Episode 2 – Kindness: capacity, boundaries, and the voices in our heads

In this episode of The Clearing, Matt and Karl sit down to talk about kindness — a lived, limited, and deeply human capacity. Where there is opportunity, and perhaps where we all need some guidance and compassion.

The conversation begins with kindness towards others: small, instinctive acts, moments of noticing, and the question of whether society is becoming more closed, guarded, or fatigued. From there, it moves into something harder to name — the cost of kindness, the need for boundaries, and what happens when we give everything away and have nothing left for the people closest to us.

A central thread in this episode is self-kindness. Matt and Karl explore:

• How we talk to ourselves when things go wrong

• The first and the second voice, drawing on the 2 arrows approach

• Why many men can be brutally unkind to themselves

• Capacity, burnout, and emotional fatigue

• Boundaries at work, at home, and internally

• Parenting, partnership, and showing up with what’s left in the tank

They reflect on real examples — family life, work, falling off a skateboard — and unpack how small practices, honest conversations, and intentional pauses can slowly rewire how we treat ourselves and others.

This isn’t about a boundless ability to be nice. It’s about learning when to stop, when to centre yourself, and how to cultivate enough kindness — inwardly and outwardly — to live with more clarity, joy, and presence.

These podcasts are an invitation to reflect, not a set of answers.

We would love to hear how you navigate kindness in your life - what examples ca you share with us and the audience?

Email us at matt@theclearing.life

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