facebook-pixel

‘Trib Talk’: Salt Lake City’s ‘Old Coots’ offer free life advice

For the past few years, a group of Utah retirees who call themselves the “Old Coots” have been meeting every Saturday morning at the Salt Lake City Farmer’s Market to dispense free advice to the public.

“We were sitting outside, bored stiff from talking to each other, and I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to get us a booth across the street at the farmers market, where we can give advice,’ ” Tony Caputo, founder of his namesake deli where the group usually meets, told The Washington Post back in 2018.

Things have obviously changed since the pandemic began. The farmer’s market no longer allows booths like the Old Coots offered — but the group is still willing and able to give advice.

(They don’t promise that’s it good advice, just that it’s free.)

Reporter Kathy Stephenson spoke with Carol Sisco, Tony Caputo and Gus Wheeler about the group’s history, what they’ve been doing the past few months and what we all should be doing with our lives.

You can watch the interview on Facebook or Youtube, and you can listen to the audio on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. Tell us what you want to see on the next episode by tweeting #TribTalk or by emailing us at tribtalk@sltrib.com.

“Trib Talk” is produced by Jeni Fitzgibbon and Sara Weber.

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.