Show-reel 1 minute
Happiness & Its Causes Conference 2017; International Women’s Conference in India 2018; Mind & its Potential with CEO Gordon Cairns 2016
“Ruth Ostrow is a riveting presenter. The intelligence, charisma, humour and experiential wisdom she displayed during her keynote speech at the International Complementary Psychiatry Conference kept us all enthralled. It was a memorable and intelligent experience.”
Leon Petchkovsky,
Professor of Psychiatry,
University of Queensland
TESTIMONIALS
“Ruth Ostrow is a dazzling speaker. She is one of the highlights of the International Women’s Conference in India which is why we keeping inviting her back.
Deeply engaging, Ruth leaves the audience with profound insights, yet has us laughing through the tears. Each time I hear her speak I learn a whole new way of looking at the world.
Not many speakers can achieve that.”
Lavinia Scott-Sellars
Director at Pacific Islands Initiative
International Association for Human Values
“Ruth Ostrow has captivated our delegates as a keynote speaker, MC and panel facilitator at both the Happiness & Its Causes and Mind & Its Potential conferences over the past eight years. Ruth’s presentations are always a wonderful blend of science, knowledge and humour with some wonderful personal stories thrown in. She is a natural storyteller with a deep knowledge of the science of mindfulness and its practical applications in the business arena”.
Beth Phelan, Conference Director, VI Conferences
“Ruth Ostrow is a riveting presenter. The intelligence, charisma, humour and experiential wisdom she displayed during her keynote speech at the International Complementary Psychiatry Conference kept us all enthralled. It was a memorable and intelligent experience.”
Leon Petchkovsky,
Professor of Psychiatry,
University of Queensland
Recently in India speaking
Speaking Biography
Ruth has travelled the world speaking on many diverse topics including work-life integration, wellbeing, anti-ageing, relationships, and the psychology of success. She has been a prominent keynote speaker at the International Women’s Conference in India for two years including 2018; as a wellness expert at the SpaAsia Health and Wellbeing Conference in Malaysia; she has lectured on the neuroscience of success at many corporate functions including the International Mind and its Potential conferences several of these conventions she has chaired.
She’s frequently MC’s or Chairs at the annual Happiness & It’s Causes Conference as part of the Dalai Lama endorsed Vajrayana Institute into neuroscience-spiritual inquiry; and has been a keynote speaker at the International Conference on Healthy Ageing and Longevity and lecturer at the International Complementary Psychiatry Conference, has spoken as an ambassador for The Black Dog Institute and chaired at the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association conference.
She’s spoken as part of the YPO University program when it was in Australia, and her corporate clients have included lectures for Jetset tours; Arnotts, various universities; News Corporation and many others.
Ruth also hosts and appears on TV & Radio
click here
CONTACT ME
To check my availability to speak at your event, please contact me at
ruth.ostrow@hotmail.com
(Longer show-reel available on request)
Hello Lonnie I don’t have any details, it was a long time ago, but I think Tantra is a wonderful practice
Yes of course, I am so sorry it has taken me this long to reply – I only just found this in my spam box
Thank you for sharing this heart felt story Stewart, it brought a tear to my eye
Thanks Charles I will have a look I am a huge fan of Alan’s.
Hi Ruth,
I just wanted to let you know about the Alan Wallace retreat and public talk we have organised in Melbourne this coming August. I thought you might be interested. This visit by Alan is at the initiative of The Melbourne Mind Centre Project Team. I lead this team who are trying to set up a NFP dedicated to helping people integrate contemplative practice into secular life by offering high quality teachers, educational programs and research initiatives to the community. The retreat has a website: http://www.alanwallaceinmelbourne.com
warmly
Charles
She came into the world six years after her mother and I had parted company so I never lived with her. I was always traveling and so from about thirteen she often would travel with me. Every time I put her on a plane to return to her mother there was a hugh pain in my heart. I can clearly remember the first time I watched her walk through those doors at the airport ( Ohare ) and I remember the last time. It was March this year as I had flown her from London where she lives now to Washington to spend the weekend with me. When it came time to take her to the airport I thought after all this time I would be fine. WRONG For the next twenty four hours my heart ached. I totally understand what you are going through.
Us Dads do so love our daughters also. I get by with thoughts of my next hug and when that will be.
