The Lou Review

Hosted by Rosa Hart

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Aug 2026

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Highlighting the food, drinks and places to experience in Louisville, KY by interviewing the people behind the scenes making Kentuckiana great!

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August 31, 202628 min

Why Talking About Suicide Saves Lives - Molly Jones of The Pete Foundation

Molly Jones turned personal loss into a mission, founding The Pete Foundation to close the gap between when mental illness symptoms start and when people get help. On this episode, Rosa Hart talks with Molly about grassroots training, state-level policy change, and how the 988 crisis line works, including why asking someone directly about suicide can open the door to hope and connection.If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text.To learn more about The Pete Foundation visit: https://www.thepetefoundation.org/ Timestamps:0:00 — Introduction: Rosa welcomes Molly Jones of the Pete Foundation0:45 — Molly shares the story of her son Pete and why she started the foundation1:50 — The foundation's two-level approach: grassroots training and state-level policy change2:47 — Partnership with NAMI and how their work complements each other4:28 — Training goals: recognizing symptoms in others and yourself6:13 — The 10-year gap between symptom onset and treatment; mental illness as a leading cause of death ages 10-347:33 — Self-medication, coping mechanisms, and the importance of finding the right therapy8:22 — The Pete Foundation's nonprofit status and state-level advocacy strategy9:48 — Success story: the rise and impact of the 988 crisis line10:51 — When and why to call 98812:31 — How 988 call routing, crisis units, and in-person support work15:05 — Continuity of care: why 988 keeps a record of your calls17:50 — Specialized 988 lines: veterans support and LGBTQ+ (Trevor Project)18:48 — Busting the myth: "talking about suicide plants the idea"20:31 — Why asking directly about suicide opens the door to hope22:40 — Understanding hesitation: fear of interrupted life vs. need for hope24:05 — The importance of conveying care and not rushing to solutions25:32 — How to connect with the Pete Foundation26:19 — Closing advice: normalize talking about mental health, Kentucky's mental health license plate27:47 — Closing remarks and sign-offWelcome to The Lou Review Podcast hosted by Rosa Hart 🎙️This podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond.We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys.🔹 Topics Covered:- Business Growth & Marketing- Branding & Creative Strategy- Entrepreneurship & Startups- Local Louisville Stories & CultureSubscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter.

August 24, 202635 min

Biscuit Wars: Lauren Coulter on Acquiring Maple Street Biscuit Company

Lauren Coulter, co-founder of Biscuit Belly, joins The Lou Review to share how a Louisville breakfast concept she started with her husband Chad turned into a company acquiring 35 Maple Street Biscuit Company locations from Cracker Barrel, tripling its footprint and setting a course for 60+ restaurants by 2028. Lauren walks through her path from pharmacist to restaurateur, the entrepreneurial journey through Uptown Art and Louvino, launching Biscuit Belly right before COVID hit, and the behind-the-scenes hustle of pulling off one of the biggest local acquisitions in Louisville's food scene. Find a Biscuit Belly near you: ⁠https://biscuitbelly.com/⁠ Follow on ⁠Instagram⁠ Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro: welcoming Lauren Coulter, co-founder of Biscuit Belly 0:41 – Biscuit Belly's history and the Maple Street Biscuit Company acquisition (35 locations from Cracker Barrel, tripling footprint, path to 60+ restaurants by 2028) 1:07 – Lauren's journey from pharmacist to restaurateur 3:43 – How Lauren and her husband Chad got into entrepreneurship, starting with Uptown Art (Louisville's first paint-and-drink concept) 5:34 – Opening Louvino wine bars and growing to 5 locations 6:25 – The idea to launch Biscuit Belly and early inspiration from other biscuit brands 7:30 – Opening Biscuit Belly in December 2019, Lauren leaving her healthcare job right as COVID hit 8:09 – Navigating the pandemic's impact on the restaurant business and team 9:47 – The origin story of The Lou Review podcast during 2020 10:58 – Selling Louvino to focus fully on Biscuit Belly 13:05 – Why the breakfast concept suits their family and team members better (quality of life, retention) 15:01 – The Maple Street Biscuit Company acquisition process: timeline, hustle, and behind-the-scenes challenges 17:04 – Visiting every acquired store to build trust with new teams 18:16 – Transitioning point-of-sale/technology systems across dozens of stores 22:15 – What Maple Street does well and where Biscuit Belly sees opportunity (vibe, atmosphere, guest connection) 23:57 – The "Suzanne" story: Lauren undercover as a new employee at a Maple Street location 26:34 – Louisville's food & beverage scene and its role in Biscuit Belly's growth 30:36 – Advice for local founders dreaming of expanding to multiple locations 34:05 – Closing thoughts on Louisville's business community and food scene 34:28 – Where to find Biscuit Belly online and what's next (new locations opening this fall) 34:58 – Outro and sign-off 🎙️This podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond.We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys. 🔹 Topics Covered:- Business Growth & Marketing - Branding & Creative Strategy - Entrepreneurship & Startups -Local Louisville Stories & Culture Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter.

