose talks with Amy Dott and Lenice about how an uncomfortable moment turned into a Christmas miracle and how paying attention to the needs around us can change lives. Learn more about Light the World, a global invitation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to spread light and serve others during the holiday season: https://www.lighttheworld.org Check out Utah Refugee Connection - https://serverefugees.org/ Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-lost-letter-strangers-kindness-and.html CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:44 The Gathering of Light Celebration 01:53 The Letter to Santa 05:13 Lenice's Response and Action 07:20 Delivering Christmas Miracles 10:30 Reflections on Light and Service 12:08 Conclusion

Have you ever thought about serving your community as a family? On this episode, Danny and Rebecca speak with Justin Knoop, the founder of Blessing Boys. Justin and his four sons perform free lawn care services for those in need, inspired by their mission work and personal transformation through faith. Justin explains the profound impact of these acts of service on both his family and the community, and we encourage you to explore this idea in your home. We talk about overcoming the awkwardness of helping strangers, instilling values of gratitude and service in children, and balancing energy and discipline in boys. The Crib To College Update shares research done on exposing children to various foods to help prevent food allergies later in life. The Hidden Garden: A Blessing Boys' Adventure Age & Stage Resources What Are Your Parenting Strengths? Find Out Here! Here Are Some Ideas To Serve As A Family Send us your email or voicemail questions here! Support the show! If you enjoyed listening to Practice Makes Parent with Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James, please give us your feedback.

On the evening of the shooting at Bondi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian” – that was indeed proven when the entire community sprung into action, those who ran towards the disaster, not away from it. There are tales of heroism, like the couple who first tried to stop the gunmen and paid with their lives, the man who single-handedly wrestled the rifle out of the shooter’s hands and those who shielded their loved ones and strangers from bullets. Today, chief reporter Jordan Baker, on the acts of bravery and kindness at Bondi. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the evening of the shooting at Bondi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian” – that was indeed proven when the entire community sprung into action, those who ran towards the disaster, not away from it. There are tales of heroism, like the couple who first tried to stop the gunmen and paid with their lives, the man who single-handedly wrestled the rifle out of the shooter’s hands and those who shielded their loved ones and strangers from bullets. Today, chief reporter Jordan Baker, on the acts of bravery and kindness at Bondi. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With special guest: Hugh Mackay AO… in conversation with Bill Kable When we looked forward to 2021 we also looked back on the disaster of the national bushfires season of 2019/20. That changed us but we did not expect the floods and then the ongoing impact of Covid 19. Our guest today is Hugh Mackay who has been listening to what the community thinks and says for over 60 years as the country’s pre-eminent social researcher. Hugh draws on this immense experience to see where the community is now and what comes next. It may turn out that The Kindness Revolution is Hugh’s last non-fiction book to grace our book shelves so we should all listen up. In his usual articulate way Hugh sees that the horrors of 2020 and 2021 have in fact set the scene for a kindness revolution. Podcast (mp3)

The Amazing Power of Apples: Nature's Crunchy Superfood with Susan Smith Jones, PhDDid you know that apples are the most widely consumed fruit globally? From sweet red varieties, like Red Delicious, Fuji, or Gala, to tangy green ones, like Granny Smith, there's an apple for everyone. They're commonly used in recipes like pies, cookies, muffins, jam, salads, oatmeal or smoothies. They also make a great snack or sliced and spread with nut butter. In addition to their culinary versatility and numerous colors and flavors, apples are available at every grocery store and Farmer's Market for a reasonable price… and are an exceptionally healthy fruit with many research-backed benefits.Our guest today, holistic health and lifestyle expert, Susan Smith Jones, PhD, says consuming an apple a day can benefit both our physical and mental health. Have you had an apple today? You'll want to enjoy one after you hear what Susan says about their myriad merits. Welcome back.About Dr. Susan         For a woman with three of America's most ordinary names, Susan Smith Jones, PhD, has certainly made extraordinary contributions in the fields of holistic health, anti-aging, optimum nutrition and balanced living. For starters, she taught students, staff and faculty at UCLA how to be healthy and fit for 30 years! Susan is the founder and president of Health Unlimited, a Los Angeles-based consulting firm dedicated to optimal wellness, health education and human potential. Susan is a frequent radio, podcast and TV talk show guest and motivational speaker; she's also the author of many books, including her 3 latest ones …⭐️ A HUG IN A MUG: Revitalize with Superfoods & Healthy Living Extras ⭐️ UPLIFTED: 12-Minutes to More Joy, Faith, Peace, Kindness & Vitality ⭐️ VEGETABLE SOUP/THE FRUIT BOWL (children's 2-in-1 nutrition book--ages 1-9)SusanSmithJones.com •

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna offers commentary on how we can cultivate great compassion known as bodhicitta by repaying the kindness of others. He speaks about how the urge to repay the kindness of others arises naturally when we reflect on the kindness we have received. This episode was recorded on November 5th, 2025.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's primary objective is to provide programs of Buddhist studies and practices that are practical, accessible, and meet the needs of the communities we serve.  As a traditional Buddhist center, all of our teachings are offered freely. If you would like to make a donation to support the center, please visit www.wocdc.org.  May you flourish in your practice and may all beings swiftly be free of suffering.

