Rise Up! The Baker Podcast With Mark Dyck

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

Asking why a communion wafer might make her friend sick started Elizabeth DeRuff on twenty year journey of farming, baking and teaching.  As the President of Honore Farm and Mill in Marin County, California, Elizabeth both teaches city folk where their bread comes from and how to bake with flavour and health in the forefront.   Recently, the farm has begun growing out Hourani wheat, a heritage grain with, which was retrieved from the ruins of an ancient Jewish fortress in Palestine. In this episode, Mark learns about the evolution of Honore farm and the fascinating story of this ancient strain of durum wheat. Helpful Links Honore Farm and Mill @honorefarmandmill 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

Let's end this summer season of Second Rise episodes with a bang.   It's time for the OG, my friend and mentor, Tracey Muzzolini, from the very first conversation on Rise Up! in 2018. (Rise Up! #2) Tracey is the co-owner of Christies Mayfair Bakery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  It's a full on artisan bread and pastry shop, with classic italian specialties and awesome sandwiches too.  And they also have a second location in the trendy broadway neighbourhood offering the best neapolitan pizza i've ever had.   Since we had this talk, Tracey's been busy and is getting even more famous. She was a celebrity judge on the Canadian version of Wall of Bakers this spring.  And last month, Christies celebrated their 90th anniversary!  When we dreamed of our own bakery, we wanted it to be like Tracey's place in Saskatoon.  Great food, serving her local neighbourhood, with a focus on people in general and her extended baking family in particular.  I love Tracey so much that I'm willing to shine a light on the very first pod

Randy George was one of my mentors when we had Orange Boot Bakery, although we never spoke 1:1 until this talk in September 2018.  (Rise Up! #24) When I was planning the podcast, Randy was one of the people at the top of my list of folks to talk to, because he was really focussed on putting his employees front and centre in the bakery.  He was the guy you turned to when attracting and retaining employees came up.  And his bakery is a wholesale operation, which I knew nothing about but was curious to learn about.  So I was thrilled when we finally got to spend some time together. There's lots in this talk that you're going to love.    Helpful Links Red Hen Baking Company @redhenbaking 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

Cindy and I are travelling in England and Scotland this summer.  I expect to be heading to a lot of bakeries on this trip, eating the good stuff and learning more about the #realbread scene there.  #realbread is a proper movement in the UK and Chris Young is the guy who keeps the energy high and the momentum growing.  So it's only fitting that we bring back the conversation we had last year (Rise Up! #146), prior to another month of celebrations of all things Sourdough.  They run a month-long #sourdoughseptember campaign and finally, for the first time ever, I'm out in front of it in 2022.  Yippee! Chris is a cool guy and the campaign is interesting and important.  So get ready to dig into a 100% naturally leavened conversation with Chris Young of the real bread campaign. Helpful Links Real Bread Campaign @realbreadcampaign 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 hoste

We're getting some Orange Boot Bakery nostalgia this week.  Because for this Second Rise episode, I'm sharing the talk I had with Teisha Huff in March, 2019. (Rise Up! #48) Teisha was a big part of the Golden Years at Orange Boot.  She was our first ever student intern.  Our Head Baker for three years.  And after she left us for greener pastures, she kept working on her game.   She started a sourdough donut pop-up shop and made the best donuts I've ever eaten.  She was the head baker at Night Oven Bakery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and knocked it out of the park their too.   And now, she's back in her home town of Calgary, Alberta hatching a new scheme.  She's going to be heading up the pastry area at a new hip and trendy restaurant that's opening this summer.  Sounds like she'll be doing bread and ice cream too.  Wow! But for this chat, let's go back in time to a time when a fresh faced, 22 year old new grad decides to move 750km to the Saskatchewan prairies to work at this new fangled Orange Boot Bakery.  Wh

