What if no one is going to do it for you?

What if you were the one who was ultimately in control of every single aspect of your life?

What if you couldn't pass the buck or blame others?

What if you took ownership today of everything in your life? (the good stuff and the not so good stuff)

Tune in as I break down an interaction I had with a prospective client and how I want my business to operate as I experience growth an evolution as an entrepreneur.

I was supposed to record this podcast yesterday @ 2pm. I didn't.

I was supposed to be sleeping at 4am this morning. I wasn't.

I was supposed to get a ton of work done on projects I really don't want to work on. I didn't.

Why?

Well there are a ton of reasons I could rhyme off but to sum it all up in one sentence, "life is hard."

And guess what it is supposed to be. 

Life will constantly be 1 step forward and 2 steps back .

We've all heard it before but I will say it again, life is not about what "happens to us" it is about how we react.

Challenge yourself to find even the slightest opportunity in any and all of lives challenges and watch your reality change.

After 2.5 years of running The Half A Dozen Hospitality Podcast it is time for me to step into me.

It is time for growth and time for me to feel uncomfortable a bit.

It is time for the Brad Bodnarchuk Podcast.

Join me for episode 1 as I break down in more detail what motivated the change and what you can expect from the new podcast format.

Excited for what's to come and to have you along for the ride.

Rounding out my trip to Cape Breton Island in Sydney enjoying likely one of the best tuna burgers I've ever eaten out of a food truck parked on the water next to a large green space with the sun shining down on me was as close to perfection as I could have imagined.

Sitting down with Chef Rich Moore of Sydney's Lobster Pound & Moore was not only fun and funny but it was also educational. Having both spent time in Vancouver Rich and I had a lot to chat about and we had even visited a lot of the same restaurants and even knew some of the same folks.

Chef Rich and his partner Lesley have created an incredible business with awesome, fresh and innovative food. Food that made me feel proud. Food that made me appreciate food...if that makes sense.

I encourage you to head in to see the team at The Lobster Pound & Moore as soon as humanly possible for their great service and world class grub.

Oh and don't forget to ask Rich to tell you the brick story.

I felt like I was sitting down with someone I either went to school with or at the very least had met before.

Hosting Pauline Singer from Cape Breton Farmers Market was one of the more relaxed and enjoyable podcasts that I've had in a very long time. While I enjoy 99.9% of the guests that I get an opportunity to sit down with Pauline was a true pleasure.

We chatted food, culture, music, heck I even called the iconic fiddle on the Sydney waterfront a violin and she still made me feel comfortable.

For me a town or cities farmers market can really give you the pulse of what is going on in the community and where the interests are from the general public. Having someone at Pauline at the helm of the farmers market ship every vendor and every guest to the market is in great hands.

Pauline is an absolute gem and I am excited to keep in contact with her in the hopes of doing round II of the podcast sometime.

Be sure to follow Pauline and all of her team HERE and be sure to check the farmers market out the next time you find yourself in Sydney, Cape Breton.

Over the past 5 years we've seen unique ceramic pop up more and more in the restaurants, cafes, hotels and shops we all know and love. These pieces are usually handmade from start to finish and truly are a highly considered piece of the puzzle when composing a menu or especially a given dish.

If you haven't seen a Kelsey Watson piece on a table near you yet. Just wait.

Kelsey is a true talent and as humble as they come. Recording in her studio I truly felt like a student as I was able to pose questions that admittedly I was selfishly asking for myself. Kelsey played along and made for a great podcast with her story, her tips on inspiration, and just her willingness to do something such as guest on a podcast which was likely totally out of the norm for Kelsey.

Be sure to follow Kelsey HERE and grab a piece of her work while you can.

To say I had a blast recording this podcast is an absolute understatement. Bryden Mombourquette, Nathan Park of Sydney's Gaslight Cafe and I hit record at 6:20am and I have never enjoyed a morning podcast more. The conversation flowed naturally as I learned about Bryden and Nathan's stories both as individuals and as a couple in business and in life.

I am so inspired by Bryden and Nathan and I admittedly want to spend more time around these two incredible humans who are just solid people... not to mention they hold the key to some of the most delicious pies I have ever tasted.

You will hear stories about travel, seconds homes, life, pies, tough business realities and how these two have risen above all of the naysayers to create an awesome space that is truly accessible. 

Be sure to give the Gaslight Cafe a follow HERE and be sure to stop in and say "hey" to Nathan and Bryden when you find yourself in Sydney next.

What started out as a roadside fruit stand has turned into a massive business that is now synonymous with trips to Cape Breton Island. 

The Farmers Daughter actually welcomed me to Cape Breton even before I met the REAL Farmers Daughter Heather Austin - Coulombe.  Arriving in Cape Breton I was hungry and I was blown away with the incredible options that were on display at The Farmers Daughter. Everything looked to be and I am sure it was homemade and extremely fresh. I could have stayed for hours and eaten my body weight in molasses cookies. 

What Heather and her team have created is truly a Nova Scotia gem and I was lucky to have the opportunity to sit down with her and learn her story. 

Heather was kind enough to invite me out to here 100 acre farm where we sat on the edge of the Bras d'Or Lakes and discussed leadership, hospitality, and how Cape Breton is still truly a hidden gem at a world class level.

I've now recorded well over 100 podcasts and I still cannot sit down for one and feel a slight bit of nervousness. Perhaps a butterfly in my stomach? Whatever it is until I hit the record button I am on edge. I had a feeling James was as well, seeing as this was his first ever podcast.

However the Owner of Doktor Lukes A Respectable Coffee House was an awesome guest and ended up sharing some great stories, advice and anecdotes. 

James is extremely passionate about all things coffee and equally as passionate about the city he calls home, Sydney on Cape Breton Island. I was able to learn a lot from James and learn his unique story as he's become the owner and operator of a quant and slick coffee shop that I would happily post up in for some beverages and a day of smashing some work on my laptop.

James did an awesome job on this podcast and I would happily have him back on the show any day!

Be sure to give James and his team a follow over HERE.

To say I learn a lot from my guests is an understatement. Cherie Swift was no different.

While I still feel like there is more to Cherie yet to be discovered by me and this podcast I was still so excited to host her on this show and learn her story.

Cherie does it all at GRA and is seemingly executing everything that is so near and dear to her heart. 

I learned Cherie's take on hospitality, her history with hops, how she defines good service and why she thinks Cape Breton Nova Scotia is more stunning than some of the most travelled spots in Italy.

Cherie was a fantastic guest and is an even better person. 

Be sure to stop in and see her team at GRA when you're in her neck of th woods.