Beyond Four Walls

What if your workout was designed to help you feel good — not punish you? Nat Harrison, founder of SOAR, built a movement and mental health studio that does exactly that. Nat Harrison spent over a decade in corporate marketing — working on brands like Gatorade and Nike Canada — before stepping away to raise her family. What followed was an unexpected journey: a backyard barre class that grew into...

Brittany Gray is the founder of Fancy Face, a luxury beauty brand and brick-and-mortar studio built on the belief that "fancy is a feeling." A former professional performer who was cast in the Oscar-winning movie Chicago at age 15, Brittany has translated her background in theatre and dance into a beauty company known for its distinctive aesthetic and high-performance products. The conve...

Melissa Gallagher is the Founder of AlmaCare, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the postnatal and family care industry in Canada. Previously the Chief Marketing Officer at Freshii, Melissa pivoted to entrepreneurship after experiencing a significant gap in support during her own postpartum journey. Melissa joins the podcast to discuss the reality of the "fourth trimester" and why th...

Sydney Robertson is a media industry veteran with over 20 years of experience leading high-performance sales teams at Twitter (now X), Google, AOL, and Yahoo. Currently a Video Partner Lead at Google, she is also the co-founder of Element, an organization dedicated to empowering women to invest and lead global change. Sydney joins the podcast to discuss the reality of a non-linear career path. She...

Healthcare CMO Daniel Shearer reveals how Maple became Canada's #1 virtual care platform - and why Canada's aging population crisis demands urgent innovation in how we access medical care. From leading iconic campaigns like SickKids VS to scaling a healthcare startup, Shearer shares hard-won lessons on customer obsession, culture preservation, and building brands that solve real problems....

Jackie Prince shares how she built Guests on Earth from pandemic idea to retail success. Female entrepreneur tips, fundraising advice, DTC brand strategy, and work-life balance for moms in business. In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, host Natasha Penzo sits down with Jackie Prince, founder of Guests on Earth, a Toronto-based sustainable cleaning brand redefining the home care industry. From her...

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, Natasha & Gabrielle sit down with Steph Gee, partner at Gee Beauty—the multi-generational beauty destination and product line with studios in Toronto and Miami. We talk about building a family business, the operations + HR systems behind a high-touch brows, facials, and makeup studio, and how the team keeps every touchpoint cohesive while expanding. Steph...

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, host Natasha Penzo sits down with Ally Mamalieder, President and second-generation founder of Organic Traditions. We cover her leap from corporate communications to leading the family business, the rebrand (what to keep vs. evolve), and how she turned single-ingredient superfoods into everyday blends people actually use. Ally breaks down “blends over trends” p...

Choosing the right school for your child can be really stressful, especially after everything families have been through in recent years. In this episode, Natasha talks with Jessica Diamond, founder of Diamond Education Consulting, about how to make school decisions easier and more thoughtful. Jessica has worked in education for over 16 years, and now helps families figure out what kind of school...

Kate Taylor Martin didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. But when her work in hospitals opened her eyes to a broken food system, she followed a calling into holistic nutrition and eventually launched Nutbar, a superfood café rooted in quality, care, and healing. In this episode, Kate shares how she opened Nutbar while pregnant with her first child, scaled her business through COVID, and stayed gro...

Hana James co-founded Greenhouse Juice Co. and turned a single Toronto shop into one of Canada’s most iconic wellness brands. In this episode, she shares how she built a multi-million dollar business while staying true to sustainability and health. We talk about what it really takes to start a wellness brand from scratch, the truth about “healthy” juice, scaling a company without selling out, and...

Anna Morrison left a high-stress career producing luxury photo shoots to start something that brought her and others closer to what matters: time, connection, and unforgettable travel memories with family. She’s the founder of AM Travel, a luxury travel business that curates personal, meaningful trips for families and individuals looking to enjoy the world without the overwhelm of planning it all....

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, Gabrielle Chapman sits down with Olivia and Luca Penzo to discuss their journey of transforming their home into a family sanctuary. They share their insights on renovation planning, making bold design choices, and balancing family life during the construction process. They reflect on their neighborhood's charm and offer advice to families facing similar decisi...

