The Matt Brown Podcast

Rachel Macaulay serves as the Vice President of Philanthropy for Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario. I don’t know if you are aware of, have volunteered for, or been supported by Ronald McDonald House.
If you have, you will know just how impactful the work that they do is. Over the years, and from time to time, I’ve had a few opportunities to volunteer with various groups there - working in the kitchen to prepare meals for the families who find themselves living at Ronald McDonald House. In the kitchen, you’re kind of behind the scenes - you see the compassion, dignity and care that the parents and families staying there receive - on what are likely the lowest, hardest and scariest days of their lives. The positive impact these staff members and volunteers offer these families is immeasurable, it can’t be described.
Currently, Rachel is leading a historic capital campaign to double the House's capacity so they won’t ever have to turn families away when they need help the most.
Rachel has more than 13 years experience in philanthropy and communications. She has built her career around the belief that transformational giving changes the giver as much as the recipient.

As International Women's Day approaches, Rachel asked to come on the show to share a message that is championing. "Give Boldly, Gain Boldly" — it’s a call for women and their allies to step into strategic philanthropy and see it not just as an act of generosity, but as a powerful vehicle for personal growth, professional influence, and community impact.
She’s here to tell us all about it - so let’s go.

UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It was formed in 1945 and has 194 members states today. It manages the World Heritage Centre (which designates World Heritage Sites), promotes education for all, supports scientific research and protects cultural diversity.
Back in 2004, UNESCO introduced a Creative Cities Network (UCCN). This network highlights cities that place creativity and cultural industries at the center of their development strategies and strategic plans. The "City of Music" designation is one of seven creative fields recognized by this network, which also includes: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature and Media Arts.
There are currently over 50 "Cities of Music" within this global network, and it’s been about about 5 years since London earned it designation as a UNESCO City of Music. It took almost a decade of work to get there, spread over several councils to get there. Andy still today, London is the only Canadian City to have that City of Music Destination.
London is in good company by the way - other City’s of Music include: Nashville, Tennessee, Austin Texas Seville in Spain and Liverpool, England - if memory serves, that last one was the birthplace Gerry and the Pacemakers, Echo and the Bunnyman, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The La’s - Remember There She Goes? And ah…one other band that’s on the tip of my tongue.
Anyway, 2026 is a milestone of sorts for London, City Staff and Tourism London are delivering a report to a council committee later this week detailing what the city and community partners have been able to accomplish since earning the distinction and the report also includes some information on where they think council should go from here. That second - where they are recommending council go from here - is an important one because the distinction has a kind of “use it or lose” it clause. In other words if, among other things, future strategic planning doesn’t have a central focus on investing in Music, art and culture. That means that London could claim to be the first Canadian city to earn the distinction AND it would also be the first Canadian city to have it revoked.
That’s the background let’s get on with the show. Over the decades, Mario Circelli has done more for the music scene in London than I can fit into an intro. To give you just a taste, he is the founder and chair of the Forest City London Music Awards which he launched in 2002 and it it continues to grow today he also founded the Forest City Music Hall of Fame. These days he Digital Creative Arts Centre at BGC - oh he founded that initiative too. We’re also joined by Ward 6 City Councillor, Sam Trosow - Sam has been a proponent for Music Art and Culture on and off Council and we’re lucky to have him here with us today.

Mike Donachie is a communications leader and journalist who’s been an engaged Londoner for many years. He’s a former City Hall reporter for the Metro London newspaper, later serving as director of communications for Libro Credit Union .These days he’s taken on a new public interest reporting project locally focused on his old beat - London City Council. You can find it over on Substack. He's joining us on the show today , to tell us all about it.

Lieutenant-General (retired) Peter Devlin finished his military career as the commander of the Canadian Army. When he retired from military service in 2013, Fanshawe college brought him on board and he’s been serving as their president ever since. Under his leadership, Fanshawe College experienced significant growth.

These days, the college, along with all other Ontario colleges, is experiencing a budget crunch. Peter joins us to tell us all about it. He’s got some ideas about how to fix this too.

Episode 26, the first ever political panel was a looooong one. Guest panelists Mojdeh Azad, Steve Cordes, Carol Dyck and Paul Hubert joined the show to provide analysis of the Chamber of Commerce 2026 State of the City Address. Some listeners have reached out and asked that it be broken down into 6 segments: First Impressions, The Cumulative 4 Year Tax Increase, The London Police Service Budget, Housing and Development, Homelessness and The "Big Announcement" / Final Thoughts. However you listen to this episode, I hope you enjoy it!