Starting a business is way harder than running a 100-mile ultramarathon and Ryan Hurley has done both! In this episode, hosts Sam Bauman and Adam Rondeau visit Ryan at the Lagoon warehouse to learn about his sleep and fitness company that aims to help athletes optimize their rest through an often-overlooked piece of equipment: the pillow. Ryan shares his journey from NBC Sports to founder, including the moment he realized he needed to stop trying to sell to everyone and lean into the demographic he knew best. By positioning Lagoon as "the pillow for runners" and getting comfortable putting himself out there on social media, Ryan found his niche. He talks honestly about the challenges of entrepreneurship: losing friends and family money in the first year, the months of not paying himself, and the fine line between perseverance and stupidity. But he also celebrates the flexibility and joy of building a life he loves, even if it means making less money than he would in a corporate job. His advice? Do the work, know your numbers, and run your own race.

Guest Info

• Business: Lagoon
• Guest: Ryan Hurley (he/him)
• Links: Website • Instagram

Community Shoutout

• Business: Groveland Confections
• Location: Minnetonka, MN
• Links: Website • Instagram

Other Links:

• The Drop (Believe in the Run) Podcast
• Twin Cities Marathon

Send us a text

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.

Podcast Website

Sound Editing By: Adam Rondeau
Podcast Art By: Andy Bauman (website)