Hustle & Grind

The wildest part of this episode isn’t that a 23‑year‑old built a landscaping business from a Ford Ranger and a borrowed trailer. It’s that he did it with zero fluff, zero ego, and a mindset most entrepreneurs don’t figure out until their 40s. Jake Van Damme didn’t wait for permission. He didn’t wait for a “perfect plan.” He didn’t wait for capital. He went broke‑as‑hell, bought mulch he could bar...

On this episode of the Hustle & Grind Podcast, we're joined by one of our youngest guests ever, but don't let his age fool you. At just 20 years old, Cameron Usher has already built an impressive business with Crushers Demolition, proving that entrepreneurship isn't about age—it's about mindset, work ethic, and execution. Cameron's story is one of taking opportunities, earning trust, and deliv...

AI isn’t coming for your job — it’s coming for your blind spots. That’s the uncomfortable truth most business owners don’t want to hear. In this episode, Scotty and Ryan break down why 85% of businesses still aren’t using AI even though the tools are now powerful enough to replace hours of repetitive work with a single prompt. This conversation gets real about the fear, confusion, and hype surroun...

Chalkboards to Boardrooms: The Courage to Start, The Wisdom to Exit Today on the Hustle & Grind Podcast, we're joined by an entrepreneur whose journey has taken her from the classroom to the boardroom. Erika Oakes is the co-founder of Os & Oakes, the London-based retail and e-commerce brand she built alongside her brother from a simple idea into a well-known and beloved business. What star...

Baseball, Bins, and Being Kind Cleveland Brownlee didn’t just arrive in London, Ontario — he built a legacy here. From an Atlanta kid grinding through Division II baseball, to hitting 13 bombs at an open tryout, to becoming one of the most recognizable community leaders in the city… this story is wild. What starts as a baseball journey quickly turns into something bigger: mindset, service, resilie...

Today on the show we’re talking with a true service-industry staple: Marty Salliss, the owner and driving force behind Salliss Plumbing & Heating — a London, Ontario business that’s been keeping taps running and furnaces firing for over two decades. Since launching back in 2001, Marty has grown Salliss Plumbing & Heating into one of the most trusted names in plumbing, HVAC and emergency re...

We are so excited to have Sabina Manji on the pod!!! Sabina, is the editor and publisher of The Mom & Caregiver in London, Ont. She is also host of the Really Authentic Women RAW Podcast, the podcast for Really Authentic Women & Men alike! A lifelong Londoner, an irrepressible entrepreneur, and also a committed volunteer with Lexus of London Golf Classic, her infectious energy and engaging...

In this solo episode, Ryan gets real about the parts of entrepreneurship most people never talk about. He shares the messy, non‑linear path from corporate life to running his own marketing agency — including building a business around himself (“I built a company around me… and I couldn’t scale”), losing a friendship over a failed app, and realizing that passion without market demand is “just an ex...

Jay Gray owns Forest City Auto Glass with his wife Elena, an innovative business that is disrupting their industry in a big way! However, Jay started his career quickly accelerating to executive roles with some of the top Fortune 500 corporate companies! And also, Ryan and Jay both worked corporately together decades ago. . .talking to each other here after not seeing each other for over 10 years!...

This one’s special. Ryan sits down with three of his business partners — Eric, Cassandra, and Joel — to break down how they accidentally built one of the fastest‑growing roller hockey communities in Canada: Roller Hockey London. What started as a side‑hustle passion project has turned into an 8‑year movement with hundreds of families, a thriving youth program, international opportunities, and a cu...

Redefining London Events: The Mobile Bar Mogul’s Story From corporate grind to mobile bar mogul — Joel Richer breaks down the real challenges and rewards of stepping into entrepreneurship. Hear how he and his crew are redefining events in London with curated festivals, creative networking, and a fresh approach to community building. Bulles et Bieres website

When Gary Brown of KEMBRO Design Studio mentioned Bob Vila (the most trusted man in home improvement and tv legend) in the first minute of this episode, we knew this was going to be a banger!!!👊👍 What a blast we had with Gary on this episode! This guy has done it all, and we were fascinated with his in-depth knowledge, attention to detail and customer first approach! From starting on the ground...

