Science of Kindness: Tools and Stories for Living with Kindness and Purpose

About Science of Kindness: Tools and Stories for Living with Kindness and Purpose

Science of Kindness is for leaders (whether they have the title or not) who feel burnt-out, stressed-out, and low on motivation—but still want to lead with purpose, connection, and compassion. Hosted by culture expert and kindness advocate Dr. Chris Culver, this show offers a research-backed approach to filling your bucket so you can keep leading well. Whether you’re an executive, educator, nonprofit director, or community leader, each episode helps you reset with practical tools, real stories, and grounded encouragement. In each episode, Dr. Culver explores topics include self-compassion, emotional regulation, burnout recovery, meaningful collaboration, and of course the science behind why kindness matters. By the end of each episode, you’ll feel refueled—with motivation, actionable strategies, and steps you can apply right away. You’ll have more connection, more collaboration, and more compassion. Science of Kindness helps you lead with a full heart without losing yourself in the process. Subscribe for weekly episodes, join the newsletter for exclusive insights, or book Dr. Culver to speak at your next event.

Publisher

Dr. Chris Culver

Category

education · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Jan 2026

Latest episode

10 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Kindness Helps You Navigate Change and Uncertainty

   Kindness doesn't stop life's storms. It changes how we move through them. In this episode of The Science of Kindness, Dr. Chris Culver reflects on a series of walks around a windswept Oklahoma lake and the lesson they revealed about change, uncertainty, and emotional resilience. Drawing from his experiences in executive leadership, personal disappointment, and the challenges of navigating shifting relationships, he explores why our brains crave predictability and why resisting life's changing seasons often creates more challenges. Through practical insights on control, emotions, and self-kindness, Dr. Culver encourages listeners to stop fighting the wind and learn how to move through it with grace. Be the Light: The Science of Kindness and the Power of Belonging - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3V29JYY (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3V29JYY) The Orange Sparrow's Journey - https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Sparrows-Journey-Christopher-Culver/dp/B0H2JH5815/ (https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Sparrows-Journey-Christopher-Culver/dp/B0H2JH5815/) Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

2. 

   27 Jul 2026

   The Mistake You're Making After Every Mistake

   Your biggest mistake isn't a dead end - it's a detour.  In this episode of The Science of Kindness, Dr. Chris Culver explores why the way we talk to ourselves after failure matters more than we often realize. Using the familiar experience of a GPS recalculating after a wrong turn, he explains how our brains respond to shame, rejection, and setbacks, and why self-compassion creates the conditions for growth. Drawing from personal stories of missed opportunities, professional rejection, and everyday mistakes, Dr. Culver offers a practical framework for replacing self-criticism with curiosity and grace. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Be the Light: The Science of Kindness and the Power of Belonging - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3V29JYY (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3V29JYY) The Orange Sparrow's Journey - https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Sparrows-Journey-Christopher-Culver/dp/B0H2JH5815/ (https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Sparrows-Journey-Christopher-Culver/dp/B0H2JH5815/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

3. 

   13 Jul 2026

   Self-Compassion Can Help You Move Forward

   Losing motivation and momentum can happen to anyone. In this episode of the Science of Kindness Podcast, Dr. Chris Culver explores why stress, burnout, self-doubt, and life's unexpected challenges can leave us feeling stuck and how self-compassion can help us move forward again. Through personal stories, neuroscience research, and practical leadership insights, Chris explains why our nervous system often shifts into protection mode during difficult seasons and how small, intentional actions can rebuild confidence and momentum. Whether you've stalled in your goals, relationships, personal growth, or health journey, this conversation offers practical encouragement to replace shame with kindness and take the next step toward the life you want to build. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

4. 

   29 Jun 2026

   Your Attention Shapes Your Life

   It's easy to move through life on autopilot without realizing you're going the wrong way. In this episode of the Science of Kindness Podcast, Dr. Chris Culver explores how fragmented attention, chronic stress, and constant distractions can pull us away from our relationships, our purpose, and even ourselves. Through personal stories, neuroscience research, and practical leadership insights, the episode examines why awareness is the foundation of kindness and how slowing down creates space for deeper connection, wiser decisions, and a more intentional life. You are encouraged to notice where your attention is going, recognize areas where you've begun to drift, and practice small daily habits that cultivate presence, alignment, and genuine kindness. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

5. 

   15 Jun 2026

   Emotional Sensitivity is a Strength

   Being “too sensitive” is often misunderstood. In this episode of the Science of Kindness Podcast, Dr. Chris Culver explores how emotional invalidation, unsafe environments, and chronic stress shape the way people suppress emotions and question their own experiences. Drawing from personal stories, leadership lessons, and insights about the nervous system, the episode examines how sensitivity is often a form of awareness rather than weakness. You are encouraged to recognize emotions as signals, navigate difficult relationships and workplace dynamics with curiosity and intentionality, and understand how kindness toward oneself creates healthier communication, stronger boundaries, and deeper human connection. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

6. 

