The Kindness Matters Podcast
So. Much. Division. Let's talk about how to change that. Re-engage as neighbors, friends, co-workers and family. Let's set out to change the world. Strike that. Change A World. One person at a time, make someone's life a little better and then do it again tomorrow and the day after that, through kindness.
Kindness is a Super-Power that each of us has within us. It is so powerful it has the potential to change not only your life but those around you, too. Let's talk about kindness.
The Kindness Matters Podcast
Exploring the Power of Empathy to Reduce Stress
What if creativity could be the key to managing anxiety? Join us as we welcome the extraordinary Catherine Catterson, an international best-selling author and multifaceted artist, who shares her innovative approach to using music, visual art, and focused breathing as tools to alleviate stress and fear. Catherine opens up about her personal journey and how her upbringing in a family that valued kindness has fueled her mission to support children’s confidence and stress levels, particularly through acts of generosity and community support.
Relive the nostalgia of childhood fundraising with us, as we reminisce about the challenges and triumphs of selling raffle tickets or Girl Scout cookies. These anecdotes lead us to a heartwarming tale from Neil Foard about the profound impact of generosity. His story, set in the late 1960s, reminds us of the enduring power of community support and human connection, even in unexpected moments. We explore how these small but significant acts can uplift young fundraisers and foster a culture of empathy and kindness.
Discover how kindness can overcome anxiety and foster positive examples for future generations. Through personal stories, including assisting a woman with a disabled husband, we highlight that acts of kindness benefit both the giver and the receiver. We also introduce the vibrant Mayday Media Network, inviting you to explore its diverse array of shows. We encourage you to spread kindness and stay connected with us for more inspirational content. Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to make kindness matter.
This podcast is a proud member of the Mayday Media Network. If you have an idea for a podcast and need some production assistance or have a podcast and are looking for a supportive network to join, check out maydaymedianetwork.com.
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Well, hello there and welcome. You are listening to the Kindness Matters podcast and I am your host, mike Rathbun. What is this podcast all about? It's about kindness. It's a pushback against everything negative that we see in the news and on social media today, and it's a way to highlight people, organizations that are simply striving to make their little corner of the world a little better place. If you want to join in on the conversation, feel free Go ahead and follow us on all of your social media feeds. We're on Facebook, instagram, tiktok. We're even on LinkedIn under Mike Rathbun. Check us out. Uh, we're even on linkedin under mike rathbun. Check us out. And, in the meantime, so sit back, relax, enjoy and we'll get into the kindness matters podcast. Hey, hello and welcome to the show everybody. I am so glad you are here. My guest today is an international best-selling author and a multifaceted intuitive composer, musician and photographer who helps people take control of their anxiety, fear and stress through music, visual art and focused breathing. Please welcome to the show, katherine Katterson. Welcome.
Speaker 2:Thank you, happy to be here.
Speaker 1:I am so happy to have you here. I've just been counting the days since our pre-call. That was so much fun, and I have listened to some of your music. You have one with rain in it and I was like I just melted. I just kind of like I was so relaxed after that but they're very short, they are, they are.
Speaker 2:I'm working on some longer, some longer music. It just it hasn't happened quite yet. There's a lot involved in that, no rush.
Speaker 1:No rush, I mean, but now that one with I think it was rain, do you know the one I'm talking about? It was like the second one down on your website, I think.
Speaker 2:I have several, I think, that have rain in it. But rain coming from Oregon is it's very relaxing, so we get a lot of relaxation around here. You all are so relaxed there in Oregon.
Speaker 1:We try lot of relaxation around here. You all are so relaxed there in oregon let me try and so let's talk about what you do first, before we talk about kindness okay um, when now all of this art, the composition, the musician, the musician, the photographer is that in service of your anxiety coaching business, or is that just a happy accident, something you found that worked for you?
Speaker 2:It's a happy accident that I found worked for me, that I have found works for others, yeah yeah, it was music in general. I mean I've been doing music most of my life but I haven't shared it until the last couple of years from the anxiety part of me. So, yeah, so finally had the have the um capacity to do that and it's been a really wonderful experience sharing that with everybody that's right and I'm well.
