The Kindness Podcast

The Kindness PodcastEpisode: What Does Kindness Look Like When We’re Talking to Our Teens? Guest: Shanna Reyes, MS, LCMHCSEpisode OverviewTalking to teens can bring out the best — and sometimes the worst — in us. In this episode, host Nicole J. Phillips talks with trauma expert Shanna Reyes about how kindness can reshape the way we communicate with our kids, especially when conversations get uncomfortable.They explore how to connect instead of control, how to set expectations when college kids return home for the holidays, and what to do when we inevitably get it wrong. Because kindness in parenting isn’t about saying all the right things — it’s about being willing to repair when we don’t.About the GuestShanna Reyes is the founder of Counseling Integrity and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor with nearly two decades of experience specializing in complex PTSD, dissociation, and developmental trauma. She combines cutting-edge neuroscience with deep clinical intuition to help clients heal at the root level.She is one of only four EMDR Institute Facilitators in North Carolina and serves as Co-Coordinator for the NC Trauma Recovery Network (EMDR HAP). Shanna is also EMDRIA Certified and trained in Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Parts Work/Ego State Therapy, and Transactional Analysis/Redecision Therapy.Key TakeawaysHow to open conversations when your teen seems shut down or defensive.Why setting expectations before college kids come home can prevent conflict.How to recover when you say something you regret.Why repair — not perfection — builds lasting connection.Simple ways to bring curiosity and calm to tough moments.Resources MentionedCounseling Integrity – Shanna ReyesThe Gottman Institute – Parenting ResourcesThe Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline by Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson (“Repair, repair, repair.”)

What does kindness look like when we can't fix what's wrong in someone's life? In this moving kickoff to Season 7 of The Kindness Podcast, host Nicole Phillips sits down with trauma chaplain Robyn Hare, who spends her days walking into the hardest moments imaginable — emergency rooms, trauma bays, and hospital waiting areas where lives change in an instant.Nicole and Robyn talk about what it really means to show up for people when their world has fallen apart, how to offer comfort instead of control, and the smallest gestures that bring light to unbearable situations. If you’ve ever wondered what to do when someone you love is hurting — or how to stay kind and grounded in a world that feels heavy — this conversation is for you.Be warned -- Nicole and Robyn are good friends and find humor in almost everything.

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

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.

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/.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tony Bennett is the only living three-time winner of the Henry Iba Award for national coach of the year. A Wisconsin native, Tony took over as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Virginia in 2009 and set the goal of building "a program that lasts." Originally inheriting a 10-win team, his Virginia Cavaliers have since had four 30-win seasons and won the NCAA Tournament Championship in 2019. Follow Bennett’s Cavaliers this season at https://virginiasports.com.

Like many of us, Dr. Peter Kapsner wears dozens of hats. As a business owner, professor, radio host and church leader, there is one thread that is a constant in his life: Kindness. Peter talks with me about his thoughts on kindness as a form of practical theology in this episode of The Kindness Podcast.

Bob Goff is a New York Times best selling author and was a recognized lawyer for over 25 years. In 2001, he saw a need in India and founded what is now known as Love Does. You can learn more about Bob at BobGoff.com and at LoveDoes.org.