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A lot of development has happened since this episode was recorded, but what if the most valuable thing you make isn’t content or code—but trust? We open the door to Storybooth’s origin story, from a chance conversation at hot springs to a sold‑out Seattle wedding where a glass-walled “podcast booth” became the night’s most crowded corner. This is a founder’s-eye view of creating a new category: an experience that captures honest speech, family history, and the feelings that photos miss. StoryBooth specializes in creating custom event and brand media in a new and immersive way.

We talk through the craft behind it: a public radio backbone, editing that respects silence, and a proven interview technique that uses surprise messages from friends to bypass small talk and get to what’s real. You’ll hear how we validated the market, survived a noisy first activation at UW, and partnered with a booth maker to make joy visible from across the room. We’re transparent about the logistics, from transport and acoustics to guest flow and fast-turn delivery, and why the glass matters—people need to see delight before they’ll step inside.

The personal stakes are here too. One of us shares a sobriety pivot that restored clarity and grit; the other opens up about divorce and the odd intimacy of editing marriage blessings alone at night. We wrestle with success without self-loss, bootstrapping without burnout, and the move from one-off events to semi-permanent placements at destination venues and communities to business to business application.

If you care about founder journeys, category creation, event and brand storytelling, where connection is the product, this one’s for you.

The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

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Your eyes know when your brain is fading—and that tiny lag can cost a run, a rep, or a line of code. We sit down with Jak and Sanjay Green, the father–son team behind Eyeonize, a caffeinated, mentholated under‑eye balm built to cool, hydrate, and wake you up without another cup or can. What started with a gaming industry shock, grew into a product designed for anyone who stares, rides, studies, or drives for long stretches and needs clarity on demand.

This is a story about product integrity, community, and a clear why. It’s also about redefining energy as a subtle, portable boost you can use mid‑flow, without stopping what you’re doing. If you’re juggling screens, chasing daylight, or stacking miles, you’ll walk away with a fresh take on focus, branding, and what it means to build something useful, clean, and real.

If this conversation hits, follow the journey, share it with a friend who lives at a desk or on a trail, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show.

The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

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What if convenience food didn’t feel like a compromise? We sit down with Howl at the Spoon founder Melanie Jenkinson, a former creative director who traded pitch decks for real ingredients, to unpack how healthy convenient options can change the way we eat. From backcountry meals to office lunches, Melanie shows why right-sized portions beat the clutter and waste of old-school bottles—and why a sauce that expires in weeks is a good thing.

The conversation traces a winding path: Oregon hikes, a creative career stacked with pitches, the reality of gender gaps in leadership and funding, and a COVID-era pause that became an unexpected R&D gift. Melanie shares what 500+ markets and 150,000 samples taught her about flavor, packaging, and the language customers actually hear. We dig into the brand’s clean-label stance, why “sauce graveyards” are a solvable problem, and how fruit dust turned into a café-friendly, kid-approved upgrade for yogurt, oats, lattes, and ice cream.

We also talk systems and scale: moving beyond tents, building B2B partnerships with coffee shops and butchers, leaning into user-generated content, and using structured mentorship from Bend Outdoor Worx to set goals that stick. Through it all, Melanie’s mission stays clear—reduce food waste, make real food easy, and design modern formats that fit real life. If you’ve ever wondered why that bottle in your fridge still looks the same after two years, this episode will change how you stock your kitchen.

Enjoy the episode? Follow, share with a friend who meal preps, and leave a quick review to help more listeners discover founder stories that matter.

The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

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What if extra sleep at the trailhead didn’t cost thousands or require a rooftop crane? We sit down with Kai Nevers and Kate Raber, the duo behind Wanderhut, to tell the story of a hatchback tent that deploys the moment you open your rear door—adding headroom, real ventilation, and bug-proof comfort without the hassle of pitching a tent in the dark. Born as a taped-up class project and validated by a stranger in a Home Depot parking lot, their design carries a simple promise: save time, breathe easier, and wake up ready for the adventure.

We walk through the messy first prototype, the year-long quest to solve attachment (snaps for the win), and why focusing on the third-gen Subaru Outback became a superpower. Along the way, OSU Cascades and Bend Outdoor Works opened doors to mentors like former Nike design leader Naomi Morrison and industrial designer Ryan Price, whose hard-earned wisdom sharpened costing, positioning, and supply chain thinking. The result is a product that respects real-world constraints: it installs in minutes, lives in the car between trips, and hits a price point that welcomes new campers and overlanders without compromise.

