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CREATE - The Podcast

Mark Kondrat - Entrepreneur & Podcast Host

147 episodes

6 days ago

Born and raised in British Columbia, Robert McKay has spent a lifetime surrounded by the province’s natural beauty and creative spirit. With deep family roots in Vancouver—his mother a Kitsilano High alumna and his grandmother an artist and early mentor—Robert grew up immersed in art, language, and culture. Those formative experiences, from visits to VanDusen Gardens to exploring the Museum of Anthropology, shaped his appreciation for aesthetics, storytelling, and the artistry of everyday lif...

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Entrepreneurship

Personal Journals,

Society & Culture

All content for CREATE - The Podcast is the property of Mark Kondrat - Entrepreneur & Podcast Host and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Born and raised in British Columbia, Robert McKay has spent a lifetime surrounded by the province’s natural beauty and creative spirit. With deep family roots in Vancouver—his mother a Kitsilano High alumna and his grandmother an artist and early mentor—Robert grew up immersed in art, language, and culture. Those formative experiences, from visits to VanDusen Gardens to exploring the Museum of Anthropology, shaped his appreciation for aesthetics, storytelling, and the artistry of everyday lif...

Show more...

Entrepreneurship

Personal Journals,

Society & Culture

Episodes (20/147)

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Robert Bruce McKay – President of Lloyd Bruce Home Collections| CREATE - The Podcast

Born and raised in British Columbia, Robert McKay has spent a lifetime surrounded by the province’s natural beauty and creative spirit. With deep family roots in Vancouver—his mother a Kitsilano High alumna and his grandmother an artist and early mentor—Robert grew up immersed in art, language, and culture. Those formative experiences, from visits to VanDusen Gardens to exploring the Museum of Anthropology, shaped his appreciation for aesthetics, storytelling, and the artistry of everyday lif...

6 days ago

47 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

From the Ice to the Butcher Block: The Grit and Grind of Taras Foremsky | CREATE – The Podcast

Calgary-born Taras Foremsky went from chasing pucks to chasing perfection in the meat business. After an impressive hockey career that took him across North America and Europe — from the AJHL to Italy, Germany, and England — Taras traded his skates for a knife, buying out his father’s partners to build what’s now Prairie West Specialty Meats. A proud husband to Heather and “girl dad” to Alexis and Berkley, Taras blends the discipline of a pro athlete with the creativity of an entreprene...

1 week ago

1 hour 25 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Chasing the Last 5%: The Soffritto Story with Gordon Fontaine | CREATE – The Podcast

Gordon Fontaine is the founder and heartbeat behind Soffritto Calgary — a purpose-driven culinary business fueled by heart, hustle, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. A proud Calgarian with deep roots in hospitality, Gordon’s path has taken him from the lively chaos of Earls and Melrose Café to helping grow The Cash Store from 19 to 500 locations. In 2010, he returned to his true passion — food and connection — launching Soffritto. Known for his sharp wit, big heart, and obsession ...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 25 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Twists, Turns & Pretzels: Maria Chau’s Unexpected Journey

From law school to soft pretzels, Maria Chau’s journey is anything but ordinary. As co-founder of Zwick’s Pretzels, she’s spent the last eight years coaxing an unexpected pretzel phenomenon into a thriving, if unpredictable, business. In this episode, Maria shares how an existential crisis, a taco bar, and a willingness to follow curiosity led her down an entirely new path. She talks about scaling chaos into structure, learning resilience through fire, and finding joy in the dance betwe...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 16 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Dane Thorogood – Tee. Sip. Repeat. The Story Behind Templ | CREATE – The Podcast

From the fairways of Alabama to the foothills of Cochrane, Dane Thorogood has built a life around golf, family, and community. A former collegiate golfer turned golf course operator, Dane’s latest venture — Templ — is rewriting the playbook for non-alcoholic beverages in Canada. As President of Templ, the Totem Charitable Foundation, and Totem Group, Dane blends business with purpose, pairing his entrepreneurial spirit with a deep love for family and giving back. In this episode, Dane op...

