The Art of Kindness: Pop Culture & Positivity with Robert Peterpaul

When Drew Lachey (98 Degrees) and Lea Lachey (Choreographer) asked their students to anonymously write down the ways they didn't feel seen, they had no idea it would change the course of their lives.

Those handwritten stories became the foundation for Label•less, the moving new Off-Broadway theatrical experience encouraging audiences to look beyond labels and reconnect through empathy.

In this special The Art of Kindness conversation, Drew and Lea join Robert Peterpaul to discuss how kindness shapes every aspect of their work—from directing and teaching to parenting and creating safe spaces where artists can thrive.

This podcast podcast episode covers:

Label•less is a groundbreaking new 90-minute musical experience that gets real about the challenges we all face in today’s world. Created by Drew Lachey (98 Degrees & “Dancing With the Stars”) and choreographer Lea Lachey, Label•less features a wildly talented cast of young adults sharing real-life experiences and taking audiences on an emotional journey packed with soaring vocals and electric dancing. With an original score spanning rock, pop, and R&B, plus hit songs like “Born This Way” and “Rise Up,” Label•less is on a mission to break down barriers, remind us of our shared humanity, and envision life beyond labels. Learn more: labellessmusical.com

DREW LACHEY (Creator, Co-Director, Writer, Producer), a proud Cincinnatian, is best known for his multiplatinum pop group 98 Degrees, selling more than 10 million records worldwide and achieving eight top 40 singles in the United States. He also appeared on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and was crowned Season 2 Champion. A Broadway veteran, he starred as Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning musical Rent and as King Arthur’s right-hand man, Patsy, in Mike Nichols’ Tony Award–winning production of Monty Python’s Spamalot. Additional onstage work includes Corny Collins in Hairspray, Charlie in Kinky Boots, and Zach in A Chorus Line. Drew also hosted ABC’s “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,” HGTV’s “$250,000 Dollar Challenge,” Design Network’s “Date My House,” “America Sings,” “The Price Is Right Live,” “Let’s Make a Deal Live,” and the Miss USA Pageant. He currently lives in Cincinnati, where he, along with his wife, Lea, created and run Lachey Arts, a performing arts nonprofit. 

LEA LACHEY (Creator, Co-Director, Choreographer, Producer) a native of Cincinnati, has worked professionally in many different areas of the entertainment industry. Whether creating for stage or film, theater or concerts, she believes in the power of storytelling. Over the years, she has worked with organizations and artists including the Radio City Rockettes, 98 Degrees, Missy Elliott, Walt Disney, the NBA, and the NFL. Her work has been seen on “Good Morning America,” the “Today” show, Miss America, Miss Teen USA, MTV, and VH1. Over the last several years, she has had the honor of working as choreographer and dance consultant on multiple films, including Carol, starring Academy Award–winning actress Cate Blanchett and Kyle Chandler; Miles Ahead, starring Golden Globe Award–winning actor Don Cheadle and Emayatzy Corinealdi; and “A Christmas Melody,” directed by and starring Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey and starring Lacey Chabert. Lea is currently the Co-Artistic Director of Lachey Arts, a performing arts nonprofit based in Cincinnati. 

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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What happens when the career you've dedicated your life to no longer feels sustainable?

Carey Renee Sharpe details how she went from burnout to Broadway on The Art of Kindness podcast. The creator and star of the Off-Broadway musical Blood Love: A Vampire Opera joins Robert Peterpaul for a moving conversation on how reinvention can help you find your way back to yourself.

Before writing musicals, Carey spent years as a pediatric ICU nurse and nurse practitioner caring for critically ill children. When the emotional weight of the work became too much to carry, she made the difficult decision to leave the profession that had defined her for years. What followed was unexpected: restoring a historic theater, writing music during the pandemic, and ultimately creating Blood Love, an original Off-Broadway musical rooted in love, friendship, and the search for light.

In this podcast podcast episode, you'll hear:

Together, Robert and Carey discuss the courage to change directions, leading creative teams with vulnerability, motherhood, sustainable theater culture, and why making art can be one of the most powerful acts of hope in a complicated world. Because sometimes kindness means caring for others. And sometimes it means finally caring for yourself.

CAREY RENEE SHARPE made her Off-Broadway debut as Valerie in her own original production BLOOD/LOVE, a lifelong dream realized.  Carey spent her childhood steeped in music, with formal violin training beginning at age three, but chose to pursue a career as a critical care pediatric nurse practitioner inspired by her personal history of congenital heart disease.  In 2018 she stepped away from healthcare and restored a historic theater in her hometown, reigniting her love of music. She has spent the past 6 years writing, developing & performing in BLOOD/LOVE.

Follow Carey:

⁠⁠@careyreneemusic

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Fashion legend Isaac Mizrahi has spent decades making the world brighter- literally. As a colorful designer, performer, host, author, and cultural icon, the creative has always favored playfulness. But before the runways, Broadway stages, and standing ovations, he was a kid who often felt like an outsider.

This week on The Art of Kindness, Isaac joins Robert Peterpaul for a funny, moving, and surprisingly vulnerable conversation about bullying, belonging, creativity, therapy, Broadway legends, and the people whose kindness changed his life.

Plus: Broadway, fashion, Patti LuPone, New York City, compliments, eyebrows, and why nobody is paying nearly as much attention to your appearance as you think they are.

This positive podcast covers:

ISAAC MIZRAHI has spent more than 35 years at the intersection of entertainment, media, and fashion, earning acclaim as a performer, host, writer, designer, producer, and cultural commentator. Performing with his acclaimed jazz band, Isaac brings his signature blend of music, storytelling, and comedy to concert stages across the country. His annual multi-week residency at New York City's legendary Café Carlyle consistently sells out, and in 2022 he made his Broadway debut as Amos Hart in Chicago. The New York Times hailed him as “a founding father of a genre that fuses performance art, music and stand-up comedy.”

In 2025, the cult-classic documentary Unzipped—which Mizrahi co-created and stars in—celebrated its 30th anniversary with a screening at the Sundance Film Festival. He hosted the Emmy Award-winning The Isaac Mizrahi Show for seven seasons, served as a judge on all seven seasons of Project Runway All Stars, and continues to appear across television, film, and digital media.

Beyond the stage and screen, Mizrahi has directed productions for the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, designed costumes for the Metropolitan Opera, and annually directs and narrates Peter and the Wolf, a production he originally created for New York City's Guggenheim Museum.

A celebrated force in fashion, Mizrahi currently serves as Creative Director at Large for Target. Through his company, IM Entertainment, he develops original projects for television, theater, publishing, and live entertainment. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir I.M.

For more information, visit HelloIsaac.com.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Follow Isaac:

⁠⁠@IMISAACMIZRAHI

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Support the show!

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

Additional music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: MZU7IMLYX3T5WFFI

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Netflix's Sweet Magnolias star Joanna Garcia Swisher believes kindness starts with showing up. The beloved actor, producer, director and entrepreneur returns to The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss the return of Sweet Magnolias, the power of community, and why the relationships we nurture matter more than any career milestone.

Jo opens up about directing some of the series' most emotional episodes yet, the life-changing friendships she's built through decades in Hollywood, and how a simple act of being present can help people feel seen.

In this positive podcast, you'll hear:

Plus, Jo shares stories from filming Sweet Magnolias Season 5 in New York City, building her lifestyle brand Rolling Clover, and the unexpected moments that reminded her to stay grateful.

JOANNA GARCIA SWISHER is a multi-hyphenate dynamo – an actress, producer and entrepreneur.  You know her as the lead in the Netflix global success SWEET MAGNOLIAS. While she’s not on-camera, JoAnna is flexing as a creative powerhouse as the Founder of the popular lifestyle platform and production company ROLLING CLOVER where she interacts with her 1.1 million loyal followers on new recipes, book suggestions, decor, and entertainment. 

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Follow Jo:

⁠@jogarciaswisher

Follow us:

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Support the show!

(⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok⁠)

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

Additional music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: MZU7IMLYX3T5WFFI

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Grau's story begins with a life-changing act of unkindness.

When Susan was nearly five years old, she was locked inside a freezer by older children, leading to a near-death experience that she says transformed her understanding of life, love, and human connection. Today, Susan is an acclaimed medium, soul healer, grief expert, speaker, and author of Infinite Life, Infinite Lessons.

In this healing conversation, Susan joins host Robert Peterpaul to share how one of the most traumatic moments of her childhood became the catalyst for a lifetime of helping others heal. Together, they explore the relationship between kindness, intuition, fear, self-worth, and presence... and why the smallest acts of compassion can have a ripple effect far beyond what we realize.

Plus, Robert surprises Susan with special guest: Casting Director Alexa Zappia of Rocks of Unity.

Whether you're curious about near-death experiences, looking to deepen your intuition, or simply seeking a reminder of the power of kindness, this conversation offers plenty of insight, hope, and heart.

In positive podcast episode, you'll learn:

• What Susan's near-death experience taught her about kindness and purpose
• How to tell the difference between fear and intuition
• Why being present is the key to unlocking your inner wisdom
• The surprising connection between self-talk and self-kindness
• How to release attachment to outcomes and focus on the "footwork"
• Why silence can be one of the greatest gifts for personal growth
• The small daily acts that can make someone feel seen, loved, and valued

SUSAN GRAU is a Healer, Renowned Body, Mind and Spirit Intuitive, Inspirational Speaker, and Hay House Bestselling Author. Susan’s journey began following a profound near-death experience at just four and a half years old. This pivotal moment in her life awakened her unique healing abilities, allowing her to connect with spirits from the other side.

Follow Susan:

www.susangrau.com

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Tony nominated Director-Choreographer Tim Jackson says kindness is the secret ingredient behind Broadway's Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). The acclaimed creative joins host Robert Peterpaul ahead of the 2026 Tony Awards to discuss the act of kindness that changed his career, why he believes "if you've got lovely people, you'll make lovely work," and how he built one of Broadway's most joyful new companies.

