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 industri...

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 “bee...

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 ...

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 in...

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 ...

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...

Meet Eric Schrader, beer captain and owner of Leduc Brewing Company. 

For three generations, the city of Leduc has been home to his family. Eric has always felt a deep connection to his community and a desire to give back.

After the social isolation of the pandemic, Eric felt inspired to help build up the community in Leduc and bring people together through his love for beer. In 2023, Leduc Brewing Company was born. As the owner of L...

Meet Marc Wandler - Co-founder and CEO of Susgrainable. An expert in the emerging circular economy, Marc has led his business from an idea to securing an offer on CBC Dragons’ Den (Season 18, Episode 14). 

Marc’s journey as a founder began with a class project at UBC while pursuing his MBA. Wanting to bring this project to life, Marc launched Susgrainable in 2018. Susgrainable upcycles spent grains from craft brewers to create nutri...

Meet Ignacio Rodriguez - Manager of Brewing Operations at Big Rock Brewery. Originally from Venezuela, Ignacio moved to Canada in 2015 and has been in the brewing industry for 7 years. Now in his third year at Big Rock, he oversees beer-making processes in Calgary and operations in BC and Ontario.

A Chemical Engineer with brewing studies from Siebel Institute, he graduated with honours from the Brewing program at Kwantlen Polytechni...

Meet Mark Hamilton, the  Director of Sales & Marketing at Origin Malting & Brewing.

With a long-standing career in the beverage alcohol industry, Mark has seen it all and still loves every moment of it. His experience in the On-Premise channel is unparalleled, having worked on iconic brands like Guinness, Bacardi, Grey Goose, Crown Royal, and Jack Daniels. Mark's journey has taken him across Western Canada, beginning on...

Meet Alex Horner - outdoor adventurer, craft beer enthusiast, and co-founder of Banded Peak Brewing. 

Located in the heart of the Barley Belt in Calgary, Banded Peak brews adventurous beer for adventurous people. Alex started the company with his two childhood friends in 2016 after experimenting with homebrewing, and was quickly acquired by Labatt in 2020. Named after the iconic summit in Kananaskis Country, Banded Peak tries to use...

This is a special episode of the Let’s Meet For a Beer Podcast.

Abi Moore, a very special part of our community, recently passed away in a tragic accident.  I was fortunate to connect with Abi a few years ago to record a podcast, and I want to re-share our conversation again today. 

A little bit about Abi…

Abi was a huge part of the Fernie Brewing Family, and an integral member of Fernie’s running community.

Abi first started running w...

Meet Wilson Wong - sales professional, author, co-owner of three businesses, and passionate community builder.

An expert in direct sales, Wilson began his career in 2008 selling Cutco knives, specializing in business appreciation and closing gifts. Beyond sales, Wilson is the co-owner of CRW Orient Coffee Company, Van Loc Vietnamese Sandwiches, and Boa & Hare Coffee and Cocktails - all located in Edmonton’s Chinatown.

Passionate ...

Meet Tay Odynski, aka Taytayski! Tay’s passion for art started early – she’s even still got her childhood sketchbooks. Over the past eight years, she’s carved out a unique niche in the art community, both online and at home in Calgary.

Her artistic process is driven by spontaneity, allowing the paint to dictate the direction of each piece. This results in dynamic works characterized by bold brushstrokes, splatters, drips, and a vari...

Chef Nicole Gomes wears many hats: TV personality, top chef, and chief chicken officer. If you've ever indulged in the tantalizing flavours of Cluck n’ Cleaver or cheered on a Top Chef: Canada showdown, you're already familiar with Nicole's culinary wizardry. But her story is more than just accomplishments — it's a testament to passion, perseverance, and breaking barriers.

Join us as we dive into the savoury deta...

You may recognize Vikram Vij from a number of places – as a famed Canadian chef, or as the owner of Vij’s in Vancouver. Maybe you watched him as a fiery entrepreneur on CBC’s Dragons Den, or as a judge on Chopped Canada. Whatever the case, one thing is certain: his vibrant spirit is bound to leave a lasting impression. 

In this episode, we delve into Vikram's journey, tracing his path from a young, ambitious restaurant owner to...

Hang around the Alberta craft beer industry long enough, and you're bound to cross paths with Anthony Lynch. With an array of experience across the hospitality and brewing sectors, Anthony has left his mark on numerous local craft breweries, from Wild Rose to Broken Barrel, Citizen Brewing, and now, Alley Kat Brewing.

Join us for an enlightening discussion as we delve into the nuanced landscape of craft brewing in the province....

Meet JP Pedhirney, born and raised in Calgary, he’s earned his spot as a prominent figure in the city's culinary scene. With leadership over a diverse portfolio of over a dozen acclaimed restaurants, he's played a pivotal role in elevating Calgary's status as a premier dining destination.

In his role as Vice President of Culinary Operations at Concorde Entertainment Group, JP Pedhirney serves as the creative mind behi...

Meet Graham Sherman: self-proclaimed "high-level geek" turned entrepreneur. With nominations for Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year and recognition as one of Calgary's "Top 40 Under 40," Graham's story is nothing short of inspiring. 

Join us as we uncover the latest news from Tool Shed, detailing their restructuring to address financial challenges. Explore how the brewery is pivoting its operations, opti...