Hi everyone. I'm Rio Laine, the Director of Strategic Partnerships at ALPS Insurance. Welcome to our latest installment of the Alps In Brief Podcast. I am joined today by our Chief Financial Officer, Sara Smith, and she is also the president of the Montana Society of CPAs.  Her theme for her term as president is connection, which is a value that runs through both her leadership and her life. So at ALPS, Sara helps guide a growing company that's redefining what it means to lead with purpose. And when she's not leading finance teams, she's often on a mountain bike trail somewhere in Montana. So exploring new terrain, both literally and figuratively.  So thank you so much for joining us, Sara.  Sara Smith:  Thanks, Rio. Thanks for having me.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, it's a pleasure. I'm happy we got this chance to sit down and chat about all the exciting things you have going on, and I'm really looking forward to our discussion.  Sara Smith:  Yeah, me too.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So okay, let's start with your story, the beginning. What first drew you to accounting and being a CPA?  Sara Smith:  That's a great question.  When I was in high school, I took accounting and they taught the class with a packet, right? And it had the balance sheet and income statement and all the journal entries. And it was such a neat and clean process, and I really enjoyed that. But when I went to college, I thought, "I am much too exciting to be an accountant. I have way more things that I would like to do and this seems really boring." So I went the long way. I got my undergraduate in marketing and management and got my MBA, and then discovered accounting and pursued my CPA after that.  Rio Laine:  Oh, awesome. And did you kind of revisit that love of that kind of order and the balance sheet and all the nice orderly parts of it?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think the thing ... There's a misconception about accounting that it is very black and white. And in reality, it's really messy and it has a lot of shades of gray, which make it much more challenging than it looks on paper.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Oh, interesting.  So before joining ALPS, you spent a lot of time working for a variety of companies, including Target and Montana Rail Link. So I'm very curious, can you tell us a little bit about that path and what eventually led you to ALPS?  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  So I was an intern at Target when I went to college here at the University of Montana. It was such a fun internship. I mean, we just basically ran around that store and did whatever we wanted. And I thought, "Oh, well, if this is how the work turns out, then I want to join this team." And there weren't a lot of good job prospects when I graduated from college, so I moved to Colorado with Target and went through their store management training program, which was a lot of hands-on management, which was great. I really enjoyed it.  It wasn't long into that process though that I realized that this was not for me. Retail was not going to be a long-term career. And I utilized their program to pay for graduate school and I went and got into my MBA program.  So I did that for a couple of years, and then 9/11 happened and decided to move back to Montana; and had a friend of a friend that worked at Montana Rail Link and got in the accounting department there. And I didn't love it, to be honest. It was not my favorite place, mainly because of culture.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And so my advisor suggested that I try ALPS, and I've been there 22 years.  Rio Laine:  Wow. Yeah, it's true. I mean, culture is such an important part of a workplace.  And so in terms of ALPS, I mean, obviously the culture was appealing, but also is there anything else that made you feel like it was the right fit?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I came in in a strange part of time in ALPS' history. They were on this really kind of creepy second floor and the doors were closed all the time, and it wasn't actually a very welcoming type atmosphere. And so I really found solace in the accounting department. They liked to have fun, they played jokes on each other. There was just a lot of laughing.  Rio Laine:  Mm-hmm.  Sara Smith:  And so that's something that I really, really enjoyed.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Oh, that's awesome.  And I mean, there's still a lot of laughing at ALPS, which is really nice. I mean, now we're on a different floor and it's much more open and nice, so ...  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Oh, that's awesome. Well, we're obviously very happy that you're part of the ALPS team.  Sara Smith:  Thanks.  Rio Laine:  And you're a really important part of it. I mean, really, you literally make the numbers work, so ...  All right. So let's shift our focus a little bit and talk about the idea of connection and how that plays into your kind of leadership philosophy. You know, you made connection the central theme of your leadership this year kind of personally, but also at the Montana Society of CPAs. So I'm curious to know what inspired you to make that your theme?  Sara Smith:  So there were three things that actually fed into that. First was just from an organizational perspective, people weren't coming to things in person, right?  Rio Laine:  Oh yeah.  Sara Smith:  They were choosing the online option. And then my guess is they were likely multitasking, right?  Rio Laine:  Yes.  Sara Smith:  And so they're missing that opportunity to connect in person.  And then the second thing is the people that did come, you would go to a table and they'd all be on their phones. Right?  Rio Laine:  Oh yeah.  Sara Smith:  And so that is also very challenging. It's hard to connect when you literally have your nose in your device.  And then earlier this year, I was on a flight, and I had a woman sitting next to me and she started to talk to me. And I just wasn't sure if I was going to take the bait, if I was in that place to have that sort of conversation on a plane, and I ultimately decided, "Yes." And we had such a rich conversation and had a lot of connections about a lot of different things that I didn't anticipate, and I actually went and had coffee with her a few months later after she got back from her travels.  Rio Laine:  Oh, really?  Sara Smith:  And so if I had not said yes to that, I wouldn't have formed that new connection. And so that really has just stuck with me, right? You got to say yes in order to engage.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. I love that.  I love that you made a new friend on the plane too-  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  ... Because yeah, you never know sometimes.  Sara Smith:  Yeah.  Rio Laine:  I travel a lot and you're like, "Am I going to have this conversation?"  Sara Smith:  Yeah. Right. Exactly.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, yeah. I'm happy you did. That's pretty amazing.  So it sounds like kind of your approach to connection is the idea that it not necessarily comes from doing more, but from being present and kind of saying yes to that. So I mean, what does that mean for you in practice as a leader, but as a person? I mean, aside from saying yes to airplane conversations. Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  I think that one of the most important things is just not being distracted. And whether that means you put your phone away, you turn it off, you put it someplace where you can't access it, I think that's step number one.  Rio Laine:  Hmm.  Sara Smith:  And then you really intently listen with your whole person and try to understand what that person is really saying to you. I think those are the two things that I really try to take into practice. And it can be hard some days.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. So unplugging and active listening.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Both of which, yes, are definitely difficult, especially we live in a time when we're so tied to our devices and we're just expected to be available every second of every day, and yeah, that's a difficult thing to accomplish. So it's ... Yeah, kudos for making that a priority.  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So in your role as kind of CFO for ALPS, how does that idea of connection show up in how you lead and make decisions?  Sara Smith:  Right. So I think one of the pieces of my job that is really important is building trust, right? You have to trust the numbers, you have to trust what the data that we're looking at is saying, and just the overall data set that you're looking at. And in order to get comfortable with the numbers, you have to be comfortable with the person, right? And you have to have that trust.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  So I think building and establishing strong relationships with the people that I work with is the number one way to build that trust and connection.  