Small Lake City

You’ve probably seen it too: hydration powders with massive sodium, “greens” packed with mystery blends, and ads that imply you need three different supplements before lunch. We sit down with Shannon O’Grady, CEO of Gnarly Nutrition and a PhD-trained nutrition scientist, to get a straight answer on what actually works in sports nutrition and what’s mostly just expensive storytelling.

We dig into the current electrolyte craze, why most people don’t need daily electrolytes for a normal workout, and how to think about sodium without getting swept up by trends. Shannon breaks down creatine as one of the most researched supplements on the planet, what it’s good for, and where the cognition claims can get overblown. We also talk about the supplement industry problems that frustrate educated consumers: proprietary blends, “fairy dust” dosages, and labels designed to look scientific while staying impossible to verify.

Then we go deeper on trust and safety: GMP compliance, NSF-style third-party auditing, contaminant testing, and banned-substance screening for athletes and regular people who simply don’t want sketchy ingredients in their routine. Along the way, Shannon shares her own path from endurance sports and research to leading a brand, plus why jiu-jitsu has become her favorite teacher of resilience and calm under pressure.

If you care about clean ingredients, transparent labels, and evidence-based supplements you can actually trust, this one will sharpen your filter fast. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s drowning in supplement ads, and leave a review with the one product claim you want us to fact-check next.

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Get your tickets to Strada Saturdays on Oct. 10th here

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A bachelorette season vanishes three days before it airs. A Utah murder case ends with a fast jury decision. People are reportedly seen in handcuffs at the Salt Lake City airport. If you felt like Utah hit the national feed on every app at once, you’re not imagining it, and we sort through what actually happened and why it matters.

We start with the Kouri Richins verdict, a major Utah court story that has pulled in true-crime attention far beyond the state. We talk through what the jury decided, what comes next with sentencing, and why this case feels so specifically Utah even if you can’t quite put it into words. Then we dig into the Taylor Frankie Paul situation, from MomTok fame to a finished season of The Bachelorette getting pulled after footage from a past domestic violence incident resurfaced. It’s messy, it’s human, and it forces a real conversation about what networks will overlook until the optics shift.

From there, we hit the week’s fast-moving Salt Lake City news: reports tied to an ICE detention facility and possible deportation flights, BYU backing off an honor code hair requirement for an Indigenous student’s traditional braids, ski season closing dates, and a huge downtown development move as Western Governors University buys property tied to the Sheraton Hotel closure. We also talk about new arts infrastructure in South Jordan, a Granary District park proposal that carries complicated history, the latest on Utah’s congressional map fight after Prop 4, and Netflix dropping yet another Utah polygamy abuse documentary.

If you like sharp, local reporting with the bigger cultural picture, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What story from this week do you want us to dig into next?

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A neon green building with purple doors shouldn’t feel terrifying, but for years Salt Lake City drivers couldn’t shake the same question: why does a “working daycare” look abandoned, silent, and sealed off from the world? Fun Time Kidz Kare at 1248 South 300 East became a piece of modern Utah folklore because locals claimed they never saw a single child walk through its doors. That one observation was enough to turn a commute time curiosity into a viral internet mystery.

We follow the moment the story catches fire on Reddit in 2015, then spreads into a full scale online investigation: a suspiciously slapped together daycare website, a near identical cloned site in another state, phone calls that end in hang ups, and eerie anecdotes like a mail carrier insisting the kids are always “napping.” As the crowd sourced sleuthing ramps up, so do the theories, from cartel front to CIA safehouse to trafficking ring. Even mundane details get weaponized, including licensing citations and a bizarre discovery in import records showing 8,818 pounds of plastic jewelry shipped to the daycare, a clue the internet tries to bend into something far darker.

Then the story collides with real life. Threads get deleted for witch hunting, a “Storm Fun Time Kidz Kare” raid event gains traction, police issue warnings, and the people connected to the property report repeated harassment and break in attempts. Finally, officials and local reporting offer a grounded explanation that flips the scariest details on their head, including why the windows might be covered and why only a few children are ever seen.

If you’re into true crime adjacent mysteries, internet culture, urban legends, and Salt Lake City history, this deep dive will change how you think about “creepy places” and the stories we build around them. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who loves local lore, and leave a review with your theory: what detail convinced you most along the way?

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Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time 

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A good life in art rarely follows a straight line. We sit down with fine artist Howard Lyon—whose work spans Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and the worlds of Brandon Sanderson—to trace a path that runs from a tech-filled childhood in Mesa to global conventions, cathedral-quiet studios, and a thriving creative home in Utah.

Howard unpacks the moment tabletop fantasy turned from hobby to compass, and how video games quietly trained him for a painter’s life: mastering color, texture, and collaboration while learning to deliver on deadlines. He shares the Venn diagram that guides his career—where passion meets market need—and the two jaw-dropping calls he turned down: art directing Diablo 3 and joining early League of Legends. Those no’s weren’t about ego; they were declarations for oils, story, and the long game.

