Todd's Podcast

David Hitchcock was a defensive lineman for the University of Florida in the 1970s and is a decorated land advisor at Saunders Real Estate. In his conversation with Todd, David shares stories from his days as a Gator football all-star, including his memories of integration in college athletics, his most memorable games, and his journey from the son of a Baptist preacher in Winter Haven to team cap...

Ron O’Connor AKA " Ronnie Ocean " is a longtime broadcaster of The O-Zone on 96.7FM in Lakeland, and is a newly inducted member of the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame. In this podcast episode, Todd invites Ron to look back on a 20-year run hosting on WLKF Radio, where he’s interviewed legends like John Wooden, Tom Lasorda, and Danny Wuerffel.  The discussion dives into Ron’s journey from...

In the fourth installment of General-ly Speaking on Todd’s Podcast, Todd welcomes Navy veteran and Congressman Scott Franklin alongside Air Force veteran Major General H.D. “Jake” Polumbo for an in-depth conversation on the evolving landscape of American defense and political leadership. The episode opens with a frank discussion on the state of civility and bipartisanship in Congress, drawing from...

Tommy Ray is a former Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) whose career spanned four decades. In this episode, Tommy shares gripping stories from some of his most high-profile cases, including the infamous 1997 Nelson Serrano quadruple murder in Bartow, which ultimately led to Serrano's extradition from Ecuador.  Tommy also reflects on his role in the investigat...

In this flavorful episode, Todd sits down with his longtime friend and barbecue restaurateur, Jim Rabe—owner of Smokin’ Jim’s House of Bar-B-Q in Auburndale, Florida. From pitching heat on the baseball diamond to slow-smoking ribs and brisket, Jim shