This week, Kendra sits down with longtime Banff local Matt Widmer, founder and CEO of Wildlife Distillery in Canmore. Born and raised in Banff, Matt reflects on growing up in a small mountain community shaped by skiing, backcountry adventures, and his family’s longtime restaurant in town. The conversation explores how those early roots eventually led him to craft distilling, building Wildlife around local ingredients, Bow Valley hospitality, and a deep connection to place.

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.

This week, Kendra sits down with longtime Bow Valley local and art dealer Doug Maclean, whose connection to Sunshine stretches back to a solo train ride west at just ten years old. From Trapper’s Lodge ski weeks in the early 60s to decades spent carving morning laps before heading into the gallery world, Doug reflects on how the mountains shaped both his life and his eye. The conversation moves from his grandmother skinning into Sunshine in the 1930s to the artists who helped define how we see the Canadian Rockies today. Doug shares how history, art, and skiing intersect in this place, and why the mountains continue to draw people back season after season.

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.

This week, Kendra sits down with Aviva Kohen from Tourism Calgary to explore why the city is so much more than its old “Cowtown” reputation. Aviva shares how Calgary has evolved into a diverse, creative destination that blends big city energy with easy access to the Rockies, supported by a growing international visitor base. Together, they dive into Calgary’s standout food and craft drink scene, unexpected urban winter adventures and “Avant Ski,” Aviva’s idea to encourage visitors to spend time in Calgary before heading to the slopes.

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.

This week, Kendra sits down with Courtney Hinrichs, Director of Engagement and Social at Backbone Media, to talk about how influencer marketing has shifted and why athletes deserve to show up online as their full, authentic selves. Courtney reflects on her path into the outdoor industry, what really goes on behind the scenes of brand partnerships, and how representation, trust, and creative freedom shape meaningful work in a fast-moving social landscape.

*This episode contains some course language*

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.

This week, Kendra sits down with Canadian bobsleigh athlete Kristen Bonowski to talk about the long, winding road that led her to one of the fastest sports on ice. Kristen shares how early Olympic dreams, injury, burnout, and mental health challenges eventually pushed her away from sport before drawing her back through bobsleigh, a discipline that rewards persistence and late starts. She reflects on the intensity of racing at nearly 150 km/h, the financial and mental demands of chasing the Olympics, and how learning to adapt, reset, and keep moving forward has shaped both her career and her love of winter.

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.

This week, Kendra sits down with David Legg, Mount Royal University professor and longtime advocate for disability sport, for a wide-ranging conversation about inclusion, innovation, and the power of winter sports to foster a sense of belonging. David reflects on how his personal experiences and career in adapted physical activity and the Paralympic movement shaped his belief that accessibility starts with attitude, curiosity, and a willingness to say yes. Together, they explore how organizations like Rocky Mountain Adaptive and Sunshine Village help normalize disability in sports, why inclusive design benefits everyone, and how winter sports, community, and opportunity can open doors for people of all abilities.

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.

This week, Kendra sits down with Pieter Sneep, a Level 4 CASI snowboard instructor at Sunshine Village whose path to the mountains began in the Netherlands. Pieter shares how early trips to Austria sparked a lifelong love for snowboarding, eventually leading him to chase winters around the world and build a life in the Canadian Rockies. From the creativity and freedom found in the park and on the mountain to the patience and problem solving that shape his approach to teaching, the conversation explores what keeps people progressing at every stage.

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.

This week, Kendra sits down with Jared Anderson, a longtime leader in Alberta’s snowboard community and the driving force behind Riders On Board. Jared reflects on how the club grew from a small family-run program into a province-wide snowboard community, creating pathways for riders of all ages and abilities. From first mountain laps to Olympic dreams, the conversation explores how snowboarding builds confidence, creativity, and lifelong connections on and off the hill. This episode is about fostering a positive and inclusive culture where kids learn not just how to ride, but also how to respect the mountain, support one another, and fall in love with snowboarding for life.

What is it you love about winter? Is it the thrill, the beauty, the stillness? As Canadian’s winter is part of our DNA. The snowy season is something that unites from coast to coast. For The Love of Winter, is a podcast that celebrates Canada’s longest season.