Podcast
The Number
Hosted by Wendy Brookhouse · EN
The Number is a business podcast about the numbers that actually run your business.
Each episode focuses on one number. Revenue, profit, cash flow, capacity, time, valuation, customer cost, risk, or exit readiness.
Hosted by Wendy Brookhouse, and often joined by Kelsey MacAulay, the show breaks down what that number means, why it matters, and how it should influence the decisions you make as an owner.
Some episodes feature guests. Some are honest conversations. Some are solo deep dives.
If you own a business and want better clarity, better decisions, and better outcomes, it starts with knowing your numbers.
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Working With a Financial Planner Reduces Stress
3w ago00:15:15Tap to summarizeMoney is still the number one source of stress for Canadians, and this episode gets into what the data actually shows. Wendy and Kelsey walk through the 2026 FP Canada Financial Stress Index — nine years of tracking financial anxiety across the country — and zero in on one number that tells the real story. People who work with a financial professional are 14 percentage points less likely to lose sleep over money. That gap shows up twice in the survey. This episode explains why, and what it looks like in practice.In This EpisodeWhat's driving financial stress for Canadians in 2026 and how it's shifted over the past few yearsHow financial anxiety breaks down differently across age groups — from early career to peak earning yearsWhy the 14-point gap between people with a planner and those without keeps showing up in the dataWhat the shift from "freedom from" to "freedom to" language tells you about where someone is in their financial journeyWhy waiting until you have things figured out before seeing a planner is the wrong approachFeatured Quote"It replaces assumption with clarity, and it replaces fear with options. You don't know where you are until you do that analysis." — Wendy BrookhouseAbout the HostsWendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. He works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.Resources & LinksFP Canada Financial Stress Index (2026) — the survey referenced throughout this episode. Connect With Black Star WealthWebsite: blackstarwealth.comLinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulayPodcast: The Number — available on all major platformsCurious whether Black Star Wealth works with people in your situation? Visit blackstarwealth.com to learn more.
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Why Real Business Success Takes Ten Years
Apr 1400:27:43Tap to summarizeThe Number | Episode 004 — Long-Game ThinkingBryan Clayton built a landscaping company from a single push mower to 150 employees and eight figures in annual revenue — then sold it. Then he started over. In this episode, Bryan shares the number that guided his second act: 10. Not a revenue target or a headcount — a timeframe. He and Wendy talk through what it actually takes to build a business that works, why most "overnight successes" are the result of a decade of quiet grinding, and how a single metric can be the difference between perseverance and delusion.In This EpisodeWhy every discretionary expense in your business costs you five to seven times that amount at the sale — and what to do about itHow Bryan used one metric (weekly transactions) to stay focused and avoid building on a bad idea for yearsWhat "default alive" means, and why it's the most important financial position a business owner can holdThe difference between a pivot that makes sense and one that just lets you avoid hard workWhy thinking in decades — not quarters — is the mindset shift that changes how you run a businessFeatured Quote"Every decision you make as a business operator — if you want to sell your business — is going to cost you by five, six, or seven times, whatever the multiple is in your business." — Bryan ClaytonAbout the HostsWendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. He works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.About Our GuestBryan Clayton is the CEO of GreenPal, a technology platform that connects homeowners with local lawn care providers. Before GreenPal, he built and sold Peachtree, a landscaping company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that grew to 150 employees and 90 trucks before being acquired by a national operator.Resources & LinksBuilt to Sell by John Warrillow — referenced by Bryan as a key resource for founders thinking about exit planningThe Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki — referenced by Bryan when reflecting on life after his first exit10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy — referenced by Wendy in conversation with BryanConnect With Black Star WealthWebsite: blackstarwealth.comLinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulayPodcast: The Number — available on all major platformsIf this episode resonated, follow The Number so you don't miss what's next.