Under the gear talk is a human story about partnership, grit, and community. Kate’s textile precision and Kai’s big-picture push create the tension great products need. They’re candid about cash flow, MOQs, tariff delays, and imposter syndrome—and how they keep the brand grounded by turning “marketing trips” into true resets outdoors. If you’ve ever chased vanlife comfort on a hatchback budget, this conversation offers practical insight, honest lessons, and a glimpse of what affordable, elegant outdoor design can look like.

Subscribe, share with a friend who sleeps at trailheads, and leave a quick review to help more builders and weekend warriors find the show. Want in early? Join the waitlist at wanderhut.co and tell which car they should build for next.

https://wanderhut.co/

https://osucascades.edu

https://brokesupply.com

https://www.bendoutdoorworx.com

The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

Remember, the health of our community, relies on us!

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When cold hands meet cold beverages in the outdoor community of Bend, Oregon, something magical happens – the Giddy Up Glove is born. Sherrise Erlandson's entrepreneurial journey bridges her past and present, weaving together childhood lessons from Minnesota flea markets with a passion for creativity and connection.

"Connection is kind of my focus," Sherrise explains, revealing the heart of her brand. "With the Giddy Up Glove, it's connection between people, connection to the outdoors." Her insulated beverage mitten transforms outdoor social experiences, making the wearer "their own hero" with newfound confidence and comfort.

The path to creating this quirky yet functional product wasn't straightforward. From selling homemade bookmarks as a child to traveling the country as a Lindy Hop dancer, designing websites, and eventually settling in Bend, Sherrise's creative spirit never dimmed. When motherhood temporarily paused her business dreams, it was her daughter Esther who sparked their revival through collaborative craft-making for local markets. When early versions of the Giddy Up Glove sold out immediately, Sherrise knew she had found her focus.

Now her ambitions stretch from local markets to college and NFL licensing, with strategic plans for e-commerce, wholesale accounts, and specialized retail partnerships. She's even expanded the Giddy Up brand to include a children's meditation podcast, inspired by Esther's love of storytelling and quest for age-appropriate mindfulness content.

Through it all, Sherrise embodies the entrepreneurial spirit with practical wisdom: "You have to start and be open to understanding that you know nothing... Most of the time you learn through your mistakes." Her journey reminds us that the most successful brands often begin with a simple problem, a creative solution, and the persistence to keep improving.

Discover the Giddy Up Glove at https://giddyupguide.com and experience how functional mischief can transform your outdoor adventures. Make to check out and Subscribe to The Giddy Up Guide to the Galaxy Podcast.

The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

Remember, the health of our community, relies on us!

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From the punk rock days of Grenade Gloves to the mindful practices of Spiral Wax Company, Tim Karpinski's journey through the snowboarding industry is a masterclass in reinvention and redemption.

Growing up as a competitive ski racer in New Jersey, Tim developed an early understanding of snow equipment maintenance that would later become foundational to his career. His world transformed when skateboarding entered his life as a teenager, introducing him to a creative counterculture that sparked his passion for design. After college, his artistic talents led him to design graphics for snowboarding legend Danny Kass at GNU Snowboards, eventually co-founding Grenade Gloves – a brand that revolutionized snowboarding culture in the early 2000s.

While Grenade skyrocketed to $10 million in sales within four years, the meteoric rise came with a devastating personal cost. The celebration lifestyle, growing business pressures, and eventual collapse of relationships within the company left Tim traumatized and turning to alcohol for relief. "Anything traumatic can trigger this stuff," he reflects. "Whether going to war, losing a loved one, or watching the business you built with friends disappear."

After years working as GNU's creative director while battling his demons privately, Tim's recovery journey through Alcoholics Anonymous transformed his approach to life and creativity. Moving to Bend, Oregon became a turning point, reconnecting him with snowboarding's simple joys while providing distance from his past.

From this rebirth emerged Spiral Wax Company – the antithesis of Grenade's aggressive party culture. Built on principles of mindfulness, sustainability and self-care, Spiral encourages riders to "take a moment to slow down before sending it." The artisanal waxes, made with natural ingredients in Tim's home workshop, minimize environmental impact while maintaining performance.

Tim's evolution from Grenade to Spiral represents more than a business pivot – it's a profound personal transformation reflected in entrepreneurship. By sharing his journey of recovery and reinvention, he shows how authentic values can drive business success in unexpected ways. Ready to slow down and enjoy the ride?