Speaker 1:Obviously they benefit from it as well yes so, and you mentioned anxiety. There's a lot of it out there these days, is there not?
Speaker 2:Oh, there is, Is it just?
Speaker 1:like through the roof.
Speaker 2:It is yes.
Speaker 1:Politics Is it like an every four years thing or does it just like ever since 2020,? It's just been way up here.
Speaker 2:I feel like it has just ramped up. I think politics has always been there in the underlying, but I feel like the last few cycles of elections it has ramped up.
Speaker 1:So basically the last 12 years, let's just go with that. Now I mean yeah, so basically the last 12 years, let's just go with that. No, and I mean yeah, but I mean in one sense that's good for your business, right.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:It's job security? It is, but I don't know. I, I, I, I love that you do this. What is the name of your business? Again?
Speaker 2:Catherine For the most part it's Catherine Catterson creates. It's an it's kind of an umbrella, because I'm kind of creativity is my thing, that's okay. I am all creativity.
Speaker 1:Okay, cool, and you do that very well. Your photographs are also beautiful, thank, you. I just posted one of my burning bush. It's like just all of a sudden, towards the end of fall, decided.
Speaker 2:Hey.
Speaker 1:I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do. It's always hit and miss with that thing. You know you bought it because it's supposed to be this beautiful red color in the fall, and sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it is this year, it is definitely yes. So but let's talk. And when you first, when you and I first were introduced, when you and I first were introduced, you're a big fan of kindness.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:I am how did you get there? I mean, who isn't?
Speaker 2:I think that was something that was instilled in me as a child. My family was always very kind hearted, very helpful. I mean I remember people knocking on our door when I was a kid in the middle of the night because their car broke down. My dad was a mechanic and somehow they knew to come to our house I mean didn't complete strangers and then my dad would be out there in the middle of the night working on their car. It was trouble light.
Speaker 2:Yes, and that was just something that was always a big deal in our family.
Speaker 1:And that stuck with you.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I mean to everybody in general. But there was one thing, and you mentioned this when we talk um buy what kids are selling, yes, I absolutely love that phrase and I probably like it more than I practice it. Maybe it's, but it's so true because kids these days, I mean they're already stressed right, speaking of anxiety, but when we what happens to a kid when we go and buy that candy bar for band or what have you?
Speaker 2:It really changes. It changes them inside, because one as a child, it's very, it's, I guess, a little nerve wracking. It makes them, you know, trying to sell all this stuff. You know, in general it's it's hard for kids and you know, and you can see that, especially when you've got parents over there. Okay, say the words you know, and they're like, do you want to buy something? You know, and it's it's it. It helps build their confidence in a way like almost nothing else can. It's it's them using their words and feeling that that help, that that that support, it supports them and it's, it's, um, it's just an amazing thing. I mean they're, I mean you can tell as soon as you buy those cookies or you buy that little jug of popcorn, you know, whatever it is, their whole demeanor changes and they're turning into a much more confident person that way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, I remember being a Cub Scout and you know we didn't have cookies right to sell as Cub Scouts, and I think this was before they started doing I think it was popcorn. Popcorn is a cub scouts thing, right, yeah, so we would, we would.
Speaker 1:we were just selling tickets, raffle tickets, and but it was a kind of a huge deal, you know, because that's where your troop got its money for the, a lot of it and I think maybe we were even trying to for a lot of it, and I think maybe we were even trying to fund our camping trip or something I hated selling, and in those days you didn't go park yourself outside of Walmart, you went house to house. Yes, my goodness, yep, and I was always kind of a I am. You know my mom God bless her. She was still here. She'd probably argue with me, but I was never really comfortable asking strangers to buy something from me.
Speaker 2:Nope Me either.
Speaker 1:That was, that was anxiety inducing. Walking up to and it was one thing in your immediate neighborhood, right, you knew all your neighbors, but going you know a couple streets over or what have you, and knocking on a complete stranger's door, that was terrifying to me.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, I had to do that too.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yes and banned, but we had to sell fruitcake.
Speaker 1:You had to sell what?