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls , Natasha sits down with Zoe Paliare and Tanya Kololian, the visionary co-founders of Trove, Toronto’s premier wellness center. Discover how their personal wellness journeys inspired the creation of Trove. Zoe and Tanya share the story behind Trove’s name, their unique approach to building a holistic space, and how they’ve cultivated a sense of home for clients...

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls , Gabrielle chats with Natasha, founder of Homekin, a visionary interior design service. Natasha shares the inspiration behind Homekin and its mission to make interior design approachable, personalized, and accessible. They discuss the barriers in traditional interior design and how Homekin empowers clients to bring their unique vision to life. Listen in to exp...

Explore the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, design, and family in this episode of Beyond Four Walls. This conversation dives into the lives of Natalie Marshall and Ali Ushak, co-founders of multiple businesses including Kip Sleepwear, ABE Automotive, and ProShield. Discover how they balance their thriving businesses, family life, and shared passion for creating meaningful spaces. Get inspired b...

Welcome back to another episode of 'Beyond Four Walls' as we kick off season two with Syd Berchtold, co-founder of The Narwhal. Join us for a conversation about how Syd's roots in the Summerhill community and her passion for fashion and design shaped the creation of The Narwhal. Syd shares her journey from running her mom's interior design company to founding The Narwhal, focusing on female-founde...

On this episode of Beyond Four Walls, Gabrielle speaks with Lex Gallagher, owner of Toronto-based home organization company Organized by Lex. Lex shares her journey from being a health and phys-ed teacher to becoming a professional home organizer. They dive into various organizational topics, including the challenges of decluttering, dealing with sentimental items, and creating effective organizin...

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, Gabrielle sits down with interior designer Cynthia Ferguson. They discuss Cynthia’s unconventional journey into the world of interior design, her passion for color and maximalism, and her experiences working on diverse projects across Canada and beyond. Cynthia shares insights into her design philosophy, emphasizing the importance of personalization and the ti...

Join host Natasha Penzo on this episode of Beyond Four Walls as she explores luxury table settings and home experiences with Amy Burstyn Fritz, co-founder of Burstyn Inc. and the visionary behind Misette. Amy shares her journey from launching Misette during COVID-19 as a passion project with her sister to its evolution into a renowned luxury tableware line. Discover Amy's connections to Toront...

Join Debbie as she delves into the intricacies of the mortgage industry with Jason Cristiani, a seasoned mortgage broker from ClearTrust, on Beyond Four Walls. Discover Jason's unique journey from advertising to mortgages amid the challenges of COVID-19, as they explore the concept of 'marrying the house, dating the rate,' and speculate on the future of interest rates. Gain valuable in...

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, Natasha Penzo interviews Chris Kapches, the CEO and President of Chestnut Park Real Estate. Chris shares his extensive journey in the real estate industry, his experience with market changes, and the significant growth of Chestnut Park. He discusses the evolving real estate market dynamics in Toronto and surrounding areas, the impact of COVID-19, and offers in...

Join Natasha as she chats with Rachel Garbutt and Amanda Riva, the dynamic sisters and entrepreneurs behind Dotti, as they unveil the innovative journey of reshaping the cleaning product industry on Beyond Four Walls. Discover the genesis of Dotti, born from their quest for aesthetically pleasing and functional cleaning tools during home renovations, and their bold launch amidst the challenges of...

Join Natasha in an intimate conversation with her mother, Debbie Penzo, as they explore Debbie's rich and varied career journey on Beyond Four Walls. From her beginnings in fashion buying after graduating from Ryerson University to her seamless transition into real estate to balance career and family, Debbie's story is one of resilience, adaptation, and profound personal growth. In this co...

Join Natasha as she sits down with Allison Willson, the founder of Allison Willson Design, as they chat about her journey from her early days alongside Sarah Richardson to the start of her esteemed design firm on this episode of Beyond Four Walls.  Allison unravels her distinct philosophy on interior design, centred on crafting personalized and soulful spaces that seamlessly blend the occupants&#3...