Agency for Change : A Podcast from KidGlov

Changemaker Samantha Ruth, Founder and Owner, Griefhab

• KidGlov • Season 1 • Episode 266

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Grief doesn’t wait for office hours, and neither should support. We sit down with psychologist, speaker, and bestselling author Samantha Ruth to explore how loss reshapes everyday life—and how her 24-7 community, Griefhab, provides real help when the world goes quiet. From the moment a tire goes flat to the night you can’t face dinner, Samantha’s team steps in with licensed care and practical, task-based support so you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Samantha shares the personal story behind Griefhab and the hard-won insight that healing has no timetable. We dig into why well-meaning advice like “snap out of it” causes harm, how to honor your own pace when dealing with belongings, and what it takes to build a trusted team across time zones. 

Samantha’s guiding belief—what makes you different makes you beautiful—runs through every story and tool she shares, inviting us to turn away from stigma and toward compassion. 

Welcome to the Agency for Change podcast.


Connect with Samantha and Griefhab at: 

·       Griefhab’s Website – http://griefhab.org/

·       Samantha’s Website – https://samantharuth.com/

·       Griefhab Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1732303773613224

·       Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/griefhab/

Connect with Samantha and Griefhab at: 

·       Griefhab’s Website – http://griefhab.org/

·       Samantha’s Website – https://samantharuth.com/

·       Griefhab Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1732303773613224

·       Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/griefhab/


Samantha Ruth: 0:00

What makes you different makes you beautiful.

Announcer: 0:04

Welcome to Agency for Change, a podcast from KidGlov that brings you the stories of chang makers who are actively working to improve our communities. In every episode, we'll meet with people who are making a lasting impact in the places we call home.

Lyn Wineman: 0:29

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Agency for Change podcast. This is Lyn Wineman, president and chief strategist of KidGlov. So today's guest is someone who is changing the way the world thinks about grief and mental health. And I'll be honest, grief is not something most of us want to or like to think about. But Samantha Ruth is a psychologist, she's a speaker, she's a best-selling author, and she is the founder of Griefhab, a 24-7 community built to support anyone experiencing loss. She's also the host of the Be Ruthless show, where she's dedicated to making noise and breaking stigmas on her podcast. She is inspired by her own journey, and Samantha has created a space where people can find daily support, speak openly, and get the help they deserve without judgment. Samantha, I can't wait to hear more. Welcome to the podcast. I am looking forward to talking to you. Actually, maybe I shouldn't be so overzealous about a topic like grief, but you're going to give us some tools and advice and talk to us about how to handle grief a little bit and talk about your space. So let's have you start by telling us more about Griefhab and this community that you're creating.

Samantha Ruth: 2:02

Griefhab is rehab for grief. Oh, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Right? There's rehab for everything else. And until you go through it, which we don't wish on anyone, right? You don't know how debilitating it is. And I needed help with everything. I really, really, a light bulb burning out felt like the end of the world. And so Griefhab, there is an online Facebook community of people dealing with any and all loss who are there to support, encourage, help you heal your own way so that you can get through it on your terms. We live in this world where there's a lot of noise and expectation.

Lyn Wineman: 2:44

Absolutely. Noise, expectation. And it's so easy for people around you to just go snap out of it, right? And that is probably the least helpful advice ever. I'm really curious, Samantha. You mentioned that you went through some grief yourself. I'm curious what helped guide you towards creating this space from others. I'm guessing it must be this personal experience plus your professional background.

Samantha Ruth: 3:15

Yes, I my voice choked. I'm approaching eight years. It will be eight years at the end of the year. I unexpectedly lost my husband, who is my world, my everything. And it was not, of course, I immediately knew that I was deeply grieving and that life would never be the same, but it wasn't immediately that I knew I needed to create Griefhab when I sold our house, which was almost two and a half years later. I said, friend, I need rehab for grief. I I literally was not kidding. I still needed help with everything. And people are there in the beginning, and people know how difficult it is at first. But of course, under everybody goes back to their own lives and living, and we do too. We have to, but people think because you're functioning that you're okay, and that things are not challenging. And so I was frustrated with what I call the invisibles, the challenges and the things that people don't see that, you know, I had 50 of before 9 a.m.

Lyn Wineman: 4:20

Yeah, right, right. It's just so heavy, right? Yeah.

Samantha Ruth: 4:25

And, you know, I and it's not just the therapy part, it's not just the counseling, it's tasks. It's clients calling me when they get a flat tire and they're stranded on the side of the road, and logic goes out the window, emotion takes over, you don't know what to do. And people have that, I don't want to call the people who are already doing so much.

