Podcast appearances and mentions of Benjamin Wood

Benjamin Wood has written four very different novels that explore the creative process and relationships between parents and children. His fifth novel, Seascraper, is a vividly imagined, layered, and economical mediation on these themes, and it is full of surprises. From a very atmospheric description of a vanishing way of life, to great suspense, to the hint ultimately of optimism in its final characters. The novel was longlisted for the 2025 Booker prize.

Anna and Geoff discuss the 2026 International Booker Prize longlist. We're intrigued by  Women Without Men: A novel of Modern Iran by  Shahrnush Parsipur translated by Faridoun Farrokh and The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar translated by Ruth Martin.   Our book of the week is SEASCRAPER by Benjamin Wood. This short novel about a man who works as a shanker on a foggy beach and a film-maker who wants to set a movie there was long listed for the 2025 Booker Prize.   There is much to discuss: Are we now shrimping experts? How do we feel about dreams in novels? Do we like bleak, isolated settings? Annas suggests two read-alikes if you enjoyed Seascraper: The Horse by Willy Vlautin Clear by Carys Davies Follow us! Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras Substack: Books On The Go Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Anna and Geoff discuss the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist, including Flashlight, The Correspondent and Audition.  Some of the other long-listed books feature writers as characters, which gets us talking about turn-offs in novels.   Our book of the week is DEPARTURE(S) by Julian Barnes. This is the final book by the Booker Prize-winning author. It is a novel about a couple who reunite later in life, with authobiographical elements from Barnes' own life, or it could be a memoir containing a short story.  There is also Proust, philosophy and some observations on memory. Described as 'elegant' (The Times) and 'unmistakably Barnes' (Observer), it got us thinking:   Where is the line between memoir and novel? Is DEPARTURE(S) a love story? Are the memory bits too Oliver Sacksy?   Coming up: SEASCRAPER by Benjamin Wood.   Follow us:   Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras Substack: Books On The Go   Credits   Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz  

John Carter Cash on how the lives of his famous parents - Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash - have inspired a stage musical which tells the story of the couple's long love story but also tackles addiction head on. As a long-lost portrait of poet Robert Burns by the acclaimed artist Henry Raeburn goes on display, art historian Bendor Grosvenor and art journalist Melanie Journalist discuss how experts go about attributing a painting to a great artist. While technology can show us detail far beyond the paint on the canvas, will human expertise and discernment always be necessary in cases such as this? And author Benjamin Wood talks about his atmospheric novel Seascraper, which centres the story of a young shrimper in a coastal town in the north of England who dreams of becoming a folk singer, and which has won the Nero prize for fiction. Presenter: Kate Molleson Producer: Mark Crossan

Anna and Geoff discuss the cancellation of Adelaide Writers' Week 2026 amid the controversy after the Adelaide Festival Board disinvited Palestinian-Australian writer Dr Randa Abdel-Fatteh.  Among the authors who withdrew from Writers' Week was Richard Flanagan, who wrote this article (sorry for the paywall).  Director Louise Adler resigned with this letter to the Guardian. Since we recorded this episode, the new Board has retracted the decision and apologised to Dr Abdel-Fatteh.   In other book news, Random House has dropped David Walliams, as discussed on this episode of The Rest is Entertainment podcast.   Our book of the week is THE SAFEKEEP by Yael van der Wouden, a debut novel set in 1960s Netherlands which was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize and won the 2025 Women's Prize.   Coming up: SEASCRAPER by Benjamin Wood. Follow us! Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras  Substack: Books On The Go Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Benjamin Wood was born in 1981 and grew up in Merseyside. Seascraper is his fifth novel. His previous works have been shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, the Commonwealth Book Prize, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, the RSL Encore Award, the CWA Gold Dagger Award and the European Union Prize for Literature. In 2014, he won France's Prix du Roman Fnac. He is a senior lecturer in creative writing at King's College, London, and lives in Surrey with his wife and sons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benjamin Wood has written four very different novels that explore the creative process and relationships between parents and children. His fifth novel, Seascraper, is a vividly imagined, layered, and economical mediation on these themes, and it is full of surprises. From a very atmospheric description of a vanishing way of life, to great suspense, to the hint ultimately of optimism in its final characters. The novel was longlisted for the 2025 Booker prize.

