That's right, folks, it's episode 70! Do I hear 75? No? Episode 70, going once, going twice...sold to the discerning podcast listener! IS Jayson actually Agent 47? Probably not. Forget we said anything. Frank calling out Reiner Knizia within 4 minutes of the episode start "What is fish?" Help us, Jane Austen! Is this the first Eurogame? What happen…

AJ Romriell grew up Mormon and gay, and he joins us today to talk about his new book "Wolf Act." Through linked personal essays, "Wolf Act" charts a young man’s transformation.By Tom Williams

Lisa Gilman and Divine Irakoze met when Gilman stayed with Irakoze’s family in a Malawian refugee camp while working on a global ethnographic research project on arts initiatives by refugees.By Tom Williams

USU History Professor Tammy Proctor joins us today to talk about her new book "Saving Europe," which looks at American aid and intervention in Europe between 1914 and 1924.By Tom Williams

We recently revisited our conversation with Michael Pollan from May of 2013. Michael Pollan is author of several bestselling books such as "The Omnivore’s Dilemma."By Tom Williams

Today we talk with Cassidy Randall. Her new book "Thirty Below" tells the story of a group of female adventurers and their treacherous pioneering ascent of Denali in 1970.By Tom Williams

For all of human history, the deep ocean has been a source of wonder and terror. Now, cutting-edge technologies allow scientists and explorers to dive miles beneath the surface.By Tom Williams

The Utah Legislature is considering overhauling Utah's public records law. Critics say the proposed changes would make it harder for citizens to find out what state government is doing.By Tom Williams

We spoke with Kathy Christiansen about her new book "Billy Barnes and the Cyber Threat," about two boys who embark on a dangerous quest to find Billy's grandpa.By Tom Williams

We revisit our conversation with Kate Moore, author of the New York Times bestseller 'The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women'.By Tom Williams

We talk to the curators of "Playing Religion," an exhibit at USU that explores games inspired by the teachings and culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.By Tom Williams

We talk with Robin Hemley about his book "How to Change History," which grapples with the conflict between public and personal histories and the way memory affects them both.By Tom Williams

We talk with Riaz Patel about his program ConnectEffect, which brings people together to increase connection, decrease loneliness, and help bridge the digital divide.By Tom Williams

This is episode 69. We're discussing sex games. We're sorry. (Except Joe...Joe isn't sorry at all.) Sandi has joined us to try to provide a little bit of maturity to the topic; we'll let you decide if she succeeded. This is an adults-only episode (and we mean it this time), but we won't be offended if you decide to give this one a miss. Just come b…

We talk to representatives from the Utah Taxpayers Association, Friends of Great Salt Lake, the Sutherland Institute, HEAL Utah, the Libertas Institute, and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.By Tom Williams

Jan 28, 2025. We revisit our conversation with Rich Christiansen, author of "BlindSighted: A Journey of Identity, Faith, and Healing."By Tom Williams

We revisit our conversation with Sonia Purnell, author of the new biography "Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue."By Tom Williams

UPR broadcast live from the Utah State Capitol complex on this opening day of the session. Host Tom Williams spoke with legislative leaders on top priorities for this year.By Tom Williams

UPR and The Salt Lake Tribune recently ran a series challenging a 2023 report that said emergency measures were needed to save Great Salt Lake. We called one of the report's authors to hear his side.By Tom Williams

Valarie Clark Miller's husband talks about her life, and the fight to hold accountable the men — including the local cop — who abused Valarie and controlled the systems designed to look the other way.By Tom Williams

Pico Iyer has visited a small, Benedictine hermitage in California more than 100 times in the last 30 years. He isn't religious, but his life has been transformed by these times spent in silence.By Tom Williams

Today we look back on 2024 and talk about the best music and movies of the year. Our guests include music reporter Palak Jayswal and movie critic Sean Means.By Tom Williams

Today we're spotlighting the Chamber Music Society of Logan, and we're joined by CMSL Chair Charlie Huenemann and Programming Director Cahill Smith.By Tom Williams

We revisit our conversation with Rabbi Steve Leder about life, death, and the concept of writing an ethical will.By Tom Williams

On this episode, we take a look back at some of the most popular digital trends, memes, and folklore of 2024.By Tom Williams

