Growing Kindness™: Stories of kindness, generosity and community that inspire hope

There is something profoundly healing about putting your hands in the soil, slowing down long enough to notice what’s blooming, and remembering that beauty does not have to be productive to be meaningful. In this episode, I’m joined by author and therapeutic horticulturist Elizabeth Brown for a deeply honest conversation about therapeutic gardening, grief, motherhood, burnout, and the powerful role our gardens can play in helping us reconnect with ourselves and our communities. Elizabeth shares how growing cut flowers during the pandemic became a lifeline through loss, anxiety, and overwhelm, eventually leading her to write The Beginner’s Cut Flower Garden and help others create gardens that truly nourish them. Together, we talk about why flowers for beginners can become more than a hobby, how gardens can shift from places of hustle back into places of healing, and why the smallest acts of kindness often leave the deepest impact. This episode is full of gentle wisdom, encouragement, and the kind of kindness stories that remind us we don’t have to grow perfect gardens to grow something meaningful. In this episode, we discuss: How therapeutic gardening  supports emotional wellness, grief, anxiety, and self-care Why growing cut flowers can create connection, healing, and purpose in everyday life Simple advice for flowers for beginners, including what to grow first and how to avoid overwhelm The pressure many women feel to turn hobbies into productivity, and how to reclaim the garden as a place to rest Beautiful kindness stories about family, community, motherhood, and the people who first taught us to love flowers If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend who may need a reminder that healing can begin right outside their back door. And if you’ve ever wondered whether your small garden could make a meaningful impact, this episode is your invitation to start where you are, use what you have, and trust that it is already enough.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH BROWN: Website

Some stories stay with you long after the conversation ends, and this is one of them. In this episode, I sit down with Shari Froelich to talk about what it really means to be carrying grief while still showing up with compassion and presence. Through her powerful caregiver story, Shari shares how years in nursing, hospice, and personal loss shaped the way she approaches love, loss, and connection. What unfolds is a deeply moving reflection on finding meaning after loss and how, even in the hardest seasons, we can continue carrying kindness in ways that truly change lives. This conversation is an honest look at what it means to sit with others in their final moments, to walk through carrying grief without rushing the process, and to discover that finding meaning after loss often comes through the way we care for others. Shari’s caregiver story is filled with wisdom, tenderness, and real-life experience that reminds us that carrying kindness is not about perfection, but about presence. What it means to be carrying grief while still choosing to love and serve others A deeply personal caregiver story shaped by hospice care, family dynamics, and end-of-life experiences How finding meaning after loss can come through simple, intentional acts of care The quiet power of presence and listening as forms of carrying kindness Why carrying kindness through small, everyday actions can leave a lasting impact long after loss If this conversation resonates with you, I invite you to reflect on how you might be carrying grief in your own life and where you might begin finding meaning after loss through connection and care. Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that even in loss, carrying kindness can still lead the way forward.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   CONNECT WITH SHARI FROELICH: Intagram  

What if the greatest gift in your hardest season is becoming a giver again? In this episode, I sit down with Robbie Bennett to share her powerful story of grief, healing, and finding purpose after loss. After walking through the illness and passing of her husband, Robbie found herself navigating a new life that felt uncertain and heavy. But through simple, intentional moments of being a giver, she began to rediscover joy and meaning. From bringing flowers into hospital rooms to offering them to strangers in everyday places, Robbie’s journey shows how small acts of kindness can transform not only others’ lives, but our own. Her story is a beautiful reminder that finding purpose doesn’t require something big or complicated. Sometimes it begins with choosing being a giver in the smallest ways. In this episode, we talk about: How Robbie Bennett began finding purpose again after loss through being a giver The emotional impact of small acts of kindness in hospitals, grocery stores, and everyday life Why being a giver can bring healing during seasons of grief and uncertainty How Robbie Bennett experienced connection and transformation through small acts of kindness The ripple effect that happens when we focus on finding purpose through simple, intentional giving Robbie Bennett’s story is a powerful reminder that small acts of kindness matter more than we realize. If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend and take one small step toward being a giver and finding purpose right where you are.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage. Printable Bouquet Tags   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   CONNECT WITH ROBBIE BENNETT: Instagram

