KPCW Mountain Money

How did a nation with less than 5% of the world's population come to publish over half of all the newspapers? This week Author Alex Wright discusses his new book, Empire of Ink: The Printers, Rogues, and Radicals Who Invented the American Newspaper. Wright takes us on a journey through the explosive, footloose growth of 19th-century American print media. From the early "gift economy" of open-source story sharing and the lucrative media empire of Benjamin Franklin, to the dangerous world of gunslinging editors and Mark Twain's disastrous tech investments, Wright details how an unruly young democracy leveraged bold public policies and a distinct mania for news to forge its national identity.

Mountain Money hosts Roger Goldman and Kevin Kennedy chat with Laurel Creel, manager of Courchevel Bistro on Park City's historic Main Street. Creel dispels local misconceptions and highlights what's on the menu for the summer season. Located in the historic Coal and Lumber Building, Courchevel offers an elevated, fresh, daily French-European dining experience that is fully open to the public. Take a listen to hear about the standout seasonal dishes (including the highly hailed Arctic char carpaccio), how their dedicated prep team handles an entirely fresh supply chain, and how their unique wine program secures bottles you won't find anywhere else in Utah. In addition, get the scoop on their upcoming public summer events, including their live music series on the patio, fresh oyster nights, and special French holiday celebrations.

The American tax system is sometimes called progressive, and it operates very differently for the ultra-wealthy. This week on Mountain Money, Boston College tax law professor Ray Madoff joins the show to talk about her new book, The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy. She explains how the richest Americans can legally opt out of traditional income and estate taxes, the mechanics of the "buy, borrow, die" strategy, and how current rules shift the country's tax burden onto everyday wage earners.

Superstar sports agent Leigh Steinberg joins Mountain Money to discuss his book "The Comeback: A Playbook for Turning Life's Setbacks Into Victories," where he opens up about his battle with alcoholism and his journey to 16 years of sobriety. He weighs in on how the sports business has transformed since 1975, from the "Wild West" of college NIL deals to the major integrity risks posed by sports gambling.

Former SEC enforcement official Bill Baker joins Mountain Money to unpack Oasis Capital's activist stake in Vail Resorts, the rules behind big-share disclosures and how a potential proxy fight for the company could unfold.

Drone shows are rapidly replacing fireworks as the centerpiece of holiday celebrations. Scott Linzer of Skyworx joins Mountain Money to discuss the technology, business, and explosive growth behind the industry—and how his team of just 10 full-time employees manages 14 simultaneous July 4 shows nationwide.

The Pizza Yard is a tiny "Neapolitan-ish" pizzeria in a 120-year-old brickhouse where everything is sourced as locally as possible, with a seasonal menu of pizzas and small dishes based around what local farmers are selling. Owner Matt Reschke joins us to tell the story of how a farmers' market food truck, a decade of backyard pizza parties, and a beautiful old house in Midway added up to one of the most beloved new restaurants in Wasatch County.

We're taking a bite into the fast-casual restaurant industry in the Wasatch Back as Matt Johnson, owner of The Bagel Den in Kimball Junction, joins us to talk about the logistics and economics of bringing authentic New York-style bagels to Park City. We break down what it's like to import authentic Long Island dough, navigate the competitive local breakfast rush, and build a thriving community hub for residents and travelers alike.

Mountain Money dives into the music side of Park City's summer arts scene as Ember Conley, Executive Director of Park City Performing Arts, joins the show to discuss the upcoming "Concerts on the Slopes" summer concert series at the Canyons Village Amphitheater. They'll explore the lineup, what it's like to bring world-class entertainment to our mountain community, and how the nonprofit curated this year's diverse lineup.

As the weather warms up, many folks are hitting the golf course. Beth Armstrong, Managing Director of the Marcella Club, joins the show to discuss the current golf season at the development near Jordanelle. We dig into the workings of their newly anticipated "Skyline" course, which is Tiger Woods and TGR Design's very first mountain course layout and how this brings a fresh approach of high-end golf to Park City.

Jeffery Winters, author of "The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracy," joins Roger and Kevin to discuss how a small, wealthy elite exerts outsized influence on American democracy. He explains the role of what he calls the "wealth defense industry" and how it contributes to growing inequalities in political participation.

Sports betting didn't just follow American sports—it helped build them. Author David Bockino discusses "Over Under: A History of Sports Betting in America," revealing how gamblers, bookmakers, scandals and the invention of the point spread helped transform local games into national obsessions.

Le Dépôt and Union Patisserie have been open just long enough to learn that Main Street runs on extremes—mayhem one week, crickets the next. Katie and Galen share how they juggle food waste, staffing whiplash, and Utah's ever-changing liquor laws while keeping steak frites and fresh croissants flowing.

Park City is one of the most congested resort corridors in the American West, and a seven-mile Bus Rapid Transit line called The Bobsled Express is about to change that — permanently. We sit down with the contractor building it, Stacy Witbeck, and the transit agency behind it, High Valley Transit, to break down the business and economics of getting it done.

Professor Luis Garcia of the University of Utah Computer Science Department discusses Anthropic's new AI software Mythos, a program so powerful that is being released only to certain reputable companies.

Most of us know what we should do with money — so why don't we do it? Financial advisor and behavioral finance expert Lev Mandel joins us to explore the emotional patterns, old stories, and hidden habits that actually drive our financial decisions.

Author Joe Pappalardo unpacks Boomtown, the true story of Borger, Texas, where an oil rush quickly gave way to corruption and violence. Just a year after it was founded, the town became a haven for bootleggers, gamblers and organized crime. Pappalardo explains how the chaos drew national attention and ultimately brought in legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer.

