July 4, 2025 • 24 mins
We explore the multi-layered impact of human kindness through scientific research, biblical teachings, and practical application, revealing how small acts can transform lives, health, and communities.
• Scientific evidence shows kindness triggers oxytocin and dopamine release, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress hormones
• Regular acts of kindness correlate with a 50% reduction in mortality risk, comparable to quitting smoking
• Personal anecdotes demonstrate how simple gestures like buying coffee can rekindle relationships and meaningful connections
• Biblical perspectives from Ephesians, Micah, Luke and Galatians frame kindness as divine transformation, not just moral obligation
• Classroom studies show structured kindness programs reduce bullying by 30% and improve peer relationships
• Our seven-day kindness challenge offers specific daily actions from buying coffee to forgiving grievances
• Compassionate interventions in healthcare improve patient outcomes while reducing resource use
Join our seven-day kindness challenge! Follow the podcast, like, subscribe, share with your friends, and go be kind. We'll see you next time.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In this episode of About it All, I'll undertake a
deep, multi-layered explorationof human kindness through
personal experiences,comprehensive analysis, biblical
ties, historical and culturalperspectives and actionable
practices.
You'll first hear expandedanecdotes illustrating how a
simple coffee purchase sparked abetter relationship and how
having simple conversations withthe homeless led to
(00:21):
life-changing hope.
We'll then unpack neurochemicalpathways, oxytocin-triggered
nitric oxide release, loweringblood pressure, dopamine-driven
helper's highs, reinforcinggenerosity and cortisol
reduction comparable tomindfulness therapies, along
with analytic evidence linkingaltruism to a 50% reduced
mortality risk.
Our biblical dive will examinesuch stories in Micah 6.8 as
(00:43):
conventional love, ephesians4.32's fusion of kindness and
forgiveness, luke 6.35's radicallove for enemies and Galatians
5.22's presentation of kindnessas spirit empowered fruit.
We'll also explore Aesop'stimeless proverb on small acts
of kindness, school-basedstudies showing a 30% bullying
(01:04):
reduction through structuredkindness weeks, healthcare
research on compassionate care,improving patient outcomes and
modern philanthropy such aswildfire relief funds matching
to illustrate kindness' broadsocietal impact.
Throughout guided reflectionsas a seven day challenge, we'll
equip you to embed kindness as adaily discipline, ensuring this
journey leaves you inspired andready to act.
(01:24):
Go, go, go.
I'm your host, bradley.
(01:57):
Marcello, that's your C-Cell.
C-cell is impaired for the partof your departure.
Welcome to the About it Podcast.
Today I'm going to be talkingabout human kindness, how it
makes you feel, how it makesothers feel and how it affects
the world around us.
First I'll be starting with theodd news, then talking
(02:18):
alligator alcatraz, then tyingthat into human kindness and my
thoughts on what could be added.
Let's be about it and let's goto the show.
See you there, all right?
All right, all right, everybody, welcome back to the About it
podcast.
I just wanted to thank you guysso much for joining me today.
Of course, today we are going tobe talking about kindness and
how it affects the world aroundus.
I wanted to start off thisepisode with what's going on in
the news.
I wanted to kick things offwith a couple of news stories.
(02:41):
One of the big ones at themoment is what's going on in
Florida.
We have the alligator Alcatraz.
That's apparently opening upsoon, and how does this tie into
kindness and the humanexperience?
So if you don't know whatalligator Alcatraz is, it's a
new detention facility that'sbeen opened up in Florida to
house up to 5,000 migrants at atime as they wait deportation.
(03:02):
We all know that there's been alot of immigrants and migrants
coming and going from thecountry recently and it's a
controversial topic in politicsright now.
So yeah, this facility it islocated in the middle of the
Florida Everglades, surroundedby wetlands and alligators and
all kinds of creatures.
I think it has like one road in, one road out type of thing
(03:22):
pretty isolated compound goingon.
It's about less than 50 milesactually from Miami, so it's
kind of far down there and atthe same time it's out in the
middle of nowhere.
So it used to be a part of theDade County Collier County
Training Center for governmentworkers and now it's being
transformed into a temporaryjail, basically, and holding
(03:42):
facility.
Of course, the currentpresident, donald Trump, has
been working with the governorof Florida, ron DeSantis, to set
all this up, and they've chosenthis spot because it's supposed
to be highly secure.
It also has a runway on theproperty and the compound that
used to actually be used forsupersonic jets to serve their
needs, and all that before itgot turned into a training
facility.
(04:02):
So it's been used for quite afew things over the years.
It is supposed to be a prettysecure facility.
And how does this tie into thetopic of today's episode, which
is human kindness?
Now my personal views.
I have some mixed emotions onit, so I'm hesitant to just put
them out there like that.
What I do have is somequestions I'd like to pose.
My first question is are wemaking our country safer by
(04:23):
doing this?
Are we making it better overall?
Are we just going after anybodythat's here undocumented, or
are we being more selective thanthat?
Because at the moment it seemslike we've been going after just
anybody that's here, period.
I'm not sure, and I think theleadership of this country has
(04:44):
also started to ask those samequestions.
For example, I was watching thenews conference recently with
the president speaking and allthat.
And they pose the question nowthat how are the farmers going
to be affected?
For example, because a lot ofthe folks that come into this
country they do havewell-meaning and they provide a
value to this country.
And in my mind I ask thequestion would that be taking
(05:04):
value away from this country ifwe just go after anybody and
everybody that's come hereundocumented?
Now the beds at this facilityof Alligator Alcatraz are
supposed to be costing $245 abed per day.
So $245 per person per day.
Now that is a cost, obviously,but the bigger question is
overall, what is the cost to ourcountry.
(05:24):
What is the moral cost?
Now, something I could get onboard with is the idea that if
we're selective about this typeof thing and those that are
taking value away from ourcountry, that are here are
undocumented, causing problems,committing violent crimes and
all this stuff hurting people,things like that this might be a
good place for them to go.
But just taking everybody there.
I don't know if I agree withthat totally, because while we
(05:49):
might be separated by borders,we are not separated by the
color of our blood and ourdesire to live a better life.
That is the American dreamright Now.
