Design Makes Everything Better | by Breakhouse

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Conversations about design, architecture, and industry. By Breakhouse, a Canadian strategic design firm. breakhouse.ca/podcast New episodes a couple times per month. podcast@breakhouse.ca

  1. 015 - Doug Doucet | From Contractor to Visionary: Scaling Relationship-Driven Businesses

    JAN 5

    015 - Doug Doucet | From Contractor to Visionary: Scaling Relationship-Driven Businesses

    Vince sits down with Doug Doucet, founder of Doucet Developments and RCS Construction, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, trust, and what it really takes to build a company that lasts. Doug reflects on nearly three decades of building a vertically integrated development and construction business in Atlantic Canada, one rooted not in aggressive bidding or short-term wins, but in long-term relationships, accountability, and culture. From navigating the realities of RFPs and public tenders to scaling past growth ceilings, Doug shares hard-earned lessons about why trust consistently outperforms price, why good people matter more than perfect systems, and how leadership evolves as organizations grow. The conversation moves fluidly between personal stories, business strategy, and practical insights covering everything from succession planning and EOS (Traction), to stress management, philanthropy, affordable housing, and the responsibility leaders carry to the people who work for them. At its core, this episode is about designing a business and a life that creates value well beyond the balance sheet. Chapters (00:00:00) - Doug Doucet: Design Makes Everything Better(00:01:14) - Vince Dusa on Being a Visionary and Relationship Builder(00:04:38) - Does the RFP Process Matter?(00:09:56) - How to Manage a Stressful Work Life(00:14:16) - What's the Thing on the Top of Your Mind(00:17:53) - How to Build a modular home in Austria(00:19:17) - Reasons We Lost The Seaport Project(00:23:17) - Public Tenders(00:27:54) - What Do Construction Guys Think of Their Work?(00:30:31) - Doucet Developments' Philanthropic Work(00:35:32) - Employees talk about their culture(00:36:27) - Doug Dosett on His Company's Culture(00:37:33) - The Integrator vs. Visionary Integrator(00:42:08) - Grow Your Business: The 60% of Employees(00:45:12) - Rcs Ltd's Motivation to Keep Growing(00:48:49) - RCS Executive Chat: A Family Business

    53 min
  2. 014 - Charbel Daniel | Adding Life to Years: Rethinking How We Care for Our Seniors

    11/06/2025

    014 - Charbel Daniel | Adding Life to Years: Rethinking How We Care for Our Seniors

    Vince speaks with Charbel Daniel, CEO of Northwood, about how leadership, culture and design thinking can reshape continuing care. Charbel shares his unconventional journey from studying physics and working as a paramedic to leading Atlantic Canada’s largest not-for-profit in senior care, emphasizing first-principle thinking, empathy and organizational culture as tools for transformation. Together they explore how thoughtful design of buildings, systems, and values can help seniors “add life to their years,” redefine aging in community, and create workplaces where compassion drives performance.  Chapters (00:00:00) - CEO of Northwood Homecare(00:01:55) - Inspiring leaders: Paramedic's journey(00:06:46) - Meticulous: The Mental Model(00:08:28) - What's a CEO's Responsibility?(00:14:01) - Northwood Health System's Commitment to the Team(00:16:22) - Does the Continuing Care and Seniors Culture Resonate?(00:21:19) - Northwood Seniors' Care(00:23:26) - Ontario's aging population challenge(00:28:32) - What Do Seniors Want You to Know(00:31:57) - What can we do to support seniors with dementia in the UK?(00:37:06) - Northwood Halifax's dementia care facility(00:43:17) - The Netherlands' dementia-friendly building(00:46:19) - Northwood Care Home's built environment for seniors with dementia(00:49:14) - Blue Dot vs Purple Dot(00:58:11) - The transition from home to long term care(01:03:43) - A Paramedic on the Care of the Resident(01:05:07) - Northwood Health System's Vision for the Future(01:11:19) - Northwood Seniors Care: An Alignment(01:12:45) - A CEO's Talk

    1h 15m
  3. 013 - Andy Fillmore | Building Halifax: Balancing Growth, the Housing Crisis and Heritage

    08/11/2025

    013 - Andy Fillmore | Building Halifax: Balancing Growth, the Housing Crisis and Heritage

