Rise Up! The Baker Podcast With Mark Dyck

When Mark Hart decided to go out on his own, he built a commercial baking space, but not for his own production baking.  Instead, he and his partner Luis Cabral started Rise Baking Lab, a teaching and event space where they can share their love of baking with professional and amatuer bakers alike. In this episode, Mark and Luis share their vision for their new bread lab, the joys to teaching, and their growing consulting business, while discussing how there are so many ways to be a part of the baking industry without focusing on early morning production.  There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which is offering a new session in early 2025. Helpful Links Rise Baking Lab @risebakinglab 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  

Jonathan Stevens new book, The Hungry Ghost Bread Book, is a throwback to the first wave of books on artisan baking in the 1990's.  And for good reason, because Jonathan has been part of the North American bread scene from the very beginning. In this episode, Mark and Jonathan take a trip back to the early days in Northern California, figuring it out with Alan Scott, opening an opinionated bakery in Western Mass, telling stories, singing songs and writing poetry.  And through it all, reconnecting to the power of feeding people good bread day after day. Helpful Links Buy Jonathan's Book via bookshop.org Hungry Ghost Bread @hungryghostbread 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  

Holly Showalter was a pastry chef in Virginia when the big skies of Montana came calling to her.  After several years working different jobs and settling into the local community, Holly opened Wild Oats Baking.  Now she's feeding the people and the people are fully embracing her and her food. In this episode, Mark and Holly talk a little about tiny houses, more about hiring from within a small town, and a lot about how serving the local community means bringing all your skills to bear on the things they want to eat.  Helpful Links Wild Oats Baking website @wildoatsbaking 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  

Today Mark is joined by Karen Bornarth of the Bread Bakers Guild of America and Martin Barnett of the Baking Association of Canada to talk about the state of the baking industry in North America.  They reflect on the success of two recent national meetings, discuss the range of benefits that nationwide education and advocacy can provide, ponder the implications of a $10 loaf of bread, and more.  Helpful Links @breadbakersguild on Instagram @bacnational 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  

Once Lyndsey Bell realized that the corporate life was not for her, she and her partner Jay Valeri dove into the world of donuts and coffee.  Since they found their sweet spot and opened Bigfoot Donuts seven years ago they have gone from strength to strength. In this episode, Mark, Lyndsey and Jay talk all things donuts and coffee, being able to take advantage of opportunities when they are presented, who exactly is going to drive their donut truck, and more.  It's a fun talk with two hard working bakers. Helpful Links Bigfoot Donuts @bigfoot.donuts 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 we get tired and frustrated as bakery owners, we often fall into the trap of thinking of our employees as expenses and not assets and partners.  Luckily, there are resources like the Good Jobs Strategy to help us reset our thinking and put our employees at the forefront of our business success. In this episode, Mark talks with Sandhya Mahadevan of Good Jobs Institute about their work with large and small businesses evaluating the role of employees and implementing strategies to build long term benefits for the people and the business.  They talk specifically about the Good Jobs Strategy and how it can be applied to bakeries of all sizes. There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session starting in July. Helpful Links Good Jobs Institute The Good Jobs Strategy overview 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

Ian Herrington turned the turmoil of Covid into the catalyst to make the leap into bakery ownership.  Now Leavened, his elegant bakery / cafe in Cleveland is making a name for itself within the neighbourhood and for miles around. In this episode, Mark and Ian talk about the quiet rhythms of a bake team working around the bench, the joy of working with great partners and the thrill of welcoming Ian's regulars into the bakery every morning. There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session starting in July. Helpful Links Leavened website @leavenedcle 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  

Tom Moore loves starting new projects.  And the best thing is, they work.  His new bakery cafe, Tombo Eats on Yates Street in Victoria launched to huge buzz this year and is already one of the must visit spots downtown. In this episode, Mark and Tom discuss the wild and crazy food journey Tom's been on since dropping out of school to apprentice as a chef, opening restaurants in his native Australia, teaching, mentoring and more, before switching to the bakery world in order to spend more time with his children.  Oh yeah, there's a move to Canada, a stellar bakery, a satellite store and a cookbook in there too.  It's a great talk with a fun, friendly baker and entrepreneur. There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session starting in July. Helpful Links Tombo Eats Crust Bakery @tomboeats on Instagram @crustbakeryonfort on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakernomics series M

Carlos Ruiz was a litigation lawyer and quickly found that the daily grind of destroying the opposition was killing him inside.  Baking and especially feeding his community was the antidote. In this episode, Mark and Carlos talk about making the switch from law to the bakery life, making connections with teachers and mentors, the stresses of supporting your family through baking and what El Horno de Pane means to the people in his neighbourhood. There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session starting in July. Helpful Links El Horno de Pane @elhornodepane 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  

