The Kindness Extremist with Shola Richards

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 MicMoguls.

Are you tired all the time but telling yourself it’s a good thing? In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down one of the most accepted but damaging beliefs in modern culture: The idea that being constantly exhausted means you’re doing life right.
 
But what if that belief is actually making you less kind, less patient, and less present with the people who matter most?
 
This conversation uncovers the cost of hustle culture, the difference between active recovery and passive numbing, and the ways burnout is destructive to true kindness. Plus, Shola shares a simple framework for building rest into your life without guilt.
 
The Kindness Strategies:
The Depletion Review
The Rest Framework
Permission Rest
 
If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating and review - it helps more people discover the message and join the movement toward a kinder world!

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 30 - The Foundation: 3 Essential Daily Practices to Become a Kinder Human
Episode 32 - Becoming Strong Enough to be Kind: A New Framework to Create Cultures Worth Fighting For
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=ep57
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Betrayal is one of the most painful, disorienting human experiences, and it can leave you unsure of how to move forward with an open heart. Most advice tells you to forgive quickly or to protect yourself by never being that open again, neither of which actually helps you heal.
 
In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down the real impact of betrayal and what it takes to stay open without becoming naive. This is a deep dive into trust, vulnerability, and the difficult decision to keep showing up fully even after being hurt. You will learn how betrayal affects your brain and behavior, why closing your heart feels like protection but often isn’t, and how to rebuild trust in a way that is grounded, intentional, and sustainable.
 
The Kindness Strategies
Honest Accounting
The Lesson List
The Trust Gradient
 
Staying open after betrayal is not weakness. It is a conscious, courageous decision about the kind of person you choose to be. If this episode resonates, make sure to follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more people discover this message.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 7 - The Truth About Forgiveness: Let Go Without Letting Them Off The Hook
Episodes 33 - How to Recognize a Toxic Relationship—3 Warning Signs You Can't Ignore (Part 1)
Episode 34 - Still Not Sure If They're Toxic? 3 More Signs You Can't Ignore (Part 2)

For speaking requests or collaborations:
https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep56
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Are high expectations actually a form of kindness? And what does it really mean when you lower your standards for yourself or someone else? In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down a powerful mindset shift that challenges how most people think about empathy, leadership, and personal growth.
 
We often believe that being supportive means easing the pressure, lowering expectations, and letting things slide. But what if that approach is quietly doing more harm than good? This episode explores why low expectations can end up damaging confidence and limiting potential, and how holding high standards that are rooted in belief and backed by support is actually the kindest approach.
 
The Kindness Strategies:
Do a Belief Check
Have a Belief Conversation (Using the Belief, Challenge, Support Formula)
Write a Standard + Grace Statement
 
Listen to this episode to learn why high standards really matter, and how you can stop letting yourself and others off the hook - all in the name of kindness!
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 28 Quieting Your Inner Critic: Transforming Self-Criticism into Self-Kindness
Episode 51 The Lost Art of Encouragement: 3 Ways to Build People Up in a World That Tears Them Down
Episode 52 Perfect is the Enemy of Kind: 3 Ways Perfectionism Blocks Your Compassion
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=ep55

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Are you stuck in the people-pleasing trap? In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down why people pleasing is not kindness, and how it may actually be holding you back from real connection, confidence, and emotional freedom.
If you struggle to say no, avoid conflict, or constantly put others before yourself, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface and how to start changing it. You’ll learn how people pleasing is often driven by fear, how it affects your relationships more than you realize, and how to begin setting boundaries without losing your kindness.
 
The Kindness Strategies:
The Yes Check
The Resentment Compass
The Self-Kindness Policy
 
This is not about becoming selfish, it's about becoming strong enough to be genuinely kind. Tune in, and start to break your own people pleasing tendencies once and for all.
 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 1 - The Truth About Kindness: It's More Than Just Being Nice
Episode 25 - The Power of Boundaries — Your Roadmap to Protecting What Matters Most
Episode 32 - Becoming Strong Enough to be Kind: A New Framework To Create Cultures Worth Fighting For
Episode 45 - The Power of "No": 3 Ways Rejection Can Be The Ultimate Act of Kindness

For speaking requests or collaborations: https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep54
Read more on Substack: https://substack.com/@sholarichards 
🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
Read more on Substack.
This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.