August 16, 202620 min

From Therapy to Dream Money

What happens when a therapist decides to build a financial company? You get Dream Money, and you get Megan Hale. In this episode, host Rosa Hart sits down with Megan to talk about her unconventional path from the therapy room to the founder's chair, and why that background turned out to be her superpower. Money is emotional, and Megan built Dream Money to meet solo CEOs where they actually are: not with another bookkeeping tool, but with financial forecasting that helps them see where their business is going, not just where it's been. Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction to Megan Hale and Dream Money 0:59 – Megan's background as a therapist and path into coaching 2:15 – Struggles building an online coaching business; founding Dream Money 2:56 – Moving to Louisville and starting a new chapter 4:11 – How Dream Money differs from bookkeeping/accounting tools like QuickBooks 5:44 – The "DREAM" acronym: deliberate, reliable, easeful, abundant, meaningful money 7:11 – Recent milestones: grants, JPMorgan Chase sponsorship, and a new award 8:00 – The big vision: scaling Dream Money to serve 100,000 solo CEOs 9:37 – Finding community and support as a new business owner in Louisville 11:07 – The loneliness of being a solo CEO and the need for shared community 12:32 – Announcing the "Well Off and Wealthy" monthly money meetup 13:51 – How to connect with Megan and host a meetup 16:32 – The "good, better, best" financial framework inside Dream Money 18:18 – Managing everyday cash flow stress with Dream Money 19:47 – Closing thoughts and thanks Connect with Megan Hale / Dream Money: Connect with Megan: https://meganhale.co/ Email: megan@meganhale.co Find out more about Dream Money: https://dreammoney.co/ Welcome to The Lou Review Podcast hosted by Rosa Hart 🎙️This podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond.We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys. 🔹 Topics Covered:- Business Growth & Marketing - Branding & Creative Strategy - Entrepreneurship & Startups -Local Louisville Stories & Culture Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter.

August 3, 202633 min

Impact 100: Louisville's Women-Powered Giving Circle

What happens when 100 women each write a $1,000 check? You get a $100,000 grant; and in just six years, the women of Impact100 Louisville have put more than $2.5 million into nonprofits across Jefferson County.Host Rosa sits down with co-founder Carey Goldstein and current president Kim Hansford to unpack the collective giving model that's transforming Louisville philanthropy. Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome & the math behind Impact100: how $1,000 checks become $100,000 grants 0:40 - Six years in: 500+ members, five $100K grants in a single night 1:07 - Carey's origin story: from a dinner party idea to a Pensacola conference 2:10 - Finding founding board members and getting the 501(c)(3) off the ground 3:20 - How COVID unexpectedly accelerated growth from 75 to 206 members 4:42 - Charcuterie boards, house gatherings, and a grassroots approach to recruiting 6:32 - Kim's story: why she waited until year two (and why her best friend never let her forget it) 7:05 - What drew Kim in: feeling connected to where her money goes 7:44 - Breaking down the grant process: letters of intent, site visits, and the finance committee 9:27 - From 165 applications to 8 finalists; how volunteers power every step 10:26 - The "Meet the Finalists" event: a science-fair style evening with every finalist nonprofit 13:15 - Merit money: how semifinalists also benefit, and the rule on reapplying 13:22 - Grant spotlight: The Smoketown Community Laundromat, GE appliances, an app instead of quarters, and a man from the neighborhood 15:21 - Decode Project, Granny's Birth Initiative & addressing the Black maternal health crisis 16:36 - Synergies in action: Decode Project meets Louisville Leopards at a grantee event 17:35 - Louisville Lightning: Paralympic-style athletes earning scholarships 18:48 - How nonprofits come back to share updates, and the ripple effects on volunteerism 19:47 - La Casita Center: feeding 800 meals a week from a tiny kitchen, and a kitchen build-out that changed everything 22:10 - The network has grown: why not knowing everyone is a good sign 22:10 - Impact Junior: high school girls doing collective giving with $100 memberships 22:46 - Impact Junior gave $7,000 to KRM, and the board doubled it 24:07 - Three generations of Goldsteins in Impact100 24:12 - Who belongs in this room? Carey's message: this is not a club 25:35 - Efforts to diversify by zip code, age, race & ethnicity 27:10 - How to join: website, fellowship opportunities, and the $1,100 membership (with $1,000 going directly to grants) 28:08 - Kim: you can write a check and clap in November, or go all in on committees 28:12 - Rosa shares how she first heard about Impact100 through Hildegard House 29:51 - Carey: the board has no special influence; the process is equal opportunity 31:28 - The follow-up process: nonprofit relations committee, contracts, and six-month check-ins 31:50 - How to connect: impact100louisville.org | info@impact100louisville.org 33:05 - How nonprofits get on the letter of intent list (March is the window) 33:38 - Closing: follow Rosa @rosaraves and subscribe wherever you listen Welcome to The Lou Review Podcast hosted by Rosa Hart 🎙️This podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond.We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys.🔹 Topics Covered:- Business Growth & Marketing- Branding & Creative Strategy- Entrepreneurship & Startups- Local Louisville Stories & CultureSubscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter.#Podcast #BusinessPodcast #Branding #Entrepreneurship #Louisville