In dieser Sonderfolge mit Anika, Robin und Meike: Die Booker Shortlist mit einem Fokus auf "The Land in Winter" von Andrew Miller sowie "Die Probe" von Katie Kitamura - und wir präsentieren natürlich den Papierstau-Gewinner der Herzen, "Der Krabbenfischer" von Benjamin Wood! Der Booker Prize expandiert: Vor 20 Jahren hat die bedeutendste Auszeichnung für englischsprachige Literatur eine internationale Variante für übersetzte Bücher ins Leben gerufen, jetzt verkünden die Macher, dass es bald auch einen Children's Booker geben wird.

The Drunk Guys sea how much beer they drink this week when they read Seascraper by Benjamin Wood. They scrape by with: Hiding Place by Hudson Valley Brewing and Double Mosaic Dream by Other Half Brewing. Join the Drunk Guys next Tuesday when they read The Loneliness of Sonia and

Lauscher auf: In dieser Woche empfiehlt Katrin Schumacher drei spannende Hörbücher und Hörspiele – "Der Krabbenfischer", "Else" und "bruder, wenn wir nicht family sind, wer dann".

In den 1960er Jahren führt der junge Thomas Flett ein raues Leben als Krabbenfischer im abgelegenen Küstenort Longferry. Von Mike Altwicker.

Jenna Todd reviews Seascraper by Benjamin Wood, published by Penguin Books New Zealand.

We're switching it up a little bit this episode, as the Booker Prize Long List has just been released and it's fun to talk about what they've chosen — plus, the judges this year are really interesting! These are "chosen from 153 submissions, celebrates the best works of long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025." Some of the books we've read, some we've just heard about, some we have no idea about. Play along!  Here's the list as we tackle it: - "Seascraper," by Benjamin Wood, which is not available in the U.S.  - "The Rest of our Lives," by Ben Markovitz, which is not available in the U.S. (though Ben is from the U.S. and used to be a professional basketball player) - "Audition," by Katie Kitamura, which is so out there that Hannah legit doesn't know how to talk about it. No one seems to know what's happening with this book.  - "Endling," by Maria Reva, which we talked about quite a bit in EP92 (not 94, as Sam says on the pod, for no good reason), and is a substantive, interesting, weird novel, but maybe not Sam's favorite.  - "Flashlight," by Susan Choi, a National Book Award winner, which Hannah started out super excited about, but then her fervor sort of faded... There's some great stuff in here about Japan-Korea history and the immigrant story, in general.  - "The Land in Winter," by Andrew Miller, which Hannah hasn't read, but she does remember that "The Optimists" was big and she meant to read it.  - "Love Forms," by Claire Adam, who was published by Sarah Jessica Parker, who also happens to be a judge! But we're sure it's a coincidence. "Like a Claire Keegan novel written by Elizabeth Strout," apparently. - "Universality," by Natasha Brown, which we know is short and is all about words and meaning.  - "Misinterpretation," by Ledia Xhoga, which is similarly about words and meaning. We don't know much, really. But there seems to be a theme here.  - "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," by Kiran Desai, who has a Booker Prize under her belt. This book is going to be big.  - "One Boat," by Jonathan Buckley, which is about a murder and a love affair on a Greek island.  - "The South," by Tash Aw, which is this year's young gay love story, Hannah thinks, though she's not sure, but it is the first of a quartet of novels, "a reimagined epic for our times." - "Flesh," by David Szalay, which is a stylish Hungarian novel, a coming-of-age sort of thing. 