Lyn Wineman: 4:46

Yeah, right, right. I appreciate that. You know, you've kind of touched on this a little bit, but I'd love to even just take it deeper because I think it's really an important topic. Samantha, why is it so important to change the way the world views grief and mental health?

Samantha Ruth: 5:05

The world avoids grief. It's uncomfortable. People want to, I as a child, whatever the first funerals were, however, I was exposed, was so bothered and turned to my dad and said, Why are people talking about food? Why are people saying, what's for long, where are we going? What's to eat? People really emotions make people uncomfortable and they want things to get back to whatever it looked like. And for those struggling, that might not happen at all. It certainly doesn't happen quickly, and it needs to happen their way on their terms.

And so being rushed and pushed and encouraged to clean out the cupboards or get rid of this or that, you know, makes it harder. And so people need to know that they need to, not can, need to do it their own way, whatever that looks like. And I laugh at myself because every move I got rid of more and not more of Jim's things, but I I just saw how little I needed and how many things I held on to. But I the first move I donated some of his clothes, but I kept his socks.

Lyn Wineman: 6:25

His socks. I was like, Do you know why that's significant? 

Samantha Ruth: 6:30

And so when I find I was like, what in the world? First of all, yuck. Yuck. His some of his sweatshirts and t-shirts I wear, and you know, but if anybody else would have told me that I needed to get rid of them sooner, I would have been angry, sad, you know. I had to do it when I was ready to do it.

Lyn Wineman: 6:52

Yeah.

Samantha Ruth: 6:53

Now I can laugh and say it was ridiculous. But it was at whatever, you know, whenever I needed to. And so if it's the dishes, if it's the dirty shirts, if it's the last load of laundry that you don't want to get rid of because it still smells like something, you know, whatever it is, it's yours. And you get to do it your way, and we don't get to say that it makes no sense.

Lyn Wineman: 7:18

Yeah. You know, when you talk about avoiding grief, I think it's interesting because that instantly gave me this visceral feeling, Samantha. About like, I just kind of went, Oh, yeah, I've I've been there that moment when you're talking to someone, and you're like, I I don't know what to say here. I just I feel uncomfortable. I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I probably am making you uncomfortable. Even when we started this conversation a few minutes ago, and I was happily going, tell us more about Griefhab. And I was like, Oh, maybe I shouldn't be so happy when I say the word Griefhab, right? Like, I think that's even just an example of how these feelings are so real and how it can be so awkward. So what then makes Griefhab so unique compared to other forms of support that are available?

Samantha Ruth: 8:15

It is for any and everyone dealing with any type of loss. A move, a job, a pet.

Lyn Wineman: 8:25

A pet, for sure. A pet, yeah.

Samantha Ruth: 8:28

Infertility. I mean, you name it, loss needs to be recognized. And I think if we recognize it in this world earlier, it's it becomes less uncomfortable to talk about. We also, you know, there's someone there to talk to when you need at on your terms. You don't just have to make an appointment, wait until Tuesday at two. And if something happens Wednesday at noon, wait until the, you know, your it is it is rehab. It is when you need it. It is the ups and downs and licensed people there to go along with whatever that means. Plus, like I mentioned, the tasks. If that is helping you plan a funeral or find the person to call when you're stranded on the side of the road, or find the the nutritionist to not just say, here's a meal plan, but we're gonna go to the grocery store, we're gonna get everything, we're gonna have it made, and all you're gonna do is open the refrigerator and eat it.

Lyn Wineman: 9:27

And it'll be there. Yeah. And then we know you have nutritious meals because that also, you know, hunger, anger, tiredness, all of those things really weigh down on your mood, your health, your ability to cope.

Samantha Ruth: 9:45

We also just look at the whole person. There are there are people who have gifts that I do not have, but will certainly help your healing journey. And I bring them in and address whether that is a massage therapist or someone who does Reiki or whatever ailment issue it is. If we're dealing with legal issues, then it's going to be a lawyer to help you with those documents. We are going to deal with the whole, you know, everything going on with people through Griefhab that we know, trust, use, so you don't have to just go find someone. We don't have the yellow pages anymore.

Lyn Wineman: 10:25

Right, right. We don't have the yellow pages anymore. That is funny. So I mean, how do you do it, Samantha? I mean, 24-7 and all of these different things. That's a big task. How do how does it how does it work?