We dive into how Magic changed everything. Unlike hyper-specific RPG scenes, card art builds personal bonds through play, creating a rich secondary market of prints, signatures, and playmats that pays forward for years. Hear the backstory of Harmless Offering, why Death’s Shadow won’t stop resurfacing, and what happens when you sign cards in Tokyo, London, and Rome for the same smiling superfans. That credibility led to collaborations with Brandon Sanderson, whose visual, empathetic storytelling cultivates a fanbase as generous as it is passionate.

Why Utah? Howard explains the secret sauce: world-class painters, open studios, and a refreshingly uncompetitive culture that lifts everyone. We explore a shifting art market—Western staples endure while fantasy rises with the Star Wars and Pokémon generations—and why museums like George Lucas’s story-focused collection will anchor that future. Along the way: travel-fueled plein air trips, baking bread as a healthy non-monetized hobby, and a simple rule for creatives everywhere—show up, be ready, and keep choosing work that keeps you alive.

If this story sparked something, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review—then tell us the bold no that made room for your best yes.

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Get your tickets to Strada Saturdays on Oct. 10th here

Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time 

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Headlines don’t always line up neatly, but this week in Utah they traced a clear arc from climate reality to civic choices and the culture that holds us together. We start with Salt Lake City’s warmest winter in roughly 150 years—February feeling like April, snow arriving late, and avalanche risk spiking after dry spells. That weather whiplash sets the stage for a bigger question: how do we adapt our habits, from trail days to travel plans, when the baseline keeps shifting?

From there we head downtown, where the city broke ground on an $18–20 million redesign of Pioneer Park. We talk through why simple amenities like pickleball courts, a pavilion, and more trees can change who shows up and when—and why activation, upkeep, and services matter as much as concrete. At the Capitol, lawmakers unveiled a budget that stacks nearly a billion dollars in new spending on the state’s $31 billion plan, pointing to tax cuts, raises for state employees, homelessness funding, and prison expansion as late-session priorities to watch.

Public trust threads through the rest of the hour. Defense attorneys say ICE is making arrests inside courthouses without notice, raising concerns that victims and witnesses may stay home. Salt Lake County health officials confirm measles is spreading locally, including exposure at Highland High, and push the basics: get vaccinated and stay home if sick. On the culture side, we reflect on the death of Robert Cosby Jr., which reopened hard conversations about addiction and the support systems people actually find here.

We also look south to Arches National Park as it drops timed entry for the first time in four years. Easier access will thrill some and worry others who remember gridlock; the real solution will live in shuttles, better information, and patient trail etiquette. To round it out, SLC International ranks among the most on-time airports while staying one of the most expensive places to fly from, and a new report places Utah near the bottom for women’s overall well-being—data that sparked debate about what progress looks like beyond safety and healthcare.

Along the way we shout out our chat with Momentum Climbing’s Brendan Nicholson and tease a vault episode with artist Howard Lyon, whose work bridges fine art, faith, and pop culture from Magic: The Gathering to bestselling novels. If you value smart local coverage with heart, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review—what story should we dig into next?

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Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time 

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What happens when a lifelong climber with an artist’s eye and a designer’s brain gets the keys to build the gyms he always wished existed? We sit down with Momentum Climbing’s creative director, Brendan Nicholson, to chart the leap from medical illustration to route setting and full-scale wall architecture—and why a great climb should feel like a choreographed dance you can’t wait to repeat.

Brendan pulls back the curtain on how routes are crafted for flow, safety, and satisfaction. He explains the three dials that shape difficulty—wall angle, hold size, and distance—then shows how observation and iteration keep problems fair, challenging, and fun. We revisit the 48-hour redesign that transformed Momentum Millcreek, follow the ground-up build in Lehi, and explore the bold push into Texas, where an indoor-first culture is raising the bar for training and could spark the next generation of champions.

We also unpack Momentum’s micro gym model at Trolley Square: compact footprints with excellent route setting, smart LED walls for dense variety, real strength and cardio zones, and thoughtful recovery with sauna and cold plunge. It’s a distilled version of the big-box climbing gym designed to fit into daily life, turning short sessions into full practices and communities into hubs of problem solving, coaching, and connection.

From American Fork’s role in sport climbing history to Salt Lake City’s rise as a national competition hub, this conversation blends local roots with national momentum. Whether you’re a first-timer, a focused boulderer, or a routesetter at heart, you’ll leave with a sharper eye for design and a deeper appreciation for the people who shape the climbs we love.

If this conversation sparked ideas or sends you hunting a new project, tap follow, share it with your crew, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more climbers find us and keeps these stories on the wall.

