Kindness & Compassion Podcast

Are you looking for a fresh perspective on healthcare and healing? In this episode, we delve into the historical shift in medicine's focus from healing as the primary goal to the modern emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and billing. Dr. Cohen argues that true healing is a biological phenomenon inherent in all living organisms, emphasizing the importance of supporting individuals in enha...

In this episode Gordon is joined by a fellow therapist,  Blake Roberts, LMFT,  as he shares his insights on mental health, overcoming fear, and cultivating curiosity and compassion. Blake shares his vision of building a community for men struggling with internal issues. He emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space where men can share their experiences and support each other. Plus, we chat...

In this episode, host Gordon has a conversation with Pavel Ythjall as he tells his story about the miraculous survival of a tragic car accident with his wife. Pavel shares the challenges he and his wife have faced in the seven years since the accident, including his recovery from a broken neck and his wife's paralysis from the neck down. Pavel's story is both inspiring and heartbreaking as he disc...

Author and songwriter Ann Purcell joins Gordon  in this episode to discuss how vulnerability and kindness can give us strength.  Ann shares her experience of being alone as an 18-year-old in a new environment and her song "Be Kind" that it inspired.  Gordon and Ann explore how the power of kindness and strength can be a powerful combination, and this is something Ann has experienced firsthand. Ann...

Love and compassion in divorce is an often misunderstood concept. Divorce is often seen as a negative thing, and there is a stigma attached to it that can be hard to overcome.  In this episode, Gordon has a conversation with Teresa Williams, MA, MS, LPC about how love and compassion can be found even in the midst of a divorce.  When Teresa Williams, a licensed professional counselor in Huntsville,...

In this episode, Gordon has a conversation with The Rev. Caroline Vogel and The Rev. Dr. Billy Daniel about how we can practice kindness and compassion by reaching out to those around us, offering a helping hand, and showing understanding and empathy. They also talk about ways to build bridges between different communities, cultures, and beliefs by listening to each other and trying to understand...

In this episode, Gordon has a conversation with Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski about their book, "When You Wonder You're Learning: Mr. Rogers Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids". They discuss unconventional wisdom of Fred Rogers and what he taught in his PBS program for children (and adults),  "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood".   They discuss the importance of teaching children em...

In this episode Gordon talks with The Rev. Jay Mills about his life journey of transformation and how he has changed his mind and values over the years. Jay shares how his life changed through his involvement in a 12-step program and his reconciliation with his past.  Gordon has known Jay for close to 20 years. Jay was originally one of Gordon's priests. Gordon is currently a clergy person in the...

In this episode Wendy Posillico joins Gordon in a conversation about how it is important to sometimes challenge our beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. Our mindset has everything to do with how well we can tap into our talents and unique gifts as people. Hear Wendy's story of transformation and how she changed her mindset about herself and the direction she was going in her life. Also...

Where am I being kind and compassionate in my everyday life? Daniel Fava, a web-designer and online marketing strategist, is confronted by this very relatable question as he joins Gordon for the next conversation on the podcast. In this episode, Daniel explores with Gordon what he learned about kindness and compassion 13 years ago on a trip to India and how he is still applying it today. Listen in...

Sometimes the people we are in close relationships with are the hardest to show kindness and compassion to. In this episode Gordon shares some of the research and science behind relationships.  It turns out that the key to healthy relationships is tied to recognizing interaction patterns, self-regulation, and curiosity. We can learn how to heal broken relationships and be more kind and compassiona...

In this episode Dawn Gabriel, LPC joins Gordon for a deep dive into redemption and finding your soul through spirituality, the divine, or the universe. Dawn, a licensed professional counselor and the person behind the Faith Fringes Podcast , opens the show by being vulnerable and speaking about the divorce she experienced at the age of twenty-five. Then, she explains how the divorce changed her re...

In this episode, Gordon has a conversation with Whitney Owens about being a caregiver and living into kindness and compassion through those challenges.  Whitney opens the show by talking about the book, Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life by Henri J. M. Nouwen. Whitney reveals the most significant lesson she learned from that book and how it has informed her life as a mother. Then, Whitne...

