Bonus Episode Three: Staying Soft in a Sharp World

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The world feels sharper than it used to. Conversations cut faster. Systems feel colder. And many good people feel tempted to harden—not because they don’t care, but because they’re tired.

In this final bonus episode of The Kindness Matters Podcast, Mike shares why staying soft in a harsh world is not weakness—it’s courage. Drawing from his new book, Still Changing A World: Small Acts of Kindness That Make a Big Difference, he explores how we can protect our humanity without burning out, disappearing, or becoming bitter.

This episode is about boundaries instead of walls, rest instead of retreat, and why small, everyday acts of kindness matter more—not less—when big systems feel broken.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the urge to harden your heart is often about exhaustion, not lack of compassion
• The difference between boundaries and emotional walls
• How staying “soft and strong” helps you remain human without self-erasure
• Why small acts create real change, even when they don’t go viral
• How to keep showing up with kindness without carrying the weight of fixing everything

Featured readings from the book:

• “When You’re Tempted to Harden Your Heart”
• “Small Acts Matter More When Big Systems Feel Broken”

Key takeaway:

You are not responsible for fixing the whole world.
You are responsible for how you show up in the part of it you touch.

Kindness doesn’t require perfection, consensus, or constant output. It requires presence, boundaries, and the courage to stay human—especially when the world makes that hard.

Resources & Links:

• Still Changing A World: Small Acts of Kindness That Make a Big Difference by Mike Rathbun
  (Available wherever books are sold — link in show notes)

If this episode resonated:

• Share it with someone who feels tired but hasn’t given up
• Leave a review to help others find the show
• Or do one small act of kindness today—those still count

Thank you for listening.
Thank you for caring.
And thank you for staying soft in a sharp world.

If you would like to purchase this book in either Kindle format or Paperback you can do that here.

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