Hart & Hustle Podcast

From theater stages to nonprofit boardrooms - Lissa Southerland, COO of Rising Ground, shares her journey to executive leadership while serving 30,000+ New Yorkers across 100+ programs. Discover how theater training shaped her leadership style and why she'd do this work even without pay.

From the barrio to boardroom: J Beto Lopez shares how he transformed from real estate executive to CEO of the organization that raised him. Learn how leaders can build sustainable revenue streams while staying true to their mission.

From nail tech to leading one of America's largest food banks, Shannon Hannon Olivier's journey proves that authentic leadership isn't about credentials, it's about heart. In this powerful conversation, Shannon shares how personal food insecurity shaped her mission at Feeding Tampa Bay and why she believes "no money, no mission" when scaling impact. 

Most people see disability as limitation. Rick Sebastian, President & CEO of The Kennedy Collective, proves them wrong every day. In this powerful conversation with Efrain, Rick shares how his childhood with his cousin Benny sparked a 43-year mission to transform lives and break cycles of invisibility in the disability community.

From part-time sports coordinator with a clipboard to District Vice President overseeing five YMCAs - Kristen Cole's 21-year journey at YMCA of Central Florida is a masterclass in authentic leadership and community impact. In this episode, Efrain discovers what really drives high-earning professionals to take pay cuts for nonprofit work.

Center for Family Services Chief of Staff Megan Lepore reveals the counterintuitive hiring strategy that transformed their 100-year-old nonprofit into Camden's most authentic community powerhouse. Learn why hiring residents as staff creates unbreakable trust and drives real results.

 Catie McCauley's parents met at the YMCA. She met her husband there too. Now she's running the place - literally. In this episode, Efrain explores how faith-driven leadership and cutting-edge AI are transforming community impact at the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta.

From an 18-year-old riding a ten-speed bike to work to leading a behavioral health center for 40+ years. Bonnie Barlow, CEO of Bridgeway Center, shares how one part-time job became a lifelong mission serving vulnerable communities.

From 29 years as an undercover narcotics cop to delivering hope in 48 hours - Dale Sutherland's transformation to "Undercover Pastor" will challenge everything you think you know about second chances and serving others.

Most healthcare advice actually hurts your healing journey. Erin Kosich, Founder of Compass Health Direct Primary Care, just changed Efrain's mind about what quality healthcare looks like. Learn how she transformed from a burned-out Duke Hospital nurse to building a practice where patients get 60 minutes instead of 6 minutes - and why they cry tears of relief, not frustration.

Colonel Duncan Milne spent 25 years flying Cobra attack helicopters for the Marines. Now he's quietly building a network supporting thousands of veterans without red tape. Learn how Dixon Center transforms communities nationwide.

At 26, Leighton Boyce became a franchise owner with zero healthcare experience. Learn how she built one of the most human-centered caregiving businesses while battling cancer and redefining leadership for the next generation.

How one mother's story with a compassionate doctor sparked a 28-year mission to transform healthcare for underserved communities. In this episode, Efrain discusses healthcare leadership and AI innovation with Art Mejia from San Ysidro Health. Learn how purpose-driven leadership scales without losing human connection.

Dr. Marlon Gray grew up in "homicide Hollis" Queens during the crack epidemic and now uses AI to help kids heal. In this raw conversation, he shares how survivor's guilt shaped his mission and why representation matters in mental health.

Shauna Ejeh, Senior VP of Programs at Illinois Action for Children, reveals how mission-based organizations can transform their impact through strategic partnerships and sustainable funding models.

Most healthcare leaders hide behind corporate masks—Greg Rider chose radical authenticity instead. Learn how owning your truth becomes your greatest leadership superpower.

Patricia Hillis-Clark, VP of Programs at KenCrest, reveals how 120-year-old nonprofits are revolutionizing independence for individuals with disabilities through smart home technology and AI innovation.

Treat the end of life with the same sacredness as the day you were born. In this episode, Efrain discusses transforming hospice care with Beth Ballenger, Senior VP of Operations at Ascend Health. Learn how compassionate leadership and AI can revolutionize end-of-life care while preserving human connection.

🎯 From engineering dreams to CEO reality: Kristi Daeda reveals why 80-90% of US businesses are family-owned and how they're secretly outperforming their competitors. Learn the succession planning strategies that preserve legacy while driving innovation.

🎯 Manufacturing isn't just about products—it's about people. In this episode, Mike Catalano and Christen Smith from the Arc of Monroe reveal how their 85,000 sq ft facility employs 65-75 people with disabilities alongside 45 non-disabled staff, creating a thriving contract manufacturing business that's changing perceptions forever.

🎯 From site coordinator to CEO, Tasha Moore transformed her unexpected career path into a mission that changes lives. In this episode, she shares how Communities In Schools of North Texas serves over 1 million students nationwide by removing barriers that prevent academic success.

In this episode of the Hart & Hustle Podcast, Edward Hershey shares his powerful journey from Navy chef and restaurant owner to leading one of California’s largest disability organizations. Now CEO of Home of Guiding Hands, Edward breaks down what it means to lead with heart, why “no margin, no mission” is more than a slogan, and how AI and innovation are shaping the future of nonprofit care....

In this transformative episode of the Hart & Hustle Podcast, former judge Shaun R. Floerke shares why he left the courtroom to invest in people, not punishment. Now leading the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation (soon to be Boreal Waters Community Foundation), Shaun opens up about reframing leadership, building legacy through local investments, and how nature shaped his mindset. From ju...

In this inspiring episode of the Hart & Hustle Podcast, Tiffany Rose Naputi Lacsado shares her journey from being a single mom in a Head Start program to becoming the Chief Program Officer of that very same organization. Tiffany unpacks how cultural identity, vulnerability, and lived experience shaped her leadership style and her impact at The Unity Council—a $60M nonprofit transforming lives...

In this episode of the Hart & Hustle Podcast, Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships, unpacks how his organization has awarded over 100,000 scholarships to underserved students across 12 states—and why that’s just the beginning. Norton shares powerful stories, personal motivation, and how ACE is leveraging AI and policy to expand educational access nationwide. From fighting through early polit...