Florida’s Fourth Estate

Ghost stories abound at Rockledge, Florida eatery, Ashley's Tavern. While there are several ghost stories associated with Ashley’s, the most popular is the tale of Ethel Allen, a 19-year-old woman who reportedly frequented the tavern in the 1930s. The back of the restaurant’s menu discusses the tale and the posthumous hauntings, which have been reported throughout the building. Learn more about yo...

This may have been Mount Dora’s best-kept secret — that is, until now. Tucked away in a forgotten corner of Mount Dora sits a Cold War-era nuclear bomb shelter with a crazy history. Known locally as the “Mount Dora Catacombs,” this 5,000-square-foot shelter — billed as the largest of its kind — was part of a plan over 60 years ago for members of several local families to hide out in the event of a...

Not only is the Neptune Memorial Reef the world’s first underwater cemetery — it’s also set to be the largest man-made reef on the planet. The cemetery is located 40 feet underwater in Biscayne Bay, over three miles off the coast of Miami Beach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A local Pharmacist named Dr. Simba who talks to big cats. This is the kind of storyline usually reserved for Hollywood. Dr. Simba Witz is the CEO of the Central Florida Animal Reserve. The big cat sanctuary is run entirely by volunteers. The sanctuary neither breeds its animals or operates for profit, "If you're coming here, you're not coming here because you're padding someone's salary. You're co...

ORLANDO, Fla. – Walt Disney World is part of the fabric of Florida, but did you know the theme park almost ended up in St. Louis instead of Orlando? University of Central Florida History professor Dr. Jim Clark said Walt Disney had his eye on the “Show Me” state well before he began eyeing the “Sunshine State”. But a fight over beer changed everything. After successfully introducing the public to...

If you live in Florida, you have probably heard of sinkholes. It’s when the ground caves in, often bringing down everything on top of it. Roads, businesses and homes have all been impacted. Dr. Manoj Chopra has researched sinkholes and erosion at the University of Central Florida and said much of Central Florida is part of “Sinkhole Alley.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Another look back at one of the best interviews we had in 2024. At age 16, most kids are thinking about getting their driver’s license or making TikToks, except for Tiffani Gay, who is focused on changing the world with her award-winning invention. By combining two technologies used in everyday life, Gay is striving to get results for the over 2.2 billion people worldwide with visual impairments....

One of the best episodes of 2024. Jennifer Gomez paints a rosy picture of her upbringing. Her mom was a neurologist. Her Dad is a psychiatrist. She is the youngest of seven children. She said all of her siblings are successful. But as a child, she didn’t see their success as enviable. She saw it as boring. She told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate, when she thought of thei...

What do Wayne Brady, Joey Fatone and Wesley Snipes have in common? They all had the same teacher for theatre class in Central Florida. Karen Rugerio served as the Theatre Director for Dr. Phillips High School for 27 years. During those decades, Rugerio brought up a variety of future stars on screen and stage.   She started at Jones High School when she first came to Orlando. Wesley Snipes was in h...

With a mullet, a fishing rod, and an unstoppable sense of humor, Jake Hutcheson transforms flooded streets into a reel-worthy moment When Hurricane Milton drenched Orlando in October, most people stayed indoors to avoid the post-storm chaos. But not Jake Hutcheson. The 24 year old saw the flooded streets of College Park as an opportunity-an opportunity to go fishing. Armed with a rod, a mullet, a...

John Morgan talks about the University of Florida President, their boosters, and more. He also talks about his decision to become a lawyer and why he decided to invest in the creation of "Wonderworks". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a candid and wide-ranging conversation on Florida's Fourth Estate, prominent attorney and businessman John Morgan didn't hold back on his thoughts about the current political climate in the United States. From discussing campaign finance to the deep divides between political parties, Morgan's remarks paint a picture of a system that, in his view, is increasingly driven by special interests and...

The Crusade for Marijuana Legalization In this episode, John Morgan, often dubbed "Pot Daddy," shares his fervent pursuit of marijuana legalization. Reflecting on his journey, Morgan says, "What drives me? I look at all this as political philanthropy. Me raising the minimum wage... Medical marijuana... It's about giving us what the people want, not what a few special interests want." Morgan also o...

