581 – Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies with Sasha Millstein

581 – Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies with Sasha Millstein

Author: Henry Lopez September 15, 2025 Duration: 38:59

Entrepreneur Sasha Millstein shares her journey launching Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies and scaling this frozen comfort food brand from idea to shelves.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/581-sasha-millstein-aunt-ethels-pot-pies/

Sasha Millstein, founder and CEO of Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies, joins Henry Lopez to share her inspiring entrepreneurial journey from concept to scaling a consumer packaged goods (CPG) business.

Launched in 2020 during the pandemic, Aunt Ethel's has sold over 75,000 units, secured placement in 100+ Wegmans stores, sold out on QVC in under six minutes, and earned features in The New York Times and How I Built This.

In this conversation, Sasha reveals the origin story of Aunt Ethel's, including her family's entrepreneurial influence, the pivotal pop-up that validated the concept, and her innovation of the first-ever two-part pot pie that solves soggy crusts and long cook times.

Sasha also discusses the challenges of packaging, co-packers, funding, navigating consultants, and ultimately landing major distribution.

"In the first three years, I think I cried every single day. But ultimately what keeps me focused is having that North star - you have to know why you started this company." – Sasha Millstein

Listeners will gain valuable insights into perseverance, the realities of the CPG space, fundraising challenges, and why doing your research and knowing your numbers is non-negotiable for entrepreneurs.

Sasha Millstein is the founder and CEO of Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies, a Brooklyn-based frozen food company reinventing comfort food with innovation and hustle. Since launching in 2020, Sasha has scaled the brand into national retail and online channels, earning acclaim for her patented two-part pot pie design.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com


Henry Lopez hosts The How of Business-How to start, run, grow and exit a small business. It’s a practical resource for anyone who wants to move beyond just the idea of entrepreneurship and into the actual work of building something. Each week, the focus is on the tangible steps and decisions involved in a business’s entire lifecycle, from that initial launch through to managing daily operations, scaling up, and even planning a future exit. You’ll hear straightforward conversations that dig into specific topics, breaking down complex challenges into manageable advice. Often, Henry sits down with a small business owner who shares their real-world experiences-the successes and the setbacks-offering a genuine look at what it takes. This podcast is built on the understanding that running a business is a series of learned skills, and it aims to provide those lessons without fluff. Whether you're sketching your first plan on a napkin or steering an established company toward growth, the discussions here are meant to be directly applicable to your own journey. Tune in for a regular dose of clarity and concrete strategies from someone who understands the day-to-day realities you face.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.
Podcast Episodes
595 – Plan to Succeed, but Prepare to Fail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:30
Planning improves your odds of success, but accepting risk, making decisions with incomplete information, and learning quickly from failure are what ultimately move a business forward. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehow…
R423 – Overcoming Decision Paralysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:46
How to overcome Decision Paralysis - assessing risk, limiting over analysis, and taking action are essential to moving a business forward. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r423-overcoming-decision-paraly…
594 – At-Will Employment with Claudia St. John [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:34
What At-Will Employment really means for small business owners. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/594-claudia-stjohn-at-will-employment/ At-will employment gives small business owners flexibility, but mis…
593 – How to Build Business Credit with Gerri Detweiler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:47
Business credit is a critical but often misunderstood tool that can unlock financing, protect your personal credit, and strengthen your small business. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/593-gerri-detweile…
592 – Smarter Inventory, Better Cash Flow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:54
Inventory is one of the most misunderstood and cash-intensive assets in a small business, and managing it strategically can dramatically improve cash flow, reduce risk, and support sustainable growth. Show Notes Page: ht…
591 – From Survival to Sustainable Business with Neri Sillaman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
Immigrant entrepreneurs often build businesses to last, and their approach to resilience, hospitality, and value creation offers powerful lessons for any small business owner. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusines…
R394 – Just Begin! with Norman Crowley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:59
Entrepreneur Norman Crowley shares his remarkable journey and explains why ideas matter far less than the courage to start and the discipline to execute. As Norman explains, "Just begin. The customer will fix your idea v…
590 – Annual Strategic Planning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:27
A practical 10-step guide to creating your small business strategic plan for the year ahead. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/590-annual-strategic-planning/ In this episode, Henry Lopez breaks down how t…
589 – The Referable Client Experience with Stacey Brown Randall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:20
A referable client experience is the key to earning organic referrals, and Stacey Brown Randall joins the show to break down how small business can get referrals without asking. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusin…
588 – Bookkeeping Essentials with Jodi Arrant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:24
Bookkeeping essentials for small business with Jodi Arrant, including best practices, and the biggest mistakes to avoid in small-business bookkeeping. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/588-jody-arrant-boo…