Hey, Human. I'm Susan Ruth.
This podcast was born of two tragedies. Faced with a hopelessness and trying not to succumb to it, I wanted to find a way to try and bring hope and connection into the world. I wanted to be a part of the fabric of change, communion, and understanding. I wanted to understand myself better by learning more about the people around me... that if they were capable of great destruction, so was I and if I am capable of great love, so are they.
The following is a journal excerpt from the day that started it all:
——— December 3rd, 2015
Yesterday was yet another horrible day in humanity and it struck me incredibly hard. I was driving to the grocery and feeling way too sad, trying to make sense of the senselessness. My head hung low, I felt like we humans had completely lost our way and that maybe there wasn’t any hope for us. (Dark, I know, but it was a dark moment.)
I walked into the store, looking up as an older black man passed me. He smiled a wide smile and said, “Hello, my Sister.” I nearly burst into tears on the spot. I managed a hello back and made my way inside.
After collecting the night’s dinner, I found the shortest line. Standing in front of me was a ancient-looking black man with a leather hat. He looked at the few things I had on the conveyor belt and exclaimed, “One sweet potato?! Child, what are you going to do with one sweet potato?!” I told him I was going to put it in my tuna mac n cheese for dinner. He laughed and said it sounded gross to put a sweet potato into macaroni and cheese. I asked him what he was having for dinner and he said, “I’m having tuna, too!” then we both laughed. After exchanging a few facts about where we were from and such, we said our goodbyes and he went off to make his dinner.
Meanwhile a young Latina girl got in line with her family behind me. Her dad forgot batteries so he ran with the other two children to get some. The girl stood there and smiled up at me. She didn’t say a word but hers was the most angelic smile I’d ever seen. I smiled back and paid for my groceries.
As I was leaving the store, I turned back to wave a goodbye at the girl. She was still smiling. She was radiant, silent but speaking volumes.
As I walked back to my car, tears began to stream down my face, becoming sobs. A reversal had happened in the few moments between entering and exiting the store. I was shown not to forget that humanity is beautiful and loving and we are there for each other. We are connecting. Those three people in a random Kroger reminded me of the thread that connects us all.
------
It would be another few months before I could set everything into motion. Tragedy struck yet again June 12th, 2016, with the Pulse Nightclub shooting. It was another devastating realization that humans were losing their grip on their humanity.
July 13th, 2016 the first episodes of Hey Human podcast launched. It has been, and continues to be, a great honor to hear the stories of my fellow humans.
Thank you for listening.
Love, Susan
Hey Human® podcast with Susan Ruth
"Because every human has a story..."
What's your story?
Email me Susan @ HeyHumanpodcast.com (no spaces)
HeyHumanPodcast.com
mail: c/o 3902 Trimble Rd., Nashville TN 37215
