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

Legendary Emmy and Tony-winning performer Judith Light joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul and we couldn't be more excited. The Who's the Boss? lead discusses kindness to others and yourself, life-changing acts of kindness, researching spooky occurrences for her new Apple show BEFORE and more in this heart-lifting conversation.

JUDITH LIGHT is known for her extensive body of work onstage, as well as in television and film, recently receiving a star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Her recent projects include Peter Hedge’s film The Same Storm, “Julia,” HBO Max’s drama series on Julia Child, Starz’ horror comedy “Shining Vale” and Searchlight’s dark comedy The Menu, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes. Second seasons of both “Shining Vale” and “Julia” are currently available for streaming. Light starred in The Young Wife and Down Low for FilmNation, both of which premiered at SXSW, and Out of My Mind for Disney+ which premiered at Sundance and can now be streamed on Disney+. Her 2019 film Ms. White Light also premiered at SXSW. She can also be seen in the second season of “American Horror Stories” and Rian Johnson’s series “Poker Face” for Peacock, for which she won the Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy.

She currently stars in the Apple TV+ series “Before” alongside Billy Crystal. The full season can now be streamed. Next up, she stars in “The Terror: Devil in Silver” for AMC and Scott Free Productions. Additionally, she is working on a series of producing projects with her production company and Brillstein Creative Partners. Light also co-starred in Ryan Murphy’s “Impeachment: American Crime Story” on FX, appeared in Lin Manuel Miranda’s film, tick, tick…Boom! for Netflix as well as “The Accidental Wolf,” created by Arian Moyad and now streaming on Topic.

In addition to her current projects, Light starred in the anthology series “Manhunt: Deadly Games,” which can currently be found on Netflix, as well as Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series “The Politician,” and in the musical finale series of “Transparent,” Amazon Prime’s Golden Globe–winning show, created by Joey Soloway, for which Light received a Golden Globe nomination and multiple Emmy and Critics’ Choice nominations. Her role in Ryan Murphy’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” garnered her an Emmy nomination and Critics Choice nomination.

 In 2012 and 2013, Light won two consecutive Tony and Drama Desk awards for her performances in Other Desert Cities and The Assembled Parties; these two performances made her the first actress in nearly two decades to win consecutive Tony Awards. Light also received the 2019 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her extensive philanthropy work. She was also recently awarded the Excellence in Media Award from GLAAD in May 2022. Light sits on the board of directors of the MCC Theater in New York.

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Music:

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

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WICKED's Broadway Music Director and Conductor Dan Micciche joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss kindness during the long-running theatrical blockbuster, starting out as a history-making performer in CHICAGO, his advice for actors auditioning for WICKED - oh - and, of course - we do touch on his teeny involvement in the WICKED movie!

Dan Micciche is the current music director, conductor of WICKED on Broadway and has been with the show for over 10 years - including the national and international tours. He was recently inducted as a member of the Grammy's Recording Academy this year. Prior to WICKED, Dan began his acting career as the youngest actor to play Mary Sunshine in CHICAGO for 2000 performances on Broadway as well as the national tour, Japanese, Alaskan and Thailand companies. He is one of the other performers to sing solo and conduct at The Kennedy Center. His TV / FILM work includes: WICKED (universal), The Tonight Show - with Jimmy Falon, 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, Good Morning America, Cake Boss. Concert work: Soloist at Carnegie Hall/ The Kennedy Center: Bernstein’s MASS. Recordings: Bernstein’s MASS (Grammy nom 08’)  During 2021, Dan started a company that brings Broadway into your home, company or event. 

For more on Dan:

danmiccichemusic.com/coaching and broadwayconcerts.com

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Support the show!

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

Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

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

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Wicked movie director Jon M. Chu joins The Art of Kindness podcast with Robert Peterpaul to discuss being a kind leader on set, acts of kindness from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, his spellbinding memoir Viewfinder and more. Rejoicify - this is a thought-provoking chat filled with STAR-studded surprise guests!

Jon M. Chu is known for his visually stunning blockbuster films, as well as his kinetic work across various genres from groundbreaking series to commercials and films. Additionally, his unique storytelling ability has earned him the honor of inclusion on the Hollywood Reporter’s Power 100 list as well as Variety’s New Hollywood Leaders.

Most recently, Chu directed Universal Pictures’ critically acclaimed WICKED, starring Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Part 1 of the feature-film adaptation of the record-breaking musical phenomenon released in theaters on November 22 and quickly became a box-office hit, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway adaption in domestic box office history in its second week earning over $350 million globally. His memoir, Viewfinder, is his journey from growing up in the Silicon Valley to transitioning to Hollywood and helming major studio projects, released Summer 2024. The book is an uplifting tale of belonging, creativity and learning to see who you truly are.

