If you’ve ever wondered what mentorship should look like in the modern world, authentic, accessible, and actually transformative, this episode will light a fire in you. I sat down with Peter Russell, founder and CEO of Kindling, to explore how he’s reshaping the learning landscape for young adults ages 18–29.

And let me tell you this is not your typical course platform.

Kindling blends real-life storytelling with guided mentorship and practical skill-building in a way that feels intimate, raw, and deeply human. It’s built on the belief that learning isn’t just about information. It’s about transformation.

More Than Skills. It’s About Self

What makes Kindling so unique is its layered approach. Yes, it teaches hard skills like interviewing, communication, and networking. But it also prioritizes emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and character development the kind of personal growth that sticks with you for life.

Peter shared that Kindling was designed to speak to young adults, not at them. The learning happens through real stories, shared struggles, and unscripted moments—captured on film in a converted Philadelphia warehouse during the height of COVID.

The heartbeat of the program? 12 diverse young adults who became both students and teachers, offering their vulnerability, growth, and wisdom as a mirror for those going through the journey today.

The Power of Relatable Role Models

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation was the value of seeing yourself in the story. When mentorship feels out of reach, too polished, too perfect, too filtered, it’s easy to disengage. Kindling flips that dynamic by centering the experience on relatable peers navigating the real messiness of becoming.

The platform’s video-based format gives participants a front-row seat to personal growth in action. You’re not just consuming content. You’re witnessing change and being invited into it.

A Legacy of Mentorship

Peter also shared the deeply personal inspiration behind Kindling: his grandfather’s journey from Sicily to the U.S. A story marked by resilience, generosity, and the kind of quiet leadership that shapes generations.

That legacy lives on in Kindling’s mission to equip young adults not just with tools for success, but with a compass for life. It’s mentorship that’s rooted in wisdom, not just credentials.

How to Bring This to Life for Yourself or Your Community

This episode is more than a behind-the-scenes look at an innovative platform; it’s a blueprint for how we can all be better mentors, educators, and leaders.

If you’re working with (or are) someone in that 18–29 space, here’s how to take action:

• Prioritize spaces for reflection: Journaling and storytelling are core to Kindling’s process, and they’re powerful tools for developing self-awareness.

• Build a community around real conversation: Learning sticks when it’s shared. Think less lecture, more dialogue.

• Model vulnerability: Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or leader, sharing your own messy middle gives others permission to grow through theirs.

Kindling isn’t just a platform. It’s a movement—toward mentorship that’s meaningful, relevant, and real.

Tune into this episode to learn how you can fuel the next generation’s fire, whether through story, support, or simply showing up.