Cheryl Benton was honored to interview Valerie Smaldone at our recent Renewal Summit. It was a powerful conversation on the transformative power of kindness and how each of us can contribute to making the world a better place through everyday gestures of kindness.

Valerie Smaldone is an award‑winning media personality, producer, actress, and voice artist—shares the remarkable, often unexpected journey that led her from being the number‑one voice in New York radio to co‑founding Just Do Good Entertainment, a company dedicated to kindness‑driven storytelling. After making her decision to step away from her top radio position in 2007, she navigated the financial crash of 2008 by reinventing herself: coaching on‑air talent, training executives, expanding her voice career, and stepping into live event announcing.

Her path eventually led to producing and directing films, including The Thursday Night Club, a story centered on compassion and service. This work inspired the creation of Just Do Good Entertainment, which now produces uplifting series such as Air Angels—highlighting volunteer aviators who deliver disaster relief—and Finding Kindness, which spotlights everyday heroes like Wendy Kaufman and community members who give back quietly but powerfully.

Valerie also collaborates with Eric Estrada on meaningful projects, including Divine Renovation, a show that provides essential home improvements to families in need, and the children’s book Officer Eric and the Very Special Dad, which normalizes disability and celebrates resilience.

She closes with a message that kindness doesn’t require grand gestures—just the willingness to see one another as human beings and to act with compassion in small, everyday ways.

Watch the video….key points are summarized below.

Key Points

• Career Reinvention: Valerie left her top radio job by choice, anticipating industry shifts, and rebuilt her career through media coaching, corporate training, and voice work.
• Resilience Through Crisis: The 2008 financial collapse wiped out her planned projects, but she adapted by leveraging her skills in new ways.
• Creative Breakthrough: Producing and directing The Thursday Night Club awakened her passion for impact storytelling.
• Founding Just Do Good Entertainment: Built on the belief that the world needs more stories of kindness, humanity, and hope.
• Air Angels: A docu‑series about volunteer pilots who self‑fund rescue and relief missions after Hurricane Helene.
• Finding Kindness: Valerie and her partner Monty host this series, spotlighting everyday acts of generosity—featuring stories like Wendy Kaufman and community hero Zef Nochi.
• Divine Renovation: A home‑improvement series with Eric Estrada that provides essential fixes for families who cannot afford them.
• Children’s Book Collaboration: Officer Eric and the Very Special Dad teaches children about disability, empathy, and family strength.
• Core Message: Kindness doesn’t require money or grand gestures—just humanity, presence, and the willingness to see others as equals.