Salt Lake Speaks

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deeper into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s Executive Editor Mary Brown Malouf to celebrate this year's Best of the Beehive Winners.    This week’s podcast is sponsored by Riverhorse On Main. Park City’s top-rated fine dining restaurant offers a menu of eclectic American cuisine sourcing only the freshest ingredients of the season. For reservations, catering services, or the specialty market and café, Riverhorse Provisions, visit riverhorseparkcity.com.

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deeper into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s managing editor Christie Marcy and Executive Editor Mary Brown Malouf to celebrate this year's Best of the Beehive Winners.  This episode is sponsored by We Olive & Wine Bar, located in Trolley Square offers bottles of new harvest California olive oil, balsamic vinegar and other ingredients for the home chef. Dining include salads, flatbreads, sandwiches and savory bites paired with boutique wines. For more information or to make reservations visit weolive.com/salt-lake-city

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deeper into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s managing editor Christie Marcy and Executive Editor Mary Brown Malouf to celebrate this year's Best of the Beehive Winners.  This weeks podcast is brought to you by, The Children's Hour, a locally owned boutique and bookstore for women and children of all ages. Our carefully curated mix of clothing, shoes, jewelry, books, and gifts assures a delightful shopping experience. We are located in the heart of the 9th & 9th neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah, and look forward to meeting and greeting new and old friends. childrenshourbookstore.com

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deeper into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s managing editor Christie Marcy to hear what’s going on around town this weekend.  This week's podcast is brought to you by The Paint Mixer. Join the paint mixologists in their Park City or Sugar House studio or partner locations to connect, create and play. Classes and private event information can be found at thepaintmixer.com.

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deeper into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s managing editor Christie Marcy to hear what’s going on around town this wekend. This week's podcast is sponsored by NextSeed, find out more at http://nextseed.com/slc.

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deeper into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s managing editor Christie Marcy to hear what’s going on around town this weekend. Today's podcast is sponsored by Airstream of Utah.

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deeper into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s managing editor Christie Marcey to hear what’s going on around town this wekend.

Salt Lake Speaks is Salt Lake magazine’s regular podcast digging deepr into stories with experts in local politics, arts, culture and food to give you dear reader the best of life in Utah. Today we’re talking with Salt lake magazine’s managing editor Christie Marcey to hear what’s going on around town this weekend.

Weeekend of May 4-6, 2018 — Maybe you heard a little something about some basketball being played in Salt Lake this weekend. Sure. We’ve got the details on that, but it’s a busy weekend—and we know just what you should do all weekend long.

Our guide to the weekend that is April 27-30, 2018. We sit down with Salt Lake magazine's Managing Editor Christie Marcey to get her picks for weekend fun. Hint: Baby Animals!

The morning of November 11, 2016 began like any other Friday morning for Charla Bocchicchio. She woke up to her alarm going off and was ready to get out of bed for an early morning yoga practice to kick off her weekend. And just like the rest of us, she grabbed her phone to see what she might have missed during the sleeping hours of the night. But unlike the rest of us, she found a throng of missed calls and text messages from her ex-husband, Chris Cochran, including a daunting notification: “Cassidy Aspen Cochran was born June 22, 1994.” Without hesitating Bocchicchio quickly called Cochran to hear the thing every parent dreads to hear; “She’s gone, Cassidy’s gone, she’s dead.” Cassidy, only 22 years old, had passed away of an opioid overdose. High does of fentanyl had been found in her system by the medicinal examiner. Cassidy and her boyfriend Frank thought they were taking heroin, but it ended up being something more lethal. Across the nation, fentanyl is now the fifth most common drug involved in overdose deaths. Counterfeit pills are common on the street, but with fentanyl, one person may take a fake pill and use it and the next person make take the pill and die almost instantly. In Cassidy’s case, according to the medical examiner, she unknowingly injected a lethal dose of it. In 2016, more Americans died of drug overdose than died in the Vietnam War. Two-thirds of those overdose deaths were from opioids. The opioid addiction is on the rise and is being referred to as an epidemic, but yet it has still not been declared a public health crisis by the Utah Legislature. Joining us today is Cassidy’s mother Charla Bocchicchio to help spread awareness about the opioid epidemic by sharing Cassidy’s story.

