of Kelowna - your local podcast

Send us Fan Mail Bernie Ryan has lived a life full of movement, hands on learning, and community impact. In this episode, we talk about the road that took him from his early years in Toronto to the life he’s built today through motorcycles, mechanics, and hard earned experience. We also get into Bernie’s incredible fundraising efforts and the heart he has for giving back, making this a conversatio...

Send us Fan Mail At just 15, Rocklin has already built an incredible story. In this episode, he shares how a love of fantasy, a broken wand, and a pocket knife sparked Rockwands, a handmade business that grew fast through creativity, family support, and word of mouth. A fun and inspiring conversation about building something from scratch in Kelowna. 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of of Kelowna , I sit down with Rosemary Thomson, Artistic Director of Opera Kelowna, to talk about the journey that shaped her life in music. From growing up in St. Catharines, Ontario, as one of seven kids in a home filled with singing, instruments, and chaos, to discovering the power of music through family, teaching, and conducting, Rosemary shares a thoughtful...

Send us Fan Mail Big shoutout to Shawn from Eco Grow Tech, Jared and Jamie from Better Good Agency, formerly Sessions Agency, and Vince, who took care of the design and photography in the early days. Their support played a huge part in helping bring the concept to life and get the business off the ground as quickly as it did.  How do two Okanagan friends turn a side idea into a thriving local busi...

Send us Fan Mail 98% of Canadian businesses are small. Most have no employees. Many struggle just to be found. In this episode, we explore the story behind Bibidi — a Central Okanagan-based platform designed to connect independent service providers with their community. From early entrepreneurial sparks to startup accelerators, tech builds, failed pitches, and unexpected pivots, this is a deep div...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the helper becomes the one telling their story? In this episode of of Kelowna , therapist Melissa Campos opens up about her path into mental health work, supporting high achievers through anxiety and burnout, and the surprising lessons she learned about failure, imposter syndrome, and self-compassion along the way. A reflective conversation about growth, ambition...

Send us Fan Mail She was told she wasn’t “McDonald’s material.” Today, she’s filling rooms with over 100 women. In this episode of of Kelowna , we sit down with a proud Rutland girl who grew up feeling like the quiet shadow in the background, introverted and unsure where she fit, convinced everyone else had it figured out. From working at Blockbuster on Friday nights to packing up her car and movi...

Send us Fan Mail Matt is a Kelowna born chef whose path into food started early and took him around the world before bringing him back home. From working in Michelin starred kitchens in Copenhagen and San Francisco to becoming a head chef in the Okanagan at just twenty years old, his journey has been driven by curiosity, discipline, and an all in approach to learning. But one unexpected idea chang...

Send us Fan Mail Musician Ben Dunnill is a pianist and vocalist whose lifelong connection to music began in a home filled with instruments, creativity, and encouragement to follow his passion. Ben shares how performing in piano bars as a teenager became his real-world education in music, eventually leading to touring experiences, viral social media moments, and a move to Kelowna sparked by both op...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Marie-Claude, the founder of Planty of Nosh, to explore a journey shaped by food family and resilience. From growing up near Montreal in a tight knit entrepreneurial family to training in culinary school working in France and eventually finding her way to the Okanagan her story spans continents and seasons of life. We talk about the realities of the restaurant ind...

Send us Fan Mail Tom shares the winding path that brought him from a small village in the Netherlands to building a life—and a butcher shop—in Kelowna. We talk about his upbringing, his education in food design and innovation, and the many roles he held in the hospitality world along the way. Tom opens up about the leap to Canada, the realities of starting a catering business from scratch, and the...

Send us Fan Mail Chantal’s life has been shaped by movement, adaptation, and quiet resilience. From a cross-Canada road trip as a child to growing up in Northern BC, navigating family separation, and finding unexpected belonging in Kelowna, her story is one of constant transition. As a young adult, feeling overwhelmed by academic life but pulled toward something more, she took a leap that led her...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this captivating episode of Twilight Valley Handwoven Textiles as we sit down with Jessica Crawford, the creative force behind Twilight Valley Hand Woven Textiles. Discover how Jessica transitioned from a music career to her side hustle of mastering the art of weaving, and learn about the intricate process of setting up looms and crafting unique textiles. Explore the vi...

