THE
PARENT PODCAST
The Kindest Kid in America:
Why Celebrating Kids Works
with Jessie Hansen
Key Points
From This Episode:
01:57 - From Trauma to Purpose
10:17 - Why Celebrating Kindness Matters
21:18 - Shifting Culture
Resources from
this episode:
Show Notes
In this uplifting episode of The Warrior Parent Podcast, Marci Mitchell and Debbie DiManno talk with Jessie Hansen, founder of the Kindest Kids in America program, about why celebrating children’s acts of kindness can transform schools and communities. Jessie shares how her trauma-informed research on school-shooting prevention led her to the powerful conclusion that kindness—and being seen—can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Listeners will hear inspiring stories, practical insights, and a heartfelt call to make kindness contagious in every space kids grow.
From Trauma to Purpose
In this heart-opening episode, hosts Marci Mitchell and Debbie DiManno talk with Jessie Hansen, a professional speaker, former trauma therapist, and founder of the Kindest Kids in America program. Jessie shares how her difficult teenage years inspired her lifelong commitment to psychology, emotional wellness, and helping young people feel seen and valued. She explains how her research on school-shooting prevention led her to the transformative power of kindness—and why early emotional tools can change a child’s entire life trajectory.
Why Celebrating Kindness Matters
Jessie takes listeners inside her nationwide program, where children are nominated for their real acts of kindness and honored with medals, custom storybooks, and schoolwide celebrations. She explains how public recognition meets a child’s deep need to feel seen, shaping identity in positive ways and offering a healthy alternative to the harmful drives for revenge, justice, or fame she uncovered in her research. Marci, Debbie, and Jessie discuss the science behind kindness—how giving it, receiving it, and even witnessing it boosts mood-shifting chemicals, reduces stress, and helps build safer, more connected communities.
Shifting Culture
The conversation expands into the critical role parents and communities play in modeling self-kindness, emotional resilience, and supportive environments for kids. Jessie emphasizes that many children aren’t receiving the encouragement they need at home, making community involvement—and simple acts of noticing and affirming kids—even more essential. The episode closes with a powerful call to action: kindness is contagious, and every adult has the ability to interrupt cycles of pain, elevate a child’s sense of worth, and help build a safer, more compassionate world.
Thank you so much for listening to this episode! This podcast is dedicated to supporting families through the ups and downs of parenting and mental wellness. We know how tough it can be to raise kids in today’s world, but you don’t have to do it alone. Join us and let’s lift each other up.
With love,
Marci & Debbie
THE
PARENT PODCAST
The Kindest Kid in America:
Why Celebrating Kids Works
with Jessie Hansen
Show Notes
In this uplifting episode of The Warrior Parent Podcast, Marci Mitchell and Debbie DiManno talk with Jessie Hansen, founder of the Kindest Kids in America program, about why celebrating children’s acts of kindness can transform schools and communities. Jessie shares how her trauma-informed research on school-shooting prevention led her to the powerful conclusion that kindness—and being seen—can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Listeners will hear inspiring stories, practical insights, and a heartfelt call to make kindness contagious in every space kids grow.
Key Points
From This Episode:
01:57 - From Trauma to Purpose
10:17 - Why Celebrating Kindness Matters
21:18 - Shifting Culture
From Trauma to Purpose
In this heart-opening episode, hosts Marci Mitchell and Debbie DiManno talk with Jessie Hansen, a professional speaker, former trauma therapist, and founder of the Kindest Kids in America program. Jessie shares how her difficult teenage years inspired her lifelong commitment to psychology, emotional wellness, and helping young people feel seen and valued. She explains how her research on school-shooting prevention led her to the transformative power of kindness—and why early emotional tools can change a child’s entire life trajectory.
Why Celebrating Kindness Matters
Jessie takes listeners inside her nationwide program, where children are nominated for their real acts of kindness and honored with medals, custom storybooks, and schoolwide celebrations. She explains how public recognition meets a child’s deep need to feel seen, shaping identity in positive ways and offering a healthy alternative to the harmful drives for revenge, justice, or fame she uncovered in her research. Marci, Debbie, and Jessie discuss the science behind kindness—how giving it, receiving it, and even witnessing it boosts mood-shifting chemicals, reduces stress, and helps build safer, more connected communities.
Shifting Culture
The conversation expands into the critical role parents and communities play in modeling self-kindness, emotional resilience, and supportive environments for kids. Jessie emphasizes that many children aren’t receiving the encouragement they need at home, making community involvement—and simple acts of noticing and affirming kids—even more essential. The episode closes with a powerful call to action: kindness is contagious, and every adult has the ability to interrupt cycles of pain, elevate a child’s sense of worth, and help build a safer, more compassionate world.
Thank you so much for listening to this episode! This podcast is dedicated to supporting families through the ups and downs of parenting and mental wellness. We know how tough it can be to raise kids in today’s world, but you don’t have to do it alone. Join us and let’s lift each other up.
With love,
Marci & Debbie
We're on a mission to educate, inspire and transform lives, ages 4-104 using basic scientifically proven methods and tools to decrease stress, anxiety and to increase resiliency and overall well-being.
2882 Prospect Park Dr. Suite 100,
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 340-5252
© 2019 Cour Experience Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Non-Profit 501c3 EIN: 84-3383699
We're on a mission to educate, inspire and transform lives, ages 4-104 using basic scientifically proven methods and tools to decrease stress, anxiety and to increase resiliency and overall well-being.
2882 Prospect Park Dr. Suite 100,
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 340-5252
© 2019 Cour Experience Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Non-Profit 501c3 EIN: 84-3383699