The Kindness Extremist with Shola Richards

Most people spend years chasing a feeling of being enough, tying their worth to promotions, praise, productivity, and the approval of people around them. But what if that entire approach is backwards? 

In this episode, Shola Richards makes the case that genuine self-esteem is not something you find, it is something you deliberately construct, and the building process is simpler and more accessible than most people think. If you have ever felt like your confidence depends on everything going right, this episode will change how you think about your own worth and your capacity to show up for the people who need you most. 

Mentioned in This Episode
The Kindness Extremist Podcast Ep 48: The Necessity of Doing Hard Things: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-necessity-of-doing-hard-things-3-strategies-to/id1808367842?i=1000750997021

Dr. Kristin Neff, researcher and author on self-compassion: https://self-compassion.org/
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com

Can anger and kindness exist at the same time? In this episode, Shola Richards tackles one of the most misunderstood ideas in personal growth, leadership, and emotional intelligence: righteous anger.
 
Too many kind people have been taught to suppress their anger in the name of compassion, professionalism, or keeping the peace. But what happens when silence allows harm, injustice, or disrespect to continue unchecked? Shola explores the critical difference between reactive rage and values-driven anger, and why learning to channel anger effectively may be one of the most important leadership skills we can develop.
 
The Kindness Strategies:
The Anger Inventory
The Temperature Check
The Righteous Action Protocol & The Name It, Frame It, Claim It Framework
 
This episode will teach you to honor your anger and speak up with conviction while still maintaining your humanity.

 For speaking requests or collaborations:
https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep61
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Winners never quit.” But what if quitting is actually the kind thing to do? In this episode, Shola Richards challenges one of the most celebrated beliefs in modern culture and explores why quitting the right things may be one of the wisest and kindest decisions you ever make. Because the truth of the matter is that quitting doesn't always mean just giving up when life gets hard - sometimes it's about being honest with what's serving you, and what's not.
 
Through the episode, Shola unpacks the psychology behind staying too long and explains how the sunk cost fallacy can end up trapping us. He also discusses the emotional “neutral zone” after quitting, and shares strategies for quitting wit integrity when the time comes. 
 
The Kindness Strategies:
 The Quit Check 
 The Becoming Inventory 
 The Clean Goodbye 
 
Let's stop believing the lies about quitting that keep us stuck in harmful patterns and situations that benefit no one. If you’ve been holding onto something that no longer fits who you are, this conversation may help you finally understand why and start to let go for good.
 
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 8 - Is Your Job Hurting You? 3 Signs It's Time To Walk Away [Part 1]
Episode 9 - Still Stuck in a Toxic Job? 3 More Signals You Can't Ignore [Part 2]
Episode 25 - The Power of Boundaries—Your Roadmap to Protecting What Matters Most
Episode 48 - The Necessity of Doing Hard Things: 3 Strategies to Build Unshakable Courage

For speaking requests or collaborations:
https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep60
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com

Men have been sold a dangerous lie about masculinity: that kindness is weakness. In this episode of The Kindness Extremist, Shola Richards dismantles that belief and makes the case for a radically different definition of strength. Drawing from personal stories and lessons from his late father, Shola explores how rigid ideas about masculinity are harming men, damaging relationships, and creating emotional isolation that too often goes unspoken.
 
The Kindness Strategies:
The Strength List
The Permission Model
The Human Interruption
 
Whether you’re a father, leader, coach, partner, or simply someone trying to redefine what strength looks like, this conversation will challenge the way you think about masculinity.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 49 - Strong Enough to Apologize: 3 Steps to Making Things Right Without Losing Yourself
Episode 55 - Demand More: Why High Expectations Are The Greatest Act of Kindness
Episode 58 - The Art of Supporting Someone in Grief: What Not to Say (And What Actually Helps)

For speaking requests or collaborations:
https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep59
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences, and it's also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down the most common mistakes people make when trying to comfort someone in grief, and why those words, even when well-meaning, can make things worse.
 
But this isn’t just about what not to say - it’s also about understanding what grief actually feels like beneath the surface, why so many people disappear after the first few weeks, and how real support looks when there’s nothing to fix. You’ll learn how to move beyond surface-level empathy, how to show up without trying to “solve” someone’s pain, and why your presence matters more than the perfect words.
 
The Kindness Strategies:
Practice The 3 Word Test
Build a Grief Calendar
Write a Grief Permission Statement
 
If you’ve ever felt unsure of what to say or felt alone in your own grief, this conversation is for you. Tune in, and share the episode with a friend! 
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 36 - Permission to be Human: Mental Health Strategies for People Who Don't Like the Holidays
Episode 54 - The People Pleasing Trap: 3 Ways to Know If You're Being Kind or a Doormat
  
For speaking requests or collaborations:
https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep58
 
 
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com