The Banking Question Most People Never Ask, with Howard Headlee

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.

Derek Miller, President & CEO of the Utah Chamber and former Chief of Staff to Governor Gary Herbert, joins for a conversation about Utah’s economic strength, the challenges that come with growth, and why collaboration remains one of the state’s most important advantages. He the Chamber’s role in bringing business leaders together statewide, the issues facing Utah’s economy — from water and energy to global uncertainty — and what it takes to protect trust as the state continues to grow.

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.

Utah education policy is shaped by a lot of decision-makers, and most people only see a small piece of the system. Karen Peterson has been on nearly every side of it. In this episode, Karen explains why education has “a lot of hands on the wheel,” what that means when pressure is real, and how leadership looks when the decisions cannot wait.

American manufacturing is having a moment, and Utah is right in the middle of it.

In our latest episode of Back Channel, Marty Carpenter sits down with Johnny Ferry, President and CEO of the Utah Manufacturers Association, for a fast, candid conversation about what Utah actually makes, why the sector matters more than most people realize, and what manufacturers need most right now.

Utah’s historically dry winter couldn’t have come at a worse time. The seven states that share the Colorado River are locked in negotiations on how to divide a dwindling water supply; the Great Salt Lake is receding,  and critical infrastructure at Lake Powell is jeopardized by low water levels. As Utah’s River Commissioner, Gene Shawcroft is at the heas of these issues and he outlines where we are and where we’re headed.

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.

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.

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.

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.