July 27, 202629 min

Mental Health in Louisville with NAMI's Nancy Brooks

What does it actually take to support mental health in our community, before a crisis hits? In this debut episode, host Rosa Hart sits down with Nancy Brooks, Executive Director of NAMI Louisville, to talk about the free programs, peer support, and early intervention tools that are changing lives right here in Louisville.From family education classes to QPR suicide prevention training to the Wellness Wheels school bus, NAMI Louisville is doing more than you probably realize — and it's all free.Timestamps:(Add after editing)In this episode:✔ What NAMI Louisville actually does (and how it's different from the national org)✔ Free programs for families, caregivers, veterans' families & providers✔ Why mental illness is a full family illness✔ The importance of early intervention — before crisis hits✔ Coping tools Nancy uses personally (including faking a smile & cleaning the kitchen)✔ The 988 mental health emergency line — do you know about it?✔ How to volunteer, donate, or partner with NAMI Louisville✔ NAMI Walk 2026 details + the new kids' zone & Therapy VillageConnect with NAMI Louisville:🌐 namilouisville.org📸 Instagram: @NAMILouisville📘 Facebook: NAMI LouisvilleNAMI Walk 2026📅 September 12, 2026📍 Waterfront Park, Louisville, KY🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PMIn a mental health crisis?📞 Call or text 988 — the national mental health crisis lineWelcome to The Lou Review Podcast hosted by Rosa Hart 🎙️This podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond.We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys.🔹 Topics Covered: Business Growth & Marketing Branding & Creative Strategy Entrepreneurship & Startups Local Louisville Stories & Culture Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter.

July 20, 202631 min

Colonel Sanders' Kentucky Memorabilia Auction & the Claudia Sanders Legacy | The Lou Review Podcast

Before Colonel Sanders was a global icon, he was a Kentuckian. Now, for the first time in 50 years, his personal world is going up for auction. In this episode of The Lou Review, host Rosa Hart sits down with Jonathan Klunk, the real estate professional and Kentucky Colonel helping bring nearly 100 of Colonel Harland Sanders' personal artifacts to auction on July 28 at Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Key dates: Preview Day: Monday, July 27, noon to 6 PM Live and syndicated auction: Tuesday, July 28 at 6 PM ET Bid in person or online from anywhere in the world. View all auction items and register at ⁠ ClaudiaSandersAuction.com⁠ Jonathan shares the remarkable story of Blackwood Hall, the Colonel's home of 25 years and the original headquarters of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the Settle family, hand-selected by the Colonel himself to carry on his legacy. From a mysterious handwritten recipe with 11 herbs and spices (and the 2001 lawsuit it sparked with KFC) to his 1956 day planner, engraved pressure cooker, and photo albums from his travels to Japan, these artifacts have been preserved in place, untouched, for five decades. In this episode: Why the Colonel sold KFC for $2 million, and what happened five years later How Cherry Settle went from KFC employee to owner of the Colonel's beloved restaurant, with a loan from the Colonel himself The unlabeled recipe of 11 herbs and spices that KFC's lawyers came knocking for Japan's surprising love affair with Colonel Sanders (yes, they dress him as Santa) What it means to be a Kentucky Colonel, and how the "Chicken Man" became a marketing mastermind The sealed bid auction for Claudia Sanders Dinner House itself, including the restaurant, the historic home, and the Claudia Sanders trademark Connect with The Lou Review: Like, follow, and subscribe so you never miss the people and places making Louisville and the region unlike anywhere else.

