
The "Soft Skill" That’s Actually a Survival Tool
From Ask Kati Anything by Kati Morton, LMFT
March 12, 2026 · 1h 26m · Episode 305
About this episode
Kati Morton discusses the importance of kindness as a survival tool for resilience with Andra Liemandt, exploring emotional literacy and practical strategies for parents.
Why is "kindness" often dismissed as a soft skill when it’s actually a life-saving tool for resilience? In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, licensed therapist Kati Morton is joined by Andra Liemandt, the founder and CEO of The Kindness Campaign. Andra shares the powerful, heartbreaking story of how a tragic loss in her community became the catalyst for a national movement that reached over 250,000 students last year alone. We explore the science of emotional literacy, the transformative power of "Mirror Work," and practical strategies for parents to help their children feel seen, heard, and understood. Shopping with our sponsors helps support Ask Kati Anything. Please check out this week's special offers: • Hungryroot - Get 40% off your first box plus a free item in every box for life at https://www.hungryroot.com/kati with code KATI • Care.com - Get 20% off a subscription or a senior care advisor plan at https://www.care.com/ using code KATI TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro: Advancing emotional literacy with Andra Liemandt. 02:59 – The tragedy that started The Kindness Campaign. 06:17 – Enoughie Buddy: Helping kids find their words. 14:44 – "See to the other side": Finding light in…
People in this episode
Host: Kati Morton
Guest: Andra Liemandt
Topics covered
- kindness
- emotional literacy
- resilience
- parenting
- mental health
Keywords
- Mirror Work
- Kindness Campaign
- self-worth
- secure attachment
Sponsors
Hungryroot, Care.com
Mentioned in this episode
Products: the Magic Mirror, Hungryroot, Care.com
Books & works: Ask Kati Anything, Morning Pages
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