Bend Don't Break

Happiness expert Anthony Poponi is the CEO and founder of Focus on the 40. He's an expert in positive psychology and in this episode tells how we can create our own path to more joy, fulfillment and success in our workplaces and in our lives. Listen now to learn more about happiness and how you can get more of it! Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Born in Oakland, California, Keith Witcosky and his parents moved to Oregon in 1977. After earning his degree from the University of Denver, Witcosky began his career in politics/government in 1993 working for then Mayor Vera Katz in Portland. Since July 2013, he has been serving as the City Manager for Redmond. As City Manager, he’s responsible for overseeing a 250+ person organization, advancing...

Episode 2 of Grand Craft Beer welcomes Trever Hawman, owner/brewer of Bridge 99 Brewery in NE Bend. We discuss his ascent from homebrewer to nanobrewer to the state of his 15-barrel brewery, as well as being situated in the shadow of 10 Barrel Brewing, newly released by AB-InBev. Speaking of his neighbors, we also announce the creation of Radler Fest, taking place September 9, where all five brewe...

In this episode of Bend Don't Break, hear seasoned tourism veteran Patric Douglas talk about his life’s adventures, how he landed in Central Oregon and why he founded The Bend Social Co., of which he is the CEO (Chief Excitement Officer). Douglas has 30+ years of experience traveling the globe and introducing others to amazing adventures including great white shark cage diving and backcountry...

Franklin Gordon got into craft beer in the early 2000s, and after years in the bar & restaurant industries, at beer distribution companies, and as a production brewer. He became a Certified Cicerone and started his own consulting company, Beer Wise, to plan beer dinners, develop menus for restaurants and tap rooms, and train bar staff on maximizing their effectiveness when working in the craft...

Tammy Baney is the executive director of Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council. In this edition of Bend Don't Break, she chats with Publisher Aaron Switzer about COIC, what she wishes people know about the region's intergovernmental organization, her goals for the future and more. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

This episode features a conversation with local media icon R.L. Garrigus, talking about the biggest story he ever covered in Central Oregon, the toughest issue we face in current times and how news coverage has evolved since he began his radio career in Bend in 1979. He also tells the tale of his latest elk hunting escapades. R.L. has won numerous local, state, and national awards for his news cov...

Brian Yaeger is a Source contributor, beer author (including "Oregon Breweries"), beer fest producer and beer-tasting instructor at COCC. Because he’s working on doughnut authorship, you’ll find he occasionally reviews the local doughnut scene. Yes, he absolutely floats all summer long with a beer in one hand and a doughnut in the other. This week, Yaeger penned a cover story about the l...

Amy Stahl is the Founder of Metolius Artisan Tea, an ethics-forward, woman-founded tea company crafting exceptional teas, chai, matcha and botanical syrups in Bend, Oregon. Stahl joins us on the Bend Don't Break podcast to talk about her recent tea trip to Nepal — an adventure that inspired her to share more of her tea-stories with the public. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

After four years in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam era, Bob Shaw met his wife Cheryl while working for a college ministry. They started a family and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where Bob entered the world of recreational vehicle sales and service. After eight years with Beaver Coach – which brought him to Bend - a more serious pursuit of a career, not just a job, began. Bob had been a publi...

Brian Potwin is the Executive Director of Commute Options. He has lived in Central Oregon since the year 2000 and loves to ride bicycles and work with the community. Working for Commute Options since 2008, Brian has learned many techniques for outreaching and engaging communities in Central Oregon. He is passionate about creative change and promoting community health, active transportation and a v...

Nancy Zadoff and her husband Paul relocated to Bend several years ago after working and living in various locations around the globe including Australia, Europe and California. They vacationed in Central Oregon for years and always knew they would make Bend their final stop. Nancy, one of seven children, grew up in her parent’s gardens and always loved every aspect of gardening. In her former care...

Kenny Adams is a writer, designer, film maker, and a father. As Executive Director of The Father’s Group, Kenny has bolstered and strengthened The Ujima Youth Program, developed the Night Out With The Father’s Group series, developed and administered The Father’s Group Film Festival featuring his own documentary, Blend, in which he interviews many Black residents of Central Oregon. Kenny has an IT...

