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

The Garter Toss

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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

Jairid Rossow, a Minneapolis-based oil painter, stopped by my studio to talk about his art and creative process. Known for classical still lifes and plein air landscapes, Jairid shared his perspective on painting, photography, and the ways artists translate real life into their work.

This episode was recorded with just one mic in a relaxed question-and-answer style, like two artists chatting in the studio. You might also hear Willow moving around in the background, keeping the conversation grounded and natural.

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IG: jairidrossow Website: www.jairidrossow.com

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In this episode of Excelsior!, I sit down with the incredibly talented and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Mona Penny. Mona is currently pursuing her music career and is also a dedicated K-pop dancer. We talk about who she is as an artist, how she got started in music and dance, and what it means to follow your creative path and dreams.

This episode is extra special to me because Mona is my stepdaughter. Her little brother Wilhelm was hanging out with us while we recorded, which made it feel really casual and fun. We chat about art, creativity, and what it’s like growing up as an artist.

We also created a large conceptual photoshoot together—so keep an eye on my Patreon to check out the images and behind-the-scenes from that shoot.

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The Baby is ASLEEP” and for the first time ever, my husband Jerred is on the podcast 🎙️

This episode is basically me getting to talk all about him — what he does for work, what he’s been building lately, funny stories, life updates, and just who he is as a person.

It’s light, it’s fun, and it’s just us hanging out and letting you get to know him a little more.

This episode is a little different — I did a quick check-in call with a handful of past Excelsior! Podcast guests to see what they’ve been up to lately and what they’re working on heading into 2026.

We talk about what’s inspiring them right now, what they’re creating, and the exciting things on the horizon in their lives and businesses. I wish I could’ve checked in with even more people, but here are a few amazing guests I got to catch up with!

Featuring: Cassidy Anderson, Haley Stampp, Paulie Skaja, Josh Berini, Kara Roepke, Andrew Lentz, David LeDuc, and Nik Linde.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lonesome Dan in my studio for a truly special conversation. A calm, sweet soul, Dan shares his journey as a talented guitarist who has the rare gift of reinterpreting piano music on guitar while also composing his own songs.

Joining us was my husband, Jerred—a longtime fan of Dan’s music—and our 7-month-old son, Wilhelm, making for a warm, personal, and family-filled session. Dan talks about his love for playing music, his creative process, and what drives him to bring new life to both old classics and his original compositions.

True to his nature, Dan even played a few songs for us in the studio, because, as he says, he likes to play more than anything. His story, his music, and his gentle presence left us feeling inspired, and it’s clear why so many in Minneapolis are drawn to his talent.

Tune in to hear Lonesome Dan’s journey, his music, and a heartfelt look into the life of one of our city’s most cherished musicians.

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In this episode, I sit down with one of my local idols and one of the most talented singers I know — the incredible Jelly from the locally legendary band The Jelly Project. Having her in my studio was such an honor, and to make it even sweeter, our sons joined us for the conversation!

We dive into the rise of The Jelly Project, their impact on the local music scene, why they eventually went their separate ways, and the exciting news that they’re talking about getting back together to create new music and projects 🎶✨

And of course, we had to try and get ahold of her biggest fan, Sam McCall. After a few attempts… we finally reached her! 😂 You can hear the full 30-minute bonus conversation with Sam exclusively on my Patreon.

This episode is heartfelt, hilarious, nostalgic, and full of music magic. Tune in — you’re going to love this one.

Excelsior! Podcast | Creating Podcasts and sharing stories of the Twin Cities | Patreon