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PODCAST

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA

The Retail Bakers of America Association

"The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA" is your all-access pass to the heart of the retail baking industry. Each episode brings you inside the kitchen with leading bakers, educators, and innovators who share their stories, tips, and insights. From the secrets of achieving the perfect loaf to navigating business growth, we explore what it takes to elevate your baking craft and career. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, an aspiring baker, or simply hungry for inspiration, tune in and discover how the

business careers

All Episodes

42:59

From Engineering to Bakery Owner: The Systems Behind...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/04/17

Most people think baking is about creativity. Rachel Liu Martindale will tell you it’s about systems. In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Rachel shares what it really looks like to walk away from a stable engineering career and build a bakery from the ground up—without skipping the hard parts. From scaling recipes and calculating margins to testing demand through pop-ups and navigating a business through COVID, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it takes to create a business th...

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40:36

What It Takes to Lead the Baking Industry with Martin...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/04/03

There’s a version of the baking industry that people want to believe in—one where hard work, consistency, and great products are enough to guarantee success. But the reality? It’s more complicated than that. In this episode of The Perfect Rise, I’m joined by Martin Barnett, Executive Director of Baking Association of Canada, who has spent nearly five decades in the industry—spanning family bakeries, hospitality, education, and now national leadership. What was meant to be a ...

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26:41

The Business of Flour: Nancy Muller on Relationships,...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/03/20

What does flour have to do with growth, consistency, and long-term success in the baking industry? More than most people realize. In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly sits down with Nancy Muller, a foodservice professional with more than 30 years of industry experience and over 22 years in baking, to talk about the business side of one of the most foundational ingredients in the industry. Nancy shares how early memories of baking with her grandmother, admiring Betty Crock...

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22:32

E28: From Family Bakery to Regional Business: Lynn...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/03/06

What does it take to grow a small-town bakery into a thriving regional business? In this episode of The Perfect Rise Podcast, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Lynn Schurman, co-owner of Cold Spring Bakery in Minnesota and former Education Director for the Retail Bakers of America. Cold Spring Bakery began as a small family operation in 1946, founded by Lynn’s in-laws after her father-in-law learned baking while serving in the Navy during World War II. When Lynn and her husband Dale purcha...

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47:21

E27: Raising the Standard in Baking Education

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/02/20

What does it really take to become a Certified Master Baker—and then choose to teach the next generation? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, I sit down with Jesse Jackson III, CMB, Baking & Pastry Instructor at the Culinary Institute of America and one of only two African American Retail Bakers of America Certified Master Bakers. This conversation isn’t just about titles. It’s about discipline. Standards. Repetition. Legacy. Chef Jesse walks us through the long game of mastery—fro...

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30:35

E25: Legacy Baking & Profit Literacy: Building a...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/02/06

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, we sit down with Chad Ecklof, third-generation owner of Ecklof Bakery, to talk about legacy, leadership, and why profit literacy—not just passion—is the difference between survival and sustainability. Chad shares how nine years in the U.S. Navy shaped his leadership style, what it’s like working side by side with his father in a legacy bakery, and how outdated pricing systems led him to build The Baker’s Bench—a tool designed by a baker, for bakers. This c...

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46:48

Colette Christian on Mastery, Certifications, and...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/01/23

What does real mastery look like when nobody’s watching? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, I’m joined by Colette Christian—chef, educator, and certification powerhouse—whose career started in professional kitchens at 14 and evolved through hotels, production baking, business ownership, and culinary education. We talk about the unsexy truth behind skill: repetition, systems, and the willingness to take on the jobs most people avoid. Colette shares a smart strategy for getting into top kitch...

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28:23

Buddy Valastro on Retail Bakeries, Leadership, and...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2026/01/09

Buddy Valastro is often introduced as Cake Boss—but long before television, books, and global recognition, he was (and still is) a retail baker. In this episode of The Perfect Rise: Conversations with the Retail Bakers of America, Buddy joins host Chef Kimberly Houston for a grounded, honest conversation about what it really takes to run a bakery in today’s market. From leadership inside a multi-generation family business to staffing, sales, pricing, and adapting to changing customer habits, ...

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34:24

Where Creativity Meets Chemistry: Kelly DeFusco on...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/12/12

Most people think a career in baking means spending your life inside a kitchen—but today’s guest proves the industry is far bigger, more innovative, and more full of possibility than most bakers ever imagine. In this episode, Kimberly sits down with Kelly DeFusco, a Principal Bakery Scientist at Tastepoint by IFF with 34 years in the flavor industry. Kelly’s journey started with homemade 3D birthday cakes, a family restaurant, and a home economics degree, before one unexpected phone call laun...

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37:23

E21: The Bagel Ambassador joins The Perfect Rise!

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/11/28

What happens when you spot a gap in the market that should exist… and decide to build it yourself? BagelFest was born from that exact moment — an idea that didn’t make sense not to exist. In today’s episode, Chef Kimberly sits down with the “Bagel Ambassador” himself, Sam Silverman, to explore how a first-time festival in Bushwick evolved into the beating heart of global bagel culture. This episode dives into: • The surprising origins of BagelFest • How proof of concept shaped every sta...

