Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Growing Kindness™: Stories of kindness, generosity and community that inspire hope
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Growing Kindness™: Stories of kindness, generosity and community that inspire hope
Growing Kindness™: Stories of kindness, generosity and community that inspire hope episodes
- A New Chapter for Growing Kindness: Deanna Kitchen with Board President Leslie Wehr
What happens when something you’ve poured your heart into reaches a season of transition and asks you to trust other hands to carry it forward? In this deeply personal episode, I’m sharing what’s next for me and for Growing Kindness, including my decision to step back, take a sabbatical, and give myself the rest my body and family need. I’m also joined by board president Leslie Wehr to talk about the people stepping forward, the ways to give your time and talents, and the hope and encouragement we both feel as this mission enters its next chapter.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What this season of transition means as Growing Kindness moves from being founder-led to being carried by its board and community.
- The many ways to give beyond serving on the board, from sharing professional skills to fundraising, grant writing, volunteering, and simply offering what you can.
- Why belonging, community, and keeping the simple heart of giving flowers at the center offer so much hope and encouragement for what comes next.
This season of transition carries grief, gratitude, and a tremendous amount of hope. I’m learning that letting go doesn’t mean I believe in this mission any less. In fact, I believe in Growing Kindness enough to trust that it was never mine to carry alone. There are so many ways to give, and every person who chooses to show up with what they have becomes part of carrying this work forward. My hope is that this conversation gives you hope and encouragement too, and reminds you that what you have is enough, who you are is enough, and your small acts of kindness truly matter.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH LESLIE WEHR:
Instagram
1 hr 10 min - Building Bridges with Flowers: Irma Lagomarsino Seeing, Supporting, and Showing Up
What if the flowers growing in your backyard could become a bridge to someone you might never have connected with otherwise? In this episode, I’m joined by Growing Kindness ambassador Irma Lagomarsino, whose journey of giving away flowers has become an intentional practice of seeing, supporting, and showing up for others. Irma shares one of those unforgettable stories about generosity, along with how flowers have helped her discover new ways to give while connecting with the community right where she lives.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How volunteering with The Bloom Project showed Irma the profound impact of giving away flowers, including the story of a man who had never received flowers before.
- Why connecting with the community doesn't have to mean reaching hundreds of people, sometimes it means showing up for the same few people again and again.
- Why some of the most meaningful ways to give begin with recognizing what you already have and sharing it with someone else.
- The beautiful stories about generosity Irma has collected through years of growing, giving, listening, and building relationships.
- How the simple act of giving away flowers can open doors, lower walls, and help people feel seen and remembered.
Irma’s story is a beautiful reminder that we don't have to solve every problem or reach everyone to make a difference. Connecting with the community can begin with noticing the people right in front of us and choosing to show up consistently. Whether you're searching for simple ways to give, encouraged by stories about generosity, or inspired by the idea of giving away flowers, I hope this conversation helps you look at your own neighborhood with new eyes. There are so many opportunities for connecting with the community, and sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer is simply a reminder that says, "I see you. I care about you."
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH IRMA:
Instagram
38 min - The Things No One Sees: Shane Kitchen on Building Growing Kindness Together (Part 2)
There are so many parts of a mission that people never see. In Part 2 of my conversation with Shane Kitchen, we pull back the curtain on the unseen work behind Growing Kindness and the lessons we've learned after nearly eight years of building this organization together. From the sacrifices our family made to the joy of watching kindness ripple across communities, this conversation is an honest reflection on what it really takes to build something that lasts. More than anything, it's a reminder that you don't have to have everything figured out to make a difference. You simply have to start where you are, look for ways to give, and keep serving your community one step at a time.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What it really takes behind the scenes to build Growing Kindness and why the unseen work matters.
- Why start where you are became one of the guiding principles that shaped our family and this organization.
- How serving your community often begins with simple acts that grow into something much bigger over time.
- The importance of creating sustainable ways to give so kindness can continue reaching more people.
