In this BIT: Co-founders and hosts of Courageously Kind, Liz and Maddie Adams share their story, advice on how to be kind, and easy ways to be kind.
Liz and Maddie Adams are two sisters who began their podcast, Courageously Kind, with a mission to spread the message of the importance of being kind. The two share other people’s incredible stories of kindness, and inspire others to do the same. The idea for this initiative traces back to when Liz shared her story of living with a facial disfigurement. Maddie, Liz’s twin suggested the idea of a podcast to encourage others to be kind. Just like that, the story of Courageously Kind began. Now, the two sisters have over 100,000 followers, and an online merch store filled with countless products – all spreading the message of choosing kindness. Below, Liz and Maddie share their story, ways to be kind, and their top advice on how we can be kind to both ourselves and others.
SBOH: What inspired/led to you launching your podcast, Courageously Kind?
Liz and Maddie Adams: Courageously Kind the podcast started as a pandemic project! We were 17 and almost seniors in high school! One way we coped with our ever-changing world, was to go for long walks and have even longer conversations! One day Maddie convinced me to record these conversations, just for friends and family. After some arguing about titles and long nights designing logos on Canva, Courageously Kind was born! Now we are much more than just a podcast, we are a multimedia platform dedicated to changing the world through kindness! We are also now juniors in college and are using the skills we’re learning as communications students each and every day! We now have over 100,000 followers on social media and we have listeners in 72 countries! If you would have told us that when we started we definitely would not have believed you!
Liz and Maddie: Sadly, unkindness can at times be unavoidable. Although this mistreatment causes pain, it is critical to remember the cliche that hurt people can hurt other people. This statement is so true, and in cases like this, it takes deep courage to choose kindness. Now kindness can also look like boundary setting or removing people from your life who are constantly negative or hurtful towards others, use your best judgment compassionately.
SBOH: You’ve done over 100 episodes on your podcast, Courageously Kind. What have been your top 3 biggest takeaways from interviewing people who are ‘Courageously Kind’?
Liz and Maddie:
1) Kindness is incredibly complex and at the same time at its core kindness is really simple.
2) EVERYONE has an amazing story to tell
3) Being kind is a choice and a practice, it’s not a one-and-done kind of deal.
Maddie and Liz: Maddie and I both feel that kindness is a practice, we always can find ways to be kinder and more compassionate towards others. For both of us, we feel that being Courageously Kind is an active and daily choice to step out of one’s comfort zone and try to always practice kindness.
1) Forgiveness and empathy go a long way, ESPECIALLY forgiveness towards yourself.
2) Remembering that everyone has an important story and that story influences the way they experience the world so tred softly.
3) Also remember that everyone is doing the best they can, and remember that YOU are doing the best you can, and that is enough!
SBOH: Do you have any upcoming events, projects, or exciting news to share with the world?
Liz and Maddie: We are currently releasing a new season of Courageously Kind Podcast with all-new interviews and mini-episodes. We have some AMAZING guests this season and we’re so excited for everyone to hear these conversations!
SBOH: What gives you a small bit of happiness every day?
Liz and Maddie: We both LOVE music, it definitely puts us in a good mood in the morning! Also, I think definitely chatting with friends and laughing with them brings us lots of happiness every day!
SBOH: What is one food that gives you a small bit of happiness?
Liz and Maddie: Ice Cream Sundaes! Our family is definitely a dessert family and there is always ice cream in the freezer. I am a firm believer that ice cream can heal all the day-to-day worries!
Liz and Maddie: One quote Maddie and I live by comes from a Walt Witman poem:
“That you are here, that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”
We firmly believe that everyone has a beautiful verse to contribute!
We hope that Maddie and Liz’s story and advice inspire you to do something kind for someone in your life today, and brings you a small bit of happiness.
Find Maddie and Liz here:
Website: https://www.courageouslykind.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courageouslykindpodcast/
Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19Q1aLM60SYO0377P5gvq6
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Featuring quick videos created for teens by teens.