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26:50

Icing Smiles: Turning Compassion Into Cake

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/11/14

What if one cake could change everything? In this heartfelt episode of The Perfect Rise Podcast, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Tracy Quisenberry, founder of Icing Smiles, a nonprofit that brings joy to critically ill children and their families through custom celebration cakes made by volunteer bakers. Tracy’s journey didn’t begin in the kitchen—it started with service. After years as a tax professional and volunteer for Make-A-Wish, she found her true calling through a single homemade...

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32:46

E19: Why We’re Losing Chefs — and How CHOW’s Fixing It

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/10/31

What if the same passion that drives your success is quietly breaking you down? In this powerful episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Jasmin Vitolo Parks-Papadopoulos, Chief Growth Officer at CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness), to unpack the unspoken truth of life in hospitality — and what it really takes to build healthier kitchens. You’ll hear: • The emotional story behind CHOW’s founding after Anthony Bourdain’s passing • The “temperatur...

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31:18

E18: Mastery, Mindset & Integrity: Lessons from...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/10/17

What does it really take to become a Certified Master Baker—and a true master of your craft? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Chef Cody Middleton, professor and department head of Baking & Pastry at the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach (HGTC), to explore the intersection of skill, humility, and leadership in the pastry world. From studying at École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie under the Alain Ducasse education group to earning...

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28:06

E:17 Chef Matthew Ratliff on Mastering Pastry &...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/10/03

What does it take to rise to the top of the pastry world? In this episode of The Perfect Rise: Conversations with the RBA, Executive Pastry Chef Matthew Ratliff shares his journey from the Culinary Institute of America to competing (and winning) on Food Network, earning elite certifications, and leading the pastry team at the prestigious Everglades Club. Chef Matt opens up about: • The lessons competitions teach that kitchen work cannot • Why sugar artistry remains one of the toug...

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43:40

E16: From Fine Dining to Cookie Empire | The Perfect...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/09/19

What happens when a fine dining pastry chef faces a career-ending injury? For Tracy Mattson, it became the spark that launched Cookie Take a Bite—a boutique cookie brand built on elevated flavors, thoughtful presentation, and a deep commitment to local partnerships. In this episode of The Perfect Rise, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Tracy to unpack her inspiring journey: • How six weeks on the couch turned into the foundation for a thriving bakery. • The leap from farmers markets to b...

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37:32

E15: From Pastry Chef to Industry Leader: Scott...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/09/05

From Pastry Chef to Industry Leader: Scott Calvert’s Baking Journey In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Scott Calvert—President of Tootie Pie Co. and immediate past president of the Retail Bakers of America—shares his 35+ year journey in the baking industry. From his start at the New England Culinary Institute to building The Cake Plate, and now leading in wholesale production, Scott’s story is one of adaptation, leadership, and legacy. We talk about: • Transitioning from retail to who...

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37:45

E14: From Weekend Help to Donut Empire: Gary...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/08/22

From Weekend Help to Donut Empire: Gary VanderStelt of Sprinkles Donuts | The Perfect Rise Podcast What happens when the kid who swore he’d never work in a bakery ends up running one of the busiest donut operations in Michigan? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Gary VanderStelt, owner of Sprinkles Donuts, to talk about how a family legacy turned into a full-blown donut empire—complete with 8+ locations, a 14,000-square-foot kitchen, and over 500,000 don...

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19:47

E113: The Truth About Becoming a Certified Master Baker

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/08/08

What does it really take to become a Certified Master Baker? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef LeeAnn Adams shares her journey—from late nights in the kitchen to passing one of the most intense baking exams in the industry. We talk about the written and practical tests, the pressure, the power of mentorship, and the lifelong impact of becoming a CMB. If you’re a baker chasing excellence or curious about what’s possible in your career, this episode will leave you inspired. • Inside the...

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29:33

E112: Baking Isn’t Hard: Taylor Craft on Curiosity &...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/07/25

What does it take to go from actor to baker—and find your flavor voice along the way? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Taylor Craft, a Kendall College grad and career changer who left a 13-year front-of-house career to chase creativity and precision in pastry. Taylor opens up about her culinary school experience post-2020, how flavor theory changed her baking game, and why staying curious is the real secret to success in the industry. 👩‍🍳 Inside this

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29:41

E111: Inside the Certified Master Baker Exam with...

The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA ·

2025/07/11

What does it take to join the elite ranks of Certified Master Bakers (CMB)? In this powerful episode of The Perfect Rise, we go behind the scenes with Chef Austin Scoles—pastry chef, educator, and one of the newest CMBs certified by the Retail Bakers of America. From 10+ weekends of intense practice to a two-day exam that tests everything from precision to endurance, Chef Scoles breaks down the real journey to CMB status—and what most people never hear about the process. 🎓 You’ll learn:

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31 results

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