Welcome to The Empire of Kindness!

The Empire of Kindness

Welcome to The Empire of Kindness, where we explore the nature, value, and practice of kindness. Insight, interviews, and practice tips to make the world a better place. Let's put kindness in charge. Let's build an Empire.

The Moment Before the Meal
The Empire of Kindness
The Moment Before the Meal
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March 16, 2025

Why kindness?

Welcome to The Empire of Kindness, where we explore the nature, value, and practice of kindness. Today we look at the basic value of kindness and why it matters. This is the start of our journey to see, hear, and record our experience of kindness, and use it to inspire others. Let's build an Empire of Kindness.
April 13, 2025

Kindness is real too

In the Empire of Kindness podcast, host Matthew McInnis explores the importance of kindness in everyday interactions, focusing on customer service. Drawing on his years of experience, he illustrates how leading with empathy can turn challenging situations into positive experiences. By sharing a personal story of helping a distressed elderly caller recover her precious photos, McInnis highlights the impact of understanding before problem-solving. He invites listeners to contribute their stories o
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April 20, 2025

Sin City

Never forget that kindness can be found anywhere. This time we look at a surprising place to find and practice kindness: a casino.
April 21, 2025

The Kindness of Pope Francis

In a special episode of The Empire of Kindness, we take a look at a modern icon of the pursuit of kindness. Pope Francis' passing will have a profound effect on millions of people. Maybe there are some things we can learn from this.
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April 27, 2025

Choosing Kindness: A man and his dog

In this podcast episode from 'Empire of Kindness,' host Matthew McInnis shares a heartfelt story about enacting kindness towards a man and his dog. Stopping at a traffic light, Matthew encountered a man with a straightforward sign requesting food, accompanied by a small, quiet dog. Touched by the man's honesty and warmth, Matthew gave them $5, hoping it would help. Reflecting on the experience, he emphasizes that kindness is not about ensuring results but about making a choice to act. This story
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May 5, 2025

Kindness and a backpack: A Homeless Man's Integrity

In this episode we examine a stunning act of honesty by a homeless man. We look at the integrity it took and the inspiring effects it had on others. Join us for a look at kindness and a backpack.
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May 11, 2025

The Secret Santa of Kansas City: A Tale of Unseen Kindness

Matthew McInnis tells the heartwarming tale of Larry Stewart, whose journey into becoming Kansas City's Secret Santa stemmed from his own struggles. Fired and broke, a gesture at a diner in 1979 sparked Stewart's vow to help others. His philanthropy grew alongside his fortunes, leading to a legacy of anonymous gift-giving totaling $1.3 million. Even after revealing himself due to illness, Stewart's mission of kindness lived on, inspiring others to embrace charity. The episode closes with a call
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May 19, 2025

Kindness at 30,000 feet

In this episode of 'Empire of Kindness,' we explore an inspiring story of empathy on a Southwest Airlines flight in 2016. When a baby's cries filled the cabin, it wasn't irritation but kindness that resonated. A man in seat 13C offered to hold the crying infant, allowing the overwhelmed mother some much-needed respite. This simple gesture not only calmed the baby but also provided peace and reassurance to the mother. This act of humanity, captured in a viral photo, reminds us of the power of not
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May 25, 2025

After the fire: Kindness in a community

A house fire destroyed everything for this family. The kindness of the community they didn't know they had made a difference.
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June 1, 2025

Kindness in a Kroger's: A young man notices a need

In a busy Kroger store in Houston, Texas, young employee Traveon Smith became a beacon of kindness. He noticed an elderly woman struggling with her shopping and devoted 45 minutes to assist her with grace and care. A fellow shopper captured the moment, and it quickly went viral, resonating with thousands. Traveon's actions highlighted the impact of generosity and patience, showing how small acts can have profound effects. His story, shared on social media and local news, reminds us all that kind