    Vince interviews Andy Fillmore, Mayor of Halifax. In conversation: Halifax’s distinct identity, its rapid growth, and the pressing challenges of the housing crisis. Drawing on his career path from architecture and urban planning in the United States to serving as a Member of Parliament, Andy offers a broad perspective on city-building. Together, they explore strategies for sustainable development that balance heritage preservation with modernization, while considering the cultural, economic, and political forces shaping Halifax’s future. Chapters (00:00:00) - Andy Fillmore on the Housing Crisis(00:02:40) - The Halifax Region and Its Identity(00:03:50) - What is Halifax and why is it so important for Canada?(00:05:22) - Halifax's unique challenge in building housing(00:09:49) - What would you describe as the difference between a Housing Crisis and an(00:15:57) - Do Vancouver's cities need a strong mayor?(00:19:40) - Halifax's housing crisis: What's the solution?(00:26:46) - Halifax councillor: R1 zoning should disappear(00:36:33) - Ontario's plan for more housing(00:38:34) - Municipal responsibilities in HRM(00:43:08) - Building styles and the challenges(00:43:46) - Building Trades in Nova Scotia(00:49:48) - Halifax mayor on the Halifax Housing Crisis(00:56:22) - Halifax's culture of risk aversion(01:00:37) - Design Makes Everything Better

    1h 3m
  4. 012 - Jason Shannon I Creating Luxury Retirement Living Communities

    04/17/2025

    012 - Jason Shannon I Creating Luxury Retirement Living Communities

    Vincent interviews Jason Shannon, President at Shannex.  In conversation: Origin of the family business, challenges and opportunities in the industry of building retirement living communities. Perspectives on leadership, the design process, decision making and the future of Shannex. Get in touch: podcast@breakhouse.ca Host: Vincent van den Brink, President + Architect, Breakhouse Inc. Guest: Jason Shannon Announcer: Danielle Pottier Producers: Keke Beatz and Arthur Comeau

    1h 8m
  5. 011 - Architect Brian Mackay-Lyons | A Tale of Two Villages

    03/30/2023

    011 - Architect Brian Mackay-Lyons | A Tale of Two Villages

    Vincent interviews Brian Mackay-Lyons Founder of Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects. In conversation: Approaches to design, challenges of the profession, building a career, life as an architect and the future of the MLS Architects Get in touch: podcast@breakhouse.ca Host: Vincent Van den Brink, Architect + Partner, Breakhouse, Inc. Guests: Brian Mackay-Lyons Announcer: Danielle Pottier, Senior Architect, Breakhouse, Inc. Producer: Arthur Comeau, Tide School.

    1h 23m

  6. 02/10/2023

    010 - Creating memorable experiences I interview with Chef Anthony Walsh and Marco Gucciardi

    Vincent interviews Chef Anthony Walsh and Marco Gucciardi from Oliver & Bonacini and Freehand Hospitality. In conversation: Creating and running a restaurant, challenges and opportunities in the business and perspectives on their new group of restaurants in Halifax Nova Scotia. Get in touch: podcast@breakhouse.ca Host: Vincent Van den Brink, Architect + Partner, Breakhouse, Inc. Guests: Anthony Walsh, Marco Gucciardi Announcer: Danielle Pottier, Senior Architect, Breakhouse, Inc. Producer: Arthur Comeau, Tide School.

    40 min

  7. 08/01/2022

    009 - The Optimism of Architecture? | Interview with Dalhousie Architecture Students

    Vincent interviews six students studying architecture. Colby Rice, Logan Hawkes, Cody Gaulton, Holly Mills, Mark Mackinnon and Cesar Basillo. In this conversation: the challenges of being a student today, priorities of a practice, finding a work life balance, fear and excitement of the future and more. Transcript and show notes: breakhouse.ca/podcast/9 Get in touch: podcast@breakhouse.ca Host: Vincent Van den Brink, Architect + Partner, Breakhouse, Inc. Guests: Colby Rice, Logan Hawkes, Cody Gaulton, Holly Mills, Mark Mackinnon and Cesar Basillo Announcer: Danielle Pottier, Senior Architect, Breakhouse, Inc. Producer: Arthur Comeau, Tide School.

    56 min

  8. 05/20/2022

    008 - The culture of an office | Interview with Bruce Kuwabara

    Vincent interviews Bruce Kuwabara: Bruce Kuwabara is a founding partner of KPMB Architects and the Chair of the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal. In this conversation: how to grow an office and maintain its culture, drawing and the design process, value of and more. Transcript, mood board examples, and show notes: breakhouse.ca/podcast/8 Get in touch: podcast@breakhouse.ca Host: Vincent Van den Brink, Architect + Partner, Breakhouse, Inc. Guest: Bruce Kuwabara, Architect,  a founding partner of KPMB Architects and the Chair of the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal. Announcer: Danielle Pottier, Senior Architect, Breakhouse, Inc. Producer: Arthur Comeau, Tide School.

    23 min
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Conversations about design, architecture, and industry. By Breakhouse, a Canadian strategic design firm. breakhouse.ca/podcast New episodes a couple times per month. podcast@breakhouse.ca

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