It’s not often small business owners get the recognition they deserve. A new podcast is changing that by giving these hardworking entrepreneurs a voice. Small Business Big Stories, hosted by David Munsey and produced by Kayla Sherman, spotlights small business owners across the country, challenging misconceptions and highlighting the resilience it takes to build a business from the ground up.
The idea for the podcast sprang from David’s desire to provide small businesses with a platform. And it’s no wonder he has such an affinity for them — his grandfather founded Munsey products, and his great uncle popularized the toaster oven.
“I just always have been fascinated by business in general, but small business more specifically, and that's what shapes the global economy, especially in the U.S.,” David says.
Growing up in Little Rock, David’s parents owned The Fresh Approach, a grocery store on Shackleford that specialized in all organic, homegrown products. Today, David manages Better Lawn and Gardens, a landscaping company founded by his father, and 403 Builders, his kitchen and bathroom remodeling company.
After realizing small business owners needed an accessible way to share their journeys, David started Small Business Big Stories in 2025. He books the guests and leads each conversation, while Kayla edits and produces the podcast.
"The biggest joy is bringing people in that run small businesses and getting to witness their story and hear their successes and watch as they remind themselves of how resilient they were — how determined to make it — and just how much it took to get where they're at," Kayla says.
"Small businesses shape every community in the country and provide employment, good commodities, experiences — all these things for people that are often overlooked,” David says.
The podcast has featured a broad spectrum of small businesses, from a mobile Western hat bar and a car dealership to a pet resort and a jewelry shop. Rather than relying on a rigid interview structure, David creates a casual space.
“I just want it to flow and be a natural conversation so that they can tell their story, and people can learn from it,” he says.
He describes sitting down with the owner of Leiva’s Coffee, Geovanni Leiva, a fourth-generation coffee farmer whose mission is to eradicate poverty in the coffee industry.
“Small businesses are making an impact globally here in Little Rock,” David says.
In the first two episodes, David chatted with Tony Knight, owner of Little Rock Landscape, and Gregg Curtis, the founder of The Good Earth, both in the landscaping industry like David himself.
“Hearing Greg’s perspective on starting a business, running a business, all the way to phasing out and selling it, from start to finish. Hearing that and what it took to be successful was fascinating to me,” David says.
As for the podcast’s future, David hopes to continue uplifting small business owners by expanding beyond Little Rock and hosting a networking event to bring together past guests and local business leaders.
Reflecting on interviews, he notices a common thread among successful small business owners.
“The people that they surrounded themselves with have really been a catalyst for their success, whether it's a customer or employee or both,” David says. “It's people that shape the small businesses.”
To listen, check out Small Business Big Stories on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
“I just always have been fascinated by business in general, but small business more specifically, and that's what shapes the global economy, especially in the U.S."