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Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with twin authors Sam and Joe Eichner to discuss their debut novel, Our Greatest Work: A Novel by Twins. The brothers break down the collaborative process behind writing from alternating perspectives, exploring complex character dynamics, and using their own names to blur the line between reality and fiction. For listeners in New York, the authors are hosting a release event on November 12th at Word Bookstore in Greenpoint. You can learn more about the book and get in touch with the authors on their website at ourgreatestworkbook.com. Great book, great chat! Thanks for listening. --- Episode Links: Purchase Our Greatest WorkEvent: WORD Bookstore - Greenpoint, Brooklyn - Thurs. November 12, 2006, 7pm--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler speaks with singer-songwriter Summer McBride. Born in Toronto and raised primarily in Paris, McBride developed an early connection to Americana music during summers spent at her grandparents' ranch in Canada, drawing inspiration from icons like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. After attending boarding school in London and earning a degree in philosophy and theology from King's College London, she moved to New York City to complete a conservatory course at Juilliard before launching her debut project, 300SL. The conversation explores McBride's rapid, lyric-driven songwriting process, the inspiration behind her track "Rockstar Girlfriend," and how she overcame stage fright to fully embrace live performance. Having recently relocated to Los Angeles, McBride shares how the city has influenced her creative output, alongside her deep appreciation for literature, philosophy, and discovering new music on vinyl. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Listen to Summer McBride on SpotifyInstagram: @summermcbrideofficialOfficial WebsiteLinktree: @SummerjoyforeverPurchase 300SL on vinyl (signed!)

On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler is joined by Texas-born country musicians The Cunningham Sisters (Cami and Stormy). Raised on a ranch in the Texas Hill Country, the sisters grew up immersed in an outdoor lifestyle of hunting and team roping, guided by a musical family background. After starting guitar and voice lessons at five years old, they have spent years developing their craft, seriously pursuing songwriting over the past three years while drawing inspiration from classic country icons like Chris LeDoux and Merle Haggard. The discussion explores their writing process, influenced by life on the road and traditional western values, as well as the making of their music video for "God's House". They also share perspective on balancing competitive roping with live performance, opening for veteran artists like T.G. Sheppard, and an upcoming December show supporting The Droptines in Fort Worth. Tune in to the full episode for the interview, followed by a play of "God's House" at the end. --- Episode Links: TheCunninghamSistersMusic.comThe Cunningham Sisters on Spotify

This week on the show, Kyler talks with author Jennifer Case about her book, The Carework Project: Reckoning with Love, Labor, and the Living World. Born out of the pandemic when care responsibilities and environmental activism collided in her own daily life, Case's book looks at how child care, health care, elder care, and community care are fundamentally connected to the living world. They discuss the physical and emotional weight of caregiving, why people who are used to giving care often struggle so intensely to receive it, and how a severe concussion from being hit by a car shifted her perspective on needing help. The conversation also explores the beautiful postcard collages Case weaves into the physical copy of the book, how art became a low-stakes creative outlet during lockdown, and how reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet helped her navigate climate anxiety and burnout. It’s a discussion about the messiness of care work, how to move past exhaustion, and learning to show up with the right energy. Links to Jennifer's book and her website can be found below. Thanks for listening. --- Episode Links: Purchase The Carework ProjectJenniferLCase.com--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler is joined by writer and director Duncan Birmingham to discuss the world of horror films, psychological thrillers, and cinematic slow burns. Birmingham is well-known for his work on Blunt Talk, Maron, his story collection The Cult in My Garage, and his horror-comedy film Who Invited Them? During the chat, they touch on growing up in relatively strict households, coming around to horror later in life, and why the genre thrives on unique concepts rather than relying on traditional bankable movie stars. Be sure to check out the movie recommendation podcast Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time that Duncan co-hosts with Lex Raby, which features its own annual Halloween special. To explore even more of his personal film picks, you can browse through Duncan's curated movie lists on Letterboxd. Thanks for listening! --- Featured Horror & Thriller Films Mentioned The Invitation: 2015Obsession: 1976The Exorcist: 1973House of 1000 Corpses: 2003Halloween: 1978Psycho: 1960Psycho II: 1983The Birds: 1963Jacob's Ladder: 1990Audition: 1999The Devil's Candy: 2015 (festival premiere) / 2017 (theatrical release)Red Rooms: 2023House of the Devil: 2009Black Christmas: 1974Tenebrae: 1982Nightbreed: 1990--- Episode Links: Duncan on LinktreeDuncan's Letterboxd SLD Episode 72: Who Invited Them?SLD Episode 36: The Cult in My Garage

On today's episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author and former neurosurgeon-turned-lawyer John Kenyon Rainer to discuss his novel, The Last Wind Walker. The story centers on Ashe Carter, a young doctor who begins experiencing vivid memories of a past life. A century earlier in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, he lived among the "Wind Walkers," a legendary clan of mountain healers. After spontaneously playing classical music at an Easter service, Ashe is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Following surgery that leaves him with coordination issues in his right hand, Ashe is fired from his residency and files a medical malpractice lawsuit against his neurosurgeon, navigating heavy life changes alongside his supportive wife, Mattie. Rainer draws directly from his own professional background for the narrative, having spent roughly 25 years practicing neurosurgery followed by 25 years practicing law. This experience provided the foundation for the medical and courtroom conflicts depicted in the book. During the interview, Rainer also reflects on his 1987 debut book, First Do No Harm, and how a family connection led to a rare endorsement from reclusive literary icon Harper Lee. They also touch on his writing process, the blending of multiple genres, and his preparation for a future sequel. Great book, great chat. Thanks for listening! PURCHASE The Last Wind Walker

On today's episode of Salt Lake Dirt, novelist and scholar Joseph Coulson discusses his book The Prince of Memphis. The novel explores an alternate music history centered on Aron Beale—the unacknowledged son of Elvis Presley and Clara Mae Beale—whose plans to publish a memoir spark legal battles and intense opposition.Coulson, who holds a Ph.D. in American Literature and serves as President and Chief Academic Officer at Harrison Middleton University, talks about the cultural mythology surrounding Elvis, his approach to writing the book, and the creation of "Midnight Candy," an original song created as a companion track to the project. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase The Prince of MemphisJosephCoulson.comIG: @princeofmemphis

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler welcomes back author Daniel Gard'ner to discuss his new Los Angeles-set novel, EXITS, out on November 6 from Close to the Bone Press. Serving as the second installment in Gard'ner's loosely connected LA trilogy, EXITS explores the high-stakes collision between two blue-collar brothers: Jesse, who works in the hospitality industry, and Nicky, a newly released ex-con pulled back into the city's dangerous underworld. During their conversation, Gard'ner shares fascinating insights into his consistent writing process, the intricate dynamics of brotherhood, and what it takes to enact true change when mired in a given path. He also chats about how an outsider's perspective shapes his atmospheric portrayal of Los Angeles noir. It's a fantastic, wide-ranging discussion with a returning favorite, so be sure to tune in! Thanks for listening. --- Episode Links: Purchase ExitsFollow Daniel on Instagram: @danielgardner222SLD Episode 356 - Daniel Gard'ner Desert Songs

Following the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the United States finds its legal and democratic institutions navigating a shifting landscape. To examine this period, Harvard Law School professors Alexandra Natapoff and Guy-Uriel E. Charles invited their colleagues to step outside their usual academic routines and contribute to a joint publication. The resulting book, America Unfinished: 250 Years of Law and Governance, brings together over 60 short, accessible essays without footnotes, written by leading legal scholars. Published by the MIT Press on July 4, 2026, the volume covers topics ranging from the presidency, the Supreme Court, and criminal law to free speech, technology, and economic inequality, capturing diverse viewpoints across the faculty. During a recent episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sat down with Professor Alexandra Natapoff to discuss how the collection was put together and the goals behind it. Natapoff noted that the book is intended to be accessible to a wide audience, including high school history teachers, college students, and the general public. She also mentioned that the MIT Press will make the volume open access starting in 2027, allowing students and educators to read it for free. Links to the book, Harvard Law School's related resources, and the open-access materials (when available) can be found in the show notes. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase America Unfinished: 250 Years of Law and GovernanceAdditional Resources

Musician and artist Sherri DuPree has spent years as a core creative force behind the band Eisley. Alongside her musical work, she maintains a distinct visual practice, producing illustrations, custom designs, and commission pieces that balance distinct character with personal expression. On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler talks with Sherri about growing up in an art-focused family, making time to illustrate while touring, and the day-to-day realities of making things while raising children. They also discuss the specific challenges of tattoo design work, the value of keeping an analog creative process, and the persistence required to keep making art independently. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Sherri on InstagramListen to Eisley--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews.Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West.Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

Jihoon Park is a writer from San Jose, California, a PhD candidate at UC Santa Cruz, and a graduate of George Mason University's MFA program. In his debut novel, Stickman, Park explores contemporary alienation, modern masculinity, and the Asian American experience through Juni, a demoralized rideshare driver whose obsession with a childhood classmate who became a notorious school shooter pushes him to the edge of reality. Blending deadpan humor, psychological grit, and surreal elements, the novel examines the dark, uneasy boundaries between internal isolation and extreme violence. In this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, host Kyler Bingham talks with Park about the winding genesis of Stickman, transitioning the core motif from a literal surreal stick figure to a thematic element in visual art, and his academic background teaching Japan's I-novel tradition. They also examine the psychological underpinnings of the protagonist's self-destructive cognitive loops, how immigrant identity shapes myth and fantasy, and the discomfort that arises when literature forces readers to confront ugly human truths. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase StickmanJihoon's websiteIG: @jihoon.writer--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

Musician and author Roddy Bottum recently joined the show to discuss his critically acclaimed memoir, The Royal We. Rather than following standard celebrity formulas, Bottum crafted the book using his daily morning writing exercises to focus on sophisticated prose and sharp wordplay. He shared insights into his creative process, which notably omits specific dates and years to keep the narrative focused on emotional truth and personal growth rather than rigid timelines. During the conversation, Bottum also opened up about navigating complex themes such as his early experiences in San Francisco, letting go of shame surrounding his sexuality and past struggles with addiction, and the intense vulnerability of recording the audiobook. Fans of his work can look forward to more writing in the future, as he is currently at work on a new novel alongside upcoming tour dates with Imperial Teen and Faith No More. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase The Royal WeImperial TeenFaith No More--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

Author and podcast host Tony DuShane joined Kyler on the latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt to launch a new, recurring series of thematic conversations. Running once or twice a month, this new format begins with the topic of DEATH, featuring DuShane as the inaugural guest. Tony is the author of Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk, and the host of the podcast Drinks with Tony. Throughout their conversation, Kyler and Tony explored broader reflections on aging, the realities of hospice care, and navigating complex family dynamics following the loss of a parent. DuShane also shared insights into his writing process, his latest creative projects, and the unique ways we all confront the inevitable. Listeners can find more of his work on his Substack. --- Episode Links: TonyDuShane.comTony's SubstackDrinks with Tony (Podcast)Tony on Episode 6 of Salt Lake Dirt

Musician, composer, and guitarist Skip Heller has spent decades carving out a distinct lane bridging exotica, jazz, film noir scores, and vintage roots music. On his latest album, Hypnocoin, he leans entirely into an independent creative process shaped by late-night viewings of 1950s science fiction and classic Italian film arrangements. Rather than relying on standard rock configurations, Heller and his ensemble Voodoo 5—co-led with vocalist Lena—build their sound around unconventional instrumentation like vibraphone, pedal steel, and Latin percussion, favoring analog warmth and careful arrangement over modern production trends. This week on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler talks with Heller about the reality of running an independent band in Los Angeles, the practical problem-solving behind unconventional arrangements, and the heavy influence of jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie. They also discuss the community of independent labels, artists, and writers that sustain these vintage aesthetics. Be sure to check out Voodoo 5's new album Hynocoin. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase HynocoinKiller Kern on BandcampSkipHeller.orgIG: @voodoo5exoticaSkip on SLD Episode 310Skip on SLD Episode 105--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is a constitutional law professor at John Jay College (CUNY), an Emmy Award-winning writer, and a former civil rights attorney. In her book A Protest History of the United States, she explores more than four centuries of American dissent, weaving together legal analysis, memoir, and interviews. The book examines the country's deep dual personality—the ongoing friction between empire-building and the promise of liberty—while expanding the definition of protest to include not just marches and demonstrations, but everyday resistance, personal survival, and artistic expression. This week on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with Browne-Marshall to discuss stories from her family history, including her great-great-grandmother Eliza, who resisted enslavement in Kentucky before later joining the Exoduster migration to Kansas. They also discuss the establishment of Martyrs' Day on July 5th—a date inspired by Frederick Douglass's famous 1852 address—to honor the activists and everyday people who sacrificed everything in the struggle for equal justice. It is a grounded look at how civil rights and democratic progress have always relied on the sustained efforts of ordinary people willing to demand more of the nation. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase A Protest History of the United StatesGloria's LinktreeMartyrs Day - July 5th--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.