January 8, 2026 • 30 mins
A single kind gesture can flip an entire day—and sometimes an entire town. That’s the spark behind this heart-forward conversation with musician and photographer Cathy Catterson, where we explore how small, visible acts of care become a neighborhood’s safety net. From a local pizza shop offering slices to anyone who’s hungry to little free libraries turning into little free pantries, we trace the real-world ways generosity scales at the community level long before it trends online.
We dig into the practical side of compassion: how to support small businesses so they can keep serving as hubs for connection, why paying in cash can ease fee burdens, and what happens when a town rallies to keep doors open. Cathy shares stories from her life—a bumper crop of tomatoes, childhood memories of shared garden plots, and the simple power of a sincere compliment—to show how micro-kindness improves mental health, reduces conflict, and fuels civic pride. We don’t dodge the hard questions either. Yes, a few people may misuse help, but the cost of withholding aid from those in need is far higher. The takeaway is clear: better to feed ten and risk one extra than to starve the nine who depend on you.
You’ll leave with concrete ideas you can try today: restock a pantry, offer a ride to a food shelf, compliment a stranger, or spend intentionally at a family-owned shop. Kindness is a practice, and practice builds culture. Listen to hear how creativity, empathy, and action intersect—and why your smallest gesture might start the next ripple of change.
If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more stories of everyday goodness, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your support keeps these ripples going.
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Intro music: “Human First” by Mike Baker – YouTube: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying: https://open.spotify.com/show/1iE5t5Nrbs0MyLORJpfiYu?si=f5b71d45b182448b | Website: https://www.mikebakerhq.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:10):
Walking stuff.
Down the streets.
SPEAKER_01 (00:15):
Strangers.
When not.
Welcome to the Kindness Matterspodcast.
A show that celebrates thepowerful truth.
That kindness can change theworld.
Every week I aim to china lightup people and organizations
(00:36):
making a positive difference totheir communities.
Proving that compassion,empathy, and connection
subscribe.
This podcast is about 400stories.
It's about free book in acts.
Through hotel conversations,inspiring acts.
SPEAKER_02 (01:27):
I'm just like, you know what?
It doesn't matter.
Just do it.
These people don't know you orwhatever it is.
You know, you just, I try andI've it's been every time I go
and do something kind, it'seasier the next time to do it
because it's almost, I guess,semi-instant gratification.
You can feel it and you can seeit all, and it always comes back
(01:50):
to you in some way through thefeeling because it just it
softens you.
It makes you a better person onthe whole by doing those things.
SPEAKER_01 (02:00):
Hey everybody, welcome to the show.
Thank you so, so, so much fromthe bottom of my heart.
Um, as my mom used to say, fromthe bottom of my little black
heart, um, for for making theconscious decision to choose to
listen to the kindness matterspodcast.
I, of course, am your host, MikeRathbun.
(02:22):
Um, I I greatly appreciate thefact that that you're choosing
to listen to a podcast aboutkindness.
And um, and all of you out thereI know are are who listen to
this podcast are also spreadingit.
So thank you, thank you, thankyou, thank you, thank you.
(02:43):
Um I have a fantastic show foryou today.
Um I want you all to meet myguest, Kathy Katterson,
musician, photographer, andfull-on creative vibe
extraordinaire.
Born under the sunny skies ofSouthern California, but raised
(03:03):
among the lush valleys ofOregon, she brings together West
Coast chill and PacificNorthwest soul.
Kathy's superpower, turningchildhood curiosity from
climbing trees and tinkeringwith cars to daydreaming about
art, into soulful music andstriking photography.
(03:26):
What started as shy daydreamsbecame her voice, and today she
crafts art that isn't justheard, it's felt.
Whether she's composing a newmelody or capturing a moment
through the lens, Kathy's aim issimple.
Make something real, emotional,and beautifully human.
(03:46):
Get ready to dive into aconversation that's warm,
creative, and full of heart.
Because with Kathy, kindness,art, and authenticity all play
on the same frequency.
Welcome to the show, Kathy.
SPEAKER_02 (04:02):
Thank you.
Happy to be here.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (04:06):
We had you on last year.
SPEAKER_02 (04:07):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (04:08):
Was it last year?
It was.
SPEAKER_02 (04:10):
This has been just about a year ago.
SPEAKER_01 (04:12):
Wow.
Cool.
Well, always happy to have you.
Always, always, always.
Um, you're good?
You're good?
All good?
SPEAKER_02 (04:21):
Good.
I'm really good.
SPEAKER_01 (04:22):
Good.
Are you any new music comingout?
SPEAKER_02 (04:26):
Or um, I am hoping to have some new music out in
December.
Kind of took a little hiatusthere for a bit.
I had a garden this summer andit was larger than I anticipated
and took up a lot of my time.
SPEAKER_01 (04:40):
Yeah, such a black thumb, I never have to worry
about my garden getting out ofcontrol.
SPEAKER_02 (04:46):
Well, that's why my garden is so big, because up
until this year, I've had theblack thumb of death.
And this year I planted a wholebunch of things anticipating
that most would die andeverything lived.
And yeah, so I'm like, oh, Ineed more space because oh,
(05:06):
everything, everything grew.
And I had a four by four foot bytwelve foot wall of tomatoes
that I'm yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:17):
That's a lot of salsa or it was a lot of salsa,
a lot of tomato soup or whathave you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:23):
Tomato everything, anything I can put tomatoes in.
SPEAKER_01 (05:26):
Yeah, it was Was there a lot of tomato at
Thanksgiving?
SPEAKER_02 (05:28):
There was some tomatoes.
Oh, was there was kind ofintricate you know, gets and
things in there, and I have bagsand bags and bags of frozen
whole tomatoes in my freezer.
SPEAKER_01 (05:40):
Nice.
SPEAKER_02 (05:41):
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (05:42):
Uh thank goodness for freezer.
