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On the latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler reconnects with author Elizabeth Ellen. Following up on their previous discussion about her novel American Thighs (available here), the two discuss her play Exit, Carefully—tracing its roots back to a chaotic family Christmas Eve and its path from a college short story to publication. Elizabeth also candidly reflects on navigating literary cancellations, stepping into the publisher role at Hobart, and preparing for her appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. Beyond their conversation on Substack and the shifts within contemporary indie publishing, Elizabeth has a major project underway: she is currently publishing real-time chapters of her memoir in progress, I MARRIED A SEX ADDICT/I AM A SEX ADDICT, directly to her Substack page. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Follow Elizabeth on SubstackPurchase American ThighsHobart PulpIG: @shortflightlongdriveElizabeth on SLD Episode 333--- 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.

This week on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author Dr. Stacey Patton to discuss her new book, Strung Up: How White America Learned to Lynch Black Children. Grounded in deep archival research and developmental psychology, Dr. Patton’s work reframes racial terror by centering the deliberate targeting of Black youth and examining how generations of white children were socialized into cruelty through spectacle violence. Drawing connections between intergenerational trauma, historical silence, and the modern political climate, Dr. Patton sheds light on how history continues to shape present-day realities for Black families across America. During their conversation, Kyler and Dr. Patton explore key themes from the book, including the powerful Du Bois question—“Ought children be born to us?”—and the neuroscience behind how moral development and empathy are shaped during childhood. They also discuss specific historical cases, such as the 1916 lynching of Jesse Washington, and the vital role that truth-telling and primary sources play in counteracting historical erasure. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase Strung Up: How White America Learned to Lynch Black ChildrenFollow Stacey Patton on SubstackFollow Stacey Patton on Facebook 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.

This week on Salt Lake Dirt, we are replaying a fan-favorite episode from last year’s KPCR mixtape specials featuring actress and performer Lauren Ashley. Bringing her signature passion for Old Hollywood and vintage culture, Lauren sits down with Kyler for a cozy, autumn-inspired music showcase. Known for her appearances in Hollywood Graveyard short films and her deep appreciation for classic cinema history, Lauren brings a playlist curated for crisp air, changing leaves, and nostalgic fall afternoons. Throughout the hour, the two walk through tracks ranging from Nat King Cole and Barbra Streisand to Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the Avett Brothers, and Bernard Herrmann's classic film score for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Because copyright restrictions prevent music tracks from being included directly within the podcast audio, you will need to pause the episode as each song is introduced and play it on your preferred streaming service to experience the mixtape in full. Feel free to listen the conversation here and then click the link to take you directly to the playlist of songs. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: ⁠Autumn Mixtape - Playlist⁠⁠⁠Lauren on Salt Lake Dirt - Episode 320⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree: @folklaur⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Lauren on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch The Tomb of Nosferatu⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Graves from the Black Lagoon 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.

It was great having Keith Koeneman on Salt Lake Dirt to talk about his new novel, Paternity. Having previously written a biography on former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Keith made the leap to fiction with a story that follows two couples in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood over two decades. He shared how he structured the book like a Netflix series with 19 interlocking chapters, drawing heavy inspiration from Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge while maintaining a strict chronological timeline as the characters age from their late twenties to their fifties. During our conversation, Keith opened up about his writing process and how reading hundreds of books a year growing up shaped his love for storytelling. We talked about how he picked up lessons on short chapters and plot hooks from reading mystery novels, as well as the importance of setting work aside and having a couple of honest friends read drafts. It was a really fun discussion about the balance between fiction and nonfiction, and Paternity is a fantastic read for anyone who loves deep character-driven stories. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Episode Links: Purchase Paternity--- 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.

Having Jerry Stahl back on Salt Lake Dirt to talk about Gonzo Neurotic: The Best (And Not-So-Best) of Jerry Stahl was incredible. He’s one of my all-time favorite writers, and reading through this huge mix of his previously uncollected work and forgotten journalism was an absolute blast. We talked about everything from the backstory of his cult film Cafe Flesh to the surreal reality of doing press tours on shows like Oprah and Tom Snyder after publishing Permanent Midnight. What makes Jerry’s work so special to me is how effortlessly he balances laugh-out-loud humor with pure, raw honesty. During our chat, we got into the brutal reality of the editing process, the strange feeling of revisiting your younger self on the page, and how writing is often just a necessary way to stay sane. Gonzo Neurotic is a fantastic look back at a legendary career, and I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Kyler --- Episode Links: Purchase Gonzo Neurotic: The Best (And Not-So-Best) of Jerry StahlJerry Stahl's Nowheresville (Substack)Jerry on SLD Episode 62 (2022)--- 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.