This positive podcast covers:

• The act of kindness that led Tim to direct Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Why kindness is essential to making great theatre

• How Tim helps actors get out of their heads and into the story

• The surprising inspiration behind the musical's smart suitcase set

• The power of connecting with strangers in an increasingly disconnected world

• Working with actors like Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty, plus more!

TIM JACKSON is a Tony Award-nominated director and dramaturg. His Broadway production of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) earned eight Tony Award nominations and has become one of the season's most beloved new musicals. His additional credits include Merrily We Roll Along in the West End and the upcoming UK premiere of Something Rotten!.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us: [email protected]

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@timjcreative

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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The Lost Boys Broadway director Michael Arden joins Robert Peterpaul on The Art of Kindness podcast to touchdown on creating thrilling heart-led theatrical spectacles. The Tony Award-winning theater-maker (Maybe Happy Ending) breaks down his innovative creative process through the lens of kindness.

This positive podcast episode covers:

Michael Arden is a distinguished, two-time Tony Award winning director, honored for Best Direction of a Musical for Maybe Happy Ending. In 2023, he won the Tony Award for the acclaimed revival of Parade, following previous nominations for Once On This Island and Spring Awakening. He is the co-founder of At Rise Creative and has directed a wide range of works, including the 2024 Met Gala and Ben Platt’s concert residencies. Beyond his directing credits, Michael is an accomplished performer who has appeared on Broadway in Big River and King Lear, as well as in television and film projects like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Source Code.

Shoutout to (spoiler) Ali Louis Bourzgui for taking part in our surprise compliment game.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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@michaelarden

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Elizabeth Gillies (Dynasty) is here to celebrate 200 episodes of The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul podcast!

Welcome to AOK 200, friends. To celebrate this milestone, actress, singer, Broadway star, and Ginger Ale's #1 fan Liz Gillies joins Robert in the Welcome to Times Square studio for a wildly fun and heartfelt conversation. From acts of kindness on the set of Dynasty and backstage at Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway to what we can learn from older generations, Liz reminds us why honesty may be the kindest act of all.

The two Jersey kids dive deep into kind waters, covering everything from child acting, Broadway mishaps, and comfort TV shows all the way to witchy intuition, social media chaos, backstage hijinks, and the emotional support powers of - you guessed it - Canada Dry ginger ale.

This positive podcast episode features:

Plus: ADHD tangents, disco naps, miniatures, Real Housewives, Love on the Spectrum, and one very ambitious immersive Dynasty pitch. This episode is positively unhinged in the best way — a reminder that kindness is simply showing up.

A big shoutout to friends of the AOK who made this episode possible, namely:

Special shoutout to our favorite Schmackary's Cookies and longtime listener Jen of Jen's Pretty Pegs, who helped us surprise Liz with a beautiful kind act. For a hand-painted and whimsical keepsake like Liz's check out Jen's art at: www.jensprettypegs.com.

ELIZABETH GILLIES is an actress, singer and director known for her roles as ‘Fallon Carrington’ in​ the popular Netflix series, Dynasty and ‘Jade West’ in the generation defining Nickelodeon​ series, Victorious. Gillies returned to her Broadway roots last year, starring in the acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors as “Audrey”. A few of her TV credits include The​ Hunting Party, The Orville, White Collar, Family Guy and the FX series,​ Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll where she starred opposite Denis Leary for two seasons. On the film​ side, Gillies can be seen in Vacation, Arizona, Animal, Catwoman: Hunted and Spread, which​ she also produced. In addition to her acting career, Gillies is a singer who performs regularly to​ sold out audiences across the country. She has two records out with her longtime friend and​ collaborator, Seth MacFarlane.

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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⁠⁠⁠@lizgillz

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Howdy, listeners! Dutton Ranch star Natalie Alyn Lind rides into kinder pastures on The Art of Kindness podcast with Robert Peterpaul. From cowboy camp to filming in Texas alongside the legendary Annette Bening, Natalie opens up about the kind lessons she's learned growing up in an acting dynasty.

The positive podcast covers:

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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⁠⁠@natalynlind

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

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Broadway's Tony-nominated comedic genius Grey Henson is a magnet for good, and he's here to tell you how on The Art of Kindness. The musical theater performer joins Robert Peterpaul to share acts of kindness from behind the scenes of shows, like Book of Mormon, Mean Girls and Elf, to now... BIGFOOT?

This positive podcast covers:

GREY HENSON recently played Buddy in the Broadway revival of Elf the Musical, earning him a Drama Desk Award nomination. He made his Broadway debut as Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon, a role that he originated on the first national tour. He was also seen on Broadway as Storyteller 2 in Shucked and earned Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for his performance as Damian in Mean Girls. Other credits include Michael in tick, tick… BOOM! at the Kennedy Center and Tate in the Netflix series “Girls5Eva”. Find out more: BIGFOOT: A NEW MUSICAL

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

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Follow Grey

⁠⁠@greyhenson

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices