The Be Ruthless Show

I'm baaack...... and I'm not where you think I am... Making moves isn’t always exciting. This time it was exhausting, overwhelming, and completely unexpected. And possibly the smartest decision of my entire life - for Dallas, myself, and Griefhab! On today’s episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I talk about Dallas's health, what happened when I sought a new opinion, and how quickly things...

On today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show , II discuss the devastating reality facing Michigan families who are being forced to navigate a broken mental health system. It is a heartbreaking situation where parents are being forced to send their children out of state to receive the care they need. I’m focusing on the human toll of this crisis—the families who are being fractured and the parent...

Trauma and grief. Homelessness and grief. Addiction and grief. Domestic violence and grief. I see connections between unresolved grief and all of the issues our first responders face every single day. It’s one of the reasons collaboration is crucial.  On today’s episode of T he Be Ruthless Show , Jenn Holm , the Police Social Worker Coordinator (PSWC) for the Traverse City Police Department, is jo...

A routine afternoon walk in Williamsburg turned into a crisis in seconds when a loose dog attacked me and Dallas. Today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show isn't about the trauma of the event itself, but the immediate, jarring shift from "normal" to survival. In this episode, I discuss: • The Protector Instinct: The split-second decision to prioritize Dallas’s safety over my own. •...

On today’s episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I discuss what happens when life forces a pivot. Because no matter how much we plan, how organized we are, how prepared we think we are… life does not care. Things shift. Things pile up. Things hit all at once. What I Talk About: How quickly plans fall apart, even when you do everything “right” The impact of stacked stress (not just one thing, but every...

a story unfolding in Traverse City, Michigan. Police were called to a domestic violence scene. During that call, officers shot and killed the man involved. Since then, most of the attention has centered on him. His job. His reputation. The people who knew him. The memories being shared about what a good guy he was. But there’s another person in this story. A woman who was injured during the assaul...

In today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show, I have an incredible guest, Adam. Adam turned his grief into a mission to support others through the pain of pet loss with compassion, community, and REAL resources. His career has been deeply connected to veterinary medicine. He built a company that helped more than 10,000 veterinary clinics grow and strengthen their online presence. Over the years, he...

In this episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I discuss something that is far more powerful than most people realize: the environment you live, work, and exist in every day. We often try to fix ourselves while staying in the exact same situations that are draining us, stressing us, or even making us physically sick. But the truth is, environment shapes far more of our lives than we acknowledge. It aff...

How many times have you left a conversation and thought "I should have saId...." Or maybe you've left a conversation thinking "I shouldn't have said that!" We live in a world where many people believe that conversations equal conflict....so many people just bite their tongues. Today's guest on The Be Ruthless Show has plenty to say on this topic! Joining me today is...

Today is special!! I’m celebrating five years of The Be Ruthless Show !!! How is it even possible?!!? I'll be spending the day having live conversations with Griefhab’s very own Melissa Bowman PLUS Northern Michigan changemakers, and honestly… I can’t wait for you to meet them. Meet MaryAnne from Biggby Coffee and hear about different ways Biggby supports community - every single day. Jennifer...

How did we get from we were to where we are today? There’s so much conversation around how to get from where we are to where we want to be. On today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I focus on our growth. Because I'm moving. AGAIN. Unexpectedly . And I had chaos within the unexpected chaos. And I didn’t lose it. Not even a little. Original Sam would not be moving because she panicked. S...

Today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show is a wake up call. A 13 year old completes her own intake paperwork. No parent. No guardian. No emergency contact. If something had gone wrong, there would have been no adult to call. A 16 year old starts therapy. No parent reaches out before. No parent follows up after. This is not about blame. It is about responsibility. Teens today are reporting recor...

On today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I unpack a question that derails more conversations than we realize: “Why are you yelling at me?” What if no one was actually yelling? I talk about how quickly people jump to conclusions based on tone and volume, and how often those assumptions create unnecessary hurt, distance, and conflict. This episode explores why loud does not automatically mea...

