The Only Reality Show That Matters

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City isn’t just one of the best reality TV shows currently airing—it’s one of the best television shows, period. Set against the backdrop of Utah’s capital, this Bravo franchise has elevated the reality TV genre to new heights of drama, absurdity, and genuine human connection.

What makes Salt Lake City stand out in a crowded field of Housewives franchises? It’s the perfect storm of wealth, religion, scandal, and personalities so outsized they seem fictional. The current cast includes women navigating everything from federal investigations to complex family dynamics that would make your head spin. One cast member found herself in the crosshairs of federal agents who literally showed up to arrest her while cameras were rolling—a moment so cinematic it’s hard to believe it wasn’t staged.

Then there’s the woman who serves as a church leader while being married to her step-grandfather. Yes, you read that correctly. The show doesn’t shy away from these complicated relationships and the social dynamics they create within Utah’s unique cultural landscape. Another cast member is a single mother caught in an exhausting on-again, off-again relationship with an Osmond—yes, that Osmond family—adding another layer of Utah-specific intrigue to the proceedings.

The drama isn’t just surface-level catfights and luxury vacations. In one particularly memorable season, two cast members engaged in an ongoing feud that began when one told the other she “smelled like hospital.” The comment, seemingly innocuous at first, spiraled into a season-long storyline about perception, insecurity, and the way women communicate (or fail to communicate) with each other.

Perhaps most fascinating was the revelation that one cast member was secretly running an anonymous gossip Instagram account about her fellow housewives. The layers of deception and the meta-commentary on reality TV culture itself made for compelling television that transcended typical reality show fare.

Critics might argue about the “reality” of reality television, and they’d be right to question how much of this is manufactured for the cameras. But here’s the thing: even if these scenarios are far-fetched and the characters are playing up their personalities for the spotlight, every single person on the show is dealing with something deeply relatable. Difficult marriages, failing businesses, strained relationships with children, addiction struggles—these are universal human experiences, just amplified by wealth and broadcast to millions.

That’s the secret sauce of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. It’s entertainment, and it’s high camp, but there’s an authenticity in the emotions that cuts through the artifice. I find myself genuinely empathizing with these women, even as I’m horrified by some of their choices or baffled by their lifestyles. It’s a delicate balance that the show’s producers and editors have mastered, creating a viewing experience that’s both aspirational and cautionary, glamorous and grotesque.

The show has become appointment television for many viewers, not just reality TV enthusiasts but anyone who appreciates well-crafted storytelling. The editors deserve special recognition for their ability to weave together multiple storylines, create tension where there might be none, and find the humanity in even the most outrageous situations.

The Last Good Places(s) on Facebook

Let’s be honest: Facebook has become something of a digital wasteland. The platform that once connected us with long-lost friends and shared our life milestones has devolved into a morass of political arguments, targeted advertising, and content so algorithmically optimized it feels soulless. But there’s one corner of Facebook that still retains the platform’s original promise of community: neighborhood Buy Nothing groups.

These hyperlocal groups operate on a simple principle: give what you have, take what you need, and build community in the process. It’s a radical reimagining of social media as a tool for actual connection rather than endless scrolling and comparison. The spirit of generosity and mutual aid that thrives in these groups is a refreshing antidote to the toxicity that dominates much of the platform.

My own Buy Nothing group has become one of my favorite digital spaces. It’s where I’ve given away items I no longer need but that still have life in them: empty candle jars (perfect for storage or craft projects), a sturdy bookcase that didn’t fit in my new apartment, used but functional lightbulbs, unopened toiletries from hotel stays, and bubble wrap I’d been saving for shipping. Each time I post something, I’m amazed by how quickly someone claims it, excited to give my castoffs a second life.

But it’s not just about giving—it’s also about receiving. I’ve scored some incredible finds through my Buy Nothing group: a gorgeous antique dresser that I refinished and now proudly display in my bedroom, some practical over-the-door hooks that have solved my storage problems, and even brand-new jeans that someone was purging from their closet. The thrill of finding exactly what you need when you’re not even looking for it is deeply satisfying.

What I love most about these groups is the environmental impact. Every item that finds a new home through Buy Nothing is one less thing in a landfill. In a world increasingly concerned with sustainability and reducing waste, these groups represent a grassroots solution to overconsumption. They’re a reminder that one person’s trash truly can be another person’s treasure.

