Bend Don't Break

Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer visits with the new executive director of the Center for Business, Industry and Professional Development at COCC, John J. Graham. John talks about his new position and why he was lured out of retirement to take it ... and also dives into AI and the exciting ways he thinks it can change our lives for the better. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This episode of Grand Craft Bend welcomes Crux Fermentation Project's assistant brewmaster, Grand, er, Grant McFarren. With a brewery, er, fermentation project like Crux that has so many plates spinning from new beers using new hops to new locations like its pub in Portland (and perhaps another new spot in Bend), to its surprising best-selling offerings, not to mention upcoming fermented beve...

Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer and Food Editor Donna Britt have a lively conversation with CCI Chef/Educator Thor Erickson. Winner of the 2013 International Association of Culinary Professionals Culinary Teacher of the Year award, Thor talks about his love of teaching, his trip to the White House, his television escapades on Little House on the Prairie and what his next culinary adventure i...

This episode of Grand Craft BEND welcomes Robin and Todd Clement, founders of Monkless Belgian Ales. The Clements personify a Hollywood love story, if Hollywood was a beer-soaked high desert town that focused on true and truly lovable characters. Whereas the Monkless Brasserie became the brewing company's sequel, we learn about the upcoming Monkless Abbey to complete the trilogy. Send us Fan...

February is Black History Month and in this episode, SW publisher Aaron Switzer visits with Marcus LeGrand, Afrocentric Program Coordinator at Central Oregon Community College. The college is hosting events throughout the month including a drum making class, a screening of Blend: On Being Black in Bend and an author event with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggets among other happenings. Send us Fan...

In this episode, SW publisher Aaron Switzer chats with State Representative Jason Kropf as he's headed into the 82nd Oregon Legislative Assembly, which convened for the 2024 Legislative Session on Monday, February 5th. Jason represents House District 54 in the Legislature. Elected in November 2020, Jason is currently in his second term of office. Hear Aaron and Jason talk about the issues Jas...

In this episode, Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer hangs out with Marieka Greene, the new Events and Financial Development Director at Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF). She has served in this role since September 1st, 2023, but has been involved in the organization, primarily as a volunteer and event participant, since moving to Bend in 2005. Prior to her work with MBSEF, Marie...

This episode welcomes Mark and Dana Henion who make up two thirds of the owners--and one half of the name--of Van Henion Brewing. The Henions, along with John Van Duzer, launched Van Henion in early 2022 and have been making Bend's most celebrated lagers ever since. They brew on a large, 50-barrel system that could be called "Frankensteined" making it less nimble for small batches,...

This episode welcomes the Midtown Yacht Club's general manager and beer buyer, Alesha Goodman. This beer bar--which is increasingly a "beyond beer" bar for its non-beer inventory from cider to hard and soft seltzers and other non-alcoholic drinks--is centrally located on 4th Street. How convenient for a spot that aims to be the center of Bend Life with large menus at all seven food...

In this episode, Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer chats with the new Executive Director of Bend Film, Giancarlo Gatto. Gatto talks about his lifelong passion for film, how Bend Film contributes to our community's well-being and how you can be a part of this incredible community asset. He also talks about taking the advice he's been giving his kids! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Grand Craft Beer: Vance Wirtz, Brewmaster McMenamins Old St. Francis by The Source - Bend, Oregon Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode of Grand Craft Beer, cicerone Brian Yaeger kicks off 2024 with Alesong Brewing and Blending’s Matt Van Wyk, whose many hats include owner, brewer, and runner-arounder to get Alesong’s award-winning barrel-aged beers all across Oregon including Bend. While Van Wyk is accustomed to fitting bungs in bungholes, his real specialty is fitting his quixotic, square peg beers (bourbon-aged...

Corie Harlan is Central Oregon LandWatch's Cities & Towns Program Director and the City of Bend's Core Area Advisory Board Chair. In this lively conversation with Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer, Corie talks about her passion to help create Complete Communities. They also talk about what's coming up sooner than later for Bend's Central District. Send us Fan Mail Suppo...

Following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, two friends in Redmond began to explore a different side of their friendship. Karim Bouris is of Palestinian and Lebanese descent, and his friend Jordan Schiff is of Jewish descent. In this podcast, these two Central Oregonians talk about the challenges and opportunities that the most recent conflict in Israel and Gaza have introduced for them. Send us Fan Ma...

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang converses with SW Publisher Aaron Switzer about county-wide issues. Topics include mental health and other social services, the housing crisis and long-range planning for the future. Chang will be back in January for Part 2 for a deeper dive into Oregon's Measure 110, transportation issues and more! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode, Christmas doesn’t come early, it comes year-round via Deschutes Brewery’s Cellar Reserve beers thanks to guest and barrel program manager, Dustin Jamison. Jamison lords over “Oakland,” the portion of Deschutes’ warehouse devoted to oak barrels from which its barrel-aged beers—such as The Abyss, The Dissident, and Black Butte3—emanate from. From bourbon-aged stouts to wine-aged sou...

In this episode Source Weekly Food Editor Donna Britt chats with Oh ghee! Founder Merrideth Telfer about her company, Oh ghee! Originally called GheeBD, the company has transformed from a CBD ghee company into a general ghee company literally using ghee (ultra-clarified butter) as the cornerstone ingredient in all of their products from human to pet, edible to topical and even candles! Merredith s...

On this episode of Bend Don't Break Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer converses with the new Executive Director of Deschutes Children's Foundation, Cassi MacQueen. Cassi's deep passion for public service and commitment to social change is inspiring. She and Aaron get real about what's happening in the nonprofit sector of our community and talk about what each of us can do t...

In this episode of the Grand Craft Beer Podcast, we focus on…a different beer podcast. Our guest is Shannon McMenamin—whose father, Mike McMenamin, along with Shannon’s uncle, Brian—founded the McMenamins empire of breweries, pubs, and hotels 40 years ago. Her new podcast, The Red Shed Tapes, focuses on the wealth of stories from all those renowned places and spaces (including Old St. Francis in B...

Bend Don't Break: Artist Teafly by The Source - Bend, Oregon Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode of Grand Craft Beer, host & cicerone Brian Yaeger features Bend's all-women owned craft brewery, Spider City this week. Brewmaster/co-owner Melani Betti, along with her twin sister Michele and their friend Tammy Treat, launched Spider City five years ago. Melani discusses how her world-travels with her twin influence the global beer styles always on tap at Spider City. Sen...

Source Weekly Food Editor Donna Britt visits with One Loaf founder/baker Jessica Dunaway about how she started baking sourdough bread and why she loves it so much. Listen to get tips on making a frozen sourdough loaf come back to life and where you can find One Loaf bread in Bend. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

In this episode, Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer chats with the extremely entertaining Shanan Kelley, creator, producer and host of The Night Light Show with Shanan Kelley and Magnificent Guests. The live variety-style community comedy show which has been running in Bend for a decade. Shanan is also the producer and headliner of She Stands up, an all women’s stand up comedy and music show be...

Emmy Andrews is the executive director of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance, whose mission is to develop, protect, and enhance the Central Oregon mountain bike experience through trail stewardship, advocacy, collaboration, and education. Andrews, who began her tenure as ED at COTA in January 2021, has over 20 years of experience in project management, planning, and marketing, and a passion for imp...

In this episode of Grand Craft Beer, host and cicerone Brian Yaeger welcomes James Owen, brewmaster at Immersion Brewing. They talk about Owen getting to completely overhaul the Box Factory brewpub's recipes when he came on board just two years ago so as to refresh and revive the lager program, the IPA program, the international beer style program and still finding time to both learn how to s...