Welcome to the Ruthlessly Hopeful’s Profiles In Hope!
I hope the people, science and resources I write about inform, inspire and motivate you to be more hopeful and do more good.
I profile people who are doing good and spreading hope. I highlight how they remain hopeful in the face of reality, overcome challenges, persevere and remain hopeful. Thank you for sharing these posts with others.
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Getting There
An interview with Dr. Melanie Nadeau about her journey to becoming a public health researcher and teacher and the work she is doing to grow the community of Indigenous public health scholars.
A Third Place
An interview with Anthony Walsh about his experience growing up playing hockey and the work he is doing now to bring more diversity to the game.
Doing As Much Good
An interview with Roger Cummings, co-founder of Juxtaposition Arts, about helping young-urban artists find a path to making art and making a living from their art.
Hope Shines Bright
An Interview with Kathryn Goetzke, the founder of the Shine Hope Company and a mental health advocate. She moved from hopelessness to hope and is teaching others to do the same.
Is There Anything You Can Do to Help?
An interview with Rob Williams, the founder and president of Every Meal about his decision to start Every Meal and their hope to end childhood hunger.
A Science of Hope
An interview with Dr. Karen Oberhauser, a conservation biologist, about her passion for monarchs, her journey to her current role and what we can do to support monarchs and their habitat, which are under a lot of stress.
Sees All, Serves All and Values All
A conversation with Dr. Joe Gothard, the superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools, about becoming superintendent and the work being done across the district to make sure every student thrives.
Source of Hope
An interview with Devon Thomas Treadwell, one of the founders of The Retrievers, about bringing dogs to safety and the hope that fuels their work.
Becoming Ruthlessly Hopeful Part II: “You Must Believe Tomorrow Will Be A Better Day”
Finding hope all around me and deciding to help spread the word.
Seeds In Her Pocket
An interview with Noreen Thomas of Doubting Thomas Farms about going organic, growing tasty and nutrient-dense food and turning hopes into realities.
Becoming Ruthlessly Hopeful: “Imagination is the Instrument of Hope”
My journey to discovering the science of hope and finding the seed for Ruthlessly Hopeful
Voices of Hope from the Island of Discarded Women
An interview with Sue Scott about her journey to becoming an actor, joining the cast of A Prairie Home Companion and making her way to the Island of Discarded Women.
Change Will Happen
An interview with Brian McNeill of Dignity Twin Cities about the hope for creating a better Catholic Church that fully accepts LGBTQIA+ Catholics.
Wild At Heart
An interview with Tammy Thies, founder and executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary about starting the sanctuary and the hope for ending the exploitation and abuse of wildcats in captivity.
To Wait and Hope
An interview with Eli and Mitch about their journey to each other and their hopes for starting a family.
Changing Seemingly Unchangeable Forces
An interview with Emily Baxter, the founder of We Are All Criminals, who is working to erase the barriers between those with criminal histories and those with criminal records.
Something Bigger Than Himself
An interview with Dan Johnson, the CEO of Arise Community Credit Union, the first Black-led credit union in Minnesota. Dan talks about stepping outside his comfort zone to serve a community he loves.
The Throughline
An interview with Sara Jones, executive director of the Great North Innocence Project about how hope fuels their work to free wrongly convicted people and reduce the risk of wrongful convictions.
An Opportunity To Shape A Better Future
An interview with Dr. Heidi Roop about what we can do to shape a better future in the face of climate change.