July 6, 202635 min

Flipping Businesses to Decoding Science: Kristina Does Research | The Lou Review Podcast

She bought a window cleaning business, ran it for less than a year, and sold it at a profit; all while using her M.D. in research, finishing an MBA, and building one of the most credible health voices on social media.Host Rosa Hart sits down with Kristina Bianca Cabañez Winner, physician, clinical researcher, foodie and travel influencer (@KristinaDoesResearch), and acquisition entrepreneur, for a wide-ranging conversation about health literacy on social media, buying and selling a business, pursuing an MBA while working full-time, and the best restaurants Louisville has to offer.Topics Covered:Kristina's pivot to health and wellness content: Why she shifted from food and lifestyle content to evidence-based health education, and why she believes social media needs more credible voices in the health spaceAcquisition entrepreneurshipHow to find a business to buy in LouisvilleKristina Does Research, the blood sugar experiment: How she compared a Hershey's bar to a date-sweetened chocolate bar and tracked her blood sugar to demonstrate the difference in real timeNutrition during pregnancy: Kristina's personal journey of eating intentionally while pregnant, and why she's mindful of the long-term metabolic impact on her babyMBA at U of L and her honest take on whether an MBA is worth it Leveraging vulnerability and asking for help: Why admitting what you don't know is one of the most powerful tools in entrepreneurshipLouisville restaurant recommendations:Oriental HouseKyushu (Japanese hibachi)Porch Restaurant (in the Omni Hotel)Grassa Gramma (Italian, immersive theming)Louisville's food and cocktail scene: Why both agree that Louisville punches above its weight classResources MentionedCodie Sanchez, acquisition entrepreneurship content creatorBizBuySell, business marketplaceETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition), local Louisville groupKristina Does Research newsletter on Beehiiv, with a new project launching late July/early AugustConnect with KristinaInstagram: @KristinaDoesResearchNewsletter: Kristina Does Research on Beehiivhttps://kristinadoesresearch.beehiiv.com/Connect with Rosa & The Lou ReviewInstagram: @RosaRavesFacebook: The Lou Review PodcastWebsite: loureview.comThe Lou Review Podcast is made possible by The Lou Review Foundation, dedicated to amplifying the messages of businesses and nonprofits making Louisville, Kentucky a great place to be.Connect with Kristina on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-cabanez/Timestamps1:51 — Kristina's pivot to health & wellness content on social media3:27 — What is acquisition entrepreneurship?4:17 — Buying the window cleaning business in 20245:28 — Learning every role: washing windows herself6:46 — How to find a business to buy in Louisville7:22 — BizBuySell & business marketplaces10:32 — ETA: Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition group in Louisville13:18 — Kristina Does Research: evidence-based health content14:09 — The blood sugar experiment: Hershey's vs. date-sweetened chocolate16:16 — Eating intentionally during pregnancy18:58 — Louisville restaurant recommendations19:32 — Oriental House, Kyushu, Porch Restaurant & Grassa Grandma23:54 — MBA at University of Louisville: experience & value25:34 — Previous businesses: medical school solopreneur to hiring employees34:19 — Where to follow Kristina & closingThis podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond.We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys.🔹 Topics Covered:- Business Growth & Marketing- Branding & Creative Strategy- Entrepreneurship & Startups- Local Louisville Stories & CultureSubscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter.#Podcast #BusinessPodcast #Branding #Entrepreneurship #Louisville

June 23, 202631 min

The F Words Every Woman Needs to Live By ft. Louisville Confidence Curator: Chris Fulkerson

Rosa Hart sits down with Louisville keynote speaker and confidence curator Chris Fulkerson to talk about personal reinvention, empowering women, and the "F Words to Live By" framework she teaches across the country. In this episode: How Barbie birthday parties became a symbol of joy and resilience after profound personal loss The journey from image consulting (closets, fashion shows, feng shui!) to full-time keynote speaking Why dressing women on the outside can't work if they're not supported on the inside The "F Words to Live By": Food, Fashion, Fitness, Fun & Friendship A moving story from a Dress for Success Louisville fashion show that illustrates the power of community and saying yes to yourself How Toastmasters and the National Speakers Association transformed Chris's speaking career Dress for Success Louisville's work — including outreach to teachers and rural counties Timestamps: 1:17 – Meeting through Toastmasters & NSA Louisville 1:38 – The Barbie birthday party origin story 2:17 – Grief and the mindset shift behind the parties 7:00 – Goal: a 100th Barbie party 11:17 – What image consulting really involves 14:45 – The mission: women saying yes to themselves 17:00 – The F Words to Live By framework 20:40 – Self-care is not selfish 22:35 – Breaking cycles of self-sacrifice for our kids 26:00 – Toastmasters & NSA journey 30:20 – The power of storytelling 36:38 – What Chris's business looks like today 38:00 – Dress for Success: "Turning Over a New Leaf" story 44:14 – Dress for Success mobile outreach 46:07 – How to book Chris 47:05 – Wags Pet Therapy & dog fashion show 49:59 – Outro Find Chris: fwordstoliveby.com Instagram: @chris_fulkerson The Lou Review podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond. We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys. Topics Covered:- Business Growth & Marketing- Branding & Creative Strategy- Entrepreneurship & Startups- Local Louisville Stories & CultureSubscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter. Learn more about The Lou Review Foundation Inc at LouReview.com Connect with host, Rosa Hart on Instagram: @RosaRaves

