Our Future is Kind Podcast

Ann Carden is a strategic business growth consultant, CEO of A. Carden Inc., and founder of the Expert In You brand and media agency. With more than four decades of experience helping entrepreneurs and professionals scale their businesses and amplify their impact, Ann has authored multiple international bestsellers — including her latest, Be the One They Choose: The New Rules for Standing Out and...

In this episode of Our Future is Kind Podcast, Kim and host Michael G. Neece dive into the importance of teaching children how to think—not just what to think—questioning information in a digital world, preserving creativity, and fostering deep human connection. Kim Kleidon is an Australian broadcaster ‑ turned ‑ storyteller whose deep commitment to family, human connection, and values ‑ based edu...

Dr. Brad Reedy, psychotherapist, author, and longtime host of the Finding You podcast, joins Michael G. Neece to explore how deep self ‑ knowledge, compassion, and authenticity transform how we live and relate to others. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Dr. Reedy unpacks how kindness begins with self ‑ care and self ‑ compassion, why forgiveness must be grounded in boundaries, and how un...

What happens when you take the box you were found in as an orphaned baby in South Korea, and flip it upside down to make it a table where we all meet for connection? In this episode of Our Future is Kind Podcast, Shari Leid, a former litigator turned reinvention coach and national speaker, shares her remarkable story of resilience, friendship, and purpose. From being adopted to sharing meals with...

What if the future isn't about tolerating people — but celebrating them?   In this deeply moving conversation, Michael Neece sits down with trans inclusion leader, speaker, and beloved LinkedIn voice Liam Paschall to talk about kindness, belonging, identity, courage, and what it really means to be human.   From Liam's upbringing in rural North Carolina to his humanitarian work in Haiti, from jumpi...

Vanessa Emerson is a business strategist, wellness educator, and conscious leadership mentor who has guided hundreds of speakers and entrepreneurs to grow thriving, mission-aligned businesses. In this deeply inspiring episode, she joins host Michael G. Neece to explore what it means to build a life of kindness, inner purpose, and service to others—both in and beyond business. Together they discuss...

What does it mean to live a life of joy, kindness, and power? In this episode of Our Future is Kind Podcast, Lisa Powell Graham, MPA, joins Michael G. Neece to explore that very question. As a two-time TEDx speaker, international retreat leader, speaker coach, and social justice warrior, Lisa shares her extraordinary story of turning trauma into transformation. From surviving stalking and PTSD to...

What does it really look like to live a life of adventure, curiosity, and kindness at sea, on the ocean floor, and Antarctica? In this episode of Our Future is Kind, host Michael G. Neece talks with ocean science photographer, videographer, and storyteller Marley Parker about what it's like to work on research vessels in some of the most remote parts of the planet. Marley shares how curiosity led...

In this energizing episode of Our Future is Kind Podcast, Michael talks with 15+ Year Salesforce MVP Amber Boaz about navigating change, leading with kindness, and embracing curiosity—even in fast-paced, high-tech spaces. 🎧 Listen now and get ready for ideas that apply in the boardroom, the family room, and everywhere in between. _______ Kindness challenge: Before your next conversation, ask your...

Tracy Hooper, founder of The Confidence Project and former TV anchor, joins Our Future is Kind Podcast to reveal how confidence, courtesy, and kindness can elevate your leadership and personal connections. From corporate clients like Nike and eBay to one-on-one coaching, Tracy helps professionals overcome self-doubt, build presence, and speak with impact. In this episode, she shares her 10-5 rule...

The Future of Work Is Kind--Nicole Yelsey and KindWorks AI   Can kindness be your company's secret weapon? Nicole Yelsey, COO and Co-Founder of KindWorks AI, joins Our Future is Kind to share how AI can make teams more collaborative, connected, and kind.   Nicole breaks down how their AI agent Beni helps teams practice micro-kindnesses throughout the workday, explains why kindness is a power skill...

What if a 40-day video challenge among friends became a transformational book on kindness, faith, and healing? Host Michael G. Neece welcomes Shantell Thomas and Teki Best, co-authors of "The 40 Day Reset," to this joyful and heartfelt episode of Our Future is Kind Podcast.   Shantell and Teki open up about the deep friendships behind the book, the power of vulnerability, and how women can build l...