Speaker 2:Fruitcake, fruitcake, yeah, which a lot of people don't like fruitcake. You had to tell what.
Speaker 1:Fruitcake Fruitcake yeah, which people really a lot of people don't like fruitcake. There are some strong feelings about fruitcake out there?
Speaker 2:Yes, there is yes. And they had little sample packs. And I mean going door to door with Hello Angs. So much anxiety. I just ended up eating all the fruitcake samples because they were good. Yeah, they were so good. Stress eating. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness, I never actually thought of that. See, other kids got the good stuff. We just sell it. Would you like to buy this raffle ticket? Yeah, it's like you can't eat it, it's nothing fun, it's only a chance. Can't eat it, it's nothing fun, it's only a chance. But yeah so, but yeah. When you did get that sale, or if they bought something, you know, more than one box of cookies or one tin of popcorn or one raffle ticket, whatever it was yeah, you were like, oh Wow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you stand up a little taller and you're like, oh, I did that, yeah, yeah, so yeah, it's, um, it's, it's a huge deal. And I know a lot of us were like you walk out of walmart or or what have you, and safeway, maybe in your area and and the kids are out there and you're like now this is going to be an audio only podcast.
Speaker 2:Just know, I made it look like I was avoiding it's, it's, it's hard and usually I mean, and it's like I can't do it every single time because there's kids everywhere all the time at the same time selling, you know, but I try at least every shopping trip. You know, if I go into town then I try and buy something every trip, and I mean girl scout cookies are delicious.
Speaker 1:So I secretly take my own cash so that when I come out of walmart in february or whatever it is, yeah, I just plugged walmart like five times in this episode. I want a little compensation here. Is it too much to ask? But when I come out of the store in february I'm like I have money. I don't have to ask my wife if I can buy these five boxes of thin mints oh yes, thin mints a thin mints and samoans. I think yeah, is that the one with coconut and chocolate and caramel?
Speaker 1:I, I think, so I wonder if I have any in the freezer. I've done that before.
Speaker 1:Oh, I have too, but yeah, I mean, and yes, it seems like it's an annoyance sometimes for some of us, and you know, maybe you feel pressured to spend money that you don't have and you shouldn't do that either. I mean, nobody wants you to spend money that you don't have. But if you have a few bucks and you have no idea how much you're going, how much good you're doing to those kids when you talk to them and you buy something, Agreed.
Speaker 1:Agreed. Did we cover everything? It's way too early. It is pretty. Talk to me more about kindness. Tell me more. It's a funny story. Do you know who Neil Ford is? It's F-O-A-R-D.
Speaker 2:That sounds familiar.
Speaker 1:He teaches people how to tell stories for business.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And recently I saw a video of his he was talking about. It was like 1968 or 69, and him and his dad were driving and something in the car broke down, the water pump blew or something and they were stuck between, I think, bakersfield and Oakland or something and a guy in a flatbed pulled up and said can I help? And the guy says I can't afford to pay you. He says I'll take you into town and we'll get that part or we'll fix it up. He towed their car in to town and it was a Sunday, so the auto shop was closed. So he went and got the auto shop guy and Neil Ford's dad is like I had. He had a gas card card.
Speaker 1:Kids, for those of you who are listening, different gas stations had credit cards that you could use. I don't think they do that anymore, but anyway. And then of course they didn't have the part. The mechanic didn't have the part. So they went and woke up the auto parts store guy and he comes out and and the guy he's like I can't afford to pay any of you guys, I have no money on me. And the flatbed guy said well, if you feel like you need to, I've got this load of watermelons over here that needs to get up on my flatbed. We call it. I'll pay for your part if you help me load those up. And they did about 90 minutes. It was hot, and so 90 minutes later they had the truck loaded up with watermelons. And about that time the mechanic brings the car over running like a top and and he thanks everybody and he starts to leave and the mechanic says, hey, where do you think you're going?
Speaker 1:And of course he freezes with fear right Like oh my God, he says no, no, no, no, no. My wife's making dinner, sunday dinner, you guys are invited. Get a shower, get some clean shirts.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:And he said my dad never said anything for that entire ride back home, but he said, as that night, when I was getting ready to go to sleep, he said my dad stopped by my door, my bedroom door, and said don't believe what you read on TV, on in the newspapers or see on TV. This is what real people are like. Yes, and I think that's true, don't you?
