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

In this engaging conversation, Ben Robitaille shares his journey from a small town in Ontario to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He reflects on his early life, high school experiences, and the impact of karate and cheerleading on his personal growth. The discussion delves into the importance of coaching, accountability, and the lessons learned through various life challenges. Ben emphasizes the value of genuine connections and the significance of celebrating youth and personal achievements. The conversation concludes with reflections on life, growth, and the importance of community support.

Ben Robitaille | ben@bensells.ca

@benrobitaillerealtor

Richard Thompson | Richard@georgianbaylending.com

@georgianbaylending

In this episode we take a deep dive into middle age, perimenopause and the silent emotional load that women often carry. Join us as we open our minds on how to be continue to be better partners as we move into different stages of life, and... how to have more S*X!

The learn more give the wonderful Amber a follow on instagram:

@shecomesfirst.av

You can also follow your hosts:

@benrobitaillerealtor

@georgianbaylending

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of The OpenHouse Podcast, hosts Ben Robitaille and Richard Thompson sit down with Mercedes Gidge, a passionate advocate for financial literacy and a key team member at Junior Achievement.

Mercedes pulls back the curtain on how Junior Achievement empowers students across the province by bringing real-world financial education directly into classrooms. From budgeting and saving to entrepreneurship and career readiness, she shares why these programs matter now more than ever — and how early financial confidence can shape a young person’s entire future.

We dive into the challenges students face today, the gaps in traditional education, and the inspiring impact JA has on communities across Ontario. Mercedes also talks about what drew her to the organization, the stories that keep her motivated, and how educators and volunteers can help support this mission.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, business owner, or someone who wishes you had been taught this stuff earlier in life, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Connect with us:
Ben Robitaille — ben@bensells.ca
Richard Thompson — richard@georgianbaylending.com

Meet Jessica Radecki and Courtney Corfield — the duo behind Elle Social, where business growth meets unapologetic creativity. From cluttered feeds to strategic content machines, they’ve helped countless founders turn social from an afterthought into a growth engine. This chat peels back the curtain on how they built Elle Social, the exact blueprint they use for clients, and the mindset shift that makes standing out feel organic (not forced).

Elle Social | https://www.instagram.com/e.l.l.e.social/

Jess on Insta | https://www.instagram.com/jessicaradecki.realestate/?hl=en

Courtney on Insta | https://www.instagram.com/mrscourtneycorfield/

Connect with your hosts

https://www.instagram.com/theopenhousepodcast/