His recent projects include the critically acclaimed adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS for Warner Bros. Studios as well as the worldwide phenomenon CRAZY RICH ASIANS, which was nominated for numerous awards, including a SAG Award, a Golden Globe and PGA Award. It is one of the top 10 highest grossing romantic comedies of all time and the highest in a decade. It was also the first contemporary studio picture in more than 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast and opened a new chapter in Asian-American representation in Hollywood.

Chu is in post-production on WICKED: PART TWO, which is set to release on November 21, 2025, and is attached to develop to direct the highly anticipated biopic for Britney Spears based on her memoir, The Woman in Me, with Universal. He is also in development on Dr. Seuss’ OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! with Warner Bros and JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot, which will be his first animated film. His previous films include GI. JOE: RETALIATION, NOW YOU SEE ME 2, JUSTIN BIEBER’S NEVER SAY NEVER and many more representing over 1.3 billion dollars in the worldwide box office.

Thank you to Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh and Simon Hayes for the special surprise, and to Welcome to Times Square for supporting our Big Apple dreams.

Follow Jon:

@jonmchu

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Support the show!

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

Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

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

Let us be glad. Let us be grateful.

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Acclaimed author and artist Morgan Harper Nichols (All Along You Were Blooming) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss: kindness through artistic spaces, the thoughtfulness of kindness, the kindness of memes and much more.

Morgan Harper Nichols is an artist, writer, and creator based in Georgia. Diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder, Morgan’s work often explores themes of embracing life’s narrative and creating room to breathe. She began creating art and poetry in response to social media messages she received in 2017, and since then, her practice has expanded to include digital art, collage, coding, and 3D environments. Morgan is the creator of the app Storyteller and the online shop Garden24. Her WSJ bestselling book, All Along You Were Blooming, is one of several published works, and she currently serves as Vice President on the board of TWLOHA, a mental health organization. Morgan is passionate about the intersection of art, storytelling, and health, and her long-term goal is to teach and develop resources that explore how we create and interact with narratives in our lives.

L Morgan Lee's "Reaching for Help from Drowning" Fundraiser:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/reaching-for-help-from-drowning

Follow Morgan:

@morganharpernichols

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Support the show!

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

Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

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

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Happy Thanksgiving week, friends! Join The Art of Kindness podcast live from You Gotta Believe's 10th Anniversary Fundraiser in NYC for older foster kids.

Host Robert Peterpaul chats with: Emmy-nominee Rosie Perez, Sherri Saum (The Fosters, Locke & Key), Charlene Tilton (Dallas), Kate Reinders (High School Musical the Musical: The Series, Wicked), Tony Award-winner J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot), meteorologist Janice Huff (NBC 4 New York), Jenna Leigh Green (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Wicked), Alex Temple Ward (Frozen), Anika Larsen (Almost Famous, Beautiful), and hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson.

You Gotta Believe (YGB) exists for one reason... to work toward the day when no young person leaves foster care without the unconditional lifetime commitment of a family. Our goal is to find youth permanent families so that they have the support system they need to live safely and to their highest potential. You Gotta Believe is a national organization based in New York City that focuses exclusively on finding permanent families for older youth in foster care. Since 1995, YGB has worked tirelessly to ensure that no child ages out of the foster care system without the support, love, and stability of a family.

Today, nearly 400,000 children are in foster care in the U.S., with around 20,000 aging out annually. Without the stability of a family, these young people face higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, and other hardships. YGB is committed to changing that reality. Since 1995, YGB has trained thousands of parents, licensed over 750 families, and facilitated nearly 400 adoptions of older youth, offering lifelong support to ensure family permanence. For more: yougottabelieve.org

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Support the show!

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

Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

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

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Tony Award Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray), Tony Nominee Kerry Butler (Xanadu) and Tony Nominee Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde) celebrate 20 years of broadway hits, motherhood, and lifelong friendship with their new show Mama I'm A Big Girl Now!

Join The Art of Kindness podcast LIVE from the red carpet at New World Stages in New York City, as Robert Peterpaul chats with: the aforementioned starry trio, and VIP guests like Andrew Rannells (Book of Mormon), Grammy-winning songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and more.

Get your tickets to Mama I'm A Big Girl Now before it dances away!

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Support the show!

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

Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

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

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Pop star Betty Who joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss the kindness of meeting people where they're at, the joy of Britney Spears, acts of kindness from Kylie Minogue, self-love while on tour and more under the kindness umbrella. Thank you for being you, Betty!

BETTY WHO: If you need to know anything about Australian-American pop trailblazer Betty Who, it's that she is a survivor. Born Jessica Newham in Sydney, Australia, the classically trained singer, dancer, and multi-instrumentalist has experienced practically every dimension of pop cultural visibility: going viral with her 2014 single "Somebody Loves You," soundtracking Netflix's QUEER EYE reboot with "All Things," forming deep ties with foundations like GLAAD and the Trevor Project and becoming an LGBTQ+ icon due to her infectious, always-inclusive artistry. 

