Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

How Small Acts of Kindness Can Create Monumental Ripple Effects with Bryan Driscoll, author of The Goodness Game


Listen Later

Do you ever think about how one small act of kindness can literally change the direction of someone's life? What if YOU could cause that turning point?

Today I’m sitting with Bryan Driscoll, author of The Goodness Game, who took an act of kindness he received 20 years ago in Orlando and, with the help of a Craigslist ad, paid it forward in a way that made national headlines and enormous ripple effects.

What I love most about this conversation? He shows it’s not about trying to change the world overnight. It's about the small choices we make every day, and the consequent ripples that touch not just the people we help, but also their friends, and their friends of friends.

If you've ever wondered if those small acts of kindness really matter, or if you're feeling a little bit overwhelmed by all the negativity in the world, this episode is for you. 


In this episode you’ll hear about:

  • Bryan’s journey on a Greyhound bus to Florida and the kindness of several strangers who helped him find a place to stay (and one woman who let him stay in her house!)
  • Social trust: what it is (essentially, our faith in strangers), its historical significance, and its decline in modern society
  • The importance of curiosity and discomfort in driving positive change and the potential for small acts to create significant ripples
  • How to use concepts from The Goodness Game, including “giving without remembering,” honing in on your helper style, and making acts of kindness enjoyable


Resources & Links:

Buy The Goodness Game by Bryan Driscoll and visit goodnessgame.com

And here’s some more information about the study on social trust that was mentioned in this episode.

Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually TakesBy Alex Alexander

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

55 ratings


More shows like Friendship IRL: Real Talk About Friendship, Community, and What It Actually Takes

View all
The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

The One You Feed

2,512 Listeners

Happier with Gretchen Rubin by Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

12,901 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,634 Listeners

Clutterbug - Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean your Home Fast by Clutterbug

Clutterbug - Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean your Home Fast

2,007 Listeners

The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra, The Lazy Genius

The Lazy Genius Podcast

6,508 Listeners

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel by Esther Perel Global Media

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

14,903 Listeners

Oprah's Super Soul by Oprah

Oprah's Super Soul

31,918 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

3,775 Listeners

On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

26,948 Listeners

Let's Get Dressed by Liv Perez

Let's Get Dressed

279 Listeners

Friend Forward by Danielle Bayard Jackson -- Female Friendship Expert

Friend Forward

265 Listeners

IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson by Higher Ground

IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson

12,951 Listeners

We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

We Can Do Hard Things

41,397 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,359 Listeners

Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari by Dear Media

Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari

3,424 Listeners