The Support & Kindness Podcast Podcast Por Greg Shaw arte de portada

The Support & Kindness Podcast

The Support & Kindness Podcast

De: Greg Shaw
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🌟 The Support & Kindness Podcast – With Greg and Rich Life with mental health challenges, brain injury, TBI, chronic pain, or simply the weight of everyday struggles can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created The Support & Kindness Podcast — a space where compassion, community, and real conversations come together. Each week, Greg and Rich share stories, insights, and practical tools that remind you you’re not alone. From personal experiences to uplifting interviews, we explore how kindness and support can transform lives — one story, one act, one conversation at a time. Expect heartfelt talks, simple steps you can take to spread kindness in your world, and encouragement to keep going, even on the hardest days. Whether you’re seeking hope, healing, or just a gentle reminder that what you do matters, this is your place. 👉 New episodes weekly. Subscribe and join us in building a kinder, more supportive world.
Episodios
  • Episode 5: What Do You Do When You Have Nobody to Talk To

    Episode 5: What Do You Do When You Have Nobody to Talk To
    Oct 5 2025
    The Support & Kindness Podcast with Greg and Rich Episode 5: What Do You Do When You Have Nobody to Talk To Summary: As the season shifts and people spend more time indoors, feelings of isolation can grow. Greg and Rich share practical ways to find connection when you don’t have anyone to talk to—from using AI tools and online communities, to city exploration, curated social media, gratitude practices, journaling with care, meetups, and crisis resources like 988 and warm lines. They emphasize safety, accessibility, and real-life strategies that help in the moment and build supportive routines over time. Key Topics Covered: Seasonal isolation and why connection gets harder in fall and winterUsing AI companions and custom chats for conversation and idea bouncingOnline communities: Discord, Reddit, GoBrunch groups, and city subredditsExploring your city like a tourist to rediscover local gemsSocial media curation for a positive feed experienceSafety and support: 988, international help directories, and warm linesHobbies and meetups (virtual and in-person) to find your peopleJournaling tips, gratitude jars, and “future self” emails for encouragement Notable Quotes: Greg: “You don’t have to be alone.”Rich: “It took a while to get rid of the toxic things on social media… but I’ve got a pretty positive feed now.”Greg: “If you respond to negative stuff, negative stuff will come at you.”Rich: “View your city from the eyes of somebody who’s never been there… and make you appreciate it.”Greg: “If you’re not suicidal and you call and say… ‘I really need to talk to somebody,’ you’ll be fine.” Highlights from Greg: AI companions and custom bots can remember context and be tailored for supportive conversation.988 is available even if you’re not in crisis; clearly state you’re not at risk if that’s the case.Warm lines and international directories can connect you to local, free resources.Gratitude practices: build a jar of notes you can revisit on tough days.Journaling can be helpful but use caution if you’re struggling—keep it focused on gratitude or prompts that support safety. Highlights from Rich: Online communities like Discord and Reddit can match specific interests.NotebookLM helped his wife simulate a “study group” discussion around her novel—solo, but social.City subreddits and tourist perspectives can refresh your appreciation for where you live.Curating social media feeds reduces negativity and increases uplifting content.Fun, niche content (e.g., music/video mashups) can offer light connection and entertainment. Main Takeaways: Connection can be built through tools, routines, and communities—even solo.Be intentional with technology: AI chats, curated feeds, and structured tools can help.Safety first: Crisis lines, warm lines, and clear communication about risk matter.Rediscover local life: Explore your city through tourist guides and community forums.Add supportive practices: gratitude jars, future-self emails, and meetups. Actionable Tips: Try an AI chat that remembers context; set boundaries and goals for conversations.Join interest-based communities: Reddit: hobby, city, and support subredditsDiscord: topic serversGoBrunch: Greg and Rich’s community groups (Brain Injury Mondays, Chronic Pain Tuesdays, Mental Health Wednesdays) Curate social media: Unfollow or mute accounts that raise anxietyInteract only with content that supports your mood and values Use support lines: 988 (USA): Call or text if you need someone to talk to; state if you’re not at riskWarm lines: non-crisis emotional support; search your state or regionInternational directories: find local free resources by country Build a gratitude jar: Add small notes daily; read them on hard days.Email your future self: Schedule encouraging messages to arrive later.Explore locally: Use city subreddits and travel sites to plan mini-adventures.Find meetups: Meetup.com for virtual or in-person hobby groups. Resources Mentioned: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (USA): Call or text 988Find a Helpline - Global Support at Your Fingertips 24/7 https://findahelpline.com/Warm lines: Search “[your state] warm line” for non-crisis supportInternational help directories: Use country-based mental health resource listsGoBrunch community groups by Greg and Rich: Monday: Brain Injury SupportTuesday: Chronic Pain SupportWednesday: Mental Health Support Meetup.com for interest groupsNotebookLM for document-based conversations and idea bouncingCity subreddits, TripAdvisor, and similar travel sites for local exploration Call to Action: Share your topic ideas or questions at kindnessrx.org using the contact form.Subscribe, rate, and comment to help others find the show.If you need someone to talk to right now, call or text 988 in the U.S. If you’re not in crisis, say so clearly and ask for someone to talk to.
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    17 m
  • Episode 4: Pain Flare Days - How to Cope When Nothing Helps

