Most people assume that asking for help makes them a burden. But the truth may be the exact opposite. In this episode, Shola Richards explores a powerful truth that many high-achievers, caregivers, and chronic over-functioners need to hear: asking for help is not a weakness. On the contrary, it's actually one of the most profound acts of kindness you can offer yourself and the people who care about you.

Through the episode, Shola reveals why so many of us struggle to ask for support, how we dramatically underestimate people's willingness to help, and what it looks like to build healthier, more connected relationships by allowing others to show up for us. You'll learn a simple framework for identifying where you're carrying too much alone, how to make effective requests without guilt or awkwardness, and why learning to receive help may be the growth edge you've been avoiding.

The Kindness Strategies:

• The Self-Reliance Inventory 
• The Specific Ask Protocol
• The Receiving Practice

Allowing people to help you may be one of the greatest gifts you can give them, and this episode will help you do so without shame.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Dr. Vanessa Bohns: https://www.vanessabohns.com/
• Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson: https://www.heidigrantphd.com/

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep64

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Someone in your life is winning right now. Maybe they landed the promotion you wanted, or their business is growing faster than yours. Maybe they're receiving recognition, opportunities, or attention you've been working toward for years. And if you're honest, part of you isn't celebrating. Instead, you're grappling with a difficult question: Why them and not me?

In this episode of the Kindness Extremist Podcast, Shola Richards tackles envy, one of the most universal and least discussed emotions we experience. Rather than treating envy as a character flaw, Shola explores how it can become valuable information about what you truly want, where you're feeling stuck, and how comparison may be quietly stealing your joy. He discusses the difference between destructive envy and productive envy and explores how to break free from the comparison loop and transform resentment into growth.

The Kindness Strategies:

• The Envy Admission
• The Comparison Fast
• The Celebration Practice

Envy doesn't make you a bad person. And if you've ever felt behind, overlooked, or triggered by someone else's success, this episode offers a practical roadmap for turning those emotions into personal growth and deeper kindness.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 23: Why Appreciation Could Be the Key to Happier Work & Life
• Episode 42: Social Media Is Rewiring Your Brain for Anger [Here’s How to Stop It]

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep63

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Have you ever been told you're "too sensitive?" Maybe it came from a parent, teacher, boss, friend, or simply from a culture that celebrates toughness while treating emotional depth as a liability. Over time, many deeply caring people learn to hide parts of themselves just to fit in.

In this episode, Shola Richards challenges one of society's most damaging myths: that sensitivity is weakness. Drawing on research from Dr. Elaine Aron and his own experience as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), Shola explores why sensitivity is actually one of the greatest sources of empathy, connection, leadership, and kindness. He also shares practical strategies for protecting your emotional well-being without suppressing the very qualities that make you uniquely powerful.

The Kindness Strategies:

• The Sensitivity Reframe
• Your Protection Protocol
• The Sensitivity Declaration

If you've spent years trying to develop "thicker skin," this conversation offers a different path forward.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 57: Hustle Culture Is Killing Your Kindness (Here's Why) 
• Dr. Elaine Aron: https://hsperson.com/

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep63

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Most people spend years chasing a feeling of being enough, tying their worth to promotions, praise, productivity, and the approval of people around them. But what if that entire approach is backwards? 

In this episode, Shola Richards makes the case that genuine self-esteem is not something you find, it is something you deliberately construct, and the building process is simpler and more accessible than most people think. If you have ever felt like your confidence depends on everything going right, this episode will change how you think about your own worth and your capacity to show up for the people who need you most. 

Mentioned in This Episode
The Kindness Extremist Podcast Ep 48: The Necessity of Doing Hard Things: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-necessity-of-doing-hard-things-3-strategies-to/id1808367842?i=1000750997021

Dr. Kristin Neff, researcher and author on self-compassion: https://self-compassion.org/

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Can anger and kindness exist at the same time? In this episode, Shola Richards tackles one of the most misunderstood ideas in personal growth, leadership, and emotional intelligence: righteous anger.

Too many kind people have been taught to suppress their anger in the name of compassion, professionalism, or keeping the peace. But what happens when silence allows harm, injustice, or disrespect to continue unchecked? Shola explores the critical difference between reactive rage and values-driven anger, and why learning to channel anger effectively may be one of the most important leadership skills we can develop.

The Kindness Strategies:

• The Anger Inventory
• The Temperature Check
• The Righteous Action Protocol & The Name It, Frame It, Claim It Framework

This episode will teach you to honor your anger and speak up with conviction while still maintaining your humanity.

 For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep61

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Winners never quit.” But what if quitting is actually the kind thing to do? In this episode, Shola Richards challenges one of the most celebrated beliefs in modern culture and explores why quitting the right things may be one of the wisest and kindest decisions you ever make. Because the truth of the matter is that quitting doesn't always mean just giving up when life gets hard - sometimes it's about being honest with what's serving you, and what's not.