You may be familiar with hit TV shows like Ghost Hunters or Ghost Adventures, but what is the reality of ghost hunting like? And what kind of locations along the Wasatch are prime targets for local ghost hunting teams? Jennifer Jones, founder of The Dead History and author of Ghosts of Ogden, Brigham City, and Logan, sat down with Salt Lake Speaks to talk about her experiences as a real life ghost hunter as well as some of her favorite haunted locales. She’ll also explain the legend behind infamous Ogden Cemetery ghost, Flo, to prime you for our upcoming Utah Weird column in the May/June 2018 issue of Salt Lake Magazine.

Robyn Cage, might be a local musician, but Robyn’s experience and music has taken her to Boston, New York City and back to Utah. Described as dark and dreamy alternative/pop, she is often compared to Adele, Lana Del Rey or Florence + The Machine. Robyn is an incredibly prestigious singer-songwriter who's inspiration is drawn from Unity, freedom and owning your true inner self.

Locals in Salt Lake City are spoiled when it comes to winter sports. We know that. We own that. If you're a skier or snowboarder, you relish the access to miles and miles of snow—be it groomers, trees, parks or open range back country. We most of us have that one mountain or one resort that we have a pass to and play on every time it snows. We have our favorite. But there are 14 Utah Ski Resorts all within driving distance from the Salt Lake International Airport. From 20mins to 3 hours. If you are motivated enough and happen to have a bucket list, like Matthew D. LaPlante, you might find yourself skiing all 14 ski resorts in just seven days. It is possible. Listen to part one to hear about the first 3 days of his incredible journey.  

Locals in Salt Lake City are spoiled when it comes to winter sports. We know that. We own that. If you're a skier or snowboarder, you relish the access to miles and miles of snow—be it groomers, trees, parks or open range back country. We most of us have that one mountain or one resort that we have a pass to and play on every time it snows. We have our favorite. But there are 14 Utah Ski Resorts all within driving distance from the Salt Lake International Airport. From 20mins to 3 hours. If you are motivated enough and happen to have a bucket list, like Matthew D. LaPlante, you might find yourself skiing all 14 ski resorts in just seven days. It is possible. Listen to part one to hear about the first 3 days of his incredible journey.

This is Part 2 with LGBTQ writer and historian, Gregory Hintons. Hinton's background lies in the study of the hidden gay history of the West Hinton grew up a gay in Boulder, Colorado but after a violently aggressive phone call from a religious neighbor, he “evacuated” as he would say to Southern California. Hinton is back in Cody, Wyoming digging deeper into the history of gay rodeos, Buffalo Bill's friendship with French artist Rosa Bonheur and author Oscar Wilde and continuing through his writings, films and art projects illuminating the contributions of the LGBT community in the history and culture of the America West. "By bringing up the LGBT community and telling their stories in particularly the story of the American West, it's on us to tell our stories because somebody else will they'll just tell them wrong," - Gregory Hinton

Writer and historian, Gregory Hinton’s background lies in the study of the hidden gay history of the West Hinton grew up a gay in Boulder, Colorado but after a violently aggressive phone call from a religious neighbor, he “evacuated” as he would say to Southern California. Hinton is back in Cody, Wyoming digging deeper into the history of gay rodeos, Buffalo Bill's friendship with French artist Rosa Bonheur and author Oscar Wilde and continuing through his writings, films and art projects illuminating the contributions of the LGBT community in the history and culture of the America West. "By bringing up the LGBT community and telling their stories in particularly the story of the American West, it's on us to tell our stories because somebody else will they'll just tell them wrong," - Gregory Hinton Stay tuned for Part II of the interview to hear about his connection with the bloodied intertwined Brokeback Mountain shirts and experience processing the 20th anniversary of Matthew Sheppard's death.

Gender inequality is today's hot topic—we hope it's tomorrow's topic too. In this era of #metoo and #timesup, it's interesting to look back on some barrier-bashing in our own Salt Lake City. It wasn't until a century after the Alta Club's founding that women  were allowed to become members.  Salt Lake Speaks features a conversation with the first woman member, Genevieve Atwood,  about the legacy of the Alta Club, how it feels to have been the first woman admitted and whether that mattered.

As part of it's exhibit Go West! Art of the American Frontier from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, queer artist and member of the Catawba Tribe DeLesslin George-Warren will lead Indigenous Corps of Discovery tours. The tours will examine more than eighty original artworks by Euro-American and Plains Indian artists as Delessliin strips away the age-old myths and explains that westward expansion was a catastrophe for native Americans and their culture that usually led to genocide. Roo, as DeLesslin is known, joined Managing Editor Glen Warchol on Salt Lake Speaks.