From Bottled Water MLMs to Retail Burnout! Ryan and Scott revisit their craziest business attempts: bottled water MLM pitches, retail stores bleeding cash, and the rise of social shopping. They give each model a grade and share the lessons every new entrepreneur needs before diving in. **Audio fixed - Stereo enabled**

Today we have the Team of Kevin Kingma and Levi Kap on the pod - the twosome who make up K&K Realty Team! In part 2 of our special series, Realtors Corner, we bring Levi Kap on to discuss with Kevin and Levi, the dynamics of their team and why this works! Getting down to it. . .being real and not being fake, in an arguably overdone industry saturated with realtor trends and tik tok videos tryi...

We are so excited to have a "real" conversation with Kevin Kingma on a special segment called Realtors Corner! (Part 1 of 2!) Kevin is a no BS realtor who tells it like it is and gets the job done - one of the secrets to his success, and why his clients love him is his direct approach with great pace! Also a huge community advocate, Kevin is the "real" deal when it comes to the real estate industr...

2nd Gen Owner of Joe Kool's, Toboggan Brewing, Fellini Koolini's & Runt Club Pub! Today, we’re sitting down with someone who didn’t just take on the challenge of running a family business—he's continuing a legacy. Charlie Smith!! If you’ve ever grabbed a pint at Joe Kool’s, crushed a pizza at Fellini Koolini’s, or sampled craft beer with local pride at Toboggan Brewing Co., you already know th...

London's Source For Sports. Secrets to building a successful brick & mortar business!  Colin Hopper (affectionately known as 'Hop') has been the owner of London's Source for Sports for decades. A cool opportunity for our hosts Ryan and Scott to sit down with Hop, someone both of them have known for a long time being involved in sports themselves. London's Source for Sports is truly a London On...

Daniel Phillips is the creator and founder of Illbury + Goose, a Canadian-made lifestyle brand producing socially conscious apparel, apothecary, and leather goods.   In this episode Scott and Ryan get the opportunity to sit down with Dan, one of London's most iconic brand builders, and learn about the origins of Illbury + Goose as well as Dan's origin story. Having an entrepreneurial mindset from...

Don't make this MISTAKE in your business!!  This week Scott and Ryan discuss and explore a few bad experiences they had in a specific industry where the business missed the mark! The guys also explore the 'One Size Fits All, One Size Fits Some and One Size Fits One' business model! They also get into creating core cultural values in your business and also share some incredibly positive experiences...

Meaghan Terzis is a force as an entrepreneur and local London business owner. From stay at home mom turned serial entrepreneur, she owns both F45 locations in London (WestBend https://f45training.com/ca/studio/westbend/ and Masonville https://f45training.com/ca/studio/masonville/), FS8 https://fs8.com/hydepark/home a new innovative Pilates and Yoga studio AND she has started Coffee Club London htt...

In this episode, Scott and Ryan explore creating a startup with the ingredients for success! Are you starting a business based only on your passion? Is there a market that will support your startup or business? The guys explore and discuss creating commodities for your business, being discoverable and whether you should consider entering into a busy space OR finding those white spaces to dominate...

The H&G guys, Scott and Ryan are back for Season 3! In this quick intro conversation, the guys outline what people can expect with Season 3 - with an amazing guest lineup and new conversations exploring all kinds of business ideas and experiences - the good, the bad and the. . .confusing?? Jump back in and hang on for the ride with London, Ontario's business and entrepreneur podcast!!

Hey there! The Camels called. . .they want their Toes back!🐪😎 Jen Govier is here, creator and founder of HUX! Jen has done so much more than creating a product and an amazing business that solves a problem,. . .she is creating a movement that is about so much more! It's about inspiring women to live and move with more confidence! It all started when Jen caught sight of her camel toe while workin...

We are thrilled to have special guest and 5X Olympic Medalist on the show, Scott Moir!! At PyeongChang 2018, Scott Moir and partner Tessa Virtue became the most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history. Winning gold medals in both the ice dance and team events, they are the first figure skaters to own five career Olympic medals. Virtue and Moir produced one of their best seasons ever in 2016-17...

Today we have a special treat for you! We have the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and VP Co-Manufacturing at Black Fly Beverage Company Inc. here in London, Ontario. . .nope not 3 people, one guy, wearing all these hats!. . .Martin Kamil!! Martin has played an instrumental role in the company’s rapid rise through the ranks of Canada’s beverage industry to become one of the nation...