Chin Up Ruth
Regards
Stewart
Hi Ruth,
My name is Jane Mathews and we met at the “Mind and it’s Potential” conference where I spoke about my book “Midlife Manifesto”. I hope you have had a chance to dip into it. At the conference they gave me 20 mins (instead of the half hour they promised) so I had to leave out some quotations from a wonderful book called “Painting as a Pastime” by Winston Churchill. It is out of print, but I have two copies and I’d love to send one to you, as I think you’d appreciate it. What is the best postal address for you? Didn’t want it to get lost at The Australian!
Looking forward to catching up in person at some stage.
Best
Jane M
Thank you for a great article about a much neglected topic and for citing my work.
One minor comment, though:
Alexythimia is a symptom, not a full-fledged mental health disorder or condition. It is common to many personality, mood, and afect disorders (hence its astounding prevalence/incidence in the population in clinical settings.)
See this, for instance:
http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/faq33.html
The gradual diminishment of empathy is a modern malaise, it would seem:
http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com/personalitydisorders68.html
Take care there.
Sam
http://www.youtube.com/samvaknin (Narcissists, Psychopaths, Abuse)
http://www.youtube.com/vakninmusings (World in Conflict and Transition)
http://www.youtube.com/vakninsays (Sayings of Wisdom and Inanity)
http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com (Malignant Self-love: Narcissism Revisited)
Hello Ms Ostrow
I’m the editor of a fortnightly e-bulletin for the students and alumni of the Multifaith Academy for Chaplaincy in Brisbane and, as such, I am always on the lookout for articles of interest to hospital chaplains – such as your article headlined “ I have no answer for this shame” in the Plus Life column of the Weekend Australian on 10-11 January.
I would like to republish the article in bulletin, and I would greatly appreciate your approval to do so.
If you’d like to check the style and content of the bulletin, please follow this hotlink to a recent issue: http://www.chaplaincyacademy.com/files/bulletin74.pdf
Thanks for your consideration.
Regards
Chris Davidson
Multifaith Academy for Chaplaincy and Community Services
Brisbane
P.S. Not much point in publishing this request, but I don’t mind if you do.
Hi Ruth
Great work on the Total Success series. I would be interested in discussing how we can collaborate on creating series of events about great leaders like Gordon Cairns based and why it’s critical to develop leaders like him in our country and how they are getting better outcomes.
Please drop me a note if you are interested
Thanks
Muneesh
Hi Ruth
I’m reading your sacred & naked book and loving it. Every chapter I can fully relate to. Life’s wonderful isn’t it?
You mentioned a tantric coach with a Tennessee drawl. Is he still in Byron? My husband and I would love to explore this more however we’d like some direction on who’s workshop to attend.
Paul and I live in beautiful Tumbulgum. Only a hop, skip and a jump from Byron.
I look forward to your reply.
Cheers Lonnie
Re Nigella Lawson. It seems that her ex has been successful in punishing her through his campaign to smear her good character. A weird controlling man, she is well rid of him.
It is often the hormones that trick us when we first meet a “charming” man and it can take some time before we see their bad side. Some men are very good at only presenting their good side and some women are to trusting and only wanting to see the good in people. It is to simple to say that we attract these people and situations into our lives. I believe that it is much more complicated than that.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year, all the very best for 2014.
your recent article Ruth, took alot of guts and courage…i applaud you for revealing that side of Ruth that many of us who have experienced mental and emotional pain can be so honest and open about their feelings.
I sincerely wish you well on your road to recovery
Tony
Dear Ruth
Can I say first of all I always enjoy your weekly column in the Weekend Australian, and is one of the first pieces I read – honestly!: the topics and issues you choose to write about are always poignant, relevant, in today’s society and its many dilemmas, tensions, challenges, etc.
Your article about shame, guilt, the possible confusion between the two, etc. triggered me to drop you a line to draw your attention to the work of Paul Ekman and the availability of science based, highly practical skills training in Emotional Skills and Competencies, and Deception Detection.
We are the original and now one of only two authorized local accredited distributors of Paul Ekman Training in Australia and New Zealand. Dr Paul Ekman is (one of the ) pre – eminent psychologists and thinkers on the psychology of emotions, how they work, their functions, and how training in their observation and management can enrich, enhance, improve our functioning in life, and work / family relationships.
Without going on too long here, a bit of background – you can read more on our website or Dr Ekmans: http://www.paulekman.com
Who is Paul Ekman and what are the Distinctive Attributes of this Training?
Many people have seen or heard of the TV program “Lie To Me”. The chief science advisor to that program is Dr Paul Ekman, and he is the world’s foremost authority on facial expressions and Emotional Skills development. Dr Ekman has studied the facial expression of emotion for over 40 years, coupled with body language and vocal tone, style and content. He is the Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of California Medical School, and has been nominated by the APA as one of the top 100 most influential psychologists this century.