Ida Wood had a secret. Born Ida Mayfield in New Orleans, Ida moved to New York in the 1850s and through her marriage to Benjamin Wood, publisher of the New York Daily News, she entered society. By the 1870s, Ida's name was regularly found in the social columns of the city's newspapers. So why, in 1907, did Ida Wood cash in – withdrawing her fortune from the bank and then, along with her sister and daughter, retreat into a suite at the Herald Square Hotel… for decades?This is the story of a Gilded Age Belle turned recluse, who chose to withdraw from society while still living in the heart of it. It's also the story of the fortune hunters who circled around her in her final years. And most incredibly – it's the story of what happened next. Check out the Bowery Boys website for photos of Ida, Ben, the Herald Square Hotel, plus the "alternate ending" proposed by Joseph Cox, author of The Recluse of Herald Square.After listening to this episode, dive into these past shows with similar themes and locations-- Herald Square-- Fernando Wood-- When Longacre Square Became Times SquareThis episode is part of the Bowery Boys Season of Mysteries, running through September and October:-- The Ghosty Men: Inside the Collyer Mansion This episode was edited by Kieran Gannon

Today, we're joined by two remarkable individuals, Ben Wood and Nate Vick, seasoned entrepreneurs with over a decade of experience running a Rails consulting business with many successes: HintIn this episode, Ben and Nate share their unique journey, from the highs of entrepreneurship to the tough decision of winding down their business. Despite this challenging transition, their passion for innovation hasn't waned. They're now embarking on new careers while also nurturing a budding software product, Selective, in their spare time.Join us as we explore the realities of business, the resilience required to adapt, and the continuous pursuit of new horizons. Ben and Nate's story is a testament to the fact that while not every venture lasts forever, the spirit of entrepreneurship endures, paving the way for new opportunities and lessons.Tune in as we uncover the insights and experiences of these two smart, adaptive professionals who remind us that change is not just an inevitable part of life but also a profound opportunity for growth.Links:Ben WoodNate VickHintSelectiveSimpleCovMintHuntress

Happy holidaze! It's been three years since Utah's medical cannabis program launched. As City Weekly's annual 420 issue hits the stands, news editor Benjamin Wood joins host Ali Vallarta to give an update on medical card distribution and a vibe check on the future of legal cannabis in Utah. Read City Weekly's reporting on Utah's medical cannabis program.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer Reading and Benjamin Wood

Benjamin Wood has been shortlisted for the Costa First Novel award and the Commonwealth Book Prize, he's a CWA Gold Dagger nominee and a finalist for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year. He also lectures creative writing at King's College.His 4th novel is 'The Young Apprentice'. It looks at Charlie and Joyce, recently released from borstal and starting a new life as an architecture apprentice. Until a figure from Joyce's past creeps back into her world, trying to drag them back to their old criminal life. We talk about the separation between work and creativity, and how that's affected where he writes. Also why he uses longhand to get a different angle on a story, and what people learn in a creative writing lecture.This week's episode is sponsored by 'Waiting for Jetpacks', the new short story collection, by John Lockhart. Grab a copy here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waiting-Jetpacks-John-Lockhart-ebook/dp/B08GM4SC68Support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

[00:01:52] Ben introduces himself and tells us about a configuration he did with Docker. [00:09:24] Find out what GitHub Codespaces is all about. [00:18:20] Ben explains the demo he did on how to create a new repository. [00:22:56] Andrew tells Ben he feels like he might know how to set up a home network somehow, and what does Ben have to say about this?[00:26:01] Ben asks the guys if they're using VSCode.[00:28:06] We learn how Ben and Andrew feel about the state of VSCode Ruby Extension.[00:31:03] Andrew talks about the RubyMine debug functionality and working with the new debug gem.[00:34:27] Ben wonders if Chris has tried the Vim extension in VSCode, Ben tells us about something that was added, and Andrew tells us he just started doing an online course learning Vim and VSCode.[00:39:08] Andrew asks Ben if there are any big cons with this remote kind of development environment that he's got running, and a conversation about VSCode app on the iPad. [00:42:09] Find out where you can follow Ben and his adventures online.Panelists:Jason CharnesChris OliverAndrew MasonGuest:Benjamin WoodSponsor:HoneybadgerLinks:Ruby Radar NewsletterRuby Radar TwitterAndrew Mason WebsiteBenjamin Wood TwitterBenjamin Wood-GitHubHintGitHub CodespacesInoreaderProject Template- Benjamin Wood (GitHub)Dotfiles-Benjamin Wood (GitHub)JetBrains Remote DevelopmentSolargraph

