Small Lake City

Erik Nilsson
  • 4.9 (32)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Small Talk, Big CityJoin host Erik Nilsson as he interviews the entrepreneurs, creators, and builders making Salt Lake City the best place it can be. Covering topics such as business, politics, art, food, and more you will get to know the amazing people behind the scenes investing their time and money to improve the place we call home.Follow along for more!

  1. 22h ago ·  Bonus

    Bears Ears Protections End And Rent Deals Surge In Salt Lake City

    At 6 a.m., Utah’s public lands story changes in a very real way. I’m walking through what it means as the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument cuts officially take effect, putting nearly 3 million acres into a new legal reality where mining claims can be staked and old pressure points come roaring back. We get specific about what areas are impacted, why ancestral cultural sites are central to the stakes, and how the unanswered question around the Antiquities Act is now headed for a court showdown that could reshape monument politics for years.  Then we jump to another major federal land use flashpoint: the proposal to allow directional drilling beneath the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge near Vernal. I explain what “no surface disturbance” does and doesn’t mean, why critics call it wildly irresponsible, and where you can show up if you want your voice in the process, including the public meeting date and the comment window. If you’ve felt like the pace of change is accelerating in Utah, you’re not imagining it.  We also hit genuinely good news for a lot of listeners: the Salt Lake City apartment market has flipped hard in renters’ favor. I break down the concessions being offered right now, how to think about effective rent versus base rent, what questions to ask before you sign, and why fall through winter can be the best window to move. To close, I run through quick local updates including a 96-unit affordable housing project breaking ground in Ballpark, a commercial fire that sent smoke over the valley with practical air-quality reminders, and a few can’t-miss city events from the Salt Lake Temple open house scramble to the Utah State Fair and FanX.  If this helped you make sense of the week, subscribe and follow wherever you listen, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What do you want me to cover next, and have you been to Bears Ears? 50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

    Bears Ears Protections End And Rent Deals Surge In Salt Lake City

  2. 3d ago

    S2, E28: This Salt Lake City Park Used to Be a Prison

    If you’ve spent any time in Salt Lake City, you’ve probably been to Sugar House Park. But about 75 years ago, instead of runners, sledders, playgrounds, and soccer fields, you would have found something very different: A prison. For nearly a century, the land that is now Sugar House Park was home to the Utah Territorial Penitentiary and later the Utah State Prison. And its history gets pretty wild. In this episode of Small Lake City, Erik digs into the story of Sugar House Park and the neighborhood around it—from the failed sugar beet experiment that gave Sugar House its name to the construction of Utah’s first territorial prison. Along the way, we get into some of the prison’s most fascinating stories: an incredible number of early prisoner escapes, prominent Mormon leaders like George Q. Cannon being incarcerated during the federal crackdown on plural marriage, and the controversial trial and execution of labor organizer Joe Hill. Then there’s the question of how a prison sitting outside Salt Lake City eventually became surrounded by one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods—and how 575 prisoners were moved to Point of the Mountain in 1951. Even tearing the old prison down became a story of its own. Finally, we look at the decades-long effort to transform the former prison grounds into the roughly 110-acre Sugar House Park we know today, along with the connection between the old prison property, the park, and Highland High School. It’s a story about how dramatically a place can change while traces of its past remain hidden in plain sight. This is the strange history of Sugar House Park. Follow Small Lake City for more stories about the people, places, history, and culture that make Salt Lake City feel a little... smaller. 50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