Rio Laine:  Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, that is a really, really good point. If you don't trust the person, you're not so sure about those numbers.  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And when you're growing, the numbers are really important, so ...  Sara Smith:  Mm-hmm.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Oh, that's pretty awesome. I love how that kind of plays such an important role in your life, but also your leadership. Yeah, that's pretty great.  So let's kind of shift again. I want to transition a little bit and talk about growth and how connection kind of plays into that as well.  So ALPS has been growing pretty rapidly over the last few years, and growth can sometimes make it really hard to stay connected, particularly as we have more remote staff like myself and things move faster and change quickly. But it sounds like obviously for you connection is part of that formula for sustainable growth. And so in terms of kind of ALPs, what does sustainable growth mean to you, like financially and culturally?  Sara Smith:  Well, I think at the core of our business is we have to be financially stable and sound in order to pay claims and make sure that our insureds are in a safe place, right?  Rio Laine:  Mm-hmm.  Sara Smith:  And so I think that is at the foremost thought all the time is, are we financially stable, are we growing responsibly to help grow that base, and are we in it in the long term, right? I'm a big believer in long-term thinking, not short-term gains.  Rio Laine:  Yes.  Sara Smith:  And so in order to be sustainable, you have to think more long-term.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And I love that. I mean, I've come from companies that have been in kind of hyper growth, they've grown very, very quickly, and it does tend to be quite shortsighted and really come at the cost of the people who are doing the work.  Sara Smith:  Correct.  Rio Laine:  And it makes me really happy to hear that we're thinking about it in terms of, is this sustainable for the long term? Because I think that's when you really find success, in that balance between financial success, building revenue, but also people success and culturally and having a strong company.  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So how do you and kind of the larger leadership team at ALPS keep that sense of connection alive as the company grows?  Sara Smith:  Yes. So I think the senior leadership team, we've been through some ups and downs, and so we have a really good, solid understanding of who we are and how we interact. We have a dedicated Teams channel that we joke and talk on, and that helps form that sense of connection, especially when people are traveling so much. It's hard, right? We're not always in the office together at the same time.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  So that's great. And I think that also transcends down as well, right? Having just connection with your teams and building those cross-functional relationships is really important.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And it's definitely difficult when everyone's on the go all the time and trying to stay connected to that central hub.  What's one kind of practice or habit that you think ALPS has embraced that's kind of maintaining that strong connected culture?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think there's probably different things in different departments that help kind of foster their own identity and culture, but overall holistically, I think that ALPS does a Coffee Talk every two weeks and that helps bring all the information together. We get to understand our employees a little bit better. We have an Employee Spotlight, we get to learn more about each other. And I think that only helps build that kind of connection.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I'm a big fan of the Coffee Talk too, especially when we do the Employee Spotlight, getting to see everyone's pictures of their pets and their family and the fun stuff they do.  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's a really good thing that we do. Yeah.  So as a finance leader, how do you see connection influencing business outcomes, whether is it through collaboration, innovation, decision making?  Sara Smith:  I think it's everything.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  I think the one misconception about finance is that we don't know what's going on in the business, but we know everything that's going on in the business. We have to. We have to understand the drivers and the levers that are bringing the numbers into focus and telling a story. So I think that collaboration between departments to get the story behind the numbers is really, really important. And so I think that's where we really serve our purpose, is storytelling among the different groups.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And I find that misconception so interesting, because I mean ... I don't know, I'm a big true crime aficionado, but if you want to understand what happened, you look at the numbers, you look at the money.  Sara Smith:  That's correct.  Rio Laine:  What are they spending the money on?  Sara Smith:  Right.  Rio Laine:  That's how you know what's going on. So yeah, I would think that you'd know all the things that are going on.  Sara Smith:  That's right. You got to follow the pennies.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, exactly.  Awesome. So okay, let's kind of shift our focus and talk a little bit more about your personal life and how you spend your free time.  Sara Smith:  Hmm.  Rio Laine:  So you've mentioned that you love to get out in nature and you love to hop on your mountain bike and sometimes be completely off grid. So how does that help you kind of reconnect with what's important? Like how does that help you connect with, I guess, the things that are important in your life?  Sara Smith:  Right, right.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Well, so part of the mountain biking pieces that I've done is bike packing, right? Where you go in the woods and the only thing you have to do that day is ride your bike. You have to get from point A to point B without crashing, keeping yourself hydrated and fed, and not have any animal encounters. But that's all you have to do, right? That is your job for the day. And that really puts things into focus and simplifies your outcome.  And so that, I have really appreciated because it really ... I mean, you could die out there, right? So you get hyper focused on what you need to do today and nothing else really matters at that point.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And I guess that's a really good time to kind of put down your phone and to be focused, and to practice that kind of active paying attention and being aware of where you are in your surroundings.  Do you feel like that experience kind of teaches you anything in terms of leadership or how you approach it?  Sara Smith:  Oh, absolutely. I feel like there are lessons to be learned every time you do something like that.  As an example, this one trip I did this summer, we found ourselves lost.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And not really lost, but we had three different mapping devices. We had already gone 20 miles, we had to go 20 more, and what the trail was telling us, it just didn't sit right. It didn't seem right, right? And so one of the big decisions was what to do. "What do we do?" Right? "There's no one we can ask. We have no cell service. We are out in the woods."  And I think trying to make a decision collectively, and when that can't be done, just making a decision and sticking to it and doing it. Because inaction is also a decision and one that doesn't generally work out very well.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And especially if you're in the middle of the woods.  Sara Smith:  Yes. Exactly.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So it sounds like kind of mountain biking teaches a lot about obstacles and trusting your instincts and maybe builds confidence?  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  What was it that first drew you to mountain biking? Like how did you first decide, "I'm going to get on a bike and do this?"  Sara Smith:  Well, I grew up in rural Montana and I didn't have any friends that lived anywhere near me, and so the only way to get anywhere was to get on a bike. I had to ride three miles to see my closest friend.  And then as I got older, my brother and I shared a car, which also was not awesome, and so I could either ride the bus, which was not very cool when you were 16 years old, or I could ride my bike to school. And so I just started riding my bike and I haven't looked back.  Rio Laine:  Nice. Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome.  