In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with journalist and author Lily Raff McCaulou. Lily’s writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and The Bulletin, and she is the author of Call of the Mild: Learning to Hunt My Own Dinner, named one of the best books of 2012 by The San Francisco Chronicle.

Aaron and Lily explore her winding path into journalism, what ultimately brought her to Bend, and the surprising journey that led her to write a book about learning to hunt. Lily also shares her perspective on teaching the next generation of reporters as an instructor at Central Oregon Community College and advisor for The Broadside, the college’s student newspaper. Along the way, listeners get a glimpse into the challenges and rewards of modern journalism, the intersection of personal growth and professional storytelling, and the importance of fostering curiosity in both students and readers.