Bend Don't Break

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 shares her path from working in national parks and forests across the country to leading one of the region’s most impactful outdoor nonprofits. Casey and A...

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. Selin shares how she moved through the film world as a critic, screenwriter, and festival juror before finding her home in Central Oregon’s creative communi...

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 conversation, Aaron and Adriana talk about why this new space matters, what listeners can expect, and how Bend’s wellness community continues to evolve. Tune in fo...

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 career to deeply meaningful grassroots work, guided by lived experience, community connection, and a passion for reducing stigma. Aaron and Casey discuss the...

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 including a new dark Japanese lager he created in conjunction with OSU called OSSU. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

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 shares her journey from juvenile probation work in rural Texas to leading one of Central Oregon’s most essential health departments, and how crisis response, p...

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 becoming one of Central Oregon’s most prolific storytellers. The conversation dives into Peter’s passion for long-form journalism, the challenges of investigativ...

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, including years with Cal Fire during the devastating Paradise fire, to her new role in Central Oregon. Melissa shares her journey from the front lines of catas...

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 policy and hospital administration to leading an organization that provides critical care for those who fall through the cracks of the healthcare system. Tog...

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 respected colleges. His career path spans work in homeless shelters, nonprofit leadership, and higher education administration, giving him a unique perspect...

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 Texas to leading one of Oregon’s most dynamic library systems. He reflects on the evolution of libraries from traditional book lending to makerspaces, 3D prin...

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. Michael reflects on his journey from the Midwest to Bend, the evolution of local performance spaces, and the community partnerships that have sustained ev...

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 businesses, improving infrastructure, and making Bend more welcoming to new and growing industries. They explore urban renewal plans, housing challenges, and how K...

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 Sherwood and a decade in Corvallis, Cyrus brings a rare blend of empathy, adaptability, and strategic insight to Bend’s evolving economic landscape. They tal...

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 eventually led her to Bend, where she now channels her passion for land use, public lands, and ensuring equitable access to nature. Their conversation explores the importance of protect...

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 leadership. Steve shares how his global military career and experience commanding squadrons shaped his approach to civic engagement and policy-making. Now ser...

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 , The Guardian , Rolling Stone , and The Bulletin , and she is the author of Call of the Mild: Learning to Hunt My Own Dinner , named one of the best books of 2012 by The San Francisco Chronicle . Aa...

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 global initiatives, Brian brings a thoughtful approach to strategic growth, operational excellence, and community impact. His work with CauseMic and the Oregon...

We’re joined by Scott Larson, the new President and CEO of Visit Central Oregon, to talk about the future of tourism and community in our region. With more than a decade of experience promoting mountain towns and rural destinations across the West, Scott brings a passion for using tourism as a force for economic growth and connection. He shares his journey from childhood vacations in Sunriver and...

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break , Aaron sits down with Gabe Charalambides, founder of Odyssey—one of the first legal psilocybin retreat centers in the U.S. Gabe shares his unconventional journey from aerospace engineer to psychedelic wellness pioneer, driven by a long-standing passion for meditation, Buddhist philosophy, and mental health. The two dive into the growing legalization of psilocyb...

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break , host Aaron Switzer sits down with Maija Kellner-Rode, a queer artist, dancer, and mentor who has made it her mission to foster healing and connection through creativity. Maija shares her journey from launching her nationally distributed art brand, Maija Rebecca Hand Drawn, to mentoring youth across Oregon through expressive arts. Send us Fan Mail Support the s...

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break , host Aaron Switzer sits down with Katie Chipko, Executive Director of NatureConnect Central Oregon. ‹ Left Center Right Resize Cancel Crop 250 x 159 ✖ i › SW Since joining the organization in 2012, Katie has been a champion for outdoor access, working to build partnerships and create inclusive nature-based programs for youth and families. She and Aaron discuss...

This week on Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Deena Kamm—longtime performer, vocal coach, and creative force behind Voiceless: A Musical. Deena shares her journey from the high-pressure entertainment industry in Los Angeles to building a voice-centered life and business in Bend, Oregon. They talk about the power of voice—how using it not only builds confidence but literally rele...

In this episode, we’re joined by Brian Rankin, the City of Bend’s Senior Strategist and one of the key minds shaping how our city grows. From expanding the urban growth boundary to navigating the complexities of housing, transportation, and infrastructure, Brian’s work is all about guiding Bend’s long-term future with intention and care. Host Aaron Switzer sits down with Brian to talk about his jo...

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Sherman “Sherm” Bloomer, Chancellor and Dean of Oregon State University–Cascades. With a background in geology and decades of experience in higher education leadership, Sherm shares his journey from faculty roles at Boston University and Duke to his long tenure at OSU, where he served as Dean of the College of Science and later...