Bonus Episode Two: Kindness Isn’t Neutral; It’s A Brave, Daily Choice

In this bonus episode of the Kindness Matters podcast, host Mike Rathbun dives into one of the core ideas from his book Still Changing a World: Small Acts Of Kindness That Make A Big Difference;  kindness is not neutral—it is courageous. 

He explores why neutrality is passive while kindness is an active, often costly choice that can require comfort, convenience, and even approval. Mike reads a powerful section from the book that unpacks how kindness asks us to stay human in dehumanizing moments, choose compassion over convenience, hold boundaries without cruelty, and interrupt harm even when it’s uncomfortable. 

Speaking directly to those who feel tired, overwhelmed, or tempted to go quiet, he offers validation and hope, reminding listeners that they don’t have to be loud to be brave or fix everything to matter. This episode is an invitation to keep showing up as yourself, consistently, even when the emotional cost feels high.

Who This Episode Is For

• Anyone who cares deeply but feels emotionally worn down by division and harshness.
• People who don’t want to match the cruelty they see but aren’t sure how to stay open.​
• Listeners wondering if their quiet, consistent kindness still makes a difference.

• Grab the book on Amazon (available in either Kindle or Paperback format).

Take the Next Step
If this episode spoke to you, consider sharing it—or the book—with someone who is tired but hasn’t given up yet. Let it be a reminder that choosing kindness, again and again, is one of the bravest things we can do.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Walking slow down my street. Strangers smile.

Mission Of Kindness Matters

SPEAKER_02 0:18

When I doesn't matter. Welcome to the Kindness Matters Podcast, a show that celebrates the powerful truth that kindness can change the world. Every week I aim to shine a light on people and organizations making a positive difference in their communities, proving that compassion, empathy, and connection still thrive, even in challenging times. This podcast is about more than good storytelling, it's about real impact. Through heartfelt conversations, inspiring acts, and everyday example of humanity, the Kindness Matters podcast invites listeners to rediscover the power of kindness as a force for healing, growth, and genuine connection. If the message of this show resonates with you, please share it with your friends and family. Because when it comes to kindness, the ripple effect is limitless.

Kindness Is Not Neutral

Reading From The Book

Quiet Courage And Staying Open

Invitation To Read The Book

Closing Gratitude And Sign-Off

SPEAKER_01 1:27

Hey friends, welcome back to another bonus episode of the Kindness Matters podcast. Still your host, Mike Rathman. And uh again, I I want to thank you for being here, for listening, for caring. I don't take that lightly. In the last episode, I talked about why I wrote Still Changing a World. Today, I want to share one of the core ideas of the book. And honestly, one of the most misunderstood ones. Kindness is not neutral, it is courageous. Neutrality is passive, right? Kindness is a choice. And in the world we're living in right now, that choice often costs something. It costs comfort. It costs convenience. Sometimes it costs approval. I want to read a section from the book that gets right to the heart of this. Kindness is not neutral because neutrality asks nothing of you. Kindness asks everything of you. It asks you to stay human in dehumanizing moments, to choose compassion over convenience, to hold boundaries without cruelty, to interrupt harm even when it's uncomfortable. That last line matters. Because kindness isn't about being quiet. It's not about being agreeable. And it's definitely not about letting harm slide. Sometimes kindness looks like stepping in. Sometimes it looks like setting a boundary. Sometimes it looks like saying that didn't sit right with me. That takes courage. A lot of good people have gone quiet. Not because they don't care, but because the emotional cost feels too high. This book is for those people. For anyone who's thought, I don't want to harden, but I don't know how to stay open. I care, but I'm exhausted. I don't want to match the cruelty I see. You don't have to be loud to be brave. You don't have to fix everything to matter. You just have to stay human consistently. If this episode spoke to you, I want to invite you to spend more time with the book. Still changing a world isn't meant to rush you or pressure you. It's meant to walk alongside you, reminding you that the small, steady ways you choose kindness still ripple outward in ways that you may never fully see. You can grab the book on Amazon. There'll be links in the show notes for that. And if you know somebody who's tired, but still trying, someone who hasn't given up, even if they feel close, this book might be one you could hand them. Thanks for being here. Thanks for choosing kindness. And thanks for staying human. You've been listening to the Kindness Matters podcast. I'm your host, Mike Rathbun.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

We are in house. The same song because we're human first. Human fur.