⁠SLD MIXTAPE Special:⁠

⁠Pain and Yearning with Leah Lawson⁠

Musician ⁠Leah Lawson⁠ joined me for this episode of the Salt Lake Dirt Mixtape to talk about the themes of Pain and Yearning. We got into how music works as a "balm" or medicine for the human condition, helping people process complex emotions.

We talked about the vulnerability of songwriting and how music that starts out as something personal often ends up being for everyone else. Leah mentioned she is a "lyrics-first" person when listening to a track, while I admitted I usually tune into the drums first. We also touched on finding new music, whether that's through word of mouth or falling down TikTok rabbit holes.

⁠Listen to the Full Playlist HERE⁠

• "In My Room" – Julia Wolfe
• "In Violet" - Searows
• "So What" – MUNA
• "Kill Her Freak Out" – Samia
• "Shutter Island" – Sasha Cee
• "Moon High" – Joshua Burnside
• "Nirvana" – Drew Danburry
• "Nobody" – Mitski

Where to find Leah:Leah is online pretty much everywhere you stream music—⁠Spotify, ⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠, Apple Music, and Tidal. She’s got a new record recorded that should be out late summer or early fall.

• ⁠LeahLawson.com⁠
• ⁠IG: @llawson⁠

We are trying out a new format for some of our radio episodes on KPCR. I’ll be inviting former guests back to the studio to act as guest DJs, curated around a specific theme for every episode. For those who want to listen on the go, these radio specials will now be available as a Spotify playlist.

Episode 1: Heartbreak with Liv Rylan

My first guest for this series is the incredible musician Liv Rylan. We decided to kick things off with a theme that is arguably the reason music was invented in the first place: Heartbreak.

The Mixtape:

• "It Can't Be You" – Ash
• "You Are What You Love" – Jenny Lewis
• "Tough Act to Follow" – Maisie Peters
• "No Hard Feelings" – The Avett Brothers
• "17" – Keaton Henson

Episode Links:

Heartbreak with Liv Rylan playlist

• LivRylan.com
• Listen to Liv on Spotify
• IG: @livrylan

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

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Episode Links:

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

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