Many Ontario small business owners use personal credit to get a venture off the ground, because banks rarely lend to brand-new businesses. That convenience can help with early cash-flow gaps and sometimes costs less than a high-risk business loan, but it also creates serious personal exposure: guarantees, blurred books, CRA headaches, and credit-score damage. Doug and Ted walk through when using personal debt might make sense, the major risks to watch for, and practical ways to structure your finances.

(00:00) Self-employment: Opportunity vs. Necessity (02:00) Capital-Intensive vs. Lean Start-Ups (with examples) (04:00) Why banks don't fund brand-new businesses and what "collateral" means (06:30) Pro #1- Easier access to credit for start-ups (08:00) Pro #2 - Cash flow and other short-term advantages (09:30) Con #1- Personal liability: when business failure becomes personal insolvency (12:00) Con #2 - Blurred finances: bookkeeping pitfalls, CRA risk, and collection stress (14:00) Con #3 - Credit-score impact: utilization and missed-payment damage (16:00) Best practices and tips (19:00) The three roles every small business owner needs

Debt Traps of Buying a Business with David Barnett – Debt Free in 30

Bad Funding Choices for Small Businesses with David Barnett – Debt Free in 30

Want to Buy a Business? Here's What to Know First – Debt Free in 30

Starting or Buying A Business Out of Necessity – Debt Free in 30 DIY Free Credit Repair Course Sign Up for the Monthly Debt Free Digest Hoyes Michalos YouTube Channel Learn About Debt Relief Options in Ontario Disclaimer: The information provided in the Debt Free in 30 Podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as personal financial advice. Individual financial situations vary and may require personal guidance from a financial professional. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, or any other affiliated organizations. We do not endorse or guarantee the effectiveness of any specific financial institutions, strategies, or digital tools/apps discussed.

Arwaa is an Outreach Support Worker at Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. Prior to this role, Arwaa was a Child and Youth Worker, providing programming and supports to children who are staying in emergency shelter.

In this episode, we talk to Arwaa about child and youth programming at Women’s Crisis Services and the different groups that are available for the youngest clients in our emergency shelters. We also talk about individualized safety plans and the importance of keeping survivors stories at the forefront of our minds when doing this work.

Join in the conversation! Use the hashtag #SheIsYourNeighbour and connect with us on social media at @SheIsYourNeighbour and @WomensCrisisSWR.

Watch the full video on Youtube: youtu.be/6JVXjALS6ek 

Follow us on and Instagram and Tik Tok

Join the Neighbourhood Newsletter to stay up to date with the She Is Your Neighbour Team!

In this episode, we're continuing our "need-to-know" series for indie beauty founders with a deep dive into one of the most crucial parts of building a beauty brand: manufacturing. Featuring Richie Rubin from the contract manufacturer Garcoa for a "Contract Manufacturing 101", unpacking how brands and manufacturers work together, what the current landscape looks like of CMs, red flags to watch out for, and how broader challenges like tariffs and labor shortages are impacting beauty production.

Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

This past October renowned  primatologist, anthropologist, and animal advocate Jane Goodall passed away at the age of 91. This got us thinking about primates - and of course, more specifically primates in the movies! Of course, in talking about it, we did what every normal person does - we made a bracket!! 

We've got your Kongs, your Outbreak monkeys, your Rafikis, your weeping statue of Caesar. All the very normal things that live in our heads rent free! You can check out the bracket, follow along with us, and make your own decisions by clicking here. 

Newsletter: midcreditscene.substack.com/.
Email: midcreditscenepod@gmail.com
Show theme: The Show Must Be Go by Kevin MacLeod
Logo design: Jon Johnson

Drawing on experience from 25+ years and 73,000+ filings, Doug and Ted break down the top debt mistakes Canadians make, and how to avoid them. They explain how problems creep up, why waiting narrows your options, high-cost credit and payday-loan cycles, CRA's real collection powers, and so much more. Canada-specific guidance for debtors with tips on protecting your long-term financial health. (00:00) How debt mistakes happen (02:00) Spotting debt problems early (04:30) Waiting too long is costly: interest, stress, fewer options (06:30) Choosing the right help: Licensed Insolvency Trustees vs. "debt consultants" (08:30) Minimum payments: is it ever a good strategy? (10:30) High-cost credit & payday loan cycle (13:30) Ignoring CRA debt: the powers of the Canada Revenue Agency (15:30) RRSPs to pay debt? Taxes, exemptions, and better paths (18:00) The credit-score trap (21:00) Practical resets, scam red flags Hoyes Michalos Joe Debtor Consumer Insolvency Study 2024 DIY Free Credit Repair Course Sign Up for the Monthly Debt Free Digest Hoyes Michalos YouTube Channel Learn About Debt Relief Options in Ontario Disclaimer: The information provided in the Debt Free in 30 Podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as personal financial advice. Individual financial situations vary and may require personal guidance from a financial professional. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, or any other affiliated organizations. We do not endorse or guarantee the effectiveness of any specific financial institutions, strategies, or digital tools/apps discussed.

Jay is a Residential Support Worker at Women’s Crisis Services Emergency Shelter, Anselma House.

