This week on Baking Scraps, special guest hosts Vincent Chan and Steven Levitt (from Great Canadian Baking Show Season 5) join Lisa to chat with Dan Vano, the first baker eliminated on Season 9 of The Great Canadian Baking Show. His time in the tent may have been short, but it was packed with heart, humour, and plenty of butter.

Dan talks about the whirlwind experience of stepping into the tent, the nerves and laughter of that first challenge, and the friendships that made it all worthwhile. He shares what surprised him most about being on the show, how he handled the pressure, and why he’s still smiling about it all.

It’s an honest, funny, and uplifting conversation that reminds us why we love the bakers as much as their bakes.

Clips and footage from The Great Canadian Baking Show © 2025 Boat Rocker’s Proper Television Inc., produced in association with CBC/Radio-Canada and Love Productions. Used under fair dealing for review and commentary purposes.

Photography © Geoff George Photography. Used for review and commentary under fair dealing.

All other content © 2025 Baking Scraps Podcast. All rights reserved.

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The tent is open, the ovens are hot, and the bakers are back! Lisa, Vincent, and Steven reunite for another delicious season of The Great Canadian Baking Show, and they waste no time diving into the sugar, spice, and slight chaos of Week 1.

The episode kicks off with laughs and a little teasing as we adjust to being one voice short - Cristina is off living her best life in Spain and France, and while we all claim to “miss her terribly,” there’s plenty of good-natured ribbing about French butter and European desserts.

From there, we get into the heart of the premiere: the excitement of meeting this year’s new batch of bakers, the pressure of that first Signature Challenge, and the joy (and heartbreak) that always comes with the first elimination. Lisa, Vincent and Steven share first impressions, early favourites, and a few bold predictions - plus some passionate opinions about the length of episodes and just how extra the opening montage might have been.

It’s a fun, cozy, and slightly chaotic return to the world of butter, flour, and friendship: the perfect way to kick off Season 9.

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In this episode of Baking Scraps, we welcome the endlessly joyful and creative Amos Lilley. From the moment the conversation starts, his energy and humor light up the screen…and it only gets better from there. Amos takes us on a journey from his acting days in London’s bright lights to finding his true passion back home in Nottingham, where baking became both his art and his joy.

With warmth and wit, he shares how his mum, a home economics teacher, unknowingly planted the seeds of his baking journey, and how those early lessons transformed into a raw talent and deep love of cake. From hilarious kitchen stories to heartfelt reflections on creativity, Amos reminds us that following your passions isn’t always straightforward, but it’s always worth it.

This episode is full of laughter, inspiration, and that irresistible “why not?” spirit Amos carries into everything he does. If you’re looking for a conversation that will lift your mood, spark your creativity, and maybe even leave you craving a slice of chocolate orange cake, you won’t want to miss this one.

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Kim Goldfeder Clarke, winner of Season 3 of the Great American Baking Show, brings a theatre background and a lifelong love of baking to a conversation filled with heart and creativity. She talks about how a childhood watching family bakers sparked a passion that eventually led to the Great American Baking Show, describing the thrill of finally getting the call to compete and the behind-the-scenes challenges of unfamiliar ovens, new ingredients, and high-pressure finals.

She shares vivid memories of marathon practice sessions in London, a quirky lucky-number superstition, and the deep support system she calls her Harry Potter style “army of goodness.” Kim also offers expert tips for building intricate gingerbread dioramas while baking along with the current season of Great British Bake Off, like a gorgeous time capsule cookie box and oven inspired showpiece, while reflecting on the contrast between the intensity of a baking tent and the joy of relaxed home baking.

The conversation also celebrates how the spirit of the original Great British Bake Off connects bakers and fans around the globe. Lisa, Cristina, and Kim talk about how much fun it is to watch every version of the show and how sharing those stories builds a worldwide baking community. Woven throughout is Kim’s commitment to kindness and animal rescue and the many people she touched through sharing the world of her English Bulldog Mr. Bentley: a reminder that her Hot Mess of Love is as generous as it is delicious.

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Karen Mealing, manager of culture and tourism for Midland, Ontario, joins Lisa and Cristina to explore the rich story of Canada’s most beloved dessert: the butter tart.

Karen traces its origins from early settler kitchens to Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival, a free street celebration that draws about 60,000 visitors and sells more than 300,000 tarts every June.

