KSL Brightside

By Bonneville Salt LakeComedy Society & Culture News

KSL Brightside episodes

May 11 Parking Fights, Passport Crackdowns & Everything In Between
Ethan and Alex discuss a recent update from Utah health officials on Utahns exposed to hantavirus. Plus, a debate making waves in Florida over parking spot rules, fueled by new conversations about who deserves priority access. The hosts end the first how discussing how the federal government prepares to revoke passports from parents behind on child support.
In hour 2, Ethan and Alex break down the consideration for a federal gas tax suspension amid the war in Iran and high gas prices. Then we pivot to Utah updates—from the Jazz’s plans around their #2 draft pick to the state’s first-ever historical museum, a project aiming to bridge past and present. Rounding things out, Texas launches a lawsuit accusing Netflix of harmful data practices.
1 hr 32 min
May 11 Afterparty: Tornado Kitten Rescue, Viral Downfalls & Weekend Wallet Mysteries
Ethan and Alex kick things off with another update on Hantavirus, with the help of an AI‑generated Hantavirus rap about symptoms, followed by the heart‑melting true story of a kitten pulled alive from Mississippi tornado rubble. From there, we jump to the internet’s collective lament over beloved things ruined by becoming too popular. We also look into why Americans tip less on weekends, according to the Wall Street Journal. To end the stream, a discussion on the rise of budget grocery chains and the tension between “shameful” and “savvy” discount shopping.

43 min
May 08 Movies that Stink, Costco Chicken Tenders and UFO’s
KSL Brightside serves up a full buffet of the bizarre and the brilliant. Val Cameron of the KSL Movie Show, stops by to break down the movies that stink, we run through the Three Things—including a hacked Canvas that’s come back to life, a historically bad snowmelt year, and Costco’s new chicken tender craze—before diving into America’s uncertain relationship with chicken. Then it’s UFO files, GLP‑1 judgment, World Cup sticker shock, and your texts on Mother’s Day gifts NOT to give… plus what’s going on with Bigfoot.
1 hr 24 min
May 08 Afterparty: Mother’s Day, Weird Cars and TMI
We start with a conversation on bad gifts to give for Mother’s Day, jump to a car that gets more miles per gallon than your brain can process, peek into the new world of parking‑lot license plate readers to curb retail theft, and end with a deep dive into why oversharing might be your secret social superpower.

36 min
May 07 Spirit Airlines for Sale (Apparently), Paid Parking in Ogden & Bear Attacks - Oh My!
From Ogden’s new paid‑parking plan and Provo’s smart conservation move near Slate Canyon to Salt Lake City’s heated debate over a street‑camping ban, we’re breaking down 3 things happening across Utah before diving into the internet’s latest group project: buying Spirit Airlines.

We touch on Utah’s national spotlight for measles and hantavirus, with a check-in from Steve on his new hantavirus cruise line. We also question whether Disney Adults are actually the happiest debtors alive and explore why younger generations refuse to answer phone calls as telephobia rises.

Then it’s No Mow May—a benefit for pollinators, or does it just create a tick problem? Ethan walks through what to do in a real bear attack, and finally, a little digital spring‑cleaning to wrap things up.
1 hr 30 min
May 06 New E-Bike Regulations, Kamikaze Dolphins and Space Junk!

Ethan and Alex tackle the wave of new Utah laws taking effect today—from roundabout rules to the kratom ban and new e‑bike helmet requirements—before jumping into Jeff Bezos selling his yacht in a classic “First World Problems” moment. They explore the strange story of alleged kamikaze dolphins, break down a Yellowstone bear attack with real survival tips, and dig into whether the four‑day school week is gaining traction. KSL NewsRadio’s Eric Cabrera joins KSL Brightside to discuss the pressure families feel from overscheduled kids. NASA ambassador Patrick Wiggins weighs in on growing space‑trash concerns, and the show wraps with a nod to KSL NewsRadio’s 104th birthday.
1 hr 23 min
May 06 Afterparty: First World Problems, Flavored Vapes, and No More Kratom!

Ethan and Alex kick things off by unpacking Jeff Bezos’ decision to sell his mega‑yacht, then jump into the return of fruit‑flavored vaping—now with a smartphone twist—and Utah’s crackdown on kratom. The chaos continues as they debate Delta’s snack‑less flights and Alex confronts Ethan’s growing Hantavirus fixation.
42 min
May 05Sprinkler shaming, Cinco de Mayo, and school cell phone bans don't work?
Ethan and Alex kick off the radio show with a quick hit of Utah’s biggest conversations of the day: from the state’s favorite license plate and rising cougar encounters to the fiery Box Elder datacenter debate that packed a room with frustrated residents. Utah’s new ban on prop bets is set to go into effect, the hosts discuss how this opens up the conversation parents need to have with their kids about gambling.

