The Open House

Season one comes to a close. Thirty episodes in, and roughly 44 percent of podcasts never make it past three, so Ben and Richard take a minute to sit with that. No guest this time. Just the two of them looking back at the year: what they took from every person who sat down with them, why this town keeps surprising them, and how a show they figured might reach ten episodes turned into a weekly habi...

FROZEN TIX: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/midlandculturalcentre/2232657 Ben's Pain For A Good Cause: https://support.campfirecircle.org/diy/bens-pain-for-a-good-cause This week on The Open House Podcast, we're joined by the incredible Lori-Ann "Clants" Clancy, founder of the Georgian Bay Musical Theatre Company and a beloved educator who spent decades inspiring students across our community....

Link the Ben's Fundraiser: https://support.campfirecircle.org/diy/bens-pain-for-a-good-cause This week on The Open House Podcast, we sit down with Hope Adams, founder of We Are Resilient, registered social service worker, performer, and passionate mental health advocate. Hope shares her deeply personal journey through anxiety, depression, grief, hospitalization, and the challenges of navigating me...

What does it take to spend three and a half years building a video game from scratch? This week, Ben and Richard sit down with local game developer Joe, creator of The Edge of Allegoria , to talk about growing up in Barrie, discovering a passion for game development, and turning a side hobby into a full time career. Joe shares the incredible story of teaching himself game design, building a commun...

DONATE TO BEN'S SUFFERING FOR A GOOD CAUSE https://support.campfirecircle.org/diy/bens-pain-for-a-good-cause What happens when you combine a chocolate entrepreneur, a community builder, a mother of three under three, and one half of one of Midland's most beloved local businesses? In this episode, we sit down with Lesley Tripp of Test Batches Brewery for a conversation that goes far beyond beer and...

From butter tart-fuelled marathon talk to CrossFit competitions across Europe, this episode of the open house dives deep with Megan Marchildon, the founder of MegaMindful. Megan shares her journey from growing up in Texas and competing as a high-level track athlete, to discovering veganism on a beef farm in England, and eventually helping build one of downtown Midland’s most unique wellness-focuse...

This week on The Open House , Ben and Richard sit down with Ashley Downs, the owner of Saturday Afternoons in Midland, for one of the most honest and inspiring conversations the podcast has had yet. Ashley shares her journey from becoming a mom at 17, pulling a sled with her daughter to daycare at school, building confidence through adversity, breaking into the automotive industry with zero experi...

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 b...

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)...

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: T...

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 dow...

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 ris...

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...

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 sw...

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 bui...

Jacqueline Sunday of Sunday Restoration joins us for a conversation about vintage home decor, entrepreneurship, community, and the courage it takes to build something meaningful. What starts with sump pumps, Roll Up the Rim, and a few laughs turns into a thoughtful discussion about style, sustainability, small business ownership, imposter syndrome, and why collaboration beats competition every tim...

This week on The Open House , Ben and Richard sit down with Emily from Emily’s Esthetics to talk about what it really looks like to build a business from the ground up at just 23 years old. From getting laid off and opening her own business a month later, to growing a loyal client base, hiring a team, and dreaming about one day franchising across Canada, Emily shares the real story behind her succ...

This week on The Open House Podcast , Ben and Richard do something rare (and mildly reckless): they invite on guests they’d never met before hitting record. Meet Anna and Alex from GB Singles Social the Georgian Bay-area singles club creating real, in person connection through fun events like trivia nights, bowling, walks, and yes, the occasional euchre tournament. Think less awkward speed dating...

Title: From Banker to Builder: Dennis Aguirre on Real Estate, Fatherhood & Playing the Long Game What do you get when you mix retail sales, banking, construction, mortgages, and a little Duolingo? You get Dennis Aguirre . In this episode of The Open House Podcast , we sit down with Caledon and Vaughan realtor Dennis Aguirre to talk about: Building a real estate career from the ground up Why cl...

In this episode of The Open House Podcast , Ben Robitaille and Richard Thompson sit down with Kevin Cascagnette (yes, that Kevin you’ve probably seen “everywhere” around North Simcoe) to find out what’s behind the local-celebrity energy… and why the guy seems to have cloned himself. Kevin shares the full “what do you even do ?” breakdown, including his day job as Art Director at Collaborative Hous...

In this episode of The Open House Podcast , Ben Robitaille and Richard Thompson sit down with Jess Graham (aka Jessica Graham), a Tiny Township local wearing a few hats: artist, writer, community-builder, and current President of the North Simcoe Rotaract Club . What starts as “Ben learns who the guest is in real time” turns into a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about: Rotaract (think: Rotar...

Snowbanks, dad life, and a “gray collar” entrepreneur who can talk bearings and Blizzard (the company, not just the weather). In this episode of The Open House Podcast , Ben and Richard welcome Jake Lewis a local business operator, new dad, and all around “do whatever the day demands” kind of guy. Jake breaks down what it’s like growing up in an entrepreneur family, working alongside his dad from...

In this episode of The Open House Podcast , Ben and Richard look ahead to 2026 with equal parts optimism, honesty, and caffeine fuelled clarity. We talk goals we are excited about, fears we are not pretending do not exist, and how we actually plan a year when life includes businesses, families, mortgages, and the occasional existential spiral at 2 a.m. This is a real conversation about what succes...

In this episode, I sit down with Richard Thompson for a wide-ranging, very honest conversation about life, work, love, and some family stories that may have taken on a life of their own. We talk about Richard’s journey to becoming a mortgage broker, the twists, risks, and moments that shaped how he approaches both business and people today. He also shares how he met his wife and built a life with...

In this engaging conversation, Ben Robitaille shares his journey from a small town in Ontario to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He reflects on his early life, high school experiences, and the impact of karate and cheerleading on his personal growth. The discussion delves into the importance of coaching, accountability, and the lessons learned through various life challenges. Ben emphasizes th...