Whereabouts have you gone mountain biking? Is there one place that really stands out to you that was your favorite?  Sara Smith:  Oh boy. They're all so different.  There's a trail in Beartooth called the Line Creek Plateau, and you start riding at 10,000 feet and there's no trees.  Rio Laine:  Oh, wow.  Sara Smith:  And so it feels like you're riding on the moon. It's like all tundra.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  The first time we did it, there wasn't much of a trail, and so the wisdom was, "Stay right. You'll know the end when you get there."  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And so it felt very kind of mystical in this journey.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And then it drops to about 3000 feet in very short miles.  Rio Laine:  Oh, wow. Wow.  Sara Smith:  So it's a great ride. It's one of my favorites.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Oh, that's awesome.  I love that kind of idea of like the mystical journey. It kind of sounds like your leadership journey too, right?  Sara Smith:  Right.  Rio Laine:  Like just moving through the world, like, "This is mystical, crazy times." Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Exactly.  Rio Laine:  So speaking of kind of like the leadership journey and lessons in leadership and life, you've held many leadership roles in that span; finance, kind of strategy. So I want to kind of talk a little bit about what you've learned along the way and really what you see for the profession ahead, I mean in terms of CPAs.  So I think my first question would be, how has your view of leadership evolved over time?  Sara Smith:  Yeah, boy. I think that ... That's a great question. And I think about how much you learn from people that you work for and other leaders. And so you take some of that in yourself about either what to do or what not to do.  Rio Laine:  Yes.  Sara Smith:  So that's been a big journey.  And I think as a young person, I thought, "Oh, you eventually figure it all out, right? You got it." And as you get older, you realize you never will have it ever and that the pursuit is constant.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  You're continually growing and evolving as you go along.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, which is kind of a beautiful thing about life. I mean, it'd be kind of boring if you got to a point and you're like, "I have this all figured out. I don't have to think anymore."  Sara Smith:  It's probably just so much easier, but ...  Rio Laine:  Yeah, but it's-  Sara Smith:  [inaudible 00:18:00].  Rio Laine:  Yeah, but it's kind of fun that you don't. Yeah.  So kind of along that lines then, what advice would you give to leaders, especially maybe in a data driven or finance role?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think that when you look back at your life and you think about all the things that you've learned, most of that learning has come from making a mistake. And so giving yourself some grace when you do make a mistake. Just don't make the same mistake again, but really be willing to take a look at yourself, why you did it, and then how do you evolve to make it so it doesn't happen again?  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, that kind of personal accountability is really important.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  I think it's also something that's very difficult for a lot of people too. It can be a humbling experience to learn that you're not perfect and that you have to improve some stuff. Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, that's really good advice. Yeah.  As the president of the Montana Society of CPAs, what do you hope to accomplish under your term this year, kind of in terms of connection?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. It's so hard because when you start this ... My presidency is only a year, and so you wonder how much you can actually get done. But then I also go back to my experience on the airplane and how just one small interaction can make a big difference.  Rio Laine:  Hmm.  Sara Smith:  And so I think that my challenge to our group is, "What kind of connection can you make? Can you make one connection this year that's new or different? How do you engage?" And my hope is by next year at our annual meeting, we have more people there, and more people talking to each other and I see less phones out.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. That's a good goal. It's a good goal to have.  And I know they say ... Well, a lot of professions are evolving quickly, but the accounting profession is definitely one.  Sara Smith:  Mm-hmm.  Rio Laine:  You know, technology, automation, new expectations. How do you think connection can help the profession stay resilient and human?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. Well, I think the one thing is, I was just at a conference with a bunch of other CFOs and there is a lot of hesitancy to allow an AI bot to tell us what the numbers look like, right?  Rio Laine:  Hmm. Mm-hmm.  Sara Smith:  And it's that fundamental question about trust again.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  How do you get trust from something that's not alive and real, and how do you trust that number? And that's going to take some time, and you're going to have to have not accuracy of 60%, but accuracy of 100%. And we're just not there yet, but we're going to get there eventually. And so I think it's still continuing to build that trust one day and one person at a time.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. And also, I mean, AI can't even figure out how many fingers a human has. So I feel like it probably shouldn't be trusted to run the numbers just yet.  Sara Smith:  Not yet.  Rio Laine:  It'll get there, but yeah, not quite yet.  Sara Smith:  Yeah. Not yet.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So what is one piece of advice that you would give your younger self starting out as a CPA? What would that be?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think, again, I would come back to just being open to learning constantly and then not being so hard on yourself when you do mess up, right? I think early in my career, I took things really personally, and that's not ever going to work out well.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  You have to forgive yourself once in a while when you screw up and just give yourself some grace.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, I think that's really good advice. We could all use a little more grace from ourselves. You're your own worst critic, they say, so ...  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  All right. So we've got just a couple more minutes. I'm going to wrap it up with one more question kind of tying into your theme of connection for this year. So how do you plan to make space for more connection in your own life this year?  Sara Smith:  Yes. You know, it would not be great if I set that theme and then I didn't do anything myself.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  So a couple of things that I've been working on is just when I am going to conferences or meeting new people is being the one that says hello first.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Right? Which is hard for me.  Rio Laine:  It's hard.  Sara Smith:  I'm not a super extroverted person. And so taking that first step is one that's hard, but really important that I do it.  I've been reaching out to old friends that I haven't talked to for a long time, and that's been really fun to reconnect with them; and just having really good, deep conversations about hard things, I think is really important.  Rio Laine:  No, that's fantastic. And it is really hard to be the first person to say hello. For myself, I have a very public facing job and, yeah, it is difficult. You're just like, "Oh."  But it's nice to remember that everybody is probably feeling that way-  Sara Smith:  Exactly. It's so true.  Rio Laine:  ... And they're so thankful that somebody did it.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  So it's good work to be doing.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Awesome. Well, Sara, thank you so much for sharing your time and your insights. I'm really, really happy that we got to sit down and have this conversation, and it's really impressive how you've shown that connection isn't just a personal goal, it can be a leadership philosophy and a business advantage really. So yeah, I mean, I think from the trails of Montana to the boardroom, your message definitely reminds us that slowing down and being present often leads to the strongest momentum.  So yeah, thank you so much for joining me today.  Sara Smith:  Thank you, Rio. I enjoyed our conversation.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  All right. And that's a wrap, folks. Thank you so much for joining us on this installment of the ALPs In Brief Podcast. We will see you again for the next round. 

