October 9, 2025 • 35 mins
What happens when strangers appear at our lowest moments, offering help with no expectation of anything in return? Kate Torode, author of "Chicken Nugget Girl and Other Midlife Traumas," joins us to share her extraordinary encounters with what she calls "Earth Angels" – mysterious helpers who materialized precisely when she needed them most.
Kate's journey begins with the story behind her quirky, heartfelt book about a character named Mallory who feels stuck in life – a feeling many of us can relate to. "I still have this dream, and I'm going to follow it," Kate explains about her decision to become an author later in life. "Whether it stays a dream or turns into a nightmare, I don't really care." Her philosophy echoes advice she once received: "You'll never regret what you do. You'll regret what you don't do."
Beyond her writing, Kate reveals her surprising passion for circus arts, including trapeze work and juggling, which provides not just physical exercise but connection to a unique community. This leads us to powerful discussions about finding kindness in unexpected places during difficult times. Kate shares two unforgettable stories – one about a shuttle driver named Bob who helped her when she was stranded as a teenager, and another about a mysterious 1950s "greaser" who appeared with "Johnny Angel" playing on his car radio to help fix her broken-down vehicle, only to vanish without a trace.
These remarkable encounters remind us that kindness exists all around us, often appearing when we least expect it. As Kate puts it, true Earth Angels are those who help "just because they can and for the sake of kindness." Her stories offer hope and inspiration in a world that sometimes feels increasingly divided.
Whether you're seeking motivation to pursue a long-held dream or simply need reassurance that goodness still exists in the world, this episode will leave you feeling uplifted and ready to notice – or perhaps become – an Earth Angel in someone else's story. Subscribe to our newsletter for more uplifting content, and remember: kindness matters, and so do you.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everyone and welcome to the Kindness Matters
podcast.
I'm your host, mike Rathbun.
On this podcast, we promotepositivity, empathy and
compassion because we believethat kindness is alive and well,
and there are people andorganizations that you may not
(00:21):
have heard of in the world,making their communities a
better place for everyone, andwe want you to hear their
stories.
On this podcast, we talk aboutmatters of kindness because
kindness matters.
Hey, welcome to the showeverybody.
I so appreciate it.
(00:42):
You are listening to theKindness Matters podcast and I
am your host, mike Rathbun.
I appreciate you.
I appreciate those of you whojoined today.
You chose you made that activechoice to listen into a podcast
about kindness and you wanted tobe inspired and I appreciate
(01:07):
all of that that you're doing.
Thank you so much for doingthat.
Make sure to check out the shownotes for all of my guests'
links after we're done here andalso for the link to sign up for
our newsletter.
It comes out once a month fullof inspiring and uplifting
(01:27):
stories, and who doesn't needthat in their email box once a
month, right?
So today on the show, we'rejoined by Kate Turode, who is
the author of Chicken NuggetGirl and Other Midlife Traumas
Such an amazing title for a bookthat is so cool.
Kate is a proud fur mom andwife and she's living her best
(01:53):
life while balancing herartistic side with her
spreadsheet side.
When she's not creating worldson the page, she's painting,
juggling, trapezing we'll getinto that, I'm sure and laughing
with her husband.
Her charm and wit are just whatthe doctor ordered for this
episode, as we share ourconnection through kindness.
(02:14):
Oh, by the way, chicken NuggetGirl is her first book, but,
true to form, she's alreadyworking on the sequel, whether
anyone asked her to or not.
Welcome to the show, kate.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Mike, thank you so much for having me.
It's an absolute pleasure to beon your show today.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Just when you reached out on Facebook to be a guest
and I went to your profile andof course I'm stalking, right,
because that's what we do, westalk and I saw the book and the
title of the book and I'm likethat is the quirkiest thing I
have ever heard of.
So talk to me about.
(02:59):
So the main character isMallory, correct?
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Correct.
Yes, Mallory is the maincharacter.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Okay, percentage-wise , how much of Mallory is Kate?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
In the Chicken Nugget origin story, which is the
first portion of the book.
It's about 65% kind of based onmy journey, how I wrote the
book, and then there'ssubsequent stories after that
that.
Some of them are 85, 90% noneof them are 100%.
But yeah, there are some of thebooks later, some of the
(03:35):
chapters later on in the bookthat are pretty much as it
happened.
So not a lot of embellishmentneeded to happen, Not a lot of
creative license needed tohappen.
It was just telling the storyexactly how it happened.
So not a lot of embellishmentneeded to happen, not a lot of
creative license needed tohappen.
It was just telling the storyexactly how it was.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Yeah, because Kate kind of feels or Kate, there we
go, mallory in the book.
She kind of feels like she'sstuck right In her job in her
life.
Did you feel that way when youstarted writing this?
Or could you just empathizewith that person that Mallory
(04:10):
was?
I don't want to get you introuble.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
No, I am still working, but everybody knows
about the book.
No, I think it's kind of auniversal thing, especially as
we get older.
You know these dreams whenwe're younger and then adult
life kind of settles in.
You have a mortgage, you have acar payment, whether it's
children or not, and you kind ofhave to set your dreams aside a
little bit and you just kind ofaccept that's your life.
(04:39):
And at some point I said youknow what?
I still have this dream and I'mgoing to follow this dream.
Whether it stays a dream orturns into a nightmare, I don't
really care.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, but you get it, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, no, I mean, it's just.
It was like I just took thatleap of faith.
I said you know what I'm goingto do this for myself, and if it
succeeds, then fantastic.
If not, I can say that I did itand you know, I can check that
off my list.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, because that's the thing, right.
I mean, you could sit andwonder your whole life if you
could ever have done that, oryou could actually try it, like
you said.
You know, if it failed, itfailed, but you at least gave it
your all.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I had a very wise person once tell me you'll
never regret what you do.
You'll regret what you don't do.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
And so true.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
That always sticks with me, and so I was like you
know what?
This is one of my dreams.
I've done a lot of things in mylife, but this is the one that
I really wanted to just checkthat box off of.
So, yeah, that's why I did it.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Oh for sure, and it turned out wonderfully.
You're getting a lot of praisefor this book and it's available
on Amazon, among other places,right?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yes, it is All the major platforms Barnes and Noble
, all of that.
