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Excelsior! is a Twin Cities platform dedicated to the people, stories, art, music, businesses, and ideas shaping the community. Through conversations, interviews, photography, events, and independent media, Excelsior! puts the spotlight on the people doing interesting things in Minnesota. It’s a place to discover local voices, hear the stories behind the work, and connect with the people making the Twin Cities what it is.
Episodes

Jul 15, 2026
Jul 15, 2026
1 hr 30 min
Who knew diapers could make for such a fun conversation? 💚
In this episode of Excelsior!, I sit down with Eric Forseth, the new owner of Do Good Diapers, a Twin Cities cloth diaper service that makes cloth diapering easy for busy families. As a customer myself, I can honestly say—I LOVE their service!
This episode was extra special because my one-year-old son, Wilhelm, joined us for the recording—and how fitting is that? He's been wearing Do Good Diapers since he was a baby! It was the perfect reminder of why I wanted to have Eric on the podcast in the first place.
Eric shares what it's like taking over the business, how their convenient pickup and delivery service takes the stress out of cloth diapering, and why choosing cloth is a win for both families and the environment. We also chat about entrepreneurship, building a purpose-driven business, and the small choices that can make a big impact in our communities.
Whether you're expecting a baby, raising little ones, curious about sustainable living, or just love hearing the stories behind amazing local businesses, this episode is for you!
Learn more about Do Good Diapers: https://dogooddiapers.com

Jul 10, 2026
Jul 10, 2026
2 hr 2 min
Chat with Britt Brat who is the lead singer of Varmints Minneapolis band.

Jun 27, 2026
Jun 27, 2026
1 hr 5 min
I sit down with one of my favorites, Laura Larsen, co-owner of Hounds Tooth Grooming in Saint Paul!
Laura has been my trusted dog groomer (and on-call nail trimmer!) for years, so it was such a joy to have her in the studio. She recently took the leap into business ownership with two partners, opening Hounds Tooth Grooming, where they offer a more personalized, one-on-one grooming experience designed to keep every dog calm, comfortable, and cared for. They're already booking weeks in advance—and they're absolutely worth the wait.
We talk all things dogs, what it's like owning a small business, and Laura's journey to becoming a business owner. We also chat about her hobbies, her wonderfully goofy personality, and her experience as a queer woman entrepreneur creating a welcoming space for both pets and their people.
To make things even more entertaining, my one-year-old son, Wilhelm, joined us in the studio, so expect plenty of toddler cameos, laughs, and wonderfully chaotic moments throughout the episode.
This conversation is full of heart, humor, and a whole lot of dog love. I hope you enjoy getting to know Laura as much as I have over the years!
Hear more Excelsiorp.com

Jun 17, 2026
Jun 17, 2026
1 hr 21 min
What happens when you combine a conversation about the Akashic Records with a very energetic one-year-old? A fun episode filled with great conversation and a few unexpected moments!
This week I'm joined by Britta, an Akashic Records Reader and founder of Aligned & Undefined. We talk about what the Akashic Records are, how she became an Akashic Records reader, what a session looks like, and how she helps people gain clarity through her readings. If you've ever wondered what the Akashic Records are all about, this episode is a great place to start.
Of course, my one-year-old son, Wilhelm, had plans of his own—running around the studio, exploring everything he could find, and making a few surprise appearances along the way. It made for some funny moments and a reminder that sometimes the best conversations happen when life doesn't go exactly as planned.
Enjoy this fun conversation with Britta as we learn more about the Akashic Records and the work she does.
Want to hear more?
www.excelsiorp.com
Connect with Britta
🌐 Website: www.alignedandundefined.com
📸 Instagram: @alignedandundefined
▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@alignedandundefined?si=7jpnaGZ7GRiT6P1A

May 11, 2026
May 11, 2026
1 hr 19 min
I got to sit down with Dan Rosen — singer, guitarist, writer, and creator of the Twin Cities band 🔪 — for a really fun episode of Excelsior!
We talked about music, writing, creativity, art, and so much more. Dan and I have been working together on visuals for the band’s upcoming album release, and I get the honor of creating their album photos. They are incredibly talented, and it’s been awesome getting to know him through the creative process.
Funny enough, even though we’d already been collaborating on the art, this podcast chat was actually the first time we met in person.
🔪 has a new album coming soon, and I’m excited for everyone to hear what they’ve been creating.
hear more at www.excelsiorp.com

