In this latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I was so happy to welcome filmmaker Michelle Bossy back to the show. Michelle is someone who stays incredibly busy—she’s actually directed 20+ short films and two features at this point—so it’s always a treat to catch up with her and see what she’s been working on. This time around, we took a deep dive into two of her latest short films, "We Regret to Inform You" and "Exception(al)," both of which have been making some serious noise on the festival circuit.

We started things off talking about "We Regret to Inform You," which was written by and stars Michelle’s long-time friend, Zina Wilde. It’s a 13-minute film that manages to be both funny and deeply moving, using a bit of magical realism to explore the universal pain of a bad breakup. Xena’s script likens heartbreak to a terminal heart condition, where a bumbling health insurance operator, played wonderfully by Kai Lennox, calls to tell her it’s her last day of life. It’s a beautiful, textured piece of storytelling that really packs an emotional punch in a short amount of time.

Then we went on to talk about "Exception(al)," which was written by and stars another massive talent, Molly Powers. This one was filmed right on the campus of Brooklyn College during the summer. Molly drew from her own personal experiences in film school to dramatize the feeling of being an outsider, often as the only woman or Asian American person in the room. It explores complex themes of representation and microaggressions in academia without ever feeling pitying. Michelle even shared a great behind-the-scenes story about having to scale a campus fence after the crew got locked in on the final day of shooting!

Beyond the films, Michelle also gave us a look at her extensive work in theater. She’s currently involved with a play about Bill Cosby written by Janine Nabers that’s heading to Los Angeles this fall, and she’s been touring the world with a production called "A Poem and a Mistake." If you want to keep up with what she’s doing, you can find her on Instagram at @michellebossydirects or check out her feature film "Nobody’s Home" on Apple.

On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I had the pleasure of talking with writer Jennifer Ostopovich. Based in Calgary, Canada, Jennifer shares her fascinating path from being an obsessive childhood reader to becoming a "pandemic writer". Despite being what she calls a "lousy student" who struggled with the sensory overload of traditional classrooms, she was reading adult novels by Stephen King and Clive Barker as early as second grade. Growing up in a rural trailer park without cable or a telephone, books became her primary window into the world, offering a connection to characters that television simply couldn't match.

Our conversation touches on Jennifer's transition from writing a spy thriller during the lockdowns to finding her voice in the literary community online. She discusses her affinity for transgressive literature and her commitment to writing about uncomfortable topics like poverty and abuse—subjects often overlooked in more academic circles. We also talk about her short story "Guts," which explores the raw emotional landscape of childhood, and her unique piece "Albatross," which uses a parrot to sketch out the complexities of heartache and hope.

Jennifer is also an editor for Hobart and runs an active book club on Twitter/X, where she continues to champion indie and transgressive authors. She is currently putting the finishing touches on a short story collection and has a novel ready for the right publisher. You can follow her work on Substack or connect with her on Twitter/X at @jrostopovich to join her upcoming book club discussions. Episode Links:

• Jennifer's website
• Substack
• X: @jrostopovich

For more interviews visit Salt Lake Dirt.

⁠SLD MIXTAPE Special:⁠

⁠Pain and Yearning with Leah Lawson⁠

Musician ⁠Leah Lawson⁠ joined me for this episode of the Salt Lake Dirt Mixtape to talk about the themes of Pain and Yearning. We got into how music works as a "balm" or medicine for the human condition, helping people process complex emotions.

We talked about the vulnerability of songwriting and how music that starts out as something personal often ends up being for everyone else. Leah mentioned she is a "lyrics-first" person when listening to a track, while I admitted I usually tune into the drums first. We also touched on finding new music, whether that's through word of mouth or falling down TikTok rabbit holes.