Fans of The Great Canadian Baking Show will recognize the most delicious controversy at the heart of this treat and a running joke on both CBC and Baking Scraps: are butter tarts best with raisins, or no raisins? Karen shares how that spirited debate once lit up the festival’s social media and continues to shape conversations among bakers and fans alike.

She also takes listeners inside the festival’s detailed judging process, reveals flavor combinations ranging from traditional pecan to adventurous black garlic or peanut curry, and describes how the event adapted during the pandemic with a butter tart bicycle trail.

With traditions like the ceremonial “piping of the tart,” more than 400 vendor applications each year, and a team that has grown to five planners, this festival has become a beloved cornerstone of Canadian food culture. Along the way, Lisa and Cristina reflect on their own evolving appreciation for butter tarts, making this episode a warm and lively celebration of culinary heritage and community spirit.

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In this vibrant first episode of Season 3, Lisa and Cristina sit down with Gregson Gastar, a Filipino-Australian hairdresser turned baking luminary. Gregson’s lifelong love for baking began at nine years old and evolved alongside his creative passions: hair styling, photography, dancing, and dabbling with flavor-rich recipes inspired by his heritage.

Despite his impressive enthusiasm and flair, Gregson found himself the first to leave The Great Australian Bake Off Season 9 during cake week. But the judges and audience weren’t left remembering what went wrong; they remembered his “pineapple dance” and the warmth he brought to every whisk and roll.

From his early days in the kitchen to his bold leaps into the public eye, Gregson is definitely making his mark, not only with his bakes, but with the joy and authenticity he brings to everything he does.

Gregson opens up about the inspirations that shape his flavors, the ways he weaves culture and heritage into his food, and the resilience it takes to keep pursuing your passion even when the journey takes unexpected turns. With warmth, honesty, and his signature “sprinkles and love,” he reminds us that baking is about so much more than what comes out of the oven - it’s about connection, courage, and celebration.

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In this heartwarming and inspiring final Season 2 episode of Baking Scraps, Lisa and Cristina sit down with the dynamic and ever-authentic Natasha Aschoff, a beloved cake artist and finalist on Season 11 of Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship. Broadcasting from her kitchen in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Natasha brings her signature warmth and wit to a conversation that’s equal parts candid, emotional, and laugh-out-loud fun.

We dive into Natasha’s journey through the Holiday Baking Championship tent: what it was like competing under pressure, the story behind her showstopping Victorian Lambeth cake, and the whirlwind of making it to the finals. She also opens up about the creative process behind her highly detailed, story-driven bakes, and why each cake she makes is rooted in emotion and personal meaning.

Throughout the episode, Natasha reflects on her most memorable moments on the show, life after the cameras stopped rolling, and the tricky business of the baking world as a business owner, mom, and content creator. She shares why, to her, authenticity matters more than perfection, and how baking is a form of vulnerability and connection.

Get ready for behind-the-scenes insights from the competition, thoughtful advice for bakers of all levels, and honest reflections on imposter syndrome, staying grounded, and finding your voice in a curated online world.

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🛑 Content Warning:

This episode includes discussions around mental health, grief, bullying, and suicide loss. These conversations are handled with care, but listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:

• Canada: Talk Suicide Canada – Call or text 988, 24/7 to connect with Canada’s national suicide crisis helpline, operated by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
• Talk Suicide Canada, reachable at 1‑833‑456‑4566 (or text 45645 — English & French, 4 p.m. to midnight ET)
• USA: Dial or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — a 24/7 free, confidential support service for anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis

Guillaume Boivin is back with Lisa and Cristina for a rich, raw, and joyfully unpredictable second interview. In this episode, Guillaume opens up about life after The Great Canadian Baking Show, his work as a psychologist and advocate, and the emotional story behind one of his bakes: a tribute to a close friend. While the show touched on the moment, Guillaume shares what he wished had been included, and why it matters to speak honestly about grief and mental health.

We also dive into the lighter side of life post-show: the unexpected whirlwind of social media, his spicy sense of humor (intentional and otherwise), and the ever-growing fantasy of Pedro Pascal joining us in the tent. There are laughs, innuendos, and genuine reflections on what it means to show up as your full self - flour-covered hands and all.

Plus, Guillaume offers heartfelt advice for the Season 9 bakers, who’ve just wrapped filming and are soon to share their journey with the world.

This conversation is everything we love about Guillaume: sincere, irreverent, thoughtful, and thoroughly delightful. Come for the feels, stay for the giggles—and maybe a cinnamon bun.

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