I I'm always asking theintelligent devices around my
home, can I freeze, fill invegetable here, right?
I'm amazed at all the things youcan freeze.
Um, but I asked you on todaybecause we had a conversation
(06:05):
about um community and kindness,right?
SPEAKER_00 (06:11):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (06:12):
Um, but so what does kindness in a community mean to
you?
And how did you first becomeaware of its importance in your
own life and your ownneighborhood?
SPEAKER_02 (06:26):
Kindness in the community is being available and
being willing to help your town,your community, your
neighborhood.
It's basically opening your eyesand seeing and really seeing
people.
And it's so many of us just walkaround with no blinders on, and
(06:49):
it's it's you know, is stoppingand taking a look around and
seeing those in need, seeing theopportunity, looking for the
opportunity to do a random actof kindness for other people and
businesses and that kind ofthing.
SPEAKER_01 (07:09):
Yeah, for sure.
And I I think I think communityis where all of the larger
kindness I almost hit my mic.
Is where all of the largerkindness initiatives start,
right?
It starts with you and yourneighbors or your local
(07:33):
businesses, and and when itstarts there and it ripples out,
right?
Um I it's just the wholekindness movement starts in any
given community.
I think.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (07:49):
Agreed.
SPEAKER_00 (07:50):
Okay, we're done.
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
No, I'm just short.
That's gonna be a short episode.
Um so but are there are therewhen you talk about kindness in
the community, are therespecific community initiatives
or projects that you witnessedor or or participated in that
(08:14):
made you appreciate the rippleeffect of kindness?
SPEAKER_02 (08:18):
There has been quite a bit showing up in my town.
I mean, I live in a town that'sabout, we'll say, 50,000 people,
not huge, but not tiny either.
Um, I have noticed, especiallyover the last month and a half
to two months, people in myFacebook, like um the what's
(08:40):
happening in my town.
Um, people are putting up umlittle food pantries and putting
canned food and it's anybody toknow, leave some, take some.
I mean, there, I think I've seenprobably six or seven posts of
different ones around town thatare just that's amazing.
(09:01):
It's um, it just makes me reallyhappy.
Um I have been feeling the urgeto donate more to food pantries
than I have.
Just, you know, you get thatfeeling, I just need to do
something more.
And um in fact, my work, Ididn't set it up, but it was
(09:21):
right around, we must have beensinking on that because within a
couple of days of me thinkingabout that, one of our my
coworkers was like, hey, we'regetting together a huge order, a
food pantry, you know, donatefood.
And I, oh my gosh, I had theentire back of my car full.
It took four people to bringeverything in because I was just
(09:42):
like, I'm I am all in.
I'm just everything from toiletpaper to um oh, just everything.
And um I just feel very stronglyabout that.
Um and it just there's just somuch to do.
There's so much that I thinkneeds to be done just to help.
SPEAKER_01 (10:07):
Yeah, for sure.
And I that's a that's such agreat example because it's very
recent, right?
Because once those benefits weregoing to run out and people
realized that there were goingto be people in their community
who were not going to haveaccess to food, it just kind of
(10:30):
exploded, didn't it?
SPEAKER_02 (10:32):
Did it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:34):
And it was such a great feeling for me, and uh for
you too, I'm sure, but to to seeon Facebook um uh people in in
my community, the blah blah blahcommunity page, um, how they
just stepped up and they, youknow, I saw at least a couple of
(10:57):
posts.
And also not just the people,but there were businesses
stepping up.
SPEAKER_02 (11:03):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (11:04):
Um, I would there's a pizza place um not too far
from me.
It's it's a few, it's a littlebit, but um, who months and
months ago, he had found theowner of this pizza shop had
found somebody going through histrash looking for food.
And he kind of launched thiscrusade and you know, said,
(11:24):
Well, if you're hungry, if youdon't have food, don't go
through my trash.
Come to my store, ask, and Iwill give you, you know, either
a pizza or a slice or or whathave you.
And, you know, and then whenthis whole thing with people
losing their snap benefits cameabout, he just made it even
(11:46):
bigger, right?
And then partnered with otherrestaurants, local small local
restaurants, um, to just make iteven bigger.
And and and I was just blownaway.
That wasn't, you know, the thebig multinational corporations
(12:06):
doing that.
That was small mom and pop shopsand individuals.
And I I love my one of myfavorites is these people that
had like little free librariesand they turned them into little
free pantries instead.
SPEAKER_02 (12:22):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:22):
Isn't that great?
SPEAKER_02 (12:23):
It is wonderful.
It's and it's these littleplaces, you know, they're are so
connected with the community,and in the amount, the level of
caring that they show is just isheartwarming.
And it's just makes you just oh,just yeah, it makes me want to
support them even more, justbecause it's they don't have to
(12:45):
do that.
And the fact that they are isit's yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:51):
Yeah, nobody has to do that.
I I saw somebody step up andsaid, uh, say, uh, you know, if
you need to go to a food shelfbut you don't have a car, I will
take you.
Reach out to me.
I will take you to do that.
And it was there were a coupleof people like that.
I'm like, that's that's wherethe stuff is.
That's where the juice is,right?
(13:13):
It's it's your neighbors andjust reaching out and saying, if
you are in a bad place, here'smy hand.
Take it, I'll help.
SPEAKER_02 (13:22):
Yeah.
I saw um on Thanksgiving, I sawmultiple people say, Hey, I've
got extra extra food.
If someone needs wants a wants aplate of Thanksgiving dinner,
let me know.
I will bring it to you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:37):
And uh it was Yeah, it didn't stop when the benefits
were reinstated either.
Nope.
It's still going.
SPEAKER_02 (13:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (13:46):
Yeah.
It's I yeah.
And and this is all happening atthe community level.
It's national, but where it'sstarting and where it's and
where it's taking off from is atthe community level.
I love that.
I recently saw uh there's abookstore again, near me.
(14:12):
Um that inside this bookstore,there's like multiple small
businesses working.
