How can animated characters teach kids about kindness, inclusion, and climate change? What do a hard-of-hearing whale and a finger-spelling hermit crab have to do with ocean conservation and environmental conservation?

In this episode of The Expat Experience, host Robert DeForge welcomes author and sign language interpreter Marianne Ambrose, whose Acts of Kindness Book Series blends storytelling, deaf advocacy, and real-world issues like bullying, clean oceans, and climate change. Inspired by her experiences sailing in Hawaii and practicing meditation, Marianne’s work features animated characters, puppets, and music to educate children on pressing social issues. Through her focus on education, inclusion, and creativity, she demonstrates how everyday acts of kindness can empower young people and create a lasting global impact.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Intro: Meet Marianne
• (02:15)How guided meditation and ocean pollution near her sailboat in Hawaii inspired Underwater Acts of Kindness
• (06:06) Creating themed books: Rabbit Acts of Kindness, Righteous Acts of Kindness, and Cool Acts of Kindness for Climate Change
• (11:19) Marianne’s mission to spread kindness through storytelling, animation, and deaf advocacy
• (13:30) Tackling bullying, hearing loss, climate change, and clean water through sign language and quirky characters in her animated stories
• (16:30) How listeners can incorporate kindness into their daily lives, and a look ahead at the future of the book series

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• The Acts of Kindness book series uses animation, puppetry, and storytelling to educate readers about environmental and social issues. Marianne’s characters, like Noaah the hard-of-hearing whale and Dr. Fingers the finger-spelling hermit crab, teach children sign language while promoting inclusion, empathy, and ocean conservation.
• Inspired by her time as a sailor and sign language interpreter, Marianne raises awareness of issues like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, bullying, and hearing loss. Through creativity and compassion, her mission is to make acts of kindness a part of everyday life and inspire a global movement for change.
• Her educational tools—used in Hawaii’s schools and deaf communities—include coloring books, clean water units, and puppets, all supported by grants like one from the Awesome Foundation.

RESOURCES:

Expat Experience - Podcast

Robert DeForge - LinkedIn

DeForge Realty Group -  Website

Marianne L. Ambrose - LinkedIn

Underwater Acts of Kindness (Acts of Kindness Book Series)

Rabbit Acts of Kindness - No Bully (Acts of Kindness Book Series)

Righteous Acts of Kindness - (Kindness Book Series)

Cool Acts of Kindness (Acts of Kindness Book Series)

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Marianne L. Ambrose ( Marianne of Waikiki ) is a creative international sign language entertainer and artist who uses puppetry and American Sign Language to entertain hearing -impaired audiences. She holds a B. S in Communication Disorders/ Audiology from Central Michigan University. Marianne has dealt with her own hearing loss challenge, which resulted from a car accident. She has since recovered and is more passionate than ever about bringing her "Acts of Kindness Divine Messages" of peace, love, happiness and thanks to audiences across the globe.

KEYWORDS: Kindness, Storytelling, Deaf Advocacy, Sign Language, Marianne Ambrose, Bullying, Climate Change, Clean Water, Puppets, Animation, Book Series, Ocean Conservation, Inclusion, Social Issues, Hawaii, Acts of Kindness, Environmental Awareness, Underwater Acts of Kindness, Rabbit Acts of Kindness, Righteous Acts of Kindness, and Cool Acts of Kindness for Climate Change, ASL, American Sign Language, sign language interpreter