Back Channel Utah
Back Channel is a Utah politics, policy, and business podcast hosted by Marty Carpenter.Every episode is a one-on-one conversation with someone who matters in Utah — an executive, a policymaker, a lobbyist, a community leader. Someone who's in the room when things happen.The conversation has four parts: who they are before they're a title, the issue they're closest to right now, their read on what's happening in Utah, and a few lighter questions at the end. It's candid, it moves fast, and it doesn't sound like a press release.Marty's been the one in the room too — as a gove...
The Message of the Midterms: Why Extremes Lose and the Center Wins
There is no way to sugarcoat it. This was a big blue wave. It hit Washington, and it hit Utah. It also tells us something worth understanding about how message strategy decides elections.
The Bell Curve
The clearest way to explain it is the way operatives have always explained it: think of politics as a bell curve. The far left and the far right are the party extremes. The middle is where persuadable voters live. A party that figures out what the people in that bell curve care about, and then convinces them it cares...
Utah's Global Trade Opportunity with Jonathan Freedman
Jonathan Freedman shares how he went from building Downeast to helping Utah businesses find opportunities in international markets. He also discusses the impact of tariffs, the uncertainty facing businesses and why global relationships matter.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Utah Redistricting, Congress & GOP Leadership with Congressman Blake Moore
Congressman Blake Moore joins Back Channel to talk Utah politics and the experiences that shaped his path to public service.
Moore reflects on growing up in Ogden, winning the Wendy’s National High School Heisman, and navigating redistricting while representing Utahns. He also explains his role in House Republican leadership, why passing legislation can be so difficult, and the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Family Affordability, Policy Wins, and Menopause Care with Emily Bell McCormick
Emily Bell McCormick, founder of The Policy Project, shares how an organization can turn everyday family challenges into statewide policy. She explains why her first campaign focused on period products, how the group expanded into teen centers, child safety, school cellphone rules, and family affordability, and what it takes to build support at the Utah Capitol.
McCormick also breaks down The Policy Project’s 2026 session, when three of four family-affordability bills passed, and previews a new push around menopause care. Along the way, she talks about persistence, negotiation, the value of bringing more moms into public policy, and...
College ROI, Enrollment Shifts, and Pro-Human AI with Geoffrey Landward
Geoffrey Landward, Utah’s commissioner of higher education, explains what “ROI” should actually mean for college degrees and post-secondary certificates, and why the value of higher ed goes beyond wages alone. He discusses Utah’s upcoming enrollment peak, what the national “enrollment cliff” could mean for public institutions, and why Utah’s system structure is an advantage if leaders plan strategically. Landward also breaks down how the state should think about technical education, stackable credentials, and returning adults as AI transforms the workforce. Finally, he shares why banning AI in the classroom is the wrong approach, and what “pro-human” looks like when ed...
AI Infrastructure, Why Delta Works, and Behind-the-Meter Power with Ray Conley
Ray Conley, founder and CEO of Creekstone Energy, breaks down why the AI era is becoming a land rush for power, fiber, and the physical footprint needed to train frontier models. Conley explains why Delta is unusually advantaged, how Utah’s “golden spike” infrastructure history shaped modern fiber routes, and why “behind the meter” power generation is essential if AI infrastructure is going to scale without spiking local power bills. He also offers a clear explanation for why people suddenly fear data centers, arguing it is less about the buildings and more about what they represent now that AI “actually wor...
Healthcare Complexity, Primary’s Growth, and “The Child First” with Dustin Lipson
Dustin Lipson, president of Primary Children’s Hospital, explains why healthcare is so difficult to reform, and what it takes to run a children’s hospital built on deep community trust. He shares how Primary has climbed into the top tier of U.S. News and World Report rankings, why “the child first and always” is designed to be an operational standard, and how pediatric care must support families, not just patients. Lipson also outlines the tradeoffs that come with rapid growth, including expansion across the Intermountain West, and the financial pressure children’s hospitals face as Medicaid budgets tighten. T...
Rolled votes, DC realities, and sweater days with Rob Bishop
Rob Bishop served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and previously held the gavel as Speaker of the Utah House. After retiring from Congress, he returned to the Utah House of Representatives to serve his local district, bringing decades of legislative experience full circle.
