CREATE - The Podcast

Dillon Stecyk: Creating Aroabora - Banff’s Mountain Music Festival | CREATE - The Podcast

Dillon Stecyk, COO of The Apres Collective [https://aprescollective.com/], is a creative entrepreneur and one of the driving forces behind the Aroabora Music Festival [https://aroabora.com/] in Banff - a unique, mountain-set celebration that blends music, nature, and human connection. With a background rooted in events, culture, and collaboration, Dillon has helped shape Aroabora into an experience that brings people together and reminds them what music feels like when it’s intentional and intimate.  Dillon brings a refreshingly honest take on building creative projects with friends, navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, and staying grounded while building something meaningful. In this conversation, Dillon shares the behind-the-scenes realities of festival creation and why community - not scale - is the real measure of success. Guest:  * Dillon Stecyk - COO of ABF & Apres Collective: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dillonstecyk/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillonstecyk/]  * ABF: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apresfestivals/] | Website [https://albertabeerfestivals.com/] * Aroabora Music Festival: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aroabora/] | Website [https://aroabora.com/] Host: * Mark Kondrat: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/m.kondrat/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kondrat-aab92444/]  CREATE - The Podcast:  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apres.collective] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@apres.collective] | Website [https://createpodcast.ca]

Tasha Swiderski: Creating a Healthier, More Intentional Life | CREATE - The Podcast

Tasha Swiderski is a wife, mom of three, and wellness advocate shaped by resilience, faith, and intentional living. After navigating cancer, Lyme disease, and Desmoid tumors, her health journey became a catalyst for change - shifting her focus from survival to helping others live healthier lives. Guided by her faith, Tasha believes in turning pain into purpose and learning to listen to the body. Through her work with Hugh & Grace, she helps people simplify wellness by reducing toxic load, supporting hormone health, and building sustainable daily habits that fit real life. At her core, Tasha’s story is about curiosity, courage, and choosing growth - even when the path isn’t clear.  Guest:  * Tasha Swiderski: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tashaswiderski/?hl=en]  Host: * Mark Kondrat: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/m.kondrat/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kondrat-aab92444/]  CREATE - The Podcast:  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apres.collective] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@apres.collective] | Website [https://createpodcast.ca]

Michael Noble: A Lifetime at the Table | CREATE - The Podcast

Michael Noble is one of Canada’s most respected culinary leaders, with over 46 years in the kitchen and a legacy built on excellence, resilience, and mentorship. A competitor on the world stage, Michael has represented Canada in multiple international culinary competitions and remains the only Canadian chef to ever compete on Iron Chef Japan, battling Masaharu Morimoto in front of millions of viewers. Today, Michael is the Chef/Proprietor of NOtaBLE and The Nash, two cornerstone restaurants that have helped shape Calgary’s dining scene for more than a decade. While his accolades are impressive, Michael is most proud of the people he’s mentored and the teams he’s built along the way. Grounded, curious, and deeply passionate about hospitality, Michael continues to evolve—proving that longevity in this industry is built on people, purpose, and an enduring love for the craft. Guest:  * Michael Noble - Chef & Proprietor * Notable - The Steakhouse: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/notablesteak/] | Website [https://www.notablesteak.ca/] * The Nash Restaurant and OffCut Bar: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thenashyyc/] | Website [https://www.thenashyyc.com/] Host: * Mark Kondrat: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/m.kondrat/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kondrat-aab92444/]  CREATE - The Podcast:  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apres.collective] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@apres.collective] | Website [https://createpodcast.ca]

Stephane Prevost: Refinement Through Simplicity | CREATE - The Podcast

Stephane Prevost is a self-taught chef and restaurateur who has helped shape the Banff dining scene for more than two decades. His journey into hospitality began unexpectedly after studying film in Montreal and landing in Banff in 1980 - a moment that set the course for a life built around food, people, and place. Deeply influenced by nearly six years living in Japan, Stephane’s philosophy centers on refinement through simplicity and the belief that restaurants should serve as social hubs for their communities. As managing partner behind Block Kitchen + Bar and Shoku Izakaya, he continues to create spaces rooted in connection, optimism, and shared experience. In this episode, Stephane reflects on his unconventional path, the realities of building restaurants, and what continues to inspire him after decades at the table. Guest: * Stephane Prevost - Restauranteur & Chef * Block Banff: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/banffblock/] | Website [https://www.banffblock.com/] * Shoku Banff :Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/shokubanff/] | Website [https://shokubanff.com/] Host: * Mark Kondrat: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/m.kondrat/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kondrat-aab92444/]  CREATE - The Podcast:  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apres.collective] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@apres.collective] | Website [https://createpodcast.ca]

Fueling Life: Jason Zaran on Health, Business, and Choosing the Hard Path | CREATE - The Podcast

Jason Zaran is the President of Fit Kitchen and a pioneer in Calgary’s healthy, convenient food movement. After more than 20 years in the consumer packaged goods industry, Jason left corporate life at 42 to pursue entrepreneurship - launching The Main Dish and later founding Fit Kitchen, Alberta’s first meal prep company. In this conversation, Jason shares what it takes to build and scale a food business in a tough industry, how fitness and competition shape his leadership style, and why you should never stop learning. From family-run entrepreneurship to physical challenges and long-term vision, this episode explores how discipline, purpose, and risk-taking fuel both business and life. Guest: * Jason Zaran: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fitkitchencanada/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-zaran-85494118/?originalSubdomain=ca] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@fitkitchen] | Website [https://fitkitchen.ca/] Host: * Mark Kondrat: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/m.kondrat/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kondrat-aab92444/]  CREATE - The Podcast:  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apres.collective] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@apres.collective] | Website [https://createpodcast.ca]