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The One Number That Simplifies Your Spending Plan
Mar 3100:10:59Tap to summarizeThe Number | Episode 3 — The One NumberMost people manage money reactively — checking their bank account after the fact and hoping it adds up. In this episode, Wendy and Kelsey dig into The One Number: Black Star Wealth's system for cutting through the noise of multiple accounts, competing priorities, and unconscious spending. They explain why a spending plan works better than a budget, how automating your fixed costs frees up mental energy, and how a single weekly number can give you both boundaries and permission — depending on what you need.In This EpisodeWhy "spending plan" works better psychologically than "budget" — and how the framing changes your relationship with moneyHow The One Number works: automating fixed costs so you only need to track one weekly discretionary figureWhy the number resets every seven days, and why that matters when life goes sidewaysHow to use your weekly number to understand the real trade-off between paying down debt and maintaining your current lifestyleWhy this system helps both over-spenders and under-spenders — and how it removes the guilt from both sidesFeatured Quote"It's about how much can you spend on your discretionary things every week without worrying. Everything else works." — Wendy BrookhouseAbout the HostsWendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. He works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.Resources & LinksThe One Number — Black Star Wealth's system for simplifying spending and aligning money with your goals. Learn more at blackstarwealth.comConnect With Black Star WealthWebsite: blackstarwealth.comLinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulayPodcast: The Number — available on all major platformsIf this episode resonated, follow The Number so you don't miss what's next.
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From Interested to Committed: What 500 Sessions Teaches
Mar 1700:07:46Tap to summarizeGot it — noted and saved. Kelsey MacAulay, and he. I'll make sure both the skill files and all future content reflect that correctly. Here are the corrected show notes:From Interested to Committed: What 500 Sessions TeachesThe Number | Episode [#] — Commitment, Habits & ConsistencyWhat does it take to stop being interested in something and actually commit to it? In this episode, Wendy and Kelsey get personal. Kelsey hit 500 gym sessions in under two years — tying for third fastest in his gym — and it changed more than his fitness. They unpack what made the habit stick, why identity matters more than motivation, and how the same thinking applies to the financial and business decisions that business owners keep putting off.In This EpisodeWhy convenience and structure matter more than willpower when building a lasting habitHow blocking non-negotiable time — in your calendar and in your mindset — removes decision fatigue before it startsThe difference between being interested in something and actually committing to it, and what it takes to flip that switchWhy your reason for committing has to be genuinely yours — doing it for someone else rarely worksHow building one consistent habit can create capacity for things that previously felt out of reachWhat it looks like when a goal shifts from external motivation to a core part of how you see yourselfFeatured Quote"It's more of an identity now, not a motivation." — Kelsey MacAulayAbout the HostsWendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. He works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.Connect With Black Star WealthWebsite: blackstarwealth.comLinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulayPodcast: The Number — available on all major platformsIf this episode resonated, follow The Number so you don't miss what's next.
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001: The Story Behind the Numbers: Two Decades of Financial Evolution
Mar 300:12:15Tap to summarizeTwenty years. That’s the number that launches The Number.The milestone number 20 marks Wendy’s twentieth year in the financial industry. What began as business consulting evolved into an independent financial planning practice grounded in curiosity, education, and doing what is right—not what is easy.In this first episode, Wendy Brookhouse and Kelsey MacAulay introduce the podcast and the concept behind it: beginning every conversation with a number and uncovering the story that sits behind it.Wendy and Kelsey discuss what has changed over the past two decades, from pandemic‑driven digital acceleration to the rise of AI and faster approval processes. They also explore what has stayed constant: every client brings their own story, fears, aspirations, and definition of success.With fewer than 17 percent of independent financial advisors being female, Wendy reflects on the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in modern financial planning—skills that she believes will matter even more in the years ahead.They also outline the three core planning pathways at Black Star Wealth:The One Number SolutionRetirement PlanningTotal Wealth Blueprint for Business OwnersYou’ll hear why the firm is shifting toward fixed‑fee models to offer greater transparency and clarity for clients.This episode sets the tone for what The Number is all about: clarity, empowerment, and real conversations about the numbers that shape your life.
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Episode 158 - What 2025 Taught Us About Business Value And Exits
Dec 3000:33:45Tap to summarizeThis episode takes a turn. Wendy’s not in the host chair. I slide in to interview her and Kelsey as we wrap up 2025 and look straight into 2026.We cover what surprised them about business owners this year, where owners are getting stuck, why so many people are tired, and why resilience and action suddenly matter more than ever.We dig into the myths that refuse to die, the habits that make a business sellable, and the blind spots that can wipe out value overnight.We also talk about life after the sale. The identity stuff. The what now moment.If you’re planning to sell in five years or you’re nowhere near ready but want the option, this one will get you thinking.
