Hart & Hustle Podcast

Keenan Hart
  • 4.2 (5)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hart & Hustle delivers real conversations with nonprofit and healthcare leaders who are scaling mission-driven impact through strategic innovation. Hosted by Efrain Lozada, each 45-minute episode explores leadership, operations, technology adoption, and practical strategies for mission-based organizations. Learn from executives who've transformed accessibility, efficiency, and community engagement while staying true to their values. For nonprofit directors, operations leaders, and healthcare innovators who hustle with heart. New episodes weekly.

  1. 1D AGO

    From Trauma to Triumph: The Critical Role of Second Chances in Family Healing | Better Together

    In this inspiring episode of the Hart & Hustle Podcast, Megan Rose from Better Together shares how her organization is transforming community support by helping families stay intact and avoid foster care—creating a ripple effect of hope and resilience. This is the story of a mission-driven leader overcoming personal trauma and systemic challenges — and what mission-driven leaders can learn from her journey. In this conversation, you'll learn: ✅ How leveraging community trust and relationships can prevent family separation ✅ Strategic ways to raise awareness about accessible resources in underserved communities ✅ The role of technology, including AI, in expanding support for vulnerable families This episode is for mission-driven leaders, nonprofit executives, and community advocates who want to strengthen family preservation efforts and create lasting impact through resource mobilization and partnership. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – How Megan Rose's personal story fuels her commitment to family preservation 1:08 – Juggling leadership, family, and community support: Megan’s rhythm 2:04 – The mission of Better Together: coming alongside families in crisis 2:47 – Strategies to prevent family separation and foster community trust 5:50 – How to effectively raise awareness about local resources and move beyond traditional outreach 6:55 – Leveraging AI for good in community support efforts 8:28 – Building trust with local organizations and integrating technology thoughtfully 10:33 – The importance of remote work in community engagement and outreach 12:12 – Growing national impact through local partnerships and community-based job fairs 13:11 – Mentorship and the importance of community support in leadership development 15:44 – Megan’s advice for new leaders: find mentors, focus on growth, and stay purpose-driven 17:49 – Megan’s personal story of overcoming addiction and systemic barriers to create a new legacy 20:28 – The power of second chances: how resilience and community support transform lives 23:01 – Lessons from childhood resilience and understanding addiction’s impact 25:50 – The importance of hope and second chances in healing and community rebuilding 28:56 – Encouragement for those feeling lost: your story is still being written 30:42 – How to get involved with Better Together and make a tangible difference 📊 KEY TAKEAWAYS: Trust and community relationships are the foundation for effective family support programs. Raising awareness requires proactive engagement, partnerships, and authentic community presence. Technology like AI can enhance, but not replace, genuine relationships in social impact work. Resilience, second chances, and hope are central to transformational change. Leadership growth relies on mentorship, vulnerability, and continual learning. 👤 ABOUT MEGAN ROSE: Megan Rose is the CEO of Better Together, an organization dedicated to supporting families in crisis and preventing unnecessary foster care placements. She brings deep expertise in child welfare, systemic change, and community engagement, driven by her personal journey of overcoming trauma and creating impact. 🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-rose-541b7063/ 🔗 Organization Website: https://www.bettertogetherus.org 🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE: Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in community, healthcare, and education. Hosts Keenan Hart and Efrain uncover practical strategies to scale your impact with authenticity and purpose. Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling your mission. 🔗 CONNECT WITH US: FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityImpact #FamilySupport

    32 min

  2. MAY 20

    The Critical Gap in Youth Development: Filling the 18-24 Age Void with Community & Care | Chicago Youth Boxing Club

    Unlock the transformative power of community and resilience with Noah Pickens from Chicago Youth Boxing Club. Noah shares how he transitioned from an educator obsessively focused on individual impact to leading a boxing gym that serves hundreds of youth each year — and the surprising lessons he learned about engagement, trust, and creating lasting change. This is the story of building a space where community magic happens — and what mission-driven leaders can learn from it.  ⚠️ In this episode, you'll learn:  ✅ How to foster trust and rapport in challenging environments to boost participant retention  ✅ Creative strategies to make content relevant and impactful on everyday life  ✅ Fundraising lessons from running a long-standing community organization  ✅ The importance of meeting young people where they are, especially in underserved areas  ✅ Practical steps to scale a mission-driven community space in a resource-constrained setting  This episode is for visionaries and mission-driven leaders who want to deepen community impact, expand program reach, and sustain meaningful engagement in high-need areas. 👤 ABOUT NOAH PICKENS:  Noah Pickens is the Executive Director of Chicago Youth Boxing Club, a grassroots organization dedicated to empowering youth through boxing and community development. With a background in education and a passion for social impact, Noah leads with a focus on rebuilding youth pathways, especially for underserved youth and young adults.  🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-pickens-05724027b/  🔗 Organization Website: https://cybc.com https://chicagoyouthboxingclub.org  🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:  Hart & Hustle delivers weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders tackling real-world challenges in healthcare, education, and community services. Hosts Keenan Hart and Efrain explore practical strategies and inspiring stories to help you scale your organization’s impact.  🔗 CONNECT WITH US:  FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis  #NonprofitLeadership #YouthDevelopment #CommunityImpact

