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Pork Pond Gazette: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Mike Rathbun
Let’s talk. Let’s talk about hope. Let’s talk about inspiration. Let’s talk about being happy, even if it’s only for 30 minutes. My goal for this show is for it to be a place to get away from the division and the anger in the world for a while. Relax, grab a coffee or a wine or your beverage of choice and just relax for a while. Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago22 min
The Ones Who Do
Send us Fan MailSomebody should do something. We all say it, we all mean it, and then life moves on. But there’s a moment when that sentence turns into a mirror, when a problem keeps tugging at you and the next thought lands hard: what if that somebody is me? That’s the heartbeat of Kindness Matters, and it’s where this conversation begins. We walk through how meaningful community change actually happens, not through a single heroic gesture, but through ordinary people who notice what others have learned to overlook. We talk about the tiny first steps that matter, like making one call, volunteering one shift, starting one drive, or simply checking on the person who seems invisible. If you’ve ever wondered how nonprofits and community projects really start, you’ll hear the truth: the need comes first, and the organization comes later, if it comes at all. We also name what people rarely post about. The unglamorous work behind kindness includes paperwork, budgets, grant applications, fundraising emails, and the sting of rejection. You’ll hear why “no” is part of the process and how persistence can be grounded in humility, not ego. And we spend time on sustainability, because caring deeply can drain you fast. Helpers need kindness too, and stepping back to breathe is sometimes the bravest, most responsible move. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems, you’ll leave with one clear question to hold onto: what have I noticed, and what is the next thing I can do? Subscribe for more stories and reflections, share this with someone who needs a nudge to start small, and please leave a review so more people can find the show.Support the show
- 1 weeks ago20 min
Capitalism, But Make It Human
Send us Fan MailCapitalism gets talked about like a cage match: winners on one side, everyone else on the other. I’m not an economist, but a single line stopped me cold: capitalism actually works better when it’s built on a foundation of empathy and equity. So I follow that thread where it really matters, not in charts or jargon, but in people’s lives and the systems that shape their chances.We start by naming what capitalism is at its best: innovation, risk, work, and the freedom to build something real. Then we ask the uncomfortable question: how many successful people truly did it alone? From public schools to roads to mentors to the invisible safety of community, none of us rises without support. That’s where kindness stops being “nice” and starts looking like practical infrastructure for economic opportunity.To test the idea, we look at proof points. The GI Bill shows what happens when a country treats help as an investment: education, training, homeownership, and a stronger middle class. We also talk about Denmark, a capitalist country that pairs markets with a strong social safety net, and why that challenges the belief that compassion and prosperity must be enemies. Along the way, I make the case for libraries as one of the smartest community investments we’ve ever created.If you’re tired of everything becoming a competition, this is a different frame: protect dignity, expand opportunity, and watch what people build. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a hopeful lens, and leave a review with your take: is empathy a strategic advantage?This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com Support the show
- 2 weeks ago23 min
The Bravest Seat In The School
Send us Fan MailThe loudest room in a school can be the most honest one. We’re talking about the cafeteria, that daily moment when kids carry a tray into a crowded space and have to answer a deceptively hard question: where do I sit, and what does that choice say about me?We map the “ecosystem” almost every lunchroom develops; the confident table with its hidden hierarchy, the quiet table adults tend to overlook, the newcomers taking a social test with no study guide, the floaters who may be flexible or just searching for a home base, and the students who sit alone by choice or because exclusion taught them not to try. Along the way, we share four small stories that prove kindness isn’t a poster on the wall; it’s survival, courage, and real community building.Then we get practical with four tools you can use immediately at school, at work, or anywhere people cluster and sort themselves: the one-minute scan, the brave invite (“Hey, you can sit with us if you want”), the kindness exit when subtle bullying shows up, and a better after-school check-in that opens the door to your kid’s real social world. If you care about empathy, inclusion, anti-bullying, and helping kids build social confidence, this is a simple guide to doing the next kind thing on purpose.Subscribe for more stories and tools like this, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com Support the show
