York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI)
A podcast from a Canadian startup accelerator where host Ric Phillips interviews entrepreneurs and experts for practical, real-world business advice.
This is a content marketing effort for a university-affiliated startup accelerator, YEDI. Host Ric Phillips, a communication coach with ties to the institute, uses a structured interview format to extract practical, tactical advice from founders and experts. The show avoids celebrity founder worship, instead focusing on the mechanics of building a business, from marketing fundamentals and funding challenges to partnership dynamics and personal mindset.
“The direct affiliation with the YEDI accelerator provides a grounded, educational framework that distinguishes it from personality-driven podcasts. Its recurring "Startup Sandwich" metaphor, where guests break down their business into its core components, provides a consistent and memorable structure.”
Who hosts this show
The Startup Sandwich Podcast is the official podcast of the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI), an award-winning Canadian accelerator based at York University. Hosted by communication coach Ric Phillips, the show provides actionable strategies for entrepreneurs by interviewing founders, authors, and subject matter experts. The podcast serves as a content marketing and community-building arm for YEDI, which offers tuition-free education and resources for Canadian entrepreneurs.
Credentials & credits
- Host of Startup Sandwich Podcast
- Communication Coach & Founder, 3V Communications Ltd.
- Program Advisor, York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI)
- Certified NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) practitioner
- Studied Sociology & Psychology at Brock University
- TEDx Speaker
Other ventures
- 3V Communications Ltd. (Founder)
- The Communication Coach (YouTube Channel)
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02Entrepreneurship Has No Perfect TimingMay 21, 2026 · 40s
- 03From Side Hustle to Entrepreneur: Marketing Lessons Every Founder Should KnowMay 20, 2026 · 37 min
- 04How Women Entrepreneurs Can Build Confidence, Visibility, and Business GrowthApr 22, 2026 · 35 min
- 05Before You Start a Business: How to Tell If Your Idea Is ViableMar 11, 2026 · 36 min
- 06
- 07Why Networking Events Don’t Work And What Actually Builds OpportunityFeb 8, 2026 · 32 min
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01How Women Entrepreneurs Can Build Confidence, Visibility, and Business Growth
Features the memorable and widely-applicable quote from guest Abimbola Akinnuoye that women entrepreneurs are often 'over-mentored and under-funded,' and provides tactical advice on storytelling to secure funding.
- 02From Side Hustle to Entrepreneur: Marketing Lessons Every Founder Should Know
Guest Sanjay Dhebar debunks the common startup myth of needing to 'go viral,' comparing it to winning the lottery, and instead provides a foundational framework for building a marketing plan.
- 03Is Buying A Home Still Worth It In 2026? The Real Estate Expert Helping First Time Buyers Get In
Guest Rachel Oliver shares a powerful personal origin story, connecting a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy to her shift in perspective and eventual founding of her real estate venture.
What you'll be asked on this show
Ric Phillips runs a methodical and inquisitive interview. He typically opens by posing a provocative, thematic question or a common myth to frame the discussion. He listens for specific keywords or claims in a guest's answer (e.g., "you said Toronto is different from Montreal") and uses them as a launchpad for direct, probing follow-ups. Phillips guides the conversation logically, often backtracking to connect different parts of the guest's story, and consistently steers the dialogue towards actionable advice for the entrepreneurial audience. His style is curious and practical, not confrontational, aimed at deconstructing the guest's expertise into digestible lessons.
Host Ric Phillips, a communication coach, employs a structured, logical interview style. He often opens with a 'burning question' to debunk a myth or frame the conversation's theme. The show's branding is built around the 'Startup Sandwich' concept, where guests are asked to share their 'secret sauce' (their unique innovation or strategy).
Questions the host keeps coming back to
13 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
advice
4- Q.01
“Is the common belief that [X] is necessary for success a truth or a myth?”
Often used as an opening question to immediately challenge a common assumption within the episode's topic.
- Q.02
“What are the very first steps an entrepreneur should take when starting out in your field?”