This week's Tarp Find is about an incredible moment of kindness at the Grammy Awards between Taylor Swift & Wicked star Cynthia Erivo. Programming Note: Nothing is changing with Andrew's weekly interview episodes. Andrew's interview episodes will continue to be in your podcast feed every Thursday morning again once Season 14 launches on January 8th. 

2 Titus 3:4-6 ( Living Bible) But when the time came for the kindness and Love of God our Savior to appear, then he saved us—not because we were good enough to be saved but because of his kindness and pity—by washing away our sins and giving us the new joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit, whom he poured out upon us with wonderful fullness—and all because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. Kindness and Love saved us; It was born onto this earth thousands of years ago. Not because we were good enough, not because we were worthy, but because of a great love, kindness and mercy.  Is there something in your life that feels like it gets in the way of experiencing God's kindness and Love? Something that blocks you from His unconditional acceptance, kindness and mercy?   This passage tells us because of Jesus, the Christ, ALL our sins are washed away and replaced with new joy by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out upon us with wonderful fullness. The word fullness is mentioned many times in our advent readings. This wonderful fullness comes from an indwelling of the Holy Spirit as our sins, our past, our wounds are washed away.  This fullness available to you takes no account of what you have done or not done; it has nothing to do with if you are good enough or not good enough. It has everything to do with the Love that is beyond us.  In what way has God shown his kindness and Love to you this week? Lets pray: God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us. Love incarnate. Help us walk in that Love during the weeks of Advent, as we wait and prepare for his coming again. Thank You for Your unfailing, sacrificial and redeeming Love for me. Immanuel, God with us.

