A cupcake tradition at an elementary school turned into a career, a bakery, and a Netflix championship. We welcome Pocatello’s own Nathan Chandler to unpack the full arc: baking with grandparents, testing flavors with fearless honesty, and finding a creative home in Southeast Idaho’s fairs and art scene. He shares what TV never shows—the mental game behind the timer, the choreography of three cameras, and how a freezer save and a trusted friend can change the outcome of a bake.

Nathan takes us inside two defining moments: the Food Network heartbreak that sparked imposter syndrome and the Blue Ribbon finale where a marbled tiered cake, boomerang croissants, and a nod to Flowers by LD told his past‑present‑future. He’s candid about the business side too: nine months of secrecy, sudden lines out the door, paying off debt, upgrading equipment, and why saving for slow months is as important as laminating butter. His philosophy is refreshingly local—celebrate other bakers, refer out what you don’t make, and recognize that a small town can power big dreams when everyone shows up.

You’ll also get a holiday‑ready cookie hack: press cut‑out sugar cookies into flavored sugar—snickerdoodle cinnamon or citrus sugar made by massaging zest into granulated sugar—for instant flavor without changing your base dough. Along the way, we talk creativity, community, authenticity, and why kids’ unfiltered feedback might be the best critique in the world. If you love bakery stories, competition secrets, and a reminder that support is the secret ingredient, this one’s for you.

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