Today's guest is making a big difference in the lives of children by teaching them self-love and emotional health skills from a young age. Andra Liemandt, the founder and CEO of The Kindness Campaign®, began her mission in 2015 after a heartbreaking tragedy in her friend’s family, sparking a vision to empower kids through kindness and emotional resilience. Teaming up with educators, creatives, and mental health experts, Andra built The Kindness Campaign (TKC) to help kids as young as three learn to understand, process, and communicate their emotions. Through interactive programs, art, and music, her work aims to address the alarming rise in childhood mental health issues, teaching kids not only to love themselves but to spread that compassion to others.

The Kindness Campaign: Helping Kids Build Emotional Health & Self-Worth

In our conversation, Andra shares how The Kindness Campaign partners with schools and community programs to create safe, inclusive spaces for kids. From using mantras like “I AM ENOUGH” to instilling practical tools for self-awareness, Andra is on a mission to prevent childhood suicide and nurture emotional well-being in youth. Today, we’ll explore The Kindness Campaign’s innovative approaches, from their popular “magic mirror” exercises to deep breathing techniques, all designed to empower kids to stand in their own power and navigate their feelings. Tune in to support their mission to create a kinder, more resilient generation.

(00:03:21) The Kindness Campaign’s Mission to Promote Mental Health & Body Kindness

• The ethos behind The Kindness Campaign & childhood suicide prevention
• Karena’s teenage suicide survival story
• The connection between mental and physical health
• How to reframe working out to moving your body
• The power of deep breathing for emotional regulation
• How The Kindness Campaign encourages kids to move through strategic partnerships
• How SEEC teaches kids to be kind to their bodies

(00:17:25) Passion-Driven Learning: Helping Kids Find Their Passions & Navigate Challenges

• Advice for anyone thinking about making a career move or entrepreneurial journey
• How The Kindness Campaign is helping high schoolers pursue their passions
• How Andra was able to partner with the local school system to support kids navigating trauma
• The power of teaching kids the skills to name their feelings and how to be with them
• How Karena checks in on her mental health every day

(00:26:00) TKC’s In-School Programs & Tools to Support Mental Health

• What they’re gifting to school systems for World Kindness Day on November 13th
• How to collaborate with The Kindness Campaign and implement their tools and curriculum
• The most requested on-site program: the magic mirror
• How we can change our brain chemistry with positive mantras
• Advice for anyone who struggles with self image
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need
• Ways to connect with yourself on a deeper level

(00:34:24) Building Self-Love through Gratitude, Creativity & Finding Your Superpower

• How gratitude and journaling can help with building up your self image
• Read: Enoughie Finds His Superpower
• The story of the Enoughie Buddy for self-love
• Leveraging art, music, and creativity to support self-love
• The gift of teaching kids how to persevere through failure and stand in their power

(00:44:01) The Inspiration Behind TKC’s Bracelet-Making Volunteer Program

• The idea behind The Kindness Campaign volunteer program that creates bracelets
• How she was able to keep The Kindness Campaign going during the pandemic
• Innovative ideas for using technology to elevate her reach and programs in the future
• How to connect with and get involved with The Kindness Campaign

Thanks for the support from our partners, including:

Pique Life | Get up to 20% off Pique's Radiant Skin Duo plus a free starter kit with link piquelife.com/tbs.

TBS Fall Merch | Visit thebigsilence.com/merch to shop The Big Silence apparel, and start a conversation with us! All of your purchase goes to support mental health resources.

Guest Info:

• Website: tkckindness.org
• Andra’s Instagram: @andraliemandt
• The Kindness Campaign Instagram: @tkckindness
• Read: Enoughie Finds His Superpower

Resources:

• Start a conversation in your The Big Silence merch: thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need
• Thank you to our partners! Go to thebigsilence.com/partners for special offers for our listeners

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Producer, Bobby Goldstein.