- 3 weeks ago34 min
Bridging The Divide
Send us Fan MailThis is the Number One downloaded episode of the Kindness Matters Podcast.You can feel the country pulling apart in tiny, personal ways: the friend you stop texting, the family group chat you mute, the coworker you avoid because one comment could turn into a fight. We want a different path, so we sit down with Bill Groner, a longtime trial lawyer who represented more than 10,000 Ground Zero responders after 9/11 and now teaches depolarization and civil dialogue skills to college students. His work is rooted in one big idea: society gets healthier when we practice “we” instead of “me,” especially when it’s hardest. We dig into why political polarization escalates so fast, how confirmation bias and stereotypes load conversations with negative emotion before anyone speaks, and why intellectual humility is a real-world communication tool, not a slogan. Bill shares lessons from applied positive psychology, including the importance of balancing negative emotions with positive ones, and how shifting your goal from winning to understanding can change the entire tone of a disagreement. From there, we get practical. Bill breaks down curious questions that invite honesty rather than defensiveness, the subtle difference tone makes when you ask something hard, and the active listening habits that build trust quickly. We also talk about workshop tools like paraphrasing, the “one mic rule,” and the LAPP framework from Braver Angels (listen, acknowledge, pivot, perspective), plus how these skills apply to marriages, parenting, friendships, and workplace conflict, not just politics. If you want better conversations with people you love, even when you disagree, hit play. Subscribe to Kindness Matters, share this with someone who values connection, and leave a review so more listeners can find these dialogue skills.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com Support the show
- Aug 20, 202629 min
Coffee That Fights Homelessness
Send us Fan MailThis is the second most listened to episode of The Kindness Matters Podcast. A tent city on the news can be easy to scroll past. For Rob Bergfalk, it became the moment he could not ignore, and it grew into Compassion Church and Compassion Coffee in Anoka, Minnesota. We talk with Rob about what it really looks like to feel “called” to something, and how purpose becomes tangible when you build a place where people who are often overlooked are seen, known, and supported.Rob walks us through the long, careful path from 2018 to launching the church in 2021, including why they chose suburban Anoka, how proximity to shelters shaped the mission, and how a coffee shop can be more than a business. We dig into the nuts and bolts of the model: starting with a coffee cart, learning through community events, then opening a permanent coffeehouse that serves high-quality local coffee while creating a stable environment for connection.The most powerful part is the work behind the counter. Compassion Coffee hires people affected by homelessness and focuses on both job training and life skills: barista skills, customer service, safety and sanitation, budgeting, meal planning, and navigating conflict. We also explore why partnerships with organizations like Hope for Youth, Stepping Stone, and Family Promise matter, and why humility and listening often do more than “playing hero.”If you care about homelessness solutions, community partnerships, social enterprise, faith-based outreach, or workforce development, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what help can look like on an ordinary street. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find stories that bring us a little closer together.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com”Support the show
- Aug 13, 202648 min
A Small Idea Turns Into One Good Deed
Send us Fan MailThis is the third-most-listened-to episode of The Kindness Matters Podcast. A craft night with a few moms, a pile of extra gloves, and a simple desire to stay connected somehow turns into two coach buses packed with winter gear and volunteers. I’m joined by Michelle Christensen from Golden Valley, Minnesota, the founder of One Good Deed, to tell the story behind Scarf Bombing, a direct, practical kindness project that puts warmth where it’s needed most across Minneapolis and St. Paul.Michelle walks me through the early days: asking friends and coworkers for hats, gloves, and scarves, then realizing the donations outgrew what shelters could store. We talk about the pivot from drop-offs to placing tagged items in parks where unsheltered neighbors actually live, the city permits that keep park staff from clearing the supplies, and the small detail that changes everything: a bright tag that says, “Take me, I’m not lost, I’m yours.” It’s a powerful way to offer dignity and clarity at the same time.You’ll also hear the human moments that stick with you, like a bus driver who asks to join the mission, the muffin handoff at a stoplight, and the unforgettable sight of a neon pink blanket “moving” because someone has already claimed it. From there, the kindness ripple spreads into a full nonprofit calendar, one good deed a month, including cards for seniors and Meals on Wheels, an International Women’s Day showcase, community cleanups, Little Free Libraries, backpacks for unsheltered youth, blankets for kids, and comfort care for cancer patients.If you want to volunteer, donate, or simply remember that kindness still thrives, listen now and check out onegooddeed.org. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find stories like this.Support the show
