What if compassion wasn’t just a personal virtue, but the foundation of our politics, institutions, and societies?
In this powerful and timely conversation, I speak with Matt Hawkins, CEO of the Global Compassion Coalition and co-founder of Compassion in Politics, about reimagining our world through the lens of compassion. Together, we explore what it means to embed empathy, fairness, and care into systems that so often feel adversarial or indifferent.
Matt shares the origin stories of the Global Compassion Coalition and Compassion in Politics, offering both practical insights and a compelling philosophical vision for how compassion can become the guiding force in decision-making—across policy, governance, and grassroots movements. The conversation also touches on mental health in politics, the corrupting effects of power, and the real-world challenges and triumphs of advocating for compassionate change.
This episode isn’t just about systems. It’s about you, too—and the role each of us can play in building a more compassionate society.
🔗 Links to Global Compassion Coalition and Compassion in Politics are in the description below.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to Compassionate Politics
00:13 Meet Matt Hawkins: A Compassionate Leader
00:24 The Mission of the Global Compassion Coalition
00:37 Compassion in Politics: A New Approach
00:57 Exploring Compassionate Advocacy
01:45 Personal Insights and Self-Compassion
02:46 The Role of Compassion in Political Systems
05:44 The Global Compassion Coalition's Vision
08:43 Practical Applications of Compassion
10:16 Challenges and Strategies for Compassionate Change
14:02 Empowering Communities through Compassion
21:35 Compassion in Politics: Systemic Change
28:50 The Corrupting Effects of Power and Inequality
30:10 The Role of Compassion in Society
32:20 Challenges in Political Representation
33:13 Mental Wellbeing of Politicians
34:35 Power Dynamics in UK Politics
37:31 Systemic Cultural Pressures in Politics
38:34 Engaging with Compassionate Politics
43:15 Building Compassionate Communities
46:00 Practical Steps for Everyday Compassion
50:59 Getting Involved with the Global Compassion Coalition
LINKS:
Global Compassion Coalition
https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/
Compassion in Politics
https://www.compassioninpolitics.com/
If you would like to learn more about compassion focused therapy, you can find Dr Stan Steindl's book The Gifts of Compassion here: https://amzn.to/4knPv7h
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-steindl-150a5264/
Website: https://www.stansteindl.com/
YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/5QrO8XizuWs
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Video hashtags:
Compassion, politics, economics, society, institutions, global compassion coalition, Rick Hansen, Paul Gilbert, Jennifer Nadal, power