Meet your host + homeowner, robert
Robert Hartwell is the Host and Executive Producer of Breaking New Ground, a television show presented by OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, HGTV, and Scott Brothers Entertainment premiering on HBO MAX in 2024.
He is a Storytelling Expert, Professional Speaker, Award-Winning Broadway Performer, Director, and CEO of Strength On Stages in NYC.
From screen to stage, Robert is joy personified and makes hearts sing. He’s performed in 5 Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals and starred in Pharrell and Jay-Z’s hit music video, “Entrepreneur.” Robert’s work has been featured in countless media outlets, including Good Morning America, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, People, and more.
Robert’s story of purchasing a 200-year-old colonial mansion (which was built back when slavery was still legal Federally in the US), went viral, reaching millions of people who were touched by his message of reinvention, liberation, and hope. As a Black gay man, he vowed to fill this home with love, honor his ancestors, tell their stories, and say their names.
When Robert isn’t telling stories and helping others do the same, he’s obsessing over NPR, his La Marzocco latte art, and dusting his 13 chandeliers. He divides his time between New York City, Los Angeles, and his new home in Massachusetts.