Ethan and Alex talk with Bret Rawson of the law firm Nelson Jones, also general counsel of the Utah Fraternal Order of Police and a former police officer, about when bystanders should intervene in law enforcement situations, following an incident over the weekend. Alex quizzes Ethan on Cinco de Mayo.

The second hour covers drought‑driven sprinkler shaming, July 4th wildfire worries, new research on school cell‑phone bans, and a viral teacher who turns student emails into emo anthems.

Three trending things
Which Utah license plate looks the best? A surprisingly passionate statewide debate.
Cougar sightings are up. Wildlife officials explain why encounters are increasing and how to stay safe.
Box Elder Data Center drama. A packed, heated meeting as commissioners approve the next step of a controversial data‑center proposal. We reset the story: why residents are upset, what the project actually is, and why commissioners say it’s still far from a done deal. (Plenty of sound opportunities from last night’s crowd.)
Utah’s ban on prop betting goes into effect Wednesday
Utah’s new restriction on proposition betting takes effect Wednesday. The state is pushing back against prediction‑market platforms that insist they’re not gambling. We explain what prop bets are, why the state is cracking down, and how parents can talk to kids about online money‑risk traps.

Should you intervene with law enforcement?
A passerby helped UHP troopers arrest a knife‑wielding man — raising a big question: When is it smart to intervene in law enforcement situations?
Ethan and Alex bring on guest Bret Rawson, attorney, former police officer, and general counsel for the Utah Fraternal Order of Police, to break down the risks and realities of civilian intervention.

Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday
Food deals, quick history, and a rapid‑fire Cinco de Mayo quiz to close out the hour.

Sprinkler shame
Utah’s drought continues and it turns out, there are ways to report your neighbor for wasting water. We ask: Would you turn in your neighbor for watering too early?

Fireworks & the Fourth of July
A dry winter + the nation’s 250th anniversary = fire officials and veterans bracing for a risky July 4th. We look at wildfire concerns, safety warnings, and what communities may need to rethink this year.

School cell phone bans don’t change test scores… But that’s not the point
A new study says school cell‑phone bans don’t change attendance or test scores. A new study claims phone bans don’t affect attendance or academic performance. Alex walks through the real concern of what students are doing on their phones in school and the aftereffects.

Teacher turns student emails into emo songs
A teacher has gone viral for transforming student emails into full‑blown emo tracks. Ethan and Alex listen to the song and discuss the emails.
1 hr 27 min
May 05 KSL Brightside Afterparty: Rodent Droppings, No Filming on Flights and Teacher Emo Emails
A study claiming school cell‑phone bans don’t change attendance or test scores — while the real issue may be the nonstop digital drama happening off the record; a rare and unsettling hantavirus situation that turns a routine health segment into a crash course on rodent‑borne risks. Alex and Ethan talk about new restrictions from UK airlines that are reshaping what travel vloggers or anyone can film in the air. Alex and Ethan end the stream with a teacher who turned his students’ emails into an emo song.

Welcome, School Cell Phone Ban research, and more
Ethan and Alex kick off day 2 of KSL Brightside... they mention a new study claims phone bans don’t affect attendance or academic performance, but Alex is worried about other issues phones are causing in the classroom.
Health Class: Rodent Droppings & Rare Human‑to‑Human Hantavirus
As a suspected cruise‑ship outbreak raises unsettling questions.. We talk about what hantavirus actually is, why rodent exposure matters, and how public‑health messaging walks the line between caution and panic.
YouTuber Problems: UK Airlines Crack Down on In‑Flight Filming
British Airways and others are tightening rules on recording in the cabin — including bans on filming crew without consent and outright prohibitions on livestreaming.
Teacher Turns Student Emails Into Emo Songs
A teacher goes viral for transforming student emails into full‑blown emo tracks.
41 min
May 04 Ethan & Alex Are Back! Welcome to KSL Brightside
Ethan and Alex kick off KSL Brightside with a proper welcome‑back—who they are, where they’ve been, and why they’re here. From there, the conversation shifts into the “Perfect Parent Club” as Utah revisits a big question: should parents be allowed to teach their own kids driver’s ed? The crew brings it to the audience for debate.
Then it’s full travel mode: Spirit Airlines’ sudden shutdown sparks passenger chaos, airlines raise fares but people keep booking. Fake voicemails from a very fake former KSL exec interrupt the show, and a non-fake, very alive, Doug Wright surprises Ethan and Alex.
The show keeps rolling with students racing through online degrees, three trending stories you won’t believe (including illegal vape sales, dishwasher radio voices, and Trump passports), and whether convenience stores like Maverik should worry about fast‑food competition. Ethan and Alex wrap with Utah outdoors news—from stocking prehistoric fish to what to do if animals are nesting near your home.
1 hr 25 min

About KSL Brightside

From the publisher's feed

KSL Brightside. A smart take on life, current events, and everything important to you and your family - With a dose of fun. Join Ethan Millard and Alex Kirry every weekday from 1-3 on KSL…