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the sweet journey of Leanne and Hallie as they share their inspiring story of building a cookie empire on the latest episode of CHOMP! @chompcookiesca From dreams to delicious realities, discover how passion and partnership create magic. #ofkelownapodcast

Send us Fan Mail Adam, the visionary behind @RedBirdBrewing. From humble beginnings in Vernon, gold hunting in the Amazon, to creating a community hub in Kelowna, Adam shares his passion for craft beer, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the serendipitous moments that shaped Red Bird Brewing. Discover how a simple idea turned into a beloved local landmark, complete with live music, community...

Send us Fan Mail Explore the captivating journey of Michelle, a photographer who seamlessly blends her passion for art and therapy. In this episode, Michelle shares how her advanced academic pursuits in psychology led her to the world of blending counselling and art through therapeutic photography. Discover her unique approach to capturing genuine emotions and connections in weddings and other eve...

Send us Fan Mail Laura Luckhurst, of Luckhurst Farm and Distillery, shares her journey from Calgary to Connecticut, and eventually to Kelowna, where she and her husband Joe run a successful distillery. The episode delves into Laura's experiences growing up, her transition into the wine industry, and the eventual shift to distilling. Laura discusses the importance of family, the creative proce...

Send us Fan Mail Carolina shares her inspiring journey from El Salvador to Canada, detailing her path to founding Casa Modelo Studio. Through personal stories of resilience and creativity, Carolina reveals how she turned challenges into opportunities, building a unique vintage shop that reflects her passion for sustainable and curated design. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance a...

Send us Fan Mail Matt from Plant Gather takes us through a winding journey that starts in a tiny Mennonite town in Manitoba and eventually lands in the Okanagan. From moving across provinces as a kid, to switching schools almost every year, to navigating the maze of commercial leases and unexpected costs as a small business owner Matt’s story is full of quiet resilience and thoughtful reflection....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of of Kelowna , we sit down with Gerry Jobe to talk life, legacy, and the joy of creating something bigger than yourself. From reliving the excitement of 80s and 90s culture to the responsibility of passing a company, and values, down to the next generation, Gerry reflects on what really matters: relationships, memories, and savoring the simple moments. This is a c...

Send us Fan Mail This week’s guest is Frances , manager of the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market, and someone whose warmth, humour, and community spirit shine through every story. We talk about her path from working in the market to running it, what it’s like behind the scenes, and how much heart goes into building a space that supports local growers, makers, and connections.  #OfKelownaPodcast...

Send us Fan Mail After years in the non-profit world, Stephanie knew she wanted to build something of her own, something rooted in meaning and connection. She just wasn’t sure what that was yet. Inspired by the people she met and a desire to create something that gave back, she landed on granola, even though she didn’t like granola! Through trial, error, and plenty of taste tests, she crafted a mi...

Send us Fan Mail From his early days at Earls to cooking at the world’s best restaurant, Noma, Brian Skinner’s culinary journey has been anything but ordinary. Brian's story of  Frankie We Salute You is a story of passion, purpose, and finding balance beyond ambition. #OfKelownaPodcast #FrankieWeSaluteYou #KelownaEats #KelownaPodcast #LocalStories #SupportLocalKelowna #KelownaRestaurants #Foo...

Send us Fan Mail What started as a dream of a Spanish-style charcuterie cart turned into a joyful mini pancake and dirty soda stand, complete with custom LED lighting, seasonal toppings, and an ever-changing menu.  Evelyn brings global flavor memory from Spanish hot chocolate to Dominican sweets. Cody brings his no-measurement-needed family pancake recipe , perfected over years of Sunday breakfast...

Send us Fan Mail From a small town in Slovakia to van life across North America and finally settling in Kelowna, Jana has followed an unconventional path. What started as a side project during lockdown has grown into a passion for restoring furniture — work she finds both challenging and deeply rewarding. In this episode, she shares the full-circle connection to her family back home, the lessons l...