How does this tie into humankindness and kindness in general
?
In this case, I would say it'sabout giving those who deserve a
chance a chance, of course,taking those that are abusing
that chance and doing somethingdifferent with them, but those
that are here for genuinepurposes, they deserve a helping
hand, I believe.
Can you imagine, as citizens,how appreciative they'll be and
(06:12):
how hard they'll work to makethis country a better place?
That's an example of how Ibelieve kindness can change
lives and make everything aroundit better, and imagine the
kindness that they will displayin the future to those that
deserve it, and even some of theones that don't, because pretty
much everybody deserves asecond chance In my heart.
That's just a few thoughts Iwanted to put out there on this
Moving along.
Let's switch things up Tolighten the mood.
(06:34):
There is another story comingout of Florida.
Right, everybody that watchesthe national news knows that
occasionally there's a storycome out about an individual
that's done something wild, anda lot of times that news article
will read something with thetitle along the lines of Florida
man and it's become quite athing down there.
I think they're even putting iton t-shirts now.
In fact, I think I have one onthe back it says Florida man and
(06:57):
a description that basicallyindicates that Florida men are
wild because, uh, on thenational news sometimes you'll
see these articles that readsomething along the lines of
Florida man.
Now, this is just made up, butyou can imagine.
A lot of the stories go likethis.
Here's my version of it Floridaman rides naked on the hood of
a pickup truck, flying theAmerican flag, doing cocaine or
(07:18):
something.
That sounds like something thatwould come out of Florida,
something a Florida man might do.
Now, I know there's some crazywilds everywhere, but for some
reason the Florida man justseems to keep ending up on that
page on that level.
So in today's article of Floridaman, nurse finds drugs in
Florida man's butt duringsurgery for a stab wound.
So this guy actually got into afight, possibly over a drug
(07:42):
deal gone bad.
He got stabbed, ends up in thehospital right, goes into
surgery.
They're trying to save his life.
Nurse is poking around inplaces where the sun doesn't
shine.
Why I don't know.
I guess it's part of theprocedures.
But while Michael O'Neill, age43, was suffering from a stab
wound I'm going to read thisarticle online here.
(08:03):
He was suffering from a stabwound when he arrived at St
Petersburg Bayfront Hospitallast month.
The injuries did requiresurgery and it's not exactly
known why.
The nurse was around the regionshe was at where she found this
drug paraphernalia.
But for whatever reason she didend up finding he had been
using his rectum to store drugsand drug paraphernalia.
(08:24):
So the nurse stated while insurgery, or the hospital stated
while in surgery the RN locatedseveral items in O'Neill's butt.
She found tinfoil with asubstance police say tested
positive for cocaine.
And that's not all.
Nurse also found, according tothe police, a glass crack pipe
and a lighter up there andapparently this is not his first
rodeo, because he's been caughtwith items up his backside
(08:46):
before.
So once O'Neal was recoveredfrom his injuries, he ended up
being booked into the jail forcocaine possession and drug
paraphernalia possession, wherehe did pay a $5,500 bond, was
released from custody andpleaded not guilty to the
charges.
So yeah, there's a little changeof pace for you guys.
A little crazy story in thenews.
(09:08):
Who is this guy?
Why is he being busted fordrugs several times and why is
he sticking things up his butt?
Nobody knows except him.
I believe Mr O'Neill is goingto be the only one that knows
why.
And on a more serious note, andto get back into the episode,
how does this also tie intokindness?
Well, I think a lot of folksthat become addicted to
substances and things like that.
(09:28):
They probably suffered from alot of injustice in their life
and folks being unkind to them,dealing with a lot of stress and
things going the wrong way inlife.
So maybe he grew up with arough childhood, we don't know.
Maybe he has been done dirty ina lot of ways in life.
This is why I wanted to getinto this episode today, because
I believe that, honestly,kindness can change anybody, and
(09:51):
having a good spirit and a goodheart towards people can make
the world a better place.
And what follows will uncoverthe transformative power of
kindness, from its biochemicalroots to its biblical mentions.
Post some questions and equipyou to make it your lifestyle.
Why does kindness matter?
Scientific studies demonstratethat acts of generosity trigger
oxytocin release, whichstimulates nitric oxide
production in blood vessels,lowering blood pressure, a
(10:15):
cardioprotective effect.
Kindness also releases dopamine, producing the so-called
helper's high that reinforcesgenerous behavior and boosts
mood.
Over time, these neurochemicalshifts lead to reduced cortisol
levels, akin to the benefits ofmindfulness-based stress
reduction.
So what am I saying here?
Are we being kind only to gethigh off of it, just to make our
egos feel better?
No, I just wanted to show thatthere is a scientific aspect to
(10:38):
it that has real and lastingeffects on both the person
giving kindness and the personreceiving it.
So yeah, we're going to beginwith personal stories and
reflections to show why it'simportant, then proceed to a
scientific segment, dive intobiblical explanations, survey
historical and culturalperspectives and conclude with
interactive guided practices anda seven-day kindness challenge.
I wanted to give you a story toshow where kindness actually
(11:01):
changed a relationship.
So last month I covered acappuccino at a busy cafe and
what began as a simple paymentand act of kindness evolved into
a 30-minute conversation.
I actually knew this person.
I know that they've beendealing with some burnout and
feeling of being overworked,dealing with a lot of family and
always being the provider.
So when something unexpectedlike this happened, so this
(11:22):
really touched this person andgave them a feeling that they
haven't felt in a while due tobeing the provider for the
family.
Something unexpected like thismade them feel like they weren't
the only one fighting for thatday.
They had a partner in it.
And that's what kindness doesto people it makes you feel like
you're not quite so alone.
Now, after me and this personnot talking for a while, it did
lead to this conversation andnowadays we are talking more
(11:42):
again and in fact just went overto a barbecue that they had and
got to ride side-by-sides withthem An example of how one small
act of kindness has led to somuch more.
And this barbecue was so fun.
They even had the fryer out.
Family was over, friends onboth sides, and fried up some
fish, french fries and onionrings.
I can still hear the oilbubbling and the smell of that
(12:05):
food coming out.
It was amazing.
