Salt Lake Dirt

Kyler Bingham
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Books
  • Updated Semiweekly

Join host Kyler Bingham in conversation with authors, filmmakers, actors and musicians. saltlakedirt.com

  1. 4h ago

    Elizabeth Ellen - Episode 441

    On the latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler reconnects with author Elizabeth Ellen. Following up on their previous discussion about her novel American Thighs (available here), the two discuss her play Exit, Carefully—tracing its roots back to a chaotic family Christmas Eve and its path from a college short story to publication. Elizabeth also candidly reflects on navigating literary cancellations, stepping into the publisher role at Hobart, and preparing for her appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. Beyond their conversation on Substack and the shifts within contemporary indie publishing, Elizabeth has a major project underway: she is currently publishing real-time chapters of her memoir in progress, I MARRIED A SEX ADDICT/I AM A SEX ADDICT, directly to her Substack page. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Follow Elizabeth on SubstackPurchase American ThighsHobart PulpIG: @shortflightlongdriveElizabeth on SLD Episode 333--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

  2. 2d ago

    Stacey Patton - Strung Up: How White America Learned to Lynch Black Children - Episode 440

    This week on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author Dr. Stacey Patton to discuss her new book, Strung Up: How White America Learned to Lynch Black Children. Grounded in deep archival research and developmental psychology, Dr. Patton’s work reframes racial terror by centering the deliberate targeting of Black youth and examining how generations of white children were socialized into cruelty through spectacle violence. Drawing connections between intergenerational trauma, historical silence, and the modern political climate, Dr. Patton sheds light on how history continues to shape present-day realities for Black families across America. During their conversation, Kyler and Dr. Patton explore key themes from the book, including the powerful Du Bois question—“Ought children be born to us?”—and the neuroscience behind how moral development and empathy are shaped during childhood. They also discuss specific historical cases, such as the 1916 lynching of Jesse Washington, and the vital role that truth-telling and primary sources play in counteracting historical erasure. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: Purchase Strung Up: How White America Learned to Lynch Black ChildrenFollow Stacey Patton on SubstackFollow Stacey Patton on Facebook SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

  3. 5d ago

    Lauren Ashley - Autumn Mixtape - Episode 439

    This week on Salt Lake Dirt, we are replaying a fan-favorite episode from last year’s KPCR mixtape specials featuring actress and performer Lauren Ashley. Bringing her signature passion for Old Hollywood and vintage culture, Lauren sits down with Kyler for a cozy, autumn-inspired music showcase. Known for her appearances in Hollywood Graveyard short films and her deep appreciation for classic cinema history, Lauren brings a playlist curated for crisp air, changing leaves, and nostalgic fall afternoons. Throughout the hour, the two walk through tracks ranging from Nat King Cole and Barbra Streisand to Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the Avett Brothers, and Bernard Herrmann's classic film score for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Because copyright restrictions prevent music tracks from being included directly within the podcast audio, you will need to pause the episode as each song is introduced and play it on your preferred streaming service to experience the mixtape in full. Feel free to listen the conversation here and then click the link to take you directly to the playlist of songs. Thanks for listening! --- Episode Links: ⁠Autumn Mixtape - Playlist⁠⁠⁠Lauren on Salt Lake Dirt - Episode 320⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree: @folklaur⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Lauren on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch The Tomb of Nosferatu⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Graves from the Black Lagoon SLD Podcast Info: Visit ⁠SaltLakeDirt.com⁠ for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of ⁠Hot House West⁠. ⁠Vienna Waltz⁠ composed by Nathan Royal, performed by ⁠HHW⁠.

  4. Sep 30

    Keith Koeneman - PATERNITY - Episode 438

    It was great having Keith Koeneman on Salt Lake Dirt to talk about his new novel, Paternity. Having previously written a biography on former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Keith made the leap to fiction with a story that follows two couples in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood over two decades. He shared how he structured the book like a Netflix series with 19 interlocking chapters, drawing heavy inspiration from Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge while maintaining a strict chronological timeline as the characters age from their late twenties to their fifties. During our conversation, Keith opened up about his writing process and how reading hundreds of books a year growing up shaped his love for storytelling. We talked about how he picked up lessons on short chapters and plot hooks from reading mystery novels, as well as the importance of setting work aside and having a couple of honest friends read drafts. It was a really fun discussion about the balance between fiction and nonfiction, and Paternity is a fantastic read for anyone who loves deep character-driven stories. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Episode Links: Purchase Paternity--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