- Our hopes for the future of Growing Kindness, including new opportunities to inspire families, children, and communities to find their own ways to give.
As I reflect on this season, I'm reminded that every meaningful mission is built through ordinary people who choose to show up again and again. Whether you're looking for ways to give, wondering how to start where you are, passionate about serving your community, or inspired by the mission of Growing Kindness, I hope this conversation encourages you to believe that even the smallest act of kindness can become part of something far bigger than you ever imagined. Growing Kindness has always been about people, and my hope is that you'll leave this episode feeling empowered to start where you are, continue serving your community, discover new ways to give, and help us keep Growing Kindness blooming for years to come.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
39 min - The Strength of Tenderness: Shane Kitchen on Flowers, Fatherhood & Choosing Kindness (Part 1)
For nearly eight years, you've heard the story of Growing Kindness through my perspective, but today you're finally meeting the person who has quietly walked beside me through every step of the journey, Shane Kitchen. In this special Part 1 conversation, Shane Kitchen shares our story from his point of view, reflecting on the experiences that shaped our family, our mission, and our commitment to choosing kindness. Together, we explore how connecting with the community has transformed our lives and why the most meaningful connections are often built when we're willing to step outside our comfort zones.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- How a county fair, a rope, and a shared love for serving others became the beginning of our story.
- Why choosing kindness often requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to embrace tenderness.
- How Shane Kitchen challenged his own assumptions about flowers, masculinity, and what true strength really looks like.
- Why connecting with the community creates opportunities to care for strangers, neighbors, and the people right in front of us.
- How raising children through everyday acts of choosing kindness has helped our family build lasting values rooted in compassion and service.
- Why the most meaningful connections often begin with one simple act of generosity and continue to ripple outward in unexpected ways.
This conversation is an invitation to see kindness differently. Whether you're delivering flowers, helping a neighbor, or simply taking the time to notice someone who needs encouragement, connecting with the community starts with one small step. My hope is that Shane Kitchen inspires you to embrace the strength of tenderness, pursue meaningful connections, and continue choosing kindness every single day. Thank you for being part of Growing Kindness and for helping us create meaningful connections that truly make a difference.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
30 min - From Buy Nothing to Boundless Kindness: Alicia Myers Leifheit on Growing Kindness by Starting Where You Are
When we think about making a difference, it's easy to believe we need more time, more space, or more resources before we can begin. In this episode, I’m joined by Alicia Myers Leifheit, whose story is a beautiful reminder that the most meaningful acts of kindness often begin with simply using what we already have. What started with sharing extra flowers through a local Buy Nothing group blossomed into deeper community connection, countless moments of giving away flowers, and a life rooted in the mission of Growing Kindness. Her story proves that every short kindness story has the potential to become part of something much bigger.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How giving away flowers through a Buy Nothing group became an unexpected source of joy and community connection
- Why one simple short kindness story can inspire others to begin serving their own communities
- How the Growing Kindness mission encouraged Alicia to start where she was and trust that small acts matter
- The unexpected relationships, conversations, and opportunities that grew from consistently giving away flowers
- Why building community connection begins with showing up, sharing what you have, and believing that kindness spreads
Alicia’s story reminded me that kindness doesn't require perfect circumstances. Whether you're inspired by Growing Kindness, looking for your own short kindness story, interested in giving away flowers, or hoping to create deeper community connection, this conversation is an invitation to simply start where you are. The smallest act of generosity may become the beginning of something far more beautiful than you ever imagined.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH ALICIA MYERS LEIFHEIT:
Instagram
47 min - Planting Seeds That Last: Jenny Pirto on Kindness, Motherhood, and Community Connection
