Salt Lake Dirt

Kyler Bingham

Join host Kyler Bingham in conversation with notable authors, filmmakers & and musicians.

  1. 3d ago

    Jeff Bell - Author & OCD Advocate - Episode 386

    I had the immense honor of speaking with a guest I have admired for well over a decade: author, retired broadcaster, and advocate Jeff Bell. Discovering Jeff’s groundbreaking books—his memoir Rewind, Replay, Repeat and his invaluable guide When in Doubt, Make Belief—profoundly shaped my own perspective on navigating life after my own OCD diagnosis. During our conversation, Jeff openly shared his powerful journey of navigating an elaborate "double life" while hosting a major radio program in the Bay Area, the terrifying vulnerability of sharing his diagnosis publicly in 2007, and the incredible, open-armed warmth he found within the mental health advocacy community. We discuss the core mechanics of OCD, discussing how the disorder fundamentally drives a grueling search for absolute certainty, and why learning to actively live in the gray area is the key to managing it. Using a brilliant swimming pool metaphor to illustrate the realities of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, Jeff highlighted that while sitting with your worst fears is undeniably hard work, the payoff of a reclaimed life is entirely worth it. Whether you are living with OCD yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to understand the disorder beyond the common stereotypes, Jeff’s insights on paying kindness forward are deeply inspiring. Check out the full episode and visit jeffbellonline.com to learn more about his incredible work and upcoming advocacy events. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Episode Links: Jeff Bell's WebsiteInformation on the 2026 IOCDF Conference in Seattle (July 9-12)

    22 min
  2. 6d ago

    Sophie Power - WHATEVER A SUN WILL ALWAYS SING - Episode 383

    I sat down with filmmaker and producer Sophie Power following her trip to the Cannes Film Festival. We discussed her 11-minute experimental documentary short, Whatever A Son Will Always Sing. Bypassing the heavy-handed exposition of traditional documentaries, the film uses professional actors and a dreamscape visual approach to blend fiction with real-life interviews. Sophie spoke with 50 different women about the exact, pivotal moment they were forced to grow up, ultimately weaving together four universal narratives that explore everything from the discomfort of being under a microscope to the sudden awareness of danger that shatters childhood bliss. Her goal was to dismantle the shame that often shrouds these collective female experiences, offering a platform where they can be spoken loudly and frankly. Sophie's background spans from a lifelong obsession with human stories and visual art to working on high-profile archival projects. Before directing her own work, she lent her production and research talents to major documentary teams—including assisting Motto Pictures on a Sundance film about the iconic singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez, and serving as a production coordinator for the Stephen Hawking documentary Hawking: Can You Hear Me? Check out the full conversation, and stay updated on her upcoming festival circuit by following her on Instagram at @sophiefrpower. Thanks for listening. Kyler --- Episode Links: SophiePower.infoInstagram: @sophiefrpowerMore interview at SaltLakeDirt.com

    22 min
  3. May 26

    Perrin Pring - CASH AND GRAVITY - Episode 381

    On the latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I sat down with author Perrin Pring to talk about her novel, Cash and Gravity, which releases on May 26th from Diversion Books. The story is set in a near future where six mega-corporations have essentially supplanted global governments. It follows Chevy Cole, a military grunt who unexpectedly ends up on the run with a stolen mobile fusion device that everyone is trying to track down. Perrin shared how the initial spark for the book came from a conversation with her husband during a long, remote drive through Nevada after days spent off the grid on the Green River. We also talked about how her career as a park ranger helps her bring a gritty, hands-on realism to the physical struggles her characters face. What I found especially interesting was hearing about her rewriting process and her willingness to take tough feedback. Influenced by her time in a low-residency MFA program and advice from author Todd Goldberg, Perrin actually swapped the genders of her main characters late in the process to find the right dynamic. We discussed the lore of her "Aces"—the elite, space-based super-soldiers who are treated like celebrity athletes in this corporate world—and how they contrast with characters who just want to stay off the grid. Perrin also pulled back the curtain on the business side of writing, from balancing a full-time job with creative deadlines to the grind of maintaining a social media platform. It was a great conversation about craft and the realities of the industry. Check out the episode, and you can find Perrin's weekly vignettes and reviews on Instagram and Substack. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Episode Links: Perrin's SubstackIG: @perrinpringauthorVisit SALT LAKE DIRT for more interviews

    38 min
  4. May 22

    K.S. Haddock - IMAGINE MY SURPRISE! - Episode 380

    What happens when a mid-level drug dealer gets killed, instantly wakes up inside the body of a newborn baby with his adult consciousness completely intact, and decides to spend his childhood plotting revenge? That is the bizarre, hilarious, and strangely heartwarming premise behind Imagine My Surprise!, the latest novel by K.S. Haddock. Originally conceived all the way back in 2008 as a piece of auto-fiction—where he used his own name and those of his real-life friends—the manuscript sat on a shelf for nearly a decade after he hit a wall with the ending. It wasn't until a push from his current editor that Haddock stripped out the self-insert elements, locked down the structural arc, and finally brought the novel to the finish line. We talked a lot about the inherent comedy of the book's premise, particularly the scenes where the main character, Keenan, treats his daycare like a halfway house and slips out for middle-of-the-night tactical walks while he is still less than two feet tall. To make his revenge plot work before he's even old enough to get a driver's license, Keenan has to recruit an ally: an eccentric man named Stoli who hangs out behind a neighborhood 7-Eleven. It’s an odd-couple dynamic born out of Haddock's own college years working shifts at a 7-Eleven. Beyond the page, Haddock utilized his background as a digital artist and art director to completely design the book's striking cover and interior layout himself. He also shared the fascinating process behind creating the audiobook, which he recorded over seven months out of a DIY tent setup in his garage alongside close friends and actors. We also touched on his personal background growing up in a musical family with Alabama roots, his early success getting published at twenty-five, and his current advocacy project, "Real Men Read," which aims to get more young men interested in reading for pleasure. Imagine My Surprise! is out now on Heresy Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, and is an incredibly satisfying read that pulls off a wild concept with absolute confidence. Thanks for listening! Kyler --- Show Notes & Links: Official Website: Find everything about his projects and order shirts supporting literacy at kshaddock.com. Support Indie Books: K.S. Haddock is a big proponent of privately run independent bookshops. If you can, head down to your local brick-and-mortar store to pick up or request a physical copy! You can also order from independent stores on Bookshop.org.Audiobook: Check out the stylized narration by Chris Zegri and Lang Zerner on Audible.YouTube Channel for Imagine My Surprise!

    40 min
5
out of 5
15 Ratings

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Join host Kyler Bingham in conversation with notable authors, filmmakers & and musicians.

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