Blacksite Podcast

Compassionate conservative, former House Representative, Salt Lake Tribune columnist, and overall good human being Holly Tree Richardson joins us at the Blacksite to discuss the loss of norms, Supreme Court Madness, and the U.S. bullying other countries to suggest breast-is-not-best. 

It’s the Fourth of July, so we thought we’d focus on one of the few inspiring trends in America today: the wave of new candidates running for office. Blacksite co-creators Courtney and Ryan Jones made the decision to run for office in their districts a few months ago. We check in with them on how they made that decision, the effect it has had on their lives, and whether they have any chance at winning in conservative Utah. Courtney and Ryan are proof that literally anyone can run! 

Chris Jones, star of the Tex Murphy video games, joins us to discuss the long history of dinosaur movies and their new low point. Militarized raptors were not enough to save the latest Jurassic movie. 

Sarah Bourne has adapted the “mommy blog” medium to politics, but she’s really just telling her family’s story. Our panel learns that telling personal stories may be the only way to move America forward after these weeks of devastating setbacks. Join us for some commiserating. Blacksite Podcast is back!

Host of NPR's 1A Joshua Johnson joins us at the Blacksite (...er, we join him at KUER) to discuss having beneficial conversations in an increasingly polarized world. And West Side Story. We also talk about West Side Story and then we make deep cut musical references. 

Sheldon Kirkham visits the Blacksite to discuss his run for Utah CD4! We are also joined by Chris Voros of U work 4 Utah who spent his a beautiful Saturday trapped inside the Maverick Center at the Utah GOP convention as a delegate! Listen to the convention craziness - there's Confetti Cannons involved and not so subtle symbolism of a falling American flag. Join us, won't you?   http://kirkhamforcongress.com/

Interview with Shireen Ghorbani! 

Blacksite Podcast is hosting a live show this Wednesday, March 28 at Avant Groove in Salt Lake City... and you're invited!   Avant Groove is located at 122 West Pierpont Avenue in Salt Lake City. Show starts at 7:00pm, and it's FREE! 

Dan interviews Dani, a 5th grader who participated in the 17 minute walkout in memory of the Parkland Students. Later, we interview High Schooler Han Johnson about the upcoming Salt Lake City March for our Lives walk on Saturday, March 24. Tune in! 

The Associate Director at the U Young Democrats of Utah Elise Scott  returns to the Blacksite to discuss her experience as a campaign manager!  House intelligence committee announced it was shutting down its probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, a Republican who sits on it said he believes the committee has lost its credibility. So... some mixed messages there. Either way, Blacksite Congressman Chris Stewart continues to chase Jason Chaffetz's coveted title of worst Utah rep ever.  The Utah GOP continues it's internal war over the bylaws and SB54. Rob Anderson says he won't recognize the new bylaw because it's unconstitutional... and indeed it is. Also, Presidential Porn correspondent Courtney is on the beat with the latest Stormy Daniels news.   Also, Blacksite Podcast has a LIVE SHOW you can attend on Wednesday, March 28 at Avant Groove in SLC. Check out their FB page for more details.         

Andrew Graft tells us about the formation of the Utah CD4 Coalition and it’s town halls with Mia Love which have been nonexistent for the past two years. We are joined by Katie Matheson for the panel discussion about DACA expiring with no resolution in sight. Later, we discuss ICE’s strategy of separating children from parents. Trump has gone and started a Trade War much to the chagrin of both Democrats and Republicans. Trump’s economic adviser Gary Coen is the latest in a long line of departures from the White House. RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA! Ryan gives us an update on the Russia investigation – now featuring a jailed Russian sex coach with tapes! No, not those kind of tapes. Audio tapes that reportedly show proof of Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

Nathan Evershed visits the Blacksite to discuss his run for Salt Lake DA. Later, we are joined by Tyrell Aagard and BreAnna Cox Larsen to discuss the newest Utah GOP Bylaw which may kick Mitt Romney out of the Republican Party if he gathers signatures for his senate run rather than the convention route. DACA expires in a week and we discuss actions Mormon Women for Ethical Government are taking to stand for the Dreamers.

Another POPcast bonus episode for the real fans. Dan, Courtney, Clark, and Ryan discuss whether Greatest Showman deserves to be the sensation it has become. Warning: some listeners may find Dan's opinion on this issue deeply offensive. We also liked Black Panther, because we're humans.

We're back! And so is Mitt Romney, this time with a plan to "bring Utah values to Washington." What are Utah values? Rylee Curtis with UtahDecides is betting Medicaid expansion is one of them. She's pushing a ballot initiative that would let voters decide the issue.  For our panel discussion, Stephanie Pitcher joins us. She's seeking the Democrat nomination for House District 40 in the Salt Lake and Millcreek area.  We also talk again about the cycle of gun violence and whether anything will change this time. 

Kate Kelly visits the Blacksite and gives us her story about growing up Mormon, starting Ordain Women, and being excommunicated. The government prevented a shutdown! HOORAY! Apparently the “art of the deal” is giving in almost immediately. Discussion about the VOX article regarding Trump’s Kleptocracy. The Activist Agenda covers Utah Women Unite, Women’s Democratic Meeting, and the upcoming State Black Women’s event! Listen on Stitcher or iTunes or Libsyn. Just use the colored widget on the left!

Our beloved host Dan is out this week due to a bad ass ski injury. His Olympic dreams are officially over - but that doesn't mean you have to suffer without Blacksite Podcast! Ryan interviews State senator Todd Weiler and Representative Joel Briscoe about Utah Politics. 

Dan is gone! Temporarily. It's up to Courtney to helm the podcast. We discuss  Trump's 'Bill of Love' to DACA recipients, North Carolina ruling gerrymandering unconstitutional, and Ben McAdams raising a half million dollars despite not appearing on Blacksite Podcast. Just imagine how much more money he would have raised if he had just appeared on Blacksite! Ryan and Bob also panel. Follow-up: Courtney never got to watch IT on Blu Ray that night. 

It took us two days into the New Year, but it finally happened - TRUMP ESCALATED NUCLEAR TENSIONS AGAIN! Oh, and famed senator and sometimes songwriter Orrin Hatch announced his retirement after forty years in the senate and zero years on the billboard top 100. We talk with Ken Whitaker about how to be better media consumers. We take a look at how we can lower our expectations about things getting better - yet maintain that wonderful, optimistic glow about us! Ryan and Courtney also panel. 

Clarke, Ryan and Courtney conduct a thorough, thoughtful review of The Last Jedi and how it's narrative... NEVERMIND. We hated it. This podcast lists all the reasons we hated it. HATED IT! Dan hasn't seen it yet, so he's not allowed to listen to this podcast until he watches it.