In this episode, Benjamin and I talk about transitioning from being an independent freelancer to running an agency, plus the challenges involved in hiring programmers. We also talk about recording music.Benjamin Wood on TwitterBenjamin Wood on GitHubHint.ioCareers at Hint.io

The co-hosts of Not Your Mother's Library celebrate the show's 50th upload! Find out what's on their winter reading wish list. Check out what we talked about: Books mentioned: "Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis" by Samantha Montano with readalike "Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change" by Elizabeth Kolbert. "The Maidens" by Alex Michaelides with readalikes "Black Chalk" by Christopher Yates and "The Bell Weather Revivals" by Benjamin Wood. "Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic" by Natalie Warren with readalikes "Far Distant Echo: A Journey by Canoe from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay" by Fred Marks and "Rowing to Latitude: Journeys Along the Arctic's Edge" by Jill Fredston, as well as "A Most Remarkable Creature: the Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World's Smartest Birds of Prey" by Jonathan Meiburg with readalikes "The Hidden Life of Owls: The Science and Spirit of Nature's Most Elusive Birds" by Leigh Calvez and "The Glitter in the Green: In Search of Hummingbirds" by Jon Dunn. "You Feel It Just Below the Ribs" by Jeffrey Cranor and Janina Matthewson with listenalike podcasts "Within the Wires" and "Alice Isn't Dead" and readalike "Alice Isn't Dead" by Joseph Fink. "Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest" by Gregg Olsen with readalikes "Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam” by Pope Brock and "Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men" by Harold Schechter." The "Montague Twins" graphic novel series by Nathan Page with readalikes "Suncatcher" by José Pimienta, "Incredible Doom" by Matthew Bogart, and "Séance Tea Party" by Reimena Yee. To access complete transcripts for all episodes of Not Your Mother's Library, please visit: oakcreeklibrary.org/podcast Check out books, movies, and other materials through the Milwaukee County Federated Library System: countycat.mcfls.org hoopladigital.com wplc.overdrive.com oakcreeklibrary.org

Refine the product. Always work on refining the product, making the product or service the best version of its self. Ultimately that is what's going to bring people through the door and get people interested. Have people wanting to invest or having people buy out your company. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-inventive-journey/message

Biden’s dogs, NBA complaining, finger cracking, and an interview with reporter Benjamin Wood.

Robby speaks with Benjamin Wood, CEO and Co-Founder of Hint. They discuss the importance of being able to iterate quickly, and the optimal code-to-test ratios. Benjamin also talks about the pros and Cons of using Monkey Patching, as well as suggestions for where to prioritize tests on a legacy Ruby on Rails application.Helpful LinksHint.ioGithub.com/hintmedia/railsdockBenjamin on Twitter[Book Recommendation] The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. GerberSubscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsOvercastSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.

Much has changed in the world, and it isn't always easy to make decisions. Particularly if you are in transition mode and you are trying to figure out: How to transition your offline business into your online business How to finally take the leap and move from your 9-5 to starting your own business How to spend your time wisely to create the most meaningful difference with the smallest possible step (because who's got the time anyway?) A lot of listeners have reached out and said that there seems to be SO much to do. Thalia, should I do work with people one on one? Should I create my own course? Do a webinar? Or do more speaking gigs? So to help you guys gain some clarity, today let's dive into: What the US speaking industry actually looks like (and might look like in the next year or 2). The size of the industry (and how to dive into the $1.9 billion annual revenue) How many people are professional speakers in the US (and what that means for your earning potential) What are some under-served audiences who might be hungry to engage with you, and What speakers from all over the world is saying about what they wished they knew when they started out. This will be a jam-packed episode with MASSIVE amounts of value. So be sure to dive in and keep your ears peeled. It's always my passion to bring to you decades worth of value and pack them into a single episode you can listen to while commuting, exercising, or (NOT) working when you should be working. This podcast is a great place for that. As I always say to my students: look for ways where you CAN make the biggest difference with the smallest possible step. And one of those small steps could be to Subscribe or Follow the show to get even more AHA moments that can make massive changes. --- Finally, Growth Solvers, here are the show notes with specific Growth Values: (4:12) Changes you should know about the speaking industry. (4:38) Why I don't do many speaking opportunities (and why you may or may not want to do the same). (5:18) How to know whether virtual conferences or speaking gigs are something you need to pursue. (5:50) How the US motivational speaking industry is worth $1.9 Billion dollars. (7:13) The real number of people who are actually professional speakers right now. (7:43) The average revenue you might be able to expect from being a speaker. (8:31) What kind of growth you can expect from this industry. (9:24) What kinds of income range you can start with and what you can get once you're more advanced. (11:19) How you can start speaking on the side if you have a full time job or if you have a different business. (11:53) What 60% of your income largely come from. (12:30) How to focus on big wins and spend your time on things that gives you the most meaning, fulfillment, and earnings. (13:38) How to stand out if you want to start speaking. (14:31) How to find the right audience that you can serve and can grow with you. (14:58) The myth behind an under-served audience that everyone must pay attention to. (15:29) The golden opportunity that has massive potential in the speaking world. (16:03) How to reverse-engineer your earning when you want to share your message and live out your why. (17:00) The average starting fee that you can use as a benchmark. (18:44) The true earning potential if you want to speak professionally on the side. (19:15) What your audience really wants. (19:49) What it means to grow your business while your audience grows. (20:21) Top takeaways: How the opportunity is limitless; How to get far if you're just starting out; and (24:19) How to filter out all the noise as an Essentialist (per New York Times-bestselling author Greg McKeown) and How to find the right people and audience. (26:37) Why we should pay attention to experts from around the world. (27:45) Phil Snowden of Fat Loss Performance Coach on how to be an engaging story-teller. (28:48) Donald Ma of Milestone|3 on how to start big without a big marketing budget. (30:15) Benjamin Wood of LLC Global on why you should share your story anyway, even if you're afraid to start. (31:39) Zin Sett of Thit Sa Entrepreneurs Institute on the importance of paving your own path and creating a system that works just for you. --- Don't forget to subscribe and follow the show for new episodes each week! --- Learn more about the contributing speakers:   Phil Snowden, a Fat Loss and Performance Coach: https://www.philsnowdencoaching.com/p/about.html Donald Ma, Executive Consultant at Milestone|3: https://milestonethree.com/ Benjamin Wood, CEO of LLC Global: https://www.llcglobalcreateyouforyou.com/ Zin Sett, CEO of Thit Sa Entrepreneurs Institute: https://thitsauc.com/

Salt Lake Tribune political reporter Benjamin Wood sits down with Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Luz Escamilla.

Salt Lake Tribune political reporter Benjamin Wood sits down with Salt Lake City Mayoral candidate Erin Mendenhall.

In 2006, David Hawkins was convicted of sexually abusing two of his sons. His name was added to the sex offender registry, and he went on to serve more than seven years in prison for a crime he said he did not commit. Now, after his children recanted their testimonies against him and worked for six years to clear his name, State of Utah has deemed Hawkins to be factually innocent and has expunged his record. On this week’s episode of the “Trib Talk” podcast, Hawkins joins host Benjamin Wood and Tribune legal affairs reporter Jessica Miller to share his experience of being wrongly convicted and ultimately vindicated in the eyes of the law. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Salt Lake City’s air quality is among the worst in the nation and by 2024, homes and businesses will be the primary source of air pollution in the state, surpassing cars, factories and power plants, according to projections by the Utah Division of Air Quality. Those trends are prompting homebuilders and business owners to consider energy-efficient upgrades, like airtight construction, electric appliances and solar panels. But most of those features come with added upfront costs, and the current pace of new zero-emission construction will take years to offset the pollution seeping out of older buildings in the Salt Lake Valley. On today’s episode of “Trib Talk,” freelance journalist Heater May joins host Benjamin Wood to discuss her three-part series for the Tribune examining the role that homes and businesses play in both contributing to Utah’s dirty air, and potentially cleaning it. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Dozens of murals are popping up in and around Salt Lake City as part of a concerted effort by artists, property owners and community groups to enliven, beautify and bring attention to public spaces. The Tribune is working to catalogue these diverse works of urban and pop art. And on this week’s episode, movie critic and culture reporter Sean Means takes Trib Talk host Benjamin Wood on a walking tour of the The Gateway — where several murals are concentrated — to discuss the artists behind the movement, its impact on the community, and the unique qualities of the mural as an art form. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Next week, the field of candidates vying to be the next mayor of Salt Lake City will be trimmed from eight to two as voters cast their ballots in the city’s primary election. Recent polling by The Salt Lake Tribune and Hinckley Institute of Politics showed a significant number of voters had not yet decided who to support. And the presumed frontrunner, former state Sen. Jim Dabakis, held a relatively narrow lead ahead of a still-competitive slate of hopefuls looking to secure a spot on the general election ballot. On today’s episode of “Trib Talk," host Benjamin Wood chats with government reporter Taylor Stevens about the state of the mayor’s race ahead of Tuesday’s primary, and visits a neighborhood party on the city’s west side to see what voters are thinking about the candidates and their campaigns. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