Um there's a a woman who makesart and sells it and the
proceeds go to a goes to ananimal shelter, for example.
Nice.
There's a nonprofit right therein that coffee shop.
It's just, it's such a greatthing to see.
(14:35):
Um so talk to me about what doyou think are some challenges or
misconceptions that people haveabout kindness, especially
today, because our world is sofast-paced or polarized, right?
Because for all the love and thewarm, gushy feelings that we got
(14:58):
from those people reaching out,there were always those that
pushed back against it, right?
SPEAKER_02 (15:04):
There's people who push back, and I think a lot of
people decide not to helpbecause there are people that
take advantage of it.
People, you know, take advantageof those willing to help.
And that's always somethingthat's in the back of people's
minds.
They're, you know, if hey, ifyou need food, you know, come on
(15:27):
over, but it's either, you know,maybe it's people who don't need
it, or maybe, you know, it'sthere's always those people who
exploit it, and it it reallyhampers the the feeling of
giving, and because you'veyou're always second-guessing
yourself, oh, should I be doingthis, or what if this, you know,
(15:51):
it's um it's disappointing thatit has to be like that.
Um but yeah, like it's kind ofthe price you pay.
SPEAKER_01 (16:02):
It is, it is, and and it's like, well, if I have a
choice between feeding tenpeople, and I know that maybe
one of them doesn't really needit, or not feeding 20 people,
knowing that there's probablyone person in there who doesn't
wouldn't need it.
(16:22):
I mean, I'm I always feel like Iw uh it seems like a no-brainer
to me to I'll take that risk ofmaybe feeding somebody who
doesn't need it to feed thedozens more who will need it,
right?
SPEAKER_02 (16:38):
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (16:40):
And so I don't understand that whole but
there's scammers out there, orthere's I don't understand that
argument at all.
SPEAKER_02 (16:50):
Yeah.
I mean there's always gonna bethere's always gonna be
scammers, but you know what,there is more people that need
help.
And that's yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (17:00):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (17:02):
Um, okay.
So how do you think everydaysimple acts like offering help
or or a friendly greeting, uh,hi, how are you?
Um contribute to a stronger andmore inclusive community spirit.
I mean, we we can see it, right?
(17:22):
But how how do we how do youthink that that contributes?
SPEAKER_02 (17:28):
Um, it makes a huge difference.
One of the things that mydaughter and I try to do, like
if we go to a store, she's agrown-up, um, but you know, we
go shopping together, but youknow, we'll see someone, and I'm
like, oh my gosh, I love herhair.
She's like, well, I love herhair.
(17:49):
So we'll go up to her and justbe like, you know, you your hair
is gorgeous.
We just absolutely adore yourhair.
And you can see their wholedemeanor change.
You can see, I mean, just sayinghi, you know, makes a big
difference.
I went into work, had a horribleday, had to go to the grocery
store after, and I was grumpyand I was just focused, and I'm
(18:13):
just doing my thing.
And someone stopped me and said,I saw your sweater from way over
there.
And I just love that color.
And it just looks so good onyou.
And it totally changed.
I mean, it totally changed my, Imean, my whole day, that whole
bad day, gone just like that,just by someone saying that.
(18:35):
And it totally changed my entireattitude.
SPEAKER_01 (18:39):
It's like magic.
It is.
And yeah, just one simple kindword can wipe away because we've
all been there, right?
We've all woken up in themorning and like, oh, this is a
crap.
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (18:56):
Um and and if nobody was said hello to you, or you
look good today, or I love thatwork on that project at work,
you probably would just gothrough your day feeling like
that for the rest of the day.
And does that carry through tothe next day?
You know, if it's not resolved,I don't know.
(19:18):
I'm sure there are psychologistsout there, but um, that could
tell me.
Do we carry that from day today?
I suppose we do.
SPEAKER_00 (19:27):
We we can.
SPEAKER_01 (19:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (19:29):
I have.
SPEAKER_00 (19:30):
Have you?
Yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_02 (19:32):
Oh yeah.
Go to you know, been angry allday about something and you go
to bed.
Dream about it, you wake up andyou're still angry, and it just,
yeah, it's just a cycle.
It just takes one thing to justflip that switch.
SPEAKER_01 (19:47):
Yeah, for sure.
Um I had another question foryou.
Okay.
So kind acts in the community.
Um do you think there aretangible outcomes um like
improved mental health, reducedconflict, um, greater civic
(20:08):
pride that that you've seenlinked to acts of kindness?
SPEAKER_02 (20:15):
Yeah, I do.
It's the people, especially thepeople who need it the most,
whether it's the homeless orjust, you know, hungry, I mean,
giving and just helping thosepeople.
Oh, it makes a huge difference.
Um helping, like we had abusiness downtown that was
(20:36):
really struggling.
And a lot of there was, hey, youknow what, let's let's rally
behind this business.
And, you know, so everybody camein and bought something, you
know, just to just to help them,you know, it's it's things like
that.
It really does make adifference.
(20:56):
I mean, in so many differentways.
It's um the it can belife-changing, and you can see
that in, you know, especially ina little smaller community, you
can you can it's easier to seethose things happen.
SPEAKER_01 (21:14):
Yeah, yeah.
It's more visible on on asmaller scale.
But but yeah, it does carry outthough, right?
SPEAKER_02 (21:21):
I mean Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (21:24):
Yeah.
I we had a a grocery store in myhometown.
It was like I could walk therein 10 minutes, right?
And they were family owned fordecades, um, probably a hundred
years or so.
And everybody loved that store.
(21:44):
There are some that would say,well, they're too high priced.
But it was a family-owned localgrocery store, right?
Yes.
And you just don't see too manyof those anymore.
And they uh several years agonow, they right about the time a
Walmart went in about 10 milessouth of us, they said, Yep,
(22:06):
we're done.
You know?
And you can still feel thatimpact today.