Documentary director Diana Whitten talks to Managing Editor Glen Warchol about sexual abuse in film and society. Salt Lake Speaks welcomed Diana Whitten, a director, producer, and founder of the Utah Chapter of Film Fatales, to sit down and discuss the rash of sexual abuse incidents coming out of Hollywood and government. Film Fatales is a community of women filmmakers who collaborate and mentor each other in a male-dominated industry. Whitten says the past year's upheaval—including reported sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein, Dustin Hoffman, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey and others—is part of a cultural shift that will continue and ultimately benefit women and the film industry.

You don't need to be a scientist to notice that Utah's weather has been changing drastically for the past several years, but the science sure helps when you're trying to decide when to open the resorts. This year, the snow came early (yay!) and then disappeared (boo!). Many resorts pushed back their opening dates by weeks and even after finally opening the lifts, had to close due to lack of snow and warm temperatures. Brian McInerney, Hydrologist and Lisa Verzella, Observations Program Leader and Forecaster for the Salt Lake City Forecast Weather Office have the numbers, charts and scientific experience to help us understand what is happening with the weather and what Utahns can expect moving forward.

  Francis Fecteau of Libation talks with Editor Mary Brown Malouf about her favorite beverage: sparkling wine. Listen to this before buying your holiday wines.   Related Articles: How to Enjoy Wine at the Eccles | We Olive Wine Bar | Top Tips for Novice Wine Buyer | Top 6 SLC Wine Restaurants for Win

Blake Spalding, co-owner of the famous restaurant Hell's Backbone Grill on the edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, talks about the relationship between food, place and people.   Related Articles: The Immeasurable Place Cookbook | Dining Influencers: Hell's Backbone Grill | Why Bears Ears Matters | The Controversy over Bears Ears  

Politics are not new to the world of theatre. Playwrights have been needling and instigating controversial discussion for centuries. One of the first anti-war comedies was written in 411 B.C. Aristophanes’s Lysistrata, which centers around a female-led-sex-strike, was actually banned in the United States in 1873 as obscene. And the clash between theater and the powers that be has continued ever since. So it’s no surprise a recent production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. New York’s Public Theatre‘s assassinated resembled President Donald Trump and lost the support of major sponsors, including Delta Airlines. Salt Lake Acting Company annually produces Saturday’s Voyeur—a cabaret show poking fun at local and national politics, as well as the so-called “dominant” Mormon culture. What is the art’s responsibility to launch controversial discussions? Where do you draw the line between satire and bullying?

Pregnancy is a time of joy, anticipation and lots of planning. But what happens when things don’t go according to plan? Each year 10 to 15 percent of babies born in the U.S are admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.  Most are premature or have a medical condition that requires special care. In our 2017 November/December issue we sat down with three families who’s birth experience did not go to plan. But what they get instead, they say, are tiny miracles. Joining us today is the Joy family.

The definition of art has been an ongoing discussion that spans centuries, and it seems will continue moving forward. The best answer most people come up with is, “art is in the eye of the beholder.” But that becomes even more complicated when the topic evolves into whether a specific piece of art is good or bad. It is one thing if an individual chooses to go see a play, concert or museum, but where does public art fit into a community like Salt Lake City? Who is doing the curating, who is doing the creating and who gets to do the criticizing? On this week’s episode, Joy Haynes and Steven Labrum of 3Irons, a two person creativity support group discuss the ins and outs of creating and experiencing art and what it means to Utah’s art community. 

Andrew Cliburn, general manager at Current Fish & Oyster, introduces the Beaujolais Nouveau alternative—natural American wine. Learn about these wines at by listening to the podcast and taste the wines tomorrow, Wednesday, November 19 at 6 p.m. at Current Fish & Oyster.

Philip Grubisa—chef and owner of artisan butcher shop Beltex Meats, tells Mary Malouf all about buying and roasting the holiday turkey—or whatever meat you're cooking for your holiday feast. Tips on buying, brining and cooking. 

The holidays bring images of family, food and friends to mind, but what about the stressors that always accompany those traditions? Most of us have some memory of our moms or grandmas frantically cleaning the house for company or expressing anxiety about cooking for dozens of people. Especially in Utah, where there are so many large families, how do we manage the holiday stress? Jen Reuben, owner of Salt Lake Power Yoga, joins us to discuss the experience of holiday stress and to give listeners some tips and tricks to avoid mental fatigue. Take some time for yourself this holiday season and remember to breathe.

