The Support & Kindness Podcast

Hold a door. Wave a car in. Text an old friend out of nowhere. Small kindnesses — but that same gesture can mean something completely different three time zones away. In Episode 42, we travel the world to ask one question: does kindness look the same everywhere? The heart of it does. The shape of it doesn't. Greg, Rich, Liam, and Sarah trace the word for kindness through six faith traditions,...

Content note: this episode discusses rejection, shame, and self-harm. If you are struggling, you are not alone. In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. That sinking feeling when one small piece of feedback lands like a punch? There is a name for it: Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, or RSD. In Episode 41, Greg, Rich, Liam, and Sarah talk plainly about what RSD is, why it can...

Episode 40: The Cost of Kindness Content note: One segment includes a personal story of childhood family violence. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone: In the US call or text 988, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. We almost always hear “ the cost of kindness ” as a warning. This episode flips it: the real cost isn’t being kind — it’s holding kindness back. Greg and th...

You wrote the plan down. You even put it on your phone. By 10 a.m. you’d started four things and finished none — and that same old voice was asking what’s wrong with you. If that’s familiar, this one’s for you. In Episode 39, Greg and Rich have an honest, personal conversation about adult ADHD: what it actually is, why it’s so easily missed, and what real support looks like. ADHD isn’t the kid who...

It’s late, you’re scrolling, and there’s a low hum under everything — the headlines, the economy, the things you can’t fix. You’re not upset about one thing; you’re just heavy, tired, and small. Episode 38 is about that feeling, and about finding where your power actually lives. Greg, Rich, Derek, and Sarah define agency (the felt belief that what you do shapes what happens next), name the differe...

Welcome back to the Support and Kindness Podcast, I'm your host, Greg Shaw, and I just wanted to let you know that we're not going to actually air a podcast this week. We've got some people who are sick this week, some people who are on vacation, and some people are just playing hooky. Rich and I did record an episode for you, but unfortunately, yours truly had the audio settings wrong...

Content note: This episode discusses mental health crisis, panic attacks, and suicidal thinking. If you're struggling, call or text 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). International listeners: please use your local crisis line. When you cut your finger, you reach for the first aid kit. But what do you reach for when your heart is breaking, when anxiety floods you at 3 a.m., or when grief m...

Episode 36: Cruelty of The Inner Voice What would you do if a stranger spoke to you the way your inner critic does? Most of us would walk away. Some of us would speak up. Some of us would call someone for help. But when that same cruelty comes from inside our own heads, many of us accept it as truth. In this episode of The Support and Kindness Podcast , Greg, Rich, Derek, Liam, and Sarah talk hone...

Some people look fine on the outside. They show up. They answer the messages. They get the work done. They check on everyone else. They smile, laugh, and keep life moving. But inside, they may feel exhausted, numb, disconnected, or quietly overwhelmed. In this episode of The Support and Kindness Podcast , Greg, Rich, Derek, Liam, and Sarah talk honestly about what many people call high-functioning...

The neuroscience of intrusive memory, shame, and why old cringe moments can feel so alive at night Why does your brain wait until the quietest part of the night to replay something awkward from years ago? In this episode of the Support and Kindness Podcast , Greg, Rich, Liam, Tony, and Sarah explore intrusive memories, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and the strange power of those 3 AM mental replays...

Episode 33 — Grief Without a Death Navigating the Grief of Friendships, Family, and Careers Hosts: Greg Shaw, Rich, Derek, Liam, Sarah Episode Overview This episode names a kind of grief many people carry silently: grief without a death. Greg and the co‑hosts explore living loss —the grief that comes from friendships that fade, family relationships that fracture, and careers or identities that end...

Hosts: Greg Shaw, Rich, Jay, Derek, Liam, Tony Podcast: Supporting Kindness Podcast Episode Focus: How kindness and compassion impact physical health, mental health, and the nervous system—backed by real science and lived experience. Episode Overview In this episode, Greg and the co‑hosts explore a powerful idea: kindness isn’t just a moral value or personality trait—it is a biological interventio...

Episode 31: When Your Brain Won’t Let You Rest: The Exhaustion No One Sees Hosts: Greg, Rich, Jay, Derek, Liam, Tony This episode centers on a kind of exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix, and others often can’t see. Greg and the team unpack mental and emotional exhaustion—how it builds, why it lingers, and what it feels like to live with a brain that never fully powers down. Through research, lived...