⁠Listen to the Full Playlist HERE⁠

• "In My Room" – Julia Wolfe
• "In Violet" - Searows
• "So What" – MUNA
• "Kill Her Freak Out" – Samia
• "Shutter Island" – Sasha Cee
• "Moon High" – Joshua Burnside
• "Nirvana" – Drew Danburry
• "Nobody" – Mitski

Where to find Leah:Leah is online pretty much everywhere you stream music—⁠Spotify, ⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠, Apple Music, and Tidal. She’s got a new record recorded that should be out late summer or early fall.

• ⁠LeahLawson.com⁠
• ⁠IG: @llawson⁠

We are trying out a new format for some of our radio episodes on KPCR. I’ll be inviting former guests back to the studio to act as guest DJs, curated around a specific theme for every episode. For those who want to listen on the go, these radio specials will now be available as a Spotify playlist.

Episode 1: Heartbreak with Liv Rylan

My first guest for this series is the incredible musician Liv Rylan. We decided to kick things off with a theme that is arguably the reason music was invented in the first place: Heartbreak.

The Mixtape:

• "It Can't Be You" – Ash
• "You Are What You Love" – Jenny Lewis
• "Tough Act to Follow" – Maisie Peters
• "No Hard Feelings" – The Avett Brothers
• "17" – Keaton Henson

Episode Links:

Heartbreak with Liv Rylan playlist

• LivRylan.com
• Listen to Liv on Spotify
• IG: @livrylan

Ross Barkan’s latest novel, Colossus, introduces us to Teddy Starr, a charismatic pastor and real estate mogul in small-town Michigan who embodies the quintessential American success story. Yet, beneath the polished veneer of his multimillion-dollar empire and "All-American" family life lies a calculated web of deception and a past he is actively outrunning. During our conversation, Ross noted that while Teddy is a man of God, he is equally a man of intense materialism, frequently justifying behavior—from his predatory business dealings in trailer parks to his secret personal life—that stands in direct opposition to his preached faith.

What makes Colossus particularly gripping is the complex first-person narrative that forces the reader into Teddy's headspace. Barkan crafts a character who constantly justifies the objectively wrong, seducing the reader into his own internal logic. It is a compact, propulsive work that moves beyond typical contemporary trends to deliver a genuine, often unsettling persona. Ross described the writing process as a challenge in staying in character, much like an actor, to ensure the voice never breaks.

Beyond the novel, we discussed Ross’s work with the Metropolitan Review, a literary magazine he co-founded to provide a space for ambitious writing and democratic literary culture. The publication focuses on deep dives and reviews of new literature, often highlighting works that the larger conglomerate publishers might neglect. Whether you are interested in the shifting landscape of independent publishing or looking for a story that takes sharp, unexpected turns, this episode offers a deep dive into the craft of creating a character who thinks he is a "good guy" while harboring dark secrets.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• PURCHASE Colossus
• Ross Barkan's Substack
• The Metropolitan Review

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I recently sat down with author Victoria Hood to talk about her latest collection, Destroy Me, Desecrate My Bones. Victoria has a way of capturing the strange, often uncomfortable tensions of everyday life, and it was interesting to hear her talk about her "unapologetically weird" style and why she finds herself drawn to the "vibe" of a story—the mood and the setting—just as much as the plot itself. 

We also got into the realities of being a writer today, from the grind of submitting to literary journals to the importance of finding a community that supports your specific voice. Victoria shared some great insights into her creative process, including how she handles the "longing" that gives her book its title—the feeling of being in between places or identities. It was a very grounded, honest conversation about the work that goes into making art that doesn't always fit into a neat little box.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• PURCHASE the book
• Purchase on Amazon
• Follow Victoria on Instagram
• Queen City Scribes - Instagram

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I had a great time talking with poet Dylan Krieger about her latest collection, No One Is Daddy. Dylan has such a sharp, singular voice, and we spent a lot of time talking about how she uses humor and linguistic play to navigate some pretty heavy themes like religious and patriarchal trauma. It was interesting to hear her perspective on the "Southern Gothic" identity and how growing up in a certain kind of environment shaped her need to push back against literal and figurative authority figures. She has a way of balancing high-level literary ideas with a raw, unpolished energy that fits right in with what we try to do here.