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Get your tickets to Strada Saturdays on Oct. 10th here

Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time 

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The week hit hard: reports of a gunman targeting Imam Shuab Din, a fresh wave of controversy over Prop 4 signatures, and courts signaling the redistricting fight is nearly done. Add a new constitutional court fast-tracking hot-button cases, measles exposures popping up locally, a 3.5 quake near Magna, and avalanche danger rising with new storms, and you can feel the ground of civic life and literal earth shifting at once. We pull those threads together without panic and ask the only question that matters: what kind of place are we becoming?

Then we pivot to joy and design. I sit down with Brendan Nicholson, the creative director at Momentum Climbing, the mind behind the problems that humble you on Tuesday and make you feel like a hero on Saturday. Brendan breaks down how route setting blends geometry, storytelling, and risk to serve every climber in the gym—beginners learning body tension on V2s, veterans solving dynamic sequences on steeps, and everyone chasing that quiet moment of flow. We get into the details: how hold selection shapes movement, why forced beta usually backfires, what makes a comp-worthy boulder exciting instead of gimmicky, and how community feedback loops keep a gym vibrant.

Throughout, we connect city-scale themes to gym-scale craft. Trust erodes fast when signatures go sideways; trust builds slowly when problems are fair and repeatable. Policy choices rewire institutions; route choices rewire how people move, meet, and belong. As storms line up and headlines crowd the feed, this conversation offers a reset—proof that thoughtful design can turn friction into progress and strangers into partners on the mat. If you care about Salt Lake’s identity, or just love a good send, you’ll find a lot to hold onto here.

If the show resonates, follow, rate, and share with a friend who needs both the context and the stoke. What problem—on the wall or in the city—are you working on this week?

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Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time 

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What happens when a fifth-generation ranch kid earns a PhD in molecular biology and decides to rebuild the bridge between land and table? We sit down with Keven Johnson to unpack how a century-old Wyoming ranch now feeds Utah families and top restaurants through a modern, transparent, and surprisingly intimate supply chain.

Keven grew up branding calves and rolling hay near Lusk, Wyoming, then dove deep into lab life, grants, and postdoc work. Along the way, he noticed what most of us miss: the farther we get from our food, the more we lose in flavor, nutrition, and trust. After his family’s ranch earned a centennial recognition, he felt a responsibility to carry it forward—e-commerce, farmers markets, and direct-to-consumer beef that tells you exactly where it came from. His dry-aged steaks and ground beef quickly earned a following, from Wheeler Farm regulars who text orders to chefs who judged the product by taste, texture, and consistency.

Scaling real beef takes patience and planning. Keven explains the 18–24 month timeline behind every pound, the careful balance between restaurant sourcing and market customers, and the choice to grow without compromising quality. We get into big ag versus small ranching, why minimal processing matters, and how dry aging transforms flavor. Then, a curveball rooted in both tradition and science: beef tallow. Keven leveraged his lab background to create cooking fats, balms, soaps, and more, tapping tallow’s skin-compatible lipids for products that feel as good as they perform.

This conversation is a blueprint for anyone curious about local food, farm-to-table sourcing, and sustainable growth without the buzzwords. If you’ve wondered whether you can taste the difference when you shorten the food chain, this is your sign to find out. Subscribe, share this story with a friend who loves great steak, and leave a review with your favorite cut—we might help you discover a new one.

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Get your tickets to Strada Saturdays on Oct. 10th here

Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time 

Support the show

Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK

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A hard choice came first: I pulled a planned conversation after learning about alleged misconduct tied to the guest. That accountability moment set the tone for a brisk, honest tour through a week when Salt Lake City felt alive in every direction—tremors underfoot, signatures under scrutiny, bills moving from talk to consequence, and a long-overdue storm finally pointing our way.

We start with the Magna-area quake and what geologists say it does—and doesn’t—mean for the Wasatch Fault. From there, we dig into the Prop 4 repeal effort and the growing reports of people finding their names on petitions they don’t remember signing. I share the exact tool to search and remove your name and why petition accuracy is about more than politics; it’s about trust in redistricting, fair maps, and the systems that shape representation across Utah.

Mid-session at the Capitol, energy turns into outcomes: renewed Great Salt Lake funding debates, a tug-of-war over street control between the state and the city, and social policy fights that move from committee rooms into family conversations. On the street level, there’s bright news too: snow returning after a warm stretch, Ava reopening on Main as a small but vital win for local dining, Westminster’s castle-like residence hitting the market, and the aquarium’s expansion quietly pushing us into top-five territory nationwide. It’s the kind of week that reminds us how infrastructure, culture, and civic life braid together.

We close with a preview I’m thrilled about: Kevin Johnson, a PhD biologist turned Wyoming rancher whose beef shows up on some of your favorite Salt Lake menus. It’s a ranch-to-table story built on soil science, genetics, grazing practice, and a deep respect for local food systems. If you care about what’s on your plate and how it gets there, you’ll want to hear where science meets flavor.

Tap play, stay curious, and if this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more neighbors find thoughtful local news, policy context, and food stories that actually matter.

www.Burrn.org <= Check to see if your name is included in signatures to repeal prop 4

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Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time 

Support the show

Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK

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