So yes, wow.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Yeah, we'll have the.
Well, we could put all thelinks really in the show notes.
I mean That'd be amazing.
We could do that.
We'll make that happen, butyeah, okay, now we mentioned
trapezing.
Yes, so in your bio on yourwebpage, your website, you talk
(06:31):
about what?
Did you call yourself Aprofessional?
Was it a professional trapezer?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
No, no, I'm a self-proclaimed master puppeteer
.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Oh, that's where it is, there it is.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And a juggler.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
And a juggler and a trapeze.
I like all the circus arts.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Funny.
So how did you end up there?
And so I'm guessing you don'thave like a barn or something
where you trapeze in the barn.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
No, no.
So there's a place I live in StLouis, missouri, and there's a
trapeze and silk place here thatI wish everybody knew about.
It's called Bumble Shot Aerialsand you can go and they will
teach you the techniques oftrapeze, which you think it's
(07:27):
easy.
It's not Just the rules thatare around it are so rigid, just
you know just how to get up on.
The bar itself is a structure.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
But I got lucky Like my fourth or fifth lesson there,
St Louis Magazine happened toshow up and my best friend Helen
and I got featured in St LouisMagazine for trapeze.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Nice, nice.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
So that kind of was the catalyst for us to continue
wanting to do it, and we've hadbreaks that we've taken in
between just because life getsin the way.
But yeah, it's a really funcommunity that's so cool.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And the people who go there are these just like
frustrated circus performersthat you know?
I want to chase my dream ofbeing a trapeze artist or a
juggler or a clown or what haveyou, and, but this is the next
best thing.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah, I think.
I think there's some that areliving that.
You know circus dream.
You know now that circusesaren't a thing, but a lot of
people.
It's a great workout and it'sphysically demanding.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
That's what.
I was going to ask Is it mostlyupper body strength or is it
like whole body?
It's core.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's your core, because everything you know
you're lifting yourself up,you're doing all these moves and
you have to have that corestrength in there.
So obviously, you know havingarm strength helps, but yeah, a
lot of it's core work.
Obviously, you know having armstrength helps, but yeah, a lot
of it's core work.
So when people start doing it,I think they're a little shocked
, you know, and realize oh, I'mnot as in shape as I thought I
was.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
I say that every single day.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So yeah, it's just a really fun kind of thing to do
and, you know, if people havethat ability to do it somewhere
in their community, I it I don't, you know what.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I don't even think there's a place like that around
minneapolis, that just in thetwin cities metro, I may
surprise myself there may youknow might be surprised I could
go on afterwards and googletrapeze, work minneapolis and
find you might.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
I started doing when I lived in rhode island.
I went up to boston to like thecircus arts there, and so well,
so you were really seriousabout the circus arts I well, I
mean I wasn't gonna, like youknow, run away and join the
circus.
I'm a little old for that make abetter story if you have but
yeah, I mean, I always wanted tolearn like tight wire and
(10:06):
things like that.
So there there's a place.
I don't know if it's stillthere.
It's been many years since Ilived in new england, but you
could learn all those circusarts, trapeze and clowning and
so cool.
It was just really fun yeahit's just kind of a different
thing to do, and if you're notinto exercise traditional
exercise it's kind of a reallygood way to do it, Wow.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, so do you.
Speaking of Rhode Island, areyou familiar with Block Island?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I'm very familiar with Block Island.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I have an ancestral history to that place.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Oh no, that's amazing .
Speaker 1 (10:39):
I have never been.
One of my great, great, greatgreat grandfathers was john
rathbun, and he was one of the16 original purchasers.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
There we go.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I'm in the presence of greatness hardly, but okay,
we'll go with it, we'll takethat, we'll go with it um wow
yeah, so I've never been.
My wife was going to take mefor my 60th birthday, and then
COVID Right, and I still haven'tbeen.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So but yeah, block Island is beautiful and Point
Judith is where you take theferry from.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
That's where you take the ferry.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Oh, that is one of my favorite places in Rhode Island
.
I live in Cranston, which is byProvidence and yeah, so I
recommend go.
You will not be disappointed,for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
It'll be on the bucket list.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Right up there with trapezing, oh so.
And since this is a wait, okay,wait.
Oh so, and since this is a wait, okay, wait.
I've thought of something elseI want to ask.
You mentioned, okay, um, the.
The origin story of mallory was65 you, but other stories.
(12:01):
Is that what we can lookforward to in sequel books?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Yes, yes, I'm about 75% done with my second book and
they're easily digestiblestories, so they're probably,
you know, chapter chapter.
Okay, chicken, duck and Girlhas the origin story as the
beginning of the book.
(12:26):
Um, these are just going to belike an anthology of mallory's
stories and I'm sorry, go aheadnow I'm gonna say and they get
more ridiculous, because my lifeis ridiculous, no, way, I
noticed that you mentioned, uh,your friend helen.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
there's also a friend of Mallory's in the book named
Helen, is that?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
That, yes, so Helen is based on my Helen, but the
Helen in my book is how I see mybest friend.
She's got a very professional,high profile job and she's got a
very professional, high-profilejob and she's very prevents
very straight-laced, yeah, butI've been friends with her for
17 years and I know that she'sthat punk rock girl.
You know she'll wear theleather jacket when she's around
me and things like that.
(13:20):
So she's got a tattoo.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Was your Helen happy with her portrayal in the book?
Speaker 2 (13:27):
She was ecstatic, she , she asked me about it and
she's like why did you write melike this?
I'm like, cause that's exactlyhow I see you, Helen, You're.
You're kind of the bad-ass bestfriend who keeps me in line,
and because I'm kind of weird,crazy and flaky and she's the
you know, the anchor for me.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So that's how I wrote her, and she was very happy
with it.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Cool, cool.
That's so fun.
Okay, so let's talk now aboutSegway.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
About kindness, because it's been a rough couple
of months, hasn't it forkindness?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
And I'm not even sure where to go with this because,
as somebody who talks a lotabout to go with this, because
as somebody who talks a lotabout kindness, I see the world
today, I see our country today.
I'm like I can't believeanybody's even listening to this
show.
