Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff with Kristine Carlson

Latest Episodes:

Best of Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - Kindness Matters: Love is The Answer with Ramananda John E. Welsons Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

In this replay from the Kindness Matters series, Kristine Carlson is joined by spiritual teacher Ramananda John E. Welsons for a heartfelt conversation about how kindness is the foundation of love and a path back to spiritual wholeness. Together, they explore how kindness can ease the heartache many feel amid today’s political division, reminding us that healing begins when we choose compassion and connection over fear and separation.

You’ll learn:

- why kindness is an essential spiritual practice

- how kindness serves as the root of love and true connection

- ways to navigate political tension and emotional divide with an open heart

- how compassion helps heal personal and collective wounds

Guest bio: Ramananda John E. Welsons is a renowned contemporary spiritual teacher known for weaving together the world’s mystical and contemplative traditions. A highly respected meditation guide, he is an authority on transforming life’s difficulties into opportunities for spiritual awakening. With more than 55 years of meditation and yoga experience, he has trained with Ram Dass, Stephen Levine, and Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and is the author of One Soul, One Love, One Heart, Awakening From Grief, and When Prayers Aren’t Answered.

Visit kristinecarlson.com/kindness for a free download of an invigorating guided meditation by Kristine—an exclusive sneak peek of her Guided Meditation Series releasing soon.

Best of Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - Kindness Matters: Lead With Kindness with Robin Sharma Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

In this replay from the Kindness Matters series, Kristine Carlson sits down with global leadership expert, humanitarian, and #1 bestselling author Robin Sharma for a heartfelt, wisdom-rich conversation on why kindness is foundational to life mastery, leadership, and meaningful success.

You’ll learn:

the unforgettable story of Robin meeting Richard Carlson, and the last words Richard shared
how relationships, service, and generosity fuel success and build great companies
Robin’s learning framework, The Four Interior Empires of Mindset, Heartset, Healthset, and Soulset which strengthens our inner foundation so we show up as our best self

This inspiring conversation reminds us that kindness is not only who we are at our best—it’s what elevates every area of our lives.

Guest bio: Robin Sharma is a globally respected humanitarian who, for over a quarter of a century, has been devoted to helping human beings realize their native gifts.

Widely considered one of the top leadership and personal mastery experts and speakers in the world, his clients include NASA, Microsoft, Nike, Unilever, General Electric, FedEx, HP, Starbucks, Oracle, Yale University, PwC, IBM Watson, and the Young Presidents' Organization. As a presenter, Robin Sharma possesses the rare ability to electrify an audience while delivering uncommonly original and tactical insights that lead to individuals doing their best work, teams providing superb results and organizations becoming unbeatable.

His #1 international bestsellers such as The 5AM Club, The Wealth Money Can't Buy, The Everyday Hero Manifesto, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and Who Will Cry When You Die? have sold 25+million copies in over ninety-two languages and dialects; making him one of the most widely read authors in the world.

As a special thank you to our listeners, please visit www.kristinecarlson.com/kindness for a free download of an invigorating guided meditation by Kristine—an exclusive sneak peek of her Guided Meditation Series releasing soon.

Best of Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - Kindness Matters: Give Unto Others with Stephen G. Post, Ph.D Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

In this replay from the Kindness Matters series, Kris sits down with Dr. Stephen G. Post: a true scholar, philosopher, and man of deep heart. Together, they explore the soul-warming stories that have shaped his extraordinary life. His gentle wisdom and kindness shines through every moment of this conversation.

Discover:

why kindness isn’t weakness—it’s the ultimate strength
how kindness supports success through collaboration and trust
why kindness is our natural birthright and how culture can return to it
the connection between technology, presence, and our ability to be kind

Guest bio: Stephen G. Post, PhD, is a leading scholar on altruism, compassion, and the science of giving. A best-selling author and professor of preventive medicine, he directs the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. His work spans science, medicine, spirituality, and ethics, exploring how unselfish love heals and transforms lives. He is also President of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, a role personally entrusted to him by philanthropist Sir John Templeton, and served on the Board of the John Templeton Foundation from 2008–2014.

Visit his website: https://www.stephengpost.com/

Best of Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - Kindness Matters: First, Be Kind to Yourself with Dr. Marcy Cole Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

In this replay from the Kindness Matters series, Kris is joined by Dr. Marcy Cole, a holistic psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience supporting adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Kris and Marcy explore how managing negative self-talk is the first step in practicing true self-kindness.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

-how to gently interrupt negative self-talk

-why self-kindness is essential in relationship

- how tending to your own well-being elevates your relationships

Listen in and discover the core guidance Dr. Cole offers her clients on cultivating supreme self-care, releasing what no longer serves us, and understanding how caring for ourselves first positively impacts everyone around us.

Visit www.kristinecarlson.com/kindness for a free download of an invigorating guided meditation by Kristine—an exclusive sneak peek of her Guided Meditation Series releasing soon.

Guest bio: Dr. Marcy Cole is a holistic psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families through an integrative mind–body–spirit approach. She holds degrees from Northwestern University, Loyola University, and the Institute for Clinical Social Work, and her work has been featured in Goop, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, HuffPost, and Thrive Global. She is also the founder of First Tuesday USA (soon to be First Tuesday Global), a women’s community offering monthly virtual gatherings, and the creator of Childless Mothers Connect, honoring the “mother” within every woman.

Best of Don't Sweat The Small Stuff - Kindness Matters: The Language of Kindness with Michael Chase Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

Kristine opens this replay of her rich and inspiring Kindness Matters series with a heartfelt conversation with Michael Chase about cultivating kindness as a way of life. Michael—bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and founder of The Kindness Center—shares how simple, intentional acts of kindness can uplift our daily lives, transform relationships, and support both personal and collective healing.

You’ll discover:

why kindness is a powerful catalyst for personal and spiritual growth
how small acts of kindness can shift conflict and create connection
how living from the heart helps heal ourselves and the world around us

Guest bio: Affectionately known as The Kindness Guy," Michael J. Chase is an author, inspirational speaker, and a powerful voice for creating a kinder world. At the age of 37, following a life-changing epiphany, Michael ended an award-winning photography career to found The Kindness Center. After gaining extensive media attention for his 24 hours of kindness event, he quickly became a sought-after speaker and workshop leader throughout the world. Considered an expert on the subject of kindness, Michael has inspired thousands to make positive choices that not only impact their own lives, but also those of others.

Best of Don't Sweat The Small Stuff: Introducing Kindness Matters Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Kristine celebrates National Kindness Awareness Week by bringing back one of her most cherished series: Kindness Matters. There’s no better moment to revisit these heartfelt conversations that highlight how living spiritually begins with the simple, intentional choice to be kind.

In this special introductory episode, Kristine reflects on how kindness helps us move through conflict with greater compassion, soften our defenses, and return to our true, peaceful nature. She also reintroduces the inspiring guests who contributed their wisdom to this powerful series.

You’ll discover:

why kindness is a foundational expression of spiritual living
how small acts of kindness can ease tension and transform conflict
a preview of the inspiring voices featured in the Kindness Matters series

As the Dalai Lama reminds us, “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

Visit www.kristinecarlson.com/kindness for a free download of an invigorating guided meditation by Kristine—an exclusive sneak peek of her Guided Meditation Series releasing soon.

Don't Sweat Your Low Mood Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

We all have days when our energy dips and everything feels a little heavier. In this gentle, heart-opening episode, Kristine reminds you that low moods are simply part of being human—and that they don’t define you. She shares how gratitude can shift your inner state, open your heart, and help you return to a place of peace and perspective.

You’ll learn:

-why it’s okay to experience low moods without judgment

-how gratitude transforms your emotional energy

-simple ways to reconnect to presence and lift your spirit

Listen in to rediscover your natural resilience and remember: you don’t have to fix a low mood, you can breathe through it and let gratitude lead you back to calm.

Communication Mastery: Three Steps to Listening to Spiritual Guidance Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Peace begins the moment you pause, turn inward, and trust the quiet guidance of your own spirit. In this episode of the Communication Mastery Series, Kristine walks you through three specific steps to open yourself to spiritual guidance and listen to what your deeper intuition has to say.

You’ll learn how to:

-open your heart to Spirit and release doubt

-attune yourself to presence so you are divinely aligned

-say a simple prayer to receive true wisdom

-turn spiritual insight into meaningful, inspired action

Join Kristine as she guides you—step by step—through a gentle process of tuning in, listening deeply, and allowing Spirit to lead the way.

Communication Mastery Series: Intentional Communication at Work and Home with Amy Eliza Wong Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

Amy Wong helps visionary leaders and teams – like Salesforce, Meta, and LinkedIn – build relationships that drive real results. Today she joins Kristine on the show to explore what it really takes to communicate with clarity, confidence, and heart. Amy shares how fear and anxiety shape the way we speak and listen, and offers practical tools to move from uncertainty to trust.

Amy Wong is a TEDx speaker, award-winning author, and leadership expert who helps organizations use human connection to drive breakthrough performance. With a background in mathematics, transpersonal psychology, and two decades in Silicon Valley, she’s shaped thriving cultures at companies like LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Meta. She teaches leadership and communication at Stanford University Continuing Education and wrote Living on Purpose. Her work centers on trust, alignment, and exceptional communication to fuel fulfillment and success.

Visit her website: https://amyelizawong.com/

Communication Mastery: Get Clear First Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

Conflict doesn’t have to drive us apart—it can actually become the doorway to deeper intimacy. In this episode, Kristine Carlson explores how getting clear within yourself first is the key to transforming difficult moments into loving, constructive conversations. She reminds us that conflict isn’t “bad” when it’s handled with maturity, presence, and care—it can be a chance to strengthen trust and understanding.

Kristine shares how to:

Turn conflict into connection by approaching it as a conversation versus a battle
Pause and get clear on your own emotions before you speak
Communicate in a way that softens defensiveness and invites openness
Access empathy and compassion, even when you disagree
Use loving communication to nurture intimacy in your most important relationships

With honesty and warmth, Kristine shows how the way we engage in conflict can either divide us, or bring us closer together.

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