National Good Samaritan Day, celebrated on March 13, is a day to remind us to be kind and treat others with gentle care. Here at Mr. Thrive Media, when we look at holidays throughout the year to highlight, National Good Samaritan Day is one we simply couldn’t overlook.
Kindness is built into our business model. From our client definition to celebrating events like Women’s History Month–and the women on our team–kindness is tied to everything we do. It’s how we approach new projects, welcome new team members, and view the world of podcasting.
To celebrate this National Good Samaritan Day, we’re going to walk you through the meaning of the special day. We’ll also dive into something we hold near and dear: the effect kindness can have on people and the community as a whole. This Mr. Thrive blog is all about kindness, how it shapes the world, and, of course, how it comes into play with podcasts.
What Is National Good Samaritan Day?
National Good Samaritan Day got its start back on March 13, 1964. It honors the death of Catherine “Kitty” Genovese, who was murdered near her home in New York City back on that night in 1964. There were several instances during her murder when someone could have stepped in, and been a Good Samaritan to save her.
According to the records, Kitty’s killer was interrupted twice that night, with neighbors and passersby noticing the interruptions. No one called the police until it was too late, after the killer’s third attempt on her life. By then, Kitty was dead.
We recognize National Good Samaritan Day in remembrance of Kitty, and the effect a Good Samaritan could have had for Kitty that night. On March 13, her story is a reminder to all of us to stand up for our fellow human beings when they’re in need. That’s something we should remember every day.
Further back, Good Samaritan comes from a Bible parable of a Samaritan helping a stranger who had been robbed, beaten, and left for dead. The themes of selfless kindness for strangers and anyone in need are carried forward in the National holiday. In addition to National Good Samaritan Day, it’s also known as Good Samaritan Involvement Day.
The Effects of Kindness
One of the lasting effects of National Good Samaritan Day is the effects of kindness that ripple through everyone involved in kind acts. Kindness can boost confidence, improve a bad day, and in general give people feelings of happiness and optimism. There isn’t a human on this planet who couldn’t use more of those feel-good effects.
The physical and emotional effects of kindness include:
- A release of feel-good hormones for the giver and receiver of kindness
- A reduction in anxiety
- In some cases, kindness is even known to reduce inflammation, making some chronic illnesses and conditions less of a weight
- A reduction in stress levels–yes, this is different from anxiety
- An increase in self-esteem and empathy
- A decrease in blood pressure
Overall, the effects of kindness make everyone who is part of a kind occasion feel better. It sounds simple–almost unbelievable. Next time you’re having a bad day, or even a bad hour, be kind to a stranger. You’ll be happily surprised to learn what it can do for your mood, outlook, and overall sense of happiness.
Acts of Kindness Through Podcasting
At Mr. Thrive Media, when we consider a holiday or topic, our minds go to podcasts faster than March comes after the beginning of every year. When we were considering the meaning and opportunity of National Good Samaritan Day we thought about the kind acts that occur through podcasting.
Our minds drifted to the case of Adnan Syed, who was released from prison after being locked away and wrongfully accused. His release occurred because of the work of Sarah Koenig on her podcast, Serial. Yes, Sarah’s actions were spurred on by investigative journalism, but the kindness radiating from her podcast and intentions cannot be overlooked.
Beyond podcasts that seek to make that forceful act of kindness, there are countless podcasts creating kind spaces in the world every day. Every podcast that focuses on helping people feel whole is bringing kindness with every episode.
One podcast with a focus on kindness we’re particularly fond of is The Road to Philanthropy by Gary Cohn and Painted Rock Advisors. Yes, it’s a podcast we produce, and we couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of the podcast Gary puts out into the world.
In his podcast, Gary interviews philanthropic nonprofit executives, philanthropists, and advisors to explore the nonprofit world. The Road to Philanthropy is based on the kindness that occurs when profits aren’t the goal.
Mr. Thrive’s Focus on Kindness
Mr. Thrive’s focus on kindness has a central focal point: a consistent output of kindness. That output is extended to our team, our clients, our potential clients, our listeners, and yes, ourselves as well. With kindness as our focus, we’ve built the Mr. Thrive Media brand into something we’re proud of every day.
Our Team
When it comes to our team, we’re a tight-knit group. Our marketing agency is streamlined, and everyone works together in at least one capacity, if not more. Kindness, therefore, is key to our daily success and happiness. When we’re sharing ideas and collaborating on projects for clients and our brand, kindness leads the way.
Our Clients
For our clients, kindness guides the relationship, as our goal is to provide our clients a quality service and peace of mind. Our founder, Chaz Volk, personally works with clients every step of the way when they first start their work with Mr. Thrive.
Potential Clients
With potential clients, kindness can come in many forms. Even, in fact, when a client’s project and plan doesn’t fit with what Mr. Thrive currently offers, we maintain a client relationship.
Let’s say we had a client looking to create a podcast about environmentalism and finding ways to support the earth and reduce negative impacts. That’s a wonderful topic to bring into the world of podcasting as a unique type of podcast. If, however, the client’s goal is to spread awareness, spending the money to create a podcast might not be the best fit.
Our company considers the full picture of what a client is looking for before we sign any contracts. If a client comes to us with this podcast, and they could focus on direct efforts, we’re going to encourage them to do so.
We might even suggest working with a virtual assistant. If they’re set on making a podcast, they could save money doing the work with a virtual assistant. We work on projects we support. We want to make sure our clients are supported–even if they don’t end up signing a contract with us.
Our Listeners
For our listeners, we’re always working to put out quality content that makes them think and gives them something to feel good about. This applies to the Mr. Thrive podcast, as well as the podcasts we produce for clients. The goal is to create podcasts that have a positive impact. It’s our main way to connect with listeners.
Ourselves
When it comes to ourselves, we try to be gentle and supportive with every day and every project. We’ve been growing the business since our start in 2020, and we’ve learned a lot along the way. That said, there’s always more to learn, and a growing business requires kindness–that’s something we can give ourselves.
We give ourselves time to work, problem-solve, and rest when we need to rest. When we focus on being kind to ourselves, it gives us more room to share kindness with everyone else we work with every day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Good Samaritan Day
These frequently asked questions about National Good Samaritan Day and its connection to podcasts are a burst of happiness in an already happy post. Enjoy our answers to them!
How Do You Celebrate Good Samaritan Day?
The best way to celebrate Good Samaritan Day is to be kind to others, strangers and friends alike. That’s the goal of the day, and it’s something you can carry into your life every other day as well.
What are 5 Acts of Kindness?
Five acts of kindness you can put into action today are:
- Buy a coffee for a stranger
- Volunteer for a charity
- Help your neighbors
- Babysit for a friend
- Send a letter to a loved one
These are all ways to boost your own mindset and those of the people you are sharing kindness with.
What Is the Purpose of Podcasting?
The purpose of podcasting is to share information and build a community. When that purpose is focused on kindness, podcasts get even better. The podcasts that bring happiness into the world are some of the most loved and listened to by a wide audience.
Celebrating National Good Samaritan Day: Kindness, Podcasts, and Everything In Between
Celebrating National Good Samaritan Day is a good start, but it’s something we can and should practice every day. At Mr. Thrive, that’s our goal. If we can achieve that for you with our podcast producers and marketing team, that’s excellent.
If your project is something you’re passionate about, but you need less support, reach out to learn about our virtual assistant services. A virtual assistant can support you in the exact ways you need, with nothing you don’t need.