I'm

Ria

Hi,

I'm an educator, coach, and queer geektrovert who's devoted to helping you put your voice on blast, and bring the meaning you need into your life.

A

de-shelled introvert, loudmouth, and utopian dreamer, I'm proud to be someone who's always been excited to help people find their paths, share their stories.

After all, I was that shy kid who had to be pushed to say "Hi" to strangers... and now work with people all over the world. I've been called "intense"as a button-it-up, and instead learned to embrace and use my passion. And I know what it's like to keep my light under a basket, and how scary and liberating it is to kick that basket to the curb.

We all are or have been there, struggling to let ourselves shine. Through my online courses, coaching, and free resources, I help people like you find your meaning(s) and take concrete action to live it in all of your life.

One of the things I’m often asked is

"Why do you do this?"

One of my earliest memories is being read "The Hobbit" by my dad. More than anything else, I loved Bilbo. I loved his journey from small, shy, food-loving hobbit to... a small and food-loving hobbit who achieved his "impossible." Who held his friends accountable, opened his mind, and kept trying no matter the odds or his failures.

alice-and-the-caterpillar-in-wonderland-

I also grew up on Star Trek (TNG, TOS), The Last Unicorn, Alice in Wonderland, and Watership Down. Stories about human spirit, human meaning, and human potential.

Stories about people finding their path and the courage to walk it in their way.

I'm also passionate about a lot of pretty random things: writing, creativity, psychology, storytelling, 80s hair metal, bread-baking, entrepreneurship, queer rights and intersectional feminism, among others.

STORYTELLING

You know how people say we're all living our own hero's journey?

My journey has been a bit of a winding road. A newly-out daughter of Jewish small business owners, I went to college, graduated, and looked for my path and voice all over: jobs in human resources, ESL teaching, bartending, retail, higher education administration; a master's degree, student advising, leadership coaching, and more.

Eventually, I looked back and realized I've taught in every job I've ever had (even bartending!). Not "academic" education - practical, human learning that helped people use their values and strengths, whether through a work project, conversation, or life shift.

Because, look - I've been lucky enough to study and work at some great schools, and there is a LOT I love about academia and research.

The problem is, schools focus so much on teaching people how to "learn" more that they neglect to teach people how to be and do more.

(Anyone who's watched Star Trek and seen Spock in action, or been to a diversity training and see nothing change, know that logic, training, awareness, and understanding are not the same!)

So I gave up the security of my 9-5 and founded Hopeforge. To create positive, research-based programs and tools to help people find and live in their best and truest ways.

My Journey

core of my practice is based in positive psychology, combined with compassion and caring ass-prodding.

The

I also ground my work in the fields of cognitive science, behavioral science, and neuroscience. Everything is research-based, and designed to support your mind, heart, and actions in the most positive and effective ways possible.

I'm here to help you find what's strong and build on it.

My Method

I believe you must first let yourself speak if you want to be heard.

Your voice is more than the words you utter - it's how you uniquely express your strengths, values, passions, and spirit. I call it your 'secret sauce.'

Whether it's at work or in life, I believe that letting your voice out and walking your path your way is critical to living fully, and experiencing all of the meaning and joy that you deserve.

Whatever your goals, dreams, or plans, you can achieve them genuinely and powerfully.

My Beliefs

Which brings me to you

I

created Hopeforge to help. My work is founded in a belief in human potential, and a pledge to keep striving for good.

With my free content, online classes and products, coaching services, and anything else I offer, I'm here to make a difference. To help you live a life full or meaning and purpose. A joyful life that is authentically, uniquely yours.

Whether you're looking to make a change in your personal or professional life, or are developing your leadership skills, I'm here to help grow your strengths to their highest potential, and harness your profound voice.

Back to you

I'm here to bring you the best of what I live and learn, whether it's from experience, research, or the wisdom of others, while staying real (and sometimes even raw).

And look - I'm not perfect. I'm no oracle, and definitely don't

have all of the answers. I have bad (to completely shitty) days,

make some HUMDINGER mistakes, and get caught in negative,

self-doubting spins, just like everyone.

Thing is, those imperfections are part of being human, even though we're taught by society to button up anything too real, painful, even vibrant and amazing.

So definitely expect some swearing, the occasional foot-in-mouth moment, and even a bit of fist-shaking. Plus some cutting-edge research, life wisdom, and more than a bit of humor.

If you're still reading - thanks! I hope we can stay in touch and become friends. The best way is by subscribing to my newsletter, which provides slices of research, wisdom, and heart - so click here and put it your name and email.

You can also follow me on Instagram and Youtube. Gonna be real, I spend as much time as I can offline, so the real scoop is in the mailing list (which generally comes out on Wednesdays - hump days to get you through the hump!).

