S2, E20: How Eli McCann Became Utah's Favorite Story Teller

S2, E20: How Eli McCann Became Utah's Favorite Story Teller

A lot of people leave a high-demand religion and end up with either a scorched-earth break or a lifetime of quiet resentment. We wanted a third option, so we called up Eli: a gay, ex-LDS writer and lawyer who somehow keeps deep, loving ties with a still-practicing Mormon family while staying honest about why he left. The result is a Salt Lake City conversation about faith, identity, and what it takes to choose peace without pretending the past did not shape you. We talk about coming out with intention, protecting your story from being “used” as an example, and how the emotional arc can shift from anger to something closer to grounded indifference. Eli shares a framework that’s helped him and a lot of us in Utah: separating the church as a corporation from the people you love and the culture you still understand, whether that’s fry sauce jokes or the weird nostalgia of general conference weekends. Then we go deep on creativity and modern media. Eli traces his path from early blogging to a wrong-number text that went viral, to living in Palau, to building a storytelling podcast, to becoming a Salt Lake Tribune humor columnist and author of We’re Thankful for the Moisture. We also unpack the reality of content creation and social media: why “going full-time” can kill the joy, why authenticity beats audience-guessing, and how story-driven TikToks can move people to action without a hard sell. That same storytelling muscle shows up in LGBTQ advocacy with Equality Utah, including the strategy that helped pass a unanimous conversion therapy ban. If you like thoughtful Utah culture talk, ex-Mormon perspectives, LGBTQ stories, writing advice, and the behind-the-scenes mechanics of going viral, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves a good story, and leave a review with the line that stuck with you most. Have a Question? Ask it here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/fan_mail/new] Check out the DLX 313 at Via313 today! Questions about buying or selling a home in Utah? Email Spencer spencer.ford@vuere.com or use the contact form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6Fu7-y3J9RMSvatzK-9Px06OMfjvydFjLwP7i1jC_3W8xRg/viewform?usp=header] to get in touch Visit www.luxeautomotive.com or use this link [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdldVYSCUzLhiGWyCpHcOVpzOlqqwiN57PuL01lhYnMKwjKxA/viewform?usp=header] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/support] 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 Wildfires, Air Quality Warnings, And What’s Still On For July 4

Smoke is hanging over the Salt Lake Valley, the mountains are barely visible, and it’s not just “summer haze.” We break down what’s behind Utah’s rough early wildfire season, which major fires are driving the worst of the air right now, and what Stage 1 fire restrictions actually mean for real life. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s safe to run outside, take your kids to the park, or hit the trails, we talk through how to use the Utah DEQ AQI, who needs to be extra cautious, and why this moment deserves more than a shrug. Then we pivot to something the city can genuinely celebrate: the Utah Jazz making the No. 2 pick count by selecting Darryn Peterson. We dig into what kind of guard he is, why the scoring upside has people dreaming, and how quickly “I don’t want to be there” draft chatter can flip once a player sees the opportunity and the young core taking shape. Draft night in Salt Lake felt electric for a reason, and it’s worth sitting with that even while the state deals with fire and smoke. We also give you a clear, practical Fourth of July weekend guide with options across Salt Lake and beyond, including drone shows, downtown events, baseball, and the big caveat everyone needs to hear: don’t be the person lighting backyard mortars during a tinder-dry summer. We wrap with quick hitters on the Twilight Concert Series lineup, Bonneville Shoreline Trail closures near the University of Utah, Utah Mammoth NHL free agency movement, and why this year’s FanX is the last chance to catch it at the Salt Palace before renovations. If you missed last week’s conversation with ski icon Tom Wallisch, we point you there, and we tease next week’s guest: Eli McCann. Subscribe for weekly Salt Lake City news and culture updates, share this with a friend who needs plans for the Fourth, and leave a quick review if the show helps you stay plugged in. Have a Question? Ask it here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/fan_mail/new] Check out the DLX 313 at Via313 today! Questions about buying or selling a home in Utah? Email Spencer spencer.ford@vuere.com or use the contact form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6Fu7-y3J9RMSvatzK-9Px06OMfjvydFjLwP7i1jC_3W8xRg/viewform?usp=header] to get in touch Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/support] 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, E19: How Tom Wallisch Changed Freeskiing Forever

A lot of people see the highlight clip and assume the rest is luck. Tom Wallisch doesn’t. From lapping small hills outside Pittsburgh to becoming one of the defining names in modern freestyle skiing, Tom breaks down the unglamorous parts that made the glamorous moments possible: repetition, confidence built from community, and learning how to evolve when the sport evolves. We talk about the early Newschoolers and YouTube era, when a one minute edit and a comment section could change your entire trajectory. Tom explains how style trends like the Park City tall tee wave weren’t random, they were a choice to stand out, then a willingness to own the lane when people started paying attention. From there, we get into the real shift from filming to high level slopestyle and big air competition, what sponsors expect, and how even small things like picking up poles can be the difference between being “different” and being scored fairly. The conversation goes deeper into longevity: the mindset behind progression, the story of building and hitting a Guinness verified world record rail, and why film segments often outlive medals in your memory. Tom also shares how he transitioned into ski film production and creative ownership with Good Company, and how announcing at X Games and the Olympics became a way to keep freeskiing accessible and respected for new audiences. If you care about freeskiing, terrain park culture, X Games history, Olympic skiing, or how athletes navigate an action sports career transition, this one is packed with lessons you can actually use. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves the mountains, and leave a review with your favorite moment or question you want us to dig into next. Have a Question? Ask it here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/fan_mail/new] Check out the DLX 313 at Via313 today! Questions about buying or selling a home in Utah? Email Spencer spencer.ford@vuere.com or use the contact form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6Fu7-y3J9RMSvatzK-9Px06OMfjvydFjLwP7i1jC_3W8xRg/viewform?usp=header] to get in touch Visit www.luxeautomotive.com or use this link [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdldVYSCUzLhiGWyCpHcOVpzOlqqwiN57PuL01lhYnMKwjKxA/viewform?usp=header] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/support] 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

Salt Lake City Budget Hikes Explained With Gondola Land Shock

Your costs in Salt Lake City are changing fast, and the numbers are finally on the table. We walk through the newly adopted Salt Lake City budget and translate it into what residents actually feel: a 12.5% increase to the city’s portion of property taxes, utility rate increases that can add more than $32 a month for a typical household, and the end of the discounted Hive transit pass. We also explain the argument City Hall is making about inflation, rising equipment costs, and why officials say the alternative would be layoffs or service cuts.  Next, we head up to Little Cottonwood Canyon for one of the most eyebrow-raising moves of the week: UDOT spending $7.95 million on land meant for a gondola base station. The project isn’t funded, it’s still tied up in lawsuits, and the state’s own timeline suggests it might not be built until the 2040s. We talk through the case for “land banking,” why critics think the price looks high, and what it means for canyon traffic that’s already a problem right now.  We close with a public lands update that breaks in a rare direction: the attempt to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument management plan fails after a missed deadline, buying time for protections that tribal nations, local businesses, and many Utah voters support. Then it’s a rapid-fire summer roundup: Twilight Concert Series dates, the Utah Arts Festival’s 50th anniversary, Utah Mammoth NHL draft and free agency notes, and a Salt Lake Bees weeknight that still feels like the best deal in town. Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about Salt Lake City, and leave a review with the one issue you want us to dig into next. Have a Question? Ask it here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/fan_mail/new] Check out the DLX 313 at Via313 today! Questions about buying or selling a home in Utah? Email Spencer spencer.ford@vuere.com or use the contact form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6Fu7-y3J9RMSvatzK-9Px06OMfjvydFjLwP7i1jC_3W8xRg/viewform?usp=header] to get in touch Please be sure to like, review, follow, subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family! See you next time  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/support] 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, E18: Building A Fantasy Tavern In Salt Lake

S2, E18: Thieves Guild Cidery - Max Knudsen & Jordy Kirkman A fantasy tavern where you can grab a tankard of cider, play a board game you’ve never seen before, and watch a Dungeons and Dragons campaign unfold at the next table sounds like a gimmick until you hear how Thieves Guild Cidery actually got built. We sit down with Max and Jordy to trace the real story behind one of the most distinctive Salt Lake City bars and why going all-in on “too nerdy” was the smartest business decision they made.  We talk about growing up nerdy before it was cool, finding community through places like Quarters Arcade Bar, and then taking a lockdown-era homebrew habit to a full-scale craft cider operation. They get honest about the non-glam parts: scaling fermentation from small batches to hundreds of gallons, building a business plan that lives in a spiderweb of Excel sheets, getting outside validation from industry experts, and the surreal moment of asking a bank for “lots of money” and hearing yes.  Then we get into the world-building: DIY props, 3D printing, soldering, custom lighting run by microcontrollers, and why outsourcing the design couldn’t match the vision. Even the bathrooms are part of the experience, from a dark, dramatic, Ministry of Magic-inspired room to the “Paperback Paradise” wall of hilariously altered fantasy covers. We also dig into what’s next, including canned cider drops, getting product into other bars, and Apples and Daggers, their festival that’s aiming for a true adult renn fair vibe in Utah.  If you love Salt Lake City nightlife, craft cider, themed bars, board game bars, or just stories about building something weird and real, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’d actually wear a cloak to happy hour, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Have a Question? Ask it here! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/fan_mail/new] Check out the DLX 313 at Via313 today! Questions about buying or selling a home in Utah? Email Spencer spencer.ford@vuere.com or use the contact form here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6Fu7-y3J9RMSvatzK-9Px06OMfjvydFjLwP7i1jC_3W8xRg/viewform?usp=header] to get in touch Visit www.luxeautomotive.com or use this link [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdldVYSCUzLhiGWyCpHcOVpzOlqqwiN57PuL01lhYnMKwjKxA/viewform?usp=header] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2253231/support] 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