On today’s important episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I address the targeted killing of a licensed mental health counselor inside her Orlando office and the uncomfortable truth the profession avoids. This was not random violence. This was intentional, and it happened in a space designed for healing. I break down why this loss hits so deeply for clinicians, especially those in private practice, an...

On Sunday - January 18th, Griefhab turns 5!  Five! Five years ago, Griefhab started as an idea. Today, it’s a more than a community. On today’s episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I reflect on what’s changed from then until now, what grief has taught me in real time, and what I want you to know if you’re still trying to find your footing after loss. This episode is about truth, love, and learning ho...

January is Stalking Awareness Month. Dry January. Poverty Awareness Month. Today, January 7th , is Invisible Pain Day - a day dedeicated to acknowledging and validating those living with chronic pain or mental health struggles that are not visible to others. On today’s episode of The Be Ruthless Show, I discuss why this day, and all of the invisibles, are so important. Period! Join me at Benefit B...

Today on The Be Ruthless Show , I'm joined by Deb Krier, the Founder of tryingnottodie. LIVE. Deb is a seasoned entrepreneur and cancer advocate who supports high-performing professionals navigating cancer with clarity, strength, and real talk. Her story is powerful, her mission is personal, and this conversation is one you won’t forget. About Deb: Deb is a seasoned entrepreneur, cancer advoca...

In this final episode of the year, I explore what it really means to expect the unexpected, especially when grief and life don’t follow a neat timeline. Marking the eight-year anniversary of losing Jim, I share honest reflections on how unpredictable waves can still hit, why “being strong” doesn’t mean being unaffected, and how readiness matters more than control. With practical, real-world perspe...

When people feel protective, they can accidentally turn into a wrecking ball. In this episode, I discuss what it looks like to lead with love when your work is being questioned, your name is being echoed, or the internet is doing what it does best: jumping to conclusions and throwing stones. This is a boundary episode, a mental health episode, and a humanity episode. Not a callout. Not a pile-on....

To the majority of the world, it's Giving Tuesday - a global day of generosity. To me - it's the beginning of National Grief Awareness Week - an invisible awareness week (among many) that I've been working for years to get legally added to all calendars. And then Griefhab created our own. On today’s episode of The Be Ruthless Show, I am thrilled to share our 2026 news with you. For yea...

I’m perplexed - and so unbelievably grateful. On today’s episode of The Be Ruthless Show , I discuss the power of prayer - because somehow, Dallas’s tumor disappeared.  The oncologist is equally perplexed.  We’ll be discussing all of these healing modalities at Griefhab ’s 3rd annual Healing Together Through the Holidays . And the pre event begins today.  If you haven’t registered - this should ma...

I can find 100 reasons that I wanted to stay under the covers this morning. I can give you one reason I didn’t. On today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show, I discuss finding our purpose in the pain. Finding our why. Griefhab's 3rd Annual Healing Together Through the Holidays is less than 2 weeks from now. Exactly two weeks from now, Lil Bo's (in Traverse City) will be hosting Benefit B...

We’re 3 weeks away from Griefhab ’s 3rd Annual Healing Together Through the Holidays Event - in honor of National Grief Awareness Week . And as I’ve been planning this week of interactive healing, LIVE in Traverse City, Michigan (streaming virtually everywhere) it’s occurred to me that this event really shouldn’t ever end.  Because there’s not enough grief or mental health support in this world. ...

It's ALLLLLL Happening. It’s why I moved back to Michigan. Griefhab has SO much going on - and it all starts this December with our 3rd Annual Healing Together Through the Holidays Event. RETREAT STYLE!!! On today's episode of The Be Ruthless Show, I share our venue, sponsors, and more! TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE and beds are limited! Join us for National Grief Awareness Week. An interactive he...

Bumps in the road. Hiccups. Changes can cause all kinds of confusion. They also lead to truly amazing things. Caterpillars become butterflies. Storms lead to rainbows.  But the in between can be stressful!  On today’s episode of The Be Ruthless Show, I discuss embracing change - and I discuss Griefhab’s 3rd Annual Healing Together Through the Holidays as an example!!  This year is going to be RETR...