What does a refill store have to do with community, mental health, and entrepreneurship? More than you'd think.

In this episode of Outcast Media, Brittany sits down with Julie Dorion, founder of District Refill and Undercarriage Deodorant in Ottawa. Julie has been building businesses since childhood, but these ventures have become some of her most personal yet.

This conversation goes beyond small business and entrepreneurship. We talk about serial entrepreneurship, community connection, mental health, sustainability, purpose, and the realities of building businesses that align with your values.

Julie shares her journey, the pivots along the way, and how District Refill became more than just a refill store. It became a space connected to people, purpose, and community.

Tune in for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, building meaningful businesses, and why sometimes the best business decisions are the ones that simply feel right.

30 years of family, food and refusing to cut corners. Hear the story of a family that works together, takes care of eachother and grounds the local community.

Nick and Andrew have been running Bella’s Boys Italian Kitchen, a family-run Italian restaurant in Ottawa, for three decades. Their parents still show up every day to prep food. Their mom used to hum her way through the Friday dinner rush. That kind of love for food is what built this place.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to survive in the restaurant industry, one of the toughest small business environments out there. From working side by side as brothers without losing their minds, to why they give away so much free coffee, this conversation pulls back the curtain on life behind the line.

You’ll hear about:

• Their toughest moment, closing their original restaurant while a 100+ year-old building literally fell apart around them in the middle of winter

• How COVID forced a pivot that actually improved their quality of life

• Why “how long will it take?” is the question that drives Nick crazy

• What customers don’t see, including slow-cooked sauces, high-quality ingredients, and standards they refuse to compromise

• Their honest advice for anyone thinking about getting into the food industry (spoiler: don’t)

• What success really looks like after 30 years in a family business

This episode spotlights a family-run Italian restaurant in Ottawa and the stubborn refusal to give up when things get hard. It’s a story about Calabrian roots, generational recipes, small business ownership, and understanding that some things just can’t be rushed.

Bella’s Boys Italian Kitchen | Ottawa, ON