On today’s episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I am thrilled to welcome author, coach, and actor Jamie Rose to discuss her new book, Facing Madame X: Tools for Transformation. Mixing memoir with practical tools, Jamie explores how to address everyday emotional pressures, cultivate life force, and step into forward momentum.

We discuss the profound beauty of learning to embrace uncertainty and some of the practical exercises she uses to guide people forward. We talk about her original journal exercise called "Musing," which helps individuals figure out their next creative steps through action rather than overthinking. Jamie also opens up about her journey navigating a shifting relationship with her late mother, the realities of modern validation culture, and what it looks like to find compassion by understanding our family members' "Shadow Selves".

You can pick up Facing Madame X: The Tools for on Amazon, and follow Jamie on Instagram @jamierosehere. To explore her monthly coaching groups, seminars, and more of her work, be sure to visit Jamie Rose Coaching. Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• PURCHASE Facing Madame X
• JamieRoseCoaching.com
• IG: @jamierosehere
• Salt Lake Dirt

On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I had a great time chatting with Lauren C. Johnson about her novel, The West Façade.

The story is set in 1348 Paris and follows the statues of Notre Dame. In the novel, they actually get one night of life every new moon, but they aren't supposed to interact with the human world at all. Things get complicated when the main character, Sainte Geneviève, tastes a piece of fruit left by a mourner. That one moment of human sensation basically changes everything for her, and she has to decide if she wants to stay a silent observer or actually try to live a human life.

It was interesting hearing about where the idea started. Lauren was visiting Paris as a student over twenty years ago and found herself really drawn to how intense and "unforgiving" the statues looked. That feeling stuck with her for two decades before it finally turned into this book.

We also got into some random, fun territory, like vintage My LIttle Pony toys, rescue doves, and how Bubo the mechanical owl from Clash of the Titans was a huge influence on her.

Great chat, great book! Thanks for listening.

Kyler

In this latest episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I was so happy to welcome filmmaker Michelle Bossy back to the show. Michelle is someone who stays incredibly busy—she’s actually directed 20+ short films and two features at this point—so it’s always a treat to catch up with her and see what she’s been working on. This time around, we took a deep dive into two of her latest short films, "We Regret to Inform You" and "Exception(al)," both of which have been making some serious noise on the festival circuit.

We started things off talking about "We Regret to Inform You," which was written by and stars Michelle’s long-time friend, Zina Wilde. It’s a 13-minute film that manages to be both funny and deeply moving, using a bit of magical realism to explore the universal pain of a bad breakup. Xena’s script likens heartbreak to a terminal heart condition, where a bumbling health insurance operator, played wonderfully by Kai Lennox, calls to tell her it’s her last day of life. It’s a beautiful, textured piece of storytelling that really packs an emotional punch in a short amount of time.

Then we went on to talk about "Exception(al)," which was written by and stars another massive talent, Molly Powers. This one was filmed right on the campus of Brooklyn College during the summer. Molly drew from her own personal experiences in film school to dramatize the feeling of being an outsider, often as the only woman or Asian American person in the room. It explores complex themes of representation and microaggressions in academia without ever feeling pitying. Michelle even shared a great behind-the-scenes story about having to scale a campus fence after the crew got locked in on the final day of shooting!

Beyond the films, Michelle also gave us a look at her extensive work in theater. She’s currently involved with a play about Bill Cosby written by Janine Nabers that’s heading to Los Angeles this fall, and she’s been touring the world with a production called "A Poem and a Mistake." If you want to keep up with what she’s doing, you can find her on Instagram at @michellebossydirects or check out her feature film "Nobody’s Home" on Apple.

On this episode of Salt Lake Dirt, I had the pleasure of talking with writer Jennifer Ostopovich. Based in Calgary, Canada, Jennifer shares her fascinating path from being an obsessive childhood reader to becoming a "pandemic writer". Despite being what she calls a "lousy student" who struggled with the sensory overload of traditional classrooms, she was reading adult novels by Stephen King and Clive Barker as early as second grade. Growing up in a rural trailer park without cable or a telephone, books became her primary window into the world, offering a connection to characters that television simply couldn't match.

Our conversation touches on Jennifer's transition from writing a spy thriller during the lockdowns to finding her voice in the literary community online. She discusses her affinity for transgressive literature and her commitment to writing about uncomfortable topics like poverty and abuse—subjects often overlooked in more academic circles. We also talk about her short story "Guts," which explores the raw emotional landscape of childhood, and her unique piece "Albatross," which uses a parrot to sketch out the complexities of heartache and hope.

Jennifer is also an editor for Hobart and runs an active book club on Twitter/X, where she continues to champion indie and transgressive authors. She is currently putting the finishing touches on a short story collection and has a novel ready for the right publisher. You can follow her work on Substack or connect with her on Twitter/X at @jrostopovich to join her upcoming book club discussions. Episode Links:

• Jennifer's website
• Substack
• X: @jrostopovich

For more interviews visit Salt Lake Dirt.

⁠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

Visit Salt Lake Dirt for more interviews

I recently sat down with author Victoria Hood to talk about her latest collection, Destroy Me, Desecrate My Bones. Victoria has a way of capturing the strange, often uncomfortable tensions of everyday life, and it was interesting to hear her talk about her "unapologetically weird" style and why she finds herself drawn to the "vibe" of a story—the mood and the setting—just as much as the plot itself.

We also got into the realities of being a writer today, from the grind of submitting to literary journals to the importance of finding a community that supports your specific voice. Victoria shared some great insights into her creative process, including how she handles the "longing" that gives her book its title—the feeling of being in between places or identities. It was a very grounded, honest conversation about the work that goes into making art that doesn't always fit into a neat little box.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

• PURCHASE the book
• Purchase on Amazon
• Follow Victoria on Instagram
• Queen City Scribes - Instagram

Visit Salt Lake Dirt for more interviews