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 success. The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, taking risks before you feel ready, learning to set boundaries, building a brand people trust, and why personality matters just as much as skill when growing a business.

They also get into skincare, self-care, social media, small-town business life, and the balancing act of building something big while still making time to live your actual life. It’s an honest, fun, and inspiring episode for anyone chasing a dream, growing a business, or just trying to figure things out as they go.

Plus: facials, hydrofacials, brows, bestie spa days, and a completely reasonable amount of chest-waxing talk.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bet on yourself and make it work, this episode is for you.

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, more “actually enjoying yourself while meeting new people.”

We talk about how GB Singles Social started in 2025, how they keep events welcoming and safe (including the genius “wing pal” option), why small town dating has its own special plot twists, and what success looks like when your best members literally meet someone and “graduate” out of the group.

If you’re single in the area, know someone who is, or you just miss the concept of humans talking to humans — you’re going to love this one.

Follow & Get Involved
Follow @gbsinglessocial on Instagram for event updates and the sign up form.

Next Event
April 9 at Quayles — euchre tournament night.

As always, thanks for stopping by our open house.

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 client experience beats flashy marketing every time
• The condo market reality in the GTA
• Pricing strategy in a shifting market
• Why time is your most valuable currency
• Young fatherhood, ambition, and learning to love the season you’re in

Dennis shares his journey from overnight banking shifts and insurance contracts to managing new developments and finally stepping fully into real estate in 2021. We dive into what he’s seeing in the Caledon and Vaughan markets, what buyers and sellers need to understand right now, and why playing the long game matters more than timing the perfect move.

We also get real about:

• Balancing business growth with being present as a dad
• The guilt, the grind, and the growth of entrepreneurship
• The power of “no” and protecting your time
• Social media, collaboration, and building relationships beyond your backyard

And yes… there’s plenty of golf talk.

If you’re a young parent building a business, a realtor navigating today’s market, or someone who believes ambition and gratitude can coexist, this one’s for you.

🎧 If you made it to the end… you know what to do.
Send us a message on Instagram and we’ll buy you a coffee.

⭐ Don’t forget to:

• Follow / Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
• Leave us a rating on Spotify or Apple
• Subscribe on YouTube

Thanks for stopping by our Open House. We’ll see you when the house is open.

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 House Marketing in downtown Midland (graphic design, web/UI/UX, photo, video, social, basically “if it’s creative, it’s on his desk”), plus his very not small “side hustle” as Kevin Cascagnette Photography, capturing weddings, families, newborns, and those milestone moments that somehow become more valuable every year you keep living.

From there, the conversation goes deep in the best way: why printed photos still matter in a world of endless camera rolls, how Kevin’s love of people turns into “passive networking,” and why he’d rather connect humans than do the whole stiff handshake-and-business-card routine. You’ll hear about his volunteer work with North Simcoe Rotaract (including how it got started and why it’s not as intimidating as people think), his board role with CLH Foundation, and how mentorship is less “guru worship” and more “learn the good stuff… and the stuff you’ll do differently.”

Also on the menu:

• why entrepreneurship is hard but still worth it (especially when you’re not being “corporately seasoned”)
• a surprising amount of heartfelt love for Test Batches and the community builders behind it
• Kevin’s decompression life: convertibles, story-driven video games, and why Red Dead Redemption 2 hits like an emotional freight train
• Ben’s legendary Boston accent cameo (apologies to the entire state of Massachusetts)

It’s funny, it’s thoughtful, and it’s basically a masterclass in how to build a community by simply being a good human—while still finding time to do… literally everything.

If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow/subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you’re listening (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, etc.). And if you made it to the end: congrats, you’re officially part of the Open House.

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: Rotary’s younger, fundraiser-and-community-energy cousin)
• Growing up in Tiny and the pull of nature, solitude, and slower living
• Making the leap from a family automotive business into full-time creative work
• The messy middle of entrepreneurship: structure vs freedom, income uncertainty, and trusting the long game
• Jess’ children’s books (The Old Lady in the Shed and Jem’s Unicorn, available at Indigo)
• Why her “poetic prints” hit people right in the feelings (including one hanging in Richard’s office)
• A detour into psychology, Gabor Maté, and how understanding people changes how you move through the world
• The vulnerability of markets, self-promotion, and being both the CEO and the creator of your own art business

Plus: barefoot nature therapy gets debated, a haunted violin movie is discussed, and Ben confirms that toddlers believe every older person is named “Mimi.”

Find Jess here:
Website: artistjessgraham.ca
Instagram: @artistjessgraham

Follow / subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes with more local voices you can actually run into downtown (and yes, please rate the show—future Ben and Richard will thank you).

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 a young age, and helping run a multi part operation that includes Precision Balancing Services (PBS), KG Bearing & Belting, and yes… a legal cannabis business in Victoria Harbour.

You’ll hear about
• The reality of “gray collar” work: admin one day, factory installs the next
• How Midland has changed (and hasn’t) from poutine in the old mall food court to Amazon at your door in a blizzard
• Why community, family dinners, and staying connected with friends matters more as you get older
• How becoming a dad changes everything (including sleep schedules, in hilarious ways)
• The surprisingly meaningful side of gaming and lifelong friendships built through World of Warcraft
• A quick detour into F1 fandom, because obviously

It’s warm, funny, and full of small town perspective with big life lessons. Hit play, throw it on while you shovel (again), and come hang out.

New episodes drop every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this one, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and drop us a comment with your feedback.

Connect with us
Ben Robitaille: www.bensells.ca
Richard Thompson: www.georgianbaylending.com

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 success actually looks like now. Not just revenue or growth charts, but energy, presence, health, and showing up properly for the people who matter most. We unpack how we set goals, how we measure progress, where we have screwed it up before, and what we are doing differently this time around.

If you are an entrepreneur, a parent, a partner, or someone trying to build a full life instead of just a busy one, this episode is for you.

Listen in, reflect a little, steal what works, and feel free to reach out if something resonates.

Connect with us
Ben Robitaille
ben@bensells.ca
www.bensells.ca

Richard Thompson
richard@georgianbaylending.ca
www.georiganbaylending.ca

If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is also trying to do a lot without losing themselves in the process.

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 her, before we detour into legendary family humour, including the long-running joke about multiple generations of children being conceived on the same mattress. For the record: no, that did not actually happen, but the fact that he lives in his grandparents’ house makes the story way funnier.

It’s candid, funny, self-aware, and surprisingly thoughtful, a reminder that behind every professional is a human being with a story that didn’t come from a LinkedIn headline.

If you enjoy real conversations, good-natured oversharing, and laughs with a bit of depth underneath, this episode is for you.

Contact & Connect

Ben Robitaille
Real Estate Agent
🌐 www.bensells.ca
📧 ben@bensells.ca
📱 705-535-0913
📸 Instagram: @benrobitaillerealtor

Richard Thompson
Mortgage Broker
🌐 www.georgianbaylending.ca
📧 richard@georgianbaylending.ca
📸 Instagram: @georgianbaylending