We also talked about her creative process and how this book serves as a bit of a "divine comedy" that draws on her own family history and "auto-fictional" elements. Dylan isn't afraid to get a little heretical or uncomfortable, finding a weird kind of grace in the messy intersections of history and poetry. Whether you've followed her work since Giving Godhead or are just discovering her now, it was a really honest conversation with one of the most provocative minds writing today.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• PURCHASE No One Is Daddy
• DylanKrieger.com
• IG: @dylanwk

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I recently had the chance to chat with author David Fishkind to talk about his new book, Don't Step Into My Office. I picked this book up about a month ago and it immediately grabbed me—it is exactly the kind of writing I dig, and I have a feeling a lot of you will feel the same way. David describes the book as a "maximalist" mix of neo-noir, murder mystery, and family dramedy. It follows a protagonist named Jacob Garlicker who stumbles into a murder on a beach in 2016 and then basically spends the next several years trying to forget it ever happened. We talked a lot about how the story bridges the gap between stylish, "affectless" fiction and a more driving, genre-heavy plot.

One of the most interesting parts of our chat was David's honest take on the publishing world. After a rough experience a decade ago, he found a home at Arcade Publishing, which has quickly become one of my favorite publishers because they aren't afraid to put out incredible, unconventional books. We also dug into why it took five years between writing the first chapter and finishing the manuscript, a real-life time lapse that actually mirrors the timeline of the book itself. For the fellow book nerds listening, David dropped some heavy-hitting recommendations for the noir rabbit hole, citing names like Raymond Chandler, James Crumley, and Chester Himes as major influences on his style.

If you want to grab a copy of the book, he suggests checking out Oblong Books—an independent shop in the Hudson Valley.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• PURCHASE Don't Step Into My Office
• PURCHASE through Oblong Books
• David's Readlng List 2016-2025 (A Must!)

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I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with two of my favorite creators, Todd Hughes and Tim Kirk, for a special episode of Salt Lake Dirt. These two have such a unique history—they grew up together in California and have been collaborating on films since they were twelve years old. It was great to hear them reminisce about their early days shooting Super 8 shorts like Whopper, which surprisingly ended up being cited in a book on exploitation cinema decades later. Their chemistry is exactly what you’d expect from lifelong friends: full of hilarious stories, mutual respect, and a shared obsession with film history and indie culture.

We spent a good chunk of time diving into the chaos they caused back in high school as editors of the Claremont High yearbook. Getting booed at their own graduation, they certainly left a mark. It was great to hear how those early years paved the way for their successful careers in documentaries and literature, leading all the way to the Cannes Film Festival. I'm convinced these two need to start their own podcast! Thanks for listening.

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• Todd's Website
• Tim's Website
• Todd Hughes on Episode 86 of SLD
• Tim Kirk on Episode 354 of SLD

For more on Salt Lake Dirt...

I've always loved reading as a way to step into another person's perspective, which is exactly why Natalie Davis’s new memoir, Saying Yes: My Adventures in Polyamory, caught my eye. Natalie spent years writing legal briefs for the Department of Justice before pivoting to a much more vulnerable form of storytelling. What started as emails to a friend evolved into a decade-long chronicle of her transition from a traditional monogamous marriage into the world of consensual non-monogamy.

We had a great conversation about the concept of "Relationship Anarchy"—the process of breaking down default social structures to intentionally rebuild them in a way that actually works for you. She’s also doing important advocacy work regarding the legal stigmas that still surround non-monogamous families, who often lack basic workplace and housing protections.

Great book, great chat! Thanks for listening.

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• PURCHASE Saying Yes: My Adventures in Polyamory
• Natalie Davis Adventures
• IG: @nataliedavisadventures

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