It was a bright, sunny day anda little hot outside actually
Some bugs flying around but thebreeze from going on the
side-by-sides helped cool thingsdown a bit, and the iced tea
was pretty tasty too.
I'm so happy how what wouldhave been an unknown turned into
good memories.
I got to tell you it feels somuch better than holding on to
grudges, because that creates anegative impact in your life,
(12:30):
and this example I'm giving younow is an example of how
kindness has put a positiveimpact in multiple people's
lives, because it's not, itdoesn't just affect you, it
doesn't even just affect theother person.
Sometimes that's receivingkindness.
It can have an effect across.
In this example, families,friends, multiple people, and
there's something to be said forthat.
Another time I wanted to talkabout when kindness changed
someone's life or made it better, at least in the moment, and
(12:53):
from then on out I like to talkto people that are a little bit
forgotten in society.
So the other day I had aconversation with a homeless
person and I like to treateveryone the same, from the
janitor to the CEO basically.
So we'll call this a janitorstory, right, like, wasn't
necessarily the highest personon the totem pole for society,
but they matter too and I wantedto show them that I just, I
(13:14):
just feel this responsibility tonot let them pass me by and not
say good morning, not ask themhow they're doing, how their
day's going.
Might not be the best, but youknow what?
Almost no one does that forthem and this is why it affects
them so much more.
In some ways, when they receivekindness and receive these
kinds of things from people In aworld where they feel forgotten
and that they don't matter, asimple hello can do wonders.
(13:37):
A simple how are you doing?
Could make their whole day.
Having a conversation with themcould change their life.
So, yeah, I was talking to ahomeless person the other day
and different things, thingsthey've been through.
I got to talking about thingsI've been through and throughout
this conversation, just triedto encourage each other.
Even honestly, once theconversation started, the person
went from feeling down andforgotten and a little neglected
(14:00):
to even to the point where theywanted to encourage me too and
ended up that they weren't doingso well, obviously, and they
just wanted to do their part todo better, right?
So ended up with them going andapplying for a job at the local
fast food place and actuallygetting it.
Now what does this tell usabout how giving and receiving
kindness can also change theworld around us, right, like so,
(14:22):
total strangers don't know themfrom Adam and ends up going
from feeling like an outcast tothe beginnings of being a
productive member of society.
Again, I'm not saying this tobrag or anything like that.
Obviously, like I said, theywere encouraging me too, because
we all have good and bad days,right.
So it was a two-way street, andI think that's a good point is
that if we open up enough ofthese two-way streets between
(14:45):
each other, that a lot of thestuff we see going on nowadays
could really change.
And I'll take this moment totell you about a time where I
received kindness, because it'snot all about me.
It's also about what othershave provided too.
I'm not the only one that cango say hello to a homeless guy
or buy someone a coffee.
I've had things done for me inmy life that have changed my
life for the better, and part ofthe reason why I want to pay it
(15:06):
forward to others.
So, in reality, I have to giveall the credit to those that
came before me, to those thathave shown me kindness and that
have done things for me, evenwhen I didn't deserve it, right?
So, yeah, one time I was livingin Pennsylvania I was actually
seeing someone at the time upthere.
Things didn't work out.
My home was actually back inFlorida.
So after giving everything upand moving to Pennsylvania, I
(15:30):
didn't necessarily have muchleft back in Florida.
So when things didn't work out,I was put in between a rock and
a hard place.
What ended up happening is someof my best friends and family
ended up helping me out.
They found someone at the localchurch that I used to go to
down there and was able to getin and rent a room from them.
I was able to secure anotherjob back down there again and
(15:51):
ended up where I could have beenon the streets myself, having
nothing.
I ended up in a totallydifferent place.
I had a home to go to and I wasable to take care of myself.
Where in another world, ifsomeone didn't show me this
kindness, things could have beenso much worse off from what
seemed like just a strike of badluck.
Right, because sometimes wedon't always plan for the lefts
and rights that happen in ourlife.
We think we're going to keepgoing straight, but a curveball
(16:12):
might be thrown in once in awhile, and that's part of the
reason why all this matters.
It's just a little inspiration Iwanted to share with you guys
today, and I think each of ushave heard countless stories
like this.
I know the news these dayswants to just show everything
bad happening in the world.
I wish it wasn't like that.
I wish they would report on allthe good things and happy
stories that are happening allaround us all the time.
For example, I know most of usdon't hate each other right
(16:36):
Again, we all bleed the sameblood.
I know most of us do have alove for our fellow man, and I
don't think the news helps withthat, and that's exactly what I
want you to do right now.
So if you want to, of courseit's up to you.
Grab a pen and a journal, do agratitude exercise here, write
down three personal anecdotestwo you've given and one you've
received For each note, thecontext, emotional response and
(16:59):
any ripple effects you observed,such as buying a coffee for
someone and it blossoming into aconversation and then a
barbecue where there's multiplepeople involved and affected.
Beyond some of the emotionsthat you can imagine happen
during these times of gratitudeand kindness, such as the joy
that can come from somethingunexpectedly good happening to
(17:19):
you like that, or doingsomething that someone else
doesn't expect, that changesthem.
I want to dive into the scienceof this a little bit.
So let's talk about your braina little bit.
Right, oxytocin release promptsnitric oxide production,
widening blood vessels andreducing blood pressure.
There's something called thedopamine helper's high.
So generosity actually elevatesdopamine levels, creating a
(17:40):
euphoria that reinforces kindbehavior, kind of like that
ripple effect.
Right, it's a phenomenon firstidentified at Harvard and now
widely studied.
Kindness is also involved incortisol downregulation.
So empirical studies have shownaltruistic acts downregulate
the HPA axis, decreasingcortisol in ways comparable to
standardized mindfulnessinterventions.
(18:02):
And how does this affect yourhealth, well-being and longevity
?
Well, there's been some.
Analysis reveals strong socialsupport and volunteering
correlate with a 50% reductionin early mortality risk.
That's a big deal that rivalsthe benefits of quitting heavy
smoking, quitting heavy alcoholabuse, things like that.
Another study found that justone hour of volunteering per
week slows biological aging, asmeasured by epigenetic markers.
(18:25):
And there's also psychologicalbenefits.
