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Why is this Rudy a woman?
Biologically speaking, it just happened that way. But here's a little-known secret: she started life as a Ruth. However, Ruth was a little too sedate-sounding, plus it was impossible for her German mother to pronounce the "th". As a child she was dubbed Rudy-Pitoody. This was later shortened to Rudy - waaay prior to that football player's movie.
Does Rudy recite jokes?
No. The last time Rudy told a joke was in the third grade when she bought a joke book while on vacation. She proceeded to read jokes non-stop during the six-hour ride home. By the time her family pulled into the driveway, everyone in the car was fuming and it was then that the adults swore, "If you ever tell another joke, we will hunt you down and kill you." Sadly, most of those adults are now themselves deceased but the threat still hangs menacingly over Rudy's head.
So what does Rudy do?
Motivational humor. Cardiac comedy.
Humor is discovering and expressing the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous (i.e., the whacko stuff of life.) Rudy learned early in life she possessed an incredible ability to get herself into predicaments that would cause most people to lock themselves away in a closet somewhere. Ask her about the time she walked in on her husband's top client when he was naked as a jaybird, or the time she caused a watermelon avalanche at the local grocery store, or the time . . . The stories are never-ending but they are also woven with lessons learned during the tough times of life -- widowhood, two open-heart surgeries, buying a business she thought was booming but in fact was near bankruptcy. Motivational humor combines humor with personal challenge resulting in a powerful message that is not easily forgotten.
In 2006, Rudy was asked to return for a second time as speaker at a cardiac conference. "Speak at the Saturday night banquet and be funny," was the request. Rudy accepted the challenge and that night cardiac comedy was born. Rudy's comedy is an over-the-top funny look at life and particularly healthcare as seen through menopausal eyes. Good, clean, hilarious comedy will keep your audience laughing and is a great way to celebrate life. You will never look at heart disease, HIPAA and all things medical the same again.
How did Rudy begin to speak to groups?
Three months after Rudy moved to Rhode Island, her husband died of cancer. The following year she met a writer from the Providence newspaper. He encouraged her to write her story; after it was published a woman called Rudy and asked her to speak to a local group. Rudy's response was, "What? Are you crazy? I'm not a speaker!" Despite this less-than-polished reaction, the caller was polite and left her telephone number in case Rudy changed her mind. Six months later, Rudy spoke before her first group and a woman in the audience came up with tears streaming down her face. This woman was a new widow and because of Rudy's message she was able to accept that one day she, too, would be OK. Rudy has been speaking to groups ever since.
Can Rudy sing as a part of her program?
No. Absolutely not. When Rudy's son was 2 years old, she used the Mr. Rogers mode of singing to announce it was naptime. Her son looked up at her and stated emphatically, "Mom, I hate your opera." Whoa, she thought, that's quite a statement. So, as a good mother, she decided to turn this into a teaching moment, "Brad, dear," she gently cooed, "Hate is a very strong word." "I know - that's why I used it," was his response, thereby squashing Rudy's singing career before it ever began.
What type of heart patient is Rudy?
Rudy was diagnosed with a hole in her heart during her kindergarten exam. Since open-heart surgery was in its infancy, her parents were instructed to keep her from "doing" things. This resulted in her spending a lot of time sitting in a chair playing the flute (despite her lack of musical talent). The day before her 26th birthday, she had her first open-heart surgery to patch the hole. Two kids and 22 years later she found herself returning to surgery for a second open-heart surgery so that doctors could replace two heart valves as well as perform an assortment of housecleaning duties on her heart. Next came a pacemaker because the buildup of scar tissue kept the electrical beat of her heart from traveling through the muscle. She currently has $40,000 worth of equipment in her chest (that's the cost of two mechanical heart valves, a bovine patch, assorted leads and a pacer wire named Emily). Installation extra.
Will she keel over while on our stage?
You'll have to hire her to get the answer to that question. (This was a legitimate question which has been asked.)
What speech works for our group?
Every one of Rudy's speeches is customized for that particular group's dynamics and requested focus. While there are suggested topics listed, these are merely suggested frameworks for a speech. When you hire Rudy, she custom designs a program based on your needs, focus, audience dynamic and what type of program you want her to do (i.e. keynote, workshop, banquet speaker). She brings to the platform her passions, experience, and expertise; there is no such thing as a "canned speech". After every speech, she records the focus and stories she's used at your event so that a return invitation does not result in a repeat speech.
Why should we hire Rudy?
Rudy's passion is living life as a journey - one that is embraced and cherished despite personal challenges. She believes with her whole heart (defective though it may be) that her intended journey is to weave humor with lessons she has learned along the way to uplift and encourage others to be all they were meant to be. If your group can benefit by this, please contact us to see how she make your next program one to remember.
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