Salt Lake Dirt

Today I sit down with author Julie Brill to discuss her profound memoir, Hidden in Plain Sight. The book chronicles her father’s survival as a young Jewish boy in Belgrade during World War II, bringing to light a pivotal yet frequently overlooked chapter of the Holocaust in Serbia. During our conversation, Julie shared how her father’s vivid early memories—from the surprise April 1941 bombing of Belgrade to his time on his grandmother’s farm—served as the starting point for a journey that spanned decades. We explored the concept of "post-memory," examining how descendants inherit, absorb, and navigate these raw family narratives, as well as the remarkable resilience of the women in her family who managed to shield a young child from terror in an extraordinarily unsafe world.

What makes Hidden in Plain Sight so compelling is how Julie skillfully weaves intimate family recollections with meticulous historical research, expanding a personal search into a vital record of Belgrade's Sephardic Jewish community. From analyzing historical street passes to traveling back to Serbia alongside her father and daughters, Julie’s journey demonstrates how recovering forgotten histories bridges generations.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

JulieBrill.com

Kyler sits down with actor, comedian, writer, and director Jerry Minor (Abbott Elementary, Mr. Show, Saturday Night Live, Curb Your Enthusiasm just to name a few).

Jerry traces his comedic roots starting out in Detroit, navigating the early days of Second City across multiple locations, and developing a passion for scene-based long-form improv. He shares insights into the evolving landscape of auditioning—from setting up self-tapes on a theater stage to taking control of your own space—and offers a candid look at the challenges and fulfillment of directing. The conversation also covers his role as the hilariously accurate Mr. Morton on Abbott Elementary, his time playing Michael Jackson’s magical glove in the Bunraku-style puppet show For the Love of the Glove, and hosting his YouTube comedy show, Playing the Back of the Room.

Make sure to check out the new season of Abbott Elementary premiering on October 7th. Great chat, thanks for listening!

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Episode Links:

• YouTube: Playing the Back of the Room
• Freedom of Mind Livestream
• SLD Post

Today Kyler sits down with writer-director Misha Calvert and actor Coco Jourdana to discuss their short film, FAULT, which has its West Coast premiere at the HollyShorts Film Festival. Inspired by Jourdana’s own life, the drama uses elite competitive tennis as a backdrop to examine sisterhood, personal trauma, and complex power dynamics. The conversation focuses on how individuals process trauma in radically different ways. Calvert and Jourdana share why they moved the story onto the tennis court, using the sport as a visual metaphor for the tension between the two main characters as long-held secrets come to light. Jourdana speaks candidly about drawing from her personal history and how stepping into the role provided a sense of catharsis. The group also reflects on navigating the festival circuit—from Tribeca to HollyShorts—and why staying active in creative communities matters for independent artists. FAULT screens on August 18th at 2:30pm the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, with future updates shared via @faultfilmofficial on Instagram.

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Episode Links:

• IG: @faultfilmofficial
• Purchase tickets for HollyShorts

Kyler recently caught up with author Zoe Hansen to discuss her memoir, Going Down in Gotham, published by Far West Press. Kyler praises the book as one of his absolute favorite reads of the year, highlighting its pocket-sized paperback format—designed by the publisher to evoke classic, throw-in-your-back-pocket paperbacks—and its eye-catching cover art by Berlin-based artist Olya Dyer.

The conversation explores Hansen’s experience writing about her decades navigating addiction, New York City’s sex industry, and running brothels from the East Village to Uptown—including how 9/11 dramatically shifted those businesses. The two also talked about writing routines, navigating the modern publishing world, and avoiding the sanitized "redemption arc" narratives in favor of honesty.

Going Down in Gotham is available through Far West Press, and readers can find Zoe Hansen Instagram (@thez0e).

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Episode Links:

• Purchase Going Down in Gotham
• IG: @thez0e
• SLD Post

Exploring Global Lessons and Resilience with Peter Felix

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author Peter Felix to talk about his memoir, Around the World in 80 Years. Drawing from a life spanning multiple continents, Felix traces his journeys from early volunteer work in East Pakistan to witnessing the Vietnam War firsthand and living through key political shifts in Hong Kong. Driven by a lifelong itch to travel and a deep curiosity about the world, Felix shares how saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities shaped his expansive perspective.

The interview also touches on the practical wisdom gained over his career, including his thoughts on facing career disruptions. Felix discusses how getting laid off early in life serves as an essential reality check that builds self-reliance and adaptability. Beyond his book, Felix hosts the Meet Our Explorers podcast, produced by the Scientific Exploration Society (SES) and available at ses-explore.org. Listeners looking to hear more can find Around the World in 80 Years through major booksellers.

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Episode Links:

• Purchase Around the World in 80 Years
• Podcast: Meet Our Explorers

Commemorating 50 Years of Women at the Air Force Academy in Necessary Turbulence

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler speaks with author Eileen Isola about Necessary Turbulence: Fifty Years, One Unbreakable Sisterhood Forged in the Crucible of the Air Force Academy. Written by a team of nine female Air Force Academy graduates to mark the 50th anniversary of women entering military academies, the book draws from 108 individual contributors—spanning from the inaugural class of 1980 to 2026 graduates—to tell the collective story of over 12,000 women. Guided by Maureen Murdock's "heroine's journey" framework, the narrative charts their shared path through four key phases (Crossing, Navigating, Becoming, and Thriving), offering a universal story of resilience, leadership, and institutional transformation.

Isola highlighted the project's unique "collective we" narrative voice, which unifies diverse personal accounts—from high-stakes combat and emergency evacuations to survival humor—into a single narrative arc. She reflected on the intense scrutiny and cultural hurdles faced by early classes, emphasizing how their shared oath forged an unbreakable sisterhood. Ultimately, Isola sees the book as an essential blueprint and source of validation for future generations of women entering male-dominated fields. Readers can learn more and arrange book events at necessaryturbulence.com.

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Episode Links:

• Purchase Necessary Turbulence
• NecessaryTurbulence.com

Memory, Secrecy, and Sisterhood in Juliet Faithful’s Liar’s Dice

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author Juliet Faithfull to discuss her novel Liar’s Dice. Set against the backdrop of 1970s Brazil under a military dictatorship, the story follows identical twin sisters Dolores and Mita, who grow up in a rural village. After Mita develops disabilities around age seven, she is abruptly sent away to an institution—a common practice of the era that left families shrouded in silent grief and shame. Driven by a desperate determination to find her sister, 12-year-old Dolores embarks on a quest that requires her to confront her family's denial and overcome her own illiteracy so she can write to Mita. Faithful draws on her own childhood experiences to parallel the family's buried trauma with the broader political climate of censorship, state lies, and resistance in Brazil.

During their discussion, Faithful reflected on her long journey toward finishing the book, which was developed over two decades while balancing her career as a therapist and raising two children. She shared how writing the dual timelines was both emotionally challenging and deeply essential, forcing her to confront themes of hidden identity, literacy, and truth-telling. Faithful also explained the origin of the title Liar's Dice, referencing a poker-like game of chance and deception that mirrors the secrecy surrounding the family, government censorship, and Dolores's own quiet rebellions. Readers looking to explore this moving novel can find copies through major booksellers or connect with the author for book club visits at julietfaithful.com.

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Episode Links:

• Purchase Liar's Dice
• JulietFaithfull.com

Navigating Darkness and Youth in Erica Kent's Black Dog

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler interviews author Erica Kent about her novel Black Dog. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s, the story begins on the night of John Lennon's murder and follows protagonist Jessica Ryder from age 11 as she navigates adolescence and a rapid descent into heavy substance abuse. Drawing inspiration from Winston Churchill’s phrase for depression, Kent uses the "black dog" as a powerful metaphor for the looming presence of addiction. The book explores the complex realities of growing up fast, highlighting the stark contrast between a young girl's inner struggles and the surrounding decade's distinct pop culture.

During their conversation, Kent discussed her approach to capturing an authentic youth perspective, noting how her experience working with students helped shape Jessica's refreshingly blunt and dramatic voice. Rather than following a rigid outline, Kent built the novel organically out of vivid snapshot scenes and recursive drafts, trusting her gut over traditional advice. The interview also highlights the novel's poignant central dynamic: a deep, shared love of literature between Jessica and her father as they both struggle to support one another through their respective battles. Readers interested in this striking novel can find Black Dog through major booksellers or visit ericakent.com.

Episode Links:

• Purchase through Bookshop.org
• Purchase on Amazon
• EricaKent.com

Episode 415:

Today Kyler speaks with filmmaker Jeremy Max about his upcoming short film Bleeder, screening at the HollyShorts Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 20th.

Jeremy discusses the genesis of the project—how a period of personal disconnect and grief transformed into a story about a former boxer who takes on a job getting beaten up to cope with repressed trauma. He shares what it was like working with former professional boxer turned actor John Duddy, as well as the choice and technical challenges of shooting the film on 16mm to achieve a gritty, textured visual style.

Thanks for listening!

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Episode Links:

• JeremyMax.co
• Purchase Tickets: Thursday, August 20, 2026 10:00 PM PDT TCL Chinese 6 Theater

John Fraser: Grayscale Morality, Darkroom Nostalgia, and 'Choir Girl'

On today's episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler chats with Australian writer and director John Fraser about his feature film, Choir Girl.

John shares the long road to bringing the project to life, tracing its origin from an Australian song lyric to a gritty, black-and-white noir set in the world of analog photography. The two discuss the tactile nostalgia of darkrooms, navigating rejection in independent filmmaking, and exploring urban decay through morally complex characters. John also breaks down the influences behind the film, comparing its atmospheric tone and themes to classics like Taxi Driver and Joker.

Great film, great chat. Thanks for listening!

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Episode Links:

• FB: @ChoirGirlMovie
• Film Trailer
• Stream on Tubi
• Watch on Apple TV