Ep 34: Hustle Isn’t Enough: A Mother’s Journey To Building A Business That Finally Felt Like Home
🌐 Website: https://littleheartsofhope.org/
By Sherry Sutton | Heart of the Hustle Show
Discover how Kerri Steele’s nonprofit, Little Hearts of Hope, brings healing and emotional support to children facing cancer diagnoses in their families. Learn how one podcast interview at Heart of the Hustle turned her story into powerful, done-for-you content.
When Content Meets Purpose
In the world of content, nothing cuts through the noise like purpose. As the host of Heart of the Hustle, I meet many entrepreneurs and change-makers, but few carry a mission as deeply rooted in love and resilience as Kerri Steele.
Her nonprofit, Little Hearts of Hope, is reshaping the way families cope with cancer — especially the kids. Through play, creativity, and therapeutic connection, she’s offering tangible hope. And when she sat down with me in the Heart of the Hustle studio, she brought more than a mission. She brought transformation.
If you’re looking for a model of how to share your story and use it to create meaningful marketing content — this blog is your behind-the-scenes guide. Because at Heart of the Hustle, we don’t just talk. We build systems that work.
The Problem: When Cancer Hits Home, Families Break Down
A cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the patient. It ripples through the entire family.
For children aged 4 to 14, that disruption can be emotionally traumatic. They often lack the vocabulary to express fear, sadness, guilt, or confusion. Parents, caught in survival mode, may not know how to help — especially when they’re grieving too.
Add to that the cost of therapy, time limitations, and the sheer emotional weight of managing care, and it’s no surprise that support systems fail these families.
According to Kerri, nearly 70% of kids in these situations qualify for PTSD diagnoses. And millions of children in the U.S. are silently absorbing trauma every day.
The Agitation: When There’s No Time, Tools, Or Training
Let’s be real: most parents aren’t trained to be emotional first responders — especially when they themselves are hurting.
Kerri knows this firsthand. After losing her husband to cancer while raising three young kids, she didn’t just experience the emotional collapse — she lived it. And what she needed wasn’t a therapy session once a week. She needed tools for everyday healing.
Kids don’t grieve on a schedule. Their questions come at bath time, over dinner, or during bedtime prayers. When they do, parents need more than empathy. They need strategies.
And that’s exactly what Kerri created.
The Solution: Little Hearts Of Hope — Healing Through Creativity
Kerri’s nonprofit delivers healing tools to families of cancer patients through:
Monthly Therapeutic Packages
Each child receives 13 months of care packages
Packages include activities grounded in play, art, and creative writing
Designed to help kids name, feel, and process emotions
Emotional Literacy Curriculum
First month focuses on emotional intelligence and vocabulary
Next: body connection, identifying where emotions live in our bodies
Followed by activities on 10 core emotions: anger, abandonment, jealousy, guilt, sadness, anxiety, and more
Parent Empowerment
Parents aren’t just observers — they participate in every project
Builds trust, strengthens family bonds, and creates non-threatening space for hard conversations
Faith-Based Encouragement
Final “goodbye” package includes a highlighted Bible with verses prayed over the child throughout the year
Reinforces that emotions are a gift from God — not something to fear
And the result? Families are healing. Together.
The Studio Strategy: How One Hour Became 30 Days Of Content
Kerri didn’t come to the Heart of the Hustle studio to just tell her story. She came to amplify it.
Here’s what she left with:
A full podcast episode optimized for YouTube & podcast platforms
High-quality video and audio assets for marketing
10+ short-form reels and video clips for social
This very blog post — SEO-optimized and purpose-driven
Email copy and captions to connect with her audience
We don’t do one-and-done. We do strategy, story, and systems.
What You Get When You Record With Me
🎙️ A powerful podcast episode recorded in a professional studio
📲 Fully edited video and audio content
📩 Social media posts, captions, and email content
📈 SEO blog posts (like this!) that boost search visibility
🧠 Strategy sessions to align your content with your goals
Want a month of content by just hanging with me for an hour? Be a guest on Heart Of The Hustle, and walk away with messaging that matters.
The Data That Demands Attention
Let’s break it down:
150–170 kids served every month
$40/month supports one child for a full year of programming
Over 100 volunteers on the prayer team
10+ emotion-based activity packages tailored to each child
One Bible gifted at the end, filled with hope
This isn’t theory. This is transformation.
How You Can Support Little Hearts Of Hope
Here’s how to help Kerri’s work reach more families:
Sponsor A Child – $40/month or $480/year changes a life
Host A Supply Drive – Art kits, journals, craft items, etc.
Business Sponsorships – Cover shipping or full packages
Holiday Donations – Sponsor in someone’s name
Join The Prayer Team – Support spiritually with no financial cost
Attend Fundraisers – Be part of the local community impact
Visit LittleHeartsOfHope.org to get involved.
Why Kerri’s Story Is A Model For Modern Marketing
Whether you’re running a nonprofit, building a business, or launching a brand — people don’t buy services. They buy stories.
Kerri’s story resonates because it’s rooted in authenticity. But it’s not enough to have a story. You have to share it — consistently, strategically, and with purpose.
And that’s what we do at Heart of the Hustle.
Final Thoughts: Turning Pain Into Purpose (And Posts That Convert)
If you’re:
Sitting on a powerful story but not sure how to share it
Running a nonprofit and struggling with content consistency
Wanting content that actually converts into donors, clients, or impact
Then it’s time to do what Kerri did.
🎧 Come on the podcast.
📸 Let us film you in your best light.
✍️ Let us write your story so the world hears it.
FAQs
Q: How do I book a podcast interview at Heart of the Hustle?
A: Visit heartofthehustle.com and apply to be a guest.
Q: Can I support Little Hearts of Hope financially or otherwise?
A: Yes — visit LittleHeartsOfHope.org to sponsor, donate, or sign up to volunteer.
Q: Do you offer in-person or virtual recording?
A: Both! Come to the Dallas-Fort Worth area or join us virtually.
Q: What’s included in the content package?
A: Podcast, blog, social reels, captions, email templates, and strategy.
Be A Guest On Heart Of The Hustle — And Walk Away With A Month Of Purpose-Driven Content
Let’s be real: content creation can feel like a full-time job. If you’re running a business, leading a nonprofit, or trying to scale your personal brand — you already have enough on your plate.
You don’t need another social media strategy.
You need a system that works.
That’s where the Heart of the Hustle Studio comes in.
When Kerri Steele joined me for her episode, she came in with a powerful story. What she left with? An entire month of content built to connect, convert, and make a difference.
And that’s exactly what you’ll get when you book a session in the studio.
Here’s What You’ll Walk Away With:
✅ A professionally recorded podcast episode (in-person or virtual)
✅ 10+ short-form video clips ready for Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts
✅ A 2,500–4,000 word SEO-optimized blog post that ranks and resonates
✅ Done-for-you social media captions, email copy, and promotional posts
✅ A studio experience that feels effortless and empowering
✅ Strategic coaching to help you use your story to drive real results
Whether you’re a purpose-driven entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, author, speaker, or coach — your voice deserves to be heard and seen.
And most importantly, your time is valuable.
You can spend hours trying to build a content plan from scratch...
Or you can spend one hour with me and walk away with a full month of content that actually works.
We help people like Kerri show up consistently, confidently, and with clarity — so their mission doesn’t get lost in the noise.
Ready To Share Your Story Without Burnout?
Apply to be a guest on Heart Of The Hustle and let’s turn your message into momentum.
👉 heartofthehustle.com
🎧 Then watch your episode on YouTube