Letting go to grow is never easy, but sometimes it’s the very thing that allows something beautiful to become what it was always meant to be. In this deeply personal episode, I’m sharing about the next chapter of growing kindness and a significant leadership shift that marks a new season for our movement. After seven years of nurturing this mission from the ground up, it’s time to loosen my grip and trust that what we’ve planted together is ready to grow in new ways. This conversation is both tender and hopeful. I’m reflecting on the early days of growing kindness, how it grew during the pandemic, and why this season of letting go to grow is not an ending but truly the next chapter. In this episode, I share: The story behind the early years of growing kindness and how it expanded during uncertain times Why this leadership shift is necessary for long-term strength and sustainability What letting go to grow looks like in real time How this transition marks the next chapter for our community Ways you can help shape the next chapter of growing kindness If you’ve ever built something you love, held it close, and then felt the nudge that it was time to release control, this episode is for you. Letting go to grow doesn’t mean stepping away from purpose. It means trusting that what we’ve planted together is ready for more hands, more voices, and a broader vision. This leadership shift is not about shrinking. It’s about strengthening. It’s about ensuring that growing kindness continues to flourish far beyond one person. Thank you for being part of this story. Thank you for believing in growing kindness. And thank you for stepping with us into the next chapter.    RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage. Link for Board Application Link for Survey   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Darvish to explore the healing power of giving and the scientific link between service, kindness, and longevity. As we talk, we move beyond intuition and stories and into the fascinating science behind why acts of service change us at a cellular level. From hormones like oxytocin to the deep connection between emotional well-being and physical health, this conversation beautifully weaves together kindness psychology, medicine, and the lived experience of choosing generosity as a way of life. Together, Dr. Darvish and I explore how kindness is not just something we offer others, but something that actively heals and sustains us too. In this episode, we discuss: The healing power of giving and how service supports long-term health The scientific link between kindness, oxytocin, and reduced inflammation How kindness psychology explains the joy and calm we feel when we serve others Why generosity and connection are essential to longevity and wellbeing Practical ways to live out kindness as a daily, intentional practice If you’ve ever felt that kindness changes you just as much as it helps others, this conversation will give you both language and a scientific link to understand why. I hope it encourages you to keep choosing service, connection, and compassion in your everyday life. Listen in, be encouraged, and let this episode inspire you to share kindness in a way that supports both your well-being and the world around you.   Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   CONNECT WITH DR. DARVISH: Holistique Website Holistique Instagram Holistique Facebook Personal Website Personal Instagram Personal Facebook

In this episode, I sit down with flower farmer Kim Hill to talk about what it really looks like to combine cut flower gardening with a heart for community kindness. Kim shares her story of building dreams through flowers, navigating life as a for-profit flower farmer, and discovering how to spread kindness in sustainable, practical ways. This conversation is full of honesty, encouragement, and simple ideas that remind us we all have something beautiful to give. In this episode, we explore: How cut flower gardening can support both a livelihood and meaningful acts of community kindness Why building dreams does not require perfection, just willingness and abundance Practical, real-life ways Kim uses surplus flowers as a tool for how to spread kindness How generosity creates ripple effects that strengthen community kindness beyond what we can see Why cut flower gardening and giving can coexist without sacrificing sustainability or purpose Whether you grow a backyard garden or manage a flower farm, this episode will encourage you to rethink abundance, embrace building dreams through what you already have, and discover simple ways of how to spread kindness through flowers and connection. If this episode encouraged you, I invite you to take one small step today. Grow something. Share something. Or simply notice an opportunity for community kindness right where you are. Together, through cut flower gardening and intentional generosity, we can keep building dreams that bloom far beyond our own gardens.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   CONNECT WITH KIM HILL: Website Instagram Facebook