This week on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author Susanne Antonetta to discuss her book, The Devil’s Castle: Nazi Eugenics, Euthanasia, and How Psychiatry’s Troubled History Reverberates Today. The conversation explores how Nazi-era euthanasia programs influenced modern psychiatric practices, including the rise of short, 15-minute appointments and heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals. Antonetta shares how her own 2019 psychotic episode and her discovery of German activist Dorothea Buck transformed her historical research into a personal exploration, highlighting alternative, conversation-based approaches like "open dialogue" that prioritize holistic, patient-centered care. The interview also addresses the stigma surrounding mental health and the danger of viewing psychiatric conditions through a strictly biological lens. Antonetta stresses the importance of examining history as gene-editing technologies advance, emphasizing that compassion, dialogue, and community support remain vital for true healing. Listeners can explore more of Antonetta's work on her website, read her column in Psychology Today, or pick up the paperback edition of The Devil's Castle. --- Episode Links: Purchase The Devil's CastleSusAntonetta.comPsychology Today Column--- 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.

Mallory Smart returns to Salt Lake Dirt to chat with Kyler about her new book, Book of David. They get into the origin of the character, Dave, and how processing personal loss found its way onto the page, giving the project its emotional weight without losing its edge.Smart also opens up about the nuts and bolts of independent publishing, from running a small press to dealing with the chaos of the literary festival circuit. It’s a candid conversation about the realities of writing, navigating the literary world, and turning real life into fiction. --- Episode Links: Pre-Order Book of David from AsterismPre-Order on AmazonMallorySmart.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.

Alex Osman returns to the show this week to discuss his novel, Xanadu, Pennsylvania, out now from Filthy Loot. Alex breaks down the book's evolution—stitching together decade-old drafts with new material to explore small-town secrets, human observation, and a strange town-wide obsession with Olivia Newton-John. We also talk about writing from an introverted perspective, honing in on sensory details, and why kids in fiction can be surprisingly cruel. Beyond the text itself, we discuss the physical design of the book and the pop-culture influences behind it. Alex shares how alternative 90s albums like Faith No More’s Angel Dust inspired the artwork, why he prefers compact pocketbook editions, and how classic comedy shape his reading habits. Take a listen to the episode and pick up a copy of Xanadu, Pennsylvania through Filthy Loot. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Episode Links: Purchase Xanadu, PennsylvaniaIG: @magkneesiummAlex on SLD Episode 280--- 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.

This week on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler welcomes back Arthur Dark, creator of the YouTube channel Hollywood Graveyard, to discuss his new book, Hollywood Graveyard: The Guide to Famous Graves in LA and How to Find Them. Over the past decade, Arthur has documented famous resting places across Los Angeles, and his new physical companion guide compiles over 700 grave sites across 24 major Southern California cemeteries. Arthur walks through the process of independently publishing the full-color book, detailing how he personally revisited every site to lock in exact GPS coordinates and pair each entry with QR code virtual maps for fans visiting in person. The conversation also covers the broader projects that have grown around the channel, including community-funded efforts to place markers for unmemorialized film figures like silent Western star Bronco Billy Anderson and original Goofy voice actor Pinto Colvig. Arthur touches on hosting live music events featuring composer Giuseppe Vasapolli's original channel scores at venues like the Old Town Music Hall, his own cenotaph at Forest Lawn, and what to expect from upcoming video projects on early Hollywood studio founders. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase Hollywood Graveyard: The GuideYouTube: @HollywoodGraveyardArthur Dark on SLD Episode 94--- Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviewsIntro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West.Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

Jonathan Ames returns to the podcast to discuss his latest novel, A Past Without Pictures, which hits shelves on September 8th. He has long been one of my favorite writers, and in this episode, we chat about the book's path from Los Angeles down to the Gulf Coast of Alabama. We discuss how protagonist Maria Cole reflects the sharp, feral edge of the LA coyotes Ames sometimes sees on his walks, as well as her origin story as a quick one-line police officer in the first Happy Doll novel. Ames also opens up about the six-year path to adapting the novel Kockroach for the screen, a project recently filmed in Australia starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton, Zazie Beetz, Alec Baldwin, and Rachel Sennott. We also spend some time talking about the craft itself and how to navigate the mental noise that comes with creating. Jonathan shares how patience can serve as an antidote to creative anxiety, reminding us that showing up at the desk every day brings a grounded reward that matters far more than external timelines. If you grab the hardcover of A Past Without Pictures, you'll find a great bonus in the back—the first two chapters of the upcoming fourth Happy Doll book. Be sure to grab a copy from your local independent bookstore on release day! Thanks for listening! Kyler Episode Links: Purchase A Past Without Pictures Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. • Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

