Rise Up! The Baker Podcast With Mark Dyck

Okotoks, Alberta is a small community south of Calgary that boasts an old-fashioned main street, beautiful views of the Rocky Mountain foothills and, for the past few years, a top notch bakery and cafe.  In this episode, Mark talks to Brad Labrenz and Marie-Luce Denis, owners of French50 Bakery, who are attracting hungry folk from well beyond the town limits.  They talk about how they've grown from a market bakery to renting a kitchen to recently opening their own place in an old house just off main street.  It's a conversation about family, community and bringing French tastes to Alberta. Helpful Links French50 Bakery @french50bakery on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin  

With the cost of living continuing to rise, bakers and other food service workers are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.  The Living Wage for Families Campaign is focused on identifying the real costs of living in Canadian cities and works with businesses to move toward paying employees a real living wage. In this episode, Mark talks with Anastasia French of the BC arm of Living Wage for Families about the rise in the living wage standard over the past year across the province, the particular challenges within the food service industry, and how her organization can help bakery owners implement living wage strategies at their bakery. Helpful Links Living Wage for Families website @lwforfamilies on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin  

Tabitha Langel wanted to serve her community in Winnipeg first and foremost.  After much prayer and deliberation, she decided that baking was the way to do it.  Now, over 35 years later, Tall Grass Prairie Bakery is at the heart of two core neighbourhoods in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In this episode, Tabitha and Ryan Stoesz talk about the origins of Tall Grass, their intentional approach to change and growth, and how they are succession planning for a new generation of owners and bakers.   Helpful Links Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company @tallgrassprairiebakery on Instagram Ayoko Design, creator of Anthologie Magazine Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin Production Assistance by Leah Hayward  

Black Market Bakers is taking off like a rocket ship in Annapolis, Maryland.  Steve O'Leary, his dad and his brother have grown the business from a home kitchen (with Steve's mom selling the loaves door to door) to a food truck, to a full bakery/cafe to recently launching a second location.  But through it all, the business has had a singular focus on happy people -- happy staff, happy customers and a happy, loving relationship between the business partners. Helpful Links Black Market Bakers @blackmarketbakers on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin  

Stefan Spicknell knows who his bakery is for.  All he has to do is look out his door on Great Western Road in Glasgow and look at the flats, the schools and the people walking by.  And his deep focus those people, and his craft, is what keeps Cottonrake Bakery grounded in his community.  In this episode, Mark and Stefan talk about Stefan's journey to the Great Western Road, from a rented kitchen, to a tiny shop, to a tiny shop with a cafe down the road.  And how he's overcome everything from heart surgery to volcanoes to make Cottonrake a mainstay in Glasgow's West End. Helpful Links Cottonrake Bakery @cottonrake on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin  

Maurizio Leo has been writing the excellent Perfect Loaf blog for a decade now, teaching thousands and thousands of people to bake amazing sourdough bread.  His writing and teaching style, paired with top-notch photography, makes his site one of the most important resources in the baking community and his new book is helping him reach an even larger audience. In this episode, Mark learns what drives Maurizio to continually hone his baking craft, why it's important to share what you learn as you go, and how bread and baking keeps his creativity high, even after 10 years of writing and teaching.  Helpful Links The Perfect Loaf @maurizio on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin Production Assistant:  Leah Hayward  

Ron Bokenfohr is looking for a new (old) way to grow grain and feed the soil at the same time.  His farming and milling operation north of Edmonton, Alberta is focused on regenerative agriculture: farming with a focus on building a complex, healthy soil. In this episode, Mark and Ron talk about the process of shifting to a regenerative farming model and Ron's progress in building a grain sprouting and milling operation that he hopes will supply bakers from Vancouver to Thunder Bay. Helpful Links Regenerative Grain Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin Production Assistant:  Leah Hayward

Charlie and Hilde Muller were bakers before they moved to the middle of the forest in western Michigan and began carving a home, a bakery and a life from the woods.  Laughing Tree Bakery has been going strong for the past 14 years, feeding the people via the Muskegon Farmers Market and several stores and cafes in the region. In this episode, Mark, Hilde and Charlie swap stories about their shared baking ancestor, Alan Scott, discuss the early days of Laughing Tree and dig into why the Mullers may have a leap or two left in their baking journey.  It's a fun, wide ranging talk that lingers on a core question of life:  why (and how) do we choose our path? Helpful Links Laughing Tree Bakery @laughingtreebakery on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin Production Assistance by Leah Ha

Moving to an island in the Pacific Northwest is not easy.  Moving intentionally, with a view of contributing to the community is even more difficult.  But Sage Dilts and Nathan Hodges have done just that with their farm and bakery on Lopez Island, Washington. In this episode, Mark learns how Sage and Nathan met in grad school in the Bay Area, where Sage also developed her baking chops, how they found their way to Lopez Island and how the locals embraced their quest to make the best bread from the localist grains.  And how Barn Owl Bakery is feeding their village.  Alan Scott also makes recurring appearances in the journey, as a mentor and guide. Helpful Links Barn Owl Bakery @barnowlbakery on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin Production Assistant:  Leah Hayward  

Tom Giancola caught the bread bug watching Netflix seven years ago, and his friends and neighbours have never been happier.  His generous spirit feeds an ever larger group of people in Annapolis, Maryland, through his exceptional basement bakery, Makeathe. In this episode, Mark and Tom talk about the intricacies of building a professional bakery under your living room, how his baking has been embraced by Annapolis food-lovers, how giving is a key part of what makes Tom tick, and how he helped cottage bakers of all kinds by making lasting political change. Helpful Links Makeathe website @makeathe_bread on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Production Assistant is Leah Hayward Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin  