Um anytime there's talk ofsomething being built in the
town, they're like, I want thatstore back.
SPEAKER_00 (22:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (22:21):
Um and I don't know that anybody I don't know that
shopping there more would havesaved that.
I just felt I I think they feltlike they couldn't compete in
that environment.
But but yeah, those those localbusinesses are are essential to
a community, aren't they?
SPEAKER_02 (22:43):
They are.
Our downtown um is very is all,you know, small businesses and
restaurants.
And, you know, I try andfrequent those if I can, you
know, every week.
I try and pay with cash, youknow, to to lighten the burden
on fees and this and that andthe other thing.
(23:03):
And I I try to to frequent themas often as I am able just to to
keep them going.
SPEAKER_01 (23:11):
Yeah, for sure.
Um okay, here's one for you.
Here's a question for you.
Can you share a story about atime when the kindness of others
encouraged you to pay itforward?
SPEAKER_02 (23:28):
Yeah, actually.
So when I was a kid, um our theproperty we have had okay,
property we had, but I stillhave because I live in the house
I grew up in.
Um we have about three and ahalf acres.
And when I was a kid, my mom wasan avid gardener.
(23:48):
I mean, we had like an entireacre of garden every year.
And something that I noticedwith my parents, because we
didn't use all the property, andwe had cows and pigs and
chickens and rabbits, we had allthe stuff.
Um, but we had part of ourproperty that wasn't being used,
and we would kind of, I guessyou could say kind of in a
(24:11):
roundabout way, do a gardenshare.
But we would, people that livedin town, my parents would be
like, hey, we've got some extraproperty.
Do you want to grow a garden outhere?
And so they would come out, growa garden.
Um, you know, my we'd water it,you know, several times a week
for them.
And then they would come out acouple of times a week during
(24:32):
the weekday and then spend likeafternoon and evening on a
Saturday.
They'd bring their kids and allus kids would run around, and
then we'd pick blackberries andmake homemade blackberry ice
cream.
It was just the best.
One of my fondest memories everis us all doing this gardening
together with other families.
And that's something that I havewanted to do and have offered
(24:58):
part of my property to, youknow, someone doing, you know,
flower farming or, you know,different things.
So far, no one has taken me upon it, but I want to very badly.
Um, we live a little bit out oftown.
It's not too far, but it'senough that it's a little
inconvenient to come outfrequently.
SPEAKER_01 (25:21):
But you know, when they find out what a bumper crop
you had this year, they maychange their minds.
SPEAKER_02 (25:26):
Oh my gosh.
That was crazy.
Could not believe it.
SPEAKER_01 (25:31):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (25:32):
But it's standing.
SPEAKER_00 (25:34):
Yeah.
Go ahead.
I'm sorry, I interrupted you.
SPEAKER_02 (25:38):
Oh, no, no, it's fine.
It's um it's just have somethingyou have a little extra share
it.
I mean, and in growing a garden,it's not hurting anyone.
It's just it's benefiting you.
It's grow, it's buildingfriendships, you know, it's
building your community byoffering that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_01 (26:02):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um so okay, what role lastquestion, I promise.
What role has kindness played inyour personal growth and your re
your relationships within thecommunity?
Sorry.
SPEAKER_02 (26:19):
No, it's fine.
I am thinking here.
SPEAKER_01 (26:22):
I'm like the Barbara Walters.
SPEAKER_02 (26:24):
It has made me I've always been a I've always been a
very empathetic person.
I've always kind of felt theneeds, but a lot of times
because of my anxiety as achild, I it that has carried
over into adulthood.
And so sometimes it's reallyit's hard to act on those
(26:48):
things.
Um you just have those secondthoughts in your mind all the
time, and so you're like, uh, Idon't want to do that.
But stepping out and actuallyjust I just finally just I'm
just like, you know what?
It doesn't matter, just do it.
These people don't know you, orwhat you know, whatever it is,
you know.
You just I try and I've it'sbeen every time I go and do
(27:11):
something kind, it's easier thenext time to do it because it's
almost, I guess, semi-instantgratification.
You can feel it and you can seeit almost immediately.
And it always comes back to youin some way through the feeling
because it just it softens you,it makes you a better person on
(27:35):
the whole by doing those things.
SPEAKER_01 (27:38):
For sure.
Absolutely.
Um, noises.
Uh well, Kathy, thank you somuch for joining me today.
I think this is such animportant conversation to have.
Um starting starting kindness inyour own community can can make
(27:59):
such a huge difference.
And I don't think we reallyunderstand exactly how much um
until you do it, right?
Um, are you where can we findyour art and and music?
SPEAKER_02 (28:15):
Um you can find that at Katherinecatterson.com.
SPEAKER_01 (28:20):
There will be a link in the show notes.
In case one of my listeners isgoing, what is that with a K or
C?
SPEAKER_02 (28:26):
It's with a C.
Catherine with a C, Kattersonwith the C dot com.
SPEAKER_00 (28:32):
Call you C C.
Is it dot C actually?
SPEAKER_02 (28:35):
That used to be it's Oh my goodness Yeah, no, that's
right.
I had to think about that for aminute.
Yeah, that's right.
My nickname, oh my gosh, mynickname used to be CC way back.
I worked with three Kathes, andand um, so we all had our own
thing.
Everybody else became Kathy orCatherine, and I was CC, so
(28:57):
that's funny.
SPEAKER_01 (28:58):
How did you know?
I was not a stalker.
I mean I am, but I was I didn'tknow that one.
How about that?
Um, thank you so much for comingon today.
I really appreciate it, and uh,you're doing amazing work.
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_02 (29:12):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (29:19):
Hey everybody, thank you so much for listening to
this episode of the KindnessMatters Podcast with my guest,
the amazing sweet KathyKatterson.
Um I don't know if you noticedor not, but I've been adding
like a little book at thebeginning of my episode.
I hope that didn't screw you uptoo much.