Speaker 2:I do. I feel like there is good and kindness in everybody. It's, I guess, in a lot of ways it's whether or not they choose to act on that, because it's very easy to just drive by that car that's broken down with a mom and three kids inside. You know it's. It's one of those things that I mean. I'm an empath and I can feel people's stress from blocks away, you know, and and being the mechanic mechanics daughter, I know things, and so if I see someone broke down, I am more likely at you know, 140 pounds to try and push a car out of the way so other traffic can go by and it's, I'm sure.
Speaker 1:It's quite the funny sight to me out there you know, trying to push his car out of the way. A little tiny thing trying to push his car.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and trying to. You know, like, pop your hood, let me see if I can see what's going on, you know. But that's who I am. I mean, I have thrown my back out pushing people's cars, helping them, because no one else will, and it's just something that is important to me, having been in that situation as a very, very pregnant woman trying to push a huge truck it was a full-size truck out of busy traffic and people just looking at you and actually saying, boy, that looks heavy. It's like hello, Hello, yeah, belly out to here. It's like really, okay, whatever, oh my gosh, yeah. And so you know I am not gonna be that person. I am, you know I am gonna help you yeah, and that's yeah, and it's so important for people to do that.
Speaker 2:I mean that's we're here for everybody. You know that's what we should do yeah, yeah, it really is.
Speaker 1:I mean, and like every major religion teaches it right, yeah, do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. And it's a little different saying from religion to religion, but the thought is the same. And yet, yeah, I am not mechanically inclined in any way, shape or form. I remember being in Denver with my mom one summer and I was driving her car and we were just getting ready to get into the left-hand turn lane and the car died Vaporlock.
Speaker 2:Oh no.
Speaker 1:And all these cars are whizzing past me right, I don't know what to do. I tried to start it. I've got people behind me blowing their horn. Nobody stopped, nobody even asked if they could help. Finally ended up getting it around the corner and this guy drove up and he said do you need any? Can I help? Yes, I have no idea what's wrong with it. He said where do you live? Told him. He said he hooked up rope, towed us home, didn't take a dime, wouldn't take a thing for it. Like you know what, I will remember that guy till my end of days over. The guy who's had to sit behind me and blow his horn and finger, yeah, yeah exactly.
Speaker 1:Again audio only podcast.
Speaker 2:It's things like that, though, that really, you know they make an impression on you. Yeah, an impression on you yeah, it's a lot of mine seem to be, as an adult, is automotive related. I am always prepared. Thank you, dad. I have a jump box in my car, you know. It's like there was a gal outside of Fred Meyers asking anybody for a jump start. Her battery was dead and it was like, oh, I don't know 9. Jumpstart there. Her battery was dead and it was like, oh, I don't know Nine 30 at night. So it was dark.
Speaker 2:Everybody's like, no, no, no, no, I don't have. You know, oh, I can't help you, or no. And I'm like I and I see her as I'm pushing my cart to my car and she comes over and I'm like, well, I've seen what's going on. Lucky for you, I have a jump box in my car, let me grab that, let me get my groceries in here. And I realize that it's dark and I mean I guess that could be a trap. And I understand that it's hard because I think a lot of that now is people are concerned about safety also. I understand that it's hard because I think a lot of that now is people are concerned about safety Also.
Speaker 2:I understand that, right, like, let's stay in the light, let's stay up here, you know, walk to the complete opposite side of the store in another parking lot, but it was close, and it turns out that her disabled husband is sitting in the car. Their battery is dead. They can't, yeah, they can't. So I'm like pop your hood, let's do this, you know. So, get that in there. And it took me less than 10 minutes, you know, to get her car started and I'm like, okay, so this is probably what happened. Da-da-da-da-da, you know, just keep it running here for a few minutes, so it'll.
