Welcome to the Compassion 2.0 Podcast preview post! Approximately every two weeks we will be sharing our perspective on the latest episode. The podcast is the first initiative of the Compassion 2.0 community, to be followed by interactive salons, an online summit, and an in-person conference when conditions permit. The Center for Compassionate Leadership has been collaborating with our colleagues, Carson Kelly and Lori Schwanbeck of Benevolently, to bring the Compassion 2.0 community and its initiatives to life.
In the podcast’s premiere episode, host Lori Schwanbeck interviews grass-roots organizer, change agent, and contemplative teacher Shelly Tygielski. The conversation was recorded a few months into COVID crisis, which was the inspiration for Shelly’s Pandemic of Love project.
It started as a simple, small, singular idea in response to how her local community was impacted. She launched the experiment to establish a truly compassionate community of care and mutual aid, providing requested support to those in need by matchmaking with volunteers willing to give.
Shelly shared the idea on her social media channels and was humbled by the overnight response. We can all take pause at the scale and impact as Shelly’s Pandemic of Love spread. Tune in to hear the remarkable results that emerged in a little over four weeks.
While completely inspiring to hear how one compassionate leader’s idea has rippled out, many of us want to act but feel too overwhelmed. Shelly’s golden advice is to start small, think about how you can affect the life of one person, and offer one act of kindness each day. Hear about “kindfulness,” getting out of your own way, taking the leap from me to we to us, and why it’s important to make time for your practice every day. You’ll be touched to hear who inspires Shelly!
As Lori wrapped up this inaugural conversation, she wisely referenced the fabric of connection among all of us that will outlast any viral pandemic. You can find the Compassion 2.0 Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen on the Compassion2.org website. Please subscribe so you can be notified for the next episode with professors Monica Worline and Jane Dutton, authors of the brilliant Awakening Compassion at Work.