Despite Halloween’s long, creepy shadow over our culture, its twin, the Day of the Dead, turns the tradition of fear and fright on it’s head. Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of life, love and good food to which the dead are encouraged to join. Dining Editor Mary Brown Malouf talked to Matt Lake, owner of Salt Lake’s Alamexo restaurants, about this macabre party to lure a family’s beloved dead to the table for a night of memories. But most of all, Mary and Matt talked food: especially a simple traditional sandwich—mollete—that is guaranteed to bring La Catrina, death’s grande dame, to your table. Think: house-made Mexican bread filled with spicy black beans, Oaxaca cheese, chorizo and pico de gallo.

You already learned about Utah’s sordid and wild past, but that kind of rough and tumble history is bound to leave some scars. We tend to associated hauntings with the East Coast and the South—they’re seemingly older and much more steeped in superstition than the young West. However, just because we’re younger doesn’t mean we’re any less prone to paranormal activity—or, at least, that’s what Kristen Clay believes. Salt Lake Speaks invited Clay, founder and director of Story Tours, to discuss some of the Wasatch’s spookiest stories and legends, and to tell you how you could possibly encounter your very first ghost.

Navajo artist Susan Hudson is a member of the Towering House Clan of the Navajo Nation and an award-winning quilter. Most of us think of native American art forms as pottery and weaving. Hudson’s chosen medium, quiltmaking, is an art form spread by Christian missionaries and taught in the Indian schools where the goal was to assimilate Indians into white culture. The federal government began sending American Indians to off-reservation boarding schools in the 1870s, when the United States was still at war with Indians. Hudson has turned an art form of the oppressor into a commentary on being oppressed.  As a fellow seamstress, I had to ask Hudson what kind of sewing machine she used. Of course, a Bernina, she told me. For anyone who sews, this is a Big Deal. Bernina is the premier manufacturer of precision, sewing, embroidery and quilting machines, ne plus ultra of sewing machines since 1893. Because of Utah’s strong pioneer heritage, quilting and home sewing is alive and well here and Dave’s Bernina (locations in Salt Lake and St. George) is the number one dealer in the country. On this week's podcast, Hudson discuss her quilt art, how she came to it and the meaning behind her work.

Any time of year, be it day—or especially night, Utahns can venture through ghost towns, creep through haunted houses or explore the paranormal. But during the peak month of October, you’ll experience the $3 million local All Hallow’s Eve industry that rivals Utah’s ever-lucrative wedding industry. Commercial haunted houses may have their roots in Madam Tussauds, Chamber of Horrors, and, yes, even Disney’s Haunted Mansion, but the art of evoking screams has come a long way from stationary wax decapitated French men and ghosts floating in mirrors. Salt Lake Speaks sat down with Nightmare on 13th‘s Casting and Art Director Jimmy Dilley and Marketing Director Travis Hahn to find out what goes into creating a cutting-edge Haunted House and why it’s getting harder to scare the pants off people.

When Ogden was chosen as a connecting city for the transcontinental railroad, the Wasatch become a hub of activity—both legal and illegal. While it might seem difficult to believe looking around our state now, Utah used to be a rough and tumble part of the wild west that housed criminals, mobsters, speakeasies and houses of ill-repute. In fact, the Madams who ran brothels were some the wealthiest residents of Northern Utah and owned quite a bit of property for women in the 19th- and early 20th-centuries. Salt Lake Speaks invited Sarah Singh, Curator of Special Collections at Weber State University Stewart Library to discuss how Utah’s wild history allowed women to engage in power politics, property ownership and, yes, prostitution.

Apple’s recent announcement of their upcoming iPhone X (pronounced iPhone 10) meant to showcase the company’s 10th anniversary of their juggernaut iPhone product. While the internet will often go all abuzz at any Apple announcement, changes coming along with the iPhone X didn’t have universally positive reactions. The removal of the home button in lieu of Face ID technology and the decision to fully encase the phone in glass to create an “edge to edge” screen have even ardent Apple fans feeling a bit apprehensive. And all this without even mentioning the whopping $999 price tag. Salt Lake Speaks sat down with Todd Cohen, a tech industry veteran, to discuss whether or not Apple’s newest toy will break sales records or cause some to convert to the iPhone’s archnemesis, the Android.

County Mayor Ben McAdams wants to restart his community’s compassion for the homeless. Last spring, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams was groping to understand Salt Lake’s homelessness crisis. He had all the statistics to make a controversial decision on a new homeless shelter—but something was missing. McAdams put on a jeans and a hoodie, left his ID and money behind and walked into the Rio Grande district to get a more intimate idea of it meant to be homeless. He would be scared, cold and witness drug use. But McAdams returned convinced that a long-term solution to homelessness—beyond law-enforcement sweeps—has to be found.