    Episode 4: Pain Flare Days - How to Cope When Nothing Helps
    Sep 28 2025
    Episode 4: Pain Flare Days - How to Cope When Nothing Helps

    September 27

    In this episode, Greg and Rich tackle the difficult topic of "Pain Flare Days"—those challenging times when it feels like nothing works to alleviate chronic pain. They discuss personal strategies, the importance of mindset, and how to find relief when you feel like you're at the end of your rope.

    Key Themes & Strategies Discussed:

    • The Power of Language: Rich points out that the episode's title, "How to cope when nothing helps," can feel defeating from the start. The hosts agree that reframing our thoughts and words can make a significant difference in how we approach a difficult pain day.
    • Giving Yourself Grace: A central theme is the importance of being kind and patient with yourself. Rich shares insights from a conversation with his wife, emphasizing the need to "give yourself grace to hurt" and not get angry or self-critical for canceling plans due to pain. Greg adds that it's about being non-judgmental and not viewing yourself as a failure.
    • Distraction Therapy: Both hosts find value in distraction to take their minds off the pain.
      • Hobbies: Greg mentions enjoying adult coloring books and beading. Rich has found a great distraction in playing fantasy football with friends and family, which keeps him engaged and focused on something other than his pain.
      • Games: The hosts discuss video games, like Grand Theft Auto, and online jigsaw puzzles as potential coping tools.
      • Other Distractions: They also suggest audiobooks and taking naps as helpful strategies.
    • The Importance of Connection & Asking for Help:
      • Venting and Sharing: Expressing the pain, whether through venting or sharing with a loved one, is a key coping mechanism.
      • Don't Suffer in Silence: Greg and Rich stress that you don't have to go through it alone. Asking for help from a spouse, friend, doctor, or support group is crucial. They highlight that it's okay to ask for help and to be specific about your needs.

    Noteworthy Points & Quotes:

    • "When nothing seems to help, you know, what do you do? You vent." - Rich
    • "It's about giving yourself grace to take the time you need due to the pain that you're feeling, practicing patience with yourself." - Rich
    • "If you've never experienced pain, you don't get that experience of when you're not in pain... I think when we suffer from chronic pain, sometimes allowing ourselves to feel it, then when we're not in pain, we we really can appreciate the the gold in that." - Greg
    • "There's a lot of science [that] demonstrates that kindness and being kind to to other people helps us so much, if not more so than the other person." - Greg
    • "Ask for help and don't give up because it's really easy to to suffer in silence." - Rich

    Resources:

    • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: If you are struggling with emotional distress or in a crisis, you can call or text 988 anytime in the United States to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Greg notes, "Even if you're not suicidal, you can call and say, look, I'm not suicidal but I need someone to talk to, they'll have a conversation to you." https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://988lifeline.org/
    • U.S. Pain Foundation: A non-profit organization that provides resources, support, and advocacy for people living with chronic pain. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://uspainfoundation.org/
    • The Podcast Website: For more episodes and to suggest a topic for discussion, visit kindnessrx.org.
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    10 m
  • Episode 3: “When you are forced to cancel plans, how do you handle any feelings of guilt that may arise?”

    Episode 3: “When you are forced to cancel plans, how do you handle any feelings of guilt that may arise?”
    Sep 21 2025
    The Support & Kindness Podcast with Greg and Rich Episode 3: “When you are forced to cancel plans, how do you handle any feelings of guilt that may arise?” Recorded: Saturday, September 20th, 2025 Episode summary Greg and Rich discuss practical and compassionate ways to manage guilt when illness, pain, anxiety, depression or other circumstances force you to cancel plans. They emphasize honest communication, realistic expectations, self-compassion, and simple strategies (templates, backup plans, shorter visits) to reduce stress for both you and the people who care about you. The conversation centers on shifting the narrative from “I failed” to “This was necessary given my limits,” and on normalizing limits as part of being human. Quick episode highlights (timestamps) 00:00–00:47 — Episode theme introduced: cancelling plans and managing guilt.00:47–02:04 — Greg: why self-blame happens and why you shouldn’t treat a cancel as personal failure.02:05–03:22 — Rich: the importance of open communication and setting expectations.03:22–04:11 — Reframing guilt: from “I failed” to “I needed care.”04:12–05:25 — Practical suggestions: templates, backup plans, shorter visits, and self-compassion exercises.05:25–06:24 — How to invite alternatives and support from loved ones.06:24–07:45 — On compounded guilt vs. one-off events: internal experience vs. others’ perspective.07:46–09:08 — Resources and closing: support groups, 988 Lifeline, NIMH; call to share listeners’ experiences. Direct quotes and notable lines Greg: “The most important thing is not to feel like a failure… we shouldn't blame ourselves as if we've got control over a pain flare up or a depressive episode.”Rich: “Communication is absolutely vital… guilt is one of the most common feelings because there's internal pressure to push through and meet expectations.”Greg: “Instead of ‘I failed them,’ we could replace that with, ‘I couldn't be there this time because my body or my mind needed some help.’”Rich: “Those are one-off events for the people that you have plans with… your only missing one event one time based on your health.”Greg (light sign-off): “You've wasted some perfectly good time listening to the Support and Kindness podcast with Greg and Rich — but no, you chose to listen anyway.” Key takeaways (actionable) Reframe the story: replace “I failed” with factual language: “I couldn’t be there because my health needed attention.”Communicate early and briefly: a short honest message is better than silence; keep a cancellation template ready.Set realistic expectations in advance: let regular contacts know you may need shorter visits or last-minute changes.Offer alternatives: propose a shorter visit, phone call, or reschedule to show you care while honoring limits.Build simple backup plans: childcare, caregiving, or a “plan B” for events can reduce last-minute stress.Practice self-compassion: treat yourself as you would a friend; if guilt is frequent or severe, consider therapy or peer support.Remember perspective: others usually view the missed event as one occurrence; the compounded guilt you feel is often internal. What each host contributed (noteworthy observation / quote) Greg Observation: People often self-blame after cancelling because society prizes productivity and reliability.Quote: “Limits are part of being human, and one cancelled event rarely defines a whole relationship.”Practical tip: Keep a brief message template and suggest concrete alternatives (call, reschedule, shorter visit). Rich Observation: Silence or assuming others “get it” leads to misunderstanding and resentment.Quote: “Communication is absolutely vital… we have to acknowledge our limits.”Practical tip: Set expectations ahead of time and use backup plans — communication prevents hurt feelings. Resources mentioned Support and Kindness peer support groups (visit kindnessrx.org)988 — National Suicide & Crisis LifelineNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — resources and links for mental health information Suggested short message templates to keep on hand (examples from the episode’s guidance) “I’m really sorry — my health is acting up and I can’t make it today. I hate to miss it. Can we reschedule for next week or do a quick call this evening?”“I need to rest today and can’t attend. I’m sorry to let you down — could we do a shorter visit another day or talk on the phone tonight?” Call to action Share how you handle cancelling plans: visit kindnessrx.org and let Greg and Rich know what has helped you — templates, scripts, or ways families and friends can support you better. Closing line This episode reminds us that honoring limits is responsible and kind — to ourselves and to others. If guilt shows up, a short honest message, a proposed alternative, and a little self-compassion go a long way.
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    9 m
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