    24 min

  3. MAY 18

    Why Building More Housing Won’t End Veteran Homelessness—And What Will | We Soldier On

    Veteran homelessness is a complex challenge—yet organizations like Soldier On show us it's solvable. Casey DiCicco, Communications Director, and Bruce Buckley, CEO/President of Soldier On, share how their mission-driven work over the past 30 years transforms lives, one veteran at a time. This is the story of relentless dedication and innovative support systems—and what mission-driven leaders can learn from it. ⚠️ In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How to measure impact through personal stories, not just numbers ✅ The crucial role of building trust and meeting veterans where they are ✅ Ways to combat stigma and improve access to veteran resources This episode is for mission-driven leaders seeking practical strategies to expand program reach and deepen community impact. 👤 ABOUT THE GUESTS:  Casey DiCicco: Communications Director at Soldier On, leading outreach and advocacy efforts to end veteran homelessness.  Bruce Buckley: CEO/President of Soldier On, guiding the organization’s mission to provide comprehensive support to veterans.  🔗 Organization Website: https://wesoldieron.org  🎙️ ABOUT THE HOST:  Efrain Lozada hosts Hart & Hustle, delivering weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders in healthcare, education, and community services. Efrain uncovers actionable strategies to solve real-world problems and scale your impact.  🔗 CONNECT WITH US:  FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis  #VeteranSupport #MissionDrivenLeadership #NonprofitImpact

    20 min

  4. MAY 15

    Why Supporting Kids During Critical Hours Can Change Their Entire Future | Sue Gabriel

    Unlock the transformative power of youth programs with Sue Gabriel, director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem. She shares how a safe, engaging environment for kids isn’t just about after-school fun—it sets the foundation for resilience, leadership, and lifelong success. This is the story of how decades-old organizations like the Boys and Girls Club continue to shape future leaders — and what mission-driven organizations can learn from their ongoing impact. In this conversation, you'll learn:  ✅ How to prioritize safety and belonging in youth programs to foster trust and development  ✅ Strategies for securing sustainable funding while expanding service reach  ✅ The importance of culturally connected staff in building resilience and empathy among youth  ✅ How to pivot quickly in challenging times without losing mission focus  ✅ The role of leadership skills and resource access in closing opportunity gaps for underserved children  This episode is for nonprofit leaders and social sector professionals dedicated to amplifying program impact and nurturing the next generation of leaders.  👤 ABOUT SUE GABRIEL:  Sue is the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, a dedicated leader with over 25 years of experience in social services. Her work focuses on building resilient, capable youth who are prepared for tomorrow's challenges.  🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-gabriel-261266gab/  🔗 Organization Website: https://bgcgs.org  🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:  Hart & Hustle brings weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders in nonprofit, healthcare, and community service sectors. Hosts Keenan Hart and Efrain uncover practical insights to help you scale your impact and lead with purpose.  🔗 CONNECT WITH US: FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis  #NonprofitLeadership #YouthDevelopment #CommunityImpact

    39 min

  5. MAY 13

    Mission-Driven Leadership in Higher Education: How Doane University Grows Through Relationships

    John Frost, VP of Enrollment Management at Doane University, shares how one conversation — and one person who believed in a student before she believed in herself — sparked a ripple effect that changed three generations and an entire workplace. In this conversation, you'll learn:  ✅ How to shift your team from "order takers" to "dream makers" — and why this changes everything about community engagement  ✅ The enrollment and outreach framework Doane uses to meet people where they are through relationship-first communication  ✅ Why leading with purpose — not metrics — is the most powerful retention and growth strategy for any mission-driven organization  This episode is for mission-driven leaders who want to reconnect with why they do this work and build the kind of community trust that multiplies impact long after the first conversation. 👤 ABOUT JOHN FROST:  John Frost is the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Doane University, a 153-year-old liberal arts institution in Crete, Nebraska. A former TV news journalist, John made a deliberate pivot into higher education to move from telling people's stories to influencing them. Under his leadership, Doane has grown its student body toward the 1,000-student mark through a relationship-first enrollment model that prioritizes human connection over transactional recruiting.  🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-frost-m-s-74b57042/  🔗 Doane University: https://www.doane.edu  🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:  Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization. Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact.  🔗 CONNECT WITH US:  FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis  #MissionDrivenLeadership #NonprofitLeadership #HigherEducation

    38 min

  6. MAY 11

    He Chose Missions Over Easy Paychecks for 15 Years. Here's What It's Built. | Tymon Graham

    Tymon Graham, VP of Student Affairs at Florida Memorial University, shares how he's spent 15 years building student access, institutional trust, and mission-driven leadership across three cities — and why he keeps choosing the hard institutions on purpose.  In this conversation, you'll learn:  ✅ How FMU's scholarship portal is closing the funding gap for students who would otherwise leave money on the table  ✅ Why Tymon measures team success by how empty the waiting room is — not how busy his staff looks  ✅ What 15 years of intentional, institution-hopping leadership builds in a person — and how to apply that portfolio mindset to your own career  This episode is for mission-driven leaders who want to reconnect with why they chose this work — and get practical tools for serving their communities more effectively. 👤 ABOUT TYMON GRAHAM:  Tymon Graham serves as Vice President of Student Affairs at Florida Memorial University (FMU) in Miami Gardens, Florida — the only HBCU in South Florida and the birthplace of the Negro National Anthem. A 15-year veteran of higher education who has worked across Washington D.C., Jacksonville, and Miami, Tymon oversees both enrollment management and student life, including counseling services and the university's acclaimed marching band. In his first year at FMU, he launched a scholarship portal that delivers weekly funding opportunities to every student in the database.  🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtymonmgraham/  🔗 Florida Memorial University: https://www.fmu.edu  🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:  Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization. Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact.  🔗 CONNECT WITH US: FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis  #HBCULeadership #MissionDrivenLeadership #NonprofitLeadership

    39 min

  7. MAY 7

    Your Trauma Isn't Baggage. It Might Be Your Greatest Leadership Asset. | Mollie Rockafellow

    Mollie Rockafellow, VP of Student Affairs at Eastern Oregon University, shares how the adversity she survived became the leadership framework she now teaches — and how mission-driven leaders can stop fixing deficits and start building on the strengths their teams already carry. In this conversation, you'll learn: ✅ How to map the hidden patterns and systems undermining your organization's culture — before they cost you your best people ✅ Why strengths-based onboarding and leadership development outperforms deficit-focused management (and what Mollie's doctoral research reveals about retention) ✅ A practical framework for creating space to think strategically when your calendar, to-do list, and inbox are all fighting for your attention This episode is for mission-driven leaders and people-first executives who are building cultures where every person — staff and community members alike — feels seen, valued, and equipped to lead. 👤 ABOUT MOLLIE ROCKAFELLOW: Mollie Rockafellow is the VP of Student Affairs at Eastern Oregon University and founder of Rock Red LLC, an organizational consulting practice focused on culture mapping, leadership development, and people-centered systems design. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership, with research focused on strengths-based development for first-generation students and leaders. Mollie brings a rare combination of lived experience, scholarly research, and 20+ years in access-focused higher education to every engagement. 🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-rockafellow-ed-d-4b543219/ 🔗 Guest Website: https://www.eou.edu/ 🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE: Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization. Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact. 🔗 CONNECT WITH US: - FRANSiS™ Website: https://bit.ly/3QLVd8l - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis #MissionDrivenLeadership #NonprofitLeadership #StrengthsBasedLeadership

    30 min

  8. MAY 6

    The Students Everyone Gave Up On Are Now Doctors and Dentists — Here's Why | Chris Powers

    Chris Powers, VP for Enrollment at Mount St. Joseph University, shares what 25 years of servant leadership in higher education teaches you about mission, access, and who really deserves a chance.  In this conversation, you'll learn:  ✅ How to lead first-generation participants through institutional barriers using the "Rule of Thirds" framework  ✅ Why small mission-driven organizations can adapt and innovate faster than large ones — and how to use that as a competitive advantage  ✅ What the national enrollment cliff and college readiness crisis reveal about the future of mission-based service delivery  This episode is for mission-driven leaders who are navigating shrinking pipelines, resource constraints, and the pressure to serve more people with less — without losing sight of why they started. 👤 ABOUT CHRIS POWERS:  Chris Powers is Vice President for Enrollment at Mount St. Joseph University (MSJ) in Cincinnati, Ohio — a Catholic liberal arts institution founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1920. With 25 years in higher education, including a prior role at Thomas More University, Chris is a first-generation college graduate, Air Force veteran, and servant leader whose personal story mirrors the students he serves every day.  🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-powers-ph-d-974a398/  🔗 Mount St. Joseph University: https://www.msj.edu  🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:  Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization.  Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact.  🔗 CONNECT WITH US:  FRANSiS™ Website: https://bit.ly/4vTAUWL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis  #NonprofitLeadership #ServantLeadership #MissionDrivenLeader

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Hart & Hustle delivers real conversations with nonprofit and healthcare leaders who are scaling mission-driven impact through strategic innovation. Hosted by Efrain Lozada, each 45-minute episode explores leadership, operations, technology adoption, and practical strategies for mission-based organizations. Learn from executives who've transformed accessibility, efficiency, and community engagement while staying true to their values. For nonprofit directors, operations leaders, and healthcare innovators who hustle with heart. New episodes weekly.

Information

  • Creator
    Keenan Hart
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    364
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hart & Hustle Podcast
  • Show Website
    Hart & Hustle Podcast

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