(14:38):
First of all because it doesn'tseem like anybody's interested
in kindness.
Does that make sense at all?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
It does.
It's hard to find those kindmoments or those good news
stories that lift you up, and alot of it is just really
negative.
So when you find somethingthat's heartwarming and touches
your soul, that's what reallygets you.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, and I think the whole premise of this show was
I know you're hearing a lot ofbad stuff in social media and
the news, but look, here arekind people and they're out
there every day.
Absolutely, here are kindpeople and they're out there
every day and I don't even know.
(15:29):
I mean, I'm still findingpeople like yourself, kind
people, but I'm questioningwhether people want to see that.
I think I'm probably wrong,judging from my numbers.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I think a lot of people need more kindness and I
think they're seeking it outbecause we kind of have that
dark you know that hole in ourhearts lately.
You know there's so muchnegativity and we I think the
majority of us are good peopleand we share that.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
I agree with you I think that the vast majority of
us don't care who somebody votedfor, don't care what color your
skin is, who you worship or whoyou love.
They're just going to be kind.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, yeah, and I think that kind of gets lost it
does we're getting asked tochoose sides or to choose our
factions, and it's you know what?
I'm a Gen Xer.
We grew up hey, everybody'sequal, nobody's any better than
anybody else.
And to have this like we haveto choose.
(16:47):
No, you don't.
You can just choose to be kind.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
That's the best thing you can do yeah, for sure, gen
x talk about badass it's funny.
What's that?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I said, we don't take anything from anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
No, you don't take crap from anybody.
I was talking to a woman monthsago, last year, and she worked
with all of the generations.
Basically it was a talk aboutwork and she was talking about
how the silent generation andlike whoa time out, the silent
(17:28):
generation is still working,because my mom was silent
generation, right, and I'm aboomer, so I'm like silent
generation is still working.
And apparently they are.
But the silent generation hasthings in common with Gen Z.
(17:48):
What?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Really.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Because silent generation grew up during the
Depression right.
You didn't throw anything away.
If something broke, you fixedit to use it again.
If something broke, you fixedit to use it again.
And Gen Z is totally into thethrift stores, the upcycled
(18:14):
clothing and this.
I think there are ways that wecould come together that we have
not even fathomed yet.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
That's amazing.
I didn't think about that.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Right, wow, yeah, I, I was just.
I was blown away.
First of all, the silent Jerryand silent generation is, I
think, um 28 to 29, 29 to 46yeah and my mom was born at 31.
So I mean like, like, so I'mlike no, they need to keep
working.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, they're in their 80s.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
And yeah, so yeah, I think it's just easier sometimes
to be angry all the time thanit is to be kind, and that
boggles my mind.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's got to be so exhausting.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
It must be.
You would think it would be.
I mean, because all it wouldtake would be for you to take
your grumbly old butt and openthe door for somebody, yeah, or
say good morning, or you know,whatever the case may be, just
the smallest act of kindness canmake somebody's day.
And I think, if more peoplewere kind we wouldn't be so
(19:31):
angry all the time, Because youcan't be angry when you're being
kind, right, no?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
not at all.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah, so, and I know that you had talked about and I
actually this was another reasonyou said when I asked for
guests, you said I have anabsolutely touching story
reinforcing the human spirit andkindness towards others.
I like to call them earthangels and I need to hear about
(20:00):
these people for my own sanity.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yes, need to hear about these people for my own
sanity.
Yes, so I actually have twoearth angel stories, but the one
that I was I had in my headwhen I first contacted you
happened to me when I was 17.
And I was flying back fromvisiting my boyfriend in Iowa
(20:29):
City and I was taking aconnector flight from St Louis,
missouri, to Cape Girardeau,which is where I went to college
, and this was 1993.
My parents didn't know I went,so you know this is all very
secretive.
I was, but I was 17.
And I had no money, there wasno cell phones, there was
nothing and I had missed myconnecting flight.
(20:51):
So it's about two hours from StLouis to where my college was.
It was about nine o'clock atnight night and I'm sitting in
the baggage claim alone.
I'd been to St Louis one time,you know, crying, didn't know
(21:17):
what I was going to do, and thisgentleman comes up to me and he
asked me if I was okay and Isaid I am absolutely not okay.
And he's like is theresomething I can do for you?
I was like well, are you goingto Cape Girardeau?
And he's like, as a matter offact, I am.
So it turns out he was ashuttle driver for students
(21:43):
going from St Louis to CapeGirardeau, missouri, and he had
an extra seat and it was, youknow, usually it was 80 bucks to
take this trip, which back in1993, that was a lot of money.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
I didn't have a quarter to call my roommate, you
know, kate is referencing atime when there were things
called cell phones, right.
Pay phones If you're unfamiliar,yes.
So he told me that he was aBART driver and I said I don't
(22:24):
have the money to have you takeme home.
And he's like listen, I have anopen seat.
He's like you can come, you cansit up front with me.
He's like you're fine.
He's like there's going to beother students in the van with
us.
So you know, my dad, who's apolice officer, said never get
in a car with strangers.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
He didn't say anything about a bus.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
He didn't say anything about a van.
He wasn't offering me candy, soI thought I was okay, yeah for
sure.
So we're walking through theterminal and he's just like have
you eaten today?
He's like, can I get yousomething?
So he, you know, bought medinner like you know, go to go
McDonald's and a root beer andsome snacks for the road.
(23:09):
And he just put me in the frontseat and he's just like Hi,
this is Kate, she's gonna bedriving with us.
And he had a blanket that heput around me in the front seat
and he's like're going to takecare of you and we're going to
get you home.
And I was, I was in awe becauseI was like this, this gentleman
(23:34):
doesn't know who I am.
I have no money.
He's just doing this because hecan.
And we dropped the other umriders off at their, their dorms
and such like that.
My dorm was the last dorm to bedropped off with.
And he, he gave me a quarter asI was getting out of his van.
(23:57):
He's like always keep thisquarter with you so you can
always make a call for somebody.
Just tell, retell.
The story makes me want to cry.
But his name was bob and Inever saw him again.
Um, I asked a lot of mystudents who took bart and
(24:17):
they're like we, we don't knowwho bob is but there were other
students in the van with us.
