{HBR 39} Stories, Free Hugs and the Power of Unconditional Love with Kristin Pedemonti

Holistic Business Radio – The Podcast of the Love and Money Revolution – with Andy Dolph and Rhiannon Llewellyn

Rhi talks with Kristin about her journey, her literacy outreach work in Belize and so much more! Scroll down for show notes. We love your feedback! Please let us know what you think – email us at [e-mail], or leave us a comment below. If you’re not subscribed, please join us! How to subscribe: Most people subscribe to podcasts in iTunes; click the button to view the podcast in iTunes. Show notes from this episode with Kristin Pedemonti: Rhiannon talks with Kristin Pedemonti about the inter-connectedness and importance of our stories and about her upcoming literacy outreach project in Belize. Rhi asks Kristin how she got started in her work of free hugs and unconditional love. Free hugs and joy and bubbles were a progression for Kristin, starting as early as her college days. She moved to New York City in 2008 and noticed the potential for overwhelm and disconnect. She wanted a way to feel better and connect with others, so she started standing on the sidewalk with her Free Hugs sign. In college, a dorm mate of hers actually called her the Hug Monster, so her Free Hugs was a natural progression for her. She also worked in women’s health and ovarian cancer research for a while where she had to tuck away the Hug Monster. She had a very stressful commute to work so she decided to find a way to bring in some fun. She started carrying bubbles with her to share with people. In all her years of bubble blowing, she has only had two not-so-positive incidents with people. In 2008, her joy encouraged her connect to people. She had worked as a children’s librarian during her time in cancer research. It’s funny that no one had ever encouraged her to work with children; looking back, she realizes that it was perfect for her. She calls herself a perpetual five-year-old with depth. So she decided to share whimsy and joy with adults. Even though her website appears whimsical, there’s such a deeper message within. Kristin isn’t just “one of those people” who was born happy, however. She was born into a relatively difficult situation with her dad having been a Vietnam Vet, elite of elites who couldn’t share anything about his time in the war. He was very wounded by all of it yet was never allowed to talk about it or process it. This led to major depression and, at times, suicidal tendencies. She has great compassion for her father because of all he went through. That compassion spread to others, including her. Having dealt with depression herself, she understands what it’s like. She offers hope to others who are going through it. Kristin believes there are no strangers. She encourages her audience to take five minutes to talk with someone they’ve never met; it’s amazing how many similarities can be found. Kristin shares an example of the van driver who helped transport her mother. He had an accent so, being curious, she asked where he was from. He said that he was from Kenya and she shared with him that she’s going there soon. They had an instant connection. He was so excited to share his home and his story with someone. She has also been learning over the past several years about the giving and the receiving. That is true interaction. Even in the grocery store or the post office. It’s so important to just take a moment to really connect and get in touch with people. Kristin recounts several experiences that she has had around the globe. At a TEDx talk in Poland, she started in the audience with a Free Hug sign. The organizers of the talk told her to not be offended if no one hugged her because she was, after all, in Poland. She acknowledged that but did it anyway, expecting maybe two or three hugs. When she started her talk with her sign, about 75 people from the audience quickly gathered around her. After the hugs, she went to the platform and began her talk by asking the audience “What if there are no strangers?” We make ourselves vulnerable when we offer a hug because there’s a chanc...