Laura Fessenden dreamed of being a record executive, but food nosed ahead of music at Moxie Bread Co. in Boulder, Colorado. Starting as a barista, Laura took on more and more responsibility until her mentor and bakery founder Andy Clark died in 2022. Now the overall Director of Operations, Laura and her team are continuing Andy's legacy while building a business that works for everyone, well into the future.

There is also mention of Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle and two new, excellent baking books: Flour is Flavour by Dawn Woodward and Early Riser by Arlo Brandl

Helpful Links

Moxie Bread Co.

@moxiebreadco 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

Kevin Masse started a small bakery in a small state, but he didn't stay small for long. These days, Small State Provisions has two locations in the Greater Hartford, CT area, is open seven days per week and is continuing to expand hours and flavours.

In this episode, Kevin shares his journey from food writing to food making, the value of having a vision and a plan, and how it's impossible to shake a childhood dream of feeding people. And before all that, Mark goes on a bit of a rant, so be warned. 💖

There is also talk about Mark's new project, the Bakery Leadership Circle, offered through the Bread Baker's Guild of America

Helpful Links

Small State Provisions

@smallstate 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

Scott France travelled extensively before settling down in Seattle, starting in the food business and joining Macrina in 2016. Now he spends his days leading a team of over 200 employees and serving customers via six cafes and multiple wholesale accounts.

In this episode, Mark and Scott talk about the value of world travel, especially for North Americans, how Macrina navigated the Covid pandemic and how they are now able to focus on their core goals and values in the years ahead.

There's also some talk of the Bakery Leadership Circle, which is launching a new session in March. Apply now!

Helpful Links

Macrina Bakery

@macrinabakery 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

Travis Gerjets is back on the podcast and holy dinah, he's got a five year old bakery now! A coffee shop, cafe and airstream trailer full of awesomeness too.

On this episode, Mark and Travis dig deep into the prairie baking mythos, talk about Prairie Sky Breads and the Minot food scene, about building a bakery that doesn't kill the baker, and embrace their shared love of amazing baking teams.

There's also talk of The Bakery Leadership Circle, a leadership and change program for bakery owners and senior leaders, kicking off in March 2025. Apply now!

Helpful Links

Prairie Sky Breads

@prairieskybreads 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

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

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