Podcast

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 […]

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 […]

In this episode, Aaron chats with Joshua Savage—traveler, writer, educator, and scavenger hunt mastermind. Originally from the South, Josh shares the story of how his family sold everything to explore the world, eventually falling in love with Bend and making it their home. The conversation touches on his passion for travel, his love for the […]

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron Switzer sits down with Amber Thacher, Interim Executive Director of City Club of Central Oregon. Amber shares her inspiring journey from Boston to Bend—reflecting on her time as Senior Director of Executive Education at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she developed programs on economic development, policy […]

In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Johannah Johnson-Weinberg, founder of CAMP (Companion Animal Medical Project), to discuss the vital intersection of animal welfare and housing insecurity in Central Oregon. Johannah shares how her early work at a local humane society and a low-cost spay/neuter clinic opened her eyes […]

On this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Aaron sits down with Dr. Sarah Hellmann, a board-certified OB-GYN at St. Charles Health System and co-host of the podcast Wine with Your Gyn. From her journey from social work to women’s health, to creating a podcast that blends humor and honesty around often-taboo topics, Dr. Hellmann shares […]

We sit down with Sunriver Brewing’s director, Brett Thomas, to discuss Sunriver’s impressive tenure of quality and consistency that’s led to numerous awards locally (Oregon Beer Awards), nationally (Great American Beer Festival including being the reigning Brewery of the Year) and even globally (World Beer Cup).  As Sunriver prepares to open its fifth tasting room […]

In this episode, Aaron sits down with Sharon Smith, a passionate nonprofit leader who brings decades of experience in community programming and the arts to her current role as Executive Director of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA). After relocating from Long Island to Bend in 2019, Sharon quickly immersed herself in the […]

We sit down with the OG Kombucha Mama, Michelle Mitchell, co-founder of Bend’s own Humm Kombucha, to learn about Humm’s humble beginnings in Mitchell’s kitchen experimenting with brewing kombucha, to how big the kombucha market has become and where it fits into today’s wellness drink landscape. Click here to LISTEN NOW