Steve McVicker is the Chief Brand Officer and Co-Founder of Matt & Steve’s, the proudly Canadian company behind The Extreme Bean and one of the most recognizable names in the Caesar and pickle category. What began as a bold idea between two best friends has grown into an international brand built on fun, flavour, authenticity, and emotional connection.

Steve is the driving force behind the brand’s voice, personality, and cultural impact. He believes great brands aren’t just marketed — they’re lived. From storytelling and partnerships to consumer engagement and community-building, Steve ensures Matt & Steve’s doesn’t just stand out on shelves, but resonates with people in real life.

Driven by curiosity, discipline, and a relentless work ethic, Steve continues to compete - and win - against much larger players by staying authentic and building experiences people don’t just see, but feel.

Guest:

• Steve McVicker - Matt & Steve’s: Instagram | Website

Host:

• Mark Kondrat: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website

Andrew Gass is a chef with more than 35 years of experience around the globe.

He’s worked everywhere from Walt Disney World Resorts to elite international hockey tournaments - earning two gold medals as Team Canada’s chef at the World Junior Championships in Sweden and the Czech Republic.

A graduate of the Olds College Brew Master program (with distinction) - Andrew is now the co-owner of Vaycay Brew Co, combining his culinary and brewing passions.

Today, we’re going to talk about personal growth and what it really takes to build excellence over decades.

Guest:

• Andrew Gass: Instagram
• VayCay Brew Co: Instagram

Host:

• Mark Kondrat: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website

Dillon Stecyk, COO of The Apres Collective, is a creative entrepreneur and one of the driving forces behind the Aroabora Music Festival 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 | LinkedIn
• ABF: Instagram | Website
• Aroabora Music Festival: Instagram | Website

Host:

• Mark Kondrat: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website

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

Host:

• Mark Kondrat: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website

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 | Website
  • The Nash Restaurant and OffCut Bar: Instagram | Website

Host:

• Mark Kondrat: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website

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 | Website
  • Shoku Banff :Instagram | Website

Host:

• Mark Kondrat: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website

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 | LinkedIn | TikTok | Website

Host:

• Mark Kondrat: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website

Dillon Stecyk is the COO of APRÈS Beverage Festivals, an entrepreneur, and a consciousness coach who bridges two worlds: large-scale festivals and deep synchronistic transformation.

As the operational force behind some of Western Canada’s most iconic events - Dillon has spent over a decade creating spaces where people connect through music, food, beverage & celebration. Behind the scenes, his personal journey has been devoted to understanding alignment, synchronicity, and what it means to live authentically in a world that often pulls us out of ourselves.

After life-altering experiences traveling, lucid dreaming, and witnessing reality respond to his thoughts in uncanny ways, Dillon became fascinated with how our inner world shapes our outer world. His work now blends ancient wisdom with practical structure, offering a “progressive overload for consciousness” approach—helping people align their energy, strengthen their intuition, and design lives that feel meaningful, sovereign, and creatively powerful.

Today, Dillon helps high-achievers, founders, creatives, and curious seekers integrate spirituality without abandoning their careers, identities, or modern lives. His philosophy is simple: when you’re aligned, the world responds.

This podcast explores the intersection of:

• Synchronicity, intuition & reality design
• Authenticity and the energetic mechanics of creation
• Spiritual growth without giving up success, ambition, or joy
• The human experience—from festival floors to float tanks

If you’ve ever felt like there’s more to life than what you’ve been told, Dillon is here to help you bring that “more” into the real world.

Interviewed on the Kid Carson Podcast:

• Kid Carson: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website
• Contact: business.kidcarson@icloud.com

Featured on CREATE - The Podcast:

• Dillon Stecyk: Instagram | LinkedIn

CREATE - The Podcast: Instagram | TikTok | Website