    S2, E28: This Salt Lake City Park Used to Be a Prison

  3. Sep 1 ·  Bonus

    Vault Episode 16: Why Everyone Should Make Art with Micah Christensen

    What if getting good at art has less to do with talent—and more to do with learning how to see? Micah Christensen is an art historian, educator, painter, and the owner of Anthony’s Fine Art and Antiques in Salt Lake City. His path to the art world was anything but straightforward, taking him through opera, business, Harvard, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and a PhD studying how artists were trained from the Renaissance through the 19th century. In this episode of Small Lake City, Micah breaks down why painting is a skill anyone can learn, why repetition matters more than finding your “style,” and why adults shouldn’t be afraid to pick up a brush for the first time. We talk about approaching art the way we approach sports: you don’t have to become a professional for participating to make your life better. Micah also shares the remarkable story of taking over Anthony’s Fine Art and Antiques after his father collapsed, what decades of looking at art taught him about connoisseurship, and how experts can sometimes recognize a questionable masterpiece within seconds. We explore Utah’s surprisingly deep artistic tradition, the Springville Museum of Art, the importance of galleries and collectors, and why acclaimed Spanish painter Antonio López García described Utah as one of the great art capitals of the world. More than anything, this is a conversation about beauty, stewardship, and learning how to see. Whether you want to start painting, collect your first original piece, or simply understand why certain works of art move you, Micah makes the case that art isn’t a luxury reserved for experts—it’s something all of us can participate in. 🎙️ Small Lake City is a podcast about the people, ideas, and stories shaping Salt Lake City and Utah. 50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Visit www.luxeautomotive.com or use this link to request a quote Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

    Vault Episode 16: Why Everyone Should Make Art with Micah Christensen

  4. Aug 27 ·  Bonus

    SLC’s 999 Ride Has a Problem + Gen Z Is Leaving the LDS Church

    Southern Utah got hammered by monsoon storms, and the footage doesn’t fully capture how fast things can turn. We walk through the Bryce Canyon flash floods that stranded hikers across multiple trails, the rescue delays caused by lightning, and the death of a hiker found near the Fairyland Loop area. If you hike Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, or slot canyons, we also get practical about what “predictable” danger looks like after a dry winter and a summer of burn scars, plus why checking the National Weather Service Utah flash flood forecast should be a default step before you head out. Then we pivot to a story that’s been sitting in Utah conversations all summer: new research showing Gen Z women leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at rates that would’ve sounded impossible a generation ago. We unpack the headline numbers, the overlapping drivers researchers point to (politics, same-sex marriage, women’s roles in leadership, purity culture), and the tricky causality question that keeps this from being a simple hot take. The takeaway isn’t outrage bait, it’s a real signal about where Utah culture may be heading. We also talk about Salt Lake City’s 999 ride: how it started, why it draws huge crowds, and why increased SLCPD enforcement and resident complaints have pushed it to a tipping point. A public panel laid out the core problem clearly: no organizer means no permits, no traffic control plan, and no single point of accountability. Plus quick hits on Meta’s landmark teen safety settlement, Dolly Parton’s Utah literacy connection, Flock camera arrests, and the coming Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monument cuts. Subscribe wherever you listen, share this with a Utah friend, and leave a review if you want more reporting like this. What part of the 999 ride debate do you think matters most? 50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

