The Kindness Extremist with Shola Richards

• Heart and Backbone: How Kind Leaders Get Real Results

  Can you lead with both heart and authority? In this episode of The Kindness Extremist, Shola Richards breaks down the myth that kindness is weakness in leadership — and reveals how compassion can become your greatest leadership superpower.  Drawing from personal stories, research, and decades of leadership insight, Shola shares 3 transformative strategies to lead with authenticity, build trust, and drive results — all without compromising your strength. Whether you're leading a team of two or 2,000, managing your household, or creating positive change in your community, this episode will shift how you see kindness's role in leadership. What You’ll Learn:Why being liked can make you a better leaderHow to build trust without losing authorityA game-changing mindset shift for giving feedback kindlyReal stories that show kindness under pressure Don’t Miss This If You Want To: ✔️ Build deeper trust with your team ✔️ Set firm boundaries without losing compassion ✔️ Communicate with clarity, care, and courage Timestamps: 00:00 Intro — Kindness vs. Weakness 01:45 Myth: “Nice leaders finish last” 03:20 Strategy 1: Communicate with Care 10:15 Strategy 2: Keep It Real (Vulnerability = Strength) 16:00 Strategy 3: Stand Up for What’s Right 23:30 Final Thoughts + Challenge for the Week🔗 Connect with Shola:Instagram – @sholarichardsWebsite – sholarichards.comFor speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected] This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

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• How to Deal with Difficult Colleagues Without Losing Your Cool

  Struggling with a toxic coworker, a passive-aggressive teammate, or a boss who takes credit for your work? You’re not alone. In this episode, host Shola Richards shares 3 practical strategies to help you handle difficult colleagues without sacrificing your peace of mind or professionalism. Shola offers practical, compassionate tools to protect your energy while staying true to your values. Learn when to speak up, when to let go, and how to use assertive communication that actually works. You'll learn how to:✅ Use assertive communication to shut down drama✅ Tell when to speak up vs. when to let go✅ Deal with passive-aggressive behavior like a pro✅ Protect your energy in toxic workplace dynamics Whether you’re dealing with a difficult boss, team member, or peer, this episode equips you with the confidence to act with clarity, not chaos.  Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Episode 15 01:54 Understanding Workplace Agitators 03:01 Strategy 1: The Workplace Serenity Prayer 08:42 Strategy 2: Assertive Communication 14:52 Strategy 3: Handling Passive Aggressiveness 20:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts🔗 Connect with Shola:Instagram – @sholarichardsWebsite – sholarichards.comFor speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected] This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

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• How to Detoxify Your Mind and Practice Mental Self-Defense

  Is your mind constantly under attack from negativity, outrage, and emotional overload? In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down exactly how cable news, toxic social media, and draining relationships can sabotage your peace — and what you can do to take your power back. In the episode, you'll discover:Why your brain treats cable news like a threat, and how to break the cycleHow to stop mindless social media scrolling from hijacking your moodWhy "loving some people from a distance" is a kindness to yourself3 simple, powerful strategies to protect your mental energy This isn’t about hiding from reality — it’s about protecting your mind so you can show up for others with compassion, clarity, and strength. Only when you reclaim your peace can kindness thrive! Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Guarding Your Mind02:12 - The Dangers of Cable News Addiction04:47 - Strategies to Break Free from News Addiction07:41 - The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health10:59 - Strategies to Reclaim Peace from Social Media13:30 - Dealing with Toxic People in Your Life19:08 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts🔗 Connect with Shola:Instagram – @sholarichardsWebsite – sholarichards.comFor speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected] This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

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• Beyond Your Blind Spots: 3 Steps to Overcoming Bias and Creating a Kinder World

  If we’re serious about building a kinder, more inclusive world, we need to start with an honest look inward. In this episode, Shola Richards shares three powerful, research-backed strategies to identify and reduce our unconscious biases, and explains how doing so can transform how we lead, love, and live. In this episode:Why isolation strengthens stereotypes, and how to break the cycleWhat Harvard's Implicit Association Test can teach you about your blind spotsHow to choose observation over assumption in everyday lifeWhy good intentions aren’t enough if the impact is harmfulPractical, doable steps to challenge bias in real time Resources Mentioned:Take the Implicit Association Test (IAT): https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ Whether you're a leader, teacher, parent, or human being who just wants to do better, this episode is your guide to addressing your unconscious biases in pursuit of a kinder world. 00:00 - Episode 13: Tackling Unconscious Bias01:04 - A Personal Story of Implicit Bias02:57 - Understanding the Impact of Bias03:51 - Strategy 1: Familiarize Yourself with Diversity10:35 - Strategy 2: Learn About Your Own Biases19:14 - Strategy 3: Observe Objectively24:43 - Conclusion: The Journey to a Kinder World🔗 Connect with Shola:Instagram – @sholarichardsWebsite – sholarichards.comFor speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected] This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

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• Stop Waiting for Someone to Save You: 3 Ways to Become Your Own Hero

  Feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of the world? You’re not alone. But what if the power to make a difference isn’t “out there”… but instead staring back at you in the mirror? In this empowering episode, Shola Richards reveals how you can reclaim your agency by focusing on the only three things truly within your control: your actions, your effort, and your attitude. Through personal stories, powerful mindset shifts, and practical strategies, you’ll learn how to step off the sidelines and into meaningful, sustainable action.In this episode:How small “meaningful micro-actions” create massive ripple effectsThe trap of perfectionism—and how to embrace “right-sized effort”The 6-and-6 rule for keeping your attitude in checkWhat to do when your mindset feels out of controlWhether you feel powerless at work or discouraged by global problems, this episode will remind you: you have more control than you think.Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: You Have More Control Than You Think 3:00 – What’s Really Holding Us Back 6:30 – The Bystander Effect and Personal Agency 10:15 – Micro-Actions That Make a Macro Impact 14:20 – Right-Sized Effort vs. Burnout 18:50 – The 6-and-6 Rule for Attitude Control 23:00 – How to Influence Others with Your Mindset 25:30 – Final Challenge: What Will You Choose to Do?https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2469902.rss🔗 Connect with Shola:Instagram – @sholarichardsWebsite – sholarichards.comFor speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected] This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

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