Christian Cowan , Fashion Designer turned Costume Designer ( Queen of Versailles ) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul as he makes his Broadway debut. This episode covers: - the kindness of embracing your unique style - learning on the job as Broadway Costume Designer with Queen of Versailles - working with legends like Paris Hilton, Kristin Chenoweth and more CHRISTIAN COWAN is a celebrated fashion designer known for his bold vision and exuberant sense of glamour. His collections ha...
Dec 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 180
Stranger Things: The First Shadow star Dora Dolphin discusses acts of kindness on Broadway with The Art of Kindness podcast. Her and host Robert Peterpaul cover: - Dora's wild audition process for Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. - Her kind meeting with onscreen counterpart Cara Buono, and the wisdom she shared. - Upside-Down kindness her and her Tony-winning company take part in + more. DORA DOLPHIN makes her Broadway debut in First Shadow ! Originated Young Karen Wheeler in the first workshop....
Dec 08, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 179
Merrily We Roll Along's Broadway and film director Maria Friedman joins The Art of Kindness for a chat on translating her Tony-winning take on the hit Stephen Sondheim production to a SONY film, starring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez. The kind musical theatre titan and host Robert Peterpaul discuss: How kindness is at the core of Merrily. How to lead with kindness on Broadway and beyond. Her close relationship with Stephen Sondheim and more. MARIA FRIEDMAN is a 4-time Olivi...
Dec 04, 2025•14 min•Season 5Ep. 178
Broadway star Christiani Pitts talks Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) on the Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul during a scrumptious conversation. The episode covers: the act of kindness from her drama teacher that made a lasting impression. the key to finding common ground with strangers. the dreamy process of bringing Two Strangers to Broadway and more! (We may even play a game all about cake). CHRISTIANI PITTS can currently be seen on Broadway in the musical TWO STRANGERS (CARR...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 177
Disney legend Jodi Benson - the iconic voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid - returns to The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to catch up on how kindness is showing up in her life and more. This episode covers: Learning self-kindness while leading a life of service. Working on new projects like Wingfeather Saga. Lessons learned from Ariel and Disney, plus more. JODI BENSON is best known around the world as the beloved voice of Ariel in the Academy Award-winning Disney feature film, The Litt...
Nov 24, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 176
Wicked: For Good movie is in theaters this week, so please enjoy this wonderful conversation from the AOK library with the film's director Jon M. Chu. He and Robert Peterpaul to discuss being a kind leader on set, acts of kindness from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, his spellbinding memoir Viewfinder and more. Rejoicify - this is a thought-provoking chat filled with STAR-studded surprise guests! We're OBSESSULATED! Jon M. Chu is known for his visually stunning blockbuster films, as well as his...
Nov 20, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 175
Tony-nominated Broadway star Lorna Courtney joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul for our World Kindness Day special! The multi-hyphenate shares how leading with love keeps her grounded on and off the stage. From &Juliet to Heathers: The Musical , the powerhouse performer opens up about confidence, community, and the acts of kindness that helped shape her journey. Happy World Kindness Week! Taped live in the Welcome To Times Square Studio, this kindness podcast episode covers: How ...
Nov 13, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 174
Legendary illusionist Rob Lake joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul on the heels of his Broadway debut. "The World's Greatest Illusionist" discusses the magic of kindness and his new show Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets. This spectacular episode covers: - Leading with kindness as he brings broadway's greatest magic show to life - What it's like to work with Kermit and the Muppets, alongside Disney - How we can all find wonder in our lives and more! ROB LAKE is a world r...
Nov 03, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 173
Happy Halloween! We're releasing our episode with Halloweentown star Kimberly J. Brown as an extra treat! The Disney legend joined The Art of Kindness to discuss: - growing up in the spotlight - working with the iconic (and kind) Debbie Reynolds - behind-the-scenes treats from the Halloweentown franchise + more! While Kimberly J. Brown is perhaps most known for the Halloweentown franchise, she is an award-winning powerhouse who’s rocked every medium. By age 9 she had appeared on Broadway in show...
Oct 30, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 172
Netflix's Ginny & Georgia star Antonia Gentry joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, opening up about learning to drop expectations - of herself, her work, and others - in favor of curiosity and compassion. She reflects on the power of flexibility, the quiet confidence that comes from grace, and how kindness is not about pleasing people but meeting them where they are. This 'just peachy' episode covers: - Why kindness thrives when we let go of rigid expectations - How Antonia pract...
