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Send us Fan MailA sober living home can be more than a roof. It can be a turning point. We sit down with Amber Miller, the founder of Angels House of Healing, to hear how she turned grief, addiction recovery, and a promise to break a generational cycle into a real transitional living community for women. Her story starts with losing her mother to alcoholism at 44, and the clarity that the deeper wound was unhealed trauma. From there, Amber shares what it took to get sober, face shame, and rebuild an identity rooted in values and integrity.We also get practical about what makes women’s sober living work day to day: creating safety and trust for residents arriving from treatment, incarceration, or unsafe housing, setting clear standards, and building a culture where kindness includes boundaries and accountability. Amber explains who Angels House of Healing is for, why the program expects readiness and inner work, and how community can help someone stop living in survival mode.A standout takeaway is the focus on independence. Amber wants women leaving with two essentials: knowing their worth and gaining financial education. We talk about financial literacy, budgeting, and even using AI tools to help residents learn money skills that many of us were never taught. We also touch on the ripple effect of healing through kids, families, friendships, and the broader community, plus Amber’s upcoming non-alcoholic one-year celebration and fundraiser, Raising Spirits, in La Crosse, Wisconsin.If this conversation hits home, subscribe to Kindness Matters, share the episode with someone in recovery, and leave a quick review so more people can find these stories. What part of Amber’s approach to healing do you want to try first?This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com”Support the show

Send a textA bold claim said empathy is “toxic.” We took that personally—and turned it into a rich, practical conversation about what empathy really is, how it works, and why it makes families, classrooms, and communities stronger. With consultant, author, and caregiver Linda Lemos, we move past slogans and look at empathy as a skill you can learn, teach, and use every day without lowering standards or excusing harm.We start with caregiving, where pain and patience collide and where boundaries and compassion must live together. Linda shares how empathy shifts reactions from reflexive judgment to informed response, especially when behavior is driven by pain, fear, or medication changes. From there, we zoom into schools. What happens when empathy is built into the culture? Kids take intellectual risks, ask real questions, and navigate conflict instead of fearing it. We compare U.S. realities with Norway’s long-standing commitment to empathy training and emotional regulation across grades, as well as cooperative learning and dialogue-first conflict resolution.We also push back on the idea that “feelings” distract from learning. Emotional regulation strengthens focus, problem solving, and resilience—the bedrock of academic success. Cutting counselors and relying on policing as a first response creates brittle systems that punish rather than teach. We talk about what breaks down when empathy is dismissed—trust, communication, accountability—and how that shows up at home, at school, and online. Then we get practical: simple scripts you can use today, like “Help me understand what you’re feeling” or “Tell me more about how you see this,” and small acts of curiosity that rebuild connection in everyday places.If you’re ready to replace hot takes with human skills, this conversation offers hope and a toolkit. Listen, share with someone who cares about kids and community, and leave a review to help others find the show. Subscribe for more stories and practice you can use this week."This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.com to learn more. Enjoyed this episode? Stay connected with us! Follow our podcast community on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok for uplifting, inspirational, and feel-good stories. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and more content designed to brighten your day."Join the movement of kindness! When you shop The So Do You Collection, you’re not just getting inspiring merch—you’re helping make a difference. A portion of every purchase supports local and national nonprofits that spread kindness where it’s needed most. Explore the Support the show

Send a textThe world feels sharper than it used to. Conversations cut faster. Systems feel colder. And many good people feel tempted to harden—not because they don’t care, but because they’re tired.In this final bonus episode of The Kindness Matters Podcast, Mike shares why staying soft in a harsh world is not weakness—it’s courage. Drawing from his new book, Still Changing A World: Small Acts of Kindness That Make a Big Difference, he explores how we can protect our humanity without burning out, disappearing, or becoming bitter.This episode is about boundaries instead of walls, rest instead of retreat, and why small, everyday acts of kindness matter more—not less—when big systems feel broken.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why the urge to harden your heart is often about exhaustion, not lack of compassionThe difference between boundaries and emotional wallsHow staying “soft and strong” helps you remain human without self-erasureWhy small acts create real change, even when they don’t go viralHow to keep showing up with kindness without carrying the weight of fixing everythingFeatured readings from the book:“When You’re Tempted to Harden Your Heart”“Small Acts Matter More When Big Systems Feel Broken”Key takeaway:You are not responsible for fixing the whole world. You are responsible for how you show up in the part of it you touch.Kindness doesn’t require perfection, consensus, or constant output. It requires presence, boundaries, and the courage to stay human—especially when the world makes that hard.Resources & Links:Still Changing A World: Small Acts of Kindness That Make a Big Difference by Mike Rathbun (Available wherever books are sold — link in show notes)If this episode resonated:Share it with someone who feels tired but hasn’t given upLeave a review to help others find the showOr do one small act of kindness today—those still countThank you for listening. Thank you for caring. And thank you for staying soft in a sharp world.If you would like to purchase this book in either Kindle format or Paperback you can do that here.Support the show

Send a textIn this bonus episode of the Kindness Matters podcast, host Mike Rathman shares the heart and hope behind his new book, Still Changing a World: Small Acts of Kindness that Make a Big Difference. Instead of a sales pitch, Mike offers an invitation into the “why” behind the project and reflects on what it means to keep choosing kindness in a world that feels sharper, faster, and more divided than ever. He reads a short passage from the book’s introduction, exploring how true change has always depended on quiet, everyday choices—how we treat one another when no one is watching and how we respond when it would be easier to harden than to care. Mike also unpacks why kindness today can feel almost defiant, and why continuing to lead with humanity is both simple and incredibly hard. If you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, or unsure how to stay kind without disappearing, this conversation will feel like a gentle, needed reminder that you’re not alone.Who This Episode Is ForListeners who feel worn out by division, outrage, and constant noise.Anyone who wants to make a difference but wonders if small acts still matter.People trying to stay kind without ignoring harm, injustice, or their own boundaries.Link to the book: Available in Paperback or Kindle.Support the show