Reviews in psychologicalliterature confirm that
altruistic behaviorssignificantly boost life
satisfaction, self-esteem andsense of purpose.
I know a lot of us suffer withthat, like what is our purpose
here?
And this is often moreeffective than self-focused
wellness practices.
Compassion training alsoenhances resilience and improves
immune markers by strengtheningsocial bonds, and I even kind
(18:48):
of see how it starts to affectthe world around us.
It has these ripple effects.
It's strengthening your socialbonds, it's helping you live
longer and if we're all startingto participate in this, it can
have a massive, massive effecton society and the world as a
whole.
And I want to move on to somebiblical explanations and
studies that have shown this andback this up.
So Ephesians 4.32, for example.
It's based on kindness andforgiveness, and what it says is
(19:11):
be kind to one another,tenderhearted forgiving one
another, as God in Christforgave you.
As to say kindness here denotesa gentleness towards wrongs,
inseparable from forgivenessmodeled on divine grace.
Another book in the Bible,micah 6a, has to do with justice
and humility.
So it says he has shown you, omortal, what is good, but to
(19:31):
love mercy and to walk humblywith your God.
It also talks about the Hebrewword hesed.
So this conveys a steadfast,conventional love, a call to
active compassion thatintegrates justice and mercy.
Scholars note that heseddemands enduring loyalty, not
occasional acts of kindness.
Now, luke 6.35 talks about aradical love.
But love your enemies, for heis kind to the unthankful and to
(19:54):
the evil.
So love your enemies thatdespitefully use you right.
Jesus' command redefineskindness as countercultural
grace, extending compassion evento those who cannot reciprocate
, and in Galatians 5.22,.
But the fruit of the spirit iskindness.
Here kindness is portrayed notas moral striving but as an
evidence of spirit-filled life,underscoring that true
generosity flows from divinetransformation.
(20:15):
It's powerful.
And now for some historical andcultural perspectives.
I wanted to touch on Aesop'sthought, and this is that no act
of kindness, no matter howsmall, is ever wasted,
illustrating how even tinygestures can catalyze
far-reaching ripples of goodwill.
Everyone's heard of random actsof kindness, right.
So.
A study by the Random Acts ofKindness Foundation of Vancouver
Classrooms found that studentsperforming three intentional
(20:36):
acts of kindness weekly showedincreased positive emotions,
peer approval and a 30%reduction in bullying.
And we see this in thehealthcare industry as well
today.
So compassionate care in thehealthcare industry right.
Clinical research indicatesthat compassionate interventions
in medical settings improvepatient-reported outcomes such
as quality of life andsatisfaction and reduced
healthcare resource use.
(20:56):
And we can use examples ofphilanthropy to show how society
has been affected around thosethat generate these acts of
kindness.
So, in response to the LosAngeles wildfires, for example,
several celebrities donated alot of money and time and effort
and matched additional giftsthrough their emergency funds,
demonstrating how high-profileacts of kindness can mobilize
broad support.
So one goes in and the otherfollow.
(21:18):
It has to do with focus a lottoo, just how focusing on the
negative can have ripple effects.
Turning our perspectives intothe positive, to kindness, to
acts of grace, to doing thegoodwill towards those around us
in our societies, can have amassive benefit and effect on
everything.
It's about a shift ofperspective and even a devotion,
determination and disciplinetowards improving the world
(21:41):
around us, to kindness.
At this point in the episode, Iwanted to turn the focus
towards you, my audience,towards my listeners, a little
bit.
I want to give you some guidedexercises and a seven-day
kindness challenge that you cantake part in.
So while I've been talkingabout this and its benefits to
the world around us, now I posea question to you guys what are
(22:01):
you going to do about it?
Here's the first exercise, aguided reflection.
Close your eyes and revisit thethree kind of stories you
journaled earlier, notice anynew emotions or insights that
arise and consider how thesenarratives shape your
willingness to give On a freshpage.
We're going to do kindnessmapping outline your daily
routine and identify fivespecific touch points, moments
with family colleagues orstrangers where you can
(22:22):
intentionally offer compassion.
This is a plan.
So this is you asking yourself.
Now that I'm inspired and seethe benefit of how kindness can
ripple around me, what can I doabout it?
What are five specific thingswith family colleagues,
strangers, anybody where I canintentionally offer compassion
and kindness and see how thatchanges things?
And along with this, I want togive you a seven-day kindness
(22:43):
challenge.
So on day one, go buy a coffeeor a drink for somebody, just a
random person passing by.
Pay it forward you never knowwhat it might lead to.
Now, on the second day, I wantyou to send a handwritten note
of encouragement.
Anybody you can think of Couldbe someone you haven't thought
of, could be a total stranger.
I know we've all seen thosevideos online where someone's
wearing a t-shirt and it sayssomething like don't judge
(23:03):
yourself.
Today you matter.
Or someone passes someone anote in a video that shows the
same thing and the emotionalreaction that comes out of that.
So number two could be a bigdeal.
Now, on the third day, I wantyou to try going and giving some
of your time.
Could be volunteering an hourat a local non-profit, could be
just a conversation with someonethat needs it.
But on day three, give some ofyour time to someone else.
(23:24):
And on the fourth day, askyourself what is it going to
feel like if I forgive a pastgrievance and reach out in peace
.
Maybe there's someone youhaven't talked to in a while,
just like the person I boughtcoffee for.
That led to so much more.
On the fourth day, forgive apast grievance, try to reach out
, see what happens.
On day five, I want you tothink about sharing a meal with
someone who's alone.
This might seem like a stretch,but we never know what
anybody's going through.
(23:45):
And, just like the homelessperson I had a conversation with
the other day, that led to themgetting a job and feeling
encouraged in life.
You never know how you couldchange someone's life for the
better.
And on day six after that,think of a sincere compliment
you can offer to a strangeranybody.
(24:06):
Just tell them that they lookgood that day, tell them they're
doing a good job.
Tell them you're thankful justfor them being there.
Think of something, anything itcould mean the world to them.
And on day seven, think aboutmeditating or praying for
someone, for an individual indistress maybe Someone you know
is going through a hard time.