In the latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with philosophy professor Roger S. Gottlieb to discuss his latest book, Nature Spirituality and Environmental Crisis: Embracing a Sacred, Wounded Earth. The conversation explores how modern ecological destruction alters our spiritual relationship with the natural world. Gottlieb shares how we can navigate this crisis by allowing deep grief for a wounded planet to coexist with enduring gratitude, transforming our moral outrage into active, loving resistance. By looking to the quiet wisdom of trees and embracing a spiritually mature perspective, this episode provides a grounded framework for facing environmental realities without falling into despair. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase Nature Spirituality and Environmental Crisis: Embracing a Sacred, Wounded Earth

Today Kyler chats with Amanda Warren, co-founder of Bookish, about building a grassroots literary community in Salt Lake City. After returning to Utah from New York City, Amanda teamed up with her sister Whitney to launch Bookish, an initiative designed to host reading parties, cultivate connection, and promote local storytelling. She shares the story behind their popular community events, the upcoming adult summer reading pizza party at Memory Grove, and how centering gatherings around books removes the awkwardness of typical small talk. The conversation turns to the first Salt Lake Book Festival, set for October 17th at The Gateway. Partnering with the Utah Center for the Book, Warren details the massive effort behind bringing the festival to life, featuring family programming, creative panels, and dynamic DIY activations. She also previews "The Prologue"—a pre-festival rooftop kick-off at the downtown library complete with an adult spelling bee and literary cocktails. To learn more or grab tickets, visit saltlakebookfestival.org or bookishslc.com. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: SaltLakeBookFestival.orgBookish

On Episode 429 of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author, scholar, and long-time educator Richard Major to discuss his latest project, The First Guidebook to International Universities. Drawing from decades of experience teaching around the globe—and raising a family across multiple continents alongside his diplomat wife—Richard shares his perspective on why pursuing an undergraduate degree abroad is a viable option for American high school graduates. During their conversation, Kyler and Richard examine several key aspects of international education: The Cost Misconception: How tuition fees at overseas institutions often differ significantly from the rising costs of American higher education. Language Barriers: Why fluency in a foreign language isn't always required, given the growing number of international degree programs conducted entirely in English. The "Inner Journey": How living and studying in a different culture during college years shapes personal development and independence. Practical Realities: What students and families should consider regarding safety, navigating application processes, and adapting to Europe's typical three-year degree structures. The episode explores how stepping out of familiar surroundings for college can broaden a student's outlook and open up new academic pathways. PURCHASE: The First Guidebook to International Universities

I recently sat down with Witney Schneidman to discuss his memoir, This Africa Idea: A Memoir of Discovery, Diplomacy and Opportunity, which chronicles his five-decade career. Witney shared how a 1971 gap year in Uganda, where he witnessed Idi Amin’s coup d'état, inspired him to become a bridge of understanding between the U.S. and Africa. This turning point eventually led him to senior policy roles, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State during the Clinton administration. During our chat, Witney emphasized his advocacy for trade over aid, noting that commercial partnerships offer far more sustainable growth than donor models. He reflected on monitoring the Sullivan Principles in apartheid-era South Africa and helping pass the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Looking ahead, Witney continues to challenge one-dimensional narratives of Africa, urging people to see the continent as a dynamic hub of commercial and cultural agency. Great conversation, great book! Thanks for listening. Kyler --- Episode Links: Purchase This Africa IdeaWitney's Linkedin

Today I sit down with author and long-time writing professor Mark Farrington about his debut novel, Loss of Life. The book follows 41-year-old Matthew Winton, who wakes up in a Virginia hospital after a mysterious car crash with all memories past the age of 13 completely wiped out. As a writing professor himself, Matthew turns to his own fictional short stories to piece together who he was, creating a fascinating, blurred line between truth and fiction as he returns to his home state of Massachusetts to confront the ghosts of his past. Beyond the compelling premise, Mark and I talked about the personal relationship between memory, identity, and the creative process. We discussed how writing serves as an act of discovery rather than just a test of knowledge, and Mark shared invaluable, grounding advice for writers striving to balance their craft with the demands of everyday life and teaching. Great chat, great book. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Episode Links: MarkFarrington.netPurchase: Loss of Life