This episode of The Kindness Extremist Podcast drops on January 19, during MLK Day weekend, and just ahead of the one year mark since the executive orders targeting DEI programs and policies were passed. That timing matters.

DEI has been framed as divisive, unfair, and anti-merit - but that could not be further from the truth. In this episode, Shola Richards exposes how DEI actually supports meritocracy, why everyone benefits from these initiatives, and how we can make diversity, equity, and inclusion the norm.

This episode honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. If you care about kindness, fairness, and building systems that actually work, tune in, and don't forget to leave a rating and review!

Timestamps:

00:00 DEI and honoring MLK's Legacy

04:55 Myth #1: DEI Is A Cheat Code

11:41 Myth #2: Only Black & Brown People Benefit

17:38 Bridging the Gap Through Meaningful Connection

21:56 Conclusion: DEI Is Not A Threat To Kindness

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 11 - How To Beat Misinformation and Stay Grounded In Truth
• Civil Unity by Shola Richards

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Is the algorithm pulling you into a spiral of anger and reactivity while you scroll? In this episode, Shola is sharing three specific ways that social media is likely sabotaging your capacity for kindness, and what we can do to limit the doom scrolling and take a more intentional approach to our social media consumption.

Shola covers three Kindness Strategies to change your relationship to social media:

• The 5-4-3-2-1 Reset
• The Celebration Practice 
• The Bridge Builder Challenge

This episode isn't a call to quit social media altogether or shame yourself for being online. Instead, it's about learning how to fight back against a system built to dehumanize and disconnect. Tune in to learn how! 

Timestamps:

00:00 How Social Media Is Sabotaging Kindness

04:17 Kindness Killer #1: The Scroll of Doom

08:20 Kindness Killer #2: Constant Comparison 

13:32 Kindness Killer #3: Radicalism

19:38 Fight Back For Kindness

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Is fear holding you back? In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down why fear feels so powerful, why comfort can quietly limit your life, and how to move forward without ignoring fear or letting it control you.

This is not motivational hype or hustle culture advice. It is a grounded, psychology-informed conversation about how fear actually works and how to build a better relationship with it. You'll learn three uncommon strategies that help you face fear in ways that are realistic, compassionate, and sustainable.

If you are standing at the edge of a difficult decision, avoiding a conversation, delaying a dream, or staying in a situation that no longer fits, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

As a new year approaches, it is tempting to believe that the calendar flip will magically transform your life. In this episode, Shola Richards challenges that idea and shares a powerful truth: Real change does not come just because the year changes. It comes from building daily practices that rewire your brain for confidence, resilience, and self-kindness.

Using neuroscience, real-life stories, and practical tools, Shola shares three habits that will help you stop fixating on failures and start recognizing your impact. These practices are simple but powerful, and they work even when motivation is low.

This episode is for you if:

• You feel stuck repeating the same patterns every year
• You struggle with self-doubt or imposter syndrome
• You minimize your wins and focus on where you fall short
• You want confidence that does not disappear when things get hard

Tune in, and prepare to start 2026 off on the right foot!

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

What does real empathy actually look like in a world that feels more divided, reactive, and disconnected than ever? In this episode, Shola Richards is addressing the empathy recession we're facing and why our inability to truly understand one another is quietly tearing at the fabric of our relationships, workplaces, and communities.

In the episode, Shola shares three powerful empathy practices that will help you move from judgment to understanding, even when dealing with difficult people, emotional triggers, or high-conflict situations. 

This week's Kindness Strategies:

👂 Practice active listening

🪞 Use the "Just Like Me" practice

⁉️ Make curiosity your default response to behavior you don't understand

This is not a feel-good conversation about being “nice.” It is a grounded, research-backed exploration of empathy as a practical skill that can be strengthened with intention and practice. If you are tired of feeling disconnected, misunderstood, or constantly on edge, this episode will change how you see people and how you show up in the world.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Empathy

00:48 Welcome to the Kindest Extremist Podcast

01:13 The Empathy Recession

01:37 The Power of Empathy

02:09 Active Listening: A Key to Empathy

08:26 The "Just Like Me" Practice

15:03 Understanding Unmet Needs

17:37 Curiosity Over Judgment

20:52 Conclusion: The Journey to a Kinder World

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Most of us think we know who we are, until a moment of unexpected behavior, defensiveness, or discomfort reveals that something deeper is happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Shola Richards explores why so many of us move through life on autopilot and how a lack of self-awareness quietly shapes our reactions, relationships, and sense of authenticity. 