Speaker 1:I know a mechanic yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean it's yeah, and it's just I mean, how long would she have been out there with her disabled husband, you know, but I also have a feeling about people too. I mean also I, you know, it's I just she could have been out there. I mean they could have had nobody. And she tried to pay me a couple dollars and I'm like, no, I'm not, absolutely not, I'm sorry. Anytime I get to use my jump box is a good day, because I love that's how you measure good days I love my tool.
Speaker 1:Yes yeah, we, yeah, I, we carry jumper cables all the time. Yep, and I don't know what it is about minnesota. Maybe it's the cold weather, the batteries tend to die more often. But yeah, and and again. What is it about kindness that makes you forego that little voice in your head that says this could be dangerous and just help anyway?
Speaker 2:um well, in my case I think it was my parents example of serving others in that way. Um, that really stuck with me. But you know, doing the good deeds, that kind deeds, doing those things, it benefits you just as much as it benefits them, because that feeling of a it makes me, I guess, proud of myself, that I did something nice for someone else. Yeah, but it really it, it, it just, oh, it just helps in every single way. It's like your mental yourself, your just your body in general, it's just it feels good to help people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, is it a dopamine hit A little bit. I'm sorry, I don't remember. It's one of those.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it could be both.
Speaker 1:Double shot.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep, yep.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, and people with anxiety do they struggle with kindness more, do you think?
Speaker 2:As far as the doling out, the kindness, yes, In my case. Yes, I mean, I think my desire and I feel like sometimes I feel like it's my calling to help people sometimes will outweigh that anxiety. People sometimes will outweigh that anxiety. But yes, because a lot of times, you know, I'm not feeling, I don't feel social, I don't want to talk to anybody, I just want to get to point yeah.
Speaker 2:Go here, I'm done. Yeah, peopling is just so hard. I just don't feel like peopling today, um, but I think it's my need to help people mostly overrides that anxiety, because I feel like I'm I'm here to save your day.
Speaker 1:That's yeah, that's that's more important than my anxiety at this particular moment.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, that's more important than my anxiety at this particular moment. Yes, and I feel also because a lot of these things, my kids, who are now grown. When they were young, I actually had them help me push someone out of the street that was stuck there. I mean, they were teenagers, but you know, and I'm like, oh, we have a problem. All right, kids here, let me pull this over. We're going to help this guy push his car out of the way, and I want them to see that example and see that you just birthed the next generation of kindness.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I want them to see that helping people is good, and so not only helping them, but how it makes them feel to do those kind things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure. Awesome. Well, Catherine, thank you so much for taking the time to come on my show. I've enjoyed this chat.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me. This has been a very nice chat. I enjoy talking about this subject in general because it's very near and dear to my heart.
Speaker 1:And I will get your website from you. That will be in the show notes. So if somebody needs your help, do you work remotely, I mean, or do you just stick pretty much to the PNW?
Speaker 2:I haven't done a lot of work remotely.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I still do have a day job, damn it Me too. I know. But you know, as Ashley, I do enjoy my actual job.
Speaker 1:Don't wait for that stuff. I get it. I understand, yep, okay, well, at any rate, I loved having the opportunity to talk to you and I wish you the best luck going forward.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. I have enjoyed being here.
Speaker 1:I want to thank you for taking this time to listen to this episode with my guest, katherine Katterson. I hope that you're able to take something positive from the time you spent here with me today and Katherine. Maybe you'll be inspired, maybe you'll be motivated, maybe you'll be moved. If you experienced any of those positive feelings, please consider sharing this podcast with your friends and family feelings. Please consider sharing this podcast with your friends and family. Also, please feel free to follow us on our socials like Facebook, instagram, linkedin and TikTok. You'll find the links in the show notes.
Speaker 1:This podcast is part of the Mayday Media Network. If you have an idea for a podcast and need some production assistance, or have a podcast and are looking for a supportive network to join, check out maydaymedianetworkcom and also check out the many different shows, like Afrocentric Spoil, my Movie Generation Mixtape In a Pickle Radio Show, wake Up and Dream with Anthony Palin and Stacks O'Pax. We will be back again next week with a new episode and we would be honored if you would join us. You've been listening to the Kindness Matters podcast. I'm your host, mike Rathbun. Have a fantastic week.