1 month ago

40 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Rambod Rezaie – Aviator, Academic, and Overall Renaissance Man| CREATE - The Podcast

Rambod Rezaie is a Canadian aviator and multidisciplinary professional whose life embodies precision, creativity, and purpose. Often described as a “man of Renaissance,” Rambod has seamlessly blended a career rooted in science, art, and aviation. A graduate of the University of British Columbia in Biological Sciences and Harvard University’s Fundamentals of Medicine program, he began his professional journey in medical sciences before discovering his true calling — flight. His disciplined app...

1 month ago

57 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Bob Sumner – Connector, Communicator, and Calgary’s Very Own Media Matchmaker | CREATE - The Podcast

With over 35 years in TV news and communications, Bob’s seen it all - from breaking stories to building lasting relationships across the city and beyond. A lifelong Calgarian with a global mindset, Bob thrives on human connection and the magic that happens when people share their stories. Now, he’s turning the page with the launch of Newsbob Media - his next chapter in helping others shine in the spotlight. Focused on affordable and effective media relations, Bob brings heart, hustle, and dec...

1 month ago

57 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Rob Swiderski – Entrepreneur, Mushroom Innovator, and Family Man

Meet Rob Swiderski – Entrepreneur, Mushroom Innovator, and Family Man Rob’s entrepreneurial path began with CRAFT Beer Market and has since evolved into purpose-driven ventures like NuCelium (formerly Mushröm) - a company that reflects his growing passion for health, healing, and holistic wellness. But behind the business journey is a deeply personal story—one shaped by love, faith, and resilience. Rob speaks openly about the strength it takes to balance ambition with vulnerability, and how h...

1 month ago

1 hour 14 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Chelsea Tessier – Co-Founder, Head Brewer, and the Creative Force Behind Polyrhythm Brewing

Chelsea’s journey into brewing started with a science degree and a homebrew kit. After nearly a decade working in environmental labs, she shifted gears – winning national awards as a homebrewer before launching her own brewery. Today, as head brewer at Polyrhythm Brewing, Chelsea blends scientific precision with artistic flair to craft award-winning beers and create a taproom that feels like home. Her favourite sound? Laughter coming from the tables she helped build. In this episode, Chelsea ...

2 months ago

44 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Bill McKenzie – Brand Builder, Team Leader, and CEO of Foothills Creamery | CREATE - The Podcast

Bill brings over 30 years of experience in the beverage industry to his role at Foothills Creamery. From working on iconic campaigns like “I AM CANADIAN” to helping re-energize a legacy Alberta brand, he’s always been driven by people, purpose, and a good story. Since joining Foothills in 2021, Bill has tackled big challenges – culture shifts, supply issues, product revamps—but with the right team and a community-first mindset, the results have been sweet. In this episode, Bill talks about th...

2 months ago

48 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Greg Zeschuk – Physician, Video Game Trailblazer, and Craft Beer Entrepreneur | CREATE - The Podcast

As co-founder of BioWare, Greg helped create some of the most iconic story-driven games of our time, including Baldur’s Gate, Mass Effect, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. A trained medical doctor, he balanced family medicine with game development before fully committing to the studio—eventually leading it through its acquisition by Electronic Arts and serving as VP and GM of BioWare Austin. After stepping away in 2012 to pursue a more balanced life, Greg turned his attention to cr...

2 months ago

1 hour 7 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Jeff Meszaros – Artist, Storyteller, and Founder of JAM Bottle Cap Art | CREATE - The Podcast

Jeff’s creative journey began behind the bar, where he started collecting bottle caps simply because he couldn’t bring himself to throw them away. Eighteen years later, those caps have become the foundation of a thriving art career—transforming waste into bold, eye-catching mosaics. With over half a million caps repurposed, Jeff’s work now spans three continents, with clients including the Chicago Bulls, Labatt, the Blue Jays, and Joe Rogan. Before launching JAM full-time, Jeff built a ...

2 months ago

59 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Max Powers – Adventurer, Instructor, and Community-Minded Realtor | CREATE - The Podcast

Since 1994, Max has called the Columbia Valley home – a place that mirrors his passion for the outdoors, people, and possibility. His career has been anything but conventional: from building homes and launching early internet companies to founding flight schools and competing four times in the gruelling Red Bull X-Alps adventure race. Today, Max wears many hats—realtor with Re/Max Invermere, paddling guide with Columbia River Paddle, and chief instructor at flyingMax.com, where he shares his ...