What does it take to build a wellness destination from the ground up? OnZen Hot Springs founder joins us to talk about the vision, the journey and what "unique wellness experiences" really means in practice.

Jan Dutkiewicz and Gabriel Rosenberg talk about their new book, “Feed the People: Why Industrial Food is Good for You and How to Make it Better," which takes a look at the complex American food industry.

Patrick Fabian and Rick Koplow of Spa Tender go inside the business of hot tubs and pool service.

Professor Daniel Rood, author of “In the Shadow of the Great House: A History of the Plantation in America,” recounts how the plantation model grew into an enormous economic industry on the backs of slave labor.

Jen and Ken Mihal talk about their fly fishing outfitter business. They describe that it's like to spend a day on the river, their new online fly store and their fly fishing education website.

Michael Kimmel, author of the new book "Playmakers," tells the story of the creation of American toy industry at the beginning of the 20th century.

Peter Breslow of the PBPR public relations firm shares the path that led him to the business as well as some observations about the PR challenges facing the Wasatch Back after two difficult ski seasons.

Jonathan Fillman, Promontory's new general manager, has an update on the many new developments happening in the local community.

Randy Livingston, the former CFO of Stanford, shares his insights on how the finances of a major university works. He discusses the many sources of revenue such as tuition, grants and philanthropy. He also explains the many kinds of costs that universes incur.

Author Paul Fischer discusses his new book on the remarkable careers of film directors Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. The three men became friends and reinvented American cinema.

Peak Medical in Park City delivers customized treatment programs that blend bioidentical hormone replacement, medically supervised weight loss and IV therapy to help patients look, feel, and perform at their best. Rather than one-size-fits-all protocols, they build plans around individual labs, symptoms, and goals. This episode dives into how they're rethinking midlife health, energy, and confidence in a mountain community.

This conversation goes inside the world of drone-based avalanche and wildfire control. From MONTIS avalanche missions to drone-integrated ignition spheres, we unpack how Drone Amplified extends crews' reach while they stay safely on the ground.

John “JK” Kenworthy, owner of Flanagan's on main, helps us prepare for St. Patrick's Day.

Madi Sykes of the Utah Chapter of the Association of Corporate Growth discusses the on-going Corporate Deal Summit. She highlights a number of the most significant corporate transactions in Utah as recognized by the ACG.

Professor Nicholas Chater discusses his new book "It's on You." Chater challenges the thesis propounded by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein in their book "Nudge" that the tools used by behavioral scientists like "nudges" are the best way to attack the big problems faced by society.

Author Gabriel Sherman discusses his new book "Bonfire of the Murdochs. It's the real life story of the family drama over who would succeed founder Rupert Murdoch to control his vast media empire.

ComeBack Tag lives quietly on your keys, bags, or gear until you really need it. When someone finds your lost item, the tag bridges the gap between finder and owner in a few easy steps. No special app, no subscription, just a tag that sends you a notification and lets the finder contact you. We talk with the founder about building trust, designing for simplicity, and why people love a product they hope they never have to use.

HERLOVE Bespoke Jewelry is a veteran-owned studio in Heber City that transforms love stories, family history, and old jewelry into custom-designed heirlooms. Founders Drew and Laura went from military service to fine craftsmanship, specializing in wedding and engagement rings, one-of-a-kind redesigns, and advanced repairs. In this episode, we explore how they blend precision, storytelling, and mountain-town soul into every piece.

Bennet Cerf was a publisher, author, columnist and TV personality who interacted with all the movers and shakers of the twentieth century. Author Gayle Feldman discusses her new biography of Cerf, "Nothing Random."

Professor John McGinnis discusses his new book, "Why Democracy Needs the Rich." He argues that the popular vilification of the rich is misplaced, as the rich in fact enhance American society and democracy in many ways.

Ritual Chocolate co-founder Anna Seear takes us from hacked-together home experiments with hair dryers and PVC pipes to a thriving bean-to-bar factory in Utah.

Former ad executive Tom Darbyshire breaks down this year's Super Bowl ads. Which were effective, and which were not?

Author Nicolas Niarchos discusses his new book, "The Elements of Power." He traces the development of the lithium ion battery and the resources needed to make them. But he also explains how these crucial elements are mined with terrible political, environmental and social consequences.

Moving a food business from a home kitchen to a commercial space is a high-stakes transition. This episode explores how a shared network provides the licensing, storage and equipment necessary for entrepreneurs to scale without the risk of a traditional lease.

Shake Shack is stepping up its presence in Utah with a brand-new location in Park City's Junction Commons. Utah Area Director Will Hoard joins the show to talk about the brand's rapid growth, from Sandy in 2019 to eight locations today. He breaks down what sets Shake Shack apart in the fast-casual world and why Park City is a perfect fit. From frozen custard shakes to hand-breaded chicken, this episode will have you planning your next order.

Discover how a satirical stage segment evolved into the charming book “Good Night Sundance.” The authors share anecdotes from Park City's Follies and their heartfelt homage to the legendary festival. Learn about the inspiration and process behind this clever parody from co- authors John Burdick, Andy Cier and Katrina Kmak.

Join us as we unpack the ripple effects of a low-snow season on Park City's tourism and hospitality sectors. Helena Sedaris of Park City Lodging shares industry challenges, from guest cancellations to evolving market strategies. Learn how the town is coping and what's next for seasonal tourism.

Filmmakers of all backgrounds are turning to Adobe for their documentaries, features and festival entries. Discover what sets Adobe's suite of creative apps apart, and learn about new AI-powered features that are revolutionizing work behind the camera.