    SLC’s 999 Ride Has a Problem + Gen Z Is Leaving the LDS Church

  5. Aug 25

    S2, E27: Josh Rosenthal, The “Worst 100-Miler” Who Built Borderlands

    Josh Rosenthal: Borderlands, Ultra Running & DFL Before DNFJosh Rosenthal is the founder of Borderlands, a trail running media company built around the people, stories, and culture that make the sport special. But Josh’s path to the trail running world started somewhere completely different. In this episode of the Small Lake City Podcast, Josh shares his journey from building businesses in Salt Lake City’s food and beverage scene—including La Barba Coffee and Seabird—to discovering ultra running, attempting 100-mile races, and eventually creating Borderlands. And he’s quick to point out: he wasn’t exactly dominating those races. Josh jokingly calls himself “the worst 100-miler,” with a long list of DNFs that ultimately helped shape one of his defining philosophies: DFL Before DNF — finish dead last before quitting. We talk about what those failures taught him about resilience, when to keep pushing, when to stop, and how doing hard things can reshape the way you approach the rest of your life. Josh also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship—the pressure of growing a company, navigating business partnerships, carrying stress home, and the impact COVID had on Salt Lake City’s hospitality industry. Running became more than exercise; it became a way to process that pressure and create space between work and family life. Eventually, that relationship with running led to Borderlands, where Josh focuses on telling stories from across trail and ultra running—not just podium finishers and sponsored athletes, but everyday runners, race directors, creators, and the people finishing at the back of the pack. We also dive into Salt Lake City’s rapidly growing trail running scene, the history and influence of races like the Wasatch Front 100 and Bear 100, the rise of UTMB, and why Utah may be one of the best places in the country to be a trail runner. In this episode: Building La Barba Coffee and Seabird in Salt Lake CityThe realities of entrepreneurship and business partnershipsHow COVID changed Josh’s careerDiscovering ultra running and 100-mile racesWhy Josh calls himself “the worst 100-miler”The philosophy behind DFL Before DNFFailure, resilience, and knowing when to keep goingWhy Josh founded BorderlandsThe culture and future of trail and ultra runningUTMB and the globalization of the sportWasatch 100 and Bear 100Why Salt Lake City is becoming a trail running epicenterFinding purpose when the finish line disappearsIf you’re interested in trail running, ultra running, ultramarathons, 100-mile races, Borderlands, entrepreneurship, Salt Lake City, Utah outdoor culture, or the psychology of endurance, this conversation is for you. Small Lake City Podcast tells the stories of the people building, creating, and shaping Salt Lake City and Utah. Subscribe for more conversations with Utah’s entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, community leaders, and interesting people. Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

    S2, E27: Josh Rosenthal, The “Worst 100-Miler” Who Built Borderlands

  6. Aug 20 ·  Bonus

    Utah Gave Them Tax Breaks. Now 723 Jobs Are Gone.

    Utah gave Tyson Foods tax breaks to bring jobs to Eagle Mountain. Now the plant is closing, 723 workers are losing their jobs — and the tax incentive agreement is still active. Welcome to the Small Lake City Weekly Update covering the biggest Salt Lake City and Utah news from the last 7 days. Each week, we break down the local headlines you need to know — from development, transportation and local government to restaurants, culture, business and the stories shaping life along the Wasatch Front. This week, we look at the Tyson Foods closure in Eagle Mountain and what it says about Utah's approach to corporate tax incentives. We also dig into the massive incentives connected to Meta's Eagle Mountain data center and the growing debate over who ultimately benefits from these deals. Also in this week's Utah news: • UTA is proposing its first base fare increase in 13 years • New data shows robberies and assaults trending down in Salt Lake City • The 9th & 9th whale has a brand-new look • Salt Lake City's proposed private jail ban moves forward amid the ICE detention center fight • The University of Utah opens its new medical school building • A new independent film festival could be coming to Park City • Fork Cancer returns to the Gallivan Center this Friday And stick around for a preview of this Saturday's Small Lake City Podcast with Josh Rosenthal, founder of Borderlands and the person behind several recognizable Salt Lake City food and drink spots. What do you think about Utah's corporate tax incentives? Should companies continue receiving tax benefits after major layoffs or closures? Let me know in the comments. Subscribe to Small Lake City for a new weekly update covering the biggest Salt Lake City and Utah headlines from the previous seven days, plus conversations with the people shaping Utah. 🎙️ Small Lake City Podcast Instagram + TikTok: @smalllakepod 🌐 http://www.smalllakepod.com #UtahNews #SaltLakeCity #SLC #Utah Fork Cancer: utah.acscanforkcancer.org Discord: https://discord.gg/jQw5hptf8e 50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

    Utah Gave Them Tax Breaks. Now 723 Jobs Are Gone.