3 months ago

52 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Peter Keith – Chef, Entrepreneur, and Community Builder | CREATE - The Podcast

Peter started cooking at 14 and hasn’t looked back. His work has earned him the title of Canadian Chef of the Year in 2020 and a spot on Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2022. With experience in some of Canada’s top kitchens, international competition wins, and degrees in both culinary arts and business, his career bridges the worlds of food, entrepreneurship, and education. Today, Peter co-owns a trio of beloved Edmonton food ventures: Meuwly’s (specialty meats and charcuterie), The...

3 months ago

53 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

Kelly Mandeville – Connector, Creator, and Co-Founder of Monster Sauce | CREATE - The Podcast

Meet Kelly Mandeville – Connector, Creator, and Co-Founder of Monster Sauce. With a background in film production, marketing, and brand storytelling, Kelly has spent her career building bridges between people, products, and purpose. After nearly a decade introducing Canadians to beloved craft breweries like Phillips and Beau’s, she co-founded Hop Forward—a nonprofit promoting inclusion and equity in the beer and hospitality industries. In 2021, Kelly and her partner turned their go-to pandemi...

3 months ago

1 hour 17 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

The Best Bavarian Hefeweizen in the World - Jochen Fahr | LMFAB 126

Meet Jochen Fahr, founder of Brauerei Fahr, the award-winning brewery celebrated for its authentic German beers. Born and raised in Ebringen, Germany, Jochen’s love for brewing started early, influenced by his father’s work at the historic Fürstenberg Brewery. Years later, Jochen’s passion and appreciation for local farming converged in Alberta, where he established Brauerei Fahr in 2015. With a steadfast commitment to brewing “beer-flavoured” beer, Jochen brings the flavours of Germany...

11 months ago

1 hour 1 minute

CREATE - The Podcast

How can we influence the culture, but work within it at the same time? - Christine & Roger | LMFAB 125

Meet Christine Sandford and Roger Létourneau—seasoned chefs and founders of Lessig Ferments and Vagabond Pop-Ups. Roger founded Lessig Ferments in 2021, blending his French and German heritage with a deep passion for fermentation. Christine joined him as co-owner in 2023, and with combined experience from top restaurants in Edmonton, Belgium, Denmark, and France, the duo brings an impressive blend of creativity, sustainability, and craftsmanship to their ventures. Recently, they launched Vaga...

1 year ago

1 hour 13 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

It’s not just about making a dollar, it’s about doing good in the community. - Matt Livingstone | LMFAB 124

Meet Matt Livingstone, Sales Director at Village Brewery. Matt’s career started at McDonald's, where he learned the values of hard work, customer service, and teamwork. These experiences sparked his passion for connecting with people and led him into the fast-paced world of food & beverage. From there, he spent several years selling imported beers, gaining a deep appreciation for global brewing traditions and learning the ins and outs of the beer market. Now, with a decade at Village Brew...

1 year ago

41 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

When you can go do something you’re passionate about, it feels purposeful - Luke Butterworth | LMFAB 123

Meet Luke Butterworth, Cofounder of EPIC Market - Edmonton-based food hall, events and media company. Luke’s passion for innovation and entrepreneurship was sparked early, leading him down a diverse path in the startup world. While earning his Executive MBA from the University of Alberta, he co-founded three startups in Telehealth, Robotics, and AI/ML. His experience at the NEXT36/NextAI incubator in Toronto further solidified his commitment to entrepreneurship, shaping his vision for t...

1 year ago

58 minutes

CREATE - The Podcast

You've got to be comfortable with being uncomfortable - Steve McVicker | LMFAB 122

Meet Steve McVicker, co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of the iconic Canadian Caesar brand, Matt & Steve's. Matt & Steve’s journey began with a single goal: to make the classic Caesar even better. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Steve’s entrepreneurial flame was ignited at a very young age. Alongside his best friend Matt, Steve set out to elevate the classic Caesar, creating a product that would soon become a staple for Caesar lovers everywhere. What started with The E...

1 year ago

43 minutes