We recently had the chance to connect with Ruth Truett and have shared our conversation below.
Ruth, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think so many people are quietly wrestling with the pressure to blend in. It feels safer to sound like everyone else instead of letting your real voice get loud and take up space. But, audiences can feel when you’re dialing yourself down. The real magic—and the real risk—is choosing to carve out your own lane, even when it means standing alone at first. That’s where the good stuff happens.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ruth—though most people online know me as Rufus, the voice behind Rufus for Real, where real life and good food come together. I’m a food blogger who celebrates the chaos, the crumbs, and the comfort food that gets busy families through the week. My recipes are built for actual humans, not perfect kitchens, and I lean hard into flavor, humor, and the beauty of “good enough.” What makes my brand unique is that I refuse to polish out the real stuff—because that’s where the connection happens. Right now, I’m doubling down on creating approachable, crave-worthy meals that make people feel seen, capable, and hungry in the best way. I say it all the time….good food shouldn’t be hard.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Without a doubt, it’s the relationship I have with my daughters. Being their mom has pushed me to become stronger, braver, and more determined than I ever imagined. They inspire me to build a future that gives them options—and to model what it looks like to be a strong, independent woman who chases her own dreams. In raising them, I’ve learned to raise my own voice, too. They’re my “why,” and the reason I show up with grit and determination every single day.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her she’s enough exactly as she is—no filters, no shrinking. I’d remind her that she’s stronger than she realizes and capable of moving mountains one hard-headed step at a time. All the things she worries she doesn’t have yet? She’ll build them. And one day, she’ll look back and realize she was never behind—she was just becoming.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absofreakinglutely, yes. I’ve learned that being fully myself—quirks, humor, mess and all—doesn’t just make me stronger, it makes me happier. What you see online is genuinely who I am in real life, because I don’t have the energy or interest to pretend to be someone else. I’m at my best when I show up as my real, true self. That authenticity is my superpower, and I protect it fiercely.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m absolutely doing what I was born to do. I stumbled into food blogging knowing nothing about the industry, but the moment I started, something in me clicked—I finally felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be. It wasn’t planned, and it definitely wasn’t something anyone told me to do. In fact, being told what to do has never worked for me… I’m allergic to being told what to do.. Finding this path felt like finally letting myself be who I was always meant to become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rufusforreal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rufusforreal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therufusforreal/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rufusforreal
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