WHO DO YOU TRUST? Support and Kindness Podcast Hosts: Greg Shaw, Rich, Derek, Liam, Sarah Trust is something we all rely on, yet many of us struggle to define, build, or rebuild it—especially after being hurt. In Episode 30, the Support and Kindness team has an honest, personal, and sometimes raw conversation about what trust really means, how it breaks, and how we live with the consequences when...

Hosts: Greg, Rich, Jay, Derek, Liam Summary Choosing a medical provider or therapist can feel confusing, stressful, and high‑stakes—especially when you are already not feeling your best. In Episode 29, Greg and the crew walk through a clear, practical roadmap for finding care that actually fits your needs. This episode breaks down provider types, credentials, insurance issues, therapy styles, and...

Episode 28: How to Be a Better Listener Support and Kindness Podcast Hosts: Greg, Rich, Jay, Derek Episode Summary In Episode 28, the team takes a thoughtful look at what it truly means to listen. Not the kind where we wait for our turn to speak, but the kind that helps people feel seen, safe, and understood. Greg opens with research that shows we spend nearly half of our communication time listen...

Hosts: Greg, Rich, Jay, Derek, Liam When life feels heavy, friendships can feel hard to maintain. In this episode, the Support and Kindness crew talks honestly about what it looks like to stay connected when energy is low, pain is high, or mental health is fragile. The conversation blends research, lived experience, and practical ideas that make friendship feel possible again — even in difficult s...

The Support and Kindness Podcast Hosts: Greg, Rich, Jay, Derek, Liam Loneliness is something almost everyone experiences, yet few talk about openly. In Episode 26, the Support and Kindness crew takes a deep, honest look at what loneliness really is, why it’s so common today, and how it affects our mental, emotional, and physical health. This conversation moves beyond surface-level advice and into...

Hosts: Greg, Rich, Jay, Derek, Liam, Sarah The team has an open and honest conversation about how constant exposure to news, especially negative, sensational, and political content can intensify anxiety, depression, burnout, and emotional exhaustion. This is a peer-led discussion based on lived experience, not medical advice. The focus is on awareness, balance, and practical ways to protect mental...

Hosts: Greg, Rich, Jay, Derek Podcast: Support and Kindness Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, the team explores self‑talk—the inner voice that shapes how we handle stress, setbacks, and everyday life. Greg opens with a clear explanation of what self‑talk is, why it matters, and how it affects the brain. The conversation then moves into personal reflections from Rich, Jay, and Derek, who sha...

Hosts: Greg Shaw, Rich Jay, Derek, Sarah Summary Sleep is something we all do, yet many people struggle to get enough of it—or to feel truly rested. In Episode 23, the Support and Kindness team talks about why sleep matters, why it can be difficult, and what can help. The discussion blends science, personal experience, mental health awareness, and practical ideas you can try at your own pace. Greg...

Hosts & Co‑Hosts: Greg Shaw, Rich, Jay, Derek, Sam This episode centers on a freeing idea: if something truly matters, it’s worth starting even when you can’t do it well yet. Greg and the team explore how perfectionism often masks fear, how imperfect action creates learning, and why courage matters more than competence at the beginning. Through personal stories, coaching lessons, recovery expe...

Self-sabotage can look like procrastination, perfectionism, negative self-talk, unhealthy coping, or pushing people away when things start going well. In this episode, the hosts unpack how fear (of failure/rejection and of success), low self-worth, and learned patterns can quietly derail progress—then share practical ways to interrupt the cycle with awareness, small steps, support, and self-compas...

Episode 20 — Anxiety With No Apparent Cause Hosts: Greg · Rich · Jay · Liam · Derek · Sarah Episode Overview Have you ever felt anxious for “no reason at all”? Your heart races, your chest tightens, your thoughts spiral, but  nothing obvious is wrong? In Episode 20, the Support and Kindness Podcast takes a thoughtful, grounded look at anxiety that seems to appear out of nowhere. Greg and the co-ho...

Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder — SAD) Support and Kindness Podcast Hosts: Greg Shaw, Rich, Jay Episode Focus: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), how it shows up in real life, and why compassion and connection matter during darker seasons. Episode Summary As daylight fades, many people notice changes in mood, energy, sleep, and motivation. In this episode, Greg, Rich...