When I think about the power of flowers, I often think about the connections they create. In this conversation, I’m joined by Jenny Pirto, a longtime member of the growing kindness project, who shares how cut flower gardening became a pathway to deeper friendships, meaningful service, and lasting community connection. From raising her children with a heart for generosity to finding belonging through flowers and neighbors, Jenny's story is a beautiful reminder that the seeds we plant today often bloom in ways we never expect.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How cut flower gardening opened doors to friendship, belonging, and authentic community connection
- Why the growing kindness project inspired Jenny to begin giving flowers away and serving others in simple ways
- The role flowers have played in raising kind kids who understand the value of generosity and helping others
- How small acts of kindness can strengthen community connection and create lasting relationships
- Why cut flower gardening is about so much more than growing flowers—it’s about growing people, purpose, and connection
As I listened to Jenny’s story, I was reminded that kindness often starts with something simple: a bouquet, a conversation, or an invitation to connect. Whether you’re involved with the growing kindness project, interested in cut flower gardening, focused on raising kind kids, or simply looking for deeper community connection, this episode is a beautiful reminder that the smallest seeds often grow into the most meaningful relationships.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH JENNY PIRTO:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
46 min - Growing Kind Kids: How Seraphine and Aliana Are Stitching Kindness Into Their Community
As a mom, one of my greatest hopes is to raise kind kids who understand that even the smallest act of generosity can make a difference. In this heartwarming conversation, I’m joined by sisters Seraphine and Aliana Hernandez, two young girls who are doing exactly that. Through crocheted bookmarks, handmade gifts, flowers, and simple acts of service, they are actively growing kindness in their neighborhood and showing all of us what it looks like to care for others. Their story is a beautiful reminder that age is never a barrier to making an impact, that teaching kindness starts at home, and that sometimes the best lessons in how to build community come from the youngest among us.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Seraphine and Aliana began growing kindness through handmade bookmarks and gifts for seniors in their community
- Why teaching kindness through everyday actions can help raise compassionate, confident, and caring kind kids
- Simple ways families can practice how to build community through service, generosity, and meaningful connection
- The powerful impact that kind kids can have when they are encouraged to use their talents to help others
- How growing kindness creates ripple effects that strengthen relationships and inspire others to give back
Listening to Seraphine and Aliana reminded me that we don’t have to wait until we’re older, have more resources, or feel more prepared before making a difference. Whether it’s through teaching kindness, looking for opportunities to serve, or learning how to build community right where we are, every act matters. Their story is proof that kind kids can change the world and that growing kindness often begins with one small act of love.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH SERAPHINE AND ALIANA:
Instagram
37 min - Your Nothing Is Someone Else's Everything: Dr. Barbara Rembiesa on the Ripple Effects of Everyday Kindness
When I first heard Dr. Barbara Rembiesa share the phrase, “your nothing is someone else’s everything,” it stopped me in my tracks. How often do we underestimate what we have to offer? In this conversation, Dr. Barbara Rembiesa shares why the smallest gestures can create lasting ripple effects, how everyday kindness has the power to transform lives, and why there are always meaningful ways to give, no matter our circumstances. Through personal stories, professional experiences, and powerful reflections on human connection, she reminds us that what feels ordinary to us may be exactly what someone else’s heart needs today.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why everyday kindness often has a greater impact than we realize, and how small moments create powerful ripple effects
- How recognizing that your “nothing” may be someone else’s everything can change the way you move through the world
- Practical ways to give your time, talents, encouragement, and attention without needing more money or resources
- The lasting ripple effects that happen when people choose connection, generosity, and compassion
- How everyday kindness creates belonging, strengthens communities, and reminds someone else’s heart that they matter
As I listened to Dr. Barbara’s story, I was reminded that there are always ways to give, even when we feel like we have very little to offer. The truth is that what seems small to us may become someone else’s source of hope. If this episode encourages you, I hope you'll look for one simple act of everyday kindness today and trust that its ripple effects may reach farther than you ever know.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Dr. Barbara Rembiesa’s Book: My Nothing is Someone Else’s Everything
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH DR. BARBARA REMBIESA:
