Small Lake City

Homelessness in Salt Lake City gets treated like a debate, but on the street and inside shelters it’s a web of housing costs, addiction, trauma, mental health, and the gaps between systems. We sit down with AJ and Dan from Volunteers of America Utah, a 40 year nonprofit that works right at those intersections, to talk about what actually helps and what gets in the way.We unpack how VOA Utah operates far beyond “just volunteering” through paid frontline staff, therapists, social workers, and thousands of community volunteers who power meal service, mentorship, and pro bono support. Dan shares how a single volunteer shift at the Youth Resource Center flipped his perspective and eventually pulled him into nonprofit fundraising, plus why recovery often takes more than one attempt and why that’s normal, not shameful.Then we get real about the behind the scenes pressure: unstable government grants, changing Medicaid reimbursements, economic uncertainty, and the constant demand to do more while the need keeps rising. AJ explains why curiosity beats judgment, how small acts of service can rebuild community connection after COVID-era isolation, and what “showing up” looks like when you don’t have a perfect answer.If you’ve ever wanted to help with homelessness, addiction recovery, or mental health services in Utah but didn’t know where to start, this is a clear path forward. Subscribe, share this with a friend in Salt Lake Valley, and leave a review so more people can find the work being done.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A single vote in Box Elder County just set off one of the biggest Utah fights in years: a proposed mega data center campus on the northern edge of the Great Salt Lake, backed by O’Leary Digital and shepherded by MIDA. The numbers are staggering, from the sheer land footprint to an on-site natural gas plant proposed at up to 9 gigawatts, more than double Utah’s current electricity use. That’s why scientists and environmental advocates are raising the alarm about carbon emissions, water draw, and the lack of independent environmental review at a moment when the Great Salt Lake is already in crisis. We walk through what happened at the commission meeting, why residents feel blindsided, and why the speed of the process has become its own controversy. Then we take the argument seriously from the other side: the jobs and long-term tax revenue being promised, plus the framing from state leaders that AI infrastructure is now part of national security and global competition. If you’ve been wondering how data centers, energy policy, water rights, and local democracy collide, this is the clearest real-time case study Utah has seen in a long time. From there, we shift to Salt Lake City’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, including a 12.5% increase in the city property tax rate and what that does and does not mean for your total bill. We also break down where the money would go, why inflation is squeezing basics like firefighter gear and street materials, and how residents can weigh in before the council votes. We close with major City Hall news on the temporary suspension of a councilmember pending an independent investigation, plus quick hits on the Utah Mammoth, a local brewery’s Chapter 11 filing, a new Japantown mural, and Love Your Block mini grants. Subscribe, share the show with a Salt Lake friend, and leave a review.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) has lived a version of the Utah story a lot of people only whisper about: growing up Mormon, feeling out of place, and using music as the safest room in the house. We talk about what it’s like to build an identity when your faith, your family culture, and your sexuality all pull in different directions, and why “fitting in” can feel like disappearing. We also rewind the Neon Trees timeline the way it actually happened: busking and garage practice, writing songs on a mission with whatever gear was available, then moving to Provo and finding a real launchpad in the local scene. Tyler breaks down the years of regional touring, early internet momentum, and the moment the band finally got in front of the right people. We get into songwriting craft, collaboration, and why co-writing isn’t a dirty word when you’re trying to make your best work. Then the story turns personal and public. Tyler shares what it meant to be framed as “still gay but still Mormon,” what cracked during his faith crisis, and how he poured that pain into a solo record that continues to help ex-Mormon and LGBTQ listeners feel less alone. We also dig into LoveLoud Festival with Dan Reynolds, why LGBTQ support inside faith-heavy communities still matters, and why funding and corporate allyship feel tougher right now. If you care about the Utah music scene, the reality of the music industry, or the messy middle of deconstruction and healing, this one goes there. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Salt Lake City is moving fast and the headlines prove it. One week we’re celebrating a first-ever NHL playoff win on Utah ice, and the next we’re asking bigger questions about what kind of city we’re becoming and who gets to shape it.We start with a quick nod to the latest conversation with Guy and Debbie Perry of Salt Lake Running Company, because building community in Utah often starts with shared hobbies like road running and trail running. Then we jump into the week’s biggest news: the Utah Mammoth making history and why it suddenly feels like Salt Lake is turning into a real sports town, plus the uneasy spotlight on the Utah Jazz as analysts hammer home the same offseason priority: defense.The most far-reaching story is the proposed Box Elder County AI data center, billed as one of the largest AI infrastructure projects in the country. We talk through why people are pushing back, including concerns about energy demand, water use, air quality, and the pace and transparency of the approval process. From there we hit the full range of local news, including the surreal Harman’s parking garage crash, serious allegations involving a Salt Lake City Council member, and an update on charges filed in a church shooting case. We also touch on Utah cloud seeding technology tests and why water and drought conversations keep coming back.If you want a sharp, local read on Salt Lake City news, Utah politics, AI development, sports culture, and environmental questions, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about Utah, and leave a review with the headline you think matters most.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

You can buy running shoes anywhere, but you can’t buy real guidance, community, and confidence from a dropdown menu.We’re joined by the people behind Salt Lake Running Company, a Salt Lake City run specialty store that’s spent decades proving a simple point: service still wins. We talk about what it’s like to “wake up and go to work” for 30 years, why focus matters when everyone tells you your niche won’t work, and how a local business becomes a beacon for newcomers who want to run, hike, walk, or train for their first half marathon. Along the way we get practical about shoe fitting, gait and comfort clues, and how the right pair can change your entire relationship with running.We also dig into what makes the running community in Utah feel different, from run clubs and local events to the way outdoor culture shapes fitness. You’ll hear how SLRC thinks about hybrid athletes, cross-training, strength work, and sustainable habits that keep you moving for life. The bigger theme is movement as a tool for wellness, mental health, and resilience, including stories of giving back through nonprofits and programs that support recovery.If you’ve ever said “I’m not a runner,” but still want to feel better in your body, this one’s for you. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend who needs a nudge to move, and leave a review with your favorite running win so others can find the show.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Utah can feel like it’s changing by the hour, and this Tuesday update is a quick tour through the stories that reveal what’s really behind that momentum. We start with the AI shift that’s changing how people search for answers and how businesses get discovered, then move straight into the bigger theme I can’t stop noticing: growth that comes with real friction. When Utah talks about becoming a major data center hub, it’s not just a tech story. It’s a water story. It’s an energy story. It’s a question about what an arid place can sustainably support.From there, we get into a tense run of political headlines, including investigations, allegations of fraud, and the broader feeling that power and influence are part of the subtext. We also talk about the DHS property deal in Salt Lake that moves an ICE detention facility forward, plus a detail that hits close to home for neighbors: federal ownership can be tax exempt, which may shift property tax pressure onto surrounding owners. That kind of ripple effect is what makes local news feel personal fast.We lighten the load with stories that still matter: UVU dropping its commencement speaker, Utah tightening e-bike laws as riders get faster and bikes get more powerful, and the harsh reality of scams taking millions from Utahns, especially romance scams amplified by the modern internet. Then we end with the mix that makes Salt Lake City feel like Salt Lake: a new poet laureate, moose struggling with ticks as winters warm, Clean Air Act SLC trade-in vouchers for electric lawn gear, patios coming back, and Salt and Straw landing at Trolley Square. Subscribe for more local reporting and conversations, share this update with a friend, and leave a quick review telling us which story you want us to dig into next.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Google trained all of us to hunt through links. AI is training your customers to ask one question and take one recommendation. That shift is already changing who gets the call, who gets the booking, and who gets ignored even with a beautiful website.We sit down with Dustin, founder of Found For AI, to unpack what “AI search optimization” actually looks like on the ground for local businesses and service providers. He explains how he stumbled into a surprising growth signal: people were finding his company through ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini referrals after he added an AI visibility layer to his site. From there we get practical and specific about structured data, schema markup, and why telling the robots exactly who you are, what you do, where you operate, and what you offer can beat vague copy and pretty branding when the model is choosing who to recommend.Then we go bigger. We talk AI agents, the “we’re all going to be Oprah” future where software handles planning and purchasing based on preferences, and what that means for restaurants, events, venues, and anyone who depends on being discovered. If your site can’t clearly communicate options like location, pricing, or event details in machine readable form, the agent may pass you up without a second thought. We also get into how to embrace generative AI as a copilot without producing soulless output, and why this moment rewards the expert generalist and the fast moving entrepreneur.If you want the DIY steps, grab Dustin’s free playbook at foundforai.com/playbook. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who still thinks SEO is the whole story, and leave a review with the biggest way AI has already changed how you search.More info here: https://foundforai.comHave a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Salt Lake City can feel calm right up until it suddenly is not, and this Tuesday update is proof. We bounce from serious stakes to absurd little moments without losing the thread: what’s happening in town, why it matters, and what it says about the kind of community we’re building.We start with the Great Salt Lake, where the Miller, Marriott, and Magalit families just committed $30 million toward restoration. It’s a massive gesture, and it also raises the real question: what does it take beyond big checks to keep the lake recoverable and avoid toxic dust storms? From there, we hit the hyper-local wins, like Pothole Palooza filling thousands of potholes in a week, and the debates, like the Red West Music Festival returning after last year’s severe weather, evacuation, and tragedy.Then the grab bag of Salt Lake headlines shows up in full force: Utah landing in the measles spotlight, box elder bugs doing their annual home invasion, and Utah State researchers trying to turn hagfish slime into a silk-like plastic alternative that is either the future of sustainability or the grossest pitch ever. We also talk about the city shutting down a seven-story hotel proposal above Sugarhouse Park, and what it reveals about how growth and nostalgia collide here.Finally, we sit with a hard goodbye: the Utah Grizzlies playing their last game in Utah after 30 years, and what “affordable hockey” meant to the people who showed up anyway. I also share a quick note on Dirtylicious Dance Fitness closing after seven years, plus a look ahead to my upcoming conversation with Dustin Crump about AI in a realistic, actually-useful way for business.If you like smart local news, Salt Lake City culture, and honest takes on what’s changing, follow the show, share this update with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find it.Run Club: https://partiful.com/e/f8et8wrlCiK3u4QoDHu3?c=wFAe6TXLDinner Club: https://partiful.com/e/8OWBe1XLO3axg2abKdP6?c=yS5sEP7XCowgirl(boy) Boots at HK: https://www.hisawyer.com/salt-lake-pottery-studio/schedules/activity-set/1845482?day=2026-04-30&view=cal&source=semestersBook Club: https://partiful.com/e/2FagCDxZpyHmrs1pfFI1?c=rseWI5R8Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Shakespeare is supposed to be electric, so why does it so often feel like homework? We start there, swapping stories about live theater, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and why great acting can beat big sets every time. Then the conversation takes a hard left in the best way: I hand the mic to Tyson and let him interview me about the parts of my story that listeners keep asking for.We talk about growing up in Salt Lake City, bouncing between friend groups, and how rollerblading and a family divorce shaped the “rebel without a cause” energy that later turned into real curiosity. From missions and Spanish to the ex-Mormon shelf breaking in college, we get honest about faith crisis, therapy, and what it takes to leave the LDS Church without letting bitterness run your life. If you’re searching for conversations about leaving Mormonism, identity shifts, and rebuilding relationships with family, this one goes there.Career reinvention threads through everything: Seattle as a clean break, the prestige and pressure of investment banking, getting fired, and how an ADHD diagnosis finally explains years of stress and struggle. We also talk about grief, losing a colleague, and why loss makes you question what “success” even means. From six months of van life across 36 states to divorce and starting the podcast, the big theme is simple: authenticity beats performance, and community beats networking.If this hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s at a crossroads, and leave a review with the inflection point that changed your life.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A drying lake can feel like a distant problem until it starts changing where families imagine their future. This Tuesday update connects the latest Great Salt Lake developments to the real-life stakes people talk about at the dinner table: air quality, dust, long-term health risks, and the question of whether Utah still feels like a safe place to raise kids.We get into a new deal that puts more conserved water back into the Great Salt Lake and why incremental wins might matter more than they look on paper. Then we talk about the big, messy politics hovering over it all, including a proposed billion dollars in federal funding and why so many locals are stuck in “believe it when we see it” mode. If you care about Great Salt Lake restoration, water conservation, and what accountability should look like, this one is for you.Health headlines hit just as hard. Measles cases are surging, with exposure sites stretching from the University of Utah to everyday stops like grocery stores and schools. At the same time, we unpack a study showing Utah air has improved over the last couple decades in some measures while carbon emissions haven’t budged the way they need to. It’s progress and unfinished work sitting side by side.We close with what Salt Lake City feels like right now: KRCL building a west-side community space, spring events waking the city up, James Beard recognition for local chefs, and also the losses that sting, like Doki Doki closing and the end of the Salt Lake School District adult education program. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review if these local updates help you stay grounded. What story should we dig deeper into next?Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A warehouse on Salt Lake’s west side could soon hold the population of a small city, and local leaders may have almost no power to slow it down. That’s where we start this Tuesday update, because the proposed ICE mega center isn’t just another headline, it’s a test of who gets a say in Salt Lake City’s future and what tools the city can actually use when federal decisions land in our backyard.From there we move through the stories Salt Lakers are already arguing about at dinner tables and in group chats: Utah’s new requirement to incorporate Bible passages into public school social studies starting in third grade, the fragile status of the Prop 4 redistricting repeal effort after voters pull signatures, and the sheer scale of UDOT construction turning daily commutes into an obstacle course. I also dig into why the city’s new water restrictions on large developments matter right now, especially when big projects bring big resource demands.We end with the parts of Salt Lake that feel uniquely Salt Lake: Pioneer Park getting a long-needed overhaul, a childcare pivot that keeps county-run centers open for families who need them most, and early questions around Project Bridge and the state’s homelessness strategy. Plus, a must-see art installation at Memory Grove Park that pairs light, sound, and the reality of the Great Salt Lake shrinking in real time, a quick hit of culture with local theater and new museums, and a heads-up on how the Salt Lake Temple open house in 2027 could reshape downtown logistics.If you care about Salt Lake City news, local politics, public schools, transit, housing, and the Great Salt Lake, hit play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

You’ve probably seen it too: hydration powders with massive sodium, “greens” packed with mystery blends, and ads that imply you need three different supplements before lunch. We sit down with Shannon O’Grady, CEO of Gnarly Nutrition and a PhD-trained nutrition scientist, to get a straight answer on what actually works in sports nutrition and what’s mostly just expensive storytelling.We dig into the current electrolyte craze, why most people don’t need daily electrolytes for a normal workout, and how to think about sodium without getting swept up by trends. Shannon breaks down creatine as one of the most researched supplements on the planet, what it’s good for, and where the cognition claims can get overblown. We also talk about the supplement industry problems that frustrate educated consumers: proprietary blends, “fairy dust” dosages, and labels designed to look scientific while staying impossible to verify.Then we go deeper on trust and safety: GMP compliance, NSF-style third-party auditing, contaminant testing, and banned-substance screening for athletes and regular people who simply don’t want sketchy ingredients in their routine. Along the way, Shannon shares her own path from endurance sports and research to leading a brand, plus why jiu-jitsu has become her favorite teacher of resilience and calm under pressure.If you care about clean ingredients, transparent labels, and evidence-based supplements you can actually trust, this one will sharpen your filter fast. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s drowning in supplement ads, and leave a review with the one product claim you want us to fact-check next.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A bachelorette season vanishes three days before it airs. A Utah murder case ends with a fast jury decision. People are reportedly seen in handcuffs at the Salt Lake City airport. If you felt like Utah hit the national feed on every app at once, you’re not imagining it, and we sort through what actually happened and why it matters.We start with the Kouri Richins verdict, a major Utah court story that has pulled in true-crime attention far beyond the state. We talk through what the jury decided, what comes next with sentencing, and why this case feels so specifically Utah even if you can’t quite put it into words. Then we dig into the Taylor Frankie Paul situation, from MomTok fame to a finished season of The Bachelorette getting pulled after footage from a past domestic violence incident resurfaced. It’s messy, it’s human, and it forces a real conversation about what networks will overlook until the optics shift.From there, we hit the week’s fast-moving Salt Lake City news: reports tied to an ICE detention facility and possible deportation flights, BYU backing off an honor code hair requirement for an Indigenous student’s traditional braids, ski season closing dates, and a huge downtown development move as Western Governors University buys property tied to the Sheraton Hotel closure. We also talk about new arts infrastructure in South Jordan, a Granary District park proposal that carries complicated history, the latest on Utah’s congressional map fight after Prop 4, and Netflix dropping yet another Utah polygamy abuse documentary.If you like sharp, local reporting with the bigger cultural picture, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What story from this week do you want us to dig into next?Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A neon green building with purple doors shouldn’t feel terrifying, but for years Salt Lake City drivers couldn’t shake the same question: why does a “working daycare” look abandoned, silent, and sealed off from the world? Fun Time Kidz Kare at 1248 South 300 East became a piece of modern Utah folklore because locals claimed they never saw a single child walk through its doors. That one observation was enough to turn a commute time curiosity into a viral internet mystery.We follow the moment the story catches fire on Reddit in 2015, then spreads into a full scale online investigation: a suspiciously slapped together daycare website, a near identical cloned site in another state, phone calls that end in hang ups, and eerie anecdotes like a mail carrier insisting the kids are always “napping.” As the crowd sourced sleuthing ramps up, so do the theories, from cartel front to CIA safehouse to trafficking ring. Even mundane details get weaponized, including licensing citations and a bizarre discovery in import records showing 8,818 pounds of plastic jewelry shipped to the daycare, a clue the internet tries to bend into something far darker.Then the story collides with real life. Threads get deleted for witch hunting, a “Storm Fun Time Kidz Kare” raid event gains traction, police issue warnings, and the people connected to the property report repeated harassment and break in attempts. Finally, officials and local reporting offer a grounded explanation that flips the scariest details on their head, including why the windows might be covered and why only a few children are ever seen.If you’re into true crime adjacent mysteries, internet culture, urban legends, and Salt Lake City history, this deep dive will change how you think about “creepy places” and the stories we build around them. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who loves local lore, and leave a review with your theory: what detail convinced you most along the way?Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A good life in art rarely follows a straight line. We sit down with fine artist Howard Lyon—whose work spans Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and the worlds of Brandon Sanderson—to trace a path that runs from a tech-filled childhood in Mesa to global conventions, cathedral-quiet studios, and a thriving creative home in Utah.Howard unpacks the moment tabletop fantasy turned from hobby to compass, and how video games quietly trained him for a painter’s life: mastering color, texture, and collaboration while learning to deliver on deadlines. He shares the Venn diagram that guides his career—where passion meets market need—and the two jaw-dropping calls he turned down: art directing Diablo 3 and joining early League of Legends. Those no’s weren’t about ego; they were declarations for oils, story, and the long game.We dive into how Magic changed everything. Unlike hyper-specific RPG scenes, card art builds personal bonds through play, creating a rich secondary market of prints, signatures, and playmats that pays forward for years. Hear the backstory of Harmless Offering, why Death’s Shadow won’t stop resurfacing, and what happens when you sign cards in Tokyo, London, and Rome for the same smiling superfans. That credibility led to collaborations with Brandon Sanderson, whose visual, empathetic storytelling cultivates a fanbase as generous as it is passionate.Why Utah? Howard explains the secret sauce: world-class painters, open studios, and a refreshingly uncompetitive culture that lifts everyone. We explore a shifting art market—Western staples endure while fantasy rises with the Star Wars and Pokémon generations—and why museums like George Lucas’s story-focused collection will anchor that future. Along the way: travel-fueled plein air trips, baking bread as a healthy non-monetized hobby, and a simple rule for creatives everywhere—show up, be ready, and keep choosing work that keeps you alive.If this story sparked something, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review—then tell us the bold no that made room for your best yes.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Headlines don’t always line up neatly, but this week in Utah they traced a clear arc from climate reality to civic choices and the culture that holds us together. We start with Salt Lake City’s warmest winter in roughly 150 years—February feeling like April, snow arriving late, and avalanche risk spiking after dry spells. That weather whiplash sets the stage for a bigger question: how do we adapt our habits, from trail days to travel plans, when the baseline keeps shifting?From there we head downtown, where the city broke ground on an $18–20 million redesign of Pioneer Park. We talk through why simple amenities like pickleball courts, a pavilion, and more trees can change who shows up and when—and why activation, upkeep, and services matter as much as concrete. At the Capitol, lawmakers unveiled a budget that stacks nearly a billion dollars in new spending on the state’s $31 billion plan, pointing to tax cuts, raises for state employees, homelessness funding, and prison expansion as late-session priorities to watch.Public trust threads through the rest of the hour. Defense attorneys say ICE is making arrests inside courthouses without notice, raising concerns that victims and witnesses may stay home. Salt Lake County health officials confirm measles is spreading locally, including exposure at Highland High, and push the basics: get vaccinated and stay home if sick. On the culture side, we reflect on the death of Robert Cosby Jr., which reopened hard conversations about addiction and the support systems people actually find here.We also look south to Arches National Park as it drops timed entry for the first time in four years. Easier access will thrill some and worry others who remember gridlock; the real solution will live in shuttles, better information, and patient trail etiquette. To round it out, SLC International ranks among the most on-time airports while staying one of the most expensive places to fly from, and a new report places Utah near the bottom for women’s overall well-being—data that sparked debate about what progress looks like beyond safety and healthcare.Along the way we shout out our chat with Momentum Climbing’s Brendan Nicholson and tease a vault episode with artist Howard Lyon, whose work bridges fine art, faith, and pop culture from Magic: The Gathering to bestselling novels. If you value smart local coverage with heart, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review—what story should we dig into next?Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

What happens when a lifelong climber with an artist’s eye and a designer’s brain gets the keys to build the gyms he always wished existed? We sit down with Momentum Climbing’s creative director, Brendan Nicholson, to chart the leap from medical illustration to route setting and full-scale wall architecture—and why a great climb should feel like a choreographed dance you can’t wait to repeat.Brendan pulls back the curtain on how routes are crafted for flow, safety, and satisfaction. He explains the three dials that shape difficulty—wall angle, hold size, and distance—then shows how observation and iteration keep problems fair, challenging, and fun. We revisit the 48-hour redesign that transformed Momentum Millcreek, follow the ground-up build in Lehi, and explore the bold push into Texas, where an indoor-first culture is raising the bar for training and could spark the next generation of champions.We also unpack Momentum’s micro gym model at Trolley Square: compact footprints with excellent route setting, smart LED walls for dense variety, real strength and cardio zones, and thoughtful recovery with sauna and cold plunge. It’s a distilled version of the big-box climbing gym designed to fit into daily life, turning short sessions into full practices and communities into hubs of problem solving, coaching, and connection.From American Fork’s role in sport climbing history to Salt Lake City’s rise as a national competition hub, this conversation blends local roots with national momentum. Whether you’re a first-timer, a focused boulderer, or a routesetter at heart, you’ll leave with a sharper eye for design and a deeper appreciation for the people who shape the climbs we love.If this conversation sparked ideas or sends you hunting a new project, tap follow, share it with your crew, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more climbers find us and keeps these stories on the wall.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

The week hit hard: reports of a gunman targeting Imam Shuab Din, a fresh wave of controversy over Prop 4 signatures, and courts signaling the redistricting fight is nearly done. Add a new constitutional court fast-tracking hot-button cases, measles exposures popping up locally, a 3.5 quake near Magna, and avalanche danger rising with new storms, and you can feel the ground of civic life and literal earth shifting at once. We pull those threads together without panic and ask the only question that matters: what kind of place are we becoming?Then we pivot to joy and design. I sit down with Brendan Nicholson, the creative director at Momentum Climbing, the mind behind the problems that humble you on Tuesday and make you feel like a hero on Saturday. Brendan breaks down how route setting blends geometry, storytelling, and risk to serve every climber in the gym—beginners learning body tension on V2s, veterans solving dynamic sequences on steeps, and everyone chasing that quiet moment of flow. We get into the details: how hold selection shapes movement, why forced beta usually backfires, what makes a comp-worthy boulder exciting instead of gimmicky, and how community feedback loops keep a gym vibrant.Throughout, we connect city-scale themes to gym-scale craft. Trust erodes fast when signatures go sideways; trust builds slowly when problems are fair and repeatable. Policy choices rewire institutions; route choices rewire how people move, meet, and belong. As storms line up and headlines crowd the feed, this conversation offers a reset—proof that thoughtful design can turn friction into progress and strangers into partners on the mat. If you care about Salt Lake’s identity, or just love a good send, you’ll find a lot to hold onto here.If the show resonates, follow, rate, and share with a friend who needs both the context and the stoke. What problem—on the wall or in the city—are you working on this week?Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