(29:40):
Um if you feel like best timefor some feedback, please feel
free.
Uh you can reach out on any ofthe social media platforms
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, uh,YouTube, whichever it is.
Just let me know what you thinkabout the hook at the beginning
of the episode.
Anyway, I hope this episode uhLeft you feeling a little
(30:01):
easier, a little more hopefulabout the state of the world
that we all share.
If you enjoyed this episode,please feel free to tell your
friends, family, and co-workersabout 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.
(30:21):
You'll just get like a reallyuplifting email every month.
That's all we ask.
We don't it's free.
Did I mention it's free?
Yeah.
You have been listening to theKindness Matters podcast.
We will be back again next weekwith a brand new episode, and we
would be honored if you wouldjoin us again.
(30:45):
Until then, remember kindnessmatters, and so do you.
Walking stuff.
Down the streets.
SPEAKER_01 (00:15):
Strangers.
When not.
Welcome to the Kindness Matterspodcast.
A show that celebrates thepowerful truth.
That kindness can change theworld.
Every week I aim to china lightup people and organizations
(00:36):
making a positive difference totheir communities.
Proving that compassion,empathy, and connection
subscribe.
This podcast is about 400stories.
It's about free book in acts.
Through hotel conversations,inspiring acts.
SPEAKER_02 (01:27):
I'm just like, you know what?
It doesn't matter.
Just do it.
These people don't know you orwhatever it is.
You know, you just, I try andI've it's been every time I go
and do something kind, it'seasier the next time to do it
because it's almost, I guess,semi-instant gratification.
You can feel it and you can seeit all, and it always comes back
(01:50):
to you in some way through thefeeling because it just it
softens you.
It makes you a better person onthe whole by doing those things.
SPEAKER_01 (02:00):
Hey everybody, welcome to the show.
Thank you so, so, so much fromthe bottom of my heart.
Um, as my mom used to say, fromthe bottom of my little black
heart, um, for for making theconscious decision to choose to
listen to the kindness matterspodcast.
I, of course, am your host, MikeRathbun.
(02:22):
Um, I I greatly appreciate thefact that that you're choosing
to listen to a podcast aboutkindness.
And um, and all of you out thereI know are are who listen to
this podcast are also spreadingit.
So thank you, thank you, thankyou, thank you, thank you.
(02:43):
Um I have a fantastic show foryou today.
Um I want you all to meet myguest, Kathy Katterson,
musician, photographer, andfull-on creative vibe
extraordinaire.
Born under the sunny skies ofSouthern California, but raised
(03:03):
among the lush valleys ofOregon, she brings together West
Coast chill and PacificNorthwest soul.
Kathy's superpower, turningchildhood curiosity from
climbing trees and tinkeringwith cars to daydreaming about
art, into soulful music andstriking photography.
(03:26):
What started as shy daydreamsbecame her voice, and today she
crafts art that isn't justheard, it's felt.
Whether she's composing a newmelody or capturing a moment
through the lens, Kathy's aim issimple.
Make something real, emotional,and beautifully human.
(03:46):
Get ready to dive into aconversation that's warm,
creative, and full of heart.
Because with Kathy, kindness,art, and authenticity all play
on the same frequency.
Welcome to the show, Kathy.
SPEAKER_02 (04:02):
Thank you.
Happy to be here.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (04:06):
We had you on last year.
SPEAKER_02 (04:07):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (04:08):
Was it last year?
It was.
SPEAKER_02 (04:10):
This has been just about a year ago.
SPEAKER_01 (04:12):
Wow.
Cool.
Well, always happy to have you.
Always, always, always.
Um, you're good?
You're good?
All good?
SPEAKER_02 (04:21):
Good.
I'm really good.
SPEAKER_01 (04:22):
Good.
Are you any new music comingout?
SPEAKER_02 (04:26):
Or um, I am hoping to have some new music out in
December.
Kind of took a little hiatusthere for a bit.
I had a garden this summer andit was larger than I anticipated
and took up a lot of my time.
SPEAKER_01 (04:40):
Yeah, such a black thumb, I never have to worry
about my garden getting out ofcontrol.
SPEAKER_02 (04:46):
Well, that's why my garden is so big, because up
until this year, I've had theblack thumb of death.
And this year I planted a wholebunch of things anticipating
that most would die andeverything lived.
And yeah, so I'm like, oh, Ineed more space because oh,
(05:06):
everything, everything grew.
And I had a four by four foot bytwelve foot wall of tomatoes
that I'm yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:17):
That's a lot of salsa or it was a lot of salsa,
a lot of tomato soup or whathave you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:23):
Tomato everything, anything I can put tomatoes in.
SPEAKER_01 (05:26):
Yeah, it was Was there a lot of tomato at
Thanksgiving?
SPEAKER_02 (05:28):
There was some tomatoes.
Oh, was there was kind ofintricate you know, gets and
things in there, and I have bagsand bags and bags of frozen
whole tomatoes in my freezer.
SPEAKER_01 (05:40):
Nice.
SPEAKER_02 (05:41):
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (05:42):
Uh thank goodness for freezer.
I I'm always asking theintelligent devices around my
home, can I freeze, fill invegetable here, right?
I'm amazed at all the things youcan freeze.
Um, but I asked you on todaybecause we had a conversation
(06:05):
about um community and kindness,right?
SPEAKER_00 (06:11):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (06:12):
Um, but so what does kindness in a community mean to
you?
And how did you first becomeaware of its importance in your
own life and your ownneighborhood?
SPEAKER_02 (06:26):
Kindness in the community is being available and
being willing to help your town,your community, your
neighborhood.
It's basically opening your eyesand seeing and really seeing
people.
And it's so many of us just walkaround with no blinders on, and
(06:49):
it's it's you know, is stoppingand taking a look around and
seeing those in need, seeing theopportunity, looking for the
opportunity to do a random actof kindness for other people and
businesses and that kind ofthing.
