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The Support & Kindness Podcast

The Support & Kindness Podcast

Auteur(s): Greg Shaw
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À propos de cet audio

 🌟 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.
Épisodes
  • 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 min
  • 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 min
  • Episode 2: What Do You Do When You Feel Overwhelmed?

    Episode 2: What Do You Do When You Feel Overwhelmed?
    Sep 14 2025
    The Support & Kindness Podcast - With Greg and Rich Episode 2: What Do You Do When You Feel Overwhelmed? Recorded: Saturday, September 13, 2025 Today Greg and Rich discussed “What Do You Do When You Feel Overwhelmed?” Episode summary Greg and Rich unpack what it feels like to be overwhelmed and share practical, compassionate strategies that work in real life - especially when you’re juggling brain injury, ADHD, family, and daily noise. They cover slowing down, prioritizing, grounding the nervous system, writing lists that actually help, shrinking big tasks, setting boundaries, delegating, and caring for the basics (food, water, sleep, movement). Greg also reads a thoughtful list of tips he received from GPT-5, which both hosts reflect on and endorse. They close with an open invitation to their free, confidential peer-led support groups held weekly. Highlights and key takeaways Slow down and prioritize: Pause, breathe, and pick the next single step.Make a simple list and sort by “must do today,” “could do this week,” and “parking lot.” Ground your nervous system: Try box breathing: inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4 (repeat 4–6 times).Use a cold-water reset: rinse hands/face or hold an ice cube for 30–60 seconds.5-4-3-2-1 grounding: name 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste. Shrink the task: Cut big tasks in half, then in half again. Examples: “Write a report” → open a doc and write one sentence.“Clean the kitchen” → clear the sink and run the dishwasher.“Work out” → put on shoes, take a 5-minute walk. Use a 10-3-10 reset: 10 minutes: tidy one visible area or answer one small email.3 minutes: stretch, breathe, hydrate.10 minutes: focus on the single most important next step—no multitasking. Protect your inputs: Silence non-urgent notifications, close extra tabs, place your phone in another room.Use a calming playlist or white noise. Ask for help and delegate: Share bandwidth: “Could you summarize 5–10 pages?” “Can you handle dinner tonight?”It’s okay to ask early and delegate a piece, not the whole project. Set compassionate boundaries: “I don’t have capacity right now.”“I need to finish X before I commit.” Care for the basics: Eat protein + fiber, drink a full glass of water, move for 5 minutes, aim for consistent sleep. Reframe the story: “I can do this in small steps.”“Not everything is urgent. I will choose one.”Progress > perfection. End your day with a soft landing: Note 3 small wins, set tomorrow’s top 1–2 tasks, and do one soothing ritual (warm shower, tea, light reading, brief guided breathing). Noteworthy observations Overstimulation can escalate to panic or even seizures for some—slowing down isn’t optional; it’s protective.Families and teams can learn to spot early signs of overwhelm and support with simple cues like “slow down.”Delegation can be growth-building, especially for kids or teammates—assigning roles helps them step up. Greg — quotes and points Quotes: “Just the act of slowing down can make all the difference.”“Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean that you’re failing—it means that you’re human.” (reflecting on the AI advice)“I feel lost and afraid and scared… my breathing labors. It’s just like I need some help.” Key points: Emphasizes the physical side of anxiety—tension and constriction—and how slowing down helps.Believes in writing things down as both a practical and calming step, even if the notebooks pile up.Endorses breathing as a reliable first-line tool when you’re on your own.Highlights the HALT guideline: don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.Reads and validates a comprehensive list of practical tips (breathing, cold water, 5-4-3-2-1, brain dump, shrinking tasks, 10-3-10 reset, protecting inputs, delegating, boundaries, basics, reframing, soft landing). Rich — quotes and points Quotes: “When I feel pressured, I freeze up… I can work myself into panic attacks or even seizures with overstimulation.”“I try and slow down and figure out what order I need to prioritize them in… take the food out so it doesn’t burn, then talk to my family member.” Key points: For TBI and ADHD, overwhelm often comes from overstimulation—multiple inputs at once.Uses both a digital list (big tasks) and a notepad (today’s tasks).Family has learned supportive signals—hands up, “slow down, Dad”—to prevent escalation.Delegation and coaching aren’t just relief valves; they build capability (his soccer coaching example of teaching players to run the offside trap). Practical toolkit from the episode Quick-start steps: Take 2–5 minutes for box breathing.Do a brain dump for 3–5 minutes; sort into “must today / could this week / parking lot.”Pick one next action and shrink it until it feels doable.Silence notifications, close tabs, and set a 20–30 minute...
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    15 min
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