When I talked with Josey Baker back in 2019 (Rise Up! #55) I wasn't sure what to expect.  He was already super famous, with a best selling book, talks at Google, and his irrepressible grin all over YouTube and Instagram.  In my mind, he was one of the early wave of 'bread celebrities.' The Josey I spoke to was one of most thoughtful men I've ever met.  Our talk gave me the confidence to 'go there' and talk about culture, privilege and mental health.  It changed me for the better and I think you're going to love it. Helpful Links Josey Baker Bread @joseybakerbread 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  

Charlie Emers is an old friend of mine, although only via email, until we got together for a conversation back in early 2021. (Rise Up! #118) Since he was on the show, we've struck up a fun correspondence, with Charlie writing me long emails from his front porch.  I imagine him hitting send and then either heading to the bake shop or sneaking out the back of the farm for a hike or a ski.  It's a friendship I cherish. Baker, Philosopher and Matzoh maker, Charlie Emers of Patchwork Farm and Bakery in rural Vermont.  Helpful Links Patchwork Farm and Bakery @patchworkfarmand 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

While Mark and Cindy head out on a summer adventure, we're taking a second look at some of Mark's favourite conversations from the podcast archives. In this episode, we travel back to a conversation with Nate Houge of Brake Bread in St. Paul, Minnesota.  It's a peek into the start of a budding friendship that thrives to this day.  (This conversation originally aired as Episode 5 in April 2018) Helpful Links Brake Bread @brakebread 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

Sometimes you just see a need and feel compelled to fill it.  After working together in the corporate world and being underwhelmed by the quality of their box lunches, Joan Kanner and Michelle Bond decided to bring the great bagels of their native New Jersey to Baltimore.  Starting with pop-ups and market bakes in 2015, by 2020 they opened Bottoms Up Bagels on Greenmount Avenue.  Now they are taking their bagel show on the road, after two very successful pop-up roadshows in Bozeman, Montana and Cohoes, NY.    Dialing in from the hoodoos of Utah, Joan and I discuss how great bagels aren't just for New York and Montreal, how Bottoms Up Bagels is willing to take on every form of distribution and what it takes to make a splash with their Bagel Roadshows across the USA. Helpful Links Bottoms Up Bagels @bottomsupbagels 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 D

In this episode, Mark riffs on the challenges faced with building your bakery, or running your marketing, on platforms that you don't own.  Plus, listener questions and more! Helpful Links Atomic Habits and The Power of Habit on Goodreads Support the Podcast Here! Ask a question or listen to past episodes on 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

There are a hundred moving parts at the bakery, even for solo bakers.  Ingredients coming in, food going out, and all the processes in between.   Without well defined, repeatable, teachable systems, a day at the bakery can feel like chaos.  Get your team on the same page, however, and you can make more product, and feed more people than you ever imagined. In this episode, Mark shares stories of systems gone awry at bakeries and coffee shops he's visited, and his own bakery as well. He makes the case for getting the boss and the team moving in the same direction to develop systems so your bakery runs more smoothly and with less tension.  And he offers some ideas for getting started in making your bakery system savvy. Helpful Links 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

Laura Brannan, aka elbe, has been baking her cannabutter based cookies and cakes since the days when they were allowed as medicine only (and even then it was deeply in the 'grey zone.)  Now, Elbe's Edibles are available through cannabis stores throughout Oregon.  In this episode, Mark and elbe discuss the significant roadblocks to opening a cannabis business even though it's now a legal ingredient, the advantages of baking with cannabutter and elbe's struggles and successes building a food based business over the past 12 years. Helpful Links elbe's Edibles @elbesedibles 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

Nickey Miller and Josie Rudderham are co-owners of Cake & Loaf in Hamilton, Ontario and are also co-authors of a brand new cookbook called, you guessed it, Cake & Loaf! In this episode, Nickey and Josie share the story of their bakery, their continued commitment to paying a living wage for their employees, even through the pandemic, and the love and care they have put into their book.  The love they have for good food and their community shines through! Helpful Links Cake and Loaf Bakery Cake and Loaf, the book! @cakeandloafbakery 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