Samantha Ruth: 10:40

I learned early in life somehow that relationships matter and finding the people who care like I do, those other people are a part of Griefhab. And so it's not just me that we have people in other places, other states, other time zones that will be there and are available. So if you cannot reach me, I will have someone else available when I'm sleeping. And we are a team and we believe that's what, we are a team and we help you create your team.

Lyn Wineman: 11:11

Yeah, yeah. So, Samantha, let's say we've got listeners who are either experiencing grief themselves, and this might be two different questions that I'm putting into one. So they're either experiencing grief themselves or they have a loved one who's experiencing grief. Can you just provide any advice?

Samantha Ruth: 11:32

Don't suffer in silence, don't go through it alone. That would be my first. Whoever that one person is, if you want to reach out to me to 988, which is another crisis line where you can reach licensed professionals 24-7. Uh it's we, you know, we it is our job to get you whatever it is you're looking for.

You know, so so um if that's your best friend, if that is your next door neighbor, going through it alone is going to make it more intense. It's gonna make it last longer. And two heads are better than one. You know, someone else will have a resource, an idea, a shoulder, you know, something that you cannot do on your own. So use that I you don't have to work with me to reach out to me, but I can help get you whatever it is that you are searching for, even if that is just a moment.

Lyn Wineman: 12:30

Yeah, yeah. So this seems like a good time to mention. So let's say somebody's out there that wants to check out Griefhab. What's the best way for them to connect with you to access the service?

Samantha Ruth: 12:42

The community is on Facebook. You can find me everywhere, all social media, Samantharuth.com or griefhab.org.

Lyn Wineman: 12:51

Great. We'll make sure to get those links into the show notes so that people can access them at as well. Samantha, I want to ask you next one of my favorite questions that I've asked everyone on the podcast. And I'm sure you are gonna come up with something really interesting here. But could you give us a few of your own words of wisdom to inspire our listeners?

Samantha Ruth: 13:19

One is right behind me on my wall. It's kind of what I live by. What makes you different, makes you beautiful. I think a lot of people have things, insecurities, things that they think are a weakness. Yeah. And I want you to see it as a superpower, whether that's grief or mental illness or a birthmark or you know, something that you currently see is weighing you down. There is a way to turn that around and find it as your biggest gift. And believe you me, losing my husband is not my biggest gift.

Or Griefhab would not be here. I use that to help others, and I would rather have him, but I still use it in a way to help others. So, you know, we have to find things.

Lyn Wineman: 14:08

I appreciate that. Samantha, most people won't be able to see this because this is a podcast and they're gonna be listening. But the whole time I've been talking to you, it seems like there've been one or maybe two pets behind you. Can pets be helpful in dealing with grief? Tell me a little bit more about that.

Samantha Ruth: 14:27

Animal therapy is a huge part of what we do. Absolutely. I have Denver sitting here behind me. Who do I lost my oldest sassy recently, and he is a new addition because Dallas has never been alone. Dallas helped Sassy and I heal when I lost Jim. And animals absolutely are very therapeutic. It's such a huge, huge part of what we do. They're at my events, at my retreats. They know who needs them. They’re gonna be there for you without words unconditionally. So definitely there's a big part out here in Traver City. There's horse therapy. People, some people don't know if you feel a connection to animals and you feel better around them, follow that. That is not made up. That is real, and you can truly lift your spirits, move your emotions just by being around animals and letting yourself feel better with them.

Lyn Wineman: 15:26

That's amazing. That's amazing. Samantha, I'm so glad that you and I connected and we've had a chance to talk about this. As we wrap up our time together today, I'm really curious what is the most important thing you would like our listeners to remember about the work that you're doing at Griefhab?

Samantha Ruth: 15:46

Anyone can access it anywhere. You can reach us online. If you're in Michigan in person, we'll come to you. But no one is alone. No matter what you've been through, we have a group for you. We have something, even if your story is really tragic and unique, finding others who have been through something similar, finding others who get it is a really, really important part of healing because it's isolating. Grief is isolating, and being isolated is lonelier.

Lyn Wineman: 16:21

Yeah. I think you said this at the at the beginning of our conversation. There's no reason to no reason to suffer alone. There are people and services like Griefhab that can help you through it. Samantha, as we wrap this up, I'm going to say I fully believe that the world needs more people like you, more services like Griefhab. Thank you for taking time to share with us today.

Samantha Ruth: 16:47

Thank you so much again for having me. 

Announcer: 16:50

We hope you enjoyed today's Agency for Change podcast. To hear all our interviews with those who are making a positive change in our communities, or to nominate a changemaker you'd love to hear from, visit kidglove.com at kidgl.com to get in touch. As always, if you like what you've heard today, be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and share. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.