Heat olive oil to medium heat in a large soup pot.
Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté veggies until carrots are almost tender, about 5-minutes.
Stir in garlic, thyme, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1-minute.
Add ham, white beans, and chicken broth. Stir and turn the heat up to high and bring the liquid to a boil.
Place the lid on and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 20-minutes stirring a few times.
Stir in kale and place the lid back on for 5-8 minutes or until kale is wilted.
Stir in parsley and serve with parmesan cheese if desired.