This year’s hottest political contest is the Salt Lake City mayor’s race, with eight hopefuls competing to fill an open seat and lead Utah’s capital city. But elsewhere in the state, 2020 is rapidly approaching as candidates, campaigns and activists position themselves ahead of elections for president, Congress, governor, the Legislature, ballot initiatives and a potential shakeup in the government of Utah’s second-largest county. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune government reporters Benjamin Wood, Bethany Rodgers and Taylor Stevens, joined by Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke, sort through the different political questions facing Utah voters in 2019 and beyond. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments, questions and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Eighty-one farmers have applied to receive one of 10 state licenses to legally grow cannabis and supply the state’s nascent medical marijuana program, giving each applicant roughly 1 in 8 odds of cultivating crops to meet the state’s demand. But exactly how significant that demand will be is unknown, as Utah’s law restricts legal marijuana use to a smaller pool of qualifying patients than a ballot initiative approved by voters last year, and as many Utahns are culturally and ideologically skeptical of what is still an illegal drug under federal law. On this week’s episode of Trib Talk, Moon Lake Farms co-founder Troy Young, cannabis law attorney J.D. Lauritzen and Tribune government reporter Bethany Rodgers join Benjamin Wood to discuss the selection process for Utah’s marijuana farmers and the status of the state’s medical cannabis program. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently coordinating the cleanup of a massive stockpile of toxic and hazardous waste inside and around a deteriorating former Ogden meatpacking plant. Ogden City purchased the property from the owner of Smith and Edwards, an iconic military surplus retailer, with plans to revitalize the site as a mixed-use manufacturing and outdoor recreation destination. But as the full scope of the chemical and material hazards on site becomes known, questions remain about the buildings potential environmental and financial impact on residents and taxpayers. On this week’s episode of Trib Talk, Leia Larsen, a journalist with the Utah Investigative Journalism Project and Brandon Cooper, Ogden City’s deputy director of community and economic development, join Tribune reporter Benjamin Wood to discuss the ongoing cleanup of hazardous waste at the Swift Building and whether city officials were adequately and appropriately aware of the property’s contents at the time of its purchase. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Utah lawmakers say the time has come for tax reform, and have created a special task force to tour the state, hear feedback from residents and, eventually, draft recommendations for how to update the tax code. That task force recently completed a swing through southern Utah, holding town hall meetings in Richfield and St. George. Those meetings, like others in Salt Lake County and Box Elder County, were well-attended, with residents voicing a range of concerns about whether, and how, to update the state’s tax code without hurting rural economies, small businesses, taxpayers and Utah’s public schools. On this week’s “Trib Talk," reporter Benjamin Wood follows the state’s Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force to St. George to hear directly from the Utahns who are watching, and concerned about, the reform process. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Last week, Abortion-Free Utah launched a campaign to end elective abortion in the state, which includes an upcoming piece of legislation banning the procedure by Riverton Republican Sen. Dan McCay, who said he does not yet know whether his bill will allow exceptions in instances of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. The bill, which would conflict with longstanding court precedents, follows similar legislation in other states and recent anti-abortion resolutions in Utah cities and counties, as well as twin laws approved by the Utah Legislature earlier this year that have been put on hold pending the outcome of litigation. On this week’s “Trib Talk," McCay and Abortion-Free Utah chairwoman Merrilee Boyack join reporter Benjamin Wood to discuss their plans to end abortion in the state. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Included in this year’s state budget is $200,000 for a study on how climate change impacts Utah. Lawmakers say the research is needed to understand and better respond to issues like air quality and pollution. But the Utah Legislature has also shown reluctance to acknowledge climate change, and a campaign to enact a carbon tax is preparing to gather signatures, which could leapfrog lawmakers and put the issue directly before voters. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune reporter Bethany Rodgers, Bountiful Republican Rep. Ray Ward, and Clean the Darn Air co-founder Yoram Bauman join reporter Benjamin Wood to discuss different strategies in the state for addressing air quality and carbon emissions. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