Apr 19, 2026
Apr 19, 2026
1 hr 14 min
Of course Kendall loves pho… because I do too. It was only fitting that the title of this episode came naturally after realizing yet another thing we have in common.
This episode felt like meeting my personality doppelgänger. For years, people have told Kendall Diveley and me that we have the same energy, similar personalities, and needed to meet someday. We both throw events, have a mission to build a vibrant community, and love bringing people together through connection and conversation. Well… we finally met, and it instantly made sense.
We also discovered we both grew up shy and withdrawn in school, and both had to find our voices later in life. Now we each use that voice to create spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and inspired.
We dive into Kendall’s incredibly inspiring project, The Sociable Circuit—a one-of-a-kind event where speakers discuss a topic while the audience can toss marshmallows if they have questions. It’s creative, hilarious, interactive, and exactly the kind of community-building energy the world needs more of.
I had so much fun chatting with Kendall and getting excited about everything she’s creating. Listen to her story, learn who she is, and hear why I’m so excited for us to team up and do more together in the future. This is an episode full of laughter, inspiration, and two women passionate about making the world a little brighter.
Sociable Circuit | Utepils Brewing
The Social Circuit Co (@socialcircuit.co) • Instagram photos and videos
see more at www.excelsiorp.com

Apr 13, 2026
Apr 13, 2026
1 hr 4 min
This is an episode you don’t want to miss.
I caught up with my favorite comedian, Chicky Dabs—a well-known Twin Cities comic—who also happens to be five months pregnant, and we got into everything.
We talked babies, life, and what it’s like being on stage while pregnant. She shared stories from her first visit to the Comedy Mothership, including meeting Pauly Shore, and her unforgettable run-in with Tony Hinchcliffe from Kill Tony… where she may have accidentally pissed him off 😅
✨ And if you want to see her live—I’m hosting a comedy show with Chicky headlining on June 6th. Grab your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986179068059?aff=oddtdtcreato
Password required—message me to get access 🎟️
www.excelsiorp.com

Apr 8, 2026
Apr 8, 2026
1 hr 14 min
I sat down with Richard Anderson—truly a Minneapolis icon—and from the moment he walked in, he was dressed head to toe in color. It felt like the perfect reflection of who he is and what he brings to this city.
One of my favorite moments from our conversation was when he shared that so much of his success is because of women—the support, the belief, and the opportunities they gave him along the way. It was such a powerful reminder of how community shapes us.
Today, you can see his influence all over Minneapolis. Through his decorating, his flowers, and the spaces he transforms, he’s constantly adding beauty and life to the city. He’s not just creating art—he’s shaping the energy of the community in such a positive, lasting way.
Richard is a reminder that when you fully step into who you are, you don’t just change your own path—you make the world around you more vibrant too.
✨ Check out upcoming events at www.Excelsiorp.com

Apr 1, 2026
Apr 1, 2026
1 hr 12 min
Before we ever met in person, Eva Johnson and I already had mutual—circling each other on the internet, realizing we knew a million of the same people, and bonding over our shared love language: dive bars.
Eva is the creative force behind Grandpa’s Pool House—a sexy, playful indoor pool house tucked away in Stanchfield, Minnesota. It’s the kind of place that feels like a hidden world… a photographer’s dream, a cinematic backdrop, and honestly, a full-on vibe. This gem has quietly become a go-to for creatives and even film productions, all in a small town just outside Cambridge.
She’s living proof that you can build something wildly unique from nothing but vision and grit. Eva shares how she brought this dream to life on her own—and didn’t stop there. She recently opened a wedding chapel in North Saint Paul called The Garter Toss—the “dive bar of wedding chapels.” Think: unapologetically fun, affordable, a little rebellious, and completely stripped of the pressure that weddings usually carry.
And in true life-meets-art fashion, we also bonded over something deeper—we both had babies around the same time. Wilhelm didn’t make it into the studio, but her 9-month-old absolutely stole the show.
Host Bachelorette Party | Vintage Vacation Rental | Minnesota

Mar 25, 2026
Mar 25, 2026
1 hr 37 min
Finally—a new barber fills the seat.
But this isn’t just a haircut…
In this episode of Excelsior!, I sit down with Peter Qualley, the new barber in St. Francis, Minnesota. Over a shared love of 1919 Root Beer, we go beyond the chair and into his story—who he is, how he grew up, and the values that shaped him.
This conversation is about more than the craft. It’s about purpose, identity, and what it means to show up for a community.
Find out who Peter Qualley really is.
St Francis barber shop@ Facebook
/https://www.stfrancisbarbershop.com/
find more at www.excelsiorp.com
