The Kindness Matters Podcast

Where Empathy Meets Action, Communities Thrive

• Mike

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A single kind gesture can flip an entire day—and sometimes an entire town. That’s the spark behind this heart-forward conversation with musician and photographer Cathy Catterson, where we explore how small, visible acts of care become a neighborhood’s safety net. From a local pizza shop offering slices to anyone who’s hungry to little free libraries turning into little free pantries, we trace the real-world ways generosity scales at the community level long before it trends online.

We dig into the practical side of compassion: how to support small businesses so they can keep serving as hubs for connection, why paying in cash can ease fee burdens, and what happens when a town rallies to keep doors open. Cathy shares stories from her life—a bumper crop of tomatoes, childhood memories of shared garden plots, and the simple power of a sincere compliment—to show how micro-kindness improves mental health, reduces conflict, and fuels civic pride. We don’t dodge the hard questions either. Yes, a few people may misuse help, but the cost of withholding aid from those in need is far higher. The takeaway is clear: better to feed ten and risk one extra than to starve the nine who depend on you.

You’ll leave with concrete ideas you can try today: restock a pantry, offer a ride to a food shelf, compliment a stranger, or spend intentionally at a family-owned shop. Kindness is a practice, and practice builds culture. Listen to hear how creativity, empathy, and action intersect—and why your smallest gesture might start the next ripple of change.

If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more stories of everyday goodness, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your support keeps these ripples going.

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Intro music: “Human First” by Mike Baker – YouTube: https://youtu.be/wRXqkYVarGA | Podcast: Still Here, Still Trying: https://open.spotify.com/show/1iE5t5Nrbs0MyLORJpfiYu?si=f5b71d45b182448b | Website: https://www.mikebakerhq.com

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SPEAKER_00:

Walking stuff. Down the streets.

SPEAKER_01:

Strangers. When not. Welcome to the Kindness Matters podcast. A show that celebrates the powerful truth. That kindness can change the world. Every week I aim to china light up people and organizations making a positive difference to their communities. Proving that compassion, empathy, and connection subscribe. This podcast is about 400 stories. It's about free book in acts. Through hotel conversations, inspiring acts.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm just like, you know what? It doesn't matter. Just do it. These people don't know you or whatever it is. You know, you just, I try and I've it's been every time I go and do something kind, it's easier the next time to do it because it's almost, I guess, semi-instant gratification. You can feel it and you can see it all, and it always comes back to you in some way through the feeling because it just it softens you. It makes you a better person on the whole by doing those things.

SPEAKER_01:

Hey everybody, welcome to the show. Thank you so, so, so much from the bottom of my heart. Um, as my mom used to say, from the bottom of my little black heart, um, for for making the conscious decision to choose to listen to the kindness matters podcast. I, of course, am your host, Mike Rathbun. Um, I I greatly appreciate the fact that that you're choosing to listen to a podcast about kindness. And um, and all of you out there I know are are who listen to this podcast are also spreading it. So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Um I have a fantastic show for you today. Um I want you all to meet my guest, Kathy Katterson, musician, photographer, and full-on creative vibe extraordinaire. Born under the sunny skies of Southern California, but raised among the lush valleys of Oregon, she brings together West Coast chill and Pacific Northwest soul. Kathy's superpower, turning childhood curiosity from climbing trees and tinkering with cars to daydreaming about art, into soulful music and striking photography. What started as shy daydreams became her voice, and today she crafts art that isn't just heard, it's felt. Whether she's composing a new melody or capturing a moment through the lens, Kathy's aim is simple. Make something real, emotional, and beautifully human. Get ready to dive into a conversation that's warm, creative, and full of heart. Because with Kathy, kindness, art, and authenticity all play on the same frequency. Welcome to the show, Kathy.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you. Happy to be here. Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

We had you on last year.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Was it last year? It was.

SPEAKER_02:

This has been just about a year ago.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow. Cool. Well, always happy to have you. Always, always, always. Um, you're good? You're good? All good?

SPEAKER_02:

Good. I'm really good.

SPEAKER_01:

Good. Are you any new music coming out?

SPEAKER_02:

Or um, I am hoping to have some new music out in December. Kind of took a little hiatus there for a bit. I had a garden this summer and it was larger than I anticipated and took up a lot of my time.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, such a black thumb, I never have to worry about my garden getting out of control.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, that's why my garden is so big, because up until this year, I've had the black thumb of death. And this year I planted a whole bunch of things anticipating that most would die and everything lived. And yeah, so I'm like, oh, I need more space because oh, everything, everything grew. And I had a four by four foot by twelve foot wall of tomatoes that I'm yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

That's a lot of salsa or it was a lot of salsa, a lot of tomato soup or what have you.

SPEAKER_02:

Tomato everything, anything I can put tomatoes in.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, it was Was there a lot of tomato at Thanksgiving?

SPEAKER_02:

There was some tomatoes. Oh, was there was kind of intricate you know, gets and things in there, and I have bags and bags and bags of frozen whole tomatoes in my freezer.

SPEAKER_01:

Nice.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh thank goodness for freezer. I I'm always asking the intelligent devices around my home, can I freeze, fill in vegetable here, right? I'm amazed at all the things you can freeze. Um, but I asked you on today because we had a conversation about um community and kindness, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Um, but so what does kindness in a community mean to you? And how did you first become aware of its importance in your own life and your own neighborhood?

SPEAKER_02:

Kindness in the community is being available and being willing to help your town, your community, your neighborhood. It's basically opening your eyes and seeing and really seeing people. And it's so many of us just walk around with no blinders on, and it's it's you know, is stopping and taking a look around and seeing those in need, seeing the opportunity, looking for the opportunity to do a random act of kindness for other people and businesses and that kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, for sure. And I I think I think community is where all of the larger kindness I almost hit my mic. Is where all of the larger kindness initiatives start, right? It starts with you and your neighbors or your local businesses, and and when it starts there and it ripples out, right? Um I it's just the whole kindness movement starts in any given community. I think.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Agreed.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, we're done.

SPEAKER_01:

No, I'm just short. That's gonna be a short episode. Um so but are there are there when you talk about kindness in the community, are there specific community initiatives or projects that you witnessed or or or participated in that made you appreciate the ripple effect of kindness?

SPEAKER_02:

There has been quite a bit showing up in my town. I mean, I live in a town that's about, we'll say, 50,000 people, not huge, but not tiny either. Um, I have noticed, especially over the last month and a half to two months, people in my Facebook, like um the what's happening in my town. Um, people are putting up um little food pantries and putting canned food and it's anybody to know, leave some, take some. I mean, there, I think I've seen probably six or seven posts of different ones around town that are just that's amazing. It's um, it just makes me really happy. Um I have been feeling the urge to donate more to food pantries than I have. Just, you know, you get that feeling, I just need to do something more. And um in fact, my work, I didn't set it up, but it was right around, we must have been sinking on that because within a couple of days of me thinking about that, one of our my coworkers was like, hey, we're getting together a huge order, a food pantry, you know, donate food. And I, oh my gosh, I had the entire back of my car full. It took four people to bring everything in because I was just like, I'm I am all in. I'm just everything from toilet paper to um oh, just everything. And um I just feel very strongly about that. Um and it just there's just so much to do. There's so much that I think needs to be done just to help.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, for sure. And I that's a that's such a great example because it's very recent, right? Because once those benefits were going to run out and people realized that there were going to be people in their community who were not going to have access to food, it just kind of exploded, didn't it?

SPEAKER_02:

Did it.

SPEAKER_01:

And it was such a great feeling for me, and uh for you too, I'm sure, but to to see on Facebook um uh people in in my community, the blah blah blah community page, um, how they just stepped up and they, you know, I saw at least a couple of posts. And also not just the people, but there were businesses stepping up.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Um, I would there's a pizza place um not too far from me. It's it's a few, it's a little bit, but um, who months and months ago, he had found the owner of this pizza shop had found somebody going through his trash looking for food. And he kind of launched this crusade and you know, said, Well, if you're hungry, if you don't have food, don't go through my trash. Come to my store, ask, and I will give you, you know, either a pizza or a slice or or what have you. And, you know, and then when this whole thing with people losing their snap benefits came about, he just made it even bigger, right? And then partnered with other restaurants, local small local restaurants, um, to just make it even bigger. And and and I was just blown away. That wasn't, you know, the the big multinational corporations doing that. That was small mom and pop shops and individuals. And I I love my one of my favorites is these people that had like little free libraries and they turned them into little free pantries instead.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Isn't that great?

SPEAKER_02:

It is wonderful. It's and it's these little places, you know, they're are so connected with the community, and in the amount, the level of caring that they show is just is heartwarming. And it's just makes you just oh, just yeah, it makes me want to support them even more, just because it's they don't have to do that. And the fact that they are is it's yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, nobody has to do that. I I saw somebody step up and said, uh, say, uh, you know, if you need to go to a food shelf but you don't have a car, I will take you. Reach out to me. I will take you to do that. And it was there were a couple of people like that. I'm like, that's that's where the stuff is. That's where the juice is, right? It's it's your neighbors and just reaching out and saying, if you are in a bad place, here's my hand. Take it, I'll help.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. I saw um on Thanksgiving, I saw multiple people say, Hey, I've got extra extra food. If someone needs wants a wants a plate of Thanksgiving dinner, let me know. I will bring it to you.

SPEAKER_01:

And uh it was Yeah, it didn't stop when the benefits were reinstated either. Nope. It's still going.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. It's I yeah. And and this is all happening at the community level. It's national, but where it's starting and where it's and where it's taking off from is at the community level. I love that. I recently saw uh there's a bookstore again, near me. Um that inside this bookstore, there's like multiple small businesses working. Um there's a a woman who makes art and sells it and the proceeds go to a goes to an animal shelter, for example. Nice. There's a nonprofit right there in that coffee shop. It's just, it's such a great thing to see. Um so talk to me about what do you think are some challenges or misconceptions that people have about kindness, especially today, because our world is so fast-paced or polarized, right? Because for all the love and the warm, gushy feelings that we got from those people reaching out, there were always those that pushed back against it, right?

SPEAKER_02:

There's people who push back, and I think a lot of people decide not to help because there are people that take advantage of it. People, you know, take advantage of those willing to help. And that's always something that's in the back of people's minds. They're, you know, if hey, if you need food, you know, come on over, but it's either, you know, maybe it's people who don't need it, or maybe, you know, it's there's always those people who exploit it, and it it really hampers the the feeling of giving, and because you've you're always second-guessing yourself, oh, should I be doing this, or what if this, you know, it's um it's disappointing that it has to be like that. Um but yeah, like it's kind of the price you pay.

SPEAKER_01:

It is, it is, and and it's like, well, if I have a choice between feeding ten people, and I know that maybe one of them doesn't really need it, or not feeding 20 people, knowing that there's probably one person in there who doesn't wouldn't need it. I mean, I'm I always feel like I w uh it seems like a no-brainer to me to I'll take that risk of maybe feeding somebody who doesn't need it to feed the dozens more who will need it, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Right. Right.

SPEAKER_01:

And so I don't understand that whole but there's scammers out there, or there's I don't understand that argument at all.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. I mean there's always gonna be there's always gonna be scammers, but you know what, there is more people that need help. And that's yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

Um, okay. So how do you think everyday simple acts like offering help or or a friendly greeting, uh, hi, how are you? Um contribute to a stronger and more inclusive community spirit. I mean, we we can see it, right? But how how do we how do you think that that contributes?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, it makes a huge difference. One of the things that my daughter and I try to do, like if we go to a store, she's a grown-up, um, but you know, we go shopping together, but you know, we'll see someone, and I'm like, oh my gosh, I love her hair. She's like, well, I love her hair. So we'll go up to her and just be like, you know, you your hair is gorgeous. We just absolutely adore your hair. And you can see their whole demeanor change. You can see, I mean, just saying hi, you know, makes a big difference. I went into work, had a horrible day, had to go to the grocery store after, and I was grumpy and I was just focused, and I'm just doing my thing. And someone stopped me and said, I saw your sweater from way over there. And I just love that color. And it just looks so good on you. And it totally changed. I mean, it totally changed my, I mean, my whole day, that whole bad day, gone just like that, just by someone saying that. And it totally changed my entire attitude.