SPEAKER_01 (07:09):
Yeah, for sure.
And I I think I think communityis where all of the larger
kindness I almost hit my mic.
Is where all of the largerkindness initiatives start,
right?
It starts with you and yourneighbors or your local
(07:33):
businesses, and and when itstarts there and it ripples out,
right?
Um I it's just the wholekindness movement starts in any
given community.
I think.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (07:49):
Agreed.
SPEAKER_00 (07:50):
Okay, we're done.
SPEAKER_01 (07:50):
No, I'm just short.
That's gonna be a short episode.
Um so but are there are therewhen you talk about kindness in
the community, are therespecific community initiatives
or projects that you witnessedor or or participated in that
(08:14):
made you appreciate the rippleeffect of kindness?
SPEAKER_02 (08:18):
There has been quite a bit showing up in my town.
I mean, I live in a town that'sabout, we'll say, 50,000 people,
not huge, but not tiny either.
Um, I have noticed, especiallyover the last month and a half
to two months, people in myFacebook, like um the what's
(08:40):
happening in my town.
Um, people are putting up umlittle food pantries and putting
canned food and it's anybody toknow, leave some, take some.
I mean, there, I think I've seenprobably six or seven posts of
different ones around town thatare just that's amazing.
(09:01):
It's um, it just makes me reallyhappy.
Um I have been feeling the urgeto donate more to food pantries
than I have.
Just, you know, you get thatfeeling, I just need to do
something more.
And um in fact, my work, Ididn't set it up, but it was
(09:21):
right around, we must have beensinking on that because within a
couple of days of me thinkingabout that, one of our my
coworkers was like, hey, we'regetting together a huge order, a
food pantry, you know, donatefood.
And I, oh my gosh, I had theentire back of my car full.
It took four people to bringeverything in because I was just
(09:42):
like, I'm I am all in.
I'm just everything from toiletpaper to um oh, just everything.
And um I just feel very stronglyabout that.
Um and it just there's just somuch to do.
There's so much that I thinkneeds to be done just to help.
SPEAKER_01 (10:07):
Yeah, for sure.
And I that's a that's such agreat example because it's very
recent, right?
Because once those benefits weregoing to run out and people
realized that there were goingto be people in their community
who were not going to haveaccess to food, it just kind of
(10:30):
exploded, didn't it?
SPEAKER_02 (10:32):
Did it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:34):
And it was such a great feeling for me, and uh for
you too, I'm sure, but to to seeon Facebook um uh people in in
my community, the blah blah blahcommunity page, um, how they
just stepped up and they, youknow, I saw at least a couple of
(10:57):
posts.
And also not just the people,but there were businesses
stepping up.
SPEAKER_02 (11:03):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (11:04):
Um, I would there's a pizza place um not too far
from me.
It's it's a few, it's a littlebit, but um, who months and
months ago, he had found theowner of this pizza shop had
found somebody going through histrash looking for food.
And he kind of launched thiscrusade and you know, said,
(11:24):
Well, if you're hungry, if youdon't have food, don't go
through my trash.
Come to my store, ask, and Iwill give you, you know, either
a pizza or a slice or or whathave you.
And, you know, and then whenthis whole thing with people
losing their snap benefits cameabout, he just made it even
(11:46):
bigger, right?
And then partnered with otherrestaurants, local small local
restaurants, um, to just make iteven bigger.
And and and I was just blownaway.
That wasn't, you know, the thebig multinational corporations
(12:06):
doing that.
That was small mom and pop shopsand individuals.
And I I love my one of myfavorites is these people that
had like little free librariesand they turned them into little
free pantries instead.
SPEAKER_02 (12:22):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:22):
Isn't that great?
SPEAKER_02 (12:23):
It is wonderful.
It's and it's these littleplaces, you know, they're are so
connected with the community,and in the amount, the level of
caring that they show is just isheartwarming.
And it's just makes you just oh,just yeah, it makes me want to
support them even more, justbecause it's they don't have to
(12:45):
do that.
And the fact that they are isit's yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:51):
Yeah, nobody has to do that.
I I saw somebody step up andsaid, uh, say, uh, you know, if
you need to go to a food shelfbut you don't have a car, I will
take you.
Reach out to me.
I will take you to do that.
And it was there were a coupleof people like that.
I'm like, that's that's wherethe stuff is.
That's where the juice is,right?
(13:13):
It's it's your neighbors andjust reaching out and saying, if
you are in a bad place, here'smy hand.
Take it, I'll help.
SPEAKER_02 (13:22):
Yeah.
I saw um on Thanksgiving, I sawmultiple people say, Hey, I've
got extra extra food.
If someone needs wants a wants aplate of Thanksgiving dinner,
let me know.
I will bring it to you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:37):
And uh it was Yeah, it didn't stop when the benefits
were reinstated either.
Nope.
It's still going.
SPEAKER_02 (13:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (13:46):
Yeah.
It's I yeah.
And and this is all happening atthe community level.
It's national, but where it'sstarting and where it's and
where it's taking off from is atthe community level.
I love that.
I recently saw uh there's abookstore again, near me.
(14:12):
Um that inside this bookstore,there's like multiple small
businesses working.
Um there's a a woman who makesart and sells it and the
proceeds go to a goes to ananimal shelter, for example.
Nice.
There's a nonprofit right therein that coffee shop.
It's just, it's such a greatthing to see.
(14:35):
Um so talk to me about what doyou think are some challenges or
misconceptions that people haveabout kindness, especially
today, because our world is sofast-paced or polarized, right?
Because for all the love and thewarm, gushy feelings that we got
(14:58):
from those people reaching out,there were always those that
pushed back against it, right?
SPEAKER_02 (15:04):
There's people who push back, and I think a lot of
people decide not to helpbecause there are people that
take advantage of it.
People, you know, take advantageof those willing to help.
And that's always somethingthat's in the back of people's
minds.