Oct 28, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 171
Bestselling author and former Disney star Alyson Stoner joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to redefine kindness in a broken system. The mental health advocate unpacks their transformative new memoir Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything and breaks down how kindness can heal the world. This kindness podcast episode covers: Why kind acts alone won't cut it (and what will). What it really takes to unlearn perfectionism and embrace your authentic self. How writing can be an ac...
Oct 20, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 5Ep. 170
The Voice winner Cassadee Pope joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss unlocking vulnerability, shedding perfectionism as a storyteller, self-kindness on Broadway and tour, her new show Rolling Thunder and more. CASSADEE POPE rose to fame as the first female winner of the hit reality show The Voice . After fronting pop-punk band Hey Monday and releasing a chart-topping solo country album, she’s made a powerful return to her roots with her pop-punk album Hereditary—a raw and em...
Aug 28, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 169
Maybe Happy Ending Director Michael Arden speaks on kind leadership and more live from the 2025 Tony Awards winner's room, where The Art of Kindness podcast was stationed. Follow us @artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul Support the show! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18, 2025•8 min•Season 4Ep. 168
Tony Award winners Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jamie Lloyd take home Best Revival for their gripping, radically reimagined production of Sunset Boulevard on Broadway starring Nicole Scherzinger. In this episode, the Lloyds step into the Tony Awards Winner’s Room fresh off their big win to speak with members of the press. AOK recorded as the duo opened up about artistic risk-taking, their creative partnership, and the power of entrusting bold new visions to tell timeless stories. Follow us @artofk...
Jul 28, 2025•14 min•Season 4Ep. 167
Broadway star Erika Henningsen ( Mean Girls ) joins The Art of Kindness podcast with Robert Peterpaul to discuss all kinds of kindness from her sparkly gold kindness to Jonathan Groff's blue. Speaking of, she also touches on kind leadership, like with her new show Just in Time (starring Jonathan Groff) and the Netflix series The Four Seasons (led by Tina Fey). ERIKA HENNINGSEN stars in the Netflix series THE FOUR SEASONS opposite Tina Fey and Steve Carrell and can currently be seen on stage star...
Jul 14, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 166
Emmy Award® winner Sarah Snook ( Succession ) wins the 2025 Best Actress Tony Award for her performance in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY on Broadway. In an acting coup for the ages, Snook takes on all 26 roles in this gripping, witty and vibrantly contemporary production that breathes new life into Oscar Wilde’s classic tale. In this episode, Sarah walks fresh off the Radio City Stage into the Tony Awards Winner's Room, where she speaks with Robert Peterpaul and other members of the press. Follow u...
Jun 23, 2025•14 min•Season 4Ep. 165
Broadway Director & Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter ( Bad Cinderella , School of Rock ) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss creating kind communities in theatre, her magical new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse , why she only wants to work with compassionate people and more. JOANN M. HUNTER (Director & Choreographer). Always an honor and treat to be back at Paper Mill Playhouse! Over 30 Broadway, West End, and Australian first-class c...
Jun 09, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 164
From the AOK archive: Broadway star Megan Hilty joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss her incredible career through the lens of kindness. From Idina Menzel's career-changing act of kindness to what she learned from Dolly Parton herself, Megan shares countless inspiring stories and quips while reflecting on her journey. Megan Hilty is probably most recognizable for her portrayal of Ivy Lynn in the NBC Musical Drama “Smash.” Before that, Hilty started her career on Broadway, p...
Jun 05, 2025•56 min•Season 4Ep. 163
Tony-nominated actor Marjan Neshat (English) unpacks the kindness of her journey to Broadway on The Art of Kindness. The performer joins Robert Peterpaul to discuss $15 therapy that changed her life, what her history-making nomination means to her, the power of live theatre and more. MARJAN NESHAT emigrated to America from Iran as a child, leaving her homeland for safety and new opportunities amid difficult circumstances. Nowadays, you may recognize her from hit TV shows like New Amsterdam , The...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 163
Actor, writer, and director Max Talisman joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss the power of creating inclusive stories, redefining queer romance on screen, and leading with kindness on set of his new film Things Like This . MAX TALISMAN is rapidly emerging as a leading voice in Hollywood, with standout performances in the indie thriller Super Dark Times , the Jennifer Lopez film Marry Me , and hit series including Orange is the New Black , The Blacklist , and Search Party . ...
May 22, 2025•53 min•Season 4Ep. 162
Tony Award winner and Grammy nominee Lena Hall brings her signature openness to The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, discussing her ongoing journey with self-kindness in the arts, the surprising truth about winning a Tony Award, and the supportive kindness of Jon Hamm while filming Your Friends and Neighbors . LENA HALL is a Tony award winner and Grammy nominee who stars alongside Jon Hamm on the new Apple series, Your Friends and Neighbors, which premiered to rave reviews on April 11th (o...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 161
Emmy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee Norm Lewis joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss leading a cast with kindness, the unique way advertising influenced his career, his new show Ceremonies in Dark Old Men and more. NORM LEWIS was recently seen onstage starring in the national tour of the Tony Award-winning production of A Soldier's Play and in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End Concert of Love Never Dies. He starred in Spike Lee's critically acclaimed, "Da 5 Bloods," and in the gr...
Apr 28, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 160
Becca Tilley ( The Bachelor ) joins Robert Peterpaul on The Art of Kindness to explore how caring for our furry friends deepens empathy, why her viral Wicked ‑inspired video struck a chord, and how her love story with Hayley Kiyoko was an act of kindness. Meet Becca Tilley. A Louisiana native, the 30-something resides in Los Angeles, California with her girlfriend, Hayley Kiyoko and pup, Phoebe. She is the personality behind People’s Choice awarded podcast, Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley & T...
Apr 21, 2025•34 min•Season 4Ep. 159
Step inside Boop! the Musical ' s opening night on Broadway as The Art of Kindness host Robert Peterpaul interviews members of the cast and creative team at Sardi's restaurant in NYC. In this episode you will hear from... Creative team members: Tony Award®-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell ( Kinky Boots ), Tony Award®-nominated lyricist Susan Birkenhead ( Working , Jelly’s Last Jam ), Tony Award®-winning book writer Bob Martin ( The Drowsy Chaperone ) and Associate Choreographer Jon ...
Apr 14, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 158
The luminous Kate Baldwin joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul this Women's History Month to discuss acts of kindness throughout her career on Broadway, Maestra Music and more. Kate Baldwin is a two-time Tony Award and four-time Drama Desk Award nominee who has delighted audiences across the country with performances on Broadway, in concert and on television. Kate starred as Irene Molloy opposite Bette Midler, David Hyde Pierce and Gavin Creel in the hit Broadway revival of Hello, Dol...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 157
Severance star Adam Scott reveals his definition of kindness to Robert Peterpaul during this short and sweet The Art of Kindness archival clip. The Emmy-nominated actor (also in Step Brothers and Parks and Rec ) was previously on AOK alongside Kate Mara. Follow us: @artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast Support the show ! ( https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok ) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: artofkindnesspodcast@gmail.com Music: "...
Mar 20, 2025•5 min
Acclaimed actress Teresa Palmer joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss uplifting others, acts of kindness from Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, her new show Mix Tape and more. Teresa Palmer is a globally recognized performer who has been nominated for multiple Best Actress awards, including Critics Choice and many others from her home country in Australia. You’ll likely recognize Teresa from her extensive onscreen work, often alongside some of the most acclaimed talents in the i...
Mar 10, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 155
The Wiggles founder Anthony Field joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss his journey teaching kindness with the iconic children's group, being a role model for young audiences, his mental health struggles, having his daughter become a Wiggle and much more! Anthony Field is an Australian musician, actor, songwriter and producer, best known as a founding leader of the children's group the Wiggles. For over three decades, The Wiggles have delighted millions. After Anthony spent ...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 154
Netflix's Love on the Spectrum star Tanner Smith and mom Nicci Smith join The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss their journey to reality television, being an example for others affected by autism, and spreading kindness everywhere they go. Happy Random Acts of Kindness day! Tanner Smith is a South Carolina native thriving on the autism spectrum, whose self-proclaimed mission in life is to "Spread Joy All Around the World." Tanner was diagnosed with autism at age 4 and has gone on ...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 153
Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer Rachel Bay Jones joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss how her career from Broadway ( Dear Evan Hansen ) to television ( Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage ) has been fueled by kindness and so much more. Rachel Bay Jones is an Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress best known for originating the role of 'Heidi Hansen' in the Original Broadway Cast of DEAR EVAN HANSEN, and received the aforementioned awards (plus many other...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 4Ep. 152