Instagram
Website
38 min - The Garden as a Place to Heal: Author Elizabeth Brown on Creating Gardens That Nourish Us
There is something profoundly healing about putting your hands in the soil, slowing down long enough to notice what’s blooming, and remembering that beauty does not have to be productive to be meaningful. In this episode, I’m joined by author and therapeutic horticulturist Elizabeth Brown for a deeply honest conversation about therapeutic gardening, grief, motherhood, burnout, and the powerful role our gardens can play in helping us reconnect with ourselves and our communities. Elizabeth shares how growing cut flowers during the pandemic became a lifeline through loss, anxiety, and overwhelm, eventually leading her to write The Beginner’s Cut Flower Garden and help others create gardens that truly nourish them. Together, we talk about why flowers for beginners can become more than a hobby, how gardens can shift from places of hustle back into places of healing, and why the smallest acts of kindness often leave the deepest impact. This episode is full of gentle wisdom, encouragement, and the kind of kindness stories that remind us we don’t have to grow perfect gardens to grow something meaningful.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How therapeutic gardening supports emotional wellness, grief, anxiety, and self-care
- Why growing cut flowers can create connection, healing, and purpose in everyday life
- Simple advice for flowers for beginners, including what to grow first and how to avoid overwhelm
- The pressure many women feel to turn hobbies into productivity, and how to reclaim the garden as a place to rest
- Beautiful kindness stories about family, community, motherhood, and the people who first taught us to love flowers
If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend who may need a reminder that healing can begin right outside their back door. And if you’ve ever wondered whether your small garden could make a meaningful impact, this episode is your invitation to start where you are, use what you have, and trust that it is already enough.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH BROWN:
Website
45 min - One Yes that's Now Reaching Thousands: Ashley Manning and the Watch Love Grow Mission
When I first heard Ashley Manning’s story, I couldn’t stop thinking about how one simple yes can ripple farther than we ever imagine. In this conversation, I sit down with Ashley Manning, the heart behind watch love grow, to talk about how a single act turned into something that is now reaching thousands. This is more than a story about kindness. It’s a reminder that community kindness begins with one person choosing to show up. Ashley Manning shares how watch love grow became a living, breathing expression of love in action, and how each story about kindness continues to multiply through simple, intentional acts.
- How Ashley Manning said yes and created watch love grow from a single moment of compassion
- What community kindness really looks like in everyday life and why it matters more than we think
- The ripple effect behind every story about kindness and how small actions reach far beyond what we see
- Why watch love grow continues to expand through ordinary people choosing to care
- How Ashley Manning invites others into community kindness through simple, tangible acts
If this conversation moves you, I hope it reminds you that your one yes matters. Whether it’s through watch love grow, your own story about kindness, or choosing to show up in community kindness, you are part of something bigger than you realize.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Full transcript available at this episode’s webpage.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners
Donate to help kindness grow
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags
Follow us on Instagram: @growingkindnessproject
CONNECT WITH ASHLEY MANNING:
Website
Instagram
41 min
About Growing Kindness™: Stories of kindness, generosity and community that inspire hope
From the publisher's feed
In a world that often feels divided, the Growing Kindness™ Podcast is a place to find hope, connection, and encouragement through stories of generosity, giving, and acts of kindness - often told through the language of flowers.
Hosted by Deanna Kitchen, founder of Growing Kindness™ Movement, each episode highlights inspiring guests whose simple acts - whether planting a seed, gifting a bouquet, or serving their communities - remind us that kindness can take root anywhere.
You’ll hear heartfelt stories, garden wisdom, and uplifting ideas for creating connection and beauty right where you are.
Whether you’re a gardener, a giver, or simply someone who believes in the power of kindness, this podcast will inspire you to live generously and let kindness grow.
👉 Here’s how you can join the movement:
Join our free community of Growing Kindness™ Gardeners: growingkindnessproject.org
Donate to help kindness grow: thegrowingkindnessproject.givingfuel.com
Sign up for our newsletter for inspiration and updates: growingkindnessproject.org
Explore free resources like our Growing Guide and bouquet tags: growingkindnessproject.org