Bend Don't Break
Podcasts powered by The Source, a weekly newspaper in beautiful Bend, Oregon.
Episodes
391 episodes
Bend Don’t Break: Shanan Kelley, Writer, Emcee, Auctioneer, and Comedian
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Shanan Kelley, writer, emcee, auctioneer, and comedian whose heart‑centered humor has made her a cornerstone of Central Oregon’s nonprofit and creative communities. Shanan shares...
Bend Don’t Break: Peter Franc, Executive Director of Ballet Bend
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Peter Franc, executive director of Ballet Bend, to talk about his journey from a young dancer in Atlanta to performing and leading at the highest levels of professional ballet. P...
Bend Don’t Break: Keith Witcosky, Redmond City Manager
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Keith Witcosky, City Manager of Redmond, to talk about what it really means to guide a fast growing Central Oregon city through change. From overseeing a 150 million dollar budge...
Bend Don't Break: Meagan Iverson, Sunriver Music Festival Executive Director
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Meagan Iverson, Executive Director of the Sunriver Music Festival, to talk about music as a vehicle for community, connection, and care in Central Oregon. Meagan shares her path ...
Bend Don’t Break: David Bermudez, Executive Director of Bend Science Station
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with David Bermudez, executive director and founder of Bend Science Station, to talk about curiosity, critical thinking, and what it really means to learn science. David shares his jo...
Bend Don’t Break: Jason Stein, Executive Director of Opera Bend
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Jason Stein, Executive Director of Opera Bend, to talk about building and sustaining an opera company in Central Oregon. Jason shares his journey from studying acting in New York...
Bend Don't Break: Clayton Franke, Reporter for LIOF
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Clayton Franke, reporter for the Lay It Out Foundation and The Source, to talk about local journalism, community accountability, and what it means to report from the inside of a ...
Bend Don’t Break: Casey Andrews, Executive Director for COTA (Central Oregon Trail Alliance)
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Casey Andrews, Executive Director of Central Oregon Trail Alliance, to talk about stewardship, public lands, and the people who make Central Oregon’s trail system possible. Casey...
Bend Don’t Break: Selin Sevinç, Managing Director at Bend Film Festival
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Selin Sevinç, Managing Director of Programming and Artistic Vision at Bend Film Festival, to explore her journey from Istanbul to Bend and her lifelong devotion to storytelling. ...
PREVIEW: Bend Into Balance
In this special preview on the Bend Don’t Break feed, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Adriana Mariño to introduce Bend Into Balance, a new podcast exploring fitness, wellness, and the stories that shape a healthier Bend. In this short convers...
Casey Munck, Regional Director for NAMI Central Oregon
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Casey Munck, Regional Director of NAMI Central Oregon, to explore the evolving landscape of mental health support in our region. Casey shares her journey from a fast‑paced tech c...
Grand Craft Bend: Ryan Atagi, Head Brewer at Crux Fermentation Project
In this episode, we meet Crux Fermentation Project's head brewer, Ryan Atagi. While Japanese lagers (or rice lagers) are gaining steam, Atagi's Japanese heritage brings something extra to Crux's Bochi Bochi lager and an array of other beers inc...
Bend Don't Break: Holly McCown Harris, Health Services Director for Deschutes County
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Holly McCown Harris, Health Services Director for Deschutes County, to explore the realities of providing public and behavioral health care in a rapidly growing region. Holly sha...
Peter Madsen, Investigative and Features Reporter for the Lay It Out Foundation
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Peter Madsen, an investigative and features reporter supported by the Lay It Out Foundation. Peter shares his journey from writing for Vice and Thrasher in New York City to becom...
Bend Don't Break: Melissa Steele, Deputy Fire Marshal of Wildfire Preparedness for Bend Fire & Rescue
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Melissa Steele, Deputy Fire Marshal for Wildfire Preparedness at Bend Fire and Rescue. Melissa brings more than two decades of experience in firefighting and prevention, inc...
Kat Mastrangelo, Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Kat Mastrangelo, Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine, a free clinic serving uninsured adults across Central Oregon. Kat shares her journey from a career in health p...
Bend Don't Break: Greg Pereira, President of COCC
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Dr. Greg Pereira, the seventh president of Central Oregon Community College. Greg shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Clackamas to leading one of Oregon’s most ...
Bend Don't Break: Todd Dunkelberg, Director of the Deschutes County Libraries
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Todd Dunkelberg, Director of the Deschutes Public Library and unexpected TikTok sensation. Todd shares his journey from graduating in library science at the University of Te...
Bend Don't Break: Michael Gesme, Conductor of the Central Oregon Symphony and Professor at COCC
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Michael Gesme, conductor of the Central Oregon Symphony and longtime professor at COCC, as he prepares to retire after 30 years of shaping the region’s classical music scene...
Bend Don't Break: Katy Brooks, City of Bend’s Economic Development Officer
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer reconnects with Katy Brooks, now serving as Bend’s Economic Development Officer, to talk about her shift from Chamber CEO to city strategist. Katy shares her vision for supporting small busines...
Bend Don't Break: Cyrus Mooney, City of Bend Business Advocate
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron sits down with Cyrus Mooney, Business Development Manager for the City of Bend, whose path from student affairs to civic leadership reflects a deep commitment to service and connection. With roots in S...
Bend Don't Break: Lace Thornberg, Central Oregon LandWatch Communications Director
This week on Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Lace Thornberg, Communications Director at Central Oregon LandWatch. Lace shares how her journey through conservation organizations across the West event...
Bend Don't Break: Steve Platt, Bend City Councilman
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Bend City Councilman Steve Platt, whose journey from fighter pilot to physics teacher to public servant reveals a deep commitment to community, resilience, and thoughtful le...
Bend Don't Break: Lily Raff McCaulou
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with journalist and author Lily Raff McCaulou. Lily’s writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, <...
Bend Don't Break: Brian August, Executive Director of the Tower Theatre Foundation
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Brian K. August shares his journey to becoming the new Executive Director of the Tower Theatre Foundation. With more than twenty years of leadership experience across nonprofits, private enterprise, and glob...