This episode gets into:

• Why you show up as different versions of yourself in different environments

 • What your defensiveness exposes about your identity and insecurities

 • The role of “past self cringe” and how it reveals your growth

 • How unconscious patterns can quietly create harm, even with good intentions

Plus, you'll learn three practical strategies you can start using this week to increase your self-awareness!

Listen in to discover the inner patterns shaping your outer world, and how self-awareness can help you create kinder relationships and spaces wherever you go.

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

The holiday rush can unfortunately bring out the worst in people, especially in stores, airports, and restaurants. In this episode, Shola Richards shares a powerful reminder about what retail and service workers actually experience during the busiest time of the year, and what we can do to create more humanity in the chaos.

Shola shares insights from his years as a customer service worker and trainer to help you show up with presence and respect while navigating crowded stores, long lines, and stressful moments. 

You'll learn 3 strategies for being an "epic customer" this season:

• The Humanity Check
• The 3R Response
• The 3 Tell Method

This episode will help you move through busy stores with more ease, treat employees with the respect they deserve, and create positive interactions that can completely change someone’s day. 

Want to learn more? Check out the article that inspired this episode: https://sholarichards.com/the-18-inescapable-laws-of-customer-epicness/

Tune in, and don't forget to leave a rating and review wherever you listen!

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

The holidays are often presented as the “most wonderful time of the year,” but for many people, this season brings pressure, exhaustion, and complicated emotions. In this episode, Shola Richards opens up about why the holidays can feel so heavy and offers grounded, compassionate strategies to help you move through the season with intention and self-respect.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by expectations, worn out by family dynamics, or guilty for not loving the holidays, this conversation offers clarity and comfort to help you navigate the month of December.

You'll learn how to:

• Opt out intentionally
• Redefine what the holidays on your terms
• Find the people who truly get it

...All in the name of protecting your peace this holiday season.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Challenging Holiday Norms

01:02 Welcome to the Kindness Extremist Podcast

01:12 The Pressure of Holiday Expectations

02:55 Opting Out for Your Mental Health

05:50 Creating Your Escape Route Strategy

07:55 Redefining the Holidays on Your Terms

13:13 Finding Your Holiday Reality Friends

17:52 Conclusion: Radical Self-Kindness

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Holiday gatherings can be beautiful, but they can also be incredibly overwhelming when conversations turn tense or polarizing. Never to fear, Shola Richards is sharing practical strategies to help you stay grounded, communicate with intention, and maintain your sense of peace even when discussions start to heat up this holiday season. 

 In the episode, Shola breaks down:

• How to set the rules for engagement prior to entering into a polarizing conversation 
• How to engage in these polarizing conversations effectively 
• How to know when it's time to disengage from these conversations entirely and protect your own wellbeing

If you’re feeling anxious heading into Thanksgiving or any upcoming family gathering, this episode offers comforting clarity and practical tools to help you move through the season with your peace intact.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Handling Holiday Conflicts

00:55 Welcome to the Kindness Extremist Podcast

01:34 The Dreaded Holiday Gatherings

03:21 Practical Strategies for Peaceful Holidays

04:14 Understanding the Boomerang Effect

08:03 Setting Ground Rules for Respectful Conversations

11:14 Choosing Curiosity Over Judgment

15:11 Knowing When to Disengage

20:35 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.

Do certain people always push past your limits or constantly leave chaos in their wake? In this second half of his two-part series, Shola Richards continues his deep dive into recognizing toxic relationships, and how to protect your peace without apology.

Through the episode, Shola reveals:

 🚫 What it really means when someone disrespects your boundaries, and how to respond with clarity instead of guilt.

 🔥 The hidden patterns of “drama creators” who thrive on chaos (and how to stop getting pulled in).

 💔 Why some relationships quietly damage your self-esteem, and how to tell when love has turned toxic.

You’ll also learn three new strategies to strengthen your emotional health:

• The Boundary Respect Inventory
• The Drama Pattern Analysis
• The Post-Interaction Check-In

These tools build directly on last week’s episode, helping you spot red flags, reclaim your energy, and create healthier connections rooted in respect.

This series isn’t about blame - It’s about awareness, courage, and self-kindness. Listen now to finish your detox journey and learn why true kindness starts with protecting yourself.

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com
For speaking requests or collaborations: [email protected]

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.