Because if you believe thatthere's more to this world than
just the present, if you believethere's a greater power out
there than just the moment andthe natural, this could affect
someone as well in a positiveway.
(24:26):
This could also help to lead tosomeone's life changing.
So meditate, pray for someone.
It might really go a long way.
Hey, everyone, I just wanted tothank you so much for joining
me on the About it podcast today.
If this message resonated withyou, please consider following
the podcast like subscribe.
Share with your friends andagain, be kind and have a
(24:47):
wonderful life.
We'll see you next time.
In this episode of About it All, I'll undertake a
deep, multi-layered explorationof human kindness through
personal experiences,comprehensive analysis, biblical
ties, historical and culturalperspectives and actionable
practices.
You'll first hear expandedanecdotes illustrating how a
simple coffee purchase sparked abetter relationship and how
having simple conversations withthe homeless led to
(00:21):
life-changing hope.
We'll then unpack neurochemicalpathways, oxytocin-triggered
nitric oxide release, loweringblood pressure, dopamine-driven
helper's highs, reinforcinggenerosity and cortisol
reduction comparable tomindfulness therapies, along
with analytic evidence linkingaltruism to a 50% reduced
mortality risk.
Our biblical dive will examinesuch stories in Micah 6.8 as
(00:43):
conventional love, ephesians4.32's fusion of kindness and
forgiveness, luke 6.35's radicallove for enemies and Galatians
5.22's presentation of kindnessas spirit empowered fruit.
We'll also explore Aesop'stimeless proverb on small acts
of kindness, school-basedstudies showing a 30% bullying
(01:04):
reduction through structuredkindness weeks, healthcare
research on compassionate care,improving patient outcomes and
modern philanthropy such aswildfire relief funds matching
to illustrate kindness' broadsocietal impact.
Throughout guided reflectionsas a seven day challenge, we'll
equip you to embed kindness as adaily discipline, ensuring this
journey leaves you inspired andready to act.
(01:24):
Go, go, go.
I'm your host, bradley.
(01:57):
Marcello, that's your C-Cell.
C-cell is impaired for the partof your departure.
Welcome to the About it Podcast.
Today I'm going to be talkingabout human kindness, how it
makes you feel, how it makesothers feel and how it affects
the world around us.
First I'll be starting with theodd news, then talking
(02:18):
alligator alcatraz, then tyingthat into human kindness and my
thoughts on what could be added.
Let's be about it and let's goto the show.
See you there, all right?
All right, all right, everybody, welcome back to the About it
podcast.
I just wanted to thank you guysso much for joining me today.
Of course, today we are going tobe talking about kindness and
how it affects the world aroundus.
I wanted to start off thisepisode with what's going on in
the news.
I wanted to kick things offwith a couple of news stories.
(02:41):
One of the big ones at themoment is what's going on in
Florida.
We have the alligator Alcatraz.
That's apparently opening upsoon, and how does this tie into
kindness and the humanexperience?
So if you don't know whatalligator Alcatraz is, it's a
new detention facility that'sbeen opened up in Florida to
house up to 5,000 migrants at atime as they wait deportation.
(03:02):
We all know that there's been alot of immigrants and migrants
coming and going from thecountry recently and it's a
controversial topic in politicsright now.
So yeah, this facility it islocated in the middle of the
Florida Everglades, surroundedby wetlands and alligators and
all kinds of creatures.
I think it has like one road in, one road out type of thing
(03:22):
pretty isolated compound goingon.
It's about less than 50 milesactually from Miami, so it's
kind of far down there and atthe same time it's out in the
middle of nowhere.
So it used to be a part of theDade County Collier County
Training Center for governmentworkers and now it's being
transformed into a temporaryjail, basically, and holding
(03:42):
facility.
Of course, the currentpresident, donald Trump, has
been working with the governorof Florida, ron DeSantis, to set
all this up, and they've chosenthis spot because it's supposed
to be highly secure.
It also has a runway on theproperty and the compound that
used to actually be used forsupersonic jets to serve their
needs, and all that before itgot turned into a training
facility.
(04:02):
So it's been used for quite afew things over the years.
It is supposed to be a prettysecure facility.
And how does this tie into thetopic of today's episode, which
is human kindness?
Now my personal views.
I have some mixed emotions onit, so I'm hesitant to just put
them out there like that.
What I do have is somequestions I'd like to pose.
My first question is are wemaking our country safer by
(04:23):
doing this?
Are we making it better overall?
Are we just going after anybodythat's here undocumented, or
are we being more selective thanthat?
Because at the moment it seemslike we've been going after just
anybody that's here, period.
I'm not sure, and I think theleadership of this country has
(04:44):
also started to ask those samequestions.
For example, I was watching thenews conference recently with
the president speaking and allthat.
And they pose the question nowthat how are the farmers going
to be affected?
For example, because a lot ofthe folks that come into this
country they do havewell-meaning and they provide a
value to this country.
And in my mind I ask thequestion would that be taking
(05:04):
value away from this country ifwe just go after anybody and
everybody that's come hereundocumented?
Now the beds at this facilityof Alligator Alcatraz are
supposed to be costing $245 abed per day.
So $245 per person per day.
Now that is a cost, obviously,but the bigger question is
overall, what is the cost to ourcountry.
(05:24):
What is the moral cost?
Now, something I could get onboard with is the idea that if
we're selective about this typeof thing and those that are
taking value away from ourcountry, that are here are
undocumented, causing problems,committing violent crimes and
all this stuff hurting people,things like that this might be a
good place for them to go.
But just taking everybody there.
I don't know if I agree withthat totally, because while we
(05:49):
might be separated by borders,we are not separated by the
color of our blood and ourdesire to live a better life.
That is the American dreamright Now.
How does this tie into humankindness and kindness in general
?
In this case, I would say it'sabout giving those who deserve a
chance a chance, of course,taking those that are abusing
that chance and doing somethingdifferent with them, but those
that are here for genuinepurposes, they deserve a helping
hand, I believe.
Can you imagine, as citizens,how appreciative they'll be and
(06:12):
how hard they'll work to makethis country a better place?