Yeah, we dropped them off and so, yeah, so I still have that
quarter to this day if somebodylistening knows a bob who drove
the shuttle bus from roseairport to cape girardeau reach
(24:44):
out because we absolutely haveto know.
Was he older?
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Is he maybe?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
still alive.
He was probably in his 50s.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
That was like over 30 years ago, right.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Yeah, it was 30 plus years ago, no wait 93.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
That was just 10 years ago.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Oh God, I wish that was the sake.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
So how cool.
And you know what he could havevery easily just have seen you
Typical, you know, typical moodykid.
I don't know if emo was a thingback then.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
I was very grungy the Doug Martens, the plaid skirt,
the purple hair.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I was rocking it, yeah, yeah and he just looked at
you and went yeah, typicalmoody kid and just walked on by,
but he took the time to stopand ask if you were okay.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Yeah, I mean, just it was.
It was I.
I can't even explain it.
It was one of the most kindthings I've ever had happen to
me, because he didn't wantanything, he didn't ask for
anything.
He was doing it just because hecould and for the sake of
kindness and to help somebodyout who needed it.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
To me, that's what an earth angel is.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
You know what I agree ?
I totally agree.
That's absolutely the bestdefinition of earth angel that
I've ever heard.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Yeah, wow.
I always keep a little bit ofBob in my heart and I keep that
quarter in my wallet for allthese years, just in case I get
a call.
It's Bob's quarter.
Never spend it.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Never, and you know what.
Yeah, you could maybe pass thaton to somebody in your family
or whatever.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
That's cool, yeah, so that's's cool, yeah, so that's
that's my, my big story yeah.
Hopefully Bob's out theresomewhere.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Oh, wow, and you mentioned when we were talking
offline.
You said something about.
You're not even sure if one ofthe people that you were
thinking of was.
Is that the person you thinkmay or may not have been real?
Speaker 2 (27:09):
no, there there's another story wait, there's more
there is.
There's another story which isfamous amongst me and my friends
in my circle and I still don'tknow to this day if this person
was real or an angel.
And it wasn't Bob.
It's not the Bob story, okay.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I'm down, do you want ?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
to hear it, I'll go for it.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
So my late husband and I we were driving home from
dinner and something happened inthe road road and he ended up
putting the car up on the centermedian and kind of cracked the
axle in my car.
I was very unhappy.
So we were about two blocksfrom my house and we managed to
(28:00):
get the car into a Walgreensparking lot.
And I'm yelling and screamingand I'm trying to change the
tire and he wasn't able tobecause he had an illness.
I'm just frustrated.
Yeah, it's late, it's like 1130at night.
(28:21):
There's really nobody on theroad.
I'm just like we're just goingto have to leave my car here and
walk home.
I swear to gosh.
All of a sudden we hear johnnyangel, how I love you.
And this turquoise and white1950s chevy-esque pulls into the
(28:47):
Walgreens parking lot and thisguy gets out.
Looks like your quintessentialgreaser.
He had his jeans rolled up, hehad the white socks, the black
shoes and I thought he wascoming from like a car show or
something is what I thought.
Like that's really what Ithought.
(29:09):
And he's just like ma'am, doyou need some help?
And I'm like we do.
And he's like I'm going to goahead and change your tire, but
it looks like your axle iscracked.
He's like I hope you aren't toofar.
And I'm like, well, no, we justlive two blocks away.
He's like all right, what I'm'mgonna do is we're gonna change
(29:38):
your tire and then I'm gonnafollow you home, make sure you
get home, and then you go aheadand call a shop, and so he's
changing the tire and I elbowingmy husband.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
I'm like you.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Better give him some money yeah, and he goes up to
this, this young man, and he'sjust like, hey, you know, I want
to thank you.
He's like no, sir.
He's like I cannot accept anymoney for this.
He's like this is justsomething we do.
And he gave us the name to ashop and I was like, okay, so he
follows us home, we get in ourdriveway and he waves at at us
(30:09):
and he goes on his merry way.
Well, we tried to call the shopthe next day.
That shop hadn't been there forlike 60 years.
I know I know Both my husbandand I were looking at each other
(30:32):
like what just happened?
I was like, because we both sawhim, we both shook his hand, we
heard the music, we touched hiscar, he changed my tire.
I was like, did we just, wasthat an angel?
So we we call it the JohnnyAngel story, whoa, because he
came rolling.
I was like, did we just, wasthat an angel?
So we call it the Johnny Angelstory, whoa, because he came
(30:54):
rolling in.
Johnny Angel.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
That's so funny.
The only thing that would havebeen if it had been the song
Earth Angel Right, yeah, thatmight have been a little too on
the nose, right.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Right, a little too obvious, yeah, but that was so
cool.
That was about 10, 12 years agoand I still, but every time I
drive by that intersection, I'mjust you know, there's no way we
would have made home it'salways when you least expect, it
least expected isn't it.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
I know I was.
I was visiting my mom inColorado years ago and we're
driving her car and there's a.
There's a road in Denver Ican't think of the name of it
now very busy road, very mainartery, and all of a sudden her
(31:50):
car just dies.
Right and I managed to get itinto the left turn lane of this
very busy road, this very busystreet, but it would not, I
could not get it to start again.
People and of course you got agreen arrow right and people are
roaring up on your back end.
You're just like you're gonnaget creamed and my flashers run
(32:14):
and all this stuff and I mymom's no help.
So I managed to push it off ofthe road.
Finally, and I'm just sittingthere trying to figure out I am
not mechanically inclined Idon't think anybody who knows me
will tell you this.
But all of a sudden this pickupkind of slowly passes us and
(32:42):
then pulls over and he goes doyou need help?
Told us back home, and it wasnot a short distance.
Told us back home.
We tried to give him money.
He's like can't accept thatLike these are amazing people in
this world that just appearwhen you most need them, isn't
it?
Absolutely Do you think.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean.
Those are the definitions ofearth, angels.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Amen, it was so nice having you on today, kate.
I cannot wait, kate, for yournext book.
I wish you so much luck andthank you so much for sharing
these stories.
I know I'm uplifted, I'minspired to hashtag be the
(33:30):
change and thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Oh well, thank you.
