About this episode

Dr. Chris Culver discusses his book 'Be the Light' and the transformative power of kindness and belonging in leadership.

Dr. Chris Culver returns to Leaning Into Leadership for a powerful follow-up conversation centered around his new book, Be the Light: The Science of Kindness and the Power of Belonging . If you enjoyed Chris's first appearance on Episode 214: The Science of Kindness , you're going to love where this conversation goes next. While Episode 214 explored the research behind kindness, this discussion takes a deeper look at how belonging, empathy, neuroscience, and intentional leadership can transform the cultures we create and the lives we touch. In this episode, Darrin and Chris explore: Why every person is wired for belonging How kindness is a leadership strategy—not a weakness The connection between stress, burnout, and human connection The story behind Be the Light and its journey from darkness to hope The powerful "Light Manifesto" and what it means to choose kindness every day A memorable classroom story that illustrates the importance of perspective and self-compassion Three practical strategies you can implement immediately: The six-second pause Gratitude as a daily leadership practice Self-affirmation and the power of positive identity Throughout the conversation, Chris…

People in this episode

Host: Darrin Peppard

Guest: Dr. Chris Culver

Topics covered

• kindness
• belonging
• leadership
• empathy
• neuroscience
• self-compassion
• burnout

Keywords

• kindness
• leadership strategy
• belonging
• empathy
• neuroscience
• burnout
• self-affirmation
• gratitude

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Be the Light: The Science of Kindness and the Power of Belonging, Episode 214: The Science of Kindness

More episodes of Leaning into Leadership

• Episode 280: Leadership in the Age of AI with Molly Rosen · May 31, 2026 · 34 min
• Episode 279: Burn the Script with Jo Lein · May 24, 2026 · 33 min
• Episode 278: Compliance Can Control a Team. Alignment Can Transform One. · May 20, 2026 · 17 min
• Episode 277: Redefining Educator Professionalism with Dr. Nason Lollar · May 17, 2026 · 49 min
• Episode 276: The Leadership TAP with Dr. Joy Karavedas · May 10, 2026 · 33 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Leaning into Leadership podcast page.