  5. Sep 28

    Jerry Stahl - GONZO NEUROTIC - Episode 437

    Having Jerry Stahl back on Salt Lake Dirt to talk about Gonzo Neurotic: The Best (And Not-So-Best) of Jerry Stahl was incredible. He’s one of my all-time favorite writers, and reading through this huge mix of his previously uncollected work and forgotten journalism was an absolute blast. We talked about everything from the backstory of his cult film Cafe Flesh to the surreal reality of doing press tours on shows like Oprah and Tom Snyder after publishing Permanent Midnight. What makes Jerry’s work so special to me is how effortlessly he balances laugh-out-loud humor with pure, raw honesty. During our chat, we got into the brutal reality of the editing process, the strange feeling of revisiting your younger self on the page, and how writing is often just a necessary way to stay sane. Gonzo Neurotic is a fantastic look back at a legendary career, and I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Kyler --- Episode Links: Purchase Gonzo Neurotic: The Best (And Not-So-Best) of Jerry StahlJerry Stahl's Nowheresville (Substack)Jerry on SLD Episode 62 (2022)--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West. Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

  6. Sep 24

    Susanne Antonetta - THE DEVIL'S CASTLE - Episode 436

    This week on Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author Susanne Antonetta to discuss her book, The Devil’s Castle: Nazi Eugenics, Euthanasia, and How Psychiatry’s Troubled History Reverberates Today. The conversation explores how Nazi-era euthanasia programs influenced modern psychiatric practices, including the rise of short, 15-minute appointments and heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals. Antonetta shares how her own 2019 psychotic episode and her discovery of German activist Dorothea Buck transformed her historical research into a personal exploration, highlighting alternative, conversation-based approaches like "open dialogue" that prioritize holistic, patient-centered care. The interview also addresses the stigma surrounding mental health and the danger of viewing psychiatric conditions through a strictly biological lens. Antonetta stresses the importance of examining history as gene-editing technologies advance, emphasizing that compassion, dialogue, and community support remain vital for true healing. Listeners can explore more of Antonetta's work on her website, read her column in Psychology Today, or pick up the paperback edition of The Devil's Castle. --- Episode Links: Purchase The Devil's CastleSusAntonetta.comPsychology Today Column--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West.Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

  7. Sep 21

    Mallory Smart - BOOK OF DAVID - Episode 435

    Mallory Smart returns to Salt Lake Dirt to chat with Kyler about her new book, Book of David. They get into the origin of the character, Dave, and how processing personal loss found its way onto the page, giving the project its emotional weight without losing its edge.Smart also opens up about the nuts and bolts of independent publishing, from running a small press to dealing with the chaos of the literary festival circuit. It’s a candid conversation about the realities of writing, navigating the literary world, and turning real life into fiction. --- Episode Links: Pre-Order Book of David from AsterismPre-Order on AmazonMallorySmart.com SLD Podcast Info: Visit ⁠SaltLakeDirt.com⁠ for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of ⁠Hot House West⁠.⁠Vienna Waltz⁠ composed by Nathan Royal, performed by ⁠HHW⁠.

  8. Sep 17

    Alex Osman - XANADU, PENNSYLVANIA - Episode 434

    Alex Osman returns to the show this week to discuss his novel, Xanadu, Pennsylvania, out now from Filthy Loot. Alex breaks down the book's evolution—stitching together decade-old drafts with new material to explore small-town secrets, human observation, and a strange town-wide obsession with Olivia Newton-John. We also talk about writing from an introverted perspective, honing in on sensory details, and why kids in fiction can be surprisingly cruel. Beyond the text itself, we discuss the physical design of the book and the pop-culture influences behind it. Alex shares how alternative 90s albums like Faith No More’s Angel Dust inspired the artwork, why he prefers compact pocketbook editions, and how classic comedy shape his reading habits. Take a listen to the episode and pick up a copy of Xanadu, Pennsylvania through Filthy Loot. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Episode Links: Purchase Xanadu, PennsylvaniaIG: @magkneesiummAlex on SLD Episode 280--- SLD Podcast Info: Visit SaltLakeDirt.com for more interviews. Intro and outro music courtesy of Hot House West.Vienna Waltz composed by Nathan Royal, performed by HHW.

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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Join host Kyler Bingham in conversation with authors, filmmakers, actors and musicians. saltlakedirt.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kyler Bingham
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    439
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kyler Bingham
  • Show Website
    Salt Lake Dirt

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