It was an absolute pleasurebeing on here and be able to
talk to you and share thesestories, because I think we need
more of that.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Yeah, it's absolutely worth it.
All right, I will talk to yousoon and take care.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Have a great one, thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Thank you so much for listening to this episode of
the Kindness Matters podcastwith my very special guest, kate
Turode.
I hope this episode left youfeeling a little lazier, a
little more hopeful about thestate of the world that we all
share.
If you enjoyed this episode,please feel free to tell your
(34:16):
friends, your family, yourco-workers, everybody you know
about us.
Also, don't forget to subscribeto our newsletter for more
uplifting content.
It's free and there's a link tosign up in the show notes.
You've been listening to theKindness Matters podcast.
We will be back again next weekwith a brand new episode, and
(34:39):
we would be honored if you wouldjoin us again.
Until then, remember kindnessmatters, and so do you.
Hello everyone and welcome to the Kindness Matters
podcast.
I'm your host, mike Rathbun.
On this podcast, we promotepositivity, empathy and
compassion because we believethat kindness is alive and well,
and there are people andorganizations that you may not
(00:21):
have heard of in the world,making their communities a
better place for everyone, andwe want you to hear their
stories.
On this podcast, we talk aboutmatters of kindness because
kindness matters.
Hey, welcome to the showeverybody.
I so appreciate it.
(00:42):
You are listening to theKindness Matters podcast and I
am your host, mike Rathbun.
I appreciate you.
I appreciate those of you whojoined today.
You chose you made that activechoice to listen into a podcast
about kindness and you wanted tobe inspired and I appreciate
(01:07):
all of that that you're doing.
Thank you so much for doingthat.
Make sure to check out the shownotes for all of my guests'
links after we're done here andalso for the link to sign up for
our newsletter.
It comes out once a month fullof inspiring and uplifting
(01:27):
stories, and who doesn't needthat in their email box once a
month, right?
So today on the show, we'rejoined by Kate Turode, who is
the author of Chicken NuggetGirl and Other Midlife Traumas
Such an amazing title for a bookthat is so cool.
Kate is a proud fur mom andwife and she's living her best
(01:53):
life while balancing herartistic side with her
spreadsheet side.
When she's not creating worldson the page, she's painting,
juggling, trapezing we'll getinto that, I'm sure and laughing
with her husband.
Her charm and wit are just whatthe doctor ordered for this
episode, as we share ourconnection through kindness.
(02:14):
Oh, by the way, chicken NuggetGirl is her first book, but,
true to form, she's alreadyworking on the sequel, whether
anyone asked her to or not.
Welcome to the show, kate.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Mike, thank you so much for having me.
It's an absolute pleasure to beon your show today.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Just when you reached out on Facebook to be a guest
and I went to your profile andof course I'm stalking, right,
because that's what we do, westalk and I saw the book and the
title of the book and I'm likethat is the quirkiest thing I
have ever heard of.
So talk to me about.
(02:59):
So the main character isMallory, correct?
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Correct.
Yes, Mallory is the maincharacter.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Okay, percentage-wise , how much of Mallory is Kate?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
In the Chicken Nugget origin story, which is the
first portion of the book.
It's about 65% kind of based onmy journey, how I wrote the
book, and then there'ssubsequent stories after that
that.
Some of them are 85, 90% noneof them are 100%.
But yeah, there are some of thebooks later, some of the
(03:35):
chapters later on in the bookthat are pretty much as it
happened.
So not a lot of embellishmentneeded to happen, Not a lot of
creative license needed tohappen.
It was just telling the storyexactly how it happened.
So not a lot of embellishmentneeded to happen, not a lot of
creative license needed tohappen.
It was just telling the storyexactly how it was.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Yeah, because Kate kind of feels or Kate, there we
go, mallory in the book.
She kind of feels like she'sstuck right In her job in her
life.
Did you feel that way when youstarted writing this?
Or could you just empathizewith that person that Mallory
(04:10):
was?
I don't want to get you introuble.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
No, I am still working, but everybody knows
about the book.
No, I think it's kind of auniversal thing, especially as
we get older.
You know these dreams whenwe're younger and then adult
life kind of settles in.
You have a mortgage, you have acar payment, whether it's
children or not, and you kind ofhave to set your dreams aside a
little bit and you just kind ofaccept that's your life.
(04:39):
And at some point I said youknow what?
I still have this dream and I'mgoing to follow this dream.
Whether it stays a dream orturns into a nightmare, I don't
really care.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, but you get it, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, no, I mean, it's just.
It was like I just took thatleap of faith.
I said you know what I'm goingto do this for myself, and if it
succeeds, then fantastic.
If not, I can say that I did itand you know, I can check that
off my list.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, because that's the thing, right.
I mean, you could sit andwonder your whole life if you
could ever have done that, oryou could actually try it, like
you said.
You know, if it failed, itfailed, but you at least gave it
your all.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I had a very wise person once tell me you'll
never regret what you do.
You'll regret what you don't do.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
And so true.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
That always sticks with me, and so I was like you
know what?
This is one of my dreams.
I've done a lot of things in mylife, but this is the one that
I really wanted to just checkthat box off of.
So, yeah, that's why I did it.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Oh for sure, and it turned out wonderfully.
You're getting a lot of praisefor this book and it's available
on Amazon, among other places,right?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yes, it is All the major platforms Barnes and Noble
, all of that.
So yes, wow.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Yeah, we'll have the.
Well, we could put all thelinks really in the show notes.
I mean That'd be amazing.
We could do that.
We'll make that happen, butyeah, okay, now we mentioned
trapezing.
Yes, so in your bio on yourwebpage, your website, you talk
(06:31):
about what?
Did you call yourself Aprofessional?
Was it a professional trapezer?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
No, no, I'm a self-proclaimed master puppeteer
.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Oh, that's where it is, there it is.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And a juggler.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
And a juggler and a trapeze.
I like all the circus arts.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Funny.
So how did you end up there?
And so I'm guessing you don'thave like a barn or something
where you trapeze in the barn.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
No, no.
So there's a place I live in StLouis, missouri, and there's a
trapeze and silk place here thatI wish everybody knew about.