What happens when a fifth-generation ranch kid earns a PhD in molecular biology and decides to rebuild the bridge between land and table? We sit down with Keven Johnson to unpack how a century-old Wyoming ranch now feeds Utah families and top restaurants through a modern, transparent, and surprisingly intimate supply chain.Keven grew up branding calves and rolling hay near Lusk, Wyoming, then dove deep into lab life, grants, and postdoc work. Along the way, he noticed what most of us miss: the farther we get from our food, the more we lose in flavor, nutrition, and trust. After his family’s ranch earned a centennial recognition, he felt a responsibility to carry it forward—e-commerce, farmers markets, and direct-to-consumer beef that tells you exactly where it came from. His dry-aged steaks and ground beef quickly earned a following, from Wheeler Farm regulars who text orders to chefs who judged the product by taste, texture, and consistency.Scaling real beef takes patience and planning. Keven explains the 18–24 month timeline behind every pound, the careful balance between restaurant sourcing and market customers, and the choice to grow without compromising quality. We get into big ag versus small ranching, why minimal processing matters, and how dry aging transforms flavor. Then, a curveball rooted in both tradition and science: beef tallow. Keven leveraged his lab background to create cooking fats, balms, soaps, and more, tapping tallow’s skin-compatible lipids for products that feel as good as they perform.This conversation is a blueprint for anyone curious about local food, farm-to-table sourcing, and sustainable growth without the buzzwords. If you’ve wondered whether you can taste the difference when you shorten the food chain, this is your sign to find out. Subscribe, share this story with a friend who loves great steak, and leave a review with your favorite cut—we might help you discover a new one.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A hard choice came first: I pulled a planned conversation after learning about alleged misconduct tied to the guest. That accountability moment set the tone for a brisk, honest tour through a week when Salt Lake City felt alive in every direction—tremors underfoot, signatures under scrutiny, bills moving from talk to consequence, and a long-overdue storm finally pointing our way.We start with the Magna-area quake and what geologists say it does—and doesn’t—mean for the Wasatch Fault. From there, we dig into the Prop 4 repeal effort and the growing reports of people finding their names on petitions they don’t remember signing. I share the exact tool to search and remove your name and why petition accuracy is about more than politics; it’s about trust in redistricting, fair maps, and the systems that shape representation across Utah.Mid-session at the Capitol, energy turns into outcomes: renewed Great Salt Lake funding debates, a tug-of-war over street control between the state and the city, and social policy fights that move from committee rooms into family conversations. On the street level, there’s bright news too: snow returning after a warm stretch, Ava reopening on Main as a small but vital win for local dining, Westminster’s castle-like residence hitting the market, and the aquarium’s expansion quietly pushing us into top-five territory nationwide. It’s the kind of week that reminds us how infrastructure, culture, and civic life braid together.We close with a preview I’m thrilled about: Kevin Johnson, a PhD biologist turned Wyoming rancher whose beef shows up on some of your favorite Salt Lake menus. It’s a ranch-to-table story built on soil science, genetics, grazing practice, and a deep respect for local food systems. If you care about what’s on your plate and how it gets there, you’ll want to hear where science meets flavor.Tap play, stay curious, and if this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more neighbors find thoughtful local news, policy context, and food stories that actually matter.www.Burrn.org <= Check to see if your name is included in signatures to repeal prop 4Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Ever wonder how a single week can reveal what a city wants to become? We unpack a fast-moving stretch for Salt Lake—where your dinner plate, your commute, and your sense of home all tie back to choices on the hill and stories on the ground. We start with a challenge to the “who cooks Sysco best” mindset by spotlighting Moonshadow Farms and its CSA model, a simple way to get seasonal produce delivered to your door while keeping dollars and flavor local. That everyday act of eating becomes a lens for bigger questions: who we support, what we value, and how we hold onto place in a changing market.From there, we track the pulse of the legislative session. The Great Salt Lake takes center stage as lawmakers consider serious funding and new water paths to rebuild the lake’s levels. Recent moves add real water back, yet the shortfall remains steep—proof that incremental wins matter but won’t carry us alone. Social policy also shapes the mood, with gender-affirming care proposals testing how we show up for one another. And a bill that could shift control of Salt Lake City street design raises deeper questions about safety, mobility, and who decides what our roads are for.Life at ground level keeps humming. We look at unusual winter weather, a nudge from Solitude to keep skiers engaged, and a promising plan to convert the old downtown police building into nearly 200 affordable units. Local pride pops as a Food Network favorite returns and a Park City reality series leans into our Olympic DNA. Then we pivot to craft and identity with our upcoming guest, Winnie the Drew, a tattoo artist whose journey and style have drawn attention far beyond Utah. His story reminds us that culture is built by hands and choices, not slogans. If you care about where Salt Lake is headed—ecologically, politically, creatively—this update connects the dots between policy and personal life, between water levels and dinner tables, between street lines and storylines.Join us, share it with a friend who cares about this place, and leave a quick review so more locals can find the show. Subscribe for weekly updates that keep you close to the decisions shaping our city.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

What if your favorite restaurant’s best dish started as a quiet decision at dawn—harvest now, while the sugars are high? We sit down with Andrea Morgan, the farmer behind Moonshadow in Hoytsville, to explore the winding path from ballet shoes to biodynamic soil, from student activist saving UBC’s farm to Utah landowner supplying kitchens like Urban Hill and High West. Her story pulls you into the real engine of “farm to table”: relationships, timing, and the stubborn will to grow food that tastes like the place it’s from.Andrea opens up about the years she spent learning on diversified farms across British Columbia, the business reality of small market gardens, and the craft of serving chefs who write menus around the field. Then everything changes—a devastating road cycling crash and traumatic brain injury force her to rebuild reading, balance, and memory. The farm becomes therapy: hours of weeding, crew support, and the slow return of rhythm. A sabbatical follows, then a surprise chance to buy the historic Ranui property. With grit, settlement funds, and a vision for soil, Ranui’s “abundant sunshine” evolves into Moonshadow—a new chapter rooted in biodynamics, stewardship, and flavor.We dig into practical takeaways you can use tonight. Learn how to ask better sourcing questions at restaurants, why terroir makes greens and carrots taste unmistakably local, and how CSAs give farms winter cash flow while giving you peak-season produce all summer. Get names of Utah restaurants that truly partner with growers, hear what’s in season and why, and discover how organic practices—certified or not—protect water, soil, and our bodies.Hungry for food that tastes like where you live? Hit play, then share this with a friend who loves great meals. Subscribe, leave a review so others can find the show, and if you’re ready to back local agriculture, join a CSA and tell us what you cooked first.Moonshadow Farm Webite and CSA: http://www.moonshadowutah.comHave a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Local stories rarely arrive one at a time, and this week proves it. We kick off with a new narrative series exploring Salt Lake lore through the Billboard Queen, Julia Reagan—how one woman’s image turned into a citywide mirror for grief, money, curiosity, and the power of attention. The tale blends mystery with media mechanics and shows how public fascination can pull private lives into the spotlight, lawsuits and all.From there, we switch gears to community energy you can feel: Post Malone and Jelly Roll just announced a tour finale in Salt Lake City, and we’re lining up a ticket giveaway to celebrate. It’s the kind of hometown moment that turns a national tour into a local victory lap, reminding us why ease of access, passionate crowds, and a growing creative scene keep SLC on the map. Meanwhile, the internet is buzzing with new Epstein document chatter touching Utah‑adjacent names and institutions. We walk through what’s claimed, what’s verified, and how to navigate the space between rumor and reality without losing curiosity or accountability.Culture takes another turn as Sundance signals its exit from Utah. Some see a loss of a defining pillar; others see breathing room to build a film culture that serves locals year‑round. We compare the Park City advantage to Boulder’s logistics and consider whether history will repeat like Outdoor Retailer. At the Capitol, Speaker Mike Schultz’s push to tilt the sentencing commission toward more law enforcement voices sparks a debate over balance and outcomes, while immigration protests downtown underline how national issues land on local streets. We also unpack why the Prop 4 repeal effort is stalling and what sustained support for independent redistricting says about voters’ appetite for fairness over party control.To close, we preview our upcoming conversation with Andrea Morgan of Moonshadow Farm, whose journey from Park City to farms across North America and back home shows how thoughtful agriculture can root community in a shifting cultural landscape. If you care about how a city defines itself—through art, policy, protests, and food—you’ll feel right at home here. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and drop a review so more Utahns can find us.Juliea Reagan Deep DiveHave a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A single image. A simple line. And then that face was everywhere. We dig into the story of Julia Reagan—how a quiet memorial spread across Utah and into multiple states, why it captured national attention, and what it reveals about the collision of grief, power, and public narrative. Julia wasn’t a celebrity or a politician. She was the wife of Bill Reagan, whose company, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, shapes skylines across the West. When hundreds of memorial billboards appeared with no URL, no ask, and no context, curiosity filled the vacuum. Drivers posted, the algorithm amplified, and a personal loss turned into a cultural moment.We walk through the reported timeline of Julia’s health challenges, her admission to University of Utah Hospital, and the wrongful death lawsuit that alleges preventable failures—claims that remain unproven and will be decided in court. Once that lawsuit surfaced, the billboards read differently. Was this pure remembrance, or did visibility also serve to shape public sentiment and apply pressure to one of Utah’s most powerful institutions? We unpack how minimal creative, massive reach, and yearly recurrence around Memorial Day can transform memorialization into ritual—and ritual into influence.This is a Utah story with national stakes, where a family’s mourning meets the mechanics of media. Two things can be true: a husband can honor his wife on the largest canvas he knows, and he can understand exactly how attention moves hearts, headlines, and history. Hear the facts, consider the strategy, and decide for yourself: were those billboards love, leverage, or both? If this deep dive challenged your assumptions, subscribe, share with a friend, and drop your take—we want to hear where you land.