The World Health Organization estimated 7 million premature worldwide deaths were caused by urban air pollution and use of indoor solid fuels. “We can’t live more than three minutes without air,” said O2TODAY founder and CEO, Bruce Lorange. “Air is the thing we are always dependent upon that we think least about. Breathing literally fuels our … [Read more...]
Project Embrace: Utah Startup is Changing Lives by Changing Perceptions
Project Embrace founder, Mohan Sudabattula, talks about how his connection to Utah evolved into a company that donates medical waste to balance global medical inequality. Mohan is a student of Biology, Philosophy and Health Policy from India, but his relationship to Utah innovation goes back years. “I grew up dancing at University of Utah campus events,” he said. Carving a … [Read more...]
Dirty Man Scrubs: an Alternative Way to Care for your Skin
Leaving corporate life wasn’t exactly a choice for Collin Straka, co-founder of Dirty Man Scrubs. Straka is a self-proclaimed "intrapreneur", defined by Forbes contributor David K. Williams in October 2013, as a team player who thinks like a business owner within their company roles. “At a certain level, it’s just part of the DNA,” Straka said. “I see a problem and I want to … [Read more...]
Speakeasy Embraces Utah’s Quirky Liquor Laws
Arriving at Prohibition, Salt Lake’s 1920’s-themed restaurant and cocktail bar, it was clear I was in for more than beer and big screens. Elegantly attired, Dr. Drink (aka Victoria) welcomed me to “Mary’s Antiques and Oddities” before proprietor Nick Porter escorted me past the secret door. “Prohibition makes the perfect business model for Utah, with its quirky laws and … [Read more...]
Halting an Avalanche of Declining Ad Revenue for Entertainment Video
The cord cutters are out in force, and cable TV giants such as Comcast, Time Warner, CNN, and ESPN are reeling to form a defense. According to TechCrunch, 56.6 million US consumers are going without pay-TV this year; and that’s up 32.2 percent over last year. But how do cord cutters watch live TV without cable? Lack of Autonomy Challenge Matt Wunderli is unable to watch … [Read more...]
Uintah Collection: Lifestyle Gear Beyond Yoga
Bringing Business Home Uintah Collection started in a showroom at New York City’s Garment Center. The business moved to California after a factory closure and, finally, made its way home to Salt Lake City at 209 East Broadway. “We like swim fabric because you can saturate it. Water or sweat, it works really well,” said mother of two, co-owner and Bikram Yogi, Heather … [Read more...]
King of “Fast Casual Dining”: Eddee Johansen of Yoshi’s Japanese Grill
Between fast food and the casual dining you’ll find at Applebee’s or the Macaroni Grill, there’s “fast casual,” Eddee Johansen, Utah owner of Yoshi’s Japanese Grill in Murray, said. Catalyst for Creative Food Before TRAX came to Salt Lake City, Eddee was a general manager at a downtown Salt Lake restaurant that earned millions in annual revenue. Corporate America came in … [Read more...]
Salt Lake Podcaster Andrea Smardon
Andrea Smardon, an award-winning producer, left her job at KUER 90.1 FM to podcast Changing Our Stories wanting, "freedom to follow my curiosity," Smardon said. She hopes "to pursue big questions, bigger than I could approach with daily news." Smardon craves wisdom from "stories that will help us navigate the way forward in changing our lives," she said. I'm interested in … [Read more...]
Podcaster Chris Holifield Quit His Day Job to Bring Salt Lake to the World
I am Salt Lake broadcast its first episode, Sorry Clementine, in August 2012. Five years later, Episode 300 is newly out the door. Its creator, Utah podcast coach, producer and host, Chris Holifield says, “That side hustle became a way to connect with people all over the world.” A Little History “I liked the idea of a talk radio show, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do a … [Read more...]
Sara Day, Co-Founder of Even Stevens is a Utah-born Market Innovator
Even Stevens Sandwiches co-founder, cause director, and Utah-born innovator, Sara Day, tells how and why she turned passion for serving others into a career beyond the corporate box. We spoke in a nicely cushioned, wood-paneled nook in the original downtown Salt Lake City store, at the corner of 414 East and 200 South. Up-tempo yet soft-spoken, Sara’s “front of the house” … [Read more...]