He has proved that all humans use the same facial expressions for the 7 core emotions. He has co-authored and currenlt is collaborating with the Dalai Lama on the interconnection between his own science based work on the mechanics of emotions, and the training he has developed to help individuals firstkly understand and then manage their own emotions, and secondly, to do the same in their dealings with others around them, at work, family, and so on.
His work has direct applications in policing and security, investigations and fraud, counter intelligence etc. Training developed from his work has been used for some time to train the Behaviour Detection Officers of the Transport Security Administration in the USA, the NYPD and the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorism and Organised Crime Squads in the UK.
In Australia, we have delivered Paul Ekman training over the last two years to a wide variety of personnel, both functional specialists and other professionals who work in security, fraud investigations, customs, social security, HR, coaching, etc.
The complexities of shame and guilt are covered in the training. Very briefly, Ekman’s science based approach gives us this high level summary of how the two differ:
Guilt Issue focused, caused by what a person does. Emotional pressure to disclose an act we have committed. With time the chances of disclosure increases. The focus of emotions tends to be towards the act.
Shame Self focused, caused by who a person is. Individuals tend to experience covert tendencies to conceal the source of shame. Focus of emotions is inner focused – feelings of loathing, sadness, etc depending on the core issue. Chances of disclosure tends to decrease with time.
Anyway, that is enough of this, and I hope I have not gone on too long! I am sure you will read on and look further at our sites if you are interested.
regards, Alan Hudson, MD, EI Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
Hi Ruth
Last century, I religiously used to read your column. I no longer buy papers and get all my news on-line. I picked up an Australian at a hotel I was staying at and was pleasantly surprized to see your column. It was very timely for me to read your comments regarding True Grit. Perfect timing for me and so nice to find an “old friend”. Thank you and good to read that you are going well.
Regards…… Fred
Been a bit of a while since you posted on here methinks!
Long holidays LOL
Seriously though I wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your column in The weekend Australian; my friend where I work buys it each week and it’s one of my highlights.
I loved the piece the other week about the “onesie” and your humorous spin on things… and also wanted to say that you may find that your suggestion for couples to record themselves fighting is not as crazy as people might think… Tony Robbins and Cloe Madanes in their relationship coaching have been suggesting it as a humorous way of interrupting a pattern of behaviour for years! Not so crazy, eh?
Do you live in the Northern Rivers/ Byron area? I have a feeling you might do.
Would love to interview you for a website/podcast I am a partner in http://www.expandingtimes.com
Many blessings and much love Sandhan
Ruth
I read your Weekend Australian article “Are You Being Screwed” with my head nodding in assent. But perhaps it’s not our frustration that is the most dire consequence of this chaotic society, but our complete and utter loss of faith.
We’ve lost faith in the goodwill of corporate institutions, in the integrity of financial institutions, and in just about everything to do with religious institutions.
The deceit and incompetence that characterize all levels and sides of government have seen our faith desert us there, and for the same reasons we no longer have faith in the professions – accountants, lawyers and most particularly, all facets of the medical fraternity.
The upside-down, back-to-front logic that defines our justice system doesn’t provide much scope for inspiration. We no longer have faith in the honesty of our shopkeepers or in the competence of our tradespeople.
Heck, we don’t even have faith in the weather forecast.
Most of all, we’ve lost faith in humanity. We don’t stop to help stranded motorists because there may be a bunch of thugs waiting to bash us and steal our car. We don’t give to charities because they may just be scams, or at best, no more than 20 or 30 cents in each dollar donated will reach the intended destination.
In the ultimate loss of faith, we don’t think that there’s a damn thing anybody can, or will, do about it. Is it any wonder that cancer and heart disease wreak their havoc, or that suicidal thoughts and mental illness are as common as a dose of the sneezes?
Sad isn’t it?
Regards
Dennis Carroll
As an endocrinologist I often see women with sexual problems. There is a common misconception that all a woman needs to achieve orgasm during intercourse is the right partner. I wonder if I could ask for your help in pointing out that only 30% of women are able to orgasm during intercourse, another 60% can do so with additional oral, manual or electro-mechanical means, leaving some 10% of women unable to achieve orgasm by any means. This apparently genetic situation is causing endless problems with the woman and especially her partner feeling failure and that the relationship is not the right one. A state not assisted by “Fifty Shades if Gray” type books.