- Aug 6, 202617 min
Kindness For The Man In The Mirror
Send us Fan MailThe hardest kind of kindness is often the kind we refuse to give ourselves. I’m Mike Rathbun, and this is one of the most personal conversations I’ve ever shared, because it’s about men’s mental health, the pressure to stay “tough,” and what happens when we turn pain into silence.I talk through the messages many of us learned as boys: walk it off, boys don’t cry, handle it yourself. Then we get specific about how depression in men can hide in plain sight. It doesn’t always look like sadness. It can show up as anger, irritability, sixty-hour workweeks, withdrawing from people who love you, drinking too much, vaping constantly, or scrolling your phone so you don’t have to sit alone with your thoughts. If you’ve ever looked fine on the outside while feeling worn down on the inside, you’re not alone.A few weeks ago I completed a psychological assessment and received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with anxious distress. I explain what that language actually means, why a diagnosis can be clarifying instead of crushing, and why men so often wait to get help. We also talk about the real stakes, including the sobering suicide statistics, and the practical paths forward: counseling, medication, and the many supports that can work together when we choose to participate in our own healing.I’m also making a temporary change in August to focus on treatment while sharing the three most listened-to episodes each week. If this conversation hits close to home, please share it with someone you care about, subscribe for what’s next, and leave a review so more people who need this can find it.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.comSupport the show
- Jul 30, 202634 min
Words That Restore Dignity
Send us Fan MailOne careless sentence can make someone shut down for years. One kind sentence can pull them back from the edge. That’s the tension we live in every day, and it’s why I wanted to bring on Shannon Roy, a veteran trial attorney and the founder of Roy Law Firm in Denver, Colorado. She spends her life inside emotionally charged, high-stakes conversations, where communication, tone, and trust are the difference between escalation and understanding.We talk about how words can humanize or dehumanize, and why the very first moments of a conversation matter so much. Shannon shares a powerful story about a father working toward sobriety who hears his young son admit he’s afraid dad won’t be there when he comes down the slide. We also unpack a heartbreaking case involving a 10-year-old who unknowingly brought a backpack with a gun to school and faced expulsion, until a stranger’s anonymous generosity changed the family’s trajectory. These aren’t abstract “be nicer” ideas. They’re real examples of kindness and empathy shaping justice, safety, and outcomes.From there, we get practical: how to assume positive intent, how to pause before responding, why texting causes so many misunderstandings, and how ego blocks the apology that could repair a relationship. If you care about better relationships, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and building a kinder community, you’ll take away tools you can use today.Subscribe to Kindness Matters, share this conversation with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network — your go-to hub for podcast creators. Whether you’re just starting a podcast and need professional production support, or you already host a show and want to join a collaborative, supportive podcast network, visit maydaymedianetwork.comYou can support the show in a few different ways—by grabbing something from our merch store, picking up a copy of my book, or joining us on Buy Me a Coffee. Every bit of support helps keep the podcast going and also helps us give back to nonprofits doing good in the world.“Intro music: ‘Human First’ by Mike Baker – YouTube Music: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying | Website: www.mikebakerhq.com Support the show
About Pork Pond Gazette
Let’s talk. Let’s talk about hope. Let’s talk about inspiration. Let’s talk about being happy, even if it’s only for 30 minutes. My goal for this show is for it to be a place to get away from the division and the anger in the world for a while. Relax, grab a coffee or a wine or your beverage of choice and just relax for a while. Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
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