Épisodes

  • #67 What is a Custom Home?

    #67 What is a Custom Home?
    Dec 1 2025
    Most builders use the word custom in their marketing… but what does a custom home really mean?

    In this episode, Ryan breaks down the difference between true custom homes, personalized homes, and cost-plus free-for-all builds that create chaos and risk. Using clear, real-world examples, he explains what separates a real custom home builder from the companies that simply let you choose your finishes.

    Ryan also explains why Stonewater Homes is built around design-first methodology, systems, predictability, and guaranteed turnkey pricing.

    If you’re planning to build or trying to compare builders, this episode is essential. You’ll learn how to evaluate what builders actually mean when they say “custom”, how risk changes across the customization spectrum, and what questions to ask before signing a contract.

    Ready to design your custom home? Visit stonewaterhomes.ca
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    22 min
  • #66 Opportunity Costs - In Construction and Real Life

    #66 Opportunity Costs - In Construction and Real Life
    Nov 28 2025
    In this episode of Builder By Day, Ryan breaks down one of the most important concepts in business and everyday life: opportunity cost. Every choice has a trade off, and understanding what you give up when you say yes can determine success, happiness, and long term outcomes.

    Ryan connects the idea of opportunity cost to real world decisions in homebuilding, land development, business strategy, personal judgment, and even family life. From choosing the right builder to deciding which communities to invest in, he reveals how the unseen cost of the path not taken can have a bigger impact than the choice itself.

    This episode continues Ryan’s new focus on delivering practical, applied knowledge from twenty years in the building and business world. If you want to build smarter, make better decisions, or understand the real math behind judgment, this is a must listen.

    Like and subscribe to stay updated on more episodes focused on housing, business, development, and practical decision making.
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    26 min
  • #65 Builder By Day - Taxes in Halifax

    #65 Builder By Day - Taxes in Halifax
    Nov 21 2025
    In this episode, Ryan explains how years of municipal mismanagement, inefficiency, delays, bloated payrolls, and poor decision-making have created a crisis that is now being dumped onto homeowners, landlords, renters, and businesses across HRM.

    He breaks down:
    Why a 10.5% tax hike is unprecedented
    How commercial buildings are taxed at triple the residential rate
    Why housing costs keep skyrocketing
    How fees, delays, and bureaucracy choke development
    Why government crews operate with zero efficiency
    What accountability should look like
    Why silence from industry is no longer an option

    If you live in Halifax, own property here, rent here, or build here — this episode explains exactly why everything feels more expensive… and why it’s going to get worse unless something changes.

    Join Builder By Day for unfiltered discussions on political corruption, media bias, free speech, and Canada’s future.

    📲 Subscribe & Follow for More:
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    30 min
  • #64 Builder By Day - Building the Movement

    #64 Builder By Day - Building the Movement
    Nov 17 2025
    In this week’s episode, Ryan breaks down where the movement stands and why this early stage matters more than people realize. He explains the groundwork that has already been completed, the planning that has taken place behind the scenes, and why this moment is the equivalent of clearing the lot, pouring the foundation, and getting the site ready for the real build. Ryan lays out the mission, the structure, and the first key roles that need to be filled before anything can rise above the ground.

    He also explains why he is doing the initial heavy lifting and why the next steps depend on finding the right people who can help raise the frame, shape the structure, and bring the vision to life. This is not theory. It is the beginning of a real organization that needs capable people ready to do what they do best. If you want to see how this build takes shape from the inside out, watch the full episode and join the conversation.

    📲 Subscribe & Follow for More:
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    🐦 X (Twitter): x.com/BuilderByDay
    📱 TikTok: tiktok.com/@builderbydaypodcast
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    27 min
  • #63 BuilderByDay - Organizing Common Sense

    #63 BuilderByDay - Organizing Common Sense
    Nov 14 2025
    In this week’s episode, Ryan explains why so many ordinary people are reaching their limit with the way things are being run. This is not about politics or ideology. It is about regular, hardworking people who just want their city and their province to function properly. Ryan lays out real life examples of mismanagement, bureaucratic nonsense, and the growing disconnect between decision makers and the people who live with the consequences.

    He also shares why this podcast exists, what he hopes to build, and why the movement he keeps talking about begins with a few capable people who are ready to fix what is broken. The show is not the movement. It is the beacon meant to draw the right people together.

    If you feel like something needs to change, you are not alone. Watch the full episode and join the conversation.

    📲 Subscribe & Follow for More:
    📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@BuilderByDay
    🐦 X (Twitter): x.com/BuilderByDay
    📱 TikTok: tiktok.com/@builderbydaypodcast
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    14 min
  • #62 Builder By Day - Renovation Nation

    #62 Builder By Day - Renovation Nation
    Nov 7 2025
    We’re back after a few weeks’ break, and Ryan kicks things off with one of his favorite construction analogies to break down what’s really happening in Canada’s political and economic landscape. Drawing on 20 years of experience as a home builder, Ryan compares the state of the country to a house that’s been renovated over and over again without ever fixing the real problems underneath.

    From fresh paint to cracked foundations, he explains why quick fixes, flashy slogans, and short-term politics can’t solve structural issues—and what it will take to rebuild things properly.

    In this episode:
    • Why Canada looks a lot like a never-ending renovation project
    • How political “paint jobs” hide deeper structural cracks
    • The cost of ignoring foundational problems
    • Why real builders (and voters) have to face hard truths
    • What it means to rebuild with integrity and long-term vision

    Join Builder By Day for unfiltered discussions on political corruption, media bias, free speech, and Canada’s future.
    📲 Subscribe & Follow for More:
    📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@BuilderByDay
    🐦 X (Twitter): x.com/BuilderByDay
    📱 TikTok: tiktok.com/@builderbydaypodcast
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    39 min
  • #61 Taking a Breather — One Year of Builder By Day

    #61 Taking a Breather — One Year of Builder By Day
    Oct 17 2025
    After one full year of producing Builder By Day, Ryan McNeil takes a step back to reflect on the journey so far — what’s been built, what’s been learned, and what comes next.

    This episode is a look at how the podcast began as a small business venture, grew into an outlet for big conversations, and found its voice along the way.

    Ryan opens up about:

    Building a media project like a business, not a brand

    The lessons from lighting, cameras, editing, and AI tools

    Balancing real work, family life, and creative focus

    How politics naturally entered everyday conversations

    What it means to pause without quitting

    Gratitude for Aimee’s support — and everyone who tuned in

    This isn’t the end — it’s a breather before the next chapter.

    🎧 Thanks for listening, subscribing, and being part of the first year of Builder By Day
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    24 min
  • #60 We Could Fix The Housing Crisis in Nova Scotia...

    #60 We Could Fix The Housing Crisis in Nova Scotia...
    Oct 10 2025
    In this week’s episode of The McNeil Show, Ryan McNeil issues a direct call to action — not to politicians or bureaucrats, but to real people who want to get something done.

    As a custom home builder with 20 years of experience, Ryan explains why the so-called “housing crisis” isn’t a matter of skill or resources — it’s a failure of leadership, policy, and government red tape. He lays out a bold proposal: a nonprofit housing initiative led by industry professionals who actually know how to build homes efficiently and affordably.

    Ryan breaks down:
    • Why government “housing plans” are smoke and mirrors
    • How bureaucracy and endless fees drive up costs
    • What it really takes to build quality, affordable homes
    • Why true solutions will come from the private sector, not politics
    • His open invitation to anyone ready to partner and make it happen
    This isn’t a rant — it’s a roadmap. If you’re serious about housing reform or want to get involved, Ryan wants to hear from you.
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    56 min