That's an example of how Ibelieve kindness can change
lives and make everything aroundit better, and imagine the
kindness that they will displayin the future to those that
deserve it, and even some of theones that don't, because pretty
much everybody deserves asecond chance In my heart.
That's just a few thoughts Iwanted to put out there on this
Moving along.
Let's switch things up Tolighten the mood.
(06:34):
There is another story comingout of Florida.
Right, everybody that watchesthe national news knows that
occasionally there's a storycome out about an individual
that's done something wild, anda lot of times that news article
will read something with thetitle along the lines of Florida
man and it's become quite athing down there.
I think they're even putting iton t-shirts now.
In fact, I think I have one onthe back it says Florida man and
(06:57):
a description that basicallyindicates that Florida men are
wild because, uh, on thenational news sometimes you'll
see these articles that readsomething along the lines of
Florida man.
Now, this is just made up, butyou can imagine.
A lot of the stories go likethis.
Here's my version of it Floridaman rides naked on the hood of
a pickup truck, flying theAmerican flag, doing cocaine or
(07:18):
something.
That sounds like something thatwould come out of Florida,
something a Florida man might do.
Now, I know there's some crazywilds everywhere, but for some
reason the Florida man justseems to keep ending up on that
page on that level.
So in today's article of Floridaman, nurse finds drugs in
Florida man's butt duringsurgery for a stab wound.
So this guy actually got into afight, possibly over a drug
(07:42):
deal gone bad.
He got stabbed, ends up in thehospital right, goes into
surgery.
They're trying to save his life.
Nurse is poking around inplaces where the sun doesn't
shine.
Why I don't know.
I guess it's part of theprocedures.
But while Michael O'Neill, age43, was suffering from a stab
wound I'm going to read thisarticle online here.
(08:03):
He was suffering from a stabwound when he arrived at St
Petersburg Bayfront Hospitallast month.
The injuries did requiresurgery and it's not exactly
known why.
The nurse was around the regionshe was at where she found this
drug paraphernalia.
But for whatever reason she didend up finding he had been
using his rectum to store drugsand drug paraphernalia.
(08:24):
So the nurse stated while insurgery, or the hospital stated
while in surgery the RN locatedseveral items in O'Neill's butt.
She found tinfoil with asubstance police say tested
positive for cocaine.
And that's not all.
Nurse also found, according tothe police, a glass crack pipe
and a lighter up there andapparently this is not his first
rodeo, because he's been caughtwith items up his backside
(08:46):
before.
So once O'Neal was recoveredfrom his injuries, he ended up
being booked into the jail forcocaine possession and drug
paraphernalia possession, wherehe did pay a $5,500 bond, was
released from custody andpleaded not guilty to the
charges.
So yeah, there's a little changeof pace for you guys.
A little crazy story in thenews.
(09:08):
Who is this guy?
Why is he being busted fordrugs several times and why is
he sticking things up his butt?
Nobody knows except him.
I believe Mr O'Neill is goingto be the only one that knows
why.
And on a more serious note, andto get back into the episode,
how does this also tie intokindness?
Well, I think a lot of folksthat become addicted to
substances and things like that.
(09:28):
They probably suffered from alot of injustice in their life
and folks being unkind to them,dealing with a lot of stress and
things going the wrong way inlife.
So maybe he grew up with arough childhood, we don't know.
Maybe he has been done dirty ina lot of ways in life.
This is why I wanted to getinto this episode today, because
I believe that, honestly,kindness can change anybody, and
(09:51):
having a good spirit and a goodheart towards people can make
the world a better place.
And what follows will uncoverthe transformative power of
kindness, from its biochemicalroots to its biblical mentions.
Post some questions and equipyou to make it your lifestyle.
Why does kindness matter?
Scientific studies demonstratethat acts of generosity trigger
oxytocin release, whichstimulates nitric oxide
production in blood vessels,lowering blood pressure, a
(10:15):
cardioprotective effect.
Kindness also releases dopamine, producing the so-called
helper's high that reinforcesgenerous behavior and boosts
mood.
Over time, these neurochemicalshifts lead to reduced cortisol
levels, akin to the benefits ofmindfulness-based stress
reduction.
So what am I saying here?
Are we being kind only to gethigh off of it, just to make our
egos feel better?
No, I just wanted to show thatthere is a scientific aspect to
(10:38):
it that has real and lastingeffects on both the person
giving kindness and the personreceiving it.
So yeah, we're going to beginwith personal stories and
reflections to show why it'simportant, then proceed to a
scientific segment, dive intobiblical explanations, survey
historical and culturalperspectives and conclude with
interactive guided practices anda seven-day kindness challenge.
I wanted to give you a story toshow where kindness actually
(11:01):
changed a relationship.
So last month I covered acappuccino at a busy cafe and
what began as a simple paymentand act of kindness evolved into
a 30-minute conversation.
I actually knew this person.
I know that they've beendealing with some burnout and
feeling of being overworked,dealing with a lot of family and
always being the provider.
So when something unexpectedlike this happened, so this
(11:22):
really touched this person andgave them a feeling that they
haven't felt in a while due tobeing the provider for the
family.
Something unexpected like thismade them feel like they weren't
the only one fighting for thatday.
They had a partner in it.
And that's what kindness doesto people it makes you feel like
you're not quite so alone.
Now, after me and this personnot talking for a while, it did
lead to this conversation andnowadays we are talking more
(11:42):
again and in fact just went overto a barbecue that they had and
got to ride side-by-sides withthem An example of how one small
act of kindness has led to somuch more.
And this barbecue was so fun.
They even had the fryer out.
Family was over, friends onboth sides, and fried up some
fish, french fries and onionrings.
I can still hear the oilbubbling and the smell of that
(12:05):
food coming out.
It was amazing.
It was a bright, sunny day anda little hot outside actually
Some bugs flying around but thebreeze from going on the
side-by-sides helped cool thingsdown a bit, and the iced tea
was pretty tasty too.
I'm so happy how what wouldhave been an unknown turned into
good memories.
I got to tell you it feels somuch better than holding on to
grudges, because that creates anegative impact in your life,
(12:30):
and this example I'm giving younow is an example of how
kindness has put a positiveimpact in multiple people's
lives, because it's not, itdoesn't just affect you, it
doesn't even just affect theother person.