SPEAKER_01:

It's like magic. It is. And yeah, just one simple kind word can wipe away because we've all been there, right? We've all woken up in the morning and like, oh, this is a crap.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Um and and if nobody was said hello to you, or you look good today, or I love that work on that project at work, you probably would just go through your day feeling like that for the rest of the day. And does that carry through to the next day? You know, if it's not resolved, I don't know. I'm sure there are psychologists out there, but um, that could tell me. Do we carry that from day to day? I suppose we do.

SPEAKER_00:

We we can.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I have.

SPEAKER_00:

Have you? Yeah, there you go.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh yeah. Go to you know, been angry all day about something and you go to bed. Dream about it, you wake up and you're still angry, and it just, yeah, it's just a cycle. It just takes one thing to just flip that switch.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, for sure. Um I had another question for you. Okay. So kind acts in the community. Um do you think there are tangible outcomes um like improved mental health, reduced conflict, um, greater civic pride that that you've seen linked to acts of kindness?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I do. It's the people, especially the people who need it the most, whether it's the homeless or just, you know, hungry, I mean, giving and just helping those people. Oh, it makes a huge difference. Um helping, like we had a business downtown that was really struggling. And a lot of there was, hey, you know what, let's let's rally behind this business. And, you know, so everybody came in and bought something, you know, just to just to help them, you know, it's it's things like that. It really does make a difference. I mean, in so many different ways. It's um the it can be life-changing, and you can see that in, you know, especially in a little smaller community, you can you can it's easier to see those things happen.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, yeah. It's more visible on on a smaller scale. But but yeah, it does carry out though, right?

SPEAKER_02:

I mean Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. I we had a a grocery store in my hometown. It was like I could walk there in 10 minutes, right? And they were family owned for decades, um, probably a hundred years or so. And everybody loved that store. There are some that would say, well, they're too high priced. But it was a family-owned local grocery store, right? Yes. And you just don't see too many of those anymore. And they uh several years ago now, they right about the time a Walmart went in about 10 miles south of us, they said, Yep, we're done. You know? And you can still feel that impact today. Um anytime there's talk of something being built in the town, they're like, I want that store back.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Um and I don't know that anybody I don't know that shopping there more would have saved that. I just felt I I think they felt like they couldn't compete in that environment. But but yeah, those those local businesses are are essential to a community, aren't they?

SPEAKER_02:

They are. Our downtown um is very is all, you know, small businesses and restaurants. And, you know, I try and frequent those if I can, you know, every week. I try and pay with cash, you know, to to lighten the burden on fees and this and that and the other thing. And I I try to to frequent them as often as I am able just to to keep them going.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, for sure. Um okay, here's one for you. Here's a question for you. Can you share a story about a time when the kindness of others encouraged you to pay it forward?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, actually. So when I was a kid, um our the property we have had okay, property we had, but I still have because I live in the house I grew up in. Um we have about three and a half acres. And when I was a kid, my mom was an avid gardener. I mean, we had like an entire acre of garden every year. And something that I noticed with my parents, because we didn't use all the property, and we had cows and pigs and chickens and rabbits, we had all the stuff. Um, but we had part of our property that wasn't being used, and we would kind of, I guess you could say kind of in a roundabout way, do a garden share. But we would, people that lived in town, my parents would be like, hey, we've got some extra property. Do you want to grow a garden out here? And so they would come out, grow a garden. Um, you know, my we'd water it, you know, several times a week for them. And then they would come out a couple of times a week during the weekday and then spend like afternoon and evening on a Saturday. They'd bring their kids and all us kids would run around, and then we'd pick blackberries and make homemade blackberry ice cream. It was just the best. One of my fondest memories ever is us all doing this gardening together with other families. And that's something that I have wanted to do and have offered part of my property to, you know, someone doing, you know, flower farming or, you know, different things. So far, no one has taken me up on it, but I want to very badly. Um, we live a little bit out of town. It's not too far, but it's enough that it's a little inconvenient to come out frequently.