Through the episode, Shola unpacks the psychology behind staying too long and explains how the sunk cost fallacy can end up trapping us. He also discusses the emotional “neutral zone” after quitting, and shares strategies for quitting wit integrity when the time comes. 

The Kindness Strategies:

•  The Quit Check 
•  The Becoming Inventory 
•  The Clean Goodbye 

Let's stop believing the lies about quitting that keep us stuck in harmful patterns and situations that benefit no one. If you’ve been holding onto something that no longer fits who you are, this conversation may help you finally understand why and start to let go for good.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 8 - Is Your Job Hurting You? 3 Signs It's Time To Walk Away [Part 1]
• Episode 9 - Still Stuck in a Toxic Job? 3 More Signals You Can't Ignore [Part 2]
• Episode 25 - The Power of Boundaries—Your Roadmap to Protecting What Matters Most
• Episode 48 - The Necessity of Doing Hard Things: 3 Strategies to Build Unshakable Courage

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep60

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Men have been sold a dangerous lie about masculinity: that kindness is weakness. In this episode of The Kindness Extremist, Shola Richards dismantles that belief and makes the case for a radically different definition of strength. Drawing from personal stories and lessons from his late father, Shola explores how rigid ideas about masculinity are harming men, damaging relationships, and creating emotional isolation that too often goes unspoken.

The Kindness Strategies:

• The Strength List
• The Permission Model
• The Human Interruption

Whether you’re a father, leader, coach, partner, or simply someone trying to redefine what strength looks like, this conversation will challenge the way you think about masculinity.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 49 - Strong Enough to Apologize: 3 Steps to Making Things Right Without Losing Yourself
• Episode 55 - Demand More: Why High Expectations Are The Greatest Act of Kindness
• Episode 58 - The Art of Supporting Someone in Grief: What Not to Say (And What Actually Helps)

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep59

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences, and it's also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down the most common mistakes people make when trying to comfort someone in grief, and why those words, even when well-meaning, can make things worse.

But this isn’t just about what not to say - it’s also about understanding what grief actually feels like beneath the surface, why so many people disappear after the first few weeks, and how real support looks when there’s nothing to fix. You’ll learn how to move beyond surface-level empathy, how to show up without trying to “solve” someone’s pain, and why your presence matters more than the perfect words.

The Kindness Strategies:

• Practice The 3 Word Test
• Build a Grief Calendar
• Write a Grief Permission Statement

If you’ve ever felt unsure of what to say or felt alone in your own grief, this conversation is for you. Tune in, and share the episode with a friend! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 36 - Permission to be Human: Mental Health Strategies for People Who Don't Like the Holidays
• Episode 54 - The People Pleasing Trap: 3 Ways to Know If You're Being Kind or a Doormat

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep58

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Are you tired all the time but telling yourself it’s a good thing? In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down one of the most accepted but damaging beliefs in modern culture: The idea that being constantly exhausted means you’re doing life right.

But what if that belief is actually making you less kind, less patient, and less present with the people who matter most?

This conversation uncovers the cost of hustle culture, the difference between active recovery and passive numbing, and the ways burnout is destructive to true kindness. Plus, Shola shares a simple framework for building rest into your life without guilt.

The Kindness Strategies:

• The Depletion Review
• The Rest Framework
• Permission Rest

If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating and review - it helps more people discover the message and join the movement toward a kinder world!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 30 - The Foundation: 3 Essential Daily Practices to Become a Kinder Human
• Episode 32 - Becoming Strong Enough to be Kind: A New Framework to Create Cultures Worth Fighting For
• Episode 48 - The Necessity of Doing Hard Things: 3 Strategies to Build Unshakable Courage

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep57

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com 

Betrayal is one of the most painful, disorienting human experiences, and it can leave you unsure of how to move forward with an open heart. Most advice tells you to forgive quickly or to protect yourself by never being that open again, neither of which actually helps you heal.

In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down the real impact of betrayal and what it takes to stay open without becoming naive. This is a deep dive into trust, vulnerability, and the difficult decision to keep showing up fully even after being hurt. You will learn how betrayal affects your brain and behavior, why closing your heart feels like protection but often isn’t, and how to rebuild trust in a way that is grounded, intentional, and sustainable.

The Kindness Strategies

• Honest Accounting
• The Lesson List
• The Trust Gradient

Staying open after betrayal is not weakness. It is a conscious, courageous decision about the kind of person you choose to be. If this episode resonates, make sure to follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more people discover this message.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 7 - The Truth About Forgiveness: Let Go Without Letting Them Off The Hook
• Episodes 33 - How to Recognize a Toxic Relationship—3 Warning Signs You Can't Ignore (Part 1)
• Episode 34 - Still Not Sure If They're Toxic? 3 More Signs You Can't Ignore (Part 2)

For speaking requests or collaborations:

https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep56

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com