Fry's Bakery has been a stalwart of Craigflower Road in Victoria for a decade, a shining as an example of how a baker with an old mixer and a brick oven can feed a neighbourhood. In this episode, Mark and Byron sit down at the bakery (well, directly above it) to talk about how the world needs a bakery in every neighbourhood, about starting businesses at a young age, and how leadership is important in the baking industry and around the bench. Helpful Links Fry's Bakery @frysbakery on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin  

All it took was a well made hollandaise sauce for Daniel Saez to switch from life as a lawyer to a life in food.  Starting as a culinary chef in his native Venezuela, Daniel eventually made his way to Canada and shifted from culinary to pastry and finally to bread.  Now his bakery, Noctua Bread Project in the Junction in Toronto is focused on serving the best possible baked goods to the people in his vibrant, eclectic neighbourhood. In this episode, Daniel shares his story of deciding to leap into food, moving to Canada and overcoming the stresses of opening his own bakery.  We also dig into the importance of sticking to one's vision and principles, and using them to guide difficult decisions. Helpful Links Noctua Bread Project @noctuabakery on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Rei

Haley Landa and Curtis Helm met in pastry school and have been steadily building their skills and experiences in hotels and restaurants in Canada and beyond.  All this work has culminated in opening Goodside Pastry House in Victoria last month, opening to huge lineups and extremely happy customers. In this episode, Mark takes a trip to the bakery to chat with Curtis and Haley around the bench, in between some test bakes and the start of their weekly croissant production.  They talk about the baker's lifestyle, and leaving yourself open to opportunities as they arise, the slow buildup of a clientele in Victoria, leading to the opening of their own brick and mortar shop.  It's a fun, energetic chat with several pearls of hard-earned wisdom. Helpful Links Goodside Pastry House @goodsidepastryhouse on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and

David Aplin was a rock guitarist who apprenticed as a baker at Loblaws.  Camelia Proulx was building a career in the food industry front-of-house.  Together, they spent the past 12 years rocking the baking world in Scarborough, Ontario at their bakery Cliffside Hearth. In this episode, Mark, David and Camelia sit down to talk bread, wood fired ovens and getting the maximum production from a very small baking space.  And Mark discovers just how closely his baking journey has aligned with David's, year after year. And also, some annoucements around baking gatherings with Mark over the next few weeks! Helpful Links Cliffside Hearth Website @cliffside_hearth_bread_company on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin

Anna Gordon started selling her amazing cookies at the Brooklyn Flea in 2010 and has since created a delicious destination bakery in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.   In this episode, we kick off 2023 with a vibrant conversation about Anna's love of creating layers of flavours and textures, visualizing the perfect day of a bakery owner, and what it's like to create a platform that does so much tasty good in her community. Helpful Links The Good Batch @thegoodbatch on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin

Karen Bornarth has been an active part of the American bread scene for over two decades.  This past July, she was named Executive Director of the Bread Bakers Guild of America and is fully engaged moving the baking profession forward. In this episode, Karen shares her baking story, from late nights at Amy's Breads to her baking and education work at Hot Bread Kitchen.  And they dig into Karen't vision for the Guild as they celebrate their 30th anniversary and set course for the next 30 years. Helpful Links Bread Bakers Guild of America @breadbakersguild on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin

When Kitty Tait was 14, she went through a very rough time, and baking bread was key to her recovery.  She baked, and baked, and baked some more, until her friends and neighbours were well fed, and she kept on baking.  Soon Kitty and her dad Alex were baking by subscription, then at a retail shop and are now running The Orange Bakery in Watlington, UK full time. In this episode, Mark, Kitty and Alex sit down to talk about the remarkable growth of the Orange Bakery, their excellent book Breadsong, how Instagram helped Kitty find her teachers and mentors and their latest project to spread the craft and nutrition of fine bread baking. Helpful Links The Orange Bakery website @the_orangebakery on Instagram Breadsong:  How Baking Changed Our Lives - goodreads Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reib

When Josh Houston started teaching cooking at his local high school, the incumbent chef put him in charge of the baking program.  It didn't take long before Josh was baking so much bread and pastries in order to 'crack the code' of yeast and gluten that he needed to start selling his extras.  Stark Raving Bread was born. In this episode, Mark and Josh discuss the birth and growth of Josh's bakery, moving from home to a commercial kitchen and soon back home again, and how he is finding the balance to bake for hundreds of people and still be a great husband and father.   Helpful Links Stark Raving Bread @starkravingbread on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin

Teisha Huff is back!  She and Mark catch up on her new project as head pastry chef at the new, chic, contemporary Latin-fusion restaurant Fortuna's Row in downtown Calgary, Alberta.  After ten years honing her craft as a bread and pastry baker around Saskatchewan, what's it like to create composed desserts?  How do Mom and Dad like having their daughter back?  What's it like working the evening shift? Are there cast-iron brownies on the menu? Plus, as many stories as Mark can muster with his Covid-addled brain.  Hope you enjoy this talk! Helpful Links @_teishalynn on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin

Nels Leader is the second-generation CEO of the iconic Bread Alone Bakery in Boiceville, New York and is continuing to move their vision to Feed The World forward. In this episode, Mark and Nels talk about how you're never "done", even as the business expands, how Bread Alone shifted to being a carbon-neutral bakery and what the future holds for the bakery and the bakers at Bread Alone. Helpful Links Bread Alone Bakery @breadalonebakery on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin