Salt Lake Dirt

On today’s episode of Salt Lake Dirt , I am thrilled to welcome author, coach, and actor Jamie Rose to discuss her new book, Facing Madame X: The Tools for Women . Mixing memoir with practical tools, Jamie explores how to address everyday emotional pressures, cultivate life force, and step into forward momentum. We discuss the profound beauty of learning to embrace uncertainty and some of the prac...

On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I had a great time chatting with Lauren C. Johnson about her novel, The West Façade . The story is set in 1348 Paris and follows the statues of Notre Dame. In the novel, they actually get one night of life every new moon, but they aren't supposed to interact with the human world at all. Things get complicated when the main character, Sainte Geneviève, tastes...

In this latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I was so happy to welcome filmmaker Michelle Bossy back to the show. Michelle is someone who stays incredibly busy—she’s actually directed 20+ short films and two features at this point—so it’s always a treat to catch up with her and see what she’s been working on. This time around, we took a deep dive into two of her latest short films, "We Regret to...

On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I had the pleasure of talking with writer Jennifer Ostopovich . Based in Calgary, Canada, Jennifer shares her fascinating path from being an obsessive childhood reader to becoming a "pandemic writer". Despite being what she calls a "lousy student" who struggled with the sensory overload of traditional classrooms, she was reading adult novels b...

⁠ SLD MIXTAPE Special: ⁠ ⁠ Pain and Yearning with Leah Lawson ⁠ Musician ⁠Leah Lawson⁠ joined me for this episode of the Salt Lake Dirt Mixtape to talk about the themes of Pain and Yearning . We got into how music works as a "balm" or medicine for the human condition, helping people process complex emotions. We talked about the vulnerability of songwriting and how music that starts out as somethin...

We are trying out a new format for some of our radio episodes on KPCR . I’ll be inviting former guests back to the studio to act as guest DJs, curated around a specific theme for every episode. For those who want to listen on the go, these radio specials will now be available as a Spotify playlist. Episode 1: Heartbreak with Liv Rylan My first guest for this series is the incredible musician Liv R...

Ross Barkan ’s latest novel, Colossus , introduces us to Teddy Starr, a charismatic pastor and real estate mogul in small-town Michigan who embodies the quintessential American success story. Yet, beneath the polished veneer of his multimillion-dollar empire and "All-American" family life lies a calculated web of deception and a past he is actively outrunning. During our conversation, Ro...

I recently sat down with author Victoria Hood to talk about her latest collection, Destroy Me, Desecrate My Bones . Victoria has a way of capturing the strange, often uncomfortable tensions of everyday life, and it was interesting to hear her talk about her "unapologetically weird" style and why she finds herself drawn to the "vibe" of a story—the mood and the setting—just as m...

I had a great time talking with poet Dylan Krieger about her latest collection, No One Is Daddy . Dylan has such a sharp, singular voice, and we spent a lot of time talking about how she uses humor and linguistic play to navigate some pretty heavy themes like religious and patriarchal trauma. It was interesting to hear her perspective on the "Southern Gothic" identity and how growing up in a certa...

I recently had the chance to chat with author David Fishkind to talk about his new book, Don't Step Into My Office . I picked this book up about a month ago and it immediately grabbed me—it is exactly the kind of writing I dig, and I have a feeling a lot of you will feel the same way. David describes the book as a "maximalist" mix of neo-noir, murder mystery, and family dramedy. It f...

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with two of my favorite creators, Todd Hughes and Tim Kirk, for a special episode of Salt Lake Dirt . These two have such a unique history—they grew up together in California and have been collaborating on films since they were twelve years old. It was great to hear them reminisce about their early days shooting Super 8 shorts like Whopper , which surpri...

I've always loved reading as a way to step into another person's perspective, which is exactly why Natalie Davis ’s new memoir, Saying Yes: My Adventures in Polyamory , caught my eye. Natalie spent years writing legal briefs for the Department of Justice before pivoting to a much more vulnerable form of storytelling. What started as emails to a friend evolved into a decade-long chronicle o...

Today I had the chance to sit down with V.N. Alexander to talk about her new novel, The Girlie Playhouse (Heresy Press 4.7.26) I completely devoured this book. It’s a first-person account narrated by a dancer named Pixie, who is trying to make sense of her world and the memory of her mother. What really pulled me in wasn't just the setting of the cabaret, but the way Alexander handles the internal...

Elle Nash - Episode 366 Kyler sits down with author Elle Nash to discuss the practical side of maintaining a long-term writing career. Following the release of her most recent novel, Deliver Me , Elle shares her perspective on the creative process and the importance of pacing oneself to avoid hitting a wall. The conversation covers the realities of the publishing industry and the need to protect y...

In this episode of Salt Lake Dirt , Kyler reports from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival—the final year of the festival’s historic run in Park City. Kyler sits down with actor and musician Aaron Conte to discuss his role in the episodic project The Screener , a series created by Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe that tackles the high-stakes world of white-collar crime and the protection of independent film...

On today's episode Kyler welcomes filmmaker Matthew Avant to discuss his compelling new documentary pilot, Roots and Relics . Inspired by his father’s passion for history and a lifetime spent visiting historic sites, Matthew has created a show that focuses on the deep-seated stories behind family heirlooms. The conversation explores the project's origins, starting with Matthew’s early days...

In this episode of Salt Lake Dirt , Kyler Bingham talks with award-winning biographer Carla Kaplan about her latest book, Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford . Jessica Mitford, or "Decca," was a member of the famously eccentric British aristocracy who famously defected from her privileged upbringing to become a passionate Marxist and a legendary muckraking journalist...

In this episode of Salt Lake Dirt , Kyler Bingham sits down with actor and producer Shaun Wu to discuss his compelling new narrative pilot, Henry by the Hour , which is making its world premiere at Dances With Films in New York. Inspired by the real-world "rental family" services in Japan and the pervasive sense of modern isolation, Shaun explores the profound "beautiful sadness&quo...

In this episode of Salt Lake Dirt , I’m joined by director Deborah Correa to discuss her new film, The War Between . Based on a story and novella by Ron Yungul, the film explores a lesser-known chapter of the American Civil War: the conflict within the Arizona Territory and New Mexico. Deborah shares the fascinating history behind the California Column , a volunteer force that pushed the Confedera...

How does our awareness evolve, and what role does kindness play in that journey? Brian Joel Jolly ( Evolving Awareness: Why Kindness Matters ) joins Kyler to discuss consciousness and his unique take on the biblical creation story. It’s a conversation about how we see the world, how we connect with one another, and why our perspective on "reality" changes everything. Great book, great ch...

Kyler welcomes back a long-time friend of the show, author Chip Jacobs . Chip is here to chat about his brand new novel, Later Days . The book is a personal one—it weaves together parts of Chip's own life and the moving story of his friend Tom, all set during their high school years. We dive deep into friendship, forgiveness, and how memory shapes us. Great book, great chat! Thanks for listeni...

This week, we sit down with filmmaker Joe D'Ovidio . Joe joins us to discuss his short film, A Drive at Dawn , which has been a strong presence on the festival circuit, including a run at the highly-regarded FilmQuest . Find Joe D'Ovidio on Instagram: @joe.dovidio Thanks for listening! Kyler

Today on the show I welcome back Bruce Wagner . Bruce is one of my all-time favorite authors and he is here to talk about his latest novel AMPUTATION . "AMPUTATION is the first novel to be written about the inferno that obliterated two Los Angeles cities in January of 2025. Major characters are comedian Stephen Colbert; Karen Bass; a Timothée Chalamet stunt double; a fiercely pro-Palestinian...

On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author and musician Daniel Gard'ner to talk about his novel, Desert Songs . Daniel shares how decades in the music industry led him to write this rock and roll L.A. noir, built around the characters Cash and Slim. It's a candid conversation about the reality of band dynamics, friendship, and the pressures of success—a fascinating look...

This week on Salt Lake Dirt, we welcome back the talented Gary Lippman to discuss his latest book, I Wish, Therefore I Am . In this episode, Kyler and Gary discuss the creative process behind the book, exploring the significance of titles and the role of wishes in our lives. Gary shares his insights on how he arrived at the catchy title and the unique structure of the book, which he affectionately...