Regards
Chris Strakosch
I can really relate to the experience of your colleague who lost his job. My husband was dismissed from his position nine months ago, and can’t get over it and move on. He spends each day trying to get his old job back through forming a company and putting in a tender in competition with his former employers to win back his own job. Every day is spent doing things in preparation for the big day, budget forecasts, sales expectations, staffing, insurance etc. Nine months has passed, but still no decision by our local council re the tender application. My husband will not consider doing anything else until he knows for certain what the outcome will be. Meanwhile, my adult son are driven mad by all this preoccupation with the past and refusal to let go and move on. It has affected our matrimonial relationship, resulting in an informal separation, plus meant that we are drawing down on the house loan which had almost been paid off, for everyday living expenses.
You summed it up well, “if we could only learn to accept loss”.
Thanks for your insightful column.
Sincerely,
M
Will respond when back from overseas
I am overseas will respond when I return x
Hello Ruth,
Good evening.
Ruth, you have been a great source of connection, warmth and wisdom for so many years. Life has been troubled, but I have found the strength to move away from 28 years in a relationship and want to live a passionate and giving life. Thank you for your pearls and insightful words.
Kind regards
Helen
IAN & NOLLEEN HUNTER Ph 08 9535 9926 Fax 08 9535 9025 PO BOX 5009 Ph Mobile 0418 900 810
FALCON WA 6210 Email irhunter@westnet.com.au
Dear Ruth
My wife Nolleen (AKA “bubbles”) and I (AKA “Huntsman”) have read and enjoyed your column in The Australian for many years, We find your column entertaining, humorous, and thought provoking as well as a “worthwhile read” each week.
However as we have now been married for nearly 36 years, despite the fact that I am a Vietnam Veteran and have recently had a T U R P (trans urethral resection of the prostate). Bubbles quite likes this as I now orgasm backwards and as she says No mess and No wet spot. We have enjoyed each other physically all of this time and are as a result of your column this Saturday “very concerned and worried”.
The reasons are as follows;
We both have Oestoe Arthritis, and are 65 years old.
I have had both knee joints fully reconstructed.
Whilst we are active and reasonably fit we are “staggered” at your statistics.
150-350 orgasms a year is a truly OLYMPIC standard that we don’t believe we can achieve, despite our best and constant efforts.
Therefore we seek your wisdom on how to measure up to the goals you have set.
We are humbled by those that can achieve 3 orgasms a week let alone 350 which equates to 1 per day. When we were first married that was not a problem, but now?
36 years later at 65 we have a seem to be behind the 8 ball so your suggestions, and any help would be very much appreciated.
Once again we enjoy your column and look forward to many more, so do keep writing as well as you do now.
We await your urgent advices.
Thank you.
Bubbles and Huntsman
Hi Ruth,
I am writing to ask you to be our guest speaker at our Melbourne Cup lunch on the 6th November.
I believe you are aware of our organisation, WIZO , raising funds for women and children in Israel.
The lunch will be held in a private home in Vaucluse and we would be delighted if you could join us.
Please let me know by either return email or if you wish to speak to me you can contact me on 0403572390.
Looking forward to your positive response.
Regards,
Esther Wakerman
Director
WIZO NSW
N.B. This email is not for posting.
Thank you Linda, I thought that I might be the only one
Referring to your column on the Tom Cruise Katie Holmes divorce and the exorbitant amount of money involved. I couldnt agree more with your comments, the wealth these actors have is obscene and only achieved by memorising dialogue for totally banal and mostly forgettable films. This spoilt child, Suri,who has so much, will quite likely grown into a spoilt adult who no-one will be able to handle, like so many of the offspring of the so-called rich and famous, whos manners and attitudes are beyond the pale.
I am not a shrink but I have lay-man’s knowledge about Effexor which is that it works on seratonin like a regular anti depressant but also works on the dopamine and nor-ephedrine uptake inhibitors- thus allows more of these chemicals into the brain. Dopamine is associated with addictive behaviours and the need to get a reward; but because the drug increases the amount of dopamine in the brain at high enough doses (check with your doctor on what this is) then it should satisfy not increase cravings to do addictive things like sexual addiction and gambling. Please do your own research on-line, heaps written about it. Maybe its about dosage not the drug itself. But this is for a doctor not me to say and this response is in no way advice or a display of medical knowledge just a repetition of what I’ve read myself on line.
Can anyone give me information (research) about the connection between the anti-depressant drug Effexor and compulsive gambling disorder. I have found forums of comments on-line from Effexor users and their
growing awareness of their gambling addiction becoming worse.
