Not So Small
Not So Small
Podcast Description
Running a small business is anything but small. In each episode our host, Sam Bauman, asks small business owners about their challenges, triumphs, and the passion that keeps them going. Through this, Not So Small seeks to spotlight and strengthen the small businesses that are dedicated to their community and care about more than the bottom line.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as entrepreneurship, community engagement, and personal growth. Episodes cover specific challenges like launching a business during a pandemic, as seen in the conversation with Cody-John Marks from Drop Dead Gorgeous, who speaks about inclusivity in beauty standards and work-life balance. Another episode features Mariah Hamm discussing the importance of creating an inclusive real estate brokerage, demonstrating how unique visions can redefine traditional industries.
Running a small business is anything but small. In each episode our host, Sam Bauman, asks small business owners about their challenges, triumphs, and the passion that keeps them going. Through this, Not So Small seeks to spotlight and strengthen the small businesses that are dedicated to their community and care about more than the bottom line.
Eric Forseth spent over a decade in advertising, hopping between agencies and working long hours on campaigns for major brands. But somewhere along the way, he started asking himself a question he couldn't shake: what else could I do with my life that feels more meaningful?
In May 2025, Eric and his wife bought Do Good Diapers, a cloth diaper cleaning service in the Twin Cities. That was the easy (but also scary) part. Then Eric got to work transforming the business, using his advertising skills and genuine care for people to create something that more effectively reflected his values. Within a day of ”calling in sick” to work, he and a friend built a brand from scratch: colors inspired by The Clash, authentic voice, and a clear story about serving families.
But what really drives Eric's work isn't diapers, it's relationships. He talks about business ownership as an extension of his lifelong pattern of caring about people, staying in touch, and building community. Every client interaction matters.
In our conversation, Eric shares his winding path to business ownership, how he's making cloth diapering easier and more accessible for modern parents, and his vision for working with daycares and the city to eliminate a million disposable diapers from landfills each year. In our conversation, we explore what it means to build a business on genuine human connection and find fulfillment in work that aligns with your values.
Guest Info
Community Shoutout
Host & Show Info
- Host Name: Sam Bauman (she/her)
- About the Host: Sam is the President of Mellowlark Labs, a Twin Cities-based small business consulting agency. She has a masters degree in counseling psychology, a field she worked in for several years before applying her skills in business, and is certified in Organization Development.
Sound Editing By: Adam Rondeau
Podcast Art By: Andy Bauman (website)
Disclaimer
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