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Artwork for Both Sides of the Aisle
Utah
Donald Trump
Iran
Homelessness
Kamala Harris
Trump
Trump Administration
Ukraine
Immigration
Tariffs
Gerrymandering
Great Salt Lake
Supreme Court
Middle East
Salt Lake County
Education
Republican Party
Gun Violence
Immigration Policy
Biden Administration

Both Sides of the Aisle is a weekly debate over politics, policy and current issues facing the state of Utah, featuring voices representing the Right, the Center, and the Left.Representing Right is State Auditor John Dougall (R), on the Left is former Salt Lake County Councilwoman Shireen Ghorbani (D), and speaking for the “common sense middle” is Natalie Gochnour, an associate dean in the David E... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes144Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Both Sides of the Aisle

Latest Episodes

Our hosts discuss an Iran war powers resolution's narrow failure, Sen. Mitch McConnell's disappearance, Sen. Lindsey Graham's death, and Utah's bid for a nuclear facility.

Shireen Ghorbani sits down with the leadership of Equality Utah to discuss the group's political advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and protections in Utah.

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Our hosts sit down with the co-executive director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government and discuss the group's inception, national and statewide organizing, and its ethical approach to politics.

YouTube

Shireen Ghorbani sits down with Jake Rugh, a BYU sociology professor, to discuss the unique politics of Utah and what they mean for the state's future.

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Essie Gonzen
Executive Director of Equality Utah
Equality Utah
Episode: Equality Utah
Marina Lowe
Senior Director of Legal and Legislative Affairs for Equality Utah
Equality Utah
Episode: Equality Utah
Emma Addams
Co-executive director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWG)
Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWG)
Episode: Emma Addams and Mormon Women for Ethical Government
Jake Rugh
Professor of Sociology at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Episode: Professor Jacob Rugh
Tim Hawkes
Chairman of the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council
Great Salt Lake Advisory Council
Episode: Tim Hawkes, chair of the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council
Sarah Wright
CEO and founder of Utah Clean Energy
Utah Clean Energy
Episode: Sarah Wright and Glade Sowards
Glade Sowards
20-year veteran of the Division of Air Quality, now in energy and climate for Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City government / Division of Air Quality (former)
Episode: Sarah Wright and Glade Sowards
John Dougall
Utah State Auditor
Republican party alignment in discussion
Episode: Vote by mail, Iran war address, and the U.S. Forest Service in Utah
Tina Cannon
State Auditor of Utah, first independently elected Republican woman in Utah
Utah Office of the State Auditor
Episode: Utah State Auditor Tina Cannon

Hosts

Natalie Gochnour
Host representing the political center; director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah.
Shireen Ghorbani
Co-host representing the Left; former Salt Lake County Councilwoman and policy analyst.
John Dougall
Co-host representing the Right; Utah State Auditor.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • Productive Middle

    I love the dynamic of the hosts and guests in this show. They disagree without being disagreeable. Natalie is a wealth of wisdom. John is beings the experience. Shireen is the heart of the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Xyon Curtain
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The format makes Utah politics approachable for professionals and civic-minded listeners.
Discussions feel balanced and respectful, with strong, informed perspectives.
Guests and hosts challenge ideas without hostility, making complex policy accessible.
Listeners appreciate practical policy takeaways and data-driven context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#99
United States/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Equality Utah
Q: What is the future vision for Equality Utah under your leadership?
Essie outlined continued bridge-building, expanding student and college ambassador programs, increasing rural reach beyond Salt Lake, and maintaining a focus on listening and coalition-building to protect LGBTQ+ rights.
Equality Utah
Q: Essie, can you share a bit about your background and how you came into this work?
Essie described being born and raised in Utah, working as a teacher for eight years, moving to LA for a time, and then returning to lead Equality Utah's efforts, especially in Southern Utah; her path blends education, advocacy, and a personal commitment to minority voices.
Tim Hawkes, chair of the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council
Q: What made you decide to run for the legislature?
Tim explains that initial interest stemmed from a passion for policy sparked in his youth, reinforced by mentors and later motivations from his wife, leading him to pursue public office with a focus on substantive, data-driven policy rather than ideological zeal.
Steve Waldrip, senior advisor for housing strategy and innovation
Q: What can we do to help with housing issues?
Residents can support local housing initiatives by advocating for starter homes and expressing their support to city council members.
Steve Waldrip, senior advisor for housing strategy and innovation
Q: Why isn't Utah building enough homes?
There are a combination of factors including a decline in small home builders after the 2008 recession and current economic pressures like interest rate issues and tariffs on materials.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Both Sides of the Aisle

What is Both Sides of the Aisle about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Utah-focused, three-way roundtable explores state politics, policy, and current events through Left, Center, and Right lenses. Episodes frequently cover governance, elections, civility in discourse, and how national issues intersect with Utah priorities—from immigration and public budgeting to infrastructure and local governance. The format emphasizes data-driven context, practical policy tradeoffs, and a constructive, middle-ground perspective, making it a valuable resource for listeners who want balanced insight into state-level politics and how different viewpoints shape policy outcomes. A notable strength is the collaboration among three regular hosts who represent distinct viewpoints yet maintain a cordial, solution-oriented dialogue... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Both Sides of the Aisle?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Both Sides of the Aisle:

1. RadioWest
2. Political as Heck Utah
3. Special Session with Bryan Schott
4. City Cast Salt Lake
5. House Rules: Politics and Policy in Utah

How many episodes of Both Sides of the Aisle are there?

Both Sides of the Aisle launched 2 years ago and published 144 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Both Sides of the Aisle?

Recent guests on Both Sides of the Aisle include:

1. Essie Gonzen
2. Marina Lowe
3. Emma Addams
4. Jake Rugh
5. Tim Hawkes
6. Sarah Wright
7. Glade Sowards
8. John Dougall

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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