S3E19 - Random Acts of Crochet Kindness, with Olivia Dieterich

Hosts Will and Ellie interview therapist and crocheter Olivia Dieterich about her book Random Acts of Crochet Kindness and the global movement she founded.

After losing a friend, Natalie, to suicide, Olivia used crochet to cope with grief and set a 100-day challenge to crochet a flower each day and leave it for strangers with a note inviting them to take it home, sparking the hashtag.

During lockdown, a found item was shared on a local Facebook group, leading to BBC coverage and the creation of a UK-based Facebook community now exceeding 350,000 members worldwide.

Olivia discusses crochet’s grounding benefits, building self-esteem and purpose, supporting urges like self-harm, and creating “glimmers” of joy for others.

The book offers beginner-friendly patterns, tags, guidance, and stories, and Olivia hopes to create a children’s version and more in-person meetups.

Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com

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00:00 Welcome to Lively Minds
01:07 How Crochet Kindness Began
02:23 Crochet as Therapy
05:09 Why Giving Helps You
06:28 Going Viral in Lockdown
08:10 A Global Kindness Community
09:59 Small Joys and Glimmers
0:53 Inside the New Book
13:23 Mental Health Lessons
15:14 Community and Connection
16:39 Letting Go of Projects
18:24 Whats Next and Wrap Up