Sometimes that's receivingkindness.
It can have an effect across.
In this example, families,friends, multiple people, and
there's something to be said forthat.
Another time I wanted to talkabout when kindness changed
someone's life or made it better, at least in the moment, and
(12:53):
from then on out I like to talkto people that are a little bit
forgotten in society.
So the other day I had aconversation with a homeless
person and I like to treateveryone the same, from the
janitor to the CEO basically.
So we'll call this a janitorstory, right, like, wasn't
necessarily the highest personon the totem pole for society,
but they matter too and I wantedto show them that I just, I
(13:14):
just feel this responsibility tonot let them pass me by and not
say good morning, not ask themhow they're doing, how their
day's going.
Might not be the best, but youknow what?
Almost no one does that forthem and this is why it affects
them so much more.
In some ways, when they receivekindness and receive these
kinds of things from people In aworld where they feel forgotten
and that they don't matter, asimple hello can do wonders.
(13:37):
A simple how are you doing?
Could make their whole day.
Having a conversation with themcould change their life.
So, yeah, I was talking to ahomeless person the other day
and different things, thingsthey've been through.
I got to talking about thingsI've been through and throughout
this conversation, just triedto encourage each other.
Even honestly, once theconversation started, the person
went from feeling down andforgotten and a little neglected
(14:00):
to even to the point where theywanted to encourage me too and
ended up that they weren't doingso well, obviously, and they
just wanted to do their part todo better, right?
So ended up with them going andapplying for a job at the local
fast food place and actuallygetting it.
Now what does this tell usabout how giving and receiving
kindness can also change theworld around us, right, like so,
(14:22):
total strangers don't know themfrom Adam and ends up going
from feeling like an outcast tothe beginnings of being a
productive member of society.
Again, I'm not saying this tobrag or anything like that.
Obviously, like I said, theywere encouraging me too, because
we all have good and bad days,right.
So it was a two-way street, andI think that's a good point is
that if we open up enough ofthese two-way streets between
(14:45):
each other, that a lot of thestuff we see going on nowadays
could really change.
And I'll take this moment totell you about a time where I
received kindness, because it'snot all about me.
It's also about what othershave provided too.
I'm not the only one that cango say hello to a homeless guy
or buy someone a coffee.
I've had things done for me inmy life that have changed my
life for the better, and part ofthe reason why I want to pay it
(15:06):
forward to others.
So, in reality, I have to giveall the credit to those that
came before me, to those thathave shown me kindness and that
have done things for me, evenwhen I didn't deserve it, right?
So, yeah, one time I was livingin Pennsylvania I was actually
seeing someone at the time upthere.
Things didn't work out.
My home was actually back inFlorida.
So after giving everything upand moving to Pennsylvania, I
(15:30):
didn't necessarily have muchleft back in Florida.
So when things didn't work out,I was put in between a rock and
a hard place.
What ended up happening is someof my best friends and family
ended up helping me out.
They found someone at the localchurch that I used to go to
down there and was able to getin and rent a room from them.
I was able to secure anotherjob back down there again and
(15:51):
ended up where I could have beenon the streets myself, having
nothing.
I ended up in a totallydifferent place.
I had a home to go to and I wasable to take care of myself.
Where in another world, ifsomeone didn't show me this
kindness, things could have beenso much worse off from what
seemed like just a strike of badluck.
Right, because sometimes wedon't always plan for the lefts
and rights that happen in ourlife.
We think we're going to keepgoing straight, but a curveball
(16:12):
might be thrown in once in awhile, and that's part of the
reason why all this matters.
It's just a little inspiration Iwanted to share with you guys
today, and I think each of ushave heard countless stories
like this.
I know the news these dayswants to just show everything
bad happening in the world.
I wish it wasn't like that.
I wish they would report on allthe good things and happy
stories that are happening allaround us all the time.
For example, I know most of usdon't hate each other right
(16:36):
Again, we all bleed the sameblood.
I know most of us do have alove for our fellow man, and I
don't think the news helps withthat, and that's exactly what I
want you to do right now.
So if you want to, of courseit's up to you.
Grab a pen and a journal, do agratitude exercise here, write
down three personal anecdotestwo you've given and one you've
received For each note, thecontext, emotional response and
(16:59):
any ripple effects you observed,such as buying a coffee for
someone and it blossoming into aconversation and then a
barbecue where there's multiplepeople involved and affected.
Beyond some of the emotionsthat you can imagine happen
during these times of gratitudeand kindness, such as the joy
that can come from somethingunexpectedly good happening to
(17:19):
you like that, or doingsomething that someone else
doesn't expect, that changesthem.
I want to dive into the scienceof this a little bit.
So let's talk about your braina little bit.
Right, oxytocin release promptsnitric oxide production,
widening blood vessels andreducing blood pressure.
There's something called thedopamine helper's high.
So generosity actually elevatesdopamine levels, creating a
(17:40):
euphoria that reinforces kindbehavior, kind of like that
ripple effect.
Right, it's a phenomenon firstidentified at Harvard and now
widely studied.
Kindness is also involved incortisol downregulation.
So empirical studies have shownaltruistic acts downregulate
the HPA axis, decreasingcortisol in ways comparable to
standardized mindfulnessinterventions.
(18:02):
And how does this affect yourhealth, well-being and longevity
?
Well, there's been some.
Analysis reveals strong socialsupport and volunteering
correlate with a 50% reductionin early mortality risk.
That's a big deal that rivalsthe benefits of quitting heavy
smoking, quitting heavy alcoholabuse, things like that.
Another study found that justone hour of volunteering per
week slows biological aging, asmeasured by epigenetic markers.
(18:25):
And there's also psychologicalbenefits.
Reviews in psychologicalliterature confirm that
altruistic behaviorssignificantly boost life
satisfaction, self-esteem andsense of purpose.
I know a lot of us suffer withthat, like what is our purpose
here?
And this is often moreeffective than self-focused
wellness practices.
Compassion training alsoenhances resilience and improves
immune markers by strengtheningsocial bonds, and I even kind
(18:48):
of see how it starts to affectthe world around us.
It has these ripple effects.
