Alan Goldsher: Telling Stories That Matter

The power of storytelling is a compelling lens for Investing in Kindness. We all have the ability to tell stories—these can reflect our values, build empathy, and bring people together to accomplish great things. Alan Goldsher’s path into content creation took an unexpected but purposeful turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a career in cable and newspapers evolved into independent video production focused on highlighting local businesses and nonprofits. With over 1800 videos created and a growing community of collaborators, Alan believes that storytelling can be both a tool for kindness and a catalyst for change.

With newfound time and a desire to help, Alan taught himself how to film and edit, removing the barriers that once kept him from telling stories on his own terms. He began documenting small businesses and nonprofits—highlighting their challenges, cultures, and communities in short, impactful videos. What started as a passion project has grown into over 1800 videos across 9 states, most of them centered in the Bronx, New York, and nearby regions.

For Alan, kindness is about presence. In his day-to-day, he prefers face-to-face interactions over delivery apps, choosing to pick up food from the source. This extends to his content: he sees each story as an act of interpersonal kindness, a way to honor the people behind small businesses and community organizations.

The results have rippled outward. A PR volunteer who helped promote one of Alan’s early restaurant stories now works full-time for a nonprofit he introduced. A former Chamber of Commerce director who helped host videos now runs podcast production for a media company. These stories—what Alan calls “reciprocal karma”—illustrate how small, intentional acts can lead to real opportunity.

Alan’s programs, “Flavors of NY” and “Flavors of America”, are not just about food or local pride. It is about empathy, cultural diversity, and the power of storytelling to create awareness. “It’s easy to dislike people you don’t know,” he says, “and much harder to dislike people you do.” His work challenges viewers to see their neighbors more clearly—and to value the shared humanity behind every storefront and nonprofit office.

Importantly, Alan wants his work to outlive him. His goal is to build something sustainable that other creators can take forward—a kindness-powered storytelling network that inspires, informs, and includes.

“To promote kindness and empathy through the power of storytelling.” That is Alan Goldsher’s mission.

Alan Goldsher is a Bronx-based content creator who believes storytelling can amplify kindness, bridge communities, and inspire new paths forward. More interviews coming soon.