Florida may be known for its sunshine and beaches, but few realize the state was once a cinematic hub, rivaling Hollywood itself. During this edition of Florida's Fourth Estate, hosts Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin along with guest, UCF professor David Morton, unearth Florida's forgotten role in the early film industry.  Hard to believe but Jacksonville once rivaled Hollywood. Learn more about you...

Florida’s beaches have made headlines in the past thanks to the huge volume of cocaine that frequently washes up. These instances are the result of drug traffickers from Central and South America who attempt to smuggle cocaine and other narcotics into the United States. Matt and Ginger explore what this means for sharks and other ocean life, with Dr. Tracy Fanara. Learn more about your ad choices....

Florida's Fourth Estate recently hosted Steve Pan, the General Manager and part-owner of 321 Boat Rentals and Clubs, based in Melbourne, Florida. Steve shared his journey from Swiss banking to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the boating industry. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a boat or simply enjoy the thrill of being on the water, this episode is for you. We explore the ins and outs of b...

In the latest episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate, Tony Talcott, the digital producer behind some of the most viral stories on ClickOrlando, takes listeners on a journey through Florida’s quirkiest and lesser-known stories. With a knack for uncovering the strange and unusual, Talcott has made a name for himself by finding and sharing these captivating tales. “Florida’s history is full of interestin...

The Birth of a Frozen Delight Michael Keller, CEO of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, joined anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin on Florida’s Fourth Estate to share the captivating origin story of this beloved brand. The journey began with Jeremy Litwack, a passionate entrepreneur from South Jersey. Inspired by the classic Italian ice (or “water ice” as it’s known in Philly. Please don’t try to pronounc...

A teen scientist from Orlando has developed a potion from beer that might help save the ailing honeybee population. 18-year-old Atreya Manaswi has devoted the last five years of his life to saving the bee population. The young man has worked with the United States Department of Agriculture, University of Florida and spoken in front of the United Nations. It all started when a friend’s grandfather...

Jennifer Gomez paints a rosy picture of her upbringing. Her mom was a neurologist. Her Dad is a psychiatrist. She is the youngest of seven children. She said all of her siblings are successful. But as a child, she didn’t see their success as enviable. She saw it as boring. She told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate, when she thought of their lives she thought, “Your life lo...

A teen inventor helping the visually impaired now focuses on artificial intelligence and saving the world from oil spills. Tiffani Gay is heading into her senior year of high school. She also hopes to catch the attention of her dream university, Harvard. The world has changed a lot since Gay last appeared on Florida’s Fourth Estate. After going viral on our YouTube channel, Gay got a call from the...

If you live in Florida, you have probably heard of sinkholes. It’s when the ground caves in, often bringing down everything on top of it. Roads, businesses and homes have all been impacted. Dr. Manoj Chopra has researched sinkholes and erosion at the University of Central Florida and said much of Central Florida is part of “Sinkhole Alley.” “It goes all the way from Hillsborough County, and close...

Alex Lundberg said he has been hunting for fossils for 20 years, but nothing prepared him for what he recently pulled out of the water. About 10 minutes into a fossil hunting trip to Venice Beach, Lundberg said he spotted something that looked like a piece of wood stuck in the sand. He told Florida’s Fourth Estate hosts Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden that he dove down about 25 feet and started dus...

John Ruggeri’s office is unlike most others. It does not have traditional air conditioning. But it does have a massive fan. That fan pushes him and his guests through a massive lake surrounded by alligators. He is a captain at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures and has been taking people on tours of Lake Tohopekaliga for the past 15 years. Florida Fish and Wildlife recently reported Lake Toho, as the...

Many people know Matt Morgan for his days as a wrestler taking on opponents like Ric Flair. Morgan said Flair stepped out of retirement to help him launch his career to the next level. Following his wrestling career, Morgan has stepped into a new arena. He is now the Deputy Mayor of Longwood and is using his position to help people with autism find the resources they need. During a recording of Fl...