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A week of Utah headlines rarely lands with this much force. Downtown protests over the killing of Alex Pretti brought thousands into the streets and sent a charge through the Wasatch Front, while Sundance wrestled with the pressure of politics, safety, and a looming move to Colorado. We unpack the stories behind the scroll: how a rumor about an ICE detention facility erupted and was shut down by the owners, why Park City’s Marquee venue suddenly canceled all Sundance screenings over fire and safety issues, and what it takes to keep a festival running when compliance falters.We also head to the Capitol, where the legislative sprint puts housing, zoning reform, and homelessness front and center. The governor’s call to avoid becoming a state of renters meets the budget reality of classrooms, with pushback brewing over proposed cuts to early literacy software. Layered on top is a slower, high-stakes fight: the push to repeal Proposition 4, the voter-approved independent redistricting initiative, as organizers struggle to meet signature targets. These decisions won’t just shape headlines; they’ll set the terms for rents, schools, and representation across Utah.Not everything is heavy. Dinofest at the Natural History Museum offered a joyful reset, and The Lake documentary at Sundance sharpened public focus on the fate of the Great Salt Lake—where water policy, dust risk, and economic health collide. We also launch our new weekly segment, Great Salt Takes, to connect the dots across culture, politics, and community, and we preview a new format drop: a focused profile on the so-called Queen of Salt Lake, Julia Reagan, digging into her ubiquitous billboards and the lawsuit connected to the University of Utah.If this kind of clear, local context helps you navigate the noise, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more Utahns can find it. And sign up for the Small Lake City newsletter at smalllakepod.com to stay ahead of the next wave of stories.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Reinvention isn’t always a straight line. Natalie Parkin grew up sweeping hair in her mom’s salon, built a high-performing career in IT and telecom sales, then bought a beauty school and discovered a larger mission: empower people—especially women—to build flexible, credible careers in aesthetics. What started as a business opportunity became a commitment to advocacy, education, and client safety in one of the most dynamic markets in the country.We dive into how technology quietly powers modern skincare—from alexandrite and YAG lasers to microcurrent and galvanic—while still honoring the human side of care. Natalie explains why communication skills, service consistency, and trust turn services like waxing into stable, lucrative books of business. She also shares why she rejects non-competes and asks employers to earn loyalty instead of enforcing it. In a state with a high concentration of med spas and aesthetics-only schools, that mindset matters.Policy threads through everything here. Natalie breaks down Utah’s shift to a single 1200-hour master aesthetics license, the expansion of a standalone lash license to 270 hours, and what these decisions mean for students, employers, and outcomes. We talk Pell Grants, accreditation, and the push to ensure part-time, female-majority professions aren’t undervalued in federal data. Her advocacy has real wins—from halting harmful bills to ensuring trade schools aren’t left out when support is allocated.If you’re curious about how careers in aesthetics really work, why Utah leads in advanced skincare education, or how advocacy shapes the services you book, this conversation delivers a grounded, hopeful view. We wrap with practical skincare wisdom—wear sunscreen, moisturize, and start prevention early—and an open invite to visit the Skinworks clinic to see training and care in action.Enjoy the episode, then share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a quick review so others can find stories like Natalie’s. Your support helps us keep spotlighting the people shaping Salt Lake’s creative, caring economy.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Salt Lake thrives on people who build with heart, and this week we spotlight two of them. We share why Rocksteady Body Works—launched by Jeff Roche and Jessa Munion—caught our attention, blending Pilates, bodywork, and teacher training into a space that helps locals move better, recover smarter, and even pursue a path into teaching. Their backstories and their commitment to Utah’s growth make this more than a fitness plug; it’s a portrait of how community-first businesses shape the city’s culture.We also catch you up on recent energy across the valley: thanks to everyone who jumped into the Utah Men’s Basketball and Kilby Block Party giveaways. There’s more on the horizon, and while we can’t announce the next events just yet, the planning is in full swing with partners who care about local music, sport, and small business. If you want the earliest heads-up, Instagram is the fastest way to follow along with surprise drops, ticket alerts, and guest teases. For a cleaner, noise-free plan, our newsletter lays out the next two weeks of what’s worth your time in Salt Lake—so you can skip the scroll and go straight to the good stuff.A quick personal note: Eric is sneaking off to Hawaii for a sun break, but the release cadence stays solid. Expect a new episode this weekend and next. Guest selection is in motion, and we’re taking your suggestions seriously—founders, artists, athletes, and neighbors who deserve a mic. If you care about health, recovery, and the stories behind the city’s most interesting people, this update is your roadmap to stay plugged in without the overwhelm.Follow on Instagram for real-time updates and subscribe to the newsletter for curated picks across Salt Lake. If you enjoyed the show, share it with a friend and leave a quick review—it helps more locals find the stories that keep our city moving.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A phone call during 9/11. A train ride west. A splitboard cut by hand and a whiteboard full of climbs. That’s the unlikely path that led Jessa Munion and Jeff Roche to build Rocksteady Body Works, a place where movement isn’t a trend—it’s medicine—and wellness is a practice you live, not a product you buy.We trace Jessa’s pivot from DC consulting to yoga leadership in Park City, and the moment she chose massage therapy to deepen the work from the mat to the nervous system. Jeff brings the alpine lens: route finding, consequence, and clean decision-making born in the mountains, then applied to spreadsheets, space design, and a team culture that actually breathes. Together, they turned a hidden Holladay corner into a provider-first studio, blending deep tissue manual therapy, precision Pilates, and hands-on education that turns practitioners into mentors and clients into strong, self-aware movers.The story widens from studio walls to valley-wide stewardship. We dig into the Great Salt Lake as a complex system demanding value-chain thinking and impact networks, not quick fixes. We personify the lake to change the tone—from talking points to responsibility—and lay out why material action beats marginal gestures. Then we tackle the Little Cottonwood gondola debate with a simple premise: it’s a flow problem. We sketch a people-first alternative—dynamic lanes, bus-priority corridors, and distributed transit hubs—that scales access without scarring an iconic canyon or sinking public funds into a 45-minute ride most won’t take.What emerges is a blueprint you can feel. Craft over shortcuts. Mentorship over noise. Culture over slogans. If you care about building a resilient body, a stronger community, and a smarter city, this conversation will meet you where you move—and push you a step further.If this resonated, follow the journey, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more people find thoughtful, locally rooted conversations like this one. Subscribe for more stories at the intersection of movement, mentorship, and the mountains we love.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

The calendar turned and our city feels wide open again. We’re back from a December reset with clear eyes, a full slate, and a promise to feature the people who make the Wasatch Front feel like home. Season Two kicks off with a story where hospitality meets service: the Grand Hyatt at Deer Valley dedicates 25% of its rooms to military members, an initiative rooted in Utah’s Olympic-era promise to protect military recreation access. We sit down with GM Nate Hardesty and program lead Kristin Kenny Williams to unpack how the policy works, why it matters, and what it looks like when logistics and dignity align.From the Mayflower side above Jordanelle, this new property isn’t just another luxury build. Nate shares how a hotel integrates with a mountain community without losing its soul, while Kristin walks us through the nuts and bolts of making stays affordable and available to those who serve. It’s a rare look at access done right: less slogan, more system. We connect the dots between legacy decisions from 2002 and today’s on-the-ground benefits for military families who want to ski, gather, and breathe mountain air without barriers.We also preview what’s next: Jeff and Jessa, the founders of Rocksteady Body Works, bring a different kind of impact through Pilates, bodywork, and a studio culture anchored in care. Their journey to Salt Lake, their partnership, and their approach to movement show how small studios can strengthen a neighborhood’s health, routine, and sense of belonging. Along the way we celebrate recent community giveaways, spotlight upcoming prizes, and invite you to stay plugged in as more local stories roll out.If you’re here for thoughtful conversations about place, service, and the people who keep this city moving, you’ll feel right at home. Tap follow, share the show with a friend who loves Utah, and leave a review telling us which local builders we should feature next.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A luxury mountain resort that actually lowers the cost of family time for those who serve—this is the story unfolding at Deer Valley’s East Village. We sit down with Kristen Kenney Williams of MIDA and Grand Hyatt GM Nate Hardesty to unpack how a first-of-its-kind partnership guarantees 100 rooms at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley for eligible military guests at heavily discounted rates, alongside up to 75% off Deer Valley lift tickets with no blackout dates. The result is more than a nice perk; it’s a new model for making restoration, adventure, and connection possible without hidden costs.We trace the roots back to Utah’s 2002 Olympics and the creation of MIDA, then follow the thread through Extell’s master plan, Deer Valley’s bold terrain expansion, and Hyatt’s decision to anchor a flagship at a true four-season gateway. Nate shares why the hotel’s unusually large meeting and event spaces have become an instant hit, how the team keeps restaurants appealing for locals year-round, and why the property’s proximity to SLC International changes the guest experience. Kristen explains eligibility, booking tiers, and the dedicated concierge support that helps military families get the most from every stay.The conversation widens to community impact: 800–1,000 employee housing units with nearby retail and services to reduce traffic pressure, expanded recreation that balances winter with strong summer demand on Jordanelle, and a shared “care-first” culture between Deer Valley and Hyatt that extends to nonprofits and mental health advocacy. It’s a rare alignment of state leadership, private investment, and local pride—built to shine ahead of 2034 and designed to last long after.Ready to learn how to book or share this with someone who can benefit? Visit grandhyatt.deervalley.com and tap Salute To Service, or explore more at mida.utah.gov. If this conversation opened your eyes to what’s possible in mountain communities, follow, share, and leave a review to help others find the show.