For Salt Lake Dirt's first Halloween episode, Kyler is joined by writer and director Duncan Birmingham to discuss the world of horror films, psychological thrillers, and cinematic slow burns.

Birmingham is well-known for his work on Blunt Talk, Maron, his story collection The Cult in My Garage, and his horror-comedy film Who Invited Them? During the chat, they touch on growing up in relatively strict households, coming around to horror later in life, and why the genre thrives on unique concepts rather than relying on traditional bankable movie stars.

Be sure to check out the movie recommendation podcast Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time that Duncan co-hosts with Lex Raby, which features its own annual Halloween special. To explore even more of his personal film picks, you can browse through Duncan's curated movie lists on Letterboxd.

Thanks for listening!

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Featured Horror & Thriller Films Mentioned

• The Invitation: 2015
• Obsession: 1976
• The Exorcist: 1973
• House of 1000 Corpses: 2003
• Halloween: 1978
• Psycho: 1960
• Psycho II: 1983
• The Birds: 1963
• Jacob's Ladder: 1990
• Audition: 1999
• The Devil's Candy: 2015 (festival premiere) / 2017 (theatrical release)
• Red Rooms: 2023
• House of the Devil: 2009
• Black Christmas: 1974
• Tenebrae: 1982
• Nightbreed: 1990

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Episode Links:

• Duncan on Linktree
• Duncan's Letterboxd

• SLD Episode 72: Who Invited Them?
• SLD Episode 36: The Cult in My Garage

On today's episode of Salt Lake Dirt, Kyler sits down with author and former neurosurgeon-turned-lawyer John Kenyon Rainer to discuss his novel, The Last Wind Walker.

The story centers on Ashe Carter, a young doctor who begins experiencing vivid memories of a past life. A century earlier in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, he lived among the "Wind Walkers," a legendary clan of mountain healers.

After spontaneously playing classical music at an Easter service, Ashe is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Following surgery that leaves him with coordination issues in his right hand, Ashe is fired from his residency and files a medical malpractice lawsuit against his neurosurgeon, navigating heavy life changes alongside his supportive wife, Mattie.

Rainer draws directly from his own professional background for the narrative, having spent roughly 25 years practicing neurosurgery followed by 25 years practicing law. This experience provided the foundation for the medical and courtroom conflicts depicted in the book.

During the interview, Rainer also reflects on his 1987 debut book, First Do No Harm, and how a family connection led to a rare endorsement from reclusive literary icon Harper Lee. They also touch on his writing process, the blending of multiple genres, and his preparation for a future sequel.

Great book, great chat. Thanks for listening!

PURCHASE The Last Wind Walker

On today's episode of Salt Lake Dirt, novelist and scholar Joseph Coulson discusses his book The Prince of Memphis. The novel explores an alternate music history centered on Aron Beale—the unacknowledged son of Elvis Presley and Clara Mae Beale—whose plans to publish a memoir spark legal battles and intense opposition.Coulson, who holds a Ph.D. in American Literature and serves as President and Chief Academic Officer at Harrison Middleton University, talks about the cultural mythology surrounding Elvis, his approach to writing the book, and the creation of "Midnight Candy," an original song created as a companion track to the project.

Thanks for listening!

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Episode Links:

• Purchase The Prince of Memphis
• JosephCoulson.com
• IG: @princeofmemphis