While several states have already voted to legalize recreational marijuana, the conversation in Utah is in a much different place. Christine Stenquist, director of Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education (TRUCE) Utah, is bringing this conversation to the forefront of Utah’s political stage.

The relatively unknown sport of axe throwing is starting to sweep the US with over 20 locations nationwide. But how did this Viking pastime infiltrate the mainstream? You can thank Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa.

Ali Hynek found her way into Mommy blogging, or ‘influencing’ as she prefers, after her triplets were born two years ago. Hynek had already developed a face and following through her fashion company, Nena & Co., so the transition into mommy specific blogging was easy. For Hynek, the instagram account began as a digital scrapbook for keeping pictures of her sweet PEAs, (Penelope, Ethan & Alejandra), but eventually it has grown to be one of Utah’s top mommy influencing accounts. Hynek discusses how she grew her company and her personal account, how she manages products and branding and how to balance what is seen on social media and the reality of motherhood. 

Utah's fascination with pure romance. Most people have an idea of what a romance novel is: raunchy, lowbrow and made for lonely women. But the numbers paint quite a different picture. New York Times Bestselling author and local Utahn, RaeAnne Thayne, joins Salt Lake Speaks to discuss the subject.     

Many consider Utah safe from the kind of aggressive hate group activity often associated with the South, but that is not the case. Dr. Rebecca Barrett-Fox, assistant professor of Sociology at Arkansas State University whose research specializes in the rhetoric and logic of hate groups, explains why there has been an extreme increase in hate group activity and visibility in the last eight years. 

John Dehlin talks about excommunication, cult vengeance, shunning and rebuilding his spiritual life. PART TWO  John Dehlin, a psychologist best-known for his global podcasts “Mormon Stories,” was excommunicated by the LDS Church as an apostate more than a year ago. He spoke frankly with Salt Lake magazine Managing Editor Glen Warchol about the price of speaking out—being shunned by his Mormon community, having his children harassed and finally being forced to leave Logan for Salt Lake City. 

John Dehlin talks about excommunication, cult vengeance, shunning and rebuilding his spiritual life. PART ONE OF TWO.  John Dehlin, a psychologist best-known for his global podcasts “Mormon Stories,” was excommunicated by the LDS Church as an apostate more than a year ago. He spoke frankly with Salt Lake magazine Managing Editor Glen Warchol about the price of speaking out—being shunned by his Mormon community, having his children harassed and finally being forced to leave Logan for Salt Lake City.

Wonder Woman, It was seen as DC‘s attempt to make up for its under-performing Batman v. Superman, but most significantly, it was touted as Warner Brother’s first woman-centered superhero movie. Women—actress Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins—hold the lead roles in front of and behind the camera. Still, an argument can be made that Gadot’s Wonder Woman is just another flawlessly beautiful woman running around in a structured swimsuit. 

President Trump is calling for rescinding of Bears Ears’ protections as a national monument. But can he do it? University of Utah legal expert John Ruple is betting against it.

Life at high-altitudes. Living in Utah can bottom out mood in people who suffer depression. Renshaw says that within hours of a visitor stepping off a plane at Salt Lake International Airport, mood begins to spiral downwards. It may even contribute to Utah’s high suicide rates. Learn more about this important research and what you can do about high-altitude depression on Salt Lake Speaks.

It would seem easy to write off the Tiny Homes movement as just a Millennial trend—another way to buck the traditional American dream embodied by their parents and grandparents. But that would be an oversimplification of the Tiny Homes movement and the values of those who opt to live with less in an era of conspicuous consumerism.

Mary Brown Malouf, editor and long-time food writer for Salt Lake magazine speaks with Michele Corigliano, executive director of Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association. The “Zion Curtain,” the 7-foot-tall barrier to prevent restaurant patrons, especially children, from seeing alcoholic drinks being mixed, was part of a package of liquor laws introduced by Rep. John Valentine in 2010. It’s been a controversial issue ever since.

The placement of new homeless shelters in Salt Lake City has enraged Sugar House residents and they are organizing resistance groups to push back at Mayor Jackie Biscupski.

No Place is less Knowledgeable than Utah.  In our first episode, Sex (mis)Education in Utah, Managing Editor Glen Warchol grills sex therapist Kristin Hodson about the state’s mind-boggling sex-education ignorance and how it threatens our kids’ health.