You can send and text and we love them.. but apparently we cant respond. Sorry!!A daily dose of good news in two minutes time... give or takeSupport the showJoin us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/awesomenewsdailyor email me at awesomenewsdaily@gmail.com

 "Kindness Is the Language of Christmas," drawing on Ephesians 4:32 to show how quiet, everyday kindness—listening, forgiving, and noticing the unseen—reflects Christ.  

KINDNESS ISN'T WEAKNESS.IT'S THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY POWER MOVE YOU'LL EVER MAKE.It's choosing your frequency, not letting the world decide it for you.Kindness is a conscious choice.A vibration you tune into, and the world mirrors back to you.When you're kind to yourself, you send a clear signal:

Governor-General Sam Mostyn spoke with Luke Grant and opened up on her conversations with King Charles in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, as well as offering a message for those who might be living in fear following the weekend's events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do your conversations keep going wrong? Harvard behavioural scientist Professor Alison Wood Brooks reveals the SECRETS to better communication, real connection, negotiation skills and difficult conversations!  Professor Alison Wood Brooks is a behavioural scientist with 2 decades of experience in conversational science. She teaches a Harvard course on negotiation and communication, and is the bestselling author of ‘Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves'.  She explains: ◼️The ONE word that transforms anxiety into peak performance ◼️The TALK framework for mastering any conversation ◼️Why being "too polite" is secretly destroying your relationships  ◼️Why 99% of apologies fail, and the exact formula that works  ◼️The question technique that creates connection with anyone (00:00) Intro (02:34) People Need This to Communicate Well (04:38) Giving Wrong Impressions (06:23) Being a Better Speaker and Group Conversations (11:31) Experimenting With Communication Skills With My Identical Twin (12:40) The Science on How to Reframe Anxiety (18:47) If You're Nervous, You're More Likely to Make a Bad Decision (20:16) Asking for a Salary Raise (24:39) The Conversational Compass (32:45) How People Should Really Apologize and When It's Too Much (37:31) The Validation Trick in Any Dispute (42:00) Don't Do This When You Disagree (46:19) Stop Doing This During Disagreements (48:07) How to Be Liked (50:02) The T-A-L-L Framework (51:47) Easy Ways to Have More Casual Conversations (55:13) If You Want to Be Liked, Don't Do This (59:23) The Importance of Asking in Conversations and Dates (01:03:27) Never Do This on a Date (01:07:26) The Meeting Mistake You Shouldn't Make (01:09:27) Poor Communication Skills May Be Blocking Your Career Growth (01:12:02) Ads (01:12:53) The Importance of Kindness in Any Conversation (01:17:20) When to Incorporate Levity (01:23:55) The Science Behind Introverts and Extroverts — Is It Real? (01:27:17) Your Contribution Score in a Conversation (01:41:59) Ads (01:43:56) The Male Crisis: Ask These Questions to Make Friends (01:52:57) 10 Questions to Be Liked (01:56:42) How to Persuade People and Be a Better Salesperson (01:58:47) People Confuse Agreement With Listening (02:09:21) This Is the Only Conversation That Feels Real (02:14:58) What Happens When Replacing Myself With AI (02:19:23) Show Your Real Self at Work: Yes or No? (02:25:14) How to Teach Your Kids to Speak Follow Alison: Instagram - https://bit.ly/3YoQOc4 Website - https://bit.ly/4aH172A  TalkStudios - https://bit.ly/3MzbXxF  You can purchase Alison's book, ‘Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves', here: https://amzn.to/48Nl8Sv The Diary Of A CEO: ◼️Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/  ◼️Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://smarturl.it/DOACbook  ◼️The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt  ◼️The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb  ◼️Get email updates - https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt  ◼️Follow Steven - https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb  Sponsors: Wispr - https://wisprflow.ai/DOAC  Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett  SimpliSafe - https://simplisafe.com/DOAC to save 50% on a SimpliSafe home security system. Ketone - https://ketone.com/STEVEN for 30% off your subscription order