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A house struck by lightning, a six-month Sundance stint that turned into home, and a resolution to have one drink at all 218 bars in Salt Lake County—our conversation with City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta is a fast walk through how a city wins your heart. We dig into the winding road from Sarasota to Vermont to Utah, the lessons you only learn by knocking doors across the state, and why a daily local news podcast can replace doomscrolling with clarity.Ali shares how City Cast Salt Lake is built: a small team curating what matters, defining terms so listeners aren’t left behind, and resisting the old-school “radio voice” in favor of something closer and more human. Instead of chasing national names, they elevate the people who actually shape your day—city planners, transportation directors, and reporters who break down complex issues like homelessness into actionable context. We also talk about the “come and go” Sugarhouse debate, how to ask sharper questions, and what accountability looks like when the mic is warm.Then we toast Every Bar SLC, the year-long project that became a map of community. The best moments weren’t hype spots; they were surprises. A flawless cocktail at Seabird in Draper before an IKEA run. The Midway with free-play darts, a carousel horse, and Monday karaoke that sounds like a studio session. Bob’s Redwood Lounge, a family fixture since the 60s, where the old roofline still shows and the owner walks you to your car. Along the way we celebrate bartenders as culture keepers, debunk safety myths, and admit the spreadsheet is the glue that keeps the fun honest.We close on the future we want to build: narrower streets, pedestrian-first blocks, and density that lets nurses and teachers live near work. Salt Lake’s Thriving in Place strategy sets a hard goal—keep people housed while we grow. That means fairer zoning, patience during construction, and sharing responsibility across neighborhoods. If you care about walkability, housing, and a city that feels alive at eye level, you’ll feel at home here.If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves Salt Lake, and leave a quick review so more locals can find us. Your support helps keep the city’s best stories in your ears.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Need a quick, satisfying listen for the holidays? We’re dropping a short update with a heavy hitter from our Vault: the Mateo Sonier story—born in Italy, record-breaker at the University of Utah, and the force behind a beloved Italian restaurant built with his family by his side. This is a grounded, human blueprint for turning personal history into a resilient business, with lessons on discipline, hospitality, and community that carry far beyond the kitchen.We walk through how an athlete’s mindset translates to service, consistency, and quiet excellence. Mateo’s journey shows why fewer, better dishes beat bloated menus, and how honest feedback loops with regulars can outwork paid marketing in a city where word-of-mouth still matters. If you care about entrepreneurship, hospitality, local food culture, or the craft of building a brand that feels real, you’ll find practical takeaways you can apply tomorrow—whether you’re launching a product, opening a café, or refining your team’s rhythm.To top it off, we’re closing the Kilby Block Party giveaway and rolling out a fresh one: two tickets to watch the University of Utah men’s basketball team face Arizona, a projected number one squad. It’s a chance to see elite play up close and share the moment with someone who needs a win this season. We also flag a few Christmas and New Year’s Eve notes so you’ve got options if your plans are still forming.Press play for a focused listen, then jump into the giveaways. If this story hits home, share it with a friend who’s building something from scratch, rate the show to help others find it, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next drop.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A small town in Italy where balsamic vinegar and Ferrari share the same air taught Matteo two things: food should slow time, and precision is a kind of love. That’s the heartbeat of this conversation—a founder who brought his family to Utah to build a restaurant that feels like Sunday lunch, where you leave knowing your people a little better.We dig into the moments that forged his approach: learning endurance in open water, sharpening his problem-solving with math and economics, and choosing a culinary path that favors heritage over hype. Matteo explains why he keeps dishes to a handful of impeccable ingredients, how he spent years securing an award-winning Parmigiano Reggiano from dairy No. 168, and what it takes to make a classic like lasagna feel new without changing a thing. There’s joy in the craft too: the cult-favorite whipped brie, the notorious puttanata born from a friendly kitchen argument, and a Banksy-inspired cheesecake that tips its hat to the invisible artists behind every plate.This is also a family story. His mother bakes focaccia at sunrise and runs the books with the rigor of a former credit director. His father calibrates service like a seasoned CFO, guarding quality in the heat of the pass. Their team treats the kitchen as a studio, experimenting, refining, and adding dishes only when they meet a shared standard. We talk about opening day with zero marketing, the compounding power of word of mouth, and why Ninth South’s human-scale energy is the right fit for hospitality that lingers.Looking ahead, Matteo sketches a vision for affordable excellence—an Italian concept that widens access without lowering the bar—and teases Italian brunch with a white-chocolate hollandaise that still haunts his dreams. If you believe food should connect people, not just feed them, you’ll find a lot to savor here. Listen, share it with a friend who loves authentic Italian, and leave a quick review so more curious eaters can discover the show.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

The shortest updates can point to the biggest stories. This week we spotlight a Vault favorite with Julian Carr—his journey from professional skier to repeat entrepreneur to new dad—and unpack why that arc lands for skiers, founders, and anyone rethinking the next chapter. It’s a grounded look at risk, reinvention, and the skills that transfer when life changes lanes.We’re also turning up the community dial with a Kilby Block Party giveaway. The lineup is loaded—Lorde, The xx, Turnstile, Modest Mouse, and more—and entering is easy on Instagram: comment on the episode post, say “done,” and tag who you’re going with. It’s a fun way to bring new listeners into the mix and maybe plan your weekend with friends. Alongside that, we’re dropping another curated Vault release to keep your feed stocked with conversations that age well and give newer listeners a clean on-ramp to the archive.With the holidays a week out, we share quick ways to shop local and find holly jolly plans pulled from our social posts—simple outings, small shops, and seasonal events that keep our scene vibrant. And because season two is just ahead, we want your help shaping it. Tell us who you want to hear from next and why their story matters now. Hit play, enter the giveaway, and then drop your guest picks—we’ll see what we can make happen. If you’re enjoying the show, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find Small Lake City.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

What does it really take to turn fear into fuel? We open the vault to revisit our conversation with Julian Carr, the pro skier known for launching off massive cliffs and setting records, who then channeled that same high-stakes mindset into building companies and a global trailrunning series. If you’ve ever wondered how precision and courage translate beyond the mountains, this replay is a masterclass in turning preparation into performance.Julian walks us through the discipline behind each “impossible” jump—snow science, terrain study, and meticulous planning—and shows how those habits became the backbone of his ventures, from beanies and soft goods to aftermarket Bronco parts. We dig into why niche focus beats scattershot growth, how to earn trust with consistent quality, and what it means to design experiences that people want to return to year after year. The Cirque Trailrunning Series stands out as a blueprint for building community: thoughtful course design, safety without killing spontaneity, and a clear brand promise that keeps runners and partners engaged.Along the way, we break down a practical risk framework you can use in any field: respect the unknown, rehearse early, build redundancy, protect people, and keep the work joyful. Julian’s range is the point—when principles lead, different lanes can stay aligned. Whether you’re scaling a startup, leading a team, or planning your next personal leap, you’ll find clear takeaways on preparation, execution, and resilience that outlast trends and hype.If this conversation sparks something for you, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s chasing a big goal, and leave a quick review to help others find the pod. Your support helps us keep bringing these stories to your ears.