episode 017: Mark Brand

episode 017: Mark Brand

Author: with May Globus May 19, 2021 Duration: 1:02:40
Mark Brand is a human always in service to others. The restauranteur has been behind Boneta, Sea Monstr Sushi, The Diamond, Persephone Brewing, and iconic downtown eastside diner Save on Meats but is well-known for his global work as a social entrepreneur. Born in Scotland, his childhood was an intensely nomadic one, moving from country to country. At 14-years-old, he got his first job making pizza and never looked back, moving to Australia with his dad when he was 19. There, Mark found happiness in the restaurant industry and as a hiphop, rap, and funk DJ - and it was also where he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. He then moved to Vancouver on a feeling and, for the last 15 years, rebuilt his life around restaurants and worldwide social impact: establishing A Better Life Foundation, cooking at the Vatican as executive chef for Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ Challenge, teaching innovation at USC, and working with on the United Nations Catalyst Team focusing on food waste, poverty, and the impacts of current systemic structures on the most marginalized. Resilience is a recurring theme in Mark’s life, and his story is a reflection of that. In this conversation, we dig deep into the idea of creating safety and boundaries in a chaotic environment, why his parents are his heroes, sobriety and the dark days he’s had to go through, why we shouldn’t look away from discomfort, projects he’s currently working on around the world, and more.

There’s a particular texture to a life built around creating something meaningful, whether that’s a business, a work of art, or a new path forward. The Craft with May Globus pulls back the curtain on those lives through unhurried, intimate dialogues. May sits down with a diverse range of creators, founders, and pioneers, but the focus here is less on glossy success stories and more on the raw material of their journeys. You’ll hear the nuances of their creative process, the pivotal moments in their personal backstory, and how their philosophy shapes their daily existence. It’s an ongoing exploration of the shared humanity behind different kinds of work. What makes this podcast uniquely immersive is its commitment to being an audio-visual experience. Each conversation is accompanied by rich, editorial-style photography that provides a deeper, more sensory connection to the guest and their world. Think of it like a beautifully composed magazine feature that you can listen to, where the images and the dialogue work in concert. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining quiet, privileged access to the minds of people who are thoughtfully shaping culture, one idea at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Craft with May Globus
Podcast Episodes
episode 058: Mark George [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:40
Mark George possesses an original perspective, someone with the ability to look at the world and spaces in it with a nonconformist eye. The longtime designer & furniture maker recently founded August Studios, an East Van…
episode 055: Amanda Lee Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:54
Amanda Lee Smith is a true visionary. An early start in journalism as a teen led her into a career in communications at various places, before landing a plum brand content role at Kit and Ace. She then took a chance on h…
episode 054: CJ Swanton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:04
CJ Swanton is in a league of his own, a man of impeccable taste. A longtime communications professional, he launched his career in Vancouver as part of the Obakki team before moving to New York for many years. There, he…
episode 053: Zoë Pawlak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:11
Artist Zoë Pawlak is an incredible beam of human light. She has a way of connecting with others upon first meeting them—nothing is trite or superficial when in conversation with her. To be in her presence is to go deep i…
episode 052: Cemre Demiralp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:11
Cemre Demiralp is an incredible force of nature, not one to live her life without bringing meaningful change to the world. She has spent much of her art career thus far working at various museums and institutions, mainly…
episode 051: Richard Smart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:44
There’s a wonderful gentleness to Richard Smart, the owner of EC Rarebooks, a subterranean shop in Gastown full of first edition books and titles. A third-generation book restorer, he—and his late grandfather and late fa…
episode 050: Shannon Heth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:48
When Shannon Heth walks into a room, it’s hard not to be drawn in by her presence. Once you’re in conversation, it’s hard not to be captivated by her intelligence. After a stint in film & wardrobe after university, Shann…
episode 049: Dickson Li [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:37
To know Dickson Li is to love him. A sales veteran in the skate & snowboard industries, he’s represented a variety of major brands for over a decade: OBEY Clothing, Taikan, Dragon, thirtytwo, and more. He’s also co-found…
episode 048: Sean Blishen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:31
Sean Blishen is a bright soul, her personality and smile light up any room. After working in fashion retail and then healthcare, she turned a candle-making hobby into a full-fledged business, launching Kilig Candle Co. H…
episode 047: Steve Rio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:48
To boil down the beautiful essence and spirit of Steve Rio down to a few adjectives is next to impossible. The musician, investor, former founder & CEO of social impact agency Briteweb and current co-founder of Enfold In…