An Evening with Ruthie Ackerman: Love, Loss, and Rewriting the Story of Motherhood
Join us for a deeply moving evening with award-winning journalist and author Ruthie Ackerman as she opens her heart and her life through her new memoir, The Mother Code: My Story of Love, Loss, and the Myths That Shape Us.
Born into a family marked by silence and abandonment, Ruthie’s journey is one of reckoning—with her past, with the fear of passing on a rare genetic disorder, and with what it means to mother when you’ve never quite known the shape of safety. But this is not just her story.
Through intimate conversations with doctors, geneticists, and women navigating motherhood in its many forms, Ruthie paints a portrait of what it means to carry life, care for it, question it, or walk away from it - all with grace and grit. From fertility struggles and egg freezing to the rise of “momfluencers” and the quiet ache of not-knowing, The Mother Code invites us into the raw, beautiful complexity of mothering in today’s world.
Whether you're a mother, never want to be one, are still deciding, or are trying to understand someone else’s path, this conversation is for you. It’s a space to lay down shame, pick up empathy, and consider the stories we’ve inherited—and the ones we have the power to change.
Come for the truth. Stay for the healing. Leave with a story that just might change your own.
Price: $55- includes book
About Ruthie
Ruthie Ackerman is an acclaimed journalist, editor, and memoirist whose work delves into the complex intersections of identity, motherhood, and modern womanhood. A former Deputy Editor at ForbesWomen, Ruthie has spent over two decades bringing marginalized stories to the forefront—whether reporting from war-torn regions like Liberia and Lebanon or writing deeply personal essays that ignite national conversations.
Her writing journey began with a quiet vow: to give voice to those often unheard, to illuminate the stories that rarely make headlines but resonate profoundly. From her early work with The New York Times to her reporting at Forbes, Ruthie has always sought out truth in overlooked places. Her work is not about spectacle—it’s about humanity.
Her bylines include The New York Times, The Atlantic, Vogue, Glamour, Slate, O Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Salon, and more. Her widely shared Modern Love essay on the emotional toll of failed egg freezing inspired her forthcoming debut memoir, The Mother Code, set to be published by Random House in 2025.
In addition to her writing, Ruthie is the founder of the Ignite Writers Collective, where she mentors emerging storytellers in crafting their most authentic and personal narratives. Through her fearless storytelling and sharp editorial vision, she continues to shape the cultural conversation around womanhood, ambition, and what it truly means to mother in today’s world.
Learn more: ruthieackerman.com
Instagram: @ruackerman
Moderated by Farnoosh Torabi
Farnoosh is a leading personal finance expert, author, and sought-after speaker, known for making financial literacy accessible and empowering, especially for women. As the former CNBC host and creator of the Webby Award-winning podcast So Money, she engages millions with candid conversations on money and life with notable guests like Queen Latifah and Zarna Garg. Farnoosh has been featured in major outlets like The Today Show and The New York Times. She also launched The Montclair Pod, a local podcast exploring Montclair’s culture and community.
Learn more: farnoosh.tv
Instagram: @farnooshtorabi
Montclair Pod
In partnership with Watchung Booksellers
