Small Lake City
Small Talk, Big City
Join host Erik Nilsson as he interviews the entrepreneurs, creators, and builders making Salt Lake City the best place it can be. Covering topics such as business, politics, art, food, and more you will get to know the amazing people behind the scenes investing their time and money to improve the place we call home.
Follow along for more!
Small Lake City
Tuesday Announcements 1/6: Happy New Year, Season 2 is LIVE!, and this Week's Bodyworks Guests...
The calendar turned and our city feels wide open again. We’re back from a December reset with clear eyes, a full slate, and a promise to feature the people who make the Wasatch Front feel like home. Season Two kicks off with a story where hospitality meets service: the Grand Hyatt at Deer Valley dedicates 25% of its rooms to military members, an initiative rooted in Utah’s Olympic-era promise to protect military recreation access. We sit down with GM Nate Hardesty and program lead Kristin Kenny Williams to unpack how the policy works, why it matters, and what it looks like when logistics and dignity align.
From the Mayflower side above Jordanelle, this new property isn’t just another luxury build. Nate shares how a hotel integrates with a mountain community without losing its soul, while Kristin walks us through the nuts and bolts of making stays affordable and available to those who serve. It’s a rare look at access done right: less slogan, more system. We connect the dots between legacy decisions from 2002 and today’s on-the-ground benefits for military families who want to ski, gather, and breathe mountain air without barriers.
We also preview what’s next: Jeff and Jessa, the founders of Rocksteady Body Works, bring a different kind of impact through Pilates, bodywork, and a studio culture anchored in care. Their journey to Salt Lake, their partnership, and their approach to movement show how small studios can strengthen a neighborhood’s health, routine, and sense of belonging. Along the way we celebrate recent community giveaways, spotlight upcoming prizes, and invite you to stay plugged in as more local stories roll out.
If you’re here for thoughtful conversations about place, service, and the people who keep this city moving, you’ll feel right at home. Tap follow, share the show with a friend who loves Utah, and leave a review telling us which local builders we should feature next.
50% Off Minky Couture Blankets: softminkyblankets.com/SMALLLAKECITY
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What is up, everybody, and welcome back to another Tuesday update. It is me, Eric Nilsson, the host of the Small Lake City Podcast. First things first, happy new year. Hopefully, you all had some great time with friends and family for the holidays and new year and back ready to rock for 2026. It was nice to take some time off for most of December. I didn't really post too much and also have been on the break in between season one and season two, which brings me to the second point that season two of the Small Lake City podcast is now live. The first episode is with Nate Hardesty and Kristin Kenny Williams. Nate is the GM of the Grand Hyatt in Deer Valley, the newest hotel up there that's on the new Mayflower side, kind of by Jordan L. And Kristen Kenny Williams is the one who runs the military program there. Because if you don't know, there's 25% of those rooms that are allocated towards military members. And there's a long story, but the short answer of it is when the Olympics came in 2002 that they took some land that was allocated for military recreation up near Snow Basin. And so they had to find a place to replace it. And so they did it there, which from hearing from them, it is an amazing opportunity for our military members from what they had to what they have now. Uh, two great people making a great impact and really making Salt Lake and the broader area a better place and giving us all better opportunities. Also, thanks to everybody who entered the Kilby Block Party giveaway, as well as the Utah Men's Basketball giveaway. There's gonna be so many more giveaways to come, so make sure that you are paying attention, especially on social media. And lastly, want to announce this week's guests. So this week we are joined by Jeff and Jessa, who are the founders of Rocksteady Body Works. Now, Rocksteady isn't just a Pilates studio and bodywork studio, but it really is a great place in the community, and both of them have fascinating stories of how they ended up in Salt Lake City, how they ended up together, and how much they love and care about this place that they now find themselves in as home. So that will be releasing this week. Keep an eye on social media for it. I'm excited for it. Two really great people that are shaping the community. Uh, but besides that, enjoy some warm weather before it actually might get cold next week. And I will see you this weekend.