Rediscovering her power as an independent artist, Betty Who kicked off her latest, most triumphant chapter on her fourth studio album, Big, which she wrote in its entirety. Betty explores self-love and acceptance on songs like "She Can Dance," the power of female friendship on "I Can Be Your Man," and career perseverance on the joyous "Blow Out My Candle." 

Now my theater lovers, you may really know Betty from when she made her Broadway debut as Persephone in the Tony Award-winning show HADESTOWN in 2023. We discuss this, her amazing perspective on kindness in the arts and so much more of course. It’s a special conversation! I LOVED hanging with Betty and I hope you enjoy hanging with us both for a little bit.

Heineken Open Your World Ad

Follow Betty:

@bettywho

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Support the show!

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

Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

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

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Happy World Kindness Week! Our friends at the phenomenal (and uber kind) nonprofit) kindness.org gave Robert the honor of guest hosting a very special episode of their Why Kindness? podcast. See their show notes below!

Guest host Robert Peterpaul (The Art of Kindness) takes the host seat this week to speak with kindness.org CEO & Co-Founder Jaclyn Lindsey, as well as the Kindlab team- Dr. Oliver Scott Curry & Dr. Chloe San Miguel about the org & the science of kindness. Tune in as they introduce a groundbreaking kindness measurement tool (KQ) and engage in a little friendly competition.

It's World Kindness Week. Do you know your KQ? Visit kindness.org/KQ to get your KQ today!

This podcast is one of the many ways we live out our organization's mission to educate and inspire people to choose kindness. Visit our site kindness.org and sign up to become a part of our global community which spans more than 100 countries. It's free to join and when you do you'll be the first to get access to our latest research, tools, and even episodes of this podcast. Let's build a kinder world, together. Contact us at [email protected] or on social at @kindnessorg. 

Important links from this week's episode:

kindness.org

kindness.org/kq

Credits

Transcript available at this link. https://why-kindness.simplecast.com/episodes/team-kindness/transcript

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Young Sheldon star Iain Armitage joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul for our season four premiere! Welcome back and happy World Kindness Week, friends! The actor discusses the curiosity of kindness onset and in life, the legacy of Young Sheldon, working with legends like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, and much more in this delightful episode.

IAIN ARMITAGE is most recognized for his role as the title character in the hit CBS comedy YOUNG SHELDON, the prequel to THE BIG BANG THEORY which wrapped its 7th and final season in May 2024. He was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award for Lead in a Comedy Series and in 2018 he received a Teen Choice Award nomination for his portrayal in the Breakout TV Star category. Iain first burst onto the scene appearing as Shailene Woodley's son, Ziggy Chapman, in the HBO series and cultural phenomenon, BIG LITTLE LIES. He reprised his role in the second season and was nominated at the SAG awards with the cast for Best Ensemble in 2019.  

On film, he has appeared with Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in OUR SOULS AT NIGHT for Netflix, in THE GLASS CASTLE for Lionsgate with Woody Harrelson and opposite JK Simmons and Mandy Moore in independent film IM NOT HERE. Iain can also be heard as the voice of Young Shaggy in Scooby Doo animated feature origin story, SCOOB!, and can be heard as the voice of lead pup Chase in Paramount’s animated PAW PATROL feature.

A special thank you to the nonprofit Matt's Kindness Ripples On for awarding us their Kindness Grant + Annie Potts for participating in our kindness surprise!

Learn more about your KQ at kindness.org.

Follow Iain:

@iain

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Support the show!

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Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

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

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The Art of Kindness podcast returns for a positively D-E-L-I-G-H-T-F-U-L bonus episode LIVE from press day in NYC of the Kennedy Center's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Host Robert Peterpaul talks with the all-star cast, including: Kevin McHale (Glee, American Horror Stories) as William Barfee, Philippe Arroyo (& Juliet, Aladdin) as Chip Tolentino, Alex Joseph Grayson (Parade, Into the Woods), Noah Galvin (Dear Evan Hansen, Booksmart) as Leaf Coneybear, Leana Rae Concepcion (Merrily We Roll Along) as Marcy Park, Beanie Feldstein (Drive-Away Dolls, Booksmart) as Logan Schwartzandgrubenierre, Nina White (Queen of Versailles, Kimberly Akimbo) as Olive Ostrovsky, Taran Killam (Spamalot, Saturday Night Live) as Vice Principal Douglas Panch and Tony Award® winner Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo, Encores! Titanic) as Rona Lisa Peretti.

Directed and choreographed by Danny Mefford (Kimberly Akimbo, Dear Evan Hansen) with musical direction by Roberto Sinha (New York, New York; Hamilton), Spelling runs at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from October 11 - 20. Click here for more I-N-F-O!

Special shoutout to Broadway Podcast Network sound wizard Sarah Goodman. Hear you soon!

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Support the show!

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

Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us:

[email protected]

Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez.

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