   1 Jun 2026

   How Overgiving Leads to Burnout

   Burnout is not caused by caring too much. It is often caused by carrying too much! In this episode of the Science of Kindness Podcast, Dr. Chris Culver challenges a common misunderstanding about kindness: that being kind means always saying yes, always being available, and always putting others first. Drawing on personal experiences, workplace examples, and insights about stress and human behavior, the episode explores how kindness without boundaries can lead to burnout, resentment, and self-abandonment. Listeners are encouraged to examine where they may be overextending themselves, neglecting their own needs, or avoiding difficult conversations in the name of being “nice.” Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

7. 

   18 May 2026

   Why Nice Leaders Create Toxic and Confusing Environments

   Nice leaders create toxic environments! In this episode of the Science of Kindness podcast, Dr. Chris Culver challenges a common assumption: that being nice automatically leads to healthy relationships and effective leadership. Drawing on personal experience and research, the episode explains how “niceness” often avoids discomfort, suppresses truth, and unintentionally creates toxic environments across workplaces, teams, and personal relationships. Listeners are guided to examine their own behaviors, communication patterns, and leadership tendencies, with a focus on replacing passive niceness with intentional, honest, and kind engagement. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

8. 

   4 May 2026

   You’re Not Lazy, You’re Avoiding Something

   You are not lazy—you are protecting yourself. In this episode of Science of Kindness, Dr. Chris Culver reframes procrastination as avoidance, explaining how the brain is wired for safety, not productivity. He explores how fear of discomfort, conflict, failure, or judgment drives us to delay tasks, conversations, and decisions, often increasing stress rather than reducing it. Through personal stories and practical reflection, he challenges the pressure of “should” thinking and the myth that discipline is the solution. Instead, he invites listeners to choose honesty over self-criticism, identify what feels unsafe, and take one small, courageous step forward—reminding us that real kindness begins with understanding ourselves. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

9. 

   20 Apr 2026

   Boundaries Are Kind

   Kindness means having the courage to protect dignity, even when it feels uncomfortable. In this episode of Science of Kindness, Dr. Chris Culver revisits the idea of “kindergarten kindness”—the version many of us learned as children that emphasizes being agreeable, avoiding conflict, and keeping the peace—and explains why that approach breaks down in adult life. He argues that real kindness requires boundaries, clarity, and the willingness to say what is true with care, even when it feels uncomfortable. Dr. Culver invites listeners to examine where they are still choosing niceness over truth, and where that choice is leading to burnout or resentment. This episode challenges listeners to move beyond surface-level kindness and begin living it out honestly, through hard conversations, self-respect, and decisions that honor both their own dignity and the dignity of others. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

10. 

    6 Apr 2026

    Choosing Care Over Comfort

    Kindness is not something you do once in a while, but is something you choose to live by. In this episode of Science of Kindness, Dr. Chris Culver explains how stress, pressure, and the constant pursuit of achievement create exhaustion and emptiness, introducing the concept of “affluenza” and the limits of chasing status or success. He invites listeners to shift toward self-compassion, care, rest, and intentional daily choices, offering a simple framework for navigating difficult moments and reminding us that lasting change is built through small, consistent acts of kindness toward ourselves and others. The Language of Behavior by Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper - https://www.amazon.com/Language-Behavior-Framework-Elevate-Student/dp/B0DVT32KQ1 (https://www.amazon.com/Language-Behavior-Framework-Elevate-Student/dp/B0DVT32KQ1) Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy - https://www.amazon.com/Inner-Excellence-Extraordinary-Performance-Possible/dp/1538777800/ (https://www.amazon.com/Inner-Excellence-Extraordinary-Performance-Possible/dp/1538777800/) Houston Kraft – www.characterstrong.com/houston-kraft (https://characterstrong.com/houston-kraft) Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

11. 

    23 Mar 2026

    Why People Pleasing Is Destroying Your Relationships

    Kindness means getting uncomfortable, not people-pleasing. In this episode of The Science of Kindness, Dr. Chris Culver talks about the important truth that kindness is not the same as niceness. He shows how avoiding conflict, people-pleasing, and staying silent may feel calm in the moment, but often create resentment, confusion, and broken trust over time. Through stories from leadership and education, Chris argues that real kindness takes courage. It tells the truth, sets boundaries, gives honest feedback, and protects dignity even when it feels uncomfortable. True Kindness Is Uncomfortable | Simon Sinek - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Qhz-X8Ws0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Qhz-X8Ws0) The Language of Behavior by Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper - https://www.amazon.com/Language-Behavior-Framework-Elevate-Student/dp/B0DVT32KQ1 (https://www.amazon.com/Language-Behavior-Framework-Elevate-Student/dp/B0DVT32KQ1) Houston Kraft – www.characterstrong.com/houston-kraft (https://characterstrong.com/houston-kraft) Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

12. 