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Salt Lake moved fast this week, and we’re connecting the dots between pocketbook policies, stadium culture, and a neighborhood on the brink of change. We open with a quick highlight of our conversation with Jeff Miller, where fixed-price car buying and community investment flip the usual dealership script. That theme of clarity and trust carries into a bigger question: what happens when private equity takes over key operations at Rice-Eccles? We break down the upside—better fan experience, smarter logistics—and the real risks, from rising ticket prices to a stadium vibe that feels less like our city and more like a spreadsheet.We also dig into a closed-door retreat where Utah legislators reportedly discussed education priorities, tax proposals, ballot strategies, and the 2025 session plan. By labeling it “unofficial,” leaders avoided public notice requirements and open meeting laws. We talk about why that move shakes trust, what open governance should look like, and how early transparency can build better policy before votes are locked and pressure campaigns begin. If you care about taxes and schools, this is where accountability starts.Then we turn to the 1300 South ballpark site, finally moving toward a clear plan: new housing, local retail, restaurants, and an entertainment district. It’s a massive opportunity to pair growth with roots. We walk through what good looks like—human-scale design, walkability, affordable housing, local vendor space, and real public amenities—and what to watch out for if the project tilts toward displacement, traffic, and generic placemaking. Done right, this becomes a destination that feels like Salt Lake, not just another development.We’re also running a Kilby Block Party giveaway with weekend passes to see Lorde, The xx, Turnstile, Hayley Williams, Modest Mouse, and more. Get the entry steps, hear the headlines, and add your take on whether private equity improves stadium life or chips away at fan culture. If you’re enjoying the show, tap like, subscribe, and leave a comment to help more locals find it. Your voice shapes the city—join us and tell a friend.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A coin flip chose Subaru. The rest is strategy. Jeff Miller, fourth-generation owner of Mark Miller Subaru, joins us to share how a family dealership in Salt Lake City rewired the car-buying experience around trust, speed, and community. We dig into the city’s uniquely family-led dealership ecosystem, the moment the Outback transformed Subaru’s trajectory, and why the Miller team embraced one-price transparency and no-commission product specialists long before it was trendy.We get candid about what most buyers already know: haggling drains time and rewards the worst behavior. Jeff breaks down how their Promise Price model shows payments up front, cuts deal time to under an hour, and lifts close rates to 40–45 percent. We also explore what “meeting customers where they are” looks like in practice—from full online checkout and home delivery to a new mobile service pilot designed for Park City owners who want maintenance done in the driveway.Community sits at the heart of the story. During Subaru’s Share the Love event, each sale donates $250 to charity—and Mark Miller Subaru doubles that when customers choose local partners like Girls on the Run Utah and USARA, plus $5 from every oil change. Instead of spreading thin, they go deep: partners get showroom presence, media support, and introductions to collaborate for greater impact. It’s transparent, measurable, and local-first.We also zoom out: why Salt Lake has remained a stronghold for family dealerships, how Subaru stacks up in Utah’s segments, and what national sales and scrap cycles signal about demand. If you care about easier car buying, ethical retail, or how a business can power real local change, this conversation delivers clear ideas you can feel.Enjoy the episode, then help us spread the word—subscribe, leave a quick review, and share with a friend who’s car shopping or passionate about Utah nonprofits.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Season two kicks off with momentum, local stories, and a guest who puts real dollars behind the phrase “community impact.” We sit down with Jeff Miller, the fourth-generation owner of Mark Miller Subaru, to unpack how a family dealership wields influence in Salt Lake City—and why they’ve tied every car sold to a direct donation. The model is simple but bold: $250 to a buyer’s chosen nonprofit, plus an extra $250 when that organization is based in Utah. We talk about how this per-sale structure changes expectations, invites customers into giving, and sets a new baseline for what corporate responsibility can look like in our city.From there, we zoom out to the culture of dealerships across the valley: the sponsorships, the power, the traditions, and the pressure to keep up. Jeff shares perspective on growing up inside that ecosystem and how transparent philanthropy can nudge peers toward measurable impact. If you care about local accountability—who funds what and why—this conversation gives you questions to bring to any business: per-unit giving, local preference, and public reporting.We also share what’s next for our platform. Social posts on Utah history, true crime, and Salt Lake lore have struck a chord, so we’re launching a YouTube series that turns quick hits into 10 to 20 minute deep dives with sources, maps, and context. On the community front, we just wrapped a Jonas Brothers ticket giveaway and we’re opening a Kilby Block Party giveaway featuring Lorde, The XX, and Hayley Williams. December’s light on snow but heavy on plans, and we’re here for it—events, stories, and the people who make the city feel like home.If you’re into civic impact, local music, or the untold corners of Utah history, this one’s for you. Hit follow, subscribe on YouTube to catch the new series, and share this episode with a friend who loves Salt Lake. Your reviews help more locals find the show—drop one and tell us which nonprofit you’d support next.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A farm kid who learned to “leave the field only when the work is done” found his way into venture capital, helped power Utah’s tech ascent, and said “ok” to a family decision that would change lives at Primary Children’s Hospital. Join us as we sit down with Peleon Venture Partners’ managing partner, Blake Modersitzki, to unpack how unlikely turns—security guard shifts at WordPerfect, a move to New York, mentorship from Eric Schmidt at Novell—shaped a durable investing lens focused on bold founders and real fundamentals.We dive into the DNA of Silicon Slopes, from ARPANET roots and University of Utah breakthroughs to WordPerfect, Novell, Omniture, Divi, and beyond. Blake lays out five waves of growth and explains what truly differentiates Utah: fierce competition paired with a reflex to help. That community advantage lets founders build global companies without uprooting teams to the Bay. We examine why cycles matter, why 2024–2025 could be prime building years, and how discipline—profitability, cash efficiency, clean unit economics—returns once the “tourists” leave. Blake also shares why Peleon hires like a championship team, bringing in seasoned operators to coach, scout, and scale.Then we go personal. Blake and his wife Sandy recently made a $10 million gift to Primary Children’s, a commitment rooted in a niece lost to cancer and a family legacy nearly erased by war in Poland. With wise nudges from Gail Miller, they chose to give publicly to spark more giving. It’s a conversation about impact, not optics; about building companies that dent the world and communities that lift the next generation.If you care about Utah’s startup ecosystem, venture capital, founder traits that endure, and the power of public generosity, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s building, and leave a review with the insight that challenged you most.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A quick Tuesday update with a lot of heartbeat: we’re celebrating Thanksgiving week with a shot of good news, a big giveaway, and a sharper vision for what comes next. Eric shares how the Small Lake City Podcast is leveling up for Season Two, why community impact drives every choice we make, and how a late-night spark turned into a new format that brings local stories closer to your daily life.We break down the Jonas Brothers ticket giveaway at the Maverick Center with Postfontaine and Live Nation and tell you exactly how to enter. Then we look ahead: Season Two lands in December with a guest who’s actively moving the needle in our city. Between seasons, we’ve been auditing what resonates, tightening segments, and designing a recurring piece that spotlights one person, one issue, and one simple way to get involved. It’s all about clarity, relevance, and momentum—so you can listen, learn, and act without friction.There’s joy in the mix too. We’re lacing up for a turkey trot in Cottonwood Heights and inviting you to come run, say hi, and kick off the holiday with some energy. And we take a moment for gratitude—for the growth across the feed, the conversations that stayed with us, and the community that keeps showing up. If you love local stories, live music, and finding practical ways to help your neighborhood thrive, this one sets the table for a strong December.Subscribe, share this update with a friend who’d love the giveaway, and leave a quick review telling us what you want more of in Season Two. Your feedback shapes the show—what should we build next?Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A basement, a sketchbook, and a stubborn belief that boredom can be a gift—that’s where this story starts. John Darley takes us from Florida swamps and Salt Lake basements to New York studios and back again, unpacking how a youngest child with high risk tolerance became a nationally awarded figurative painter. He talks about the ruthless discipline of apprenticeship under Jeff Hine, eight-hour model days at Grand Central Academy, and why craft has to come before concept if you want your work to speak clearly.We dig into the real economics of a creative career: private commissions vs gallery splits, irregular income, and the two-year, sleep-starved sprint that ended with a hard-won mortgage and a garage-turned-studio in American Fork. John shares the painting “Bearing,” born from that dark stretch, and explains why patrons aren’t “customers” but partners who fund ambitious, guaranteed outcomes—like the large multifigure narratives he’s building now. Along the way, Utah’s quiet art power is revealed: clusters of award-winning painters and sculptors, international recognition, and a landscape that keeps pulling stories to the surface.On the craft side, John breaks down egg tempera—egg yolk and pigment—for its muted, dreamlike register and the luminous “glow” that cameras never quite capture. He maps how sculpting sharpens drawing, how shape design drives interest, and how portraits can carry dense narratives in a single frame. It all ladders up to a simple credo: master the vocabulary so the work can say something true, then keep moving forward, embracing the unknown. If you’re an artist, collector, or just curious about the grind behind beautiful work, this one will sit with you.If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves art, and leave a quick review with your favorite insight.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