  7. Aug 17 ·  Bonus

    Vault Episode 15: Utah Food Finds With Amber, Mile High Food Fairy

    Utah’s restaurant scene isn’t “all chains” anymore, but you have to know where to look and that’s where Amber (Mile High Food Fairy) comes in. We sit down with a pediatric dentist who somehow also became one of the most useful guides to Salt Lake City restaurants and Utah County food, and we get into the real mechanics of how people pick where to eat in 2026: saved posts, short-form video, and a handful of creators you trust more than a menu page. Amber walks us through her path from Vegas to the University of Utah, then out to New York City and Colorado for residency, where the habit of photographing meals turned into a dedicated food page. We talk about Yelp, Instagram, TikTok growth, and why Instagram Reels changed everything, including the frustrating part: when the algorithm shifts, your reach can disappear overnight. She also shares a standout moment when a Doki Doki dessert video helped drive a line down the block, reminding us that social media can be a real lifeline for local small businesses. Then we get practical. Amber explains how she balances a demanding day job with content creation, why she turns down collaborations that don’t fit, and how credibility matters more than quick money. Expect a packed list of recommendations across sushi, Thai, Indian, hot chicken, desserts, ice cream, brunch, Mexican, bakeries, Vietnamese, burgers, and Korean BBQ, plus a thoughtful look at where Utah’s food culture should go next: more mom-and-pop spots, more diverse cuisines, and more authentic options like dim sum and soup dumplings. If you enjoy discovering new places to eat in Utah, subscribe, share this with a friend who’s always hungry, and leave a review with your most underrated Utah restaurant pick. 50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Visit www.luxeautomotive.com or use this link to request a quote Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

    Vault Episode 15: Utah Food Finds With Amber, Mile High Food Fairy

  8. Aug 13 ·  Bonus

    Mystery Cameras And False Alarms

    A surveillance camera shows up at a busy Mill Creek park, quietly scanning every passing license plate, and when someone asks who approved it, the answer is chillingly simple: nobody. We walk through what happened, why the camera was removed, and why the bigger story is the data trail. Who collects it, how long it lives on servers, and who can search it are the questions Utah still struggles to regulate, even as local governments make case-by-case decisions with no statewide framework. Then we rewind to the moment phones across northern Utah lit up with a blunt emergency alert: “Evacuate now.” The evacuation order was real, but the blast radius was not. We unpack the dispatch glitch that sent a wildfire alert to an enormous unintended area, and the uncomfortable contrast from the same week near Logan, where some residents in the fire’s path reportedly never received any alert at all. If emergency alerts are life safety infrastructure, these failures show exactly where the cracks are. We close with much-needed good news: Salt Lake City’s Fleet Block final design is out after years of planning, with a new public green space coming to the Granary District and a community benefits agreement shaping nearby development. Utah also posts its first decline in homelessness since 2019, with notable drops in chronic and unsheltered homelessness. Plus, quick updates on the Calchi ruling, reported ICE deportation flights from SLC, upcoming Twilight shows, and a preview of next week’s vault conversation for food lovers and content nerds. Subscribe for weekly Salt Lake City news and Utah policy updates, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review so more locals can find the show. 50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show Small Lake City Calendar, add for all the events coming up straight to your iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook: https://42b1ul.share-na2.hsforms.com/2NEaCwuBsSH-fY1z5Hr7Dkg Join the Small Lake City Discord: https://discord.gg/TYNzMhCxeK Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://www.smalllakepod.com/newsletter-landing-page Instagram: @smalllakepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmallLakeCityPodcast TikTok: @smalllakepod

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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Small Talk, Big CityJoin host Erik Nilsson as he interviews the entrepreneurs, creators, and builders making Salt Lake City the best place it can be. Covering topics such as business, politics, art, food, and more you will get to know the amazing people behind the scenes investing their time and money to improve the place we call home.Follow along for more!

Information

  • Creator
    Erik Nilsson
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    233
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Small Lake City
  • Show Website
    Small Lake City

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