    9 Mar 2026

    Kindness is an Intentional Choice

    Kindness is often mistaken for niceness. In this episode of The Science of Kindness, Dr. Chris Culver explores why kindness is actually a deliberate choice that shapes relationships, workplaces, and communities. He explains the difference between “confetti kindness” (small everyday gestures) and deeper kindness that seeks understanding, sets boundaries, and builds trust. Dr. Chris also discusses practical strategies like the “six-second pause,” self-awareness, and affirmations that help people choose kindness—even in difficult moments. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson – https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck (https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck) Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy – https://innerexcellence.com/jim-murphys-books (https://innerexcellence.com/jim-murphys-books/) The Rabbit Effect by Dr. Kelly Harding - https://www.kellihardingmd.com/the-rabbit-effect (https://www.kellihardingmd.com/the-rabbit-effect) Dr. Chris Culver – https://www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.drchrisculver.com) Orange Sparrow – https://www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

13. 

    23 Feb 2026

    Breaking the Shame Spiral with Self-Compassion

    Shame has a way of convincing us that we are the problem. But in this episode of The Science of Kindness, listeners will learn how to interrupt the “shame spiral,” understand common coping responses like withdrawal or self-attack, and begin replacing false narratives with self-compassion and affirmations. Dr. Chris Culver also explores the difference between guilt and shame, and why that distinction matters for emotional regulation and mental health. Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

14. 

    9 Feb 2026

    How Small Choices Rewire Trust, Belonging, and Leadership

    Kindness is a daily, intentional practice that reshapes our brains, our relationships, and the cultures we help lead. In this episode, Dr. Chris Culver walks listeners through the science of kindness, explaining how even simple acts influence neurochemistry, emotional regulation, trust, and human connection. Drawing on stories from his work in schools, higher education, and organizational leadership, Dr. Culver explores why self-kindness and internal dialogue matter as much as outward behavior. The Rabbit Effect by Dr. Kelly Harding - https://www.kellihardingmd.com/the-rabbit-effect (https://www.kellihardingmd.com/the-rabbit-effect) The Language of Behavior by Charle Peck and Joshua Stamper - https://www.amazon.com/Language-Behavior-Framework-Elevate-Student/dp/B0DVT32KQ1  (https://www.amazon.com/Language-Behavior-Framework-Elevate-Student/dp/B0DVT32KQ1) Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com/) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org/) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

15. 

    26 Jan 2026

    Kindness, Leadership, and the Cost of Toxic Culture

    Kindness is a powerful force in leadership, well-being, and the health of any organizational culture. Dr. Chris Culver introduces the podcast by sharing formative stories from growing up in a divided family, experiencing bullying, and working under a toxic school leader who pushed him toward burnout. Drawing from his doctoral research and lived experience, Dr. Culver explains why trust, attention, and self-kindness often matter more than authority or policy, and why choosing yourself can be the most responsible leadership decision. Houston Kraft – www.characterstrong.com/houston-kraft (https://characterstrong.com/houston-kraft) Dr. Chris Culver – www.drchrisculver.com (https://www.doctorchrisculver.com) Orange Sparrow – www.orangesparrow.org (https://www.orangesparrow.org) Want Dr. Chris at your next event? Book him to speak here: https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking (https://www.drchrisculver.com/speaking)

16. 

    16 Jan 2026

    Science of Kindness Trailer

    The Science of Kindness podcast is for leaders (whether they have the title or not) who feel burnt-out, stressed-out, and low on motivation—but still want to lead with purpose, connection, and compassion. Hosted by culture expert and kindness advocate Dr. Chris Culver, this show offers a research-backed approach to filling your bucket so you can keep leading well. Whether you’re an executive, educator, nonprofit director, or community leader, each episode helps you reset with practical tools, real stories, and grounded encouragement. In each episode, Dr. Culver explores topics include self-compassion, emotional regulation, burnout recovery, meaningful collaboration, and of course the science behind why kindness matters. By the end of each episode, you’ll feel refueled—with motivation, actionable strategies, and steps you can apply right away. You’ll have more connection, more collaboration, and more compassion. Science of Kindness helps you lead with a full heart without losing yourself in the process.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Contact Science of Kindness: Tools and Stories for Living with Kindness and Purpose

Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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