In this conversation, Dan Rubins from Hear Your Song discusses the nonprofit's mission to empower children and teens with serious illnesses through songwriting. He shares insights on how the organization has adapted during COVID-19, the importance of community and collaboration, the role of volunteers, and the challenges of funding and growth. Dan emphasizes the transformative power of music in the lives of these children and outlines the future vision for Hear Your Song.

Takeaways

• Hear Your Song empowers children through songwriting.
• The organization serves kids aged 6 to 18 with serious illnesses.
• COVID-19 prompted a shift to virtual programming.
• Empowerment looks different for each child.
• Songwriting helps kids express their health experiences.
• Collaboration fosters community among young songwriters.
• Volunteers play a crucial role in the program's success.
• Funding primarily comes from private grants and individual donors.
• The organization aims to deepen relationships with kids.
• Future goals include amplifying kids' songs to wider audiences.

In this heartfelt and strategy-rich episode of Compassionate and Passionate, we sit down with Anna Rodney, founder of Chicago Family Doulas—one of the largest doula agencies in the country. From a high school teacher turned birth professional to a powerhouse entrepreneur mentoring over 300 doulas, Anna shares her deeply personal journey and the values that have shaped her leadership.

You’ll hear how Anna turned compassion into a scalable business model—one that centers on people, proactive systems, and redefining what it means to be a business owner in the caregiving space. She opens up about building a culture where trust, training, and mentorship drive impact, and why letting go of the "I have to do everything myself" mindset was key to growth.

Whether you're leading a practice, building a team, or simply trying to make your impact without burning out, this episode is packed with insights on operational excellence, intuitive leadership, and scaling with soul.