One of the most countercultural things you can do as a Christian is to invite someone over for dinner. Karen Ehman helps busy families find opportunities for hospitality in everyday life. She also talks about reaching people for Christ through other acts of kindness and service. She shares how effective it is to love those who are hard to love, even atheists, and how to be “family” to those who are lonely–widows and orphans–and to care for the sick. With personal stories, advice and wisdom, as well as biblical inspiration, Karen encourages us to step out of our comfort zone to bless others. Get your copy of Love, Listen, Repeat for a gift of any amount. Buy your copy of Jim Daly’s book, ReFOCUS! He shares how believers can engage others in the culture with the love of Christ and reveal the heart of God. Learn how a family opened their home to needy people. Learn how food brings people together. Find out how a former lesbian was ministered to by a pastor and his wife. SUPPORT REFOCUS! GIVE HERE! Send your feedback or questions to Jim in the Contact Form.

Christian Cowan , Fashion Designer turned Costume Designer (Queen of Versailles) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul as he makes his Broadway debut. This episode covers: - the kindness of embracing your unique style - learning on the job as Broadway Costume Designer with Queen of Versailles - working with legends like Paris Hilton, Kristin Chenoweth and more CHRISTIAN COWAN is a celebrated fashion designer known for his bold vision and exuberant sense of glamour. His collections have been worn by stars including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Zendaya, and featured in Vogue and The New York Times. A fixture of New York Fashion Week, Cowan champions individuality and joy. His shows are known to bring drama, spectacle, and unapologetic self-expression. Queen of Versailles marks his Broadway costume design debut. Follow Christian: @christiancowan Follow us: ⁠@artofkindnesspod⁠ / ⁠@robpeterpaul⁠ ⁠youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast⁠ ⁠Support the show⁠! (⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok⁠) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: artofkindnesspodcast@gmail.com Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Family, this week on Queer News Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community. In top news, Trans Up Front Illinois received a big grant from Lady Gaga's foundation. In politics, we have a disappointing update on the U.S military ban. In culture and entertainment, Jason Collins shares that he has been diagnosed with stage four brain cancer, Cynthia Erivo makes Golden Globe history, and the Teen Vogue X GLAAD 20 under 20 list is out! Let's get into it. Want to support this podcast?

This podcast contains explicit language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all listeners.In this episode of Here Comes The Guillotine, award winning Scottish comedians Frankie Boyle, Susie McCabe and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd some of the greatest footballers of all-time, Ken Loach films and the guys come up with the starting XI facing the Time Ra'...

Becky was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 15 and thought her life was basically over. Spoiler: it wasn't. In this episode we talk about what Crohn's actually looks like day-to-day (fatigue, pain, planning your life around toilets…), the mindset shift that helped her stop shrinking her dreams, and why success sometimes looks like getting out of bed and having a shower — not “hustling” yourself into the ground.We also get into Becky's Everest Base Camp trek attempt, the reality of doing big adventures with an unpredictable body, and the one comment from a stranger that perfectly sums up why invisible illness is such a minefield.Key takeawaysCrohn's isn't “a dodgy tummy” — it's an autoimmune disease with physical and mental load.You can still build a full life, but you may need to do it differently (and that's not failure).The fatigue is real even in remission — “slept 9 hours, feel like 3” levels of real.Invisible illness comes with invisible planning: toilets, timing, travel anxiety, the whole mental spreadsheet.You're allowed to redefine success — especially when your body is fighting you.Turning back isn't quitting. Sometimes it's the bravest, smartest decision you can make.People will judge what they don't understand (“you can't be that sick…”) — don't let that rewrite your reality.Kindness matters more than most people realise. “Be kind” isn't cringe — it's necessary.Timestamps00:00 Intro + “How have you dared and won?”00:14 Diagnosed at 15: believing life was “over”02:22 The pressure of school + the long road to diagnosis/remission04:24 Quitting A-levels, finding snowboarding, becoming an instructor (the pivot)05:43 The biggest misconception: “it's just a tummy issue”06:32 The day-to-day reality: exhaustion, pain, urgency, immunosuppressants08:39 Everest Base Camp planning + how Crohn's derailed it (and why she still went)28:00 Turning back at altitude + hospital in Kathmandu (ego vs survival)33:44 Fundraising wins + choosing your life anyway48:17 Misconception: “you can control it with diet” + the wider symptoms (arthritis, mouth ulcers)49:58 “You can't be that sick…” — the invisible illness moment that stuckMentionedCrohn's & Colitis UK (resources, support, info for patients + employers)Join Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswinswww.shewhodareswins.com - Code POD10 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hidden Lightness with Jimmy Hinton – Amid nonstop bad news, a powerful movement of generosity is rising across America. Social media influencers are turning viral moments into real-world kindness, helping struggling families, fueling communities, and restoring hope. From surprise gifts to massive acts of service, everyday compassion is reshaping the national narrative and proving generosity spreads faster than fear...