It's strengthening your socialbonds, it's helping you live
longer and if we're all startingto participate in this, it can
have a massive, massive effecton society and the world as a
whole.
And I want to move on to somebiblical explanations and
studies that have shown this andback this up.
So Ephesians 4.32, for example.
It's based on kindness andforgiveness, and what it says is
(19:11):
be kind to one another,tenderhearted forgiving one
another, as God in Christforgave you.
As to say kindness here denotesa gentleness towards wrongs,
inseparable from forgivenessmodeled on divine grace.
Another book in the Bible,micah 6a, has to do with justice
and humility.
So it says he has shown you, omortal, what is good, but to
(19:31):
love mercy and to walk humblywith your God.
It also talks about the Hebrewword hesed.
So this conveys a steadfast,conventional love, a call to
active compassion thatintegrates justice and mercy.
Scholars note that heseddemands enduring loyalty, not
occasional acts of kindness.
Now, luke 6.35 talks about aradical love.
But love your enemies, for heis kind to the unthankful and to
(19:54):
the evil.
So love your enemies thatdespitefully use you right.
Jesus' command redefineskindness as countercultural
grace, extending compassion evento those who cannot reciprocate
, and in Galatians 5.22,.
But the fruit of the spirit iskindness.
Here kindness is portrayed notas moral striving but as an
evidence of spirit-filled life,underscoring that true
generosity flows from divinetransformation.
(20:15):
It's powerful.
And now for some historical andcultural perspectives.
I wanted to touch on Aesop'sthought, and this is that no act
of kindness, no matter howsmall, is ever wasted,
illustrating how even tinygestures can catalyze
far-reaching ripples of goodwill.
Everyone's heard of random actsof kindness, right.
So.
A study by the Random Acts ofKindness Foundation of Vancouver
Classrooms found that studentsperforming three intentional
(20:36):
acts of kindness weekly showedincreased positive emotions,
peer approval and a 30%reduction in bullying.
And we see this in thehealthcare industry as well
today.
So compassionate care in thehealthcare industry right.
Clinical research indicatesthat compassionate interventions
in medical settings improvepatient-reported outcomes such
as quality of life andsatisfaction and reduced
healthcare resource use.
(20:56):
And we can use examples ofphilanthropy to show how society
has been affected around thosethat generate these acts of
kindness.
So, in response to the LosAngeles wildfires, for example,
several celebrities donated alot of money and time and effort
and matched additional giftsthrough their emergency funds,
demonstrating how high-profileacts of kindness can mobilize
broad support.
So one goes in and the otherfollow.
(21:18):
It has to do with focus a lottoo, just how focusing on the
negative can have ripple effects.
Turning our perspectives intothe positive, to kindness, to
acts of grace, to doing thegoodwill towards those around us
in our societies, can have amassive benefit and effect on
everything.
It's about a shift ofperspective and even a devotion,
determination and disciplinetowards improving the world
(21:41):
around us, to kindness.
At this point in the episode, Iwanted to turn the focus
towards you, my audience,towards my listeners, a little
bit.
I want to give you some guidedexercises and a seven-day
kindness challenge that you cantake part in.
So while I've been talkingabout this and its benefits to
the world around us, now I posea question to you guys what are
(22:01):
you going to do about it?
Here's the first exercise, aguided reflection.
Close your eyes and revisit thethree kind of stories you
journaled earlier, notice anynew emotions or insights that
arise and consider how thesenarratives shape your
willingness to give On a freshpage.
We're going to do kindnessmapping outline your daily
routine and identify fivespecific touch points, moments
with family colleagues orstrangers where you can
(22:22):
intentionally offer compassion.
This is a plan.
So this is you asking yourself.
Now that I'm inspired and seethe benefit of how kindness can
ripple around me, what can I doabout it?
What are five specific thingswith family colleagues,
strangers, anybody where I canintentionally offer compassion
and kindness and see how thatchanges things?
And along with this, I want togive you a seven-day kindness
(22:43):
challenge.
So on day one, go buy a coffeeor a drink for somebody, just a
random person passing by.
Pay it forward you never knowwhat it might lead to.
Now, on the second day, I wantyou to send a handwritten note
of encouragement.
Anybody you can think of Couldbe someone you haven't thought
of, could be a total stranger.
I know we've all seen thosevideos online where someone's
wearing a t-shirt and it sayssomething like don't judge
(23:03):
yourself.
Today you matter.
Or someone passes someone anote in a video that shows the
same thing and the emotionalreaction that comes out of that.
So number two could be a bigdeal.
Now, on the third day, I wantyou to try going and giving some
of your time.
Could be volunteering an hourat a local non-profit, could be
just a conversation with someonethat needs it.
But on day three, give some ofyour time to someone else.
(23:24):
And on the fourth day, askyourself what is it going to
feel like if I forgive a pastgrievance and reach out in peace
.
Maybe there's someone youhaven't talked to in a while,
just like the person I boughtcoffee for.
That led to so much more.
On the fourth day, forgive apast grievance, try to reach out
, see what happens.
On day five, I want you tothink about sharing a meal with
someone who's alone.
This might seem like a stretch,but we never know what
anybody's going through.
(23:45):
And, just like the homelessperson I had a conversation with
the other day, that led to themgetting a job and feeling
encouraged in life.
You never know how you couldchange someone's life for the
better.
And on day six after that,think of a sincere compliment
you can offer to a strangeranybody.
(24:06):
Just tell them that they lookgood that day, tell them they're
doing a good job.
Tell them you're thankful justfor them being there.
Think of something, anything itcould mean the world to them.
And on day seven, think aboutmeditating or praying for
someone, for an individual indistress maybe Someone you know
is going through a hard time.
Because if you believe thatthere's more to this world than
just the present, if you believethere's a greater power out
there than just the moment andthe natural, this could affect
someone as well in a positiveway.
(24:26):
This could also help to lead tosomeone's life changing.
So meditate, pray for someone.
It might really go a long way.
Hey, everyone, I just wanted tothank you so much for joining
me on the About it podcast today.
If this message resonated withyou, please consider following
the podcast like subscribe.
Share with your friends andagain, be kind and have a
(24:47):
wonderful life.
We'll see you next time.
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