In this episode, Gordon talks with Jessica Tappana, LCSW about what we can do when faced with hard and heavy things in life. Jessica opens the show by speaking about how spring can be a heavy time for many of us. In general, the world needs more kindness and compassion; however, we only have so much energy in the day. We can choose to be upset about something or find ways to be compassionate about...

In this episode, Katlyn Printz joins us to talk about the process she went through in changing her mind about some things. Katelyn shares her story about growing up with some fairly narrow conservative Christian views.  As an undergraduate in college, Katlyn's eyes were opened up to various ways of thinking, allowing her to reconsider some of the opinions she had as a child. Katlyn speaks about th...

In this episode Gordon talks with Uriah Guilford, MFT, a marriage and family therapist from Northern California, about how kindness and compassion has impacted his life inside the therapy room and outside.  They talk about ways  in which we can all experience "compassion fatigue" and the need to shift to be more other focused on a bigger scale.  Uriah shares a personal story about a mission trip t...

In this episode Gordon talks with Jane Carter, LPC a therapist and private practice business coach about how we handle anger in the context of kindness and compassion. We explore how being "polite" does not always equate to being kind. In fact, sometimes politeness can be a form of anger turned inward. We also explore how expressing our anger in healthy ways can lead to greater emotional intimacy...

In this episode Gordon talks with Jenn Fredette, LPC, MA, MDiv, about being vulnerable, being human and coping with people we just don't agree with.  Jenn shares her experience of having come from a very conservative religious background ("cult") and the ways in which she has grown and healed since then.  Jenn and Gordon also talk about how being present with and for people is an act of kindness a...

In this episode Gordon talks with Jody and Gracie Davis about the influence of camp experiences for children and youth along with meeting challenging situations in life. Summer camp experiences have, and continue to be, extremely important to helping young people form meaningful relationships. These camp experiences model what it means to live in community and gives space for vulnerability. And wh...

In this episode, Gordon talks with The Right Rev. Brian Cole, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee, about reconciliation and how we can mend broken relationships. We explore what it takes to be able to use the act of reconciliation to create greater kindness and compassion through our interactions with each other in our world.  Read more... Meet Bishop Brian Cole kindnessandcompas...

Death is a subject most of us tend to avoid.  In particular, thinking about our own death or the death of loved ones.  But as most of us know, death is a reality of life and it touches us all at some point.  In this episode we tackle this topic with Dr. Mallory McDuff a professor of environmental studies  and author of Our Last Best Act; Planning for the end of our lives to protect people and plac...

As counterintuitive as it sounds, does embracing our fear help us to show more kindness and compassion?  In this episode of the podcast I am joined by The Rev. Claire Brown as we discuss her thoughts on befriending and being curious about our fear as a way to show self-compassion and empower ourselves. Read more... Resources revclairebrown.com kindnessandcompassion.com Instagram Facebook Patreon P...

In this episode Gordon explores the concept and practices of mindfulness.  We look at the body brain connection and how practicing mindfulness helps us show kindness and compassion not only to others but to ourselves.  It is the first step in being able to better manage our emotions.  It is all about learning how to be present focused and in the moment.   Read more... Website: kindnessandcompassio...

In this episode Kayla Tapia joins the podcast, who is a colleague of Gordon's in the mental health field.  Gordon and Kayla talk about using gratitude as a practice to show kindness and compassion in the world.  They also talk about how there are parts of our brains that have a way of looking for danger. But when we practice gratitude it helps calm those fears and help to use the higher parts of o...

In this first episode of the Kindness and Compassion Podcast, Gordon talks about his "why" behind the podcast and why he is passionate about the topic of Kindness and Compassion.  He tells his story about an encounter in the grocery store that made a lasting impact in his life.  He also talks about his own journey and struggles through the COVID pandemic and the losses he has faced over the past f...