They're, you know, if hey, ifyou need food, you know, come on
(15:27):
over, but it's either, you know,maybe it's people who don't need
it, or maybe, you know, it'sthere's always those people who
exploit it, and it it reallyhampers the the feeling of
giving, and because you'veyou're always second-guessing
yourself, oh, should I be doingthis, or what if this, you know,
(15:51):
it's um it's disappointing thatit has to be like that.
Um but yeah, like it's kind ofthe price you pay.
SPEAKER_01 (16:02):
It is, it is, and and it's like, well, if I have a
choice between feeding tenpeople, and I know that maybe
one of them doesn't really needit, or not feeding 20 people,
knowing that there's probablyone person in there who doesn't
wouldn't need it.
(16:22):
I mean, I'm I always feel like Iw uh it seems like a no-brainer
to me to I'll take that risk ofmaybe feeding somebody who
doesn't need it to feed thedozens more who will need it,
right?
SPEAKER_02 (16:38):
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (16:40):
And so I don't understand that whole but
there's scammers out there, orthere's I don't understand that
argument at all.
SPEAKER_02 (16:50):
Yeah.
I mean there's always gonna bethere's always gonna be
scammers, but you know what,there is more people that need
help.
And that's yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (17:00):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (17:02):
Um, okay.
So how do you think everydaysimple acts like offering help
or or a friendly greeting, uh,hi, how are you?
Um contribute to a stronger andmore inclusive community spirit.
I mean, we we can see it, right?
(17:22):
But how how do we how do youthink that that contributes?
SPEAKER_02 (17:28):
Um, it makes a huge difference.
One of the things that mydaughter and I try to do, like
if we go to a store, she's agrown-up, um, but you know, we
go shopping together, but youknow, we'll see someone, and I'm
like, oh my gosh, I love herhair.
She's like, well, I love herhair.
(17:49):
So we'll go up to her and justbe like, you know, you your hair
is gorgeous.
We just absolutely adore yourhair.
And you can see their wholedemeanor change.
You can see, I mean, just sayinghi, you know, makes a big
difference.
I went into work, had a horribleday, had to go to the grocery
store after, and I was grumpyand I was just focused, and I'm
(18:13):
just doing my thing.
And someone stopped me and said,I saw your sweater from way over
there.
And I just love that color.
And it just looks so good onyou.
And it totally changed.
I mean, it totally changed my, Imean, my whole day, that whole
bad day, gone just like that,just by someone saying that.
(18:35):
And it totally changed my entireattitude.
SPEAKER_01 (18:39):
It's like magic.
It is.
And yeah, just one simple kindword can wipe away because we've
all been there, right?
We've all woken up in themorning and like, oh, this is a
crap.
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (18:56):
Um and and if nobody was said hello to you, or you
look good today, or I love thatwork on that project at work,
you probably would just gothrough your day feeling like
that for the rest of the day.
And does that carry through tothe next day?
You know, if it's not resolved,I don't know.
(19:18):
I'm sure there are psychologistsout there, but um, that could
tell me.
Do we carry that from day today?
I suppose we do.
SPEAKER_00 (19:27):
We we can.
SPEAKER_01 (19:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (19:29):
I have.
SPEAKER_00 (19:30):
Have you?
Yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_02 (19:32):
Oh yeah.
Go to you know, been angry allday about something and you go
to bed.
Dream about it, you wake up andyou're still angry, and it just,
yeah, it's just a cycle.
It just takes one thing to justflip that switch.
SPEAKER_01 (19:47):
Yeah, for sure.
Um I had another question foryou.
Okay.
So kind acts in the community.
Um do you think there aretangible outcomes um like
improved mental health, reducedconflict, um, greater civic
(20:08):
pride that that you've seenlinked to acts of kindness?
SPEAKER_02 (20:15):
Yeah, I do.
It's the people, especially thepeople who need it the most,
whether it's the homeless orjust, you know, hungry, I mean,
giving and just helping thosepeople.
Oh, it makes a huge difference.
Um helping, like we had abusiness downtown that was
(20:36):
really struggling.
And a lot of there was, hey, youknow what, let's let's rally
behind this business.
And, you know, so everybody camein and bought something, you
know, just to just to help them,you know, it's it's things like
that.
It really does make adifference.
(20:56):
I mean, in so many differentways.
It's um the it can belife-changing, and you can see
that in, you know, especially ina little smaller community, you
can you can it's easier to seethose things happen.
SPEAKER_01 (21:14):
Yeah, yeah.
It's more visible on on asmaller scale.
But but yeah, it does carry outthough, right?
SPEAKER_02 (21:21):
I mean Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (21:24):
Yeah.
I we had a a grocery store in myhometown.
It was like I could walk therein 10 minutes, right?
And they were family owned fordecades, um, probably a hundred
years or so.
And everybody loved that store.
(21:44):
There are some that would say,well, they're too high priced.
But it was a family-owned localgrocery store, right?
Yes.
And you just don't see too manyof those anymore.
And they uh several years agonow, they right about the time a
Walmart went in about 10 milessouth of us, they said, Yep,
(22:06):
we're done.
You know?
And you can still feel thatimpact today.
Um anytime there's talk ofsomething being built in the
town, they're like, I want thatstore back.
SPEAKER_00 (22:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (22:21):
Um and I don't know that anybody I don't know that
shopping there more would havesaved that.
I just felt I I think they feltlike they couldn't compete in
that environment.
But but yeah, those those localbusinesses are are essential to
a community, aren't they?
SPEAKER_02 (22:43):
They are.
Our downtown um is very is all,you know, small businesses and
restaurants.
And, you know, I try andfrequent those if I can, you
know, every week.
I try and pay with cash, youknow, to to lighten the burden
on fees and this and that andthe other thing.
(23:03):
And I I try to to frequent themas often as I am able just to to
keep them going.
SPEAKER_01 (23:11):
Yeah, for sure.
Um okay, here's one for you.
Here's a question for you.