This question seeks to provide a clear, actionable starting point for the audience.
- Q.03
“What's your advice for securing partnerships with large companies?”
Aimed at getting tactical advice for B2B founders or non-profits seeking sponsors.
- Q.04
“Where can self-taught entrepreneurs learn the fundamentals of [a specific topic]?”
Focuses on providing accessible resources for listeners who may not have formal business education.
origin
1- Q.01
“Can you walk me through your journey into entrepreneurship?”
A foundational question used to establish the guest's backstory and credibility.
craft
1- Q.01
“How do you differentiate your business in a crowded market?”
A key question to uncover a guest's unique value proposition and strategic thinking.
mindset
1- Q.01
“How do you know when it's time to go all-in on a side hustle?”
Addresses a common dilemma for the show's target audience of aspiring founders.
process
4- Q.01
“What's the business model? How does it actually work?”
Phillips asks this to move beyond the high-level pitch and into the operational mechanics of the guest's company.
- Q.02
“In a partnership, how do you resolve disagreements or stalemates?”
This question seeks practical advice on the human dynamics of running a business.
- Q.03
“How have you applied your own expert advice to your own business?”
This question tests the consistency of the guest's theories by asking for real-world application.
- Q.04
“What value does a member get from joining your community or platform?”
Allows the guest to deliver a concise pitch while defining the tangible benefits of their offering.
controversy
1- Q.01
“Why do you think [a specific group] faces challenges with [funding, visibility, etc.]?”
Used to probe systemic issues and controversies within the entrepreneurial landscape.
personal
1- Q.01
“What was your experience with the YEDI program?”
When applicable, this question connects the guest's journey directly back to the podcast's parent institution.
Signature segments
- · Startup Sandwich metaphor
- · Asking for the guest's 'Secret Sauce'
- · Opening with a 'burning question' or myth
- · Practical, actionable advice focus
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically Canadian entrepreneurs, subject-matter experts (e.g., marketing professors), and community builders. Many have a connection to the YEDI ecosystem, and all are practitioners chosen for their ability to provide concrete, real-world advice.
- Rachel Oliveron Is Buying A Home Still Worth It In 2026? The Real Estate Expert Helping First Time Buyers Get In
- Sanjay J. Dhebaron From Side Hustle to Entrepreneur: Marketing Lessons Every Founder Should Know
- Abimbola Akinnuoyeon How Women Entrepreneurs Can Build Confidence, Visibility, and Business Growth
- Fabio Crespinon Before You Start a Business: How to Tell If Your Idea Is Viable
- Patrick McCormickon What 30 Years in Canada’s Construction Industry Taught Me About Business, Risk & Opportunity
- Karen Foxon Why Networking Events Don’t Work And What Actually Builds Opportunity
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is powered by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) and functions as a primary marketing and educational tool for the accelerator. While guests may mention their own partners, the show itself does not appear to feature third-party advertisements.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
People also ask
- Who is the host of the Startup Sandwich Podcast?
- The host is Ric Phillips, a professional communication coach, TEDx speaker, and Program Advisor for YEDI.
- What is YEDI?
- YEDI stands for York Entrepreneurship Development Institute. It's an award-winning accelerator and charitable organization in Toronto, Canada, that provides education, mentorship, and resources to entrepreneurs.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is an interview-based show where host Ric Phillips talks with entrepreneurs and experts to extract practical business advice.
- Is this podcast still active?
- Yes, based on the provided episode data, the podcast was releasing new episodes as of June 2026.
- Who is this podcast for?
- It's designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, particularly those in the Canadian startup scene, who are looking for actionable advice on how to build and grow a business.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Startup Sandwich Podcast Official Sitestartupsandwichpodcast.com
- [02]York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI)yedi.ca
- [03]About Communication Coach Ric Phillips3vcommunications.com
- [04]YEDI - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [05]Ric Phillips - about.meabout.me
- [06]YEDI Press Release on Tuition-Free Programbusinesswire.com
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