Jay also owns JayRoots Wellness, a trauma-informed wellness space for self-expression, emotional grounding, and culturally aligned care—designed for BIPOC youth, adults, and communities seeking real rest and release. 

In this episode, we talk to Jay about the process of entering a violence against women shelter, how collaboration plays a key role in individualized healing and the transformative power of music therapy. 

Join in the conversation! Use the hashtag #SheIsYourNeighbour and connect with us on social media at @SheIsYourNeighbour and @WomensCrisisSWR.

Watch the full video on Youtube: youtu.be/cZ-N-ILkDpM 

Follow us on and Instagram and Tik Tok

Join the Neighbourhood Newsletter to stay up to date with the She Is Your Neighbour Team!

Quality control might not be the flashiest topic in beauty, but it is one of the most important. In this episode, I'm joined by industry expert Geoff Waby for a deep dive into what really goes on behind the scenes to make sure products are safe, stable, and consistent. We unpack what happens when things go wrong, where brand responsibility begins and ends, the unique challenges of refillable products, how consumer use plays into the equation and more! If you've ever wondered what "quality" actually means in beauty, or taken it for granted, this episode will change that.

Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

At Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, the returning president made a striking break from tradition. The seats closest to the president – typically reserved for family – went instead to the most powerful tech CEOs in the world: Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Sundar Pichai. Between them, these men run some of the most profitable companies in history. And over the past two decades, they’ve used that wealth to reshape our public sphere.

But this felt different. This wasn’t discreet backdoor lobbying or a furtive effort to curry favour with an incoming administration. These were some of the most influential men in the world quite literally aligning themselves with the world’s most powerful politician – and his increasingly illiberal ideology.

Carole Cadwalladr has been tracking the collision of technology and politics for years. She’s the investigative journalist who broke the Cambridge Analytica story, exposing how Facebook data may have been used to manipulate elections. Now, she’s arguing that what we’re witnessing goes beyond monopoly power or even traditional oligarchy. She calls it techno-authoritarianism – a fusion of Trump’s authoritarian political project with the technological might of Silicon Valley.

So I wanted to have her on to make the case for why she believes Big Tech isn’t just complicit in authoritarianism, but is actively enabling it.

Mentioned:

The First Great Disruption 2016-2024, by Carole Cadwalladr

Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans, by Sheera Frenkel and Aaron Krolik (New York Times)

This is What a Digital Coup Looks Like, by Carole Cadwalladr (TED)

The Nerve News

Machines Like Us is produced by Mitchell Stuart. Our theme song is by Chris Kelly. Video editing by Emily Graves. Our executive producer is James Milward. Special thanks to Angela Pacienza and the team at The Globe and Mail.

Support for Machines Like Us is provided by CIFAR and the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jennifer Hutton is the CEO of Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region and she has passionately led the organization since 2018.

In this special, bonus episode of She Is Your Neighbour, Jen discusses her journey in social services. She also shares her personal connection to the issue and talks about the impact of femicide, as well as the evolution of domestic violence awareness.  

Join in the conversation! Use the hashtag #SheIsYourNeighbour and connect with us on social media at @SheIsYourNeighbour and @WomensCrisisSWR.

Follow us on and Instagram and Tik Tok

Join the Neighbourhood Newsletter to stay up to date with the She Is Your Neighbour Team!

Thank our episode sponsor, Shimco.

Laid off or let go? Your first 30 days matter. This is a practical, Canada-specific guide to unemployment, covering everything from applying for EI to discussing when upskilling or a pivot makes sense, as well as the risks of jumping into self-employment and how to handle debt while unemployed. If you're currently employed, treat this episode as a readiness checklist to ensure you feel prepared and confident about whatever comes next. (00:00) Why the first 30 days of unemployment matter (02:00) Day-one checklist: severance, benefits, documents (05:30) EI basics: ROE, timing with severance, applying early (08:30) Money triage: cut variable costs, protect cash flow (12:30) Job search that works: résumé/LinkedIn refresh + networking (17:00) If your field is shrinking: upskill or pivot? (21:00) Self-employment/freelance: risks, cash needs, taxes (24:30) Debt decisions: the best time to file bankruptcy or a consumer proposal

How To Check If You Qualify For Employment Insurance (EI Benefits)

Payday Loans Aren't Worth It: How To Break The Cycle

Should I Get a Loan To Pay Off My Credit Cards?

DIY Free Credit Repair Course

Sign Up for the Monthly Debt Free Digest

Hoyes Michalos YouTube Channel Disclaimer: The information provided in the Debt Free in 30 Podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not intended as personal financial advice. Individual financial situations vary and may require personal guidance from a financial professional. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, or any other affiliated organizations. We do not endorse or guarantee the effectiveness of any specific financial institutions, strategies, or digital tools/apps discussed.

A rapid fire cosmetics regulatory 101 with Meredith Petillo, VP of Technical Regulatory Affairs at Independent Beauty Association. We covered as much as we could - if you're have a indie brand, this episode will be super helpful to you. It will also be helpful for anyone else wanting to get a good lay of the land.

Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell