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The Klamath Basin is shaped by incredible people, businesses, and stories - and we're bringing them to you in Shaping the Basin, a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of the leaders, innovators, and unsung heroes who make our community thrive.

13/10/2026

True leadership easily transcends institutional borders, whether you are wearing a military uniform on an airbase runway or stepping into a suit to expand higher education for an entire county.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter welcomes Lucas Ritter, the Vice President of External Affairs and Executive Director of the Foundation at Klamath Community College. Lucas reflects on his recent transition from a twenty-one-year career at Kingsley Field to higher education, sharing the humorous adjustments of ditching his Air Force uniform, growing facial hair, and constantly Googling academic acronyms. Drawing from a twenty-five-year military background that spanned public affairs, personnel, security forces, and the Inspector General's office, Lucas explains how diverse life experiences seamlessly translate into civilian leadership.

Lucas breaks down KCC's massive physical and academic footprint across the basin, detailing the college's growth from a single building in 1996 to a sprawling campus offering groundbreaking trade programs in cosmetology, salon management, and well-drilling. He pulls back the curtain on KCC's ongoing capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art Early Childhood Education and Child Care Learning Center in partnership with the Oregon Child Development Coalition. Lucas explains why expanding local childcare access directly combats the regional "childcare desert" to help local businesses retain employees. From a fun throwback to his days owning a local small business and working for a Portland record label, to an insider look at the free resources offered by the Small Business Development Center, Lucas's insights celebrate the power of community development.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special Thanks to The Klamath County Museum for use of the historic photos in our intro.

06/10/2026

When your mind is constantly racing through fifty thousand different daily tasks, finding a way to quiet the noise can feel like an impossible challenge.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter welcomes Kathy Crist, the owner and operator of Bliss Float and Bliss Yoga. Kathy shares her personal journey of navigating high anxiety, leaving a career as a systems administrator for county government, and discovering the profound mental benefits of float therapy and yoga instruction. She opens up about the deep personal loss of her father to liver disease at a young age, explaining how floating has been adopted by modern recovery programs to calm the nervous system and offer a healthy, alternative outlet for stress.

Kathy breaks down the science behind sensory deprivation, detailing what it's like to step into a skin-temperature magnesium solution loaded with over seventeen hundred pounds of Epsom salt. She describes the weightless sensation of floating in zero gravity, explaining how it relieves chronic joint pressure, promotes deep sleep, and complements mindfulness practices. Kathy also pulls back the curtain on the unexpected, unglamorous realities of small business ownership, from overcoming construction delays during the pandemic to dealing with salt maintenance and drain cleaning. From an insider look at upcoming wellness additions like halo therapy salt booths, to her philosophy on bringing non-judgmental relaxation to local residents, Kathy’s story is a warm testament to the power of self-care.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special thanks to The Klamath County Museum for use of the historic photos in our intro.

29/09/2026

More than 13,000 cups of coffee.

4.2 million seconds. 69,652 minutes. 48 days, 8 hours and 52 minutes.

That's the amount of time, YOU, our followers, have taken to watch episodes of Shaping The Basin. We can't thank you enough.

When Heather and I launched this project, we wanted to bring positivity and inspiration to the people of the Klamath basin and beyond, and the numbers let us know that you guys watch and appreciate what we do.

Thank you all for taking time out of your lives to learn about the cool things people in this community do.

And I'm curious, what's your favorite episode?

Thanks for joining us to help shape the basin!

Jared - 40 Deuce Films

29/09/2026

"Moving across the country to accept a high-level leadership role sight unseen in a town you've never visited sounds like a reckless gamble, but for one veteran entertainment executive, it proved to be the ultimate homecoming.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter welcomes Fran Marseille, the Executive Director of the historic Ross Ragland Theater. Fran shares the whirlwind story of packing up her life in the Midwest to return to the West Coast, describing her immediate realization upon driving into Klamath Falls that she had arrived in one of the kindest, most welcoming communities in the country. Drawing from a rich multi-decade career in entertainment, radio, TV, and film—which famously began with a marketing and public relations stint on Forrest Gump where she accidentally coined the phrase "Gump happens"—Fran breaks down why she remains so fiercely passionate about behind-the-scenes theater operations.

We take a deep dive into the multifaceted role the Ross Ragland plays in regional education, youth safety, and economic development. Fran explains how local donors and corporate sponsors step up to support youth education programs in breakdancing, sculpting, and acting, providing a safe environment where young people can express themselves away from street violence. She pulls back the curtain on the business side of managing a historic venue, outlining her vision to transform the former Esquire movie theater into a prime Pacific Northwest destination that fills local hotel rooms, supports neighboring restaurants, and attracts major national acts while celebrating local talent. From a humorous look at her personal bucket list dream of bringing Carlos Santana to the basin stage, to her simple definition of a perfect day surrounded by supportive staff and friendly neighbors, Fran's energy is an inspiring testament to the power of community arts.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special thanks to the Klamath County Museum for use of the historic photos in our intro.

22/09/2026

Facing repeated public rejection four times in a row would cause most people to walk away, but for one dedicated local leader, every single loss became the exact blueprint needed to win.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter sits down with Allyssa Defillipo, Miss Oregon, fresh off her trip representing the state at the Miss America competition in West Palm Beach, Florida. Allyssa reflects on her grueling four-and-a-half-year journey of competing for regional titles before finally earning the state crown, sharing why she refused to let self-doubt or financial limitations stop her. She opens up about wearing secondhand gowns sourced from Poshmark and Facebook on the Miss America stage, proving that true success stems from inner conviction, perseverance, and becoming your own biggest supporter.

Allyssa breaks down her Community Service Initiative focused on childhood nutrition education and expanding access to whole, affordable foods. Drawing from her own upbringing in a low-income household and her professional background as a preschool teacher and nutrition coach, she details her self-published children's book and hands-on classroom seminars that teach kids how to explore fruits and vegetables. She also shares practical, budget-friendly lifestyle tips, from coupon clipping at Fred Meyer to cooking versatile plant-based meals at home, while explaining how empowering kids with food knowledge inspires whole families to eat healthier. From overcoming her initial fears of the pageant stage to earning over forty thousand dollars in undergraduate scholarships, Allyssa’s story is a moving testament to knowing your worth outside of a crown and lifting up everyone around you.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special thanks to The Klamath County Museum for the use of the historic photos in our intro.

15/09/2026

To the average observer, a high-performance fighter jet is nothing more than cold hard steel, but to the pilots and crew chiefs who maintain them, each tail number becomes an irreplaceable member of the family.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter connects with Colonel Gaudinski for an inside look at the monumental transformations underway at the 173rd Fighter Wing. Colonel Gaudinski breaks down the intense strategic planning required to manage a military transition, explaining why leaders must start where they want to finish when projecting national defense goals decades into the future. He reflects on the sunset of the legacy F-15 Eagle after twenty-seven years at Kingsley Field, honoring its undefeated 104-to-zero kill ratio while mapping out the tight timeline to welcome the multi-role F-35 Lightning II.

Colonel Gaudinski pulls back the curtain on what makes Team Kingsley a premier center of excellence, attributing its success to a unified workforce of 1,200 airmen, civilian personnel, and dedicated crew chiefs who put people above mission. He shares the profound history of Medal of Honor recipient David R. Kingsley, describing how the wreckage displayed at the front gate serves as a daily, tangible reminder of courage, selflessness, and integrity for every airman entering the base. Colonel Gaudinski also details what it feels like to command the computer-driven F-35 as a "quarterback in the sky," while previewing the massive upcoming Wings and Eagles Airshow and Century Eagle exercise designed to bring the regional community together.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special thanks toThe Klamath County Museum for the use of the historic photos in our intro.

08/09/2026

Working remotely from home for over a decade can make even the most dedicated resident feel completely disconnected from the heartbeat of their own hometown.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter catches up with Jennifer Woodward to celebrate her six-month anniversary as a key leader with the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce. Jennifer reflects on her long-standing relationship with the region dating back to 2003, sharing how her transition from remote work back into the physical community reignited her appreciation for how deeply local citizens care about the basin's future. Drawing from a diverse career background that spans starting her own companies, working with educational institutions, and serving as a VP of Sales and Marketing for a gourmet food brand, Jennifer breaks down how her multi-tiered business experience helps her troubleshoot daily member pain points surrounding visibility, foot traffic, and engagement.

We take a deep dive into the art of authentic connection as Jennifer discusses her independent podcast, Yona Gila Guides, where she interviews individuals across alternative healing and wellness spaces. She shares how podcasting reinforced the value of digging beneath surface-level small talk to ask great, human-centered questions, a philosophy she brings directly to the Chamber's Awake at 8 events to build non-transactional relationships. Jennifer also outlines key upcoming Chamber initiatives, including the Rural Advantage Conference, explaining an innovative dry-erase calendar session designed to help local business owners and organizations collaborate on 2027 event schedules to prevent community attention from splitting. From a lighthearted throwback to an award-winning public speaking story about mischievous family dogs, to practical advice on how compelling narratives drive successful annual business award nominations, Jennifer's insights highlight the ultimate strength of local collaboration.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special thanks to the Klamath County Museum for use of the historical photos in our intro,

01/09/2026

True innovation often happens when you take a dreamer's perspective and pair it with a mechanic's practical drive to rebuild broken systems.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter sits down with Ry Kliewer, a local farmer, co-owner of Skyline Brewing Company, and co-owner of a Spirits company in Hawaii. Ry reflects on growing up in an agricultural family that built its operations from scratch in the 1970s using beat-up, two-hundred-dollar equipment. He shares his personal journey of diving headfirst into farming after the turning point of 2001, learning how to fix, run, and upgrade machinery while navigating the harsh realities of the trade.

We take a deep dive into the complex water issues affecting the Klamath Basin. As the board president of the Klamath Basin Improvement District and a director on the Klamath Water Users Association board, Ry offers an insider's perspective on twenty-five years of regulatory water curtailments. He discusses Upper Klamath Lake hydrology, historical sucker fish recruitment data, algae bloom management, and why solving long-term agricultural and environmental challenges requires looking past pride to try new solutions.

The conversation switches gears as Ry recounts how his process-driven mindset unexpectedly pulled him into brewing and distilling. He details converting a low-ceiling milk parlor into a functional brewery, helping test organic crop rotations for pineapple fields in Maui, and co-designing a custom "hurricane" continuous distillation system that produces high-proof rum. From a humorous look at how he reluctantly inherited a herd of show cows, to the invaluable perseverance lessons passed down from his father, Ry's insights highlight the grit, adaptability, and vision driving modern basin agriculture.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special thanks to The Klamath County Museum for the use of the historical photos in our intro.

25/08/2026

Stepping into a completely unfamiliar industry because of an unexpected family tragedy can cause many operations to stall, but for one visionary leader, it sparked a national movement to redefine trade education and empower thousands of modern entrepreneurs.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter sits down with Lynelle Lynch, a passionate leader who serves as an owner of the Running Y Resort and the founder of the nonprofit charity Beauty Changes Lives. Lynelle shares the dramatic story of how her husband’s extensive real estate portfolio unexpectedly placed three California beauty colleges under her direction after the passing of their company president. Refusing to accept the standard industry pushback that top spas would only hire stylists with five years of experience, Lynelle completely transformed the educational platform, ultimately expanding her brand and winning national recognition for running the number one beauty college in the country.

We explore the incredible academic innovations happening right here in the basin as Lynelle highlights her collaboration with Klamath Community College. As the chairman of their cosmetology division board, Lynelle details KCC’s groundbreaking development of the nation's first online Bachelor’s Degree program in cosmetology. She breaks down why the three-year development process focused heavily on giving graduates crucial business survival tools, teaching essential curriculum blocks like human resources, inventory management, and strategic marketing so that stylists can thrive as successful small business owners. Lynelle also takes us inside the massive impact of her charity, which distributes up to seven hundred thousand dollars in annual scholarships nationwide to students pursuing careers in cosmetology, barbering, aesthetics, massage, and nail art.

The conversation turns to the future of regional health as Lynelle maps out her vision for the Running Y Resort’s three thousand six hundred acres. Drawing from her annual attendance at the Global Wellness Institute, she outlines the global transition from standard day spas to deep longevity practices, and why Klamath Falls is uniquely positioned to become an international wellness hub. She connects the basin’s historic legacy as a post-war healing ground for Marines to its modern designation as a certified Blue Zone, celebrating the region's solar energy, organic agriculture, clean water, and year-round outdoor adventure. From an inspiring profile of industry icons who turned dental acrylic formulas into global fashion trends, to her personal corporate management blueprint of asking open-ended questions to find a path to yes, Lynelle’s testimony is a celebration of community pride.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films. Special thanks to The Klamath County Museum for the use of the historic photos in our intro.

18/08/2026

Operating a regional media outlet across fifty-five thousand square miles requires a relentless willingness to adapt, especially when your industry faces the massive technical shift from traditional satellite trucks to global digital video streams.

In this episode of Shaping the Basin, Heather Harter welcomes Bob Wise, the Vice President and General Manager of KOTI TV and KOBI TV. Bob shares his twenty-one year history working under independent station owner Patsy Smullen, exploring why a family-owned broadcasting structure allows for rapid, community-first decision-making that massive media conglomerates simply cannot replicate. He pulls back the curtain on the changing technical landscape of regional television, detailing how the cost of essential equipment remains identical to major metropolitan markets despite a drastically different viewer volume. Bob explains how TV stations adapted much faster than traditional newspapers to the modern digital era, resulting in record-high local news viewership as audiences look for trusted, unbiased reporting down the middle of the road.

We take an intimate look at Bob's deep passion for public service campaigns that target real, regional crises. He recounts the exact framework of the historic Southern Oregon M**h Project, a nine-year campaign that partnered with Klamath Falls' Citizens for Safe Schools to build award-winning educational dialogue directly inside local classrooms. Bob walks us through the genesis of Tomorrow Needs You, an Emmy-winning mental health and su***de prevention initiative launched in late 2018 alongside health care officials and regional allies. He vulnerably shares the emotional wake-up call that sparked the project as teenage su***de rates escalated, and how the campaign eventually won Best of Show at a nationwide broadcasters' convention.

The conversation loops through Bob’s vivid memories of managing major live news events, including a gripping personal tour alongside law enforcement through the devastating aftermath of the Almeda Drive Fire. He reflects on the extreme courage of regional first responders and the hidden, unpredictable dangers of navigating active disaster zones. From a humorous behind-the-scenes memory of an active news anchor suddenly getting cast on a national reality dating show, to a profound defense of local journalism as a critical tool for keeping politicians accountable, Bob’s insights celebrate the power of storytelling. His closing thoughts on the core meaning of true patriotism offer a beautiful blueprint for future leaders, challenging the community to find a local passion, leave their environment better than they found it, and always stay the course.

Presented by The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce & Produced by 40 Deuce Films Special thanks to The Klamath County Museum for use of the historic photos in our intro.

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