And! When you subscribe, you get access to the free assessment, What's Your Hope Habit?

It'll help you understand how you fuel your hope and keep it going, and give you pointers on how to bounce back better when things get tough.

Thank for dropping by! It was so great meeting you, and I'm really looking forward to tackling the road ahead, together.

Cheers,

Ria

Want tips, advice, and information on how to live and do better?

Join me!

I send out emails with queer and ally-focused, science-based information that's free, researched, and full of heart.

Subscribe now!

I'm

Ria

Hi,

A

de-shelled introvert, loudmouth, and utopian dreamer, I'm proud to be someone who's always been excited to help people find their paths, share their stories.

​

​

We all are or have been there, struggling to let ourselves shine. Through my online courses, coaching, and free resources, I help people like you find your meaning(s) and take concrete action to live it in all of your life.

One of the things I’m often asked is

"Why do you do this?"

I also grew up on Star Trek (TNG, TOS), The Last Unicorn, Alice in Wonderland, and Watership Down. Stories about human spirit, human meaning, and human potential.

​

Stories about people finding their path and the courage to walk it in their way.

I'm also passionate about a lot of pretty random things: writing, creativity, psychology, storytelling, 80s hair metal, bread-baking, entrepreneurship, queer rights and intersectional feminism, among others.

STORYTELLING

You know how people say we're all living our own hero's journey?

​

Eventually, I looked back and realized I've taught in every job I've ever had (even bartending!). Not "academic" education - practical, human learning that helped people use their values and strengths, whether through a work project, conversation, or life shift.

​

Because, look - I've been lucky enough to study and work at some great schools, and there is a LOT I love about academia and research.

​

The problem is, schools focus so much on teaching people how to "learn" more that they neglect to teach people how to be and do more.

​

(Anyone who's watched Star Trek and seen Spock in action, or been to a diversity training and see nothing change, know that logic, training, awareness, and understanding are not the same!)

​

So I gave up the security of my 9-5 and founded Hopeforge. To create positive, research-based programs and tools to help people find and live in their best and truest ways.

core of my practice is based in positive psychology, combined with compassion and caring ass-prodding.

The

I also ground my work in the fields of cognitive science, behavioral science, and neuroscience. Everything is research-based, and designed to support your mind, heart, and actions in the most positive and effective ways possible.

​

I'm here to help you find what's strong and build on it.

I believe you must first let yourself speak if you want to be heard.

Your voice is more than the words you utter - it's how you uniquely express your strengths, values, passions, and spirit. I call it your 'secret sauce.'

​

Whether it's at work or in life, I believe that letting your voice out and walking your path your way is critical to living fully, and experiencing all of the meaning and joy that you deserve.

​

Whatever your goals, dreams, or plans, you can achieve them genuinely and powerfully.

Which brings me to you

I

created Hopeforge to help. My work is founded in a belief in human potential, and a pledge to keep striving for good.

With my free content, online classes and products, coaching services, and anything else I offer, I'm here to make a difference. To help you live a life full or meaning and purpose. A joyful life that is authentically, uniquely yours.

​

Whether you're looking to make a change in your personal or professional life, or are developing your leadership skills, I'm here to help grow your strengths to their highest potential, and harness your profound voice.

I'm here to bring you the best of what I live and learn, whether it's from experience, research, or the wisdom of others, while staying real (and sometimes even raw).

​

And look - I'm not perfect. I'm no oracle, and definitely don't

have all of the answers. I have bad (to completely shitty) days,

make some HUMDINGER mistakes, and get caught in negative,

self-doubting spins, just like everyone.

​

Thing is, those imperfections are part of being human, even though we're taught by society to button up anything too real, painful, even vibrant and amazing.

So definitely expect some swearing, the occasional foot-in-mouth moment, and even a bit of fist-shaking. Plus some cutting-edge research, life wisdom, and more than a bit of humor.

If you're still reading - thanks! I hope we can stay in touch and become friends. The best way is by subscribing to my newsletter, which provides slices of research, wisdom, and heart - so click here and put it your name and email.

You can also follow me on Instagram and Youtube. Gonna be real, I spend as much time as I can offline, so the real scoop is in the mailing list (which generally comes out on Wednesdays - hump days to get you through the hump!).

And! When you subscribe, you get access to the free assessment, What's Your Hope Habit?

​

It'll help you understand how you fuel your hope and keep it going, and give you pointers on how to bounce back better when things get tough.

Thank for dropping by! It was so great meeting you, and I'm really looking forward to tackling the road ahead, together.

​

Cheers,

Ria

Want tips, advice, and information on how to live and do better?

Join me!

I send out emails with queer and ally-focused, science-based information that's free, researched, and full of heart.