Episodes
-
Lisa and Nic Romano had careers in food and hospitality, and got into market baking so Nic could stay home with his young family. But when business took off and they had a chance for a Big Leap, they both dove in, taking over The Breadery in 2023. Now they are delivering wholesale bread around the state, running a full retail bakery (complete with olive oil tasting!) and are still attending four markets.
In this episode, Mark learns more about the effort involved in taking over an existing bakery, merging two passionate customer bases together, and keeping the family intact and engaged in a massive bakery project.
There is also the Bakery Leadership Circle, which is accepting applications for the Spring 2025 session!
Helpful Links
The Breadery
@the_breadery 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
-
Tim Kastner loves bread and he loves the solitude of bread baking. He also loves working at the Bread Lab, a wholesale bread bakery in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In this episode, Tim shares the origins of the Bread Lab, springing up as part of Patisserie46, a fine pastry shop founded by master patissier John Kraus, and how his passion for baking makes the night shift a feature of the job, rather than a burden.
There's also talk of Mark's new workshop, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which is opening applications for the Spring 2025 session on December 10!
Helpful Links
Patisserie46 / The Bread Lab
@patisserie46 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
-
Missing episodes?
-
When Chris DiPiazza needed a break from his IT business, he took a cooking class with a bread baker. That class opened up a portal that changed his life and career. From small beginnings, Chris slowly built up his wholesale business until opening Mighty Bread Co. in a small corner of a larger building in 2017. These days, his bakery is the main player in the building, as Chris and his team go from success to success.
In this episode, Mark and Chris talk about how Chris' role has changed over the years, how they keep the team's creativity high and cohesion tight, and how he is revelling in connection with his neighbourhood and the robust food community in Philadelphia.
There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session starting in the Spring 2025.
Helpful Links
Mighty Bread Co.
@mightybreadco 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
-
Erica Leahy was working in an office job when she realized she had missed her calling. So she gave up her stock options and health plan, left the office and set off for the life of a pastry chef. After unpaid internships, several stints baking for fine restaurants, finding her feet in a commissary kitchen and starting a family, she opened Three Daughters Baking Co. in 2018.
In this episode, Mark and Erica talk about the people in her life that have been cheering her on (and pitching in) throughout Erica's baking career, and how she's put down deep roots over the past 16 years in South Orange.
There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session starting in early 2025.
Helpful Links
Three Daughters Baking Co.
@threedaughtersbaking2018 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
-
Gillian Lundgren was lured to the Bay Area by her favourite aunt and has never left. Through a long and varied career as a baker in San Francisco, from bakeries to pop ups, she founded Black Jet Baking Co. right down the block from where she got her start. She's putting down deep roots and making sure the people in her neighbourhood are well fed.
In this episode, Mark and Gillian talk about both the need for and the short life span of Hustle, how Covid forced her bakery to flip from mostly wholesale to all retail, and how Gillian keeps her creative juices flowing in all aspects of her bakery.
There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, which will run again in 2025
Helpful Links
Black Jet Baking Co.
@blackjetbaker 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
-
Carly Rossmeissl wants to experience everything baking has to offer. Since graduating from baking school she's travelled from New York to Austin to Wisconsin, working with bread, cakes, desserts and even stuffed pretzels. But her work keeps coming back to two things: solving problems and building strong, happy teams. In this episode we talk about Carly's long and winding journey in baking, with some trade union talk and even a detour into Halloween costumes as well.
There is also talk about the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new session coming in 2025.
Helpful Links
Madison Sourdough
@madisonsourdough 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
-
There's something special about small town bakeries. And when your bakery is on the main street of a small town in the heart of Sonoma, California and you're baking stellar bread from a massive brick oven, well, now you really have something special.
Jessie Frost has all that and more. A native of the Sonoma area, she baked around the Bay Area before eventually taking over Nightingale Breads. In this fun, thoughtful episode, Mark and Jessie talk about her love of place, taking the plunge to owner her bakery during a time of turmoil and her slow, steady approach to making the bakery her own.
There is also talk about the Bakery Leadership Circle, which has a new sessions coming up in the New Year.
Helpful Links
Nightingale Breads
@nightingalebreads 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 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
Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck
Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin
-
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
Mark on Instagram
Credits:Produced and hosted by Mark Dyck
Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck
Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin
-
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
Theme song and music by Robyn Dyck
Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin
-
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 Dyck
Orange Boot Human logo by Fred Reibin
-
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 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
- Show more
