‘The Kindness Diaries’ Host Leon Logothetis Reveals the Secret to Living a Life of Kindness
Q&A
No adventure is ever too scary for Leon Logothetis. In Season 2 of The Kindness Diaries, available on Netflix and BYUtv, Logothetis takes another journey from Alaska to Argentina, relying solely on the kindness of strangers. No money, no food — just a canary-yellow Volkswagen bug.
Before the release of his fifth book, Go Be Kind, we had the privilege of talking to Logothetis about his latest season, new adventures and how to live our own lives in kindness.
So, you start Season 2 in the middle of nowhere in Alaska. Did you have any doubts going into that?
Leon Logothetis: More doubts than you will ever know. Yes, I did. I remember, we kind of briefly mention it at the beginning, but I went to Tennessee to pick up the car. To test-drive it. I was test-driving the car, and I drove it for literally less than two minutes, and I remember thinking to myself, “Okay. I’m screwed. There is no way this car is going to make it from Alaska to Argentina.” And I literally went into a depression for a week or two after that. I was saying to myself, “Well, we’re finished. We can’t work!” I mean, sometimes it didn’t, clearly, but it pretty much worked, which was amazing.
Because you guys are out in the middle of nowhere and you were afraid of the car not being able to run, did you have a Plan B in case you weren’t able to find someone?
There were no Plan B’s. I mean, the only Plan B was someone had to help us. That was Plan B, literally.
Is there any preparation before starting? Besides finding a vehicle?
There’s some preparation. For example, there were certain countries … well, actually, for Season 1, we needed visas, in Season 2, there were no visas needed. But there were certain places we knew we had to go to, so there was some preparation, but not major.
And then how do you decide which route you want to go on?
For Season 2, Alaska to Argentina… for example, Alaska to Whitehorse in Canada, there’s only one road. So you can pretty much only go one way. And then when you get down from Alaska, down to, let’s say, Southern California, you pretty much go whatever way the wind takes you. It depends. There’s some planning, some not planning.
One of my favorite parts is when you give some people gifts afterward. Have you had a favorite person or experience from Season 2?
Yes. It was Episode 8. Have you watched Episode 8?
Not yet.
Okay, when you get to Episode 8, I think you’re gonna need to have at least a thousand Kleenex. You’re gonna be drowning in tears. I don’t wanna give too much away for you, but I met this really amazing woman who I end up helping. She rescues dogs. And the story that she gives about why she rescues dogs and my interaction with her is really quite beautiful.
Amazing! You keep in touch with some of them, I assume. Do you keep in touch with everyone you meet?
Some of them I stay in touch with, some of them I don’t. Like, for example, I just did a Facebook Live with Karen from Episode 3.
What kind of response do you hope to get from the viewers? Is there an underlying message you hope they receive from watching?
Two things. First of all, I want people to go out and live their lives with all their passion and all their fire in their belly. And secondly, to be kind. To remember that kindness is a big part of who we are. To be kind. It’s that simple.
Are you planning on going on another journey?
Yeah. I’m working on Season 3, which is Scotland to Singapore.
Oooh. That sounds fun.
Yeah. It should be.
How long in total, do the journeys end up taking you?
Season 2, Alaska to Argentina was three-and-a-half months. Season 1 was five-and-a-half months.
And there’s probably so much that doesn’t end up making it into the show. How much do we not end up seeing?
There’s a lot. For example, I went bungee jumping in Argentina. You don’t see that. So many things that don’t get in the show.
So how do you choose which events end up being put in?
It depends on what we think is the most compelling. And it depends what we think will touch people the most.
One thing that I’ve always been told growing up, is that “Once you’ve heard someone else’s story, you can’t help but love them.” Do you think this encapsulates the meaning behind the show?
Absolutely, absolutely. Once you connect with someone’s heart, it’s incredible.
Not everyone lives their life in complete kindness. So, do you have any advice for those of us who’d like to be a lot kinder in our lives but don’t really know how to start?
Start with small baby steps. Simply open up your heart to another human being. Make another human being feel like they matter. So, when you go to Starbucks and you buy your coffee, look at the person in the eyes and say, “Thanks so much. Have a really lovely day.” And you’ll see how they respond. And you keep doing that moment-to-moment. Keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
The Kindness Diaries, Season 2 now streaming on Netflix & BYUtv
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The last 4 days I spent watching Season 2 on netflix - and it made me cry several times, as I understood many situations in it so well. I understand your childhood, I was bullied in school. I slept on the streets and I had times without hope, money and sometimes not even food.
The ones that helped me in the hardest times were always the ones who did not have much themselves.
I try to live the kind way. Mostly dedicated to Animals, my dog is a rescue from Russia and I found homes for 10 other dogs from there. I helped at the Dogs of Chernobyl Project in Ukraine. I donate money to animals shelters, even if I have my own struggles.
I have always been different and many people can not understand my way of living, always wanting to try help others.
Unfortunately for me, I got burned a lot of times, too. The last time is just 1,5 years ago, when I tried to help someone out of kindness - and in the end found myself with a huge debt, no place to stay and having to sell all that I had, also my wonderful VW beetle from 1969 that I put so much love into.
I was close to giving up a few times. But here I am still standing. Still fighting a big debt, but I am hopeful to be done with it in maybe 2 years more.
And then? Well... then I will continue to help. People with down syndrome. Old people. Children in Ukraine. And of course... animals!
If I would have never been kind....I might be a rich person today. I might have a house. A new car. Whatever. But my heart would be empty. I would have never experienced the things I did. I would have never learned the lessons of life I did.
For now my life is on pause and I do not have any possibility to travel or help a lot. But when things get better....I will continue.
In one month I will move to Alta in North Norway. And take it from there.
The ones that touched me the most in the entire season 2, were Kristofer who lived with almost nothing, and the family living in their Mitsubishi campervan, as I could relate to both of them so much.
This is something that everyone in the world should see. Use netbooks, TVs and smartphones for something that gives meaning. Inspire. Gives hope. Dont spread hate and war and pain and misery or senseless rubbish. Spread Kindness.
I love this journey of yours Leon. And I wish I could give you a hug some day.
Keep doing what you are doing!
The world needs people like you.
Lina
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How to give to journey or to these worthys, such as the father in Porta Rica feeding all those little children? Diane
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