Everyone Has Worth: Ethics, Empathy, and Kindness in Finance with Damion McCloud Michael welcomes Damion McCloud, a Senior Analysis Data Manager in the banking industry and a proud Wharton graduate, to discuss ethics, empathy, and building a more just and kind future. From navigating the high-stakes world of finance to caring for his mother with dignity, Damion shares insights on valuing others, r...

What happens when we treat people with true kindness—not as a buzzword, but as a measurable, actionable framework? In this powerful episode of Our Future is Kind, Michael sits down with Kristi Trader, author, speaker, and founder of Embody Kind, who shares her deeply rooted wisdom from 20+ years working with teams, schools, and community leaders across North America. Plus, Kristi unveils her newes...

In this episode of Our Future is Kind Podcast, Michael speaks with Angus Pryor, founder of Dental Marketing Solutions, international speaker, and philanthropist. Angus takes us through his multifaceted career—from drumming and diplomacy to pharmaceutical sales and digital marketing—and shares the deeper motivation behind it all: serving others with kindness. 💡 Angus challenges listeners to build...

In this episode of Our Future is Kind Podcast, Michael sits down with Jon Pinney, a life coach, identity architect, and the founder of Valltees--a positive apparel brand that helps people spread joy and connection through simple, powerful messages. Jon shares his moving journey of spending 20 years in the closet, learning to love himself, and creating businesses that help others do the same. Jon a...

Melody Ann Owen, founder of Author Nation, joins Michael to discuss storytelling, kindness, and helping nonfiction authors create a lasting legacy. From surviving a traumatic childhood to helping experts publish books with heart, Melody shares how curiosity, mercy, and courage shape her life and work. 🚀🚀🚀 Connect with Melody Ann Owen 🚀🚀🚀 https://AuthorNationTube.com @AuthorNation https://www...

Meet Nicole J. Phillips. She is a speaker, author, chaplain, and host of The Kindness Podcast. She joins host Michael G. Neece to talk about the power of reframing your thoughts, practicing kindness during crisis, and her move from North Dakota to North Carolina after a major life shake-up. Nicole opens up about her early battles with depression, her husband's near-death car crash, the joy of redi...

In this episode of Our Future Is Kind, Michael welcomes Jill Lublin, international speaker, media coach, and bestselling author of The Profit of Kindness. Together, they unpack what it means to consciously choose kindness every day—at home, in business, and in the broader world. Jill shares the story behind her globally attended Kindness Circles, why kind companies get more publicity, and how she...

Linda Cohen, the Kindness Catalyst, shares how compassion and connection are not only human essentials but strategic business advantages. From workplace leadership to personal rituals of joy, this episode will recharge your heart and reframe your sense of impact. Kindness challenge: • Choose one small, intentional act of kindness today—like helping a neighbor or caregiving in memory of someone you...

In this deeply personal and thoughtful episode of Our Future Is Kind, Michael welcomes Rachel Rowan, Chief of Content at the leadership consultancy founded by Kristen Hadeed. Together, they explore what it means to build workplaces where people truly feel they belong—and how those environments transform not just productivity, but lives as well. Rachel opens up about supporting her trans wife's jou...

In this episode of Our Future Is Kind, Michael welcomes Lesa Edwards, certified executive coach, master resume writer, and host of The Exclusive Career Coach and The Exclusive Career Podcast. With warmth, clarity, and humor, Lesa shares her approach to transforming careers through intentionality, emotional intelligence, and setting healthy boundaries. They unpack the pitfalls of promoting the wron...

Michael sits down with America's Breakthrough Speaker, Brian Biro for a high-energy conversation on transformational leadership, the science and strategy behind kindness, and how humility and gratitude can elevate individuals and organizations alike. Brian shares the four W's that turned a struggling hospital unit into a model of excellence, his vision for a future led by Chief Kindness Officers,...

What if joy isn't something you find, but something you practice? In this uplifting episode, Michael welcomes Shari Alyse—TV host, bestselling author, and America's Joy Magnet—to explore the deeper truth behind lasting joy. Shari shares her five pillars of joy (connection to self, others, nature, creativity, and purpose), her daily joy rituals, and how truth and kindness are essential to living fu...

In this episode, we feature Dr. Alison Thompson, a full-time global humanitarian and founder of Third Wave Volunteers. She shares her remarkable journey from Wall Street and filmmaking to disaster zones around the world. What began as a response to 9/11 became a lifelong mission: to bring light—literally and figuratively—to areas affected by crisis. With warmth and urgency, Dr. Thompson urges list...