What happens when teaching becomes a doorway to transformation, and students discover the power of community kindness through simple, hands-on work? In today’s conversation, I sit down with Amy Morrison, a devoted FFA teacher whose work with flowers has grown into a beautiful practice of community kindness. Her classroom is full of heartwarming stories, meaningful projects, and daily moments of hope and encouragement. Together, we explore how a single idea can take root in students’ lives and grow into something far bigger than any of us imagined. In this episode, we explore: • How Amy’s work with flowers invites students into real-world acts of community kindness • The heartwarming stories that show how creativity, generosity, and service shape students from the inside out • Why teachers become catalysts for hope and encouragement simply by creating space for students to give • How simple, accessible projects grounded in work with flowers can shift a classroom culture toward community kindness • The surprising impact that small, daily acts can have when multiplied through heartwarming stories across a school This conversation is filled with hope and encouragement, reminding us that when we root our teaching in community kindness and meaningful work with flowers, we create the kind of heartwarming stories that students carry for a lifetime.   Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   CONNECT WITH AMY MORRISON: Mt Vernon FFA Instagram Mt Vernon FFA Facebook Amy’s Personal Instagram

What happens when a five-year-old says yes to a simple idea - and keeps saying yes for the next fifteen years?  In this inspirational story about giving, I sit down with Maggie Hartman to talk about how one small act of generosity bloomed into a movement that’s helping thousands of people each year. At just five years old, Maggie started selling flowers from her garden to fund a family trip. But what began as a small dream quickly grew into something extraordinary. Today, Maggie uses the funds raised from growing flowers to give Christmas gifts to families in need every year - a living example of the power of saying yes to what’s right in front of you.  Through her story, we explore practical ways to give, how to find joy in generosity, and what happens when we choose to give back with what we have. What you’ll hear: How a childhood flower stand became an inspirational story about giving and community impact The life-changing ripple effects that happen when we choose to give back Practical ways to give through flowers, service, and simple acts of kindness The surprising lessons Maggie learned about hope, patience, and the power of saying yes Real-life acts of kindness examples that show how generosity transforms both giver and receiver Maggie’s journey reminds us that when we lean into the power of saying yes, we open the door to beauty, belonging, and purpose. Her story is proof that anyone - at any age - can give back in meaningful ways.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   CONNECT WITH MAGGIE HARTMAN: Instagram: @maggies_flowers

Have you ever wondered if one small act of kindness could truly make a difference?  In this first episode, I share how a simple cut flower garden planted during a hard season became the beginning of a movement dedicated to spreading kindness around the world. When I started the Growing Kindness™ Movement, I never imagined it would reach far beyond my own backyard. What began as a few jars of sweet peas gifted to strangers turned into a story of hope and encouragement, and connecting to community. In this episode, I open up about the doubts I faced when stepping into this work, stories about acts of kindness and the lessons they have taught me, and how beauty and generosity can bloom even in the hardest seasons. Here’s what I’m sharing today: What inspired me to begin a cut flower garden and give flowers as acts of kindness How the Growing Kindness™ Movement started from one family’s garden The science behind why kindness is contagious What it means to practice spreading kindness even when it’s imperfect How small acts can create powerful ripples of connecting to community If you’re looking for a little more hope and encouragement in your days, I’d love for you to grow kindness with us.   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.   JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners  Donate to help kindness grow Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags  Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject   MORE ABOUT THE HOST, DEANNA KITCHEN: Growing up, Deanna Kitchen assumed her deep desire to connect with people and create community came from being raised in a tiny one-stoplight town. But over time, she’s come to realize that connection is more than where she’s from - it’s who she is. That same heartbeat for belonging became the seed that grew into The Growing Kindness ™ Movement. Deanna believes deeply in the importance of connection and community, the power of small acts of kindness, and leaning into the limitless possibilities that our limitations provide us. Married to her high school love (true story: they met through 4-H at the county fair) and mama to three amazing boys, they live together on their small scale flower farm @twigandvine, in a tiny town in Skagit Valley, about an hour north of Seattle. Together, their days are filled with flowers, farm critters and fairs, mountain biking and hiking. They’ve always seen their home and farm as an opportunity to invite others into a place of rest and gathering and the Growing Kindness Movement has become a very special extension of that deeply held value. What began with Deanna and her family’s simple act of growing and giving flowers has blossomed far beyond their farm fences. Today, Growing Kindness™ is a global movement - thousands of gardeners, givers, and dreamers around the world joining together to sow beauty, share hope, and remind one another that goodness still grows.