CREATE - The Podcast

Chris Schoengut has spent nearly 20 years shaping some of Western Canada’s biggest live experiences—from grassroots events to major festivals like the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, where he served as Director of Brand & Partnerships. Now, after two decades in the industry, Chris is stepping into a new chapter—one driven by balance, purpose, and fatherhood. A long-time community supporter and...

Tom Bamford has spent his life pushing limits—both as an athlete and as a creator of unforgettable race experiences. A lifetime competitor, Tom has taken on everything from the Ironman World Championships to XTERRA off-road events and the Belgian Waffle Ride. He started his career directing major triathlon events before moving into the tech world, working with startups, IBM, PeopleSoft, and Deloit...

Hien Pham is a Calgary-based content creator who has built a loyal and engaged community by inviting people into her world with authenticity, humour, and a creative eye. Her content spans home projects, thrifted treasures, travel adventures, sports moments, lifestyle inspiration, and the beautifully chaotic in-between - capturing the kind of everyday stories that feel both relatable and refreshing...

Peter Bishop never meant to become a creative leader, tech strategist, and beverage entrepreneur—but that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, we dive into Peter’s unconventional journey from bartender and illustrator to partner at ZGM and the mind behind Stickler . We unpack the lessons learned from trial by fire, why starting new businesses fuels his creativity, the challenge of selling som...

Born and raised in Germany’s legendary Black Forest, Scott Sunderwald has lived a life deeply connected to the wild.  From the German Forestry Service to wilderness education in BC and Saskatchewan, Scott’s passion for bushcraft, survival, and storytelling has shaped a career devoted to the outdoors. For the past 17 years, he’s called Alberta’s rugged Northern Rockies home, working with Alberta Pa...

Colin Patterson’s journey began on the ice — ten seasons in the NHL, eight of them with the Calgary Flames, where he helped lift the Stanley Cup in 1989. But his legacy didn’t end when the skates came off. Today, as a Director with the Calgary Flames Alumni, Colin channels the same drive and teamwork that fueled his playing days into making a difference across Alberta. From leading the SuperHEROS...

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 Ant...

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 an...

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 scalin...

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 — f...

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...

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 professio...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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 Chicag...

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 , padd...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 b...

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 incubato...