It's called Bumble Shot Aerialsand you can go and they will
teach you the techniques oftrapeze, which you think it's
(07:27):
easy.
It's not Just the rules thatare around it are so rigid, just
you know just how to get up on.
The bar itself is a structure.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
But I got lucky Like my fourth or fifth lesson there,
St Louis Magazine happened toshow up and my best friend Helen
and I got featured in St LouisMagazine for trapeze.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Nice, nice.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
So that kind of was the catalyst for us to continue
wanting to do it, and we've hadbreaks that we've taken in
between just because life getsin the way.
But yeah, it's a really funcommunity that's so cool.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And the people who go there are these just like
frustrated circus performersthat you know?
I want to chase my dream ofbeing a trapeze artist or a
juggler or a clown or what haveyou, and, but this is the next
best thing.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah, I think.
I think there's some that areliving that.
You know circus dream.
You know now that circusesaren't a thing, but a lot of
people.
It's a great workout and it'sphysically demanding.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
That's what.
I was going to ask Is it mostlyupper body strength or is it
like whole body?
It's core.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's your core, because everything you know
you're lifting yourself up,you're doing all these moves and
you have to have that corestrength in there.
So obviously, you know havingarm strength helps, but yeah, a
lot of it's core work.
Obviously, you know having armstrength helps, but yeah, a lot
of it's core work.
So when people start doing it,I think they're a little shocked
, you know, and realize oh, I'mnot as in shape as I thought I
was.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
I say that every single day.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So yeah, it's just a really fun kind of thing to do
and, you know, if people havethat ability to do it somewhere
in their community, I it I don't, you know what.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I don't even think there's a place like that around
minneapolis, that just in thetwin cities metro, I may
surprise myself there may youknow might be surprised I could
go on afterwards and googletrapeze, work minneapolis and
find you might.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
I started doing when I lived in rhode island.
I went up to boston to like thecircus arts there, and so well,
so you were really seriousabout the circus arts I well, I
mean I wasn't gonna, like youknow, run away and join the
circus.
I'm a little old for that make abetter story if you have but
yeah, I mean, I always wanted tolearn like tight wire and
(10:06):
things like that.
So there there's a place.
I don't know if it's stillthere.
It's been many years since Ilived in new england, but you
could learn all those circusarts, trapeze and clowning and
so cool.
It was just really fun yeahit's just kind of a different
thing to do, and if you're notinto exercise traditional
exercise it's kind of a reallygood way to do it, Wow.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, so do you.
Speaking of Rhode Island, areyou familiar with Block Island?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I'm very familiar with Block Island.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I have an ancestral history to that place.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Oh no, that's amazing .
Speaker 1 (10:39):
I have never been.
One of my great, great, greatgreat grandfathers was john
rathbun, and he was one of the16 original purchasers.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
There we go.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I'm in the presence of greatness hardly, but okay,
we'll go with it, we'll takethat, we'll go with it um wow
yeah, so I've never been.
My wife was going to take mefor my 60th birthday, and then
COVID Right, and I still haven'tbeen.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So but yeah, block Island is beautiful and Point
Judith is where you take theferry from.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
That's where you take the ferry.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Oh, that is one of my favorite places in Rhode Island
.
I live in Cranston, which is byProvidence and yeah, so I
recommend go.
You will not be disappointed,for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
It'll be on the bucket list.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Right up there with trapezing, oh so.
And since this is a wait, okay,wait.
Oh so, and since this is a wait, okay, wait.
I've thought of something elseI want to ask.
You mentioned, okay, um, the.
The origin story of mallory was65 you, but other stories.
(12:01):
Is that what we can lookforward to in sequel books?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Yes, yes, I'm about 75% done with my second book and
they're easily digestiblestories, so they're probably,
you know, chapter chapter.
Okay, chicken, duck and Girlhas the origin story as the
beginning of the book.
(12:26):
Um, these are just going to belike an anthology of mallory's
stories and I'm sorry, go aheadnow I'm gonna say and they get
more ridiculous, because my lifeis ridiculous, no, way, I
noticed that you mentioned, uh,your friend helen.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
there's also a friend of Mallory's in the book named
Helen, is that?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
That, yes, so Helen is based on my Helen, but the
Helen in my book is how I see mybest friend.
She's got a very professional,high profile job and she's got a
very professional, high-profilejob and she's very prevents
very straight-laced, yeah, butI've been friends with her for
17 years and I know that she'sthat punk rock girl.
You know she'll wear theleather jacket when she's around
me and things like that.
(13:20):
So she's got a tattoo.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Was your Helen happy with her portrayal in the book?
Speaker 2 (13:27):
She was ecstatic, she , she asked me about it and
she's like why did you write melike this?
I'm like, cause that's exactlyhow I see you, Helen, You're.
You're kind of the bad-ass bestfriend who keeps me in line,
and because I'm kind of weird,crazy and flaky and she's the
you know, the anchor for me.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So that's how I wrote her, and she was very happy
with it.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Cool, cool.
That's so fun.
Okay, so let's talk now aboutSegway.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
About kindness, because it's been a rough couple
of months, hasn't it forkindness?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
And I'm not even sure where to go with this because,
as somebody who talks a lotabout to go with this, because
as somebody who talks a lotabout kindness, I see the world
today, I see our country today.
I'm like I can't believeanybody's even listening to this
show.
(14:38):
First of all because it doesn'tseem like anybody's interested
in kindness.
Does that make sense at all?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
It does.
It's hard to find those kindmoments or those good news
stories that lift you up, and alot of it is just really
negative.
So when you find somethingthat's heartwarming and touches
your soul, that's what reallygets you.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, and I think the whole premise of this show was
I know you're hearing a lot ofbad stuff in social media and
the news, but look, here arekind people and they're out
there every day.
Absolutely, here are kindpeople and they're out there
every day and I don't even know.
(15:29):
I mean, I'm still findingpeople like yourself, kind
people, but I'm questioningwhether people want to see that.
I think I'm probably wrong,judging from my numbers.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I think a lot of people need more kindness and I
think they're seeking it outbecause we kind of have that
dark you know that hole in ourhearts lately.