June 15, 202644 min

Weaving Louisville's Housing Safety Net ft. Ra'Shann Martin

What does it actually take to end homelessness in a city? Rosa Hart sits down with Ra'Shann Martin, Executive Director of St. John's Center for Homeless Men, to find out. Ra'Shann didn't start in homeless services — he started with young people. His work at YouthBuild showed him how quickly housing instability derails a life, and that realization sent him on a path that eventually led to leading one of Louisville's most essential nonprofits. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on what homelessness in Louisville really looks like, who it affects, and what's actually working. In this episode: Ra'Shann shares his journey from YouthBuild to executive leadership, including the unexpected phone call that changed everything. He breaks down how St. John's Center operates across shelter, outreach, and permanent housing — and why something as simple as a mailing address can be the difference between stability and crisis. He introduces Sheehan Landing, the new 80-unit permanent supportive housing complex, and tells the story of an 83-year-old man found living in an encampment who now has a home. He also unpacks the myths around homelessness in Louisville, explains the new Outreach Referral Tool as a compassionate alternative to calling 911 or 311, and answers the question everyone wants to ask: should you give money to someone panhandling? You'll walk away knowing: What homelessness in Louisville actually looks like — and who it affects How permanent supportive housing works and why it changes outcomes What the Outreach Referral Tool is and how to use it What supplies are always needed (it's not just socks) How employers, volunteers, and community members can get involved right now Connect with St. John's Center: Website: stjohnscenter.org Outreach Referral Tool: stjohnscenter.org (click "Referral Tool") Phone: 502-568-6758 (ask for Outreach) Connect with Ra'Shann Martin on LinkedIn Support the work: Donate, volunteer, or explore partnership opportunities at stjohnscenter.org Know a Louisville mover and shaker making a difference? Rosa wants to hear from you.

June 8, 202626 min

Equus Flight Academy ft. Ebony Bartee

On this episode, host Rosa Hart sits down with Ebony Bartee, co-owner and Senior VP of Equus Flight Academy, and one of fewer than 12 Black women in the U.S. to ever own a Part 141 flight school. Ebony shares how she "tripped into a Cessna" with zero aviation background and now leads a multi-location flight training company spanning Kentucky, Indiana, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Florida. But this episode is about much more than planes. Ebony is described as a "pipeline builder" on a mission to bring awareness, accessibility, and affordability to the aviation industry, starting as early as kindergarten. From co-founding an Aerospace Engineering CTE program at W.E.B. Du Bois Academy to drone certifications, discovery flights, and dual credit high school programs, she's opening doors to 200+ aviation career paths that most people never knew existed. In this episode: What Part 141 vs Part 61 flight schools actually mean How students can earn a pilot's license before their driver's license Why drone piloting is a near six-figure career at age 17 Scholarships nobody is applying for — and why you should The full spectrum of aviation careers (nurses, lawyers, engineers, IT, and more) How Jefferson County EMS is using drones in emergency response Connect with Ebony on LinkedIN 🌐 Equus Flight Academy — equusflightacademy.com 📱 Instagram: @Equus.FlightAcademy To learn more about college scholarships in aviation: https://www.aviationstart.org/ https://aopa.org/ https://www.eaa.org/eaa/learn-to-fly/scholarships https://nbaa.org/professional-development/scholarships/ The Lou Review podcast highlights powerful conversations around business, branding, entrepreneurship, and community stories from Louisville and beyond. We feature inspiring founders, creatives, and leaders sharing real insights, growth strategies, and behind-the-scenes journeys.🔹 Topics Covered:- Business Growth & Marketing- Branding & Creative Strategy- Entrepreneurship & Startups- Local Louisville Stories & CultureSubscribe for weekly podcast episodes and real conversations that matter. Learn more about The Lou Review Foundation Inc at LouReview.com Connect with host, Rosa Hart: on Instagram @RosaRaves on Linkedin