In this episode, he offers a clear look at how Congress operates behind closed doors, why standard textbooks fail to capture real legislative mechanics, and what has changed inside the Utah Capitol over the last fifty years. He breaks down the realities of federalism, the unwritten rules of Washington, and...
Todd Weiler on the Senate, Sutherland, and what Utah politics feels like right now
Utah State Senator Todd Weiler joins Back Channel for a candid look at his fourteen-year career in the legislature and his new role as President and CEO of the Sutherland Institute. Growing up as the son of a custodian in the Chicago suburbs, Weiler learned early how to negotiate, work hard, and speak directly. In this episode, he breaks down the inner workings of the Utah Senate, why the state budget will face tighter constraints next session, and the critical policy lessons he’s learned along the way.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode...
Labor Day, a Short Break, and Where Back Channel Goes Next
Back Channel is taking a short break for Labor Day — but this is a great weekend to catch up. Listen to last week’s conversation with Utah Attorney General Derek Brown or go back through the full catalog wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.
We’ll be back September 11 with Utah Senator Todd Weiler, the new president of the Sutherland Institute, for a candid conversation about the evolution of the Utah Legislature during his time on the Hill, the best and worst of being a lawyer, and more.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date...
Prediction Markets, Robocalls, and 80s Music with Derek Brown
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown details the major legal battles facing the state's largest law firm. Brown explains his office's push against the "addiction economy," the recent court victory against prediction market platform Kalshi, protecting consumer genetic data in the 23andMe bankruptcy, and leading a 50-state coalition against automated robocalls. He also reflects on his career across state government and public policy.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Brad Wilson on leading Utah's 2034 Olympics and thinking beyond the next headline
Brad Wilson, CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games and former Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, discusses what it takes to prepare for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games while balancing one of the largest organizational efforts in state history.
He shares how his background in business and public service prepared him for the role, why Utah is uniquely positioned to host another Winter Olympics, and what success will look like long after the closing ceremony. Wilson also reflects on the Great Salt Lake, leadership, and the importance of making decisions with...
AI, Education, and Protecting Kids with Ariel Defay
Rep. Ariel Defay represents Utah House District 15 after joining the Legislature through a 2023 appointment. Drawing on experience in government, political campaigns, and her family's small business, she has quickly become a leading voice on education and technology policy.
She discusses artificial intelligence in schools, classroom technology, early literacy, child protection, and how lawmakers can encourage innovation while putting students first. Defay also shares why collaboration shapes every bill she sponsors and why listening to teachers, parents, and constituents is essential to building effective public policy.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every...
Curtis Blair on Utah County's Growth and Building Community
Curtis Blair, President and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber, discusses why Utah County has become one of the fastest-growing business communities in the country and what it will take to sustain that momentum.
In this episode, he shares how the Chamber is helping shape conversations around housing, transportation, infrastructure, workforce development, and economic growth. Blair also reflects on leadership, entrepreneurship, community partnerships, and why intentional growth is the key to Utah County's future.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Kirk Cullimore on the Leadership Race Already Underway in the Utah Senate
Kirk Cullimore, Utah Senate Majority Leader, shares the unexpected journey that took him from a career in music to one of Utah's top legislative leadership positions. He reflects on the lessons he learned through music, law, and public service, and how those experiences continue to shape his approach to leadership.
The conversation explores Utah's rapid growth, housing affordability, economic development, artificial intelligence, and the long-term decisions that will influence the state's future. Cullimore also discusses the importance of discipline, community involvement, and why the most meaningful opportunities often come from simply being willing to serve.
🎙️ Watch...
Relationships, Rural Utah, and Four Governors with Mike Mower
Mike Mower has spent decades serving Utah through multiple gubernatorial administrations, but ask him what has mattered most and the answer is simple: people.
From growing up in Ferron to working alongside Governors Jon Huntsman Jr., Gary Herbert, and Spencer Cox, Mike reflects on the relationships that have shaped his career and his life. He shares stories about public service, personal loss, rural Utah, and the lessons he's learned from spending years traveling the state and working with communities large and small.
The conversation also includes one unforgettable missionary story involving the governor of Oregon...