You know there's so muchnegativity and we I think the
majority of us are good peopleand we share that.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
I agree with you I think that the vast majority of
us don't care who somebody votedfor, don't care what color your
skin is, who you worship or whoyou love.
They're just going to be kind.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, yeah, and I think that kind of gets lost it
does we're getting asked tochoose sides or to choose our
factions, and it's you know what?
I'm a Gen Xer.
We grew up hey, everybody'sequal, nobody's any better than
anybody else.
And to have this like we haveto choose.
(16:47):
No, you don't.
You can just choose to be kind.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
That's the best thing you can do yeah, for sure, gen
x talk about badass it's funny.
What's that?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I said, we don't take anything from anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
No, you don't take crap from anybody.
I was talking to a woman monthsago, last year, and she worked
with all of the generations.
Basically it was a talk aboutwork and she was talking about
how the silent generation andlike whoa time out, the silent
(17:28):
generation is still working,because my mom was silent
generation, right, and I'm aboomer, so I'm like silent
generation is still working.
And apparently they are.
But the silent generation hasthings in common with Gen Z.
(17:48):
What?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Really.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Because silent generation grew up during the
Depression right.
You didn't throw anything away.
If something broke, you fixedit to use it again.
If something broke, you fixedit to use it again.
And Gen Z is totally into thethrift stores, the upcycled
(18:14):
clothing and this.
I think there are ways that wecould come together that we have
not even fathomed yet.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
That's amazing.
I didn't think about that.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Right, wow, yeah, I, I was just.
I was blown away.
First of all, the silent Jerryand silent generation is, I
think, um 28 to 29, 29 to 46yeah and my mom was born at 31.
So I mean like, like, so I'mlike no, they need to keep
working.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, they're in their 80s.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
And yeah, so yeah, I think it's just easier sometimes
to be angry all the time thanit is to be kind, and that
boggles my mind.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's got to be so exhausting.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
It must be.
You would think it would be.
I mean, because all it wouldtake would be for you to take
your grumbly old butt and openthe door for somebody, yeah, or
say good morning, or you know,whatever the case may be, just
the smallest act of kindness canmake somebody's day.
And I think, if more peoplewere kind we wouldn't be so
(19:31):
angry all the time, Because youcan't be angry when you're being
kind, right, no?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
not at all.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah, so, and I know that you had talked about and I
actually this was another reasonyou said when I asked for
guests, you said I have anabsolutely touching story
reinforcing the human spirit andkindness towards others.
I like to call them earthangels and I need to hear about
(20:00):
these people for my own sanity.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yes, need to hear about these people for my own
sanity.
Yes, so I actually have twoearth angel stories, but the one
that I was I had in my headwhen I first contacted you
happened to me when I was 17.
And I was flying back fromvisiting my boyfriend in Iowa
(20:29):
City and I was taking aconnector flight from St Louis,
missouri, to Cape Girardeau,which is where I went to college
, and this was 1993.
My parents didn't know I went,so you know this is all very
secretive.
I was, but I was 17.
And I had no money, there wasno cell phones, there was
nothing and I had missed myconnecting flight.
(20:51):
So it's about two hours from StLouis to where my college was.
It was about nine o'clock atnight night and I'm sitting in
the baggage claim alone.
I'd been to St Louis one time,you know, crying, didn't know
(21:17):
what I was going to do, and thisgentleman comes up to me and he
asked me if I was okay and Isaid I am absolutely not okay.
And he's like is theresomething I can do for you?
I was like well, are you goingto Cape Girardeau?
And he's like, as a matter offact, I am.
So it turns out he was ashuttle driver for students
(21:43):
going from St Louis to CapeGirardeau, missouri, and he had
an extra seat and it was, youknow, usually it was 80 bucks to
take this trip, which back in1993, that was a lot of money.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
I didn't have a quarter to call my roommate, you
know, kate is referencing atime when there were things
called cell phones, right.
Pay phones If you're unfamiliar,yes.
So he told me that he was aBART driver and I said I don't
(22:24):
have the money to have you takeme home.
And he's like listen, I have anopen seat.
He's like you can come, you cansit up front with me.
He's like you're fine.
He's like there's going to beother students in the van with
us.
So you know, my dad, who's apolice officer, said never get
in a car with strangers.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
He didn't say anything about a bus.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
He didn't say anything about a van.
He wasn't offering me candy, soI thought I was okay, yeah for
sure.
So we're walking through theterminal and he's just like have
you eaten today?
He's like, can I get yousomething?
So he, you know, bought medinner like you know, go to go
McDonald's and a root beer andsome snacks for the road.
(23:09):
And he just put me in the frontseat and he's just like Hi,
this is Kate, she's gonna bedriving with us.
And he had a blanket that heput around me in the front seat
and he's like're going to takecare of you and we're going to
get you home.
And I was, I was in awe becauseI was like this, this gentleman
(23:34):
doesn't know who I am.
I have no money.
He's just doing this because hecan.
And we dropped the other umriders off at their, their dorms
and such like that.
My dorm was the last dorm to bedropped off with.
And he, he gave me a quarter asI was getting out of his van.
(23:57):
He's like always keep thisquarter with you so you can
always make a call for somebody.
Just tell, retell.
The story makes me want to cry.
But his name was bob and Inever saw him again.
Um, I asked a lot of mystudents who took bart and
(24:17):
they're like we, we don't knowwho bob is but there were other
students in the van with us.
Yeah, we dropped them off and so, yeah, so I still have that
quarter to this day if somebodylistening knows a bob who drove
the shuttle bus from roseairport to cape girardeau reach
(24:44):
out because we absolutely haveto know.
Was he older?
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Is he maybe?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
still alive.
He was probably in his 50s.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
That was like over 30 years ago, right.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Yeah, it was 30 plus years ago, no wait 93.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
That was just 10 years ago.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Oh God, I wish that was the sake.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
So how cool.
And you know what he could havevery easily just have seen you
Typical, you know, typical moodykid.
I don't know if emo was a thingback then.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
I was very grungy the Doug Martens, the plaid skirt,
the purple hair.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I was rocking it, yeah, yeah and he just looked at
you and went yeah, typicalmoody kid and just walked on by,
but he took the time to stopand ask if you were okay.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Yeah, I mean, just it was.