The United States will conduct its once-every-decade census next year, generating critical data that affects government funding, electoral representation and planning for population growth and demographic trends. But while it’s crucial that each and every Utahn be counted, many areas of the state present challenges to a full and accurate census. And state lawmakers decided earlier this year to make no investment toward helping the count — a decision now characterized as a mistake by Republican leaders that could prompt a special legislative session. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune reporter Lee Davidson, Murray Democratic Rep. Karen Kwan, and Salt Lake County Office of New Americans director Ze Min Xiao join reporter Benjamin Wood to discuss the preparations, problems and proposals surrounding the 2020 census. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

In August of 2017, Missouri’s commissioner of education announced that statewide high school exams were so unreliable, their results would be discarded. One month later, the Utah Board of Education hired the same company Missouri did to create its new year-end assessment system, RISE, for all public school children in grades three through eight. The launch of RISE this spring was marked by widespread glitches as half-completed tests were lost to frozen computer screens and whole school districts were locked out of the system. Those issues follow years of frustration with standardized testing in Utah, and have prompted questions on why the state school board chose a company with such a troubled history. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” State Superintendent Sydnee Dickson and Tribune reporter Courtney Tanner join Benjamin Wood to discuss the problems with RISE and what it means for year-end testing in Utah. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

The Salt Lake Tribune is currently seeking approval from the IRS to move to a nonprofit model, supported by donations and a separate foundation focused on local journalism. The move is intended to stabilize and sustain the Tribune’s operations after years of declining revenue, staff layoffs and turbulent ownership changes. But the paper’s plans are also largely unprecedented, prompting questions about structure, content and editorial tone from readers and observers both inside and outside the state. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune editor Jennifer Napier-Pearce joins Benjamin Wood to discuss the future of the Salt Lake Tribune and journalism in Utah. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

The sentencing of convicted fraudster Rick Koerber was delayed — again — this week, adding another chapter to a 10-year legal saga for one of Utah’s most notable Ponzi schemes. But while the Koerber case is unique for its circuitous route to justice, Koerber’s underlying crimes and use of religion to target victims, are relatively common in The Beehive State, according to national statistics and the experience of local attorneys. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk” Tribune legal affairs reporter Jessica Miller and Salt Lake City attorney Mark Pugsley join Benjamin Wood to discuss Utah’s high rate of Ponzi schemes and why the state’s residents are particularly vulnerable to affinity fraud. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Both the Utah Republican and Democratic parties will elect new leaders in the coming weeks, which many voters and elected officials hope will usher in new chapters for the state’s primary political organizations after years of infighting, debts and dysfunction. But the growing participation of unaffiliated voters, pressure from smaller parties, and changes to state law democratizing the candidate nomination process have raised questions about the shifting relevancy and roles of political parties in modern elections. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune reporter Taylor Stevens, United Utah Party chairman Richard Davis and Huntsville Republican Rep. Steve Waldrip join Benjamin Wood to discuss the state of party affiliation in 2019. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