Stablecoins, AI, and Utah’s Banking Boom with Howard Headlee
In Episode 10 of Back Channel, Marty Carpenter sits down with Howard Headlee, President and CEO of the Utah Bankers Association, to talk about how deposits fuel lending, what stablecoins change, what the GENIUS Act is trying to solve, and how AI is reshaping banking.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
BONUS: Lessons from Utah's Primary: When a Data Center Becomes a Political Crisis
Between interviews, Marty shares a quick bonus take.
Utah’s primary results delivered a clear takeaway: political fallout isn’t always about the policy — it’s often about how the controversy is handled.
The Stratos data center backlash in Box Elder County illustrates how timing, process, and communication failures stack up quickly.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Collaboration, Economy, and Utah’s Secret Sauce with Derek Miller
Derek Miller — President & CEO of the Utah Chamber and former Chief of Staff to Governor Gary Herbert — joins Back Channel to talk about what it takes to keep Utah strong as the state grows. The conversation covers the fundamentals that never go away, the “issue of the day” pressures like water and global uncertainty, and the deeper challenge underneath it all: protecting collaboration and trust statewide.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Redistricting, Rural Utah, and Playing the Long Game on Water with Celeste Maloy
Congresswoman Celeste Maloy joins Back Channel for a candid conversation about the behind-the-scenes work that actually makes the job possible: building a congressional office from scratch, assembling a team, and learning the parts of the role you can’t understand until you’re the one doing it.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Education policy, COVID decision-making, and coalition-building with Karen Peterson.
Education policy does not move through a single decision-maker. It moves through a system.
In Episode 7 of Back Channel, Marty Carpenter talks with Karen Peterson about what most people misunderstand about how education policy gets made in Utah, why it can feel impossible for families to navigate, and how decisions actually move when parents, school boards, districts, the State Board of Education, the Legislature, and the governor’s office all have a hand on the wheel.
Karen also shares what COVID response looked like inside state government, what coalition-building in the House really requires, and wh...
Lime rickey, digital twins, and a quiet giant with Johnny Ferry
Johnny Ferry is President and CEO of the Utah Manufacturers Association. Manufacturing matters more in Utah than most people realize, and Johnny breaks down why.
Manufacturing is the whole process, from R&D and supply chain to quality, maintenance, delivery, and the workforce behind it. Utah’s advanced manufacturing strengths show up in aerospace and defense, and stability and predictability shape decisions across the industry. AI is part of the discussion as well, including digital twins and using better data to reduce downtime.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
One River, Seven States, No Snow. Water update with Gene Shawcroft
Utah just came through its worst winter for water in recorded history. What happens next — and who decides?
Utah River Commissioner Gene Shawcroft breaks down Lake Powell’s “3,500-foot line,” the storage and infrastructure Utah relies on, and the seven-state negotiations that could reset Colorado River rules after 2026.
We talk drought whiplash, why the states missed key deadlines, and what Utahns should understand about where their water comes from.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Wall Street, Capitol Hill, and How Utah Builds with Rep. Cal Roberts
Utah is growing fast. Can our infrastructure and institutions keep up?
In this episode of Back Channel, Rep. Cal Roberts breaks down how Utah politics works when you zoom in on budgets, incentives, and the unglamorous mechanics that decide what gets built and what does not.
We talk gas tax politics, housing affordability, and why infrastructure is often the bottleneck.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Diet Coke, Tackling Homelessness, and the Art of a Lacrosse Faceoff with Tyler Clancy
Utah's state homeless coordinator Tyler Clancy joins Back Channel for a conversation about the experiences that shaped him before public office.
From growing up in South Carolina and playing lacrosse at BYU to working in homelessness services, law enforcement, and the Utah Legislature, Episode 3 focuses on the path behind the title.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
The Power of Streaks, Cold Plunges, and Candor with Francis Gibson
Francis Gibson joins Back Channel for a candid conversation on leadership, healthcare, public service, and personal discipline.
The President and CEO of the Utah Hospital Association and former Majority Leader of the Utah House reflects on his path from Texas to BYU football, his years in legislative leadership and the personal transformation that reshaped his health and perspective.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
Power, Policy, and the People Behind Utah’s Decisions with Abby Osborne
Episode one is live.
Abby Osborne, Chief of Staff for the Utah House of Representatives, joins *Back Channel* for a candid, one-on-one conversation on the people and decisions shaping the state.
No scripts. No spin. Just real perspective.
🎙️ Watch and subscribe to stay up to date. New episode every Friday.
Off Script. On Record.
