What Say Ye?

Ira Glass, of "This American Life" fame, has visited Utah a bunch of times. His visit to Payson High School on Jan. 27, however, was a first. Payson High is spotlighted on the next episode of "This American Life," which premieres this weekend on public radio. The episode focuses on the topic of grand gestures — a subject that’s been familiar to Payson High’s students for decades now. As part of a larger tradition within the Utah and Idaho region, Payson High students ask each other to school dances in elaborate (and sometimes shocking) ways. Going big has become the standard, and that phenomenon is gradually spreading to high schools in other states. In the newest episode of the “What Say Ye?” podcast, we spoke with Payson High students, as well as Mr. Glass himself, about his recent visit, and what listeners can expect on the next “This American Life.”

Fairly astounding and somewhat forgotten, the story of Mykel and Carli Allan is equal parts inspiring and tragic. The two sisters, whose parents have lived in Utah County for more than 20 years, hold a legendary place in Weezer lore: The band and their intense fan base truly wouldn't be what they are today without these two sisters. Theirs was no ordinary fandom.

Pat Benatar was right: Love IS a battlefield. She didn’t write the song about Utah County’s dating scene, but she might as well have. In Part 2 of our series on Utah County dating, we interview the women behind @ProvoGuysAmIRight, an Instagram account that highlights the sometimes questionable advances of Provo’s single men. What is it like for women dating in Utah County? And what is it like to be a woman running an account like this?