No but it takes all types to create a species. some animals are monogamous and stay put; others move and procreate often. Both have their place in keeping the social order of the group. I try not to judge.
May 2011 page 7 under Ruth’s Raves. Let me know you got it.
Hi Lloyd it is on this website. Go to all my writings and scan for it. If you don’t find it, please let me know
Ruth
Dear Ruth,
A few years ago, you published a column in The Australian about your daughter returning from school each day and listening to her description of a bad day. The gist of your story regarded thinking about our own actions elicited a negative or critical remark from a superior or peer and how we could have avoided provoking the person from being overly critical. By chance, do you have a copy of that column and if so, can you email it to me?
Kind regards,
Lloyd
Dear Ms Ruth,
A thousand thanks for your insight over the years. I’d like to offer you a little of my work of the last few years – The Men’s Deck (www.themensdeck.com), an attempt to offer some of the same pathways and ideas to men. Perhaps this may generate some dialogue. Perhaps not!
Very best wishes,
Basil
Good afternoon Ruth, Pleased to see you are coming back. After moving you to an almost invisible place in that supplement I thought you had been done in; so to speak.
A local lady columnist up here in Townsville who had been with the local paper for 16 years, came to work on the Monday and was told your last column will be in two weeks.
But that’s like life, isn’t it. Here one minute gone the next.
Will look out for you.
Yours tropically, Harry
How lovely to have such a long time fan! Thanks so much Janette
Hi Ruth
I first started reading your columns in the early 90′s when I was in my late 20′s. I am still reading your columns and I am now in my late 40′s. The columns you write have always resonated with me and I wanted to let you know how much enjoyment and inspiration I have always derived from your writing. Your last column on respect – prompted me to write. One of my biggest triggers is people who beep the horn in their car, because you don’t move as quickly as they would like into a car park, petrol lane etc. I have taken to getting out of my car, when people do this, going back to them and calmly explaining to them my reasons for not moving at the pace they would like. It is interesting to watch their reaction. They immediately become apologetic. I have decided, at 47 I have the right to encourage people to be accountable for their own lack of respect.
Thank you for having the courage and insight to write what you do. It has always meant a lot to me and I wanted to make sure I acknowledged this.
Regards Janette
+1
Ruth,ref your article Oct 1-2 re bear cubs etc,thought you may like a comment from the Gresford pub (Gresford,pop 250ish,2.5 hrs north of Sydney at the foothills of the Barringtons). Discussion the other day with a bunch having a beer out the front of the pub,re the recent shooting of a dingo that had attacked a 3 y.o. on Fraser Island. Local lass said (they breed em rough but perceptive here) ‘ Why the fuck would they shoot a pure bred dingo? There are millions of three year olds in the world!!’ Caused a lot of hilarity,and a lot of thought.
The ABC or SBS ran recently a piece about a lass on F.I. who is at loggerheads with the N.P.W.S.,because she feeds the dingos,which the NPWS has banned. Showed pictures of starving and dying dingo litters,because most of the dingos natural food has gone off the island. And they wonder why they attack little kids?
Best wishes, David Hilliard.
Hi Ruth
I first started reading your columns in the early 90’s when I was in my late 20’s. I am still reading your columns and I am now in my late 40’s. The columns you write have always resonated with me and I wanted to let you know how much enjoyment and inspiration I have always derived from your writing. Your last column on respect – prompted me to write. One of my biggest triggers is people who beep the horn in their car, because you don’t move as quickly as they would like into a car park, petrol lane etc. I have taken to getting out of my car, when people do this, going back to them and calmly explaining to them my reasons for not moving at the pace they would like. It is interesting to watch their reaction. They immediately become apologetic. I have decided, at 47 I have the right to encourage people to be accountable for their own lack of respect.
Thank you for having the courage and insight to write what you do. It has always meant a lot to me and I wanted to make sure I acknowledged this.
Regards Janette
LOL! No maybe for my next birthday 🙂
I couldn’t help but wonder, did you get the face lift?
Hi Tony
Thanks , would have come but I have gone back to Uni studying none other than digital media and have lectures on that night. But I appreciate you keeping me in the loop and please continue to do so.
Cheers
Ruth
Hi Ruth,
I enjoyed your column on kids in cyberspace. We have a press club talk from jane Burns followed by a public forum on some of the same issues. Ian Hickie, Pat McGorry and Michelle Blanchard will join Jane on stage.
Links below:
http://www.npc.org.au/speakers/dr-jane-burns.html
http://crcaforumschools.eventbrite.com/