What turns a group ride into a real community? We sit down with Stuart Anderson, the steady force behind Mi Duole, to explore how a Utah cycling club built on “suffering together” became a home for riders of every stripe. From CrossFit beginnings to triathlons and, finally, to dawn patrol climbs up Emigration and Millcreek, Stuart shares how the bike became a place to do hard things and talk about real life while doing them.We get into the origin story of Mi Duole, a team founded by East Bench mountain goats in the ’80s, and how the baton passed to a new generation intent on culture, not clout. Leaders are honored with yellow kits for service and consistency, not just watts. Systems came next—Strava groups, GroupMe chats, and Monday open rides—so anyone could find their level, meet at 6 a.m., and avoid getting lost in the crowd. Winter didn’t slow the momentum: Zwift rides kept the tribe connected until spring’s team camp in St. George, complete with sponsor dinners, raffles, and three big days on the bike.We also zoom out. Utah’s cycling scene exploded after 2020, and gravel surged as a safer, more flexible way to link mountains and roads. The conversation is rich with details riders will love—LoToJa strategy, Leadville stories, sunrise canyon rituals—and it’s grounded in what keeps people coming back: stopping for a teammate with a flat, delivering a new kit after a crash, and checking in when life gets heavy. Sponsors are fellow riders, not faceless brands, so support stays inside the circle and the impact multiplies.If you’re ready to find your people on two wheels, this is your map. Tap play, then tell a friend. If it resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and share your favorite moment—what part of the ride are you craving next?Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A milestone deserves more than a pat on the back—it deserves intention. We just crossed 100 episodes and closed season one, but the path there wasn’t linear. Our live recording with Shireen Gorbani hit a technical snag, and rather than push a fragment into your feed, we pivoted to a conversation that captures what this show is about: building community with craft, care, and consistency. Enter Angela Brown—guiding Slug Magazine with a steady hand and growing Craft Lake City into a home for makers, artists, and innovators across Salt Lake.We start with a quick Halloween check‑in, then dig into how local culture actually scales. Angela’s approach shows why curation matters, how editorial leadership keeps a scene honest, and what it takes to turn a grassroots project into an institution without losing soul. It’s a case study for anyone who cares about creative ecosystems, from indie musicians and visual artists to small business owners and civic organizers. Along the way, we talk about the value of doing fewer things better, the power of consistent storytelling, and the quiet logistics—volunteers, partnerships, and steady funding—that help a city show up for its own people.There’s also a peek behind the curtain. Live shows are electric, but they’re messy, and sometimes the tech gremlins win. We own the miss, promise a proper re‑record with Shireen, and use this moment to reset the runway. Season one wraps at a clean 100, we’re taking a short breather, and season two lands in December with conversations already taped and more on the calendar. Until then, we’ll release a few vault episodes and share more clips on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, so you can stay connected to the stories shaping Small Lake City.If you’re new here, start with the Angela Brown feature—it’s local, practical, and full of takeaways you can apply to your own projects. If you’ve been riding with us, thank you for pushing this show to triple digits. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves Salt Lake’s creative scene, and leave a quick review to help more locals find the pod. What voices do you want to hear in season two? Send us your picks and we’ll make it happen.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A family secret. A fork in the road. A choice that reshaped Utah’s creative landscape. Angela Brown joins us to share how a canyon kid with a camera became the force behind SLUG Magazine and the founder of Craft Lake City, turning a tiny zine and a DIY idea into two of the region’s most influential cultural platforms.We trace Angela’s path from Emigration Canyon to darkrooms and record stores, where photography and music collided into a calling. When a San Francisco promotion beckoned, a life-changing conversation with her father redirected everything. She stayed, bought SLUG, and spent years delivering stacks, selling ads, shooting shows, and editing late into the night—while caregiving at home. Along the way, we dig into the post–9/11 Olympics, how Salt Lake’s “underground” expanded, and what it takes to build a publication that still champions outsiders without gatekeeping genre or taste.Then we pivot to Craft Lake City: why Angela launched it, how it blurs the line between artisan and artist, and the systems that make creativity accessible—affordable markets, hands-on workshops, STEM spaces, and even a fully virtual festival world when the city needed it most. We talk sponsors who believed early, volunteers who became pros, and the small army now powering a statewide ecosystem. Expect candid insights on scaling teams, nurturing writers and photographers, and keeping art in reach for regular people.If you care about local music, independent media, maker culture, or the future of Salt Lake City, this conversation is a blueprint. Tap play, share with a friend who loves DIY, and tell us the one risk that changed your path. And if you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, rate, and leave a review so more creators can find the show.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

Big milestone, bigger conversation. We tee up Episode 100 with Shireen Gorbani, CEO of Planned Parenthood Utah, while keeping the local energy high with a Halloween kickoff, a listener discount, and a nudge to get those costumes ready. It’s a quick update that sets the scene for a meaningful, wide-ranging story about leadership, identity, and impact in a place where opinions are strong and community ties matter even more.Shireen’s path runs from a diverse childhood in North Dakota to academic pursuits, Utah roots, and a leap into public service through local races and nonprofit leadership. We talk about what it means to run a mission-driven organization in a conservative state, how to stay grounded when controversy finds you, and why community care is built on trust, not slogans. The preview highlights the human side of policy: access to care, courage in the public square, and the choices people make when values and daily life intersect.We also spotlight local culture with the GraveShift Halloween party and a 15% discount using code Small Lake City, plus a look back at our recent conversation with Noni Ferguson of Law Elevated. These threads tie into the show’s core promise—connect listeners to real people doing real work, from law and advocacy to neighborhood events. If you’re curious about Utah politics, nonprofit leadership, reproductive health, and how stories shape civic life, this milestone is a must-queue moment.Tap follow, share this with a friend who cares about Utah’s future, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find the show. Your support keeps these local conversations alive and puts thoughtful voices in more ears.Ranger Sound Car Link (15% off with code "SmallLakeCity": https://posh.vip/f/43c61?a=eriknilsson248Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

What if your divorce didn’t feel like a war but a turning point? We sit down with attorney Nonie Ferguson, founder of Law Elevated in Park City, to unpack a people-first approach to family law that prioritizes mental health, clarity, and durable outcomes over courtroom theatrics. Nonie shares how years as a South Florida public defender sharpened her litigation instincts—evidence, objections, narrative—while also teaching her that legal victories mean little if clients walk away shattered.We talk through the nuts and bolts of a holistic model: pairing legal strategy with therapy, financial planning, and co-parenting tools so clients make calm decisions under pressure. Nonie explains why the “bulldog lawyer” myth often raises costs and conflict, and how firm, persuasive advocacy can achieve better results without burning the bridge you’ll need for years of co-parenting. When cases must go to court, her trial background becomes an advantage; when they don’t, problem-solving and clear communication keep families out of the fire.Utah’s landscape adds a unique twist—early marriages, early divorces, quick remarriages, and blended families with intricate schedules and shifting loyalties. We explore why retribution rarely delivers closure, how to set boundaries that stick, and what judges actually find credible. Along the way, Nonie reveals how Law Elevated dropped the obsession with billable-hour quotas to build real relationships and deliver steadier outcomes. If you’re navigating separation, considering mediation, or preparing for court, this conversation offers practical steps to protect your rights and your wellbeing.Subscribe for more conversations on modern family law, mindset, and making change stick. If this resonated, share it with a friend and leave a review to help others find the show.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Get started with Gnarly Nutrition Today: https://gnarlynutrition.sjv.io/m4OMZX Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod

A festival high, a hard pause, and a guest who reimagines what “family law” can feel like—this week brings all three into sharp focus. We relive Red Westfest’s standout sets (Ian Munsick’s ease, Ella Langley’s spark, Sam Barber’s grit, a live‑better‑than‑album turn from Noah Kahan, and Kacey Musgraves casting a twilight spell) before confronting how fast celebration can flip when weather goes sideways. With care, we acknowledge a tragic loss during the windstorm and talk plainly about event safety, community responsibility, and holding space for joy and grief at once.Back in Salt Lake, fall arrives like a door swinging shut. We talk about the tiny window of gold leaves, the comfort of soup, and why leaning into seasonal ritual can steady your mind as winter creeps in. That spirit of honest transition informs our big news: season one is a wrap after a live conversation with Shereen Gorbani. Two years and a hundred episodes later, we’re taking a deliberate breather to reset, raise our standards, and return with sharper sound and even more useful conversations. We’ll stay active on Instagram, keep events going, and send the Thursday newsletter, so the community stays connected while we rebuild.We also unpack how we choose guests—and why vague “expert” pitches don’t make the cut. Then we preview this weekend’s feature: attorney Nonie Ferguson, founder of Law Elevated in Park City. Nonie’s approach to divorce, custody, and support puts people first, pairing solid legal strategy with mental health awareness and child‑centered practices. It’s a pragmatic, trauma‑aware model that aims for durable outcomes instead of pyrrhic wins, and it reflects what we want this show to stand for: clarity you can act on, stories that make the city feel closer, and voices that earn your time.If this resonates, hit follow, share with a friend who needs a steadier take on family law or festival life, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your support shapes what we build next.Have a Question? Ask it here!50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITYMLD Closeout Event: www.MLD.com Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time Support the showJoin the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/RRXGR7kPSubscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-pageInstagram: @smalllakepodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcastTikTok: @smalllakepod