October 8, 2025 • 6 mins
Amy talking with producer and director Steven Sawalich discussing his new film ‘Case for Kindness.’
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
There's a brand new documentary on Prime Video and it's
called Case for Kindness. In a world where people are
polar opposites, people have stopped being friends with others who
are on the other side of the aisle. Bullying is rampant,
people socialize only on social media instead of face to face,
and we're more separate and more alone than ever. Well,
(00:22):
now comes the Case for Kindness. Would like to welcome
the director of Case for Kindness, Stephen so Walitch. Good morning, Stephen,
good morning. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
I saw the press release on this and I'm like,
oh my gosh, I want to talk to this gentleman.
And I watched the documentary yesterday and I loved it.
(00:43):
It's on Amazon Prime and so please tell us what
is the Case for Kindness?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh? Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Case for Kindness is a journey that we did across
the US to look at kind of the different issues
we face in the US today, like some of them
you mentioned, from bullying and hate, racial injustice, the gun violence,
of climate and looking at it through her lembs of kindness,
as well as exploring the science behind kindness and how
(01:14):
it can affect your body emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah. I loved learning the science behind kindness and how
like it actually makes you feel better. And you discussed
that and you you mentioned that bullying comes into play
and how maybe we can use kindness to combat that,
and you spoke to the mother of a murdered child
(01:39):
from Sandy Hook Elementary.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
She is extraordinary, She really is. Carl Lewis lost her son.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
In Sandy Hook and you know she has you know,
I can't imagine the pain and anglish that she went
through as well as all the other families have losts
and school shootings. And the other thing that Scarlett did
was she looked at it from a perspective of kindness
(02:09):
and looked at the shooter and you know, tried to
understand why they did that. And you know, in doing that,
she kind of found her piece and purpose. And that's
kind of one of the themes we found throughout the
film is like our darkest moments, we can find our purpose.
And I think it's just how we choose to come
(02:30):
out of that other side, is you know, how we grow.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
And yeah, and I thought one of the things that
she said that was so interesting, of course, is Adam
Lanza murdered her son, and she said that instead of
like blaming the shooter, she said, hurt people. Hurt people.
And I thought that that was so profound because she
was like, he obviously had issues, but what did they
(02:55):
stem from, you know? Was he alone? Was did people
not show him kindness? And that going to and so
she kind of turned it around and turned it into
a nurturing and a healing moment, which I just thought
was was so beautiful and I think the way you
handled it was so great.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh thank you. That was a hard story to interview.
Oh yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Mean, and I'm like tearing. I cry at the drop
of a dime anyway, but I teared up several times
during this because it was just so like powerful about
how we just need to stop because we're all so
angry and wound up and maybe just a little kindness
would do us all a little good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
I don't think there's ever been a time before, you know,
or at least in recently my time, of where we've
been so polar opposite and we are kind of forced
to choose a side. And you know, one of the
stories in there is Darryl Davis is an African American
journalist a musician that was writing a book about the KKK,
(03:52):
and he decided to interview members of the kk K,
one being the you know, the head of the organization.
And you know, the thing that Daryl did was he
chose to have a conversation and he chose to listen
as opposed to coming in and breaking hate and you know,
just like not accepting.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Their points of view.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
You know, the thing he said was, it's it's okay
to have a difference of opinion, you know, as long
as you can create that conversation. And by creating that conversation,
you can start to listen, and you can start to
kind of create a common ground and that.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Will close the gap.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And by doing that and by listening as opposed to
like forcing, he befriended members of the KKK, and later
they ended up leaving. I think he said it, over
one hundred and forty people left. And I think it's
all through listening, Yeah, having a respect for each other.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah. And I think that the other thing that you
said was when you were talking about the kindness and acts,
kindness aren't only for the other people, it's for you too.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I think one of the hardest people to be kind
to with ourselves and I know that is for me,
and you know, and I think until you can start
being kind to yourself, then it's harder to be kind
to others.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
And so, you know, it says journey that we.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Have to go on to kind of be a piece
with ourselves and listen to ourselves and what we need
every day, and that's a choice that we can make
and how we show up every day that can be
the difference in your life but also in the life
of another person.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, Okay, and Stephen, what what do you hope people
are going to take away from your documentary?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
You know, I think the biggest thing is, you know,
it's create a conversation.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
You know, you can have a choice, and you can
choose to be kind or unkind every day, and you know,
in the moment of a split second, is choose to
be kind. And I think if we all can do that,
we'll be better.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
And like I said, I watched the documentary yesterday and
it's very heartwarming and it's just it's sort of like
with everybody and everything that's going on in all the stress,
it just makes you feel good. And I think we
all need a little bit of that right now. So
it's a It's Case for Kindness. You can get it
on Amazon Prime. Director Steven so Walich, thank you so
(06:24):
much for your time today and for a really beautiful documentary.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Take care.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah. I just I just think with everybody so polarized
and so stressed and all of that, I just came
away from watching the documentary just feeling a little bit better.
Restores your faith in humanity, that kind of stuff, and
I think we all need that
There's a brand new documentary on Prime Video and it's
called Case for Kindness. In a world where people are
polar opposites, people have stopped being friends with others who
are on the other side of the aisle. Bullying is rampant,
people socialize only on social media instead of face to face,
and we're more separate and more alone than ever. Well,
(00:22):
now comes the Case for Kindness. Would like to welcome
the director of Case for Kindness, Stephen so Walitch. Good morning, Stephen,
good morning. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
I saw the press release on this and I'm like,
oh my gosh, I want to talk to this gentleman.
And I watched the documentary yesterday and I loved it.
(00:43):
It's on Amazon Prime and so please tell us what
is the Case for Kindness?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh? Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Case for Kindness is a journey that we did across
the US to look at kind of the different issues
we face in the US today, like some of them
you mentioned, from bullying and hate, racial injustice, the gun violence,
of climate and looking at it through her lembs of kindness,
as well as exploring the science behind kindness and how
(01:14):
it can affect your body emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah. I loved learning the science behind kindness and how
like it actually makes you feel better. And you discussed
that and you you mentioned that bullying comes into play
and how maybe we can use kindness to combat that,
and you spoke to the mother of a murdered child
(01:39):
from Sandy Hook Elementary.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
She is extraordinary, She really is. Carl Lewis lost her son.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
In Sandy Hook and you know she has you know,
I can't imagine the pain and anglish that she went
through as well as all the other families have losts
and school shootings. And the other thing that Scarlett did
was she looked at it from a perspective of kindness
(02:09):
and looked at the shooter and you know, tried to
understand why they did that. And you know, in doing that,
she kind of found her piece and purpose. And that's
kind of one of the themes we found throughout the
film is like our darkest moments, we can find our purpose.
And I think it's just how we choose to come
(02:30):
out of that other side, is you know, how we grow.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
And yeah, and I thought one of the things that
she said that was so interesting, of course, is Adam
Lanza murdered her son, and she said that instead of
like blaming the shooter, she said, hurt people. Hurt people.
And I thought that that was so profound because she
was like, he obviously had issues, but what did they
(02:55):
stem from, you know? Was he alone? Was did people
not show him kindness? And that going to and so
she kind of turned it around and turned it into
a nurturing and a healing moment, which I just thought
was was so beautiful and I think the way you
handled it was so great.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh thank you. That was a hard story to interview.
Oh yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Mean, and I'm like tearing. I cry at the drop
of a dime anyway, but I teared up several times
during this because it was just so like powerful about
how we just need to stop because we're all so
angry and wound up and maybe just a little kindness
would do us all a little good. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
I don't think there's ever been a time before, you know,
or at least in recently my time, of where we've
been so polar opposite and we are kind of forced
to choose a side. And you know, one of the
stories in there is Darryl Davis is an African American
journalist a musician that was writing a book about the KKK,
(03:52):
and he decided to interview members of the kk K,
one being the you know, the head of the organization.
And you know, the thing that Daryl did was he
chose to have a conversation and he chose to listen
as opposed to coming in and breaking hate and you know,
just like not accepting.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Their points of view.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
You know, the thing he said was, it's it's okay
to have a difference of opinion, you know, as long
as you can create that conversation. And by creating that conversation,
you can start to listen, and you can start to
kind of create a common ground and that.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Will close the gap.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And by doing that and by listening as opposed to
like forcing, he befriended members of the KKK, and later
they ended up leaving. I think he said it, over
one hundred and forty people left. And I think it's
all through listening, Yeah, having a respect for each other.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah. And I think that the other thing that you
said was when you were talking about the kindness and acts,
kindness aren't only for the other people, it's for you too.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I think one of the hardest people to be kind
to with ourselves and I know that is for me,
and you know, and I think until you can start
being kind to yourself, then it's harder to be kind
to others.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
And so, you know, it says journey that we.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Have to go on to kind of be a piece
with ourselves and listen to ourselves and what we need
every day, and that's a choice that we can make
and how we show up every day that can be
the difference in your life but also in the life
of another person.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, Okay, and Stephen, what what do you hope people
are going to take away from your documentary?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
You know, I think the biggest thing is, you know,
it's create a conversation.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
You know, you can have a choice, and you can
choose to be kind or unkind every day, and you know,
in the moment of a split second, is choose to
be kind. And I think if we all can do that,
we'll be better.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
And like I said, I watched the documentary yesterday and
it's very heartwarming and it's just it's sort of like
with everybody and everything that's going on in all the stress,
it just makes you feel good. And I think we
all need a little bit of that right now. So
it's a It's Case for Kindness. You can get it
on Amazon Prime. Director Steven so Walich, thank you so
(06:24):
much for your time today and for a really beautiful documentary.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Take care.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah. I just I just think with everybody so polarized
and so stressed and all of that, I just came
away from watching the documentary just feeling a little bit better.
Restores your faith in humanity, that kind of stuff, and
I think we all need that
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