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 implementing COTA’s mission and vision.

Before becoming ED she was a board member of COTA and served as COTA’s treasurer for three years. She was instrumental in developing COTA’s first Strategic Plan and coordinating the Crew Leader program. Andrews has also been an active trail work volunteer and mountain bike advocate for many years.

In this edition of Bend Don't Break, Source Weekly Editor Nicole Vulcan chats with Andrews about the work of trail building and maintenance, the newly updated skills parks at Phil's Trail, Wanoga Sno-Park and Bike Park 242 in Sisters and why mountain biking is so dang fun.

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 snowboard AND become an instructor since moving to Bend in 2021.

Source Publisher Aaron Switzer chats with Alpinist Graham Zimmerman on this podcast episode. Zimmerman is a renowned alpinist whose work has propelled him into conservation advocacy, holding leadership roles in nonprofits such as the American Alpine Club and Protect Our Winters. He’s a world-class mountaineer who has received several awards, including the Piolet d’Or, the highest honor in alpine climbing, in 2020. His debut book, “A Fine Line: Searching for Balance Among Mountains,” focuses on pursuing alpinism with social responsibility.

In this episode of Grand Craft Beer Brian Yaeger is joined by the author of “100 Things to Do in Bend”, Joshua Savage. As fellow beer lovers, they explore perfect fall beer styles. As the writer behind the Source Weekly’s series "Savage in Bend: Exploring the Quirks That Make Central Oregon Unique," the pair also explore Bend’s underground brewery, Shade Tree.

Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer converses with photographer Christian Heeb, owner of Cascade Center of Photography (with his wife Regula Heeb).

The Swiss/American photographers have been widely published. They have worked and photographed in more than 90 countries. Their exclusive Photo Tours are legendary worldwide. Christian is the author of more than 200 coffee table books.

In this episode of Grand Craft Beer Brian Yaeger is joined by Oregon beer legend, Tim Ensign, Director of Sales & Marketing for Steeplejack Brewing in Portland. They discuss the ins'n'outs of what is a critical, yet perhaps purposefully, overlooked role in the beer industry: sales and marketing, especially when it comes to breweries outside Central Oregon.

On this episode Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer visits with Marci Wayman and Joe Benevento about the new life they’re breathing into the iconic Peterson Rock Gardens & Museum located between Bend and Redmond. They’re working to create a new community project at the garden, which is now operating under a nonprofit. Listen to learn more about this history of this special attraction.

Source Weekly Food Editor Donna Britt chats with Kita Café Founder James Gage about his Japanese comfort food offerings. Hear how he landed on the name Kita and why he chose Japanese food and where you can find his delicious sandwiches, noodles, rice bowls, etc. in Bend.

Grand Craft Beer EP. 6 welcomes The Ale Apothecary's founder and brewmaster Paul Arney. Since 2011, The Ale Apothecary has been Bend's only all-wild brewery... except it's now launching The AlePharm for non "wild" ales. From batch 1, which was a Finnish-inspired Sahti, to the newest Swedish-inspired Gotlandstrcka made with smoked malt and brewed for the upcoming Diff'rent Smokes Fest, Arney boasts a treasure trove of imaginative, finely-crafted beers for those who drink beyond the mainstream.

Source Weekly publisher Aaron Switzer visits with Serena Bishop Gordon, Sustainability Director for Visit Bend who also has a background in conservation giving and the outdoor industry. In her current role, she manages the Bend Sustainability Fund, the Strategic Investments & Partnerships Program and strives to weave Visit Bend’s model of sustainability into every aspect of the organization, seeking to find balance between economy, people and place. When not working for Visit Bend, she spends her time on a bike, on skis, or walking her pup, Piper, with a good cup of coffee in hand.