The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

Remember, the health of our community, relies on us!

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What if your great-grandfather's formula from 1927 turned out to be exactly what today's sustainability movement is searching for? Tiffany Huey never planned to become an entrepreneur, but after 25 years climbing the corporate ladder at companies like Starbucks, PepsiCo, and Nestle, she found herself drawn back to her family's legacy: Snowshoe Leather Care.

When COVID hit and corporate America wanted her back in Seattle, Tiffany made a life-changing decision. She would revitalize the leather care business her family had maintained as a side hustle for generations. Now working from a barn workshop in Bend, Oregon, she hand-pours each tin using the original equipment and the exact same three-ingredient formula her great-grandfather created nearly a century ago.

This episode explores the fascinating intersection of heritage craftsmanship and modern sustainability. As Tiffany explains, "There's this whole concept of upkeep culture and thrifting... thinking about how to buy higher-quality things and take good care of them." It's this cultural shift that makes Snowshoe suddenly relevant to a new generation, while still maintaining its devoted following among ranchers, saddle makers, and leatherworkers who've sworn by it for decades.

The heart of this story lies in the voices of those who've built and preserved this legacy. We hear from Tiffany's father about the company's early days, her brother-in-law who kept the business alive when no one else could, and most memorably, from Richard Bryant, an elderly Texas rancher whose emotional testimonial about his lifetime using Snowshoe becomes the episode's most powerful moment.

Through Tiffany's journey, we discover how entrepreneurship can honor the past while embracing the future, and how sometimes the most innovative act is preserving something of true value. Whether you're fascinated by family businesses, sustainability, or the courage it takes to leave corporate comfort for entrepreneurial uncertainty, this story will inspire you to look at legacy in a whole new light.

The Circling Podcast is proud to be in partnership with Bend Magazine. Claim your five-dollar annual subscription when you visit www.bendmagazine.com and enter promo code: PODCAST at checkout. Your subscription includes 6 issues of our regions top publication celebrating mountain culture, and four bonus issues of Bend Home and Design, the leading home and building design magazine in Central Oregon.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

Remember, the health of our community, relies on us!

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What makes a brand more than just a business? The answer lies in the deeply human stories behind the logos, products, and mission statements.

Birth of the Brands takes you on an intimate journey with Central Oregon's most promising entrepreneurs as they navigate the thrilling, terrifying path from inspiration to launch. Host Adam Short sits down with eight founders from the 2025 Bend Outdoor Worx Outdoor Accelerator Program to uncover the pivotal moments that shaped their vision and the personal experiences that fuel their passion.

You'll meet Tiffany Huey, who's breathing new life into her great-grandfather's leather care company while honoring its nearly century-old legacy. Through touching testimonials from longtime users like Richard Bryant, we discover how quality craftsmanship creates generational impact. "I've used it on furniture, belts, boots, everything is leather," Bryant shares, revealing how this product has supported his ranching livelihood for over 60 years.

Then there's Tim Karpinski, co-founder of the iconic Grenade Gloves, who candidly discusses his journey through addiction to sobriety and how that transformation led to creating Spiral Wax Company with pro snowboarder Max Warbington. "I got super into self-care, meditation... I wonder if I could bring some of that into snowboarding," Tim reflects, showcasing how authentic personal growth translates into business innovation.

We also follow recent OSU-Cascades graduates Kai Nevers and Kate Raber, whose childhood memories of family road trips inspired Wanderhut—a company creating accessible car camping solutions born from their own experience of "sleeping out of the back of the car probably four nights a week" while balancing student life with their passion for the outdoors.

These are only three of the eight founders and brands that we'll be introducing. Each episode goes beyond business strategies to explore the mentors, families, friends, and customers who breathe life into something new. Listen this fall wherever you get your podcasts and discover why great businesses aren't just built—they're born.

Support The Circling Podcast:

Email us at: thecirclingpodcast@bendmagazine.com
Join the Circling membership: patreon.com/Thecirclingpodcast
Follow us on Instagram @thecirclingpodcast @bendmagazine
Cover Song by: @theerinsmusic
Bend Magazine. Remember to enter promo code: Podcast at checkout for your five-dollar annual subscription. https://bendmagazine.com.
BOSS Sports Performance: https://www.bosssportsperformance.com
Back Porch Coffee: https://www.backporchcoffeeroasters.com
Story Booth: https://www.storyboothexperience.com

Remember, the health of our community, relies on us!