New happiness for Leontine Ruiters

Powerful and strong she is, but even Leontine Ruiters had to dents from life. She moved, made memories with her friends and children, got a puppy, and rolled up her sleeves again. Leontine is back and opens her year with a podcast series that we want to know everything about.

Dear Leontine, congratulations. If you were to give your life a score today, what would it be and why?

“I happened to answer that question in another interview recently, and it’s actually still the same. I give it a solid 8. An 8 is quite high for me, but I’ve had tough years behind me. I’m very satisfied with an 8, but there’s always room for improvement.”

This week you launched your podcast series. How did that come about?

“Lon (Lonneke Noteboom, MM) and I have been friends for twelve years. We do a lot together. Lonneke lives in Belgium, but we go on vacation together. When she stays over in Amsterdam, I go over to her and we chat about life. I’ve been to her house in Spain once, where we sat in the garden. We started chatting about everything and anything with a glass of wine, and suddenly it was seven in the morning. That’s when the idea was born. We’re good at talking about everything, and that fits the idea of a podcast. There are now many business podcasts or podcasts about young people. We thought it would be a fun idea to start this, to have a place where we can share everything, things we can’t share on our other channels, also because we notice that there’s a lot of recognition among other women.”

What can we expect from the series? What are you all going to do?

“The fun part is that we have multiple segments. First, we draw a card that we don’t know what’s on it. It can be a statement or a question about family, friends, friendship, work, family, relationships; they can go in any direction. We’ll chat about that. So we don’t know what’s on it, but we actually find that fun because then we talk from authenticity. It can go in any direction. We really like that we involve the listener who also comes with questions. ‘Topper or flopper’ is also a segment, which comes from Lonneke’s masterclass.”

You’ve acted and presented, so of course you can do this too, but it must be a very different métier. Was there something you struggled with? I can imagine I would talk way too fast and jump from one topic to another too much. Did you have that?

“Haha, no, Lonneke had that the first time, very funny. During the first episode, we were very busy and talking a lot. When we go out to eat together, I’ve already finished my plate, but Lon is chatting so much that she hasn’t even started eating. In the second episode, for example, I’m much more like that: I’m busy and talk a lot. The only thing I’ve really thought about is the question: to what extent do you share everything? With a friend, you share your secrets, that’s how I want the podcast to sound, but there are of course limits to what you do and don’t share. If I really want to share something, then this is the place for me to do it. I feel like you can only start such a podcast if you want to show your vulnerability.”

Okay Leontine, back to this segment. It’s Friday at 5:00 PM. Where are you, what are you doing, and is there something in your glass?

“Lon and I just recorded the podcast and I think we’re going to have a bite to eat at The Red Sun in Blaricum, of course with a glass of wine. Unless Lon is on a juice cleanse, haha!”

What does an average Leontine weekend look like?

“Actually not much out of the ordinary. Just going to the market, making a soup with zucchini and salmon, walking with Obi on the heath or in the woods, and dining with friends or with the kids.”

Suppose earthly matters like time difference, flight shame, money, and travel time don’t exist for a moment. What does your ideal weekend look like then? Starting in Italy and then going through Hong Kong to the Gooi?

“I think that if it’s about a weekend, I wouldn’t go to Hong Kong, because I want to get as much out of it as possible. But if I have a nice date, then I would go to Paris: shopping, good food, and drinks.”

What do you like to read and listen to on the weekend?

“I love crime books by Harlan Coben, for example. Self-help books are also nice to learn something from. For relaxation, I really read crime books. I just received ‘Juice’ by Heleen van Rooyen, which is on my list to start.”

Which podcasts are your favorites?

“I find the podcast From Tripping to Success by Sanny seeks Happiness and Jorg Ruis, Hartewens by my nephew’s girlfriend, and Geuze & Gorgels very funny. I like how they are and don’t hold back. Crime podcasts also seem fun to me.”

Does Sunday have a different vibe than Saturday for you?

“Yes, I do. Saturday is more for errands, getting fresh flowers, and shopping. Sunday is more the day of rest: just relaxing and walking. Or getting a massage!”

What’s on your list of restaurants you must and want to go to?

“There’s no specific restaurant on my list. I can enjoy anywhere, as long as the atmosphere and company are good. In terms of menu, I vary from burgers to caviar.”

And then Monday. What time does it start again and what are you going to do?

“That totally depends on what’s going on, and that’s actually different every week. It can be a morning of creating content, doing an award ceremony for the VriendenLoterij, or having other appointments. So very varied!”

The podcast Lon & Leo can be listened to via Spotify.