Salt Lake Dirt

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

---

Episode Links:

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

Visit Salt Lake Dirt for more interviews

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

---

Episode Links:

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

Visit Salt Lake Dirt for more interviews

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

---

Episode Links:

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

Visit SALT LAKE DIRT for more interviews

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

---

Episode Links:

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

Visit Salt Lake Dirt

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

---

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

---

Episode Links:

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

Visit SALT LAKE DIRT

Today I had the chance to sit down with V.N. Alexander to talk about her new novel, The Girlie Playhouse (Heresy Press 4.7.26) I completely devoured this book. It’s a first-person account narrated by a dancer named Pixie, who is trying to make sense of her world and the memory of her mother. What really pulled me in wasn't just the setting of the cabaret, but the way Alexander handles the internal lives of these women. They aren't characters to feel sorry for; they are people with incredible agency who just happen to be working in a world that the rest of the public often treats like a caricature.

One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation was learning that this book sat in a drawer for thirty years. Alexander wrote it decades ago, and hearing her talk about how the world has—and hasn’t—changed since then was eye-opening. We got into the weeds on everything from the "culture clash" she felt moving from Texas to New York, to the way cell phones have completely killed the vibe of modern nightclubs. She even read a passage for us that perfectly captures that rare, meditative feeling of being completely lost in the moment while dancing.

It’s a great read, and our conversation touched on a lot more than just the plot. We talked about the obsessive nature of writing, her background in science, and why we’re so quick to judge people based on their professions. It was one of those interviews where I felt like I really got to know the person behind the prose. Give the episode a listen to hear more about the "seven strippers" tabloid headline that inspired part of the plot and why she spent so much time crafting every single sentence.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

---

Episode Links:

• VNAlexander.com
• Purchase The Girlie Playhouse
• Heresy Press

Salt Lake Dirt Links:

SaltLakeDirt.com

Linktree @saltlakedirt

Elle Nash - Episode 366

Kyler sits down with author Elle Nash to discuss the practical side of maintaining a long-term writing career. Following the release of her most recent novel, Deliver Me, Elle shares her perspective on the creative process and the importance of pacing oneself to avoid hitting a wall. The conversation covers the realities of the publishing industry and the need to protect your mental energy while staying committed to the craft. Instead of focusing on the "hustle," they explore how to keep the work sustainable and why defining success on your own terms is essential for any artist.

Thanks for listening!

---

Episode Links:

• ElleNash.net
• Purchase Deliver Me
• IG: @saderotica
• Substack

Previous SLD Episodes with Elle Nash:

• Episode 163 - Deliver Me
• Episode 58 - Gag Reflex

In this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler reports from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival—the final year of the festival’s historic run in Park City.

Kyler sits down with actor and musician Aaron Conte to discuss his role in the episodic project The Screener, a series created by Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe that tackles the high-stakes world of white-collar crime and the protection of independent film. Beyond the new series, Aaron reflects on his roots in the 1990s New York music scene as a founding member of the band Nada Surf and shares how his background as a drummer eventually fueled his transition into acting.

On today's episode Kyler welcomes filmmaker Matthew Avant to discuss his compelling new documentary pilot, Roots and Relics. Inspired by his father’s passion for history and a lifetime spent visiting historic sites, Matthew has created a show that focuses on the deep-seated stories behind family heirlooms. The conversation explores the project's origins, starting with Matthew’s early days filming family interviews in 2001 and evolving into a series that uses unique artifacts as windows into the past.

A central highlight of the discussion is the fascinating history of Blacktail Ranch, where Matthew filmed his pilot. He recounts the harrowing story of a 19th-century miner named Joe Baker, whose final words were discovered etched into a limestone rock after a grizzly bear attack—a "final text" from 1881 that now sits in a family museum alongside a 5-mile-deep cavern filled with 13,000-year-old artifacts. Beyond the history, Matthew shares insights into his creative process, working with host J.D. Hart, and his diverse background in sci-fi and horror filmmaking. Be sure to catch the screening of Roots and Relics at Dances with Films in New York City on Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 PM.

---

Episode Links:

• IG: @rootsandrelicstv
• Media Savant
• Dances with Films
• Blacktail Ranch