Well, we made it to 2025, technically. What new board games are coming out to give us hope for the future? Frank describes one of his choices as "big...sprawling...French..." Joe is unhappy with Mike's love/hate relationship with Tales of the Arabian Nights Has Joe made The Ultimate Crowdfunding Mistake? Will Frank go 3-for-3 on Fantasy Name: Drama…

We're once again joined by musician Mike Christiansen and author Tim Slover, bringing humorous and poignant readings for the season with an infusion of holiday music.By Tom Williams

Today we talk with scientist Elizabeth Hider about her novel May the Wolf Die.By Tom Williams

Today we talk with USU professor Paul Rogers about wildfire, as well as such issues as growth and housing, wildlife habitat, Native American co-stewardship and myths of the Old West and New West.By Tom Williams

The end of the year draws nigh, so of course we have to do a year-end countdown. All five of us - even the near-mythical Jayson - have prepared a list of our five favorite games from The Year That Was - enjoy! We argue about what a game's name means because of a (missing?) apostrophe Frank teaches Jayson the lore of the Mothman All of Frank's choic…

Politico Magazine recently published an article titled "Everyone in Congress Is Obsessed with This Book About the Post-Civil War Era." We revisit our conversation with the book's author, Jon Grinspan, on today's episode.By Tom Williams

We’re compiling another UPR community booklist and we want to know what you’re reading. Listen to suggestions from booksellers and UPR friends, and share your recommendations.By Tom Williams

Today we talked with USU philosophy faculty members Mike Ashfield, Rachel Robison-Greene, and Michael Ottesen.By Tom Williams

We revisit our conversation with writer Sandra Cisneros. Her book "Martita, I Remember You / Martita, te recuerdo" was included in one of our UPR Community Booklists.By Tom Williams

We talk with award-winning Utah essayist Phyllis Barber about her book "The Precarious Walk: Essays from Sand and Sky."By Tom Williams

We revisit our conversation with Chad Ford, author of "Dangerous Love." We discuss conflict and the current political climate.By Tom Williams

A new biography revives the groundbreaking voice of Sanora Babb. John Steinbeck relied on Babb's field notes and oral histories of migrant farmworkers to write "The Grapes of Wrath."By Tom Williams

Today our guest is northern Utah resident and bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne. She published her 75th book, "The December Market," earlier this year.By Tom Williams

Richard Hatch joins us for the hour to talk about magic, as well as his recent translation of a 1933 book from a German author killed in the Holocaust.By Tom Williams

Via Rio Grande is proposing a citizen-driven vision for removing railroad crossings, revitalizing a neighborhood, and reusing the historic Rio Grande Depot as Salt Lake City’s main transit hub.By Tom Williams

The results are in. Former President Trump is president-elect. We recapped the 2024 election with USU Political Science Professor Damon Cann.By Tom Williams

Today talked with Robert Frodeman, one of the editors of a new book: "A Watershed Moment: The American West in the Age of Limits."By Tom Williams

Today we talked with Wyoming-based writer Craig Johnson, the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery novels, which are the basis for "Longmire," the Netflix series.By Tom Williams

Happy post-Halloween! Now that everyone's hopped up on sugar (and/or in a sugar crash coma), let's finish our discussion of party games! Come along as we discuss: Mike's greatest weakness - a limited knowledge of Campbell's Soup varieties! What game company was founded because of a flooded salmon boat? "They're Belgian, but that's French enough." (…

In Hometown Betrayal, author Emily Benedek takes you behind the closed doors of the remote Mormon community of Clarkston, Utah. With the help of hundreds of individual stories, she pieces together not only what happened to Valarie, but also the conditions and culture that allowed it.By Tom Williams

Ally Condie is the author of the No. 1 New York Times bestselling Matched series and the Edgar Award Finalist for "Summerlost," among other novels.By Tom Williams

What do a bunch of well-seasoned river gals do on river trips without their men? Everything you might imagine, and more.By Tom Williams

“Today we live in a fire age in which ancient prophecies of worlds destroyed and renewed by fire have become contemporary realities, even for people living in modern cities," Stephen Pyne says.By Tom Williams

“Once on the brink of extinction, the bald, feathered symbol of the West is making a promising comeback. If only we can get the lead out."By Tom Williams

The nonprofit Bridle Up Hope works to improve the mental health of girls and women through the healing power of horses.By Tom Williams