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.

This week, Kendra sits down with Katie Brinton, senior editor at SAM Magazine and a PSIA-AASI alpine examiner, to explore a lifelong relationship with winter. What began as childhood ski school days in Vermont evolved into a career rooted in instruction, education, and industry storytelling. Katie reflects on how early family ski trips shaped her love for sliding on snow, how a winding path through theatre, writing, and the film industry eventually led her back to the mountains, and how becoming an instructor revealed the ski industry as a deeply connected and complex ecosystem.

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 Jenn Harper, founder of Cheekbone Beauty, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about identity, resilience, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Jenn shares the story behind building the only Indigenous-founded beauty brands carried by Sephora worldwide. Reflecting on sobriety, generational trauma, and how reconnecting with her Ojibwe roots shaped both her life and her business.

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 Alpine Ski Team athlete Kiki Alexander for an honest conversation about rebuilding strength after injury and the mental side of performance. Kiki opens up about the moment she finally returned to snow and how cognitive training helped reconnect her body and her confidence. Her story reflects determination, curiosity, and a deep love for skiing that keeps pulling her forward.

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.