It was I.
I can't even explain it.
It was one of the most kindthings I've ever had happen to
me, because he didn't wantanything, he didn't ask for
anything.
He was doing it just because hecould and for the sake of
kindness and to help somebodyout who needed it.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
To me, that's what an earth angel is.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
You know what I agree ?
I totally agree.
That's absolutely the bestdefinition of earth angel that
I've ever heard.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Yeah, wow.
I always keep a little bit ofBob in my heart and I keep that
quarter in my wallet for allthese years, just in case I get
a call.
It's Bob's quarter.
Never spend it.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Never, and you know what.
Yeah, you could maybe pass thaton to somebody in your family
or whatever.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
That's cool, yeah, so that's's cool, yeah, so that's
that's my, my big story yeah.
Hopefully Bob's out theresomewhere.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Oh, wow, and you mentioned when we were talking
offline.
You said something about.
You're not even sure if one ofthe people that you were
thinking of was.
Is that the person you thinkmay or may not have been real?
Speaker 2 (27:09):
no, there there's another story wait, there's more
there is.
There's another story which isfamous amongst me and my friends
in my circle and I still don'tknow to this day if this person
was real or an angel.
And it wasn't Bob.
It's not the Bob story, okay.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
I'm down, do you want ?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
to hear it, I'll go for it.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
So my late husband and I we were driving home from
dinner and something happened inthe road road and he ended up
putting the car up on the centermedian and kind of cracked the
axle in my car.
I was very unhappy.
So we were about two blocksfrom my house and we managed to
(28:00):
get the car into a Walgreensparking lot.
And I'm yelling and screamingand I'm trying to change the
tire and he wasn't able tobecause he had an illness.
I'm just frustrated.
Yeah, it's late, it's like 1130at night.
(28:21):
There's really nobody on theroad.
I'm just like we're just goingto have to leave my car here and
walk home.
I swear to gosh.
All of a sudden we hear johnnyangel, how I love you.
And this turquoise and white1950s chevy-esque pulls into the
(28:47):
Walgreens parking lot and thisguy gets out.
Looks like your quintessentialgreaser.
He had his jeans rolled up, hehad the white socks, the black
shoes and I thought he wascoming from like a car show or
something is what I thought.
Like that's really what Ithought.
(29:09):
And he's just like ma'am, doyou need some help?
And I'm like we do.
And he's like I'm going to goahead and change your tire, but
it looks like your axle iscracked.
He's like I hope you aren't toofar.
And I'm like, well, no, we justlive two blocks away.
He's like all right, what I'm'mgonna do is we're gonna change
(29:38):
your tire and then I'm gonnafollow you home, make sure you
get home, and then you go aheadand call a shop, and so he's
changing the tire and I elbowingmy husband.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
I'm like you.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Better give him some money yeah, and he goes up to
this, this young man, and he'sjust like, hey, you know, I want
to thank you.
He's like no, sir.
He's like I cannot accept anymoney for this.
He's like this is justsomething we do.
And he gave us the name to ashop and I was like, okay, so he
follows us home, we get in ourdriveway and he waves at at us
(30:09):
and he goes on his merry way.
Well, we tried to call the shopthe next day.
That shop hadn't been there forlike 60 years.
I know I know Both my husbandand I were looking at each other
(30:32):
like what just happened?
I was like, because we both sawhim, we both shook his hand, we
heard the music, we touched hiscar, he changed my tire.
I was like, did we just, wasthat an angel?
So we we call it the JohnnyAngel story, whoa, because he
came rolling.
I was like, did we just, wasthat an angel?
So we call it the Johnny Angelstory, whoa, because he came
(30:54):
rolling in.
Johnny Angel.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
That's so funny.
The only thing that would havebeen if it had been the song
Earth Angel Right, yeah, thatmight have been a little too on
the nose, right.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Right, a little too obvious, yeah, but that was so
cool.
That was about 10, 12 years agoand I still, but every time I
drive by that intersection, I'mjust you know, there's no way we
would have made home it'salways when you least expect, it
least expected isn't it.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
I know I was.
I was visiting my mom inColorado years ago and we're
driving her car and there's a.
There's a road in Denver Ican't think of the name of it
now very busy road, very mainartery, and all of a sudden her
(31:50):
car just dies.
Right and I managed to get itinto the left turn lane of this
very busy road, this very busystreet, but it would not, I
could not get it to start again.
People and of course you got agreen arrow right and people are
roaring up on your back end.
You're just like you're gonnaget creamed and my flashers run
(32:14):
and all this stuff and I mymom's no help.
So I managed to push it off ofthe road.
Finally, and I'm just sittingthere trying to figure out I am
not mechanically inclined Idon't think anybody who knows me
will tell you this.
But all of a sudden this pickupkind of slowly passes us and
(32:42):
then pulls over and he goes doyou need help?
Told us back home, and it wasnot a short distance.
Told us back home.
We tried to give him money.
He's like can't accept thatLike these are amazing people in
this world that just appearwhen you most need them, isn't
it?
Absolutely Do you think.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean.
Those are the definitions ofearth, angels.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Amen, it was so nice having you on today, kate.
I cannot wait, kate, for yournext book.
I wish you so much luck andthank you so much for sharing
these stories.
I know I'm uplifted, I'minspired to hashtag be the
(33:30):
change and thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Oh well, thank you.
It was an absolute pleasurebeing on here and be able to
talk to you and share thesestories, because I think we need
more of that.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Yeah, it's absolutely worth it.
All right, I will talk to yousoon and take care.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Have a great one, thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Thank you so much for listening to this episode of
the Kindness Matters podcastwith my very special guest, kate
Turode.
I hope this episode left youfeeling a little lazier, a
little more hopeful about thestate of the world that we all
share.
If you enjoyed this episode,please feel free to tell your
(34:16):
friends, your family, yourco-workers, everybody you know
about us.
Also, don't forget to subscribeto our newsletter for more
uplifting content.
It's free and there's a link tosign up in the show notes.
You've been listening to theKindness Matters podcast.
We will be back again next weekwith a brand new episode, and
(34:39):
we would be honored if you wouldjoin us again.
Until then, remember kindnessmatters, and so do you.
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