The Ripple Effect of Kindness: A Conversation with the Random Acts of Kindness Co-Founder

HeartMath's Add Heart

Guest: Brooke Jones

Kindness isn’t just a feeling—it’s a practice, a gentle rhythm we can return to again and again with great benefit to ourselves and others. It asks so little from us yet gives so much, requiring only our intention and shaped by our thoughts, words, and actions. In this episode, we’re focusing on the power of kindness to transform lives. Did you know that one simple act of kindness can inspire five more acts of kindness? Imagine the ripple you can create just by making kindness a choice each day.

Our host, Deborah Rozman, interviews Brooke Jones, Vice President of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which was born in the 1990s with the purpose of making kindness a norm. It was during a summer of violence when a reporter noted that people should stop reporting on “random acts of violence” and start practicing “random acts of kindness.” That started a movement to explore how small acts of kindness can lead to profound changes in individuals, communities, and even the world.

Brooke shares her personal journey—from overcoming a challenging childhood and postpartum depression to dedicating her life to spreading kindness and inspiring others to do the same. She reveals how moments of kindness and compassion from others shaped her path and inspired her to make kindness the cornerstone of her values. They discuss some of the science behind kindness, its measurable benefits for mental health, and how it can reduce stress hormones, foster connection, and even improve longevity.

This episode also highlights the growth of the kindness movement, including its impact on schools worldwide through structured programs that teach respect, inclusion, and care. Brooke offers practical ways we each can notice and nurture kindness in everyday life, reminding us that even the smallest gesture can inspire a chain reaction of goodwill by others.

Tune in for an uplifting conversation that will leave you feeling hopeful, inspired, and ready to make kindness a norm in your own life.

About our guest:

Brooke Jones has studied in Paris and holds a degree in art history. She also holds certifications in Applied Positive Psychology and Brene Brown’s work, The Daring Way. She delivered a TEDx talk in 2017, where she shared her personal journey with mental illness. Outside of her time creating written content for the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, she enjoys fiber crafting, creative writing, and helping spread kindness in her local community with her teenage daughter. Brooke is in the process of writing a book for parents to help support them in creating and maintaining healthy and fulfilling relationships with their children.