Bend Don't Break

BEND DON’T BREAK—Born and raised in New York City, Evelyn has lived and worked in predominantly white communities in the Pacific Northwest for most of his life. He’s not afraid to challenge small town paradigms. For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we talk with Redmond City Councilor Clifford Evelyn. Evelyn won an insurgent victory in 2020 through a campaign of connecting with local business...

What effects did 2020 events have on trails in Central Oregon? Learn how COVID-19, wildfires, and stay-at-home orders are affecting recreational use in 2021, and find out about implementation of an online, limited-entry permit system from the Forest Service. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON'T BREAK-- The founder of the Natural Mind Dharma Center in Bend discusses how spiritual practices increase coping mechanisms and brain health. For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Michael Scott Stevens, a Buddhism teacher and founder of the Natural Mind Dharma Center. When Stevens opened the center in 1996, Bend was a one-brewery ski town. Today, there’s a yoga...

In this week’s podcast, technical employees at St. Charles Medical Center plan to strike on March 4 in hopes of resolving a contract dispute with their employer, and deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office choose body cams to begin wearing in early May. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

The western monarch butterfly population has seen a steep decline in recent years due to loss of habitats. Here are some tips on how to help them this spring. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON'T BREAK - While there are quite a few environmental organizations in Central Oregon at least partially dedicated to restoring the Deschutes, the DRC is unique in both its mission and structure. Kate explains the history of the DRC: It was founded in the 1990s to function as a collaboration between various interest groups including farmers, recreation advocates, ranchers, environmenta...

A housing project for veterans that could be used as a model for other homeless programs, a taproom that’s handing over the keys to a wine bar, and a new food cart pod opening in Prineville — all in this week’s podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

BEND DON'T BREAK - This week we talk with Dr. Sabrina Hadeed-Duea, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a professor at Oregon State University – Cascades. During this conversation Hadeed-Duea details the benefits of wilderness therapy and explores the challenges and rewards of Zoom counseling. She also discusses the cultural implications of COVID precautions and the long-term impacts of heig...

BEND DON'T BREAK - Oregon’s District Two U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) represents Bend and all of Eastern Oregon in Washington, D.C. We asked Bentz how he is adjusting to life as an elected Congressman and his take on the riots at the U.S. Capitol. Bentz reiterated that he adamantly condemns violence and still supports the people’s right to peaceful protest. The day after the ri...

As we approach Deschutes County's move out of the Extreme Risk category on Feb. 12, we talk about what this will mean for restaurants and take a look into the status of vaccines in the county. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Jeshua Marshall is known and loved for his energetic theatrics and genre-bending musical genius. He shares the DL on the long-defunct Larry & His Flask that might brighten your day. For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we talk with Jeshua Marshall, the bassist and co-founder of the internally known punk band Larry & His Flask. The Flask toured with the Dropkick Murphys and played...

COVID Q&A with topics ranging from tips on how to not forget your mask to “we need indoor plumbing work done” to the new variants of the coronavirus in Bend. What should and shouldn’t you be doing to keep yourself safe? Find out in this week’s podcast! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we talk with Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden who has been representing the state in Washington, D.C. for forty years. As he begins his tenure as the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden discusses his plans for investment in renewable energy and a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Core. Wyden comments on his commitment to fight for federal legaliz...

In this week's podcast, we look into new indoor vs. outdoor guidelines issued by Gov. Kate Brown that will go into effect Jan. 29 and talk about what ahead-of-schedule vaccinations mean for seniors 75+. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break,” we talk with Ellen Waterston, an acclaimed Oregon writer who has published numerous works including an essay collection, a memoir, and four books of poetry. One book of poetry “Vía Láctea, A Woman of a Certain Age Walks the Camino,” was converted into a libretto and premiered as a full-length opera. She’s also an advocate of the literary arts and the...

This week, we talk about the plan for vaccinations. Oregon is prioritizing teachers and other school staff over seniors, causing a couple week delay in eligibility for people ages 65-80. Why? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we spoke with Roger, CEO of Economic Development of Central Oregon. EDCO is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a diversified economy and it helps recruit businesses from outside the area which will provide middle-class jobs for the region’s workforce. Lee has been with EDCO for 21 years and before that he was the director of the Baker City Economic Develop...

In this week’s podcast, we discuss the plan for returning to school as the hybrid learning program starts up and take a look at the swearing-in of new Bend City councilors. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s “Bend Don’t Break” podcast we spoke with Isabel and Fiona Max. These fraternal twins are record-breaking runners from Bend who started their Freshman year at Princeton University this fall… remotely. They often finish within seconds or split seconds of each other in races, though Isabel is known for wins in shorter sprints, while Fiona has excelled in longer cross-country races. Th...

This week, we talk about a campaign launched by OHA to help the effects social distancing has been having on mental health, and take a look at a nonprofit organization run by women and queer people of color. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

As the Source puts out its last issue of the year, Editor Nicole Vulcan joins Publisher Aaron Switzer for a chat about the paper's top-viewed stories, and the "Boot/Slipper" editorial, giving their take on some of the biggest issues of 2020. See more podcasts, video and news coverage at https://www.bendsource.com. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This week, we look into Governor Kate Brown's decision to let school districts decide locally when to resume in-person education. What will the district officials choose to do? Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This week, we talk about COVID restrictions and determine whether they are enforceable. Will legal action be taken if indoor dining continues? We also look into the body cam evaluations being done by Bend officers. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

For this week’s episode of “Bend Don’t Break” we spoke with Rys Fairbrother of What If We Could, and Aaron Switzer, the Source Weekly’s publisher and founder of Central Oregon Gives. Both Switzer and Fairbrother have been working to help nonprofits for years through sponsorships, marketing and storytelling. The Central Oregon Gives program combines all three strategies within a simple digital plat...

The first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are headed to Bend, and details on the upcoming session of the Oregon legislature, aimed at helping renters and businesses affected by the shutdowns, along with wildfire victims, all in this week's podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show