Podcast: Empathy and kindness are my SUPERPOWER.

 

Hello everyone! Today, I want to comment on a podcast episode which really stood out to me. The episode is part of the series Bullying Explained, which is hosted by Tara Emad and aims to raise awareness and open conversations about bullying.

The episode I am referring to is titled Empathy and kindness are my SUPERPOWER. In this episode Tara speaks with Seif El-Din Mahmoud who shares his personal story of being bullied in school. To me his experiences were heartbreaking but also eye-opening at the same time.

Throughout high school, Seif was bullied almost daily, which he described as “traumatizing” (01:08). He emphazised how powerless he felt, as he did not know to defend himself and received no help from other people. The bullying he faced was not just verbal, instead it also included physical violence like being hit or kicked. Even when others witnessed these events, they did not intervene, instead they only laughed at him. This made me think about the role of bystanders in bullying situations and that maybe if one person had defended him, it could have changed Seif’s situation completely. Seif also criticizes the school system by pointing out that his teachers were not adequately trained on mental health issues or bullying. Thus, they did not offer him any help, despite being aware of the bullying he experienced. As we have discussed in class, the way teachers respond to bullying plays a crucial role in the further development of the situation. Seif additionally mentions that the bullying had a significant impact on him and still affects him to this day. What struck me the most was Seif’s ability to show empathy towards those who bullied him, as he states that “no happy person […] would actually bully someone” (09:04). That kind of reflection takes immense emotional strength. Instead of holding on to the pain he suffered, he chose empathy and kindness, which he sees as his superpowers today.  Another part that resonated with me was when he spoke about not feeling heard or seen by anyone – not even the adults who were supposed to protect him. It reminded me how essential it is to create schools as safe environments for students, where they feel validated and taken seriously. Despite everything, Seif said the bullying made him stronger. He is no longer afraid to stand up for what matters. What helped Seif heal, was meeting new people after high school, who made him feel accepted and valued. It gave him a new perspective and helped him realize that life is so much more than the toxic environment he experienced in school. Seif also emphasised the power of words and the need to be accountable for what we say, as a single cruel comment can have an impact that lasts for years.

Listening to this episode has made me reflect not only on how bullying should be addressed but also on how we can all do our part to contribute to more kindness and empathy. The podcast showed me once more how hurtful words and actions can be and highlighted the importance of providing adequate support for those who are suffering from bullying. Furthermore, I am deeply impressed by Seif’s courage to open up about his experiences.

What do you think about this episode? If you want to hear other people talk about their experiences with bullying, feel free to give the podcast a listen, it is linked down below.

Source of this blogpost:

Tara Emas (Host). (2020, June 28). Empathy and kindness are my SUPERPOWER (Audio podcast episode). In Bullying Explained. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/tara-emad/episodes/Empathy-and-kindness-are-my-SUPERPOWER-eg1obj