Craig Brauner is a theatre artist and educator who's called Central Oregon home since 2018. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, he has starred in over 80 productions across the country with prominent regional theatres as well as numerous workshops, readings and devised pieces. He obtained his MFA in Acting from the University of California-Irvine and BFA from the University of Evansville. H...

Summer 2023 includes a whopping 51 shows at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend, just one show fewer than last year. Ahead of the big season, marketing director for Hayden Homes Amphitheater and the Old Mill, Beau Eastes, chats with the Source crew about the partnership with Live Nation, memorable shows from past years and more. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Food writer, food stylist, recipe tester, cookbook editor, podcast producer/host are a few of the creative hats Donna Britt wears. Donna loves to hike, paddle board and spend quality time with family and friends. Oh, and she also collects cookbooks and cast iron cooking vessels. As a revered member of the Source eating team, she was part of the crew that helped to name our Restaurants of the Year...

Redmond, Oregon has a new political action committee aimed at helping quality candidates navigate and fund their efforts in the political process. In this podcast we chat with one of the founders of the Building Redmond's Future PAC, Adam DuQuette. Adam DuQuette lives in Redmond where he works from home full-time as a software engineer. He graduated from Oregon State University-Cascades in 20...

Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin therapy when voters approved Measure 109 in 2020. The state did so under strict parameters about the use of the drug, and people are only allowed to take the drug under the supervision of facilitators who have undergone a 300-hour course. In a recent episode of our Bend Don't Break podcast, two Central Oregonians who are among the first lic...

Matthew Davey, park manager for Smith Rock State Park, joined the Source Weekly for a chat about the recently released draft master plan for Smith Rock. Davey is currently serving as the park manager at Smith Rock State Park. He originally came to the park as a lead ranger in 2012 and took the manager reins in 2019 after a 3 year stint as ranger supervisor at Silver Falls State Park and The Cove P...

Jason McNeal Graham, also known as MOsley WOtta, joins Editor Nicole Vulcan on the Bend Don't Break podcast. Graham's professional career spans multiple decades in mediums including, writing, painting and music. His curriculum vitae highlights Creative Laureate for the City of Bend, Oregon Fields Fellow, Oregon Humanities Conversation project leader + Bridging Oregon facilitator, Art Ore...

Joel Wirtz is the Executive Director of the nonprofit public defender’s office in Bend: Deschutes Defenders. After serving in the Marines, he moved to Oregon and has been a public defender for nearly 20 years. He has successfully defended accusations from theft to murder. A strong advocate for veterans and those suffering from mentally illness, Joel has served as attorney for those going through M...

A native Texan, Cassi McQueen grew up working with at-risk youth in some of the most impoverished areas of North Texas. Inspired by the resiliency she witnessed in underserved communities, McQueen developed a deep passion for public service and a commitment to social change. McQueen’s career has included leadership positions at non-profit organizations across the country including Director of Outr...

Dr. Jane Guyn is a world-renowned sex and relationship coach who received a PhD in Human Sexuality. She works with couples and individuals locally and all over the world. Although her work focuses on issues related to intimacy and sex, she also works with people who have fears and/or abuse issues related to sex, as well as a variety of other issues that impair their authentic connection. Jane wrot...

Dana Whitelaw, Ph. D., joined the staff of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon in 2008 and has served as its executive director since 2014. Raised in Oregon, she earned her doctorate from University of Colorado Boulder in biological anthropology, conducting research that took her to Madagascar, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and China. During that time, Dana became inspired by the work museums d...

Jared Rasic has lived in Bend since 1999, when he moved here for college. Since then he’s worked at Westside Video, Boomtown, Hollywood Video, Cascades Theatrical Company, Tin Pan Theater and, on and off since 2010, The Source. Now he divides his time between The Source and helping program films for Tin Pan Theater and shorts for the BendFilm Festival. In this edition of Bend Don't Break, Ras...