In this new world of war, recession, pandemics, etc., it's difficult to have a normal, settled mind, and so acts of kindness are slowly fading away. The woke mindset and people’s selfishness are creeping in and killing our societies. But we are still humans, no matter how nonchalant we pretend to be; we all need someone to lean on. 

There is opportunity for positive change, and it starts with us. We can become better people. How then, can we do that? How can we all work together to promote and spread kindness and imagine the best future for each other?

Returning for his second appearance on Change Starts Here, Presented by FranklinCovey Education, Brad Montague, a New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, joins host Dustin Odham to talk about his books and a new project about spreading kindness, and how we can all get out of our heads and just perform that act of kindness. You can check out Odham and Montague's last discussion here.

"We are all humans that want to be loved, and when you approach life from that place, you see yourself and others in that way, and it helps you to be bold and also gentle, and that leads to seeing every person as someone who needs some care. You can give or say something that'll add a little something to somebody's day, and that should give you hope, " Montague stated.

Odham and Montague discussed:

• What Montague had been working on for the past two years since he's last been on the podcast
• How Montague helps people get over the edge of thinking too much
• Montague's book on imagination and how it can help people rekindle their imagination

Montague also discusses treasures from writing his book, hosting his show, or meeting people, that he continues to share with others:

"We all get this moment of, 'I should do that thing for somebody,' just like everything from getting a card, to sending someone a note, to let them know you are thinking of them... can sometimes feel ridiculous because you are like, ‘What else am I going to say? I was thinking of you?’ Is this going to be creepy or sort of uncomfortable? Is it going to be funny? It must be really awkward. If these impulses are rooted in love, they are worth acting on because it's going to matter to someone," Montague said.

"I think a lot of times we use our imagination to dream of the worst possible outcomes, the ways it could all go wrong. Our imagination is the most beautiful thing, as it always makes us dream of possibilities, and yet we've misused it to worry, to think of the worst of what you could do or who you are. When we use it to imagine the best possible future for each other, then it becomes a thing that is irresistible," Montague added.

Brad Montague is the co-creator of Kid President, the internet sensation featured on Soulpancake's YouTube channel. As a writer and director, his work has received over 900 million views, translated into numerous languages, and captured the attention of celebrities such as Tom Hanks, Beyonce', and even the Obamas. His encouraging work as an illustrator is seen and shared daily online. Montague is the driving force behind 'Socktober,' a worldwide annual drive that connects people with local homeless shelters, and 'Wondersparks,' free classroom resources that foster empathy and imagination.