What if kindness isn’t just a virtue, but a biological force for healing? In this episode, Dr. David Hamilton joins John R. Miles to explore how everyday acts of kindness can literally rewire your brain, strengthen your heart, and ease emotional pain.
Drawing from his powerful new book, The Joy of Actually Giving a Fck: How Kindness Can Cure Stress and Make You Happy*, Dr. Hamilton blends science with soul to show why compassion isn’t soft — it’s strategic. Together, they dive into the ripple effect of kindfulness, the neuroscience of empathy, and how small shifts in how we treat others can transform our own well-being from the inside out.
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“Oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin—they all increase with acts of kindness. These are the same chemicals that promote happiness and connection.”
dr. david hamilton
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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Listen Notes, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube below.
The Science-Backed Power of Kindness for Mental and Physical Health
In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. David Hamilton breaks down the biology and psychology behind one of the most underrated tools for personal transformation: kindness. With clarity and heart, he joins John R. Miles to discuss how simple, intentional acts of compassion don’t just elevate others — they recalibrate our own nervous systems, boost immunity, and help us manage stress. From the workplace to our most intimate relationships, kindness becomes a form of high-performance self-care. This episode is packed with both emotional resonance and scientific insights, showing how we can make kindness a daily, transformational habit.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
- Kindness rewires the brain: Repeated kind acts strengthen neural pathways related to empathy and joy, reshaping how we perceive ourselves and others.
- Stress and kindness are opposites: Stress contracts and isolates us; kindness opens us up and creates connection.
- Kindfulness trains presence: Combining mindfulness with compassion creates a practice that benefits both our emotional and physical health.
- Small actions ripple out: A single genuine gesture can influence others far beyond what we can see — emotionally and even biologically.
- Listening is an act of kindness: Deep, intentional listening dissolves barriers and fosters trust.
- Kindness enhances workplace culture: It’s not just good ethics — it’s good strategy for well-being and performance.
WHY IS THIS EPISODE A MUST-LISTEN?
This episode will challenge the way you think about kindness, not as a passive nicety, but as a transformative, science-backed tool for living a more resilient, fulfilling life. If you’re burned out, overwhelmed, or seeking deeper meaning in your connections, Dr. Hamilton offers a roadmap that’s both actionable and deeply human. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about being present and intentional. This isn’t just a conversation; it’s a reset.
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The Moment That Made Kindness Make Sense
This heartfelt and eye-opening conversation with Dr. David Hamilton felt less like an interview and more like a meaningful exchange between two kindred spirits. What stood out most was Dr. Hamilton’s deeply personal story about receiving unexpected kindness during one of the most painful chapters of his life—the decline of his father’s health. That single moment of compassion from a stranger served as a profound reminder of the ripple effect our actions can have, especially when we choose empathy over judgment.
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Hamilton weaves science and story to show how kindness doesn’t just make us feel good—it can literally reshape our brains, support our immune systems, and strengthen our emotional resilience.
Thanks, Dr. David Hamilton
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RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW WITH DAVID HAMILTON
Please note that some of the links on this page (books, movies, music, etc.) lead to affiliate programs for which The Passion Struck podcast receives compensation. It’s just one of the ways we keep the lights on around here. Thank you so much for being so supportive!
- David Hamilton’s Website
- David Hamilton’s Instagram
- BUY David Hamilton’s Book ‘The Joy of Actually Giving a F*ck”
- APA’s recognition of mattering as critical to child mental health
- Passion Struck Core Value System: https://passionstruck.com/the-passion-struck-core-belief-system/
- Listen to Passion Struck’s interviews with New York Times bestselling authors Gretchen Rubin and Seth Godin.
- Check out Passion Struck’s Episode Starter Packs on Spotify or Passion Struck starter packs to get started with the podcast.
Catch my solo episode on “Why Mattering at Work Is the New Metric Leaders Must Track.“
Can’t miss my episode with Susan Grau on How Our Life Experiences Shape Our Souls
Catch my interview with Wes Adams and Tamara Myles on How to Create Meaningful Work
My interview with Natalie Namaste on How to Unleash Your Solar Plexus Power
About Today’s Guest, Dr. David Hamilton
Dr. David Hamilton is a renowned expert in the mind-body connection, best known for translating cutting-edge science into practical tools for emotional healing and personal transformation. With a PhD in organic chemistry and a background in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Hamilton left the lab to dedicate his life to exploring how kindness, belief, and emotion impact our biology.
He is the author of multiple bestselling books, including The Joy of Actually Giving a Fck*, and is a sought-after speaker whose insights blend neuroscience, compassion, and ancient wisdom. Through his teachings, Dr. Hamilton empowers people worldwide to harness the power of kindness, not just as a virtue, but as a tool for healing.
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