The Hard Truth Podcast

"Your first property will probably be your worst property." Danielle Chiasson went from growing up on welfare to building a successful real estate portfolio, coaching investors across Canada, and helping people avoid the costly mistakes she learned through decades of experience. In this episode of The Hard Truth Podcast, we sit down to discuss her journey building a successful real estat...

"I couldn't outpace inflation by having a job." In this episode of The Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Gary Hibbert to discuss how he built a 19-property real estate portfolio while working a full-time job. From buying his first rental property in 2008 to scaling through partnerships, raising capital, and eventually leaving his corporate career, Gary shares the lessons, mistakes...

“A good buy opportunity isn’t when everyone says you should do it. A good buy opportunity is when it doesn’t feel good.” In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Kasey Wong to talk about the realities of being a landlord and building a real estate portfolio over the long term. From difficult tenants and unexpected challenges to scaling into larger multi-family buildings, Kasey sh...

“If you’re underwriting deals the same way you did two years ago, those pro formas are not going to work today.” In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Chris Sayers of 4Capital to break down recent CMHC rule changes in 2026 and what they actually mean for real estate investors and developers across Canada. CMHC just changed the rules, from energy efficiency requirements to rent...

"The market isn’t crashing — it’s correcting. And the best opportunities don’t feel good while you’re buying them." In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Mica Sadler, a real estate investor, former tech executive, and co-founder of the Real Estate Collective, to unpack 20 years of real estate cycles, from BRRRRing student rentals before YouTube, to navigating today’s...

“I had the mayor standing in my unfinished basement because the city was blocking housing they said they wanted.” In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Dan Illes, a real estate investor and developer with a background in civil engineering and urban planning, to break down the real challenges behind infill development, zoning, and municipal approvals in Ontario. Dan shares how...

“If CMHC wasn’t around, the multifamily construction side would have completely collapsed over the last couple of years.” In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with mortgage broker and multifamily financing expert Ehren Laycock of BLD Financial to break down the realities behind CMHC financing, MLI Select, commercial lending, and how the last 5 years have completely reshaped Canadi...

“The laws have not protected anyone, not even the good tenants.” In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with landlord and housing advocate Kayla Andrade of Ontario Landlords Watch to explore the realities of property management, tenant rights, and navigating Ontario’s complex housing policies. From managing multi-unit properties to advocating for landlords, Kayla shares her journey...

If your goal is to make $10,000/month of cashflow off your rental properties, Kory MacKinnon has a Hard Truth you need to hear!  In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, Kyle Ford sits down with real estate investor and coach Kory MacKinnon, who shares how growing up in a duplex gave him an early start in real estate and how he went from buying his first off-market six-plex in London, Ontario to...

In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with realtor and investor Abe Thiessen to reveal the unconventional strategies making flips profitable in Ontario. From from growing up in Mexico to buying his first property at 19 off Kijiji, Abe shares how he scaled into duplex builds, double-lot severances, and deep-discount flips that most investors overlook. We dive into: ✅ How Abe bought...

"Politicians say things like, 'We want to build communities.'  These are the guys actually building communities..." In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Kartik Singla and Jimmy La from the Sustainable Development Group, who are real estate developers and entrepreneurs building a village of over 100 units in Barrie, Ontario. They share their journey from bu...

Bouncer to Brokerage CEO: The Hard Truths Behind Real Estate Success In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Justin Konikow realtor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Prime Real Estate Brokerage. We cover: ✅ Why most agents and investors stay stuck ✅ The “success trap” no one talks about ✅ How Justin earned mentorship from giants like Ryan Serhant & Scott McGillivray ✅ Why...

"Everyone forgets this: you’re in it to make money..." In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Wybo, real estate investor, social media personality, and partner at Foundation Capital, to unpack what it really means to build wealth in real estate—not just broker it for someone else. Jeff shares his journey from realtor to investor, and why he's making the cons...

"Right now we are at $350,000 owed in rent..." In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with James Fernandez, real estate investor and entrepreneur, to uncover the Hard Truths behind building and scaling a successful real estate business. We dive into his journey—how he scaled from 0 to 40 units in just one year, bought a 33-unit apartment building and navigated the pivot to...

"I don’t care what your guru told you, not everybody can do this." In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Zack Brittain, real estate investor and owner of Phipps Brittain Real Estate and King Street Construction, to explore the Hard Truths of building a sustainable real estate business. We dive into his journey, from investing without using OPM to launching King Stree...

"The days of 10 duplexes are over. If you're risk adverse you're not making money in this market." In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Josh Findlay, a professional mortgage broker, real estate investor, co-owner of  @bldfinancial and CMHC specialist, to explore the hard truths of the MLI Select program and why it's essential for investors to have cap...

If you want to become a Full-Time Real Estate Investor in 2025 you need to listen to this! In this episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Mit Perin, real estate investor, CPA, and partner at Foundation Capital, to explore the Hard Truths of transitioning from accounting to full-time real estate investing. We dive into his journey, from his first joint ventures to to becoming an active...

Is it too late to become a real estate investor in Canada? In the sixth episode of the podcast, I sit down with Andrew Hines, real estate investor, entrepreneur, and fellow podcaster, to talk about the 'Hard Truths' of scaling as an investor, US real estate investing, and strategies for success in hospitality. We dive into his journey, from analyzing risk and stepping outside his comfort...

Welcome to the Hard Truth Podcast! In the fifth episode of the podcast, I sit down with Nicholas Brown, Mortgage Broker and Real Estate Investor, to talk about the 'Hard Truths' of investing and financing commercial real estate. We dive into his real estate investing journey from his first project, to becoming a one of the youngest top performing commercial mortgage brokers in the countr...

Is it possible to run a business with family members successfully? In the fourth episode of the podcast, I sit down with Judi Paré, President and CEO of Plentitude, who went from facing hidden homelessness to leading a rapidly growing family run real estate investment firm to uncover the 'Hard Truths' when it comes to building a successful business with family members. Did you enjoy &amp...

Welcome to the Hard Truth Podcast! In third episode of the podcast, I sit down with David Giustizia, Mortgage Broker, Real Estate Investor, and a wealth of knowledge, to uncover the 'Hard Truths' when it comes to real estate investing. After diving into David's background as an investor and broker, we dive into what he see's as an often overlooked but crucial topic: risk manage...

In the second episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Terri Lynn Legault, Mortgage Agent, Real Estate Investor & my sister to talk about the Hard Truth behind trying to achieve truly passive income through real estate investing. From leaving her job as a correctional officer and cashing out her pension (the right way), Terri shares her journey and success in real estate investing ut...

Is US Real Estate Investing the right move for Canadians?  In the first episode of the Hard Truth Podcast, I sit down with Steve Aho, Mortgage Agent at Mortgage Alliance & Co-Trustee at CapGap Mortgages, to talk about the Hard Truth behind trying to achieve truly passive income through real estate investing.  From starting with a turn-key single family home rental property that was 'more...