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Episode 157 - Cybersecurity First, AI Second, Always
Dec 1800:35:32Tap to summarizeAI is showing up everywhere in business.And a lot of owners are turning it on without realizing what they just gave access to.In this episode, Wendy sits down with Darryl Cresswell, CEO and founder of myDWARE, to talk about why cybersecurity has to come before any AI rollout.They dig into real world examples entrepreneurs can actually relate to.AI agents running under owner level access.Sensitive data leaking through email, CRM systems, and shadow AI tools.And why flashy automation without guardrails can quietly destroy trust, value, and deal readiness.Darryl breaks down the difference between AI bots, AI agents, and agentic AI in plain language.They talk about shadow AI, third party tools, and how employees accidentally create risk.And why buyers and auditors are now paying close attention to cybersecurity when valuing a business.If you are experimenting with AI, thinking about automation, or planning to sell your business one day, this conversation will change how you think about “just turning it on.”Cybersecurity first.AI second.Always.
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Episode 156 - The Wildest Founder Origin Story I’ve Ever Heard
Nov 2500:40:27Tap to summarizeI invited Graham Barlow onto The Real Bottom Line because his founder journey is one of the wildest I’ve ever heard. He started out as a teenager selling virtual game items on eBay, scaled that “hobby” into almost six figures a month, and eventually went on to build and exit multiple companies.In our conversation, Graham and I dig intoHow he and a group of friends used bots to farm virtual currency long before in-app purchases were normal Why cash flow, projections, and financial discipline matter far more than top-line revenue The painful lessons he learned building a game studio and raising moneyHow ego and “I’m the only one who can do this right” thinking quietly caps your businessWhy community and the rooms you put yourself in can dramatically change your sense of what’s possibleThe two strategic gaps he sees in most businesses right now… outbound sales and how teams use AIWe also talk about Founder Link, the community he never planned to build, and why so many founders desperately need a place where they can ask real questions, drop the armour, and get guidance from people who’ve already walked the path.If you’ve ever hit a ceiling, questioned your next move, or wondered what it actually takes to build something someone would buy, you’ll get a lot from this conversation.
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Episode 155 - From Boardroom to Rockstar, Leading the Next Stage
Nov 1200:38:31Tap to summarizeFinTech leader Carrie Forbes, CEO of Rockstar Advisory, joins Wendy to unpack the shift from startup energy to running energy, the corporate habits worth keeping, and how to make AI projects succeed with tiny, low risk wins. Human skills remain the moat... and that’s the optimistic bottom line.
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Episode 154 - Revisioning Retirement: Identity, Meaning, and the Art of Becoming
Oct 3000:38:18Tap to summarizeWendy talks with Dr. Susan Reid, revisioning specialist, author, and keynote speaker, about designing life after work. They explore identity beyond titles, why meaning matters in retirement, and how a simple “being vision” guides the next chapter. Susan shares research, lived lessons from building and selling businesses, and practical tools like journaling push/pull factors and building a “retirement team” of strong and weak ties.Show Notes (light timestamps)0:00 — Intro and Susan’s path: scientist → MBA → PhD → entrepreneur3:30 — The Bob Proctor yo-yo story and discovering vision7:55 — Creating a category: ice cider, then maple whisky12:10 — Why a seven-word vision moves people faster than a long plan13:40 — “Life after work” and early-retirement trends17:20 — Hard stop vs glide path and the anxiety dip21:30 — Prep to vision: quiet, journaling, push/pull factors24:30 — Open via nature, people, and the “universe”26:20 — Your Retirement Team: strong ties and weak ties33:00 — Values → being vision (stop obsessing about how)38:36 — The art of becoming + how to reach SusanKey TakeawaysTreat retirement as revisioning: move from freedom from to freedom to.Start with values and a being vision, then let the how emerge.Build a Retirement Team for support and fresh ideas.Keep the vision simple enough to remember.Prototype the next chapter before you leap.
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