Our guest this episode is Brian Scudamore—founder and CEO of O2E Brands, the parent company of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, the world’s largest junk removal business. Brian started the company at just 18 years old after dropping out of high school, and has since built it into a $700 million empire. Along the way, he’s expanded into other home service brands like WOW 1 DAY PAINTING and Shack Shine, and today is also a Dragon on CBC’s “Dragons’ Den.”

In this conversation, Brian joins Dave to share the story behind his entrepreneurial journey—from naming the company after a phone number to franchising it internationally to turning “ordinary” home services into premium, trusted brands. They dive into the lessons Brian learned while building the business, why he believes anyone can be an entrepreneur and how his grandfather’s advice on kindness continues to shape his leadership style.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or just curious how a scrappy Canadian startup turned into a household name, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:57) Intro to Brian Scuadmore

(02:47) How Brian’s Grandparents Taught Him to Treat People Kindly

(04:23) 1-800-GOT-JUNK Today

(08:10) Brian’s New Brands

(09:26) Business Differences in Canada vs. the U.S.

(11:23) How Brian Started 1-800-GOT-JUNK

(13:54) Naming the Business a Phone Number

(15:32) Keys to Success in Home Services

(19:23) Successes and Failures of Growing Internationally

(20:56) The Franchise Model

(23:54) Premium Pricing in the Service Industry

(26:55) Finding $400k in the Floorboards

(28:13) Business Formation in Canada

(30:31) Starting New Home Service Brands

(37:54) Dragons’ Den

(41:54) Anyone Can Be an Entrepreneur

(42:45) The Future of Brian’s Businesses

(44:39) The Impact of Dragons’ Den

(47:52) Conclusion

Our guest this week is Ben Rabidoux—Founder of Edge Realty Analytics and North Cove Advisors and one of the most respected voices on Canadian housing and economics. In this episode, he joins Dave to tackle some of the biggest questions facing Canada’s real estate market today.

From the condo market crash to vacancy rates for rentals to the role of HELOCs and immigration policy, Ben explains how we got here, what’s coming next and what it all means for affordability in this country. He also shares the story of catching Fortress as a fraud and offers a candid take on whether Canada is too soft on white-collar crime.

If you care about housing, affordability or the future of Canada’s economy, this episode is a must-listen.

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:55) Intro to Ben Rabidoux

(02:19) Catching Fortress as a Fraud

(09:26) Is Canada Too Soft on White-Collar Crime?

(11:56) Are Rents Going to Come Down in Canada?

(15:12) How Much Do Home Prices Need to Drop to Become Affordable Again?

(16:33) The Condo Market is Hyper-Cyclical

(17:58) The Condo Market Crash

(24:34) Who Was Buying These Pre-Sale Condos?

(25:27) Where is This Condo Crisis Headed?

(28:18) The Impact HELOCs Have on Canada’s Economy

(32:51) Immigration and Its Impact on Canadian Real Estate

(38:47) A Challenge Our Government Faces Over Immigration

(41:01) The Impact of AI on Immigration Levels

(44:46) How Does Canada Fix Its Affordability Challenges?

(48:09) Conclusion

Our guest this episode is Adam Bornn—Founder and Managing Partner at Parallel Wealth, a Canadian financial planning firm that specializes in helping people retire with confidence. Adam also runs an educational YouTube channel (@ParallelWealth) with over 138,000 subscribers where he shares practical and approachable retirement advice for Canadians.

In this conversation, Dave and Adam dive deep into the world of retirement planning—from understanding the “Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go” phases of retirement to managing taxes through RRSP meltdowns to whether you really need $1 million to retire. Adam shares why retirees need a financial plan, common mistakes people make and how strategies like delaying CPP, TFSAs and even reverse mortgages can play a role in a well-structured retirement.

If you’re planning for retirement—or even just starting to think about it—this episode is packed with insights, myths debunked and practical advice tailored to Canadian listeners.

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:55) Intro to Adam Bornn

(03:35) Why Did Adam Specialize in Retirement Planning?

(05:23) Why Retirees Need a Financial Plan

(10:45) The Go-Go, Slow-Go and No-Go Phases of Retirement

(11:57) What is an RRSP Meltdown?

(13:16)  Your Average Tax Rate Should Be Consistent Through Retirement

(14:38) OAS Clawback

(16:07) Do Reverse Mortgages Fit Into Retirement Plans?

(17:08) Annuities

(18:03) The “Die With Zero” Concept

(19:11) Building Generational Wealth

(20:44) People Underestimate How Long They’re Going to Live

(22:44) Single Retirees Are at a Massive Disadvantage

(23:57) When Does Whole Life Insurance Make Sense?

(25:57) Most Retirees Need Stocks in Their Portfolios

(27:33) Should You Plan for Large Late-Life Healthcare Costs?

(29:41) Pre-Retirees Should Do Their Research

(31:28) The Biggest Mistakes Adam Sees Retirees Make

(32:20) Myth: You Need $X Number to Retire

(33:01) TFSAs Add Flexibility for Retirees

(34:56) Conclusion