Can you share a story about atime when the kindness of others
encouraged you to pay itforward?
SPEAKER_02 (23:28):
Yeah, actually.
So when I was a kid, um our theproperty we have had okay,
property we had, but I stillhave because I live in the house
I grew up in.
Um we have about three and ahalf acres.
And when I was a kid, my mom wasan avid gardener.
(23:48):
I mean, we had like an entireacre of garden every year.
And something that I noticedwith my parents, because we
didn't use all the property, andwe had cows and pigs and
chickens and rabbits, we had allthe stuff.
Um, but we had part of ourproperty that wasn't being used,
and we would kind of, I guessyou could say kind of in a
(24:11):
roundabout way, do a gardenshare.
But we would, people that livedin town, my parents would be
like, hey, we've got some extraproperty.
Do you want to grow a garden outhere?
And so they would come out, growa garden.
Um, you know, my we'd water it,you know, several times a week
for them.
And then they would come out acouple of times a week during
(24:32):
the weekday and then spend likeafternoon and evening on a
Saturday.
They'd bring their kids and allus kids would run around, and
then we'd pick blackberries andmake homemade blackberry ice
cream.
It was just the best.
One of my fondest memories everis us all doing this gardening
together with other families.
And that's something that I havewanted to do and have offered
(24:58):
part of my property to, youknow, someone doing, you know,
flower farming or, you know,different things.
So far, no one has taken me upon it, but I want to very badly.
Um, we live a little bit out oftown.
It's not too far, but it'senough that it's a little
inconvenient to come outfrequently.
SPEAKER_01 (25:21):
But you know, when they find out what a bumper crop
you had this year, they maychange their minds.
SPEAKER_02 (25:26):
Oh my gosh.
That was crazy.
Could not believe it.
SPEAKER_01 (25:31):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (25:32):
But it's standing.
SPEAKER_00 (25:34):
Yeah.
Go ahead.
I'm sorry, I interrupted you.
SPEAKER_02 (25:38):
Oh, no, no, it's fine.
It's um it's just have somethingyou have a little extra share
it.
I mean, and in growing a garden,it's not hurting anyone.
It's just it's benefiting you.
It's grow, it's buildingfriendships, you know, it's
building your community byoffering that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_01 (26:02):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um so okay, what role lastquestion, I promise.
What role has kindness played inyour personal growth and your re
your relationships within thecommunity?
Sorry.
SPEAKER_02 (26:19):
No, it's fine.
I am thinking here.
SPEAKER_01 (26:22):
I'm like the Barbara Walters.
SPEAKER_02 (26:24):
It has made me I've always been a I've always been a
very empathetic person.
I've always kind of felt theneeds, but a lot of times
because of my anxiety as achild, I it that has carried
over into adulthood.
And so sometimes it's reallyit's hard to act on those
(26:48):
things.
Um you just have those secondthoughts in your mind all the
time, and so you're like, uh, Idon't want to do that.
But stepping out and actuallyjust I just finally just I'm
just like, you know what?
It doesn't matter, just do it.
These people don't know you, orwhat you know, whatever it is,
you know.
You just I try and I've it'sbeen every time I go and do
(27:11):
something kind, it's easier thenext time to do it because it's
almost, I guess, semi-instantgratification.
You can feel it and you can seeit almost immediately.
And it always comes back to youin some way through the feeling
because it just it softens you,it makes you a better person on
(27:35):
the whole by doing those things.
SPEAKER_01 (27:38):
For sure.
Absolutely.
Um, noises.
Uh well, Kathy, thank you somuch for joining me today.
I think this is such animportant conversation to have.
Um starting starting kindness inyour own community can can make
(27:59):
such a huge difference.
And I don't think we reallyunderstand exactly how much um
until you do it, right?
Um, are you where can we findyour art and and music?
SPEAKER_02 (28:15):
Um you can find that at Katherinecatterson.com.
SPEAKER_01 (28:20):
There will be a link in the show notes.
In case one of my listeners isgoing, what is that with a K or
C?
SPEAKER_02 (28:26):
It's with a C.
Catherine with a C, Kattersonwith the C dot com.
SPEAKER_00 (28:32):
Call you C C.
Is it dot C actually?
SPEAKER_02 (28:35):
That used to be it's Oh my goodness Yeah, no, that's
right.
I had to think about that for aminute.
Yeah, that's right.
My nickname, oh my gosh, mynickname used to be CC way back.
I worked with three Kathes, andand um, so we all had our own
thing.
Everybody else became Kathy orCatherine, and I was CC, so
(28:57):
that's funny.
SPEAKER_01 (28:58):
How did you know?
I was not a stalker.
I mean I am, but I was I didn'tknow that one.
How about that?
Um, thank you so much for comingon today.
I really appreciate it, and uh,you're doing amazing work.
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_02 (29:12):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (29:19):
Hey everybody, thank you so much for listening to
this episode of the KindnessMatters Podcast with my guest,
the amazing sweet KathyKatterson.
Um I don't know if you noticedor not, but I've been adding
like a little book at thebeginning of my episode.
I hope that didn't screw you uptoo much.
(29:40):
Um if you feel like best timefor some feedback, please feel
free.
Uh you can reach out on any ofthe social media platforms
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, uh,YouTube, whichever it is.
Just let me know what you thinkabout the hook at the beginning
of the episode.
Anyway, I hope this episode uhLeft you feeling a little
(30:01):
easier, a little more hopefulabout the state of the world
that we all share.
If you enjoyed this episode,please feel free to tell your
friends, family, and co-workersabout 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.
(30:21):
You'll just get like a reallyuplifting email every month.
That's all we ask.
We don't it's free.
Did I mention it's free?
Yeah.
You have been listening to theKindness Matters podcast.
We will be back again next weekwith a brand new episode, and we
would be honored if you wouldjoin us again.
(30:45):
Until then, remember kindnessmatters, and so do you.
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