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Samantha is a Psychologist, Speaker, Best Selling Author, and Host of The Be Ruthless Show, a podcast dedicated to Making Noise and Breaking Stigmas. She helps people around the world turn their pain into their power by guiding them to be their true selves, not who they think they need to be, by embracing their differences and recognizing that their perceived weaknesses are their biggest strengths, and by living life on their own terms.  Samantha’s mission is to change the way the world views both grief and  mental health, so people can speak about whatever issues they have and get the help they not only need but deserve without fear of judgment, labels, and repercussions Samantha is the proud founder of Griefhab, a 24/7 community open to anyone who has experienced a loss. After personally living through this, Sam realized just how much support she needed on a daily basis. She vowed to create these services so that others would have more support available in their times of need. In her free time, you can find Sam and her pups, Sassy and Dallas, on one of their outdoor adventures. They love living in Colorado and never miss an opportunity to explore their beautiful surroundings. Music fuels Sam’s soul, family means everything to her, and honoring her late husband, Jim, and making him proud gives her life daily purpose.


Summary:
In this episode, Samantha Ruth, shares her insights on transforming personal weaknesses into strengths, particularly focusing on anxiety and grief. Samantha discusses her mission to break the stigmas surrounding mental health and grief, emphasizing the importance of living authentically. She also highlights the critical role of schools in supporting students' mental health and talks about her creation, Grief Hab, a 24/7 support community for those experiencing loss. We get into into practical strategies to provide mental health support in educational settings, how to engage parents, and the importance of having emotional support systems like therapy dogs in schools. Samantha encourages leaders to embrace their unique approaches to making impactful changes in mental health advocacy.

Bookmarks:
00:00 Meet Samantha: Psychologist, Author, and Mental Health Advocate

02:16 Embracing Differences: Turning Weaknesses into Strengths

02:28 The Power of Anxiety: A Personal Journey

04:28 Navigating Grief and Loss: Samantha's Personal and Professional Insights

06:32 Supporting Mental Health in Schools: Strategies and Stories

20:16 Grief Hab: A Community for Healing

23:05 Empowering Students and Engaging Parents: A Call to Action

28:21 Final Thoughts: Advice for Leaders and How to Connect 


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Who am I?


I’ve been an educator in Massachusetts for 23 years.  I’m finishing my 16th year as a building leader.  I’m a teacher centered Principal and passionate about continuous improvement and the idea that success is not a destination, but a process. I’m active on social media, vlog about continuous improvement on a weekly basis, and wrote a book also called SEEing to Lead as a way to help everyone improve education as a whole by promoting my “just cause”: improving the educational experience for as many people as possible by being purposeful, acting with integrity, and building character. 


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Jimmy Casas said, "If you are a leader who is looking to support, engage and empower your staff, then SEEing to Lead, by Dr. Chris Jones, is a book you will want to pick up and read. Dr. Jones reminds us that building capacity and helping others achieve personal success is the key to elevating your organization and leaving a lasting impact."


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This show is part of the Be Podcast Network. Our podcasts go beyond education as we know it — in any learning environment, formal or informal — and help you be the change you want to see. Learn more about the network and all our shows at https://bepodcast.network




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