Jessica Rivers is co-owner and connection engine of the amazing bakery Working Culture Bread in Victoria BC.  In the three years since Mark talked to her husband Adam in Episode #128, the bakery has grown and their family has too.  Through it all, Jess and the Working Culture team have built even stronger ties within the community, through fundraising, advocacy and lots of listening. In this episode, Jess and Mark talk about how starting a family helped her baking team grow closer, her faith in food providers to come together to help people and her new project, Club Bop, which helps local small businesses of all stripes support each other. There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session starting in July. Helpful Links Working Culture Bread @workingculturebread 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

Sarah Black sadly passed away on February 15, 2024.  To commemorate this kind and thoughtful baker and teacher, we are re-publishing Mark's chat with Sarah from Episode 153.  Recorded in October, 2021 Sarah's family announced her passing via Sarah's Instagram page. Helpful Links Support the Podcast Here Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark on Instagram Credits: Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin  

The podcast hits a major milestone by going back to the beginning.  In this special 200th episode, Mark is joined by Daisy Chow of Breadboard Bakery in Arlington, Mass. and Nate Houge of Brake Bread in St. Paul, Minnesota for a wide ranging conversation about everything that's changed since they first met back at Wheatstalk in Rhode Island in 2018, when the podcast was an idea but not yet a real thing. Recorded on the Monday before US Thanksgiving, with Nate preparing for a night of baking and Daisy rolling out pie dough on camera, the three friends talk about staffing, about product lineups, and about making the difficult changes to make their bakeries sustainable for the long term.  Helpful Links Learn more about the Bakery Leadership Circle workshop! Daisy on Instagram Nate 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 Dyc

Claudia Fimbres and her husband Brad named their store and restaurant Mamacita after Claudia's mother, but these days, it's Claudia who is mother and aunty to an entire community of Latin food lovers in her new home of Pearl Harbour, Newfoundland. In this episode, Mark catches up with his old friend and learns of her life in cooking, from growing up in Mexico, coming to Canada and deciding to move from Regina, Saskatchewan to 'the Rock.'  They also discuss the unique challenges running a fresh food emporium on the far side of a remote island in the North Atlantic Ocean and the involuntary urge to have the flavours of home even when you live and work in another land. There is also a special announcement of a new workshop Mark is launching in 2024 in collaboration with the Bread Bakers Guild of America, the Bakery Leadership Circle. Helpful Links Mamacita Mexican Kitchen @mamacitanl on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The Bakers4Bakers Community Mark's Blog, with the Bakern

Working with a coach or consultant can be a leap too far for many small business owners, especially owner-operator independent bakeries.  Lisa Arnold set out to bridge the gap in her town of Springfield, Tennessee, with Small Town Startup, a marketing agency, startup incubator, coaching practice and meeting space. Lisa is bringing the skills and best practices usually reserved for large corporations to small businesses in an accessible, affordable, sustainable way. In this episode, Lisa shares her story of moving to a small town and nurturing the energy and excitement of the entrepreneur community there.  Mark and Lisa discuss how she lowers the barrier to entry for her services by offering small classes and meetups, how being flexible to each business' needs has helped her grow, and how every small town needs a sparkplug to keep the small business community connected and thriving. Helpful Links Small Town Startup @smalltownstartup on Instagram Support the Podcast Here! Rise Up! The Baker Podcast website The

After working as a baker on both coasts, Amy Corliss returned to her home state twelve years ago to open her own place in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado.  She recently moved down the road to a new space and is focused on building community, growing her team and feeding the people in a converted 1905 heritage house. In this episode, Mark and Amy talk about her pastry school experience in Vancouver, the benefits of fair but firm teachers, the evolution of good food in the centre of North America, and seeking out "partners in leadership" when building her team. Helpful Links Little Bird Bakeshop @the_little_bird_bakeshop 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  

Ed and Natasha Tatton have been building an outstanding, 100% plant based bakery in Whistler, BC for several years, and have just launched a stellar cookbook from the bakery.  The book is both approachable and very detailed, explaining the intricacies and advantages of vegan baking while bringing Ed's incredible flavour combinations to each recipe.  In this Episode, Mark talks with Natasha and Ed to learn about what's been happening at Ed's Bred since Ed was on the show in 2021, the challenges of writing a book and testing recipes while keeping the business running, and why plant based baking is no longer just a fringe 'alternative' option. Helpful Links Register for the BAC Webinar: Telling the story of your bakery on Nov. 14, 2023 Ed's Bred website Learn more about Bred: The Cookbook @eds_bred 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 a

Martha Barber began her baking career by taking cookies into the office at Christmas time.  Now she's shipping her delicious shortbread all over Vancouver Island and onto the mainland too. In this episode, Mark and Martha discuss the steady growth of her bakery, how strategic partnerships have helped the business grow, finding predictable, repeatable wholesale contracts and why she still thrives on the personal, human touch at her bakery. Helpful Links Martha's Delectables @marthasdelectables 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  

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