Narrating Utah

In this episode, we explore the relationship between Utah's homogenous culture and the skyrocketing rates of plastic surgery. People of all ages are pulled to plastic surgery through the influences of social media, homogenous culture competition, and normalization of these cosmetic procedures. We talked with Dr. Susan Madsen, Founder and Executive Director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project....

We are here to share the amazing story of Chancy and Rye who are queer business owners here in the valley. They are an interracial gay couple who are active in the Queer community as well as the local Salt Lake community. Their story is an example of how people can face the adversity that is often present in Utah culture, but still thrive and not leave the state just because they face these extern...

Our podcast starts out with a short history of sex education in the United States, but specifically in Utah. In the podcast, we dicuss our personal experiencs as students who grew up in Utah and we talk about our lacking sex education experience. This is followed by an interview with Marilee Coles-Ritchie, an education professor at Westminster University in Salt Lake City. As a teacher's teacher,...

The first woman to vote cast her ballot in the territory of Utah in 1870, fifty years before the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, which made voting for women in the United States a right. Take a deep dive into the personal lives of Utah’s most prominent suffragists and explore the phenomenal history behind the first women to cast a vote in the United States.

In this episode, we explore the history of LGBTQ+ relations with the Mormon Church that led up to the conversion therapy that occurred at Utah’s universities, the story of the conversion therapy itself, and what queer relations with the church look like today. An interview with Connell O'Donovan, a leading queer Mormon historian, gives perspective on both what it was like to be a queer member of t...

When religion and dating mix in college, who knows what can go down. We interviewed three people about the dating culture at BYU, highlighting the differences pre- versus post-mission, the overhanging goal of eternal marriage, and the myths and truths about NCMOs, or non-committal make outs.

In this episode, hosts Tay Rushton and Lucy Smith-Lahrman examine some of Utah’s anti-trans and queer legislation. Through interviews with a queer legislator (Sahara Hayes), activist (Nick Arteaga), and K-12 educator (Carly Olsen), the two discuss the implications of specific bills and how Utahns can stay involved. The dialogue for this episode was informed by Sharon G. Horne et al.’s “The Stench...

In this episode we look into Utah drinking culture and how the laws effect the industry as well as the community. We interview local bars Good Grammar and Quarters Arcade bar while providing our own experience coming into Utah.

Utah is known for its charity projects, but what are the weaknesses of charity? Are there alternatives? In today’s episode we look into mutual aid in the Salt Lake valley and talk with three members of COVID-19 Mutual Aid SLC; Isaac, Cameron, and Juls. We compare food support programs from the LDS church to COVID-19 Mutual Aid SLC to understand what the difference is between charity and mutual aid...

Salt Lake City is rich with urban legends, tucked away places, and hidden sites. In this episode, your hosts discuss a grave wrapped in a legend and the community that cares for it.

This episode will talk about rafting the Green River in Utah, hearing experiences from professors and students as well as learning about the history of the river and the impacts humans cause.

In this podcast, produced by the 2020 Gender Studies Podcasting class, three students explore some of the unique parks that Salt Lake City has to offer. The parks (which include The International Peace Park, Gilgal Sculpture Garden, and Allen Park) each hold an attraction that reflects a cultural aspect of Utah. These parks explore emigration, wealth distribution, religion, the arts, community, an...

When Michelle MacNeill died, medical examiners ruled her death as 'natural'. However, Michelle's eldest daughter, Alexis, as well as some of her other children were convinced that something much more sinister had transpired. But with little concrete evidence, how were they to prove it? This podcast episode was written, produced, and recorded by Brooke Smith, Michaelis Lyons, and Jasmine Hernandez....

Lori Hacking seemed to have a perfect life. A great career, a loving marriage to her high school sweetheart Mark Hacking, an exciting move, and she just found out that she was five weeks pregnant. However, everything changed when on July 19, 2004, Mark made a frantic call to police claiming that Lori hadn't returned home from her early morning jog. This podcast episode was written, produced, and r...

This episode is about the unsolved murder of 6-year-old Rosie Tapia was kidnapped and murdered on August 13, 1995, in Salt Lake City and no one has been convicted for her murder to this very day. Join us to find some of the clues we’ve found and if they can give us any insight into what happened to Rosie. This case deals with the murder of a child, listener discretion is advised. This podcast epis...

This episode is on the murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her infant daughter Erica Lafferty who were murdered by Brenda’s brother in laws Ron and Dan Lafferty. These men believed God asked them to murder 4 people beginning with Brenda and her baby in which they beat, strangled, and stabbed them. This episode was written, produced, and recorded by Zola Oyer and Charidan Maltby. The opinions expr...

This episode is on the disappearance of Kiplyn Davis, a 15 year old that went missing from her loving family and close knit community of Spanish Fork, Utah on May 2nd, 1995. It’s now 26 years later, and someone may remain behind bars, but the family is still begging for answers. This has been a very dense researched case that leaves us with confusion and anger, but concluding everyone to hold Kipl...

In 2003, at the age of 14, Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City. This episode explores the process of searching for Elizabeth Smart through the perspective of Lance Harrison, a member of the search party.

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted sports for college athletes around the world. This podcast explores how the women’s basketball team at Westminster College responded to the pandemic at the height of a successful season and their plans for moving forward.

Skinwalker Ranch, located in Ballard, Utah, is notorious for paranormal sightings, including the infamous skinwalkers, and numerous UFO sightings. This episode provides an overview of Skinwalker Ranch, including early history, and considers the meanings of these urban legends today.

Navigating support and resources for trans and non-binary identities can be difficult in good times. This episode focuses on the experiences of trans and non-binary Westminster College students as they navigate their gender transitions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Salt Lake City has always had an interesting performing art scene with a mix of bands, unique venues, and a community hungry for entertainment. Due to the pandemic, the arts community is being forced to change and adapt. This episode explores these changes from the perspective of artists in the music, performing arts, and theatre arts community, and considers the future of the arts in Salt Lake Ci...

The gymnastics world has been hit hard by scandal for the last few years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created further difficulties for gymnastics. There is a limited time frame for gymnasts’ career development, and with gyms closed, only gymnasts with extensive resources can train during this time. This episode considers the impact of COVID-19 on the future generation of gymnasts, and the protoc...

This episode talks with experts in both the ski industry and climate change to discuss how ski resorts and tourism impact the environment.