SPEAKER_01:

But you know, when they find out what a bumper crop you had this year, they may change their minds.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my gosh. That was crazy. Could not believe it.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

But it's standing.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Go ahead. I'm sorry, I interrupted you.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, no, no, it's fine. It's um it's just have something you have a little extra share it. I mean, and in growing a garden, it's not hurting anyone. It's just it's benefiting you. It's grow, it's building friendships, you know, it's building your community by offering that kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, absolutely. Um so okay, what role last question, I promise. What role has kindness played in your personal growth and your re your relationships within the community? Sorry.

SPEAKER_02:

No, it's fine. I am thinking here.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm like the Barbara Walters.

SPEAKER_02:

It has made me I've always been a I've always been a very empathetic person. I've always kind of felt the needs, but a lot of times because of my anxiety as a child, I it that has carried over into adulthood. And so sometimes it's really it's hard to act on those things. Um you just have those second thoughts in your mind all the time, and so you're like, uh, I don't want to do that. But stepping out and actually just I just finally just I'm just like, you know what? It doesn't matter, just do it. These people don't know you, or what you know, whatever it is, you know. You just I try and I've it's been every time I go and do something kind, it's easier the next time to do it because it's almost, I guess, semi-instant gratification. You can feel it and you can see it almost immediately. And it always comes back to you in some way through the feeling because it just it softens you, it makes you a better person on the whole by doing those things.

SPEAKER_01:

For sure. Absolutely. Um, noises. Uh well, Kathy, thank you so much for joining me today. I think this is such an important conversation to have. Um starting starting kindness in your own community can can make such a huge difference. And I don't think we really understand exactly how much um until you do it, right? Um, are you where can we find your art and and music?

SPEAKER_02:

Um you can find that at Katherinecatterson.com.

SPEAKER_01:

There will be a link in the show notes. In case one of my listeners is going, what is that with a K or C?

SPEAKER_02:

It's with a C. Catherine with a C, Katterson with the C dot com.

SPEAKER_00:

Call you C C. Is it dot C actually?

SPEAKER_02:

That used to be it's Oh my goodness Yeah, no, that's right. I had to think about that for a minute. Yeah, that's right. My nickname, oh my gosh, my nickname used to be CC way back. I worked with three Kathes, and and um, so we all had our own thing. Everybody else became Kathy or Catherine, and I was CC, so that's funny.

SPEAKER_01:

How did you know? I was not a stalker. I mean I am, but I was I didn't know that one. How about that? Um, thank you so much for coming on today. I really appreciate it, and uh, you're doing amazing work. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

Hey everybody, thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Kindness Matters Podcast with my guest, the amazing sweet Kathy Katterson. Um I don't know if you noticed or not, but I've been adding like a little book at the beginning of my episode. I hope that didn't screw you up too much. Um if you feel like best time for some feedback, please feel free. Uh you can reach out on any of the social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, uh, YouTube, whichever it is. Just let me know what you think about the hook at the beginning of the episode. Anyway, I hope this episode uh Left you feeling a little easier, a little more hopeful about the state of the world that we all share. If you enjoyed this episode, please feel free to tell your friends, family, and co-workers about us. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more uplifting content. It's free, and there's a link to sign up in the show notes. You'll just get like a really uplifting email every month. That's all we ask. We don't it's free. Did I mention it's free? Yeah. You have been listening to the Kindness Matters podcast. We will be back again next week with a brand new episode, and we would be honored if you would join us again. Until then, remember kindness matters, and so do you.