Back Channel Utah

Education policy does not move through a single decision-maker. It moves through a system.In Episode 7 of Back Channel, Marty Carpenter talks with Karen Peterson about what most people misunderstand about how education policy gets made in Utah, why it can feel impossible for families to navigate, and how decisions actually move when parents, school boards, districts, the State Board of Education, the Legislature, and the governor’s office all have a hand on the wheel.Karen also shares what COVID response looked like inside state government, what coalition-building in the House really requires, and why community becomes the point when the pressure is real.🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.Off Script. On Record.

Johnny Ferry is President and CEO of the Utah Manufacturers Association. Manufacturing matters more in Utah than most people realize, and Johnny breaks down why. Manufacturing is the whole process, from R&D and supply chain to quality, maintenance, delivery, and the workforce behind it. Utah’s advanced manufacturing strengths show up in aerospace and defense, and stability and predictability shape decisions across the industry. AI is part of the discussion as well, including digital twins and using better data to reduce downtime.🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.Off Script. On Record.

Utah just came through its worst winter for water in recorded history. What happens next — and who decides?Utah River Commissioner Gene Shawcroft breaks down Lake Powell’s “3,500-foot line,” the storage and infrastructure Utah relies on, and the seven-state negotiations that could reset Colorado River rules after 2026.We talk drought whiplash, why the states missed key deadlines, and what Utahns should understand about where their water comes from.🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.Off Script. On Record.

Utah is growing fast. Can our infrastructure and institutions keep up?In this episode of Back Channel, Rep. Cal Roberts breaks down how Utah politics works when you zoom in on budgets, incentives, and the unglamorous mechanics that decide what gets built and what does not.We talk gas tax politics, housing affordability, and why infrastructure is often the bottleneck.🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.Off Script. On Record.

Utah's state homeless coordinator Tyler Clancy joins Back Channel for a conversation about the experiences that shaped him before public office.From growing up in South Carolina and playing lacrosse at BYU to working in homelessness services, law enforcement, and the Utah Legislature, Episode 3 focuses on the path behind the title.🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.Off Script. On Record.

Francis Gibson joins Back Channel for a candid conversation on leadership, healthcare, public service, and personal discipline.The President and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association and former Majority Leader of the Utah House reflects on his path from Texas to BYU football, his years in legislative leadership and the personal transformation that reshaped his health and perspective.🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.Off Script. On Record.

Episode one is live.Abby Osborne, Chief of Staff for the Utah House of Representatives, joins *Back Channel* for a candid, one-on-one conversation on the people and decisions shaping the state.No scripts. No spin. Just real perspective.🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.Off Script. On Record.