Stories from the Firecircle

A Riliey never gives up with Brendan Riliey

On this episode, I’m joined by Brendan Riley, owner and operator of Marmora Retreat in Marmora, Ontario. Originally from South Africa, Brendan has called Canada home for nearly two decades, spending much of his career in real estate and property development in the Toronto area. During a family vacation, Brendan stumbled upon a piece of land that instantly spoke to him. That moment sparked his journey into glamping—and ultimately the creation of Marmora Retreat. Today, the retreat features thoughtfully designed geodesic dome accommodations for guests seeking a unique, immersive escape into nature. Brendan is a Firecircle alumnus who used the Firecircle 5x5 Method to clarify his vision, strengthen his business plan, and successfully access funding to support the expansion of his retreat. In this conversation, he shares his experience with the Firecircle program and how having a clear, well-developed plan helped him turn an idea into a growing, sustainable business. You can experience the results of Brendan’s vision firsthand by booking a stay in one of Marmora Retreat’s Sky View or Boho Luxe glamping domes. Learn more at www.marmoraretreat.ca and follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marmora.retreat/ If you have an idea you’re ready to bring to life, or you’re looking to expand or reimagine an existing business, Firecircle can help. Our comprehensive, easy-to-use digital business planning programs, one-to-one expert mentorship, and supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs are here to support you every step of the way. Learn more at www.thefirecircle.ca.

Deliciously Messy with Lejla Pekaric

In this episode, I sit down with Lejla Pekaric, a business mentor on Firecircle’s Ignite team. Though Lejla began her career in accounting, her work has evolved into executive coaching, organizational systems development, and much more. She shares how that transition unfolded—and why she’s drawn to tackling big, complex challenges. Despite a busy professional life, Lejla has made space for public speaking, creative writing, and even launching a small farm that promotes healthy eating and helps people reconnect with where their food comes from. Lejla also highlights the importance of building a supportive team of professionals around your business long before you think you’ll need them. Connect with Lejla and explore her work at www.lejla.ca and www.kolibriconsulting.ca If you have tourism business dreams but feel overwhelmed by the journey, Firecircle is here to help with easy-to-use, step-by-step programs and one-to-one mentorship from our incredible team of mentors. Learn more at www.thefirecircle.ca.

Building a Team with Pamela Joy Howse

On this episode, I sit down with Pamela Joy Howse, owner and operator of The Spa at Halcyon, near Nakusp, BC. Pamela describes herself as a natural helper—someone who truly loves taking care of people, and it shows in the spa’s wide range of multi-disciplinary treatments and services. Over the years, Pamela has worked hard to build, retain, and motivate a talented team that helps her business shine. As a business owner, she’s equally committed to caring for her team as she is for her clients. In our conversation, Pamela shares how she nurtures both, and how she’s expanding her spa’s offerings to support wellness in body, mind, and spirit. If you or someone you know would love to be pampered while pampering others, reach out to Pamela through her website to learn more about employment opportunities: https://thespaathalcyon.ca [https://thespaathalcyon.ca]   If you have a tourism business dream that you’d like to bring to life, you can get expert support by joining the Firecircle at www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships [http://www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships].

Sand and Stone with Kerri Howarth

On today’s episode, I talk with Kerri Howarth about a wide variety of topics.  Our conversation winds, in part, because Kerri has lived a full life of twists and turns and she has been involved in many diverse and meaningful projects.  Kerri has been with Firecircle as a business mentor for almost 2 years now and her perspectives around embracing change, identifying true wealth and etching your values in stone, have served her and the people she works with well over the years.  Here’s Kerri to tell us more about herself, her background, and her perspectives on life, money, entrepreneurship, parenting and more.  As a mentor Kerri brings kindness, perspective, experience and passion to all the people she works with.  Our Ignite team of mentors really sets the Firecircle experience apart.   To learn more about the various projects that Kerri is involved with, you can check out the links in the show notes.  To work with Kerri and get the Firecircle Experience for yourself, you can join the circle at www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships [http://www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships]. Related Links: www.agritech-north.ca [http://www.agritech-north.ca] , www.moosehidecampaign.ca [http://www.moosehidecampaign.ca] , www.drydenrotary.org [http://www.drydenrotary.org] Read 'The Summer Day' by Mary Oliver: https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poet-laureate-projects/poetry-180/all-poems/item/poetry-180-133/the-summer-day/ [https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poet-laureate-projects/poetry-180/all-poems/item/poetry-180-133/the-summer-day/]

Entrepreneur is a Verb with Jason Bacon

On this episode, I sit down with Jason Bacon, a longtime Firecircle business mentor who has quickly earned a reputation as our team’s financial guru. If you’ve reached Step 5 of the Firecircle 5x5, chances are you’ve had the opportunity to work with Jason. What makes him so effective is that he’s not only deeply knowledgeable—he’s also walked the same path as the entrepreneurs he supports. Jason has invested time and effort into understanding what financial planning really means for business owners, including in his own ventures. With nearly half of his career spent in banking, Jason came away with a clear perspective: the power balance between lenders and borrowers is often off-kilter. That insight drives his passion for helping entrepreneurs build strong financial plans that allow them to approach funding conversations with clarity and confidence. Jason is also the author of Entrepreneur-ish, available on his website https://www.sunstonestrategic.com/products/entrepreneur-ish and on Amazon. At Firecircle, we’re fortunate to have experts like Jason on our team—people who are dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with knowledge and building a strong, vibrant community of success. If you’re in the business planning stage—or ready to revisit the financial plan for your existing venture—we’d love to help. Join Firecircle today at www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships, and let our team guide you every step of the way. And stay tuned: Firecircle’s new Funding and Investment Readiness Program is coming soon!