Nicole Phillips Signing “The Negativity Remedy: Unlocking More Joy, Less Stress, and Better Relationships through Kindness,” Thursday, Oct. 1, 12-1 p.m.

South Dakotan speaker, author, and NPR podcast host Nicole J. Phillips will be speaking and signing her newest work at DDR Books Thursday, Oct. 1, from noon to 1 p.m., in a program co-sponsored by DDR Books and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.

Phillips describes herself as a former expert in negativity, quick to see the bad side of every situation. But when she gifted some money to a young mom, she didn’t expect it to change her view on life and unlock the power of kindness. Drawing on real-life experience and scientific research, “The Negativity Remedy: Unlocking More Joy, Less Stress, and Better Relationships through Kindness” explores the “inner meanie” tendency and how to combat it through being kinder to ourselves and to those around us. Instead of looking for the negative, Phillips invites us to draw more kindness into our lives by expecting people to be kind, verbalizing our gratitude, slowing down, and more.

“Kindness isn’t about them; it’s about us,” writes Phillips. “We can see the brokenness of this world and get determined to do something to help, but the first person healed by our efforts toward other is ourselves.”

Phillips, a breast cancer survivor, spreads her message of the healing power of kindness as host of the weekly “The Kindness Podcast;” through her weekly syndicated newspaper column, “Kindness is Contagious;” and as featured guest on multiple radio and television programs. The author of “Kindness is Contagious” and “Kindness is Courageous” is married to her childhood sweetheart, Saul, and lives with their three children and an oversized goldendoodle.

Copies of “The Negativity Remedy” will be available for purchase at the signing for $14.99.