Stefan Molyneux explores philosophical questions in this episode, beginning with the issue of creating a universal moral theory that lacks operational tests. He examines Universally Preferable Behavior (UPB) as an alternative to flawed moral frameworks that encourage violence.He points out the value of keeping moral philosophy simple, particularly when teaching children, and questions the vagueness often found in ethical debates. Molyneux covers the challenges of family relationships, including co-parenting with someone who has borderline personality disorder, and stresses the role of clear communication.He talks about personal responsibility in the context of social structures, arguing for the recognition of free will in making moral choices. The episode ends with a look at men's responsibilities in building positive family interactions through generosity and kindness, combining philosophical ideas with everyday advice on morality and relationships.Questions:"Serious question:"Can a moral theory qualify as ‘universal' if it cannot be expressed as a fully operational test, one that produces the same judgment regardless of who performs it, where, or under what incentives?"In other words:"Is UPB decidable?"If so, what is the operational test by which two independent observers, following your method step-by-step, would reach the same moral verdict in every case, including disagreements about property, reciprocity, and externalities?""How to coparent with a woman with intense and violent BPD? Young kids involved.""Why does a man who hates academia have 'MA in history' in his Twitter description?""This I think is the deepest question possible or I mean all questions will eventually lead to this one:"Why should anything exist?""Is morality objective or subjective?"How do we determine objective morality?""If a woman was raped in the past, should she be honest with the man she's dating ?""Is a pre-emptive strike, such as the one in the movie Minority Report; convicting a man or woman of a future crime; is that moral?""I got a question from a vegan that asked:"Why should the question if it's moral or immoral to kill an animal, depend on the animals capacity to understand morality and not just our own ? "As someone that eats meat, I didn‘t really know a good answer.""Should UPB replace religion? "Would it be a religion for everyone or just libertarians?""Many men work a lot of hours or away from home. Is it 'fair' for them to not spend as much time as possible with their kids when they can be home, to make sure they are being raised properly by their wife? (not all hobbies, unnecessary projects, sports with buddies in the man cave, etc 'because I work so much and kids are the mom's job!')"Why do some men leave all the parenting to the mother, then complain that the kids don't listen and turned out bad. Seems like many men relinquish their parenting responsibilities and blame the women. "I understand working takes you away (I was working single mom over a decade) but when I wasn't at work, my life was making sure kids had everything and I taught them above their grade level anything I though they could understand. PS I'm not talking about sharing housework.""Do we have free will, or is everything determined?""What was it that made you realize your wife was the one?"SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxFollow me on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@freedomain1GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025

Visit us at shapedbydog.com   When a new puppy arrives, the change in routine can create big feelings for an adult dog who has been part of every training session. Behaviors that look surprising are often signs of stress rather than spite or defiance. When we stay curious, it becomes easier to notice what our dogs may be trying to communicate. I'm sharing simple ways to support your adult dog so they can feel calm and confident while you focus on training your new puppy.   In this episode, you'll hear:   • Why dogs are not capable of spite the way we imagine. • Two questions to ask ourselves that shift how we understand behavior. • My student's story about an adult dog's unexpected behavior. • The cognitive bias behind assuming dogs are 'spiteful.' • Why curiosity strengthens connection and removes blame. • How stress changes physiology, with 2 personal real life examples. • The importance of ruling out medical conditions before assuming behavior issues. • Other stressors that can affect behavior. • How to support your adult dog during the puppy transition using the 3 E's (Exercise, Engagement, Enrichment). • A step-by-step plan to create calm and confidence for your older dog while your puppy is being trained. • How to use Hot Zones, Crate Games, and relaxation strategies to prevent stress in your adult dog. • The power of choosing curiosity to understand what your dog is communicating.   Get Crate Games Online: Crate Games Online - https://get.crategames.com/   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 189: All The Things That Influence Your Dog's Behavior And What Behavior Tells You - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/189/ 2. Podcast Episode 154: Car Vacations With Dogs: Tips To Make Holiday Road Trips Safe And Fun For All - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/154/ 3. Podcast Episode 128: Reduce Stress For Dogs During Holiday Celebrations - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/128/ 4. Podcast Episode 72: Preventing Dog Aggression: Introducing Dogs or Puppies with Project Togetherness - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/72/ 5. Podcast Episode 181: Training Multiple Dogs To Wait Turns And Relax - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/181/ 6. Podcast Episode 266: Hot Zone And Stays – How One Dog Training Nuance Can Fix Anxiety And Duration - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/266/ 7. Podcast Episode 191: Get Your Dog To Calm Down With This Common Sense Protocol For Relaxation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/191/ 8. Podcast Episode 314: Dog Enrichment Secrets Part 1: Using Your Dog's Natural Instincts To Build Variety And Engagement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/314/ 9. Podcast Episode 315: Dog Enrichment Secrets Part 2: 30 Day Enrichment Challenge + Free Planner PDF - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/315/ 10. *West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Treat Dispensing Dog Toy Puzzle - https://geni.us/toppl 11. Podcast Episode 317: 20 Exercises That Help Your Dog Live Longer: Start Today! - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/317/ 12. Podcast Episode 20: Bridging the Gap Between Blame and Kindness in Dog Training - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/20/ 13. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/1mTcpGgSB4Y   *Amazon Links Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.   Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!