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 down what it really takes to bet on yourself… and win.

We get into:

• Walking away from a stable job to go all in
• Building a business from scratch (literally… tools and all)
• Why community > competition
• The reality of entrepreneurship no one talks about
• And how a barbershop became a place people actually want to hang out

There’s also a solid mix of laughs, life lessons, and yes… a raccoon rave in the attic.

If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own, this episode might just be the nudge you needed.

👉 Check out the upcoming Hemingway’s Barbershop Golf Tournament here:
https://events.golfstatus.com/event/2026-hemingway-s-barber-social-club-golf-tournament/

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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 risks, adapt, and grow in a small-town market.

We get into:

• The unexpected move that changed everything
• What it’s like buying a declining business and turning it around
• The power of timing, including riding the HGTV wave
• Building multiple businesses while raising a young family
• Why small towns like Midland, Penetang, Tiny, and Tay are quietly some of the best places to live and build

There’s also a real conversation about entrepreneurship, community, and why sometimes the best opportunities aren’t planned at all.

If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own, moving to a smaller community, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at how local business actually works, this one’s worth your time.

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 he turned uncertainty into opportunity.

We dive into:
• How he scaled multiple businesses using partnerships
• The mindset shift from working in the business to working on it
• Why “passive income” isn’t actually passive
• The power of calculated decisions over risky ones
• Real stories from buying, renovating, and selling properties (including a $600K win in under a year)

This is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to build something meaningful… especially when things don’t go according to plan.

If you’re into entrepreneurship, real estate, or just figuring out how to create your own path, this one’s worth the listen.