After 11 years and 22 movies, an unprecedented cinematic experiment in interconnected storytelling reaches its culmination this weekend with the release of Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame." Tribune movie critic Sean Means saw the film earlier this week, calling it a four-star finish to a decade of spectacular superhero movies. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune movie critic Sean Means joins Benjamin Wood to discuss the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what it represents for Hollywood, and the films he’s most looking forward to during the 2019 summer movie season. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Utah are suing the state over a new law prohibiting elective abortions after 18 weeks of fetal development. The law — which challenges longstanding Supreme Court precedents — comes at a time when organizations like Planned Parenthood are being told by the Trump Administration to either cease abortion referrals, or walk away from millions of dollars in federal funding. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune reporter Bethany Rodgers and Heather Stringfellow, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood of Utah, join Benjamin Wood to discuss new state laws and federal rules limiting access to elective abortion procedures. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Hundreds of anonymous stories of accusation, intimidation and interrogation at Brigham Young University have been posted to an Instagram account boasting 34,000 followers and calling into question the private school’s enforcement of its honor code. The stories paint a combined portrait of current and former students living in fear and anxiety under the threat of expulsion and eviction due to alleged offenses ranging from extramarital sexual activity, to drug and alcohol use, to breaking curfew. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Sidney Draughon, a BYU alumna and creator of the HonorCodeStories Instagram account, and Tribune reporters Jessica Miller and Erin Alberty join Benjamin Wood to discuss calls for reform at the provo school, and a perceived culture of peer-to-peer spying stemming from strict enforcement of moral and behavioral standards. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Traditionally, Utah state law has allowed anyone, for any reason, to place a tracking device on another person’s car. That’s about to change after the Legislature passed a bill criminalizing the use of trackers without a car owner’s permission, or unless the tracker is placed by a licensed private investigator. Supporters say the change respects privacy and property rights. But the bill generated an at-times heated debate at the Capitol, with some lawmakers questioning whether the exemption for private investigators creates a loophole for Utahns to legally spy on each other. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune reporter Bethany Rodgers, Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Cottonwood Heights, and Michelle Palmer, vice president of the Private Investigators Association of Utah, join Benjamin Wood to discuss Utah’s new vehicle tracking law and the ongoing debate over when, and whether, private investigators should be allowed to trace a person’s movement. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

On Tuesday, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed SB132 into law, lifting the state’s cap on grocery and convenience store beer from 3.2 percent to 4 percent alcohol by weight. The change, made in response to the declining availability of 3.2 beer in the market, maintains Utah’s position as having one of the lowest alcohol content limits in the nation. And its incremental approach divided the state’s brewing community, leading to a boycott of a prominent local beer maker by several bars. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk," Tribune reporter Kathy Stephenson joins Benjamin Wood to discuss the latest change to Utah’s liquor laws, and the industry fallout it prompted in the state. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Utah’s 2019 legislative session adjourned Thursday evening, capping off 45-days off debate on hundreds of new laws that included the replacement of a voter-approved Medicaid expansion initiative, controversial abortion restrictions, hate crimes enhancements and a failed attempt to overhaul the state’s sales tax. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune reporters Benjamin Wood, Bethany Rodgers and Taylor Stevens and Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke discuss all the action at the state Capitol and the political loose ends that will continue into the summer. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

Sandy residents are asking for answers after a malfunction flooded the city’s water system with fluoride, eroding pipes and pushing unsafe levels of minerals and contamination into people’s homes. The incident has raised accusations of negligence and mismanagement, and reignited a debate over the value of mandatory fluoridation. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Sandy City Deputy Mayor Evelyn Everton and Tribune government reporter Taylor Stevens join Benjamin Wood to discuss the cause of the contamination, the city’s response, and its potential impact on water-treatment debates in Salt Lake County. Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.

During his State of the State Address, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said his number-one priority for the 2019 legislative session would be the development of a more equitable, simple and sustainable tax system. Now, after more than two weeks of debate dominated by Medicaid expansion, legislators say they’re ready to turn their attention toward tax reform and a potential tax cut of more than $200 million. But they’ve also expressed skepticism toward some pieces of the governor’s proposal. On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Governor Herbert, his deputy chief of staff Paul Edwards and Kristen Cox, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, join Benjamin Wood to discuss potential reforms to the state’s sales tax. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. “Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.