In Good Company with Jay McCauley

Jay sits down with chef and restaurateur Cory Vitiello for a conversation about hospitality, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building enduring restaurant concepts. From longstanding Toronto staples like The Chase to newer ventures like The Frederick, Cory shares what it takes to create experiences that resonate, scale a brand, and stay creative in one of the toughest industries to succeed in.

Jay sits down with Scott Paterson, one of Canada’s most accomplished investors and operators, for a wide-ranging conversation on capital markets, company building, and long-term value creation. From leading Yorkton Securities to building and scaling ventures like FutureVault and FUTR, Scott shares lessons on conviction, timing, and what it takes to build enduring businesses.

For this special 10th episode, Jay is joined by Esther Garnick to reflect on friendship, career evolution, and the realities behind building a life and business that captures the spirit of being truly “in good company.”

Jay welcomes Sangita Patel, television host and longtime face of ET Canada, for a thoughtful conversation about career, confidence and finding joy in the spotlight. They discuss the evolution of media, representation, and what it takes to build a lasting career while staying grounded in authenticity.

Jay welcomes Amanda Alvaro, President and Co-Founder of Pomp & Circumstance PR and co-host of the podcast Beyond a Ballot, for a thoughtful conversation about communications, politics, and influence. They discuss the evolving media landscape, the role of strategic storytelling in public life, and how leaders can use their platforms to drive meaningful impact in business and community.

Jay welcomes Joanna Griffiths, Founder and CEO of Knix, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and growth. They discuss navigating rapid expansion, launching new ventures like MNTD, and building a brand rooted in confidence, inclusion, and long-term vision.00:00 – Intro05:01 – Authenticity Over Retouching09:01 – The "Minted" Pivot: Trading Celebs for Community15:05 – Staying Put After a $300M Exit21:59 – Leading with Responsibility30:59 – Protecting Integrity Over $100M Deals33:50 – Managing the "Unsexy" Digital Grind40:27 – Resiliency: The Only Real Silver Bullet46:10 – Rapid Fire & The Meaning of "Good Company"

In this episode of In Good Company, Jay sits down with Michael Deluce, President of Porter Airlines, to talk about leadership shaped by legacy, resilience through industry disruption, and building a distinctly Canadian airline brand. Michael reflects on strategy, risk, and the responsibility of leading through moments of transformation.00:00 - Introduction & Growing Up in Aviation: The Deluce Family Legacy02:18 - Billy Bishop Airport: The Spark That Changed Everything03:49 - Building a Beloved Brand & Scaling to 4,500 Employees06:01 - The Strategic Pivot: Porter's Post-COVID Growth Plan08:20 - Net Promoter Scores Rivaling Apple & Infrastructure Expansion11:18 - Montreal Metropolitan Airport: Billy Bishop on Steroids13:37 - Board Experience & Lessons Beyond Airlines15:11 - COVID's Impact: Rethinking Business Travel & Pivoting the Model18:21 - Expanding Beyond Regional: No Middle Seats & Free Wi-Fi21:05 - Why Canadians Hate the Competition (And Love Porter)22:15 - From 2% to 15% Market Share: Forcing Competitors to Follow25:38 - Toughest Leadership Lessons: March 2020 Shutdown29:39 - Making Travel Joyful & Giving Back to Communities32:12 - Rapid Fire Round

Jay is joined by The Hon. Mary Ng for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, inclusion, and public service. From global trade and economic development to representation and opportunity, Mary shares insights on what it means to lead with purpose and empathy in a rapidly changing world.

A powerful look into Canada's face of fashion Sylvia Mantella and her commitment to wildlife conservation, community leadership and building a legacy defined by compassion.

Former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Defence and Justice Peter MacKay reflects on pivotal moments in his career, the responsibilities of national leadership and why principled service is more important than ever.00:00 - Intro01:03 - The Motivation to Serve: A Family Legacy03:37 - Bringing Civility Back to Canadian Politics07:48 - Rejecting Cancel Culture & History’s Context12:06 - Legacy: Creating the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights13:54 - Lessons from National Defence & Afghanistan17:35 - The Reality of Military Procurement & Bureaucracy25:21 - Canada-US Relations: Trade, Tariffs, and Resilience30:45 - The Path Forward: Manufacturing & Interprovincial Trade34:24 - Growing Up in Nova Scotia: Staying Grounded41:07 - Current State of Politics: Minority Governments & Cynicism44:48 - The Lightning Round: Hockey, History, and Heritage

In this candid conversation, Jay welcomes Canada’s Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and longtime MP The Honourable Pierre Poilievre and his wife, Ana Poilievre, to discuss the personal realities of political leadership, partnership and resilience under constant scrutiny.From the values that anchor their family to the pressures of modern politics, Pierre and Ana share reflections on purpose, trust and navigating disagreement in an increasingly polarized world. This episode moves beyond headlines to explore the character, relationships and convictions that shape leadership at the highest levels.0:00 - Intro4:43 - Parenting on the campaign trail9:40 - Running on a message of hope11:17 - Pierre’s Day 1 priorities16:00 - Restoring the dream of home ownership18:55 - Unlocking Canada’s resource potential26:44 - Truth, accountability, and "soft censorship"28:24 - Exploring Battle River—Crowfoot31:46 - Rapid fire & what "Good Company" means

Canadian entertainment TV darling Cheryl Hickey shares the lessons she has learned from decades in the public eye, how she rebuilt during moments of challenge, and why compassion remains her greatest compass.