Beyond the practical benefits, there’s something profoundly moving about participating in a community of generosity. When I give something away, I often receive messages from recipients sharing how they plan to use it or expressing gratitude. These small interactions build a sense of connection with my neighbors that extends beyond the digital realm. I’ve run into Buy Nothing group members at the grocery store or walking their dogs, and there’s an immediate sense of kinship.

The groups also reveal the hidden needs and resources within a community. You see people asking for help with everything from moving boxes to garden supplies to items for a child’s school project. The willingness of strangers to help each other with these requests is a powerful testament to human kindness.

Going Analog

I used to be an Apple Watch devotee. As someone who’s fairly active—running regularly, practicing yoga, trying to maintain a baseline of fitness—I thought the device would be the perfect companion. I liked tracking my workouts, monitoring my heart rate, counting my steps, and having a convenient way to check notifications without pulling out my phone. For a while, it was everything I wanted in a wearable.

But then something shifted. My Apple Watch started dying in the middle of 30-minute runs. Not at the end, not with 10% battery left, but right in the middle, cutting off my workout data and leaving me frustrated. I tried all the usual troubleshooting steps—closing apps, reducing notifications, lowering screen brightness—but nothing helped. The device that was supposed to enhance my fitness journey was becoming a liability.

So I gave it up completely. And guess what? I’m happier.

There’s something profoundly liberating about not having a device strapped to your wrist constantly demanding your attention. I feel more present when I’m not checking how much time is left in a yoga class or reading texts during a long run. The mental freedom that comes from disconnecting, even in small ways, has been surprisingly significant.

The data collection aspect was also starting to stress me out, and I began to question its utility. Sure, it’s interesting to know how many steps I took in a day or what my average heart rate was during a workout, but was this information actually changing my behavior in meaningful ways? For the most part, no. I already knew when I’d been sedentary for too long, and I didn’t need a device to tell me I should probably move around.

And don’t even get me started on the sleep tracking. The Apple Watch would give me a detailed report each morning about how poorly I’d slept, breaking it down into categories like “awake,” “REM,” and “core sleep.” But here’s the thing: I already knew I’d slept poorly. I was acutely aware of every minute I spent staring at the ceiling, and seeing a data visualization of my insomnia wasn’t helping me feel better about it.

There’s also the question of privacy. The amount of personal data these devices collect—your location, your heart rate patterns, your sleep habits, your daily routines—is staggering. While companies assure us this data is secure and anonymized, the potential for misuse exists. I found myself increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of a corporation having such intimate knowledge of my daily life.

Going analog has reconnected me with my body in ways I didn’t expect. Without a device telling me to stand up or congratulating me for closing my rings, I’m more in tune with my natural rhythms. I can tell when I need to stretch because my back feels tight, not because my watch vibrated to remind me. I know when I’m pushing myself too hard in a workout because I feel it, not because I hit a predetermined heart rate zone.

There’s also something to be said for the simplicity of a traditional watch. When I look at my wrist now, I see the time and nothing else. No notifications, no fitness metrics, no pressure to optimize every moment of my day. Just the time, and the freedom to decide what to do with the minutes and hours ahead.

The irony isn’t lost on me that I’m writing about disconnecting from technology on digital platforms. But that’s the reality of our current moment—we’re all trying to find balance in a world that increasingly demands our constant attention and data. Whether it’s finding joy in hyperlocal gift economies on Facebook or rediscovering the pleasure of moving through the world without a device tracking your every step, these small acts of resistance add up.

Perhaps the most surprising benefit of going analog has been the way it’s changed my relationship with technology overall. Rather than feeling like I need to be connected all the time, I’m more intentional about when and how I engage with my devices. I leave my phone in another room during meals, I don’t check notifications first thing in the morning, and I’ve rediscovered the joy of being unreachable sometimes.

In a culture that often equates productivity with worth and data with insight, choosing to opt out can feel revolutionary. It’s a reminder that we’re not just brains piloting bodies through the world, but whole beings capable of experiencing life without constant quantification and optimization. Sometimes, the best way to understand ourselves is to stop measuring everything and just be.

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