The Open Concept with Brandon Smith

Maxwell Nee joins Brandon from Singapore to break down how real wealth builders think about buying businesses—especially the overlooked, under-optimized ones most people ignore. They unpack what a family office actually is, why motivated sellers matter more than “perfect” financials, and how acquisitions can become the fastest path to scale revenue, profit, and team capacity. The conversation also...

Ryan Mueller’s path is anything but typical: from performing as a Blue Man in Las Vegas to building a real estate business that helps displaced families find housing fast—while helping investors increase cash flow without the usual STR chaos. In this episode, Ryan breaks down how “insurance housing” became his edge, why “death by a thousand cuts” made him walk away from Airbnb-style rentals, and h...

Skye Waterson joins Brandon from New Zealand to break down what ADHD really is—and what it isn’t—especially for adults, business owners, and parents trying to make sense of the “everyone has ADHD” conversation. They dig into burnout, dopamine, why traditional productivity advice often backfires, and how to build systems that work with your brain instead of against it. You’ll also hear practical to...

Jonathan Ray (aka  @jonathandavidray ) joins Brandon from Atlanta to break down one of the biggest silent killers in business:  lack of clarity . They unpack why teams fall apart when “winning” isn’t defined, how leaders accidentally turn preferences into policy, and why the best clarity often shows up in the silence you’ve been avoiding. Along the way, they connect leadership, values, and consist...

Rob Gibbons joins Brandon for a deep, high-level conversation on performance, leadership, and what actually drives sustainable success. A former professional basketball player turned executive coach and growth strategist, Rob shares how elite sports culture, behavioral psychology, and communication frameworks translate directly into building winning companies. From managing egos to playing the lon...

Coach  Alan Dyck  @coachalandyck, a transformation coach out of Kelowna, joins Brandon to unpack the real work behind sustainable fitness—mindset, consistency, and identity. Alan shares his rock-bottom moment, how he lost over  120 lbs in 2.5 months , and why most people don’t fail from “bad plans”… they fail from pressure, self-sabotage, and lacking support at home. They also get into his 16-day...

David Forster joins Brandon Smith to break down what it really takes to scale a service business without drowning in chaos. As an operations coach and active COO at TOSIG Landscaping, David explains how to “lasso” visionary ideas into priorities that actually move the business forward. They dig into decision filters vs. SOPs, why most performance issues are process problems, and how strong onboard...

Matt Morizio went from chasing a childhood dream in pro baseball to building a wealth management firm that feels more like a calling than a career. In this episode, he and Brandon unpack why so many high performers get trapped by identity—“I am what I do”—and how that same trap shows up in our relationship with money. You’ll hear practical ways to spot the money beliefs you  caught  growing up, re...

Rob Ladabouche joins Brandon Smith to break down the real barriers holding trades and home service businesses back from scaling. From mindset shifts to systems, SOPs, and delegation, this episode gets brutally honest about why being great at your trade isn’t enough. If you’re stuck doing everything yourself and feeling the bottleneck, this conversation will change how you think about growth. 🎯  W...

In this powerhouse episode, Brandon sits down with  David Hori , an operator-turned-investor who has helped multiple VC-backed companies scale fast and exit through acquisition. With 10+ years navigating hyper-growth, private equity chaos, leadership bottlenecks, and operational overhauls, David now focuses on buying contractor businesses and helping owners prepare for successful exits. This conve...

In this episode, Brandon sits down with  Kindra Morse , a powerhouse leader who built massive sales teams, generated over $100M in online product volume, and is now guiding women to build real, ownable businesses rooted in their lived experiences. Kindra opens up about identity shifts, breaking old stories, rebuilding confidence, and stepping boldly into purpose. From real estate to lending to top...

Brandon sits down with  Millie Fox —author, creator, and host of  The Millie Fox Show —for a deep dive into what manifestation  really  is (and what it definitely isn’t). Millie opens up about her childhood, trauma, healing, motherhood, divorce, and how all of it shaped her No-BS approach to mindset and energetic alignment. Together, they break down the myths, the psychology, and the practical too...

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Scott Foran —President & Co-Founder of  505-Junk —to unpack what elite customer service  actually  looks like inside a fast-growing home-service business. From communication systems to conflict management to developing people who can think in the “gray,” Scott breaks down the processes that helped 505-Junk win  Service Business of the Year . Plus, the tw...

In this episode, Brandon sits down with  Manja Horner , CEO & Founder of  Boost Development , to explore what it really takes to build strong leaders and resilient cultures inside skilled-trades and home-service businesses. Manja breaks down the reality of today’s workforce, why young people’s expectations have shifted, and how owners can rethink onboarding, training, and workplace culture to...

In this episode of  The Open Concept , Brandon welcomes  Sam Shaw , founder of  Assist-Her , a Canadian-based virtual assistant agency supporting entrepreneurs with high-level admin, operations, and creative support. Sam shares how she built her company from the ground up, why local VAs are outperforming offshore alternatives, and what business owners should really consider before hiring their fir...

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Dane Miklaus  — founder of Work Training Studios and Macro Managed, an AI implementation consultancy. From growing up in Northern California to building multi-location fitness studios, navigating loss, and now helping businesses adopt AI, Dane opens up with rare honesty. This conversation dives into personal transformation, the future of AI, and how discipli...

Brandon Smith returns with  Part 2  of the mini-series to tackle the third path:  relocating . He lays out when moving actually makes sense in the Vancouver/Lower Mainland market, the hidden costs most homeowners miss, and a practical decision framework to choose between renovating, rebuilding, or moving. Expect straight talk, real trade-offs, and a 10-year lens for smarter, calmer choices. 🎯  Wh...

Brandon Smith breaks down the brutally honest choice many Lower Mainland homeowners face:  renovate or build new . Drawing on 15+ years in the field with New Vision Projects, he explains when a reno is smart, when a rebuild wins, and how to avoid expensive half-measures. This is Part 1 of a two-part series designed to help you make a clear, confident, financially sound decision. 🎯  What You'l...

In this episode of  The Open Concept , Brandon sits down with  Graeme Barlow  — serial entrepreneur, investor, public speaker, and founder’s coach — to unpack what it  really  takes to build and scale a company from zero to $5M. From cutting through bad startup advice to the power of simplicity and focus in business, Graeme shares how founders can grow smarter, not just faster. Plus, they dig into...

Brandon sits down with  Isabelle Tremblay , a marketing executive–turned entrepreneur, author, and speaker whose bestselling book  Love, Lead, Succeed: The Supernatural Approach to Business and Life  charts her journey from corporate burnout to heart-led leadership. After 24 years in high-pressure roles, Isabelle rebuilt from the inside out—through meditation, mindset, and values-aligned culture....

Today’s episode is a solo deep dive with host Brandon Smith, breaking down the  eight core principles  that separate a smooth, successful renovation from a nightmare project. Whether you’re a homeowner planning your dream build or a contractor striving to elevate your systems, these project management fundamentals—rooted in PMI standards—will help you avoid blown budgets, missed deadlines, and end...

Brady Lowe has spent over 20 years shaping hospitality into a platform for community, sustainability, and unforgettable experiences. From founding  Cochon555 , a national chef competition championing heritage breed pigs, to launching Piggy Bank, a nonprofit creating free business plans for small farmers, Brady has built movements around food, culture, and connection. In this episode, he sits down...

Kerri Roberts, HR strategist, author of  The HR Easy Button , and founder of Salt and Light Advisors, joins this episode to dive into the world of people operations, culture, and AI’s growing role in HR. Kerri shares her journey from corporate HR and M&A to launching her own advisory firm, serving small to mid-sized businesses with fractional and project-based HR support. We explore hiring str...

Matt Kuehlhorn, founder of Kooler Garage Doors and host of the  Craft Your Life  podcast, joins us on this episode. From painting walls for $20 an hour to building a multi–eight figure exit business, Matt shares his journey of resilience, reinvention, and relentless growth. We dive into his background in education and nonprofit work, the leap into entrepreneurship, and the culture-driven leadershi...

Les Wikiriwhi, an entrepreneur and ultra-marathon runner from New Zealand, joins us on this episode. Les shares his remarkable journey from a turbulent past of alcohol abuse to building a disciplined life fueled by resilience and purpose. We dive into how small habits create massive change, the power of pushing through resistance, and how Les helps New Zealanders transition to new opportunities in...