From basement radio shows and charging family members for tickets to building global brands and redefining industries.

This week on The Open House, we sit down with entrepreneur and longtime friend Justin De Bernardi to talk about his journey from competitive dance, to scaling View into an international powerhouse, to building luxury jewelry brand el&elle with his partner Louis.

We dive into burnout, ambition, leadership, OKRs, live shopping, entrepreneurship with your partner, and what it really takes to build something meaningful from the ground up.

Plus:
• Ben accidentally admits this wasn’t his first podcast
• Richard discovers Justin’s mosquito sticker empire
• Madonna gets name-dropped casually
• And somehow we end up talking black moissanite bracelets and emotional maturity in business

Honestly, one of our favourite conversations yet.

Check out el&elle.

#TheOpenHousePodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #Leadership #Jewelry #Moissanite #SmallBusiness #CanadianPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #LuxuryBrand #FounderStory

In this episode of The Open House, we sit down with Georgian Bay artist Alex McLaughlin and her story is anything but a straight line.

From growing up in Honey Harbour surrounded by nature… to working as a Toronto paramedic… to eventually taking a leap of faith into full-time art, Alex shares what it really looks like to follow a creative calling (even when it doesn’t make logical sense at first).

We get into:

• What it was like growing up in a small waterfront community—and how that shaped her work
• The reality of leaving a stable career to pursue something uncertain
• Why water has such a powerful emotional pull (and the science behind it)
• The behind-the-scenes of building a successful art business
• How creativity, mindset, and energy all play a role in her success

This one’s part mindset, part entrepreneurship, and part “maybe I should quit my job and follow my passion”… but responsibly.

If you’ve ever felt pulled toward something bigger or wondered what it actually takes to bet on yourself, this episode’s for you.

What do a raccoon in the attic, a call center job taking 100+ calls a day, and a leap from Royal Bank of Canada into entrepreneurship all have in common?

This episode.

We sit down with Joel Fox, co-founder and COO of Ownright, to unpack the real story behind building a company from scratch, and why it’s a lot less glamorous (and a lot more valuable) than most people think.

Joel walks us through:

• The unexpected lessons from his early career (including getting yelled at about mutual funds… a lot)
• Why leaving a stable corporate role is both terrifying and necessary
• The reality of starting a business during COVID—and what actually goes into those first few months
• How a frustrating real estate closing experience turned into a scalable business idea
• The truth about raising money, building a pitch deck, and finding the right investors
• Why most people underestimate the importance of their real estate lawyer (until it’s too late)
• We also get into the mindset side of things, fear, failure, and how to make decisions based on what you’ll regret not doing.

And yes… we do eventually address the raccoon situation.

If you’re an entrepreneur, thinking about making the leap, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how modern real estate services are evolving, this one’s worth your time.

This one’s got everything… small town grit, big life pivots, and a barbershop that somehow turned into a community hub.

We sit down with Chris Walsh, the owner of Hemingway’s Barbershop, to talk about his journey from the hospitality grind to building one of Midland’s most talked-about local businesses. From chasing snow in Banff to opening a shop (and now expanding into Muskoka), Chris breaks down what it really takes to bet on yourself… and win.

We get into:

• Walking away from a stable job to go all in
• Building a business from scratch (literally… tools and all)
• Why community > competition
• The reality of entrepreneurship no one talks about
• And how a barbershop became a place people actually want to hang out

There’s also a solid mix of laughs, life lessons, and yes… a raccoon rave in the attic.

If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own, this episode might just be the nudge you needed.

👉 Check out the upcoming Hemingway’s Barbershop Golf Tournament here:
https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-hemingway-s-barber-social-club-golf-tournament/

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Thanks for watching and listening. If you’re enjoying the show, make sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and we’ll see you at the next one.

What do a peanut butter porter, a paint store, and a small-town success story have in common? This episode.

We sit down with longtime Midland entrepreneur Jamie Tripp to unpack the journey behind building not one, but multiple businesses in our community. From discovering Midland by accident in the 90s to running a paint store for nearly three decades, Jamie shares what it really takes to take risks, adapt, and grow in a small-town market.

We get into:

• The unexpected move that changed everything
• What it’s like buying a declining business and turning it around
• The power of timing, including riding the HGTV wave
• Building multiple businesses while raising a young family
• Why small towns like Midland, Penetang, Tiny, and Tay are quietly some of the best places to live and build

There’s also a real conversation about entrepreneurship, community, and why sometimes the best opportunities aren’t planned at all.

If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own, moving to a smaller community, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how local business actually works, this one’s worth your time.

In this episode of The Open House Podcast, we sit down with Adrian Sauvageau, a true entrepreneur who’s built multiple businesses from the ground up… and not in the way you’d expect.

From launching a marketing agency that got wiped out by COVID, to pivoting into real estate investing, to building a community-first pawn shop, pet store, and property management business, Adrian walks us through how he turned uncertainty into opportunity.

We dive into:
• How he scaled multiple businesses using partnerships
• The mindset shift from working in the business to working on it
• Why “passive income” isn’t actually passive
• The power of calculated decisions over risky ones
• Real stories from buying, renovating, and selling properties (including a $600K win in under a year)

This is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to build something meaningful… especially when things don’t go according to plan.

If you’re into entrepreneurship, real estate, or just figuring out how to create your own path, this one’s worth the listen.

Small town life, big city roots, and a fresh take on modern dating.

In this episode of The Open House Podcast, Ben and Richard sit down with Jordana, founder of EpicDates, to talk about her move from Toronto to Simcoe County and how it led to a completely new business idea. What started as a search for community turned into a platform designed to help people connect in real life without endless swiping.

They get into why so many people are leaving the city for places like Midland and Collingwood, the challenges of building community in a smaller market, and what is really going on with dating apps right now.

You will also hear:

• Why meeting people in small towns can feel harder than expected
• How EpicDates is helping singles and couples create real experiences
• The problem with modern dating apps and what people actually want instead
• Why planning better dates can change your relationship
• A few surprisingly good local date ideas you might not have considered

There is also plenty of honest conversation about parenting, hustle culture, and finding a better balance between work and life.

If you want better date nights, stronger connections, or just a reminder of what is possible right in your own community, this episode is worth the listen.

Listen in and maybe plan your next epic night out

What happens when a nurse trades hospital shifts for a teal dog bus full of howling pups?

In this episode, we sit down with Megan, the owner of Tales and Trails Dog Retreat, to unpack how a side hustle turned into one of the most joy-filled businesses in the community. From COVID timing and gut decisions to buying a retired school bus for dogs (yes, really), Megan shares the real story behind building something from scratch, messy moments and all.

We dive into:

• Turning a passion into a full-time business (without a perfect plan)
• The reality of balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood
• Why not every dog and not every client, is the right fit
• The surprising emotional side of running a dog-based business
• And her long-term vision for a rescue or sanctuary that’ll melt your heart

Plus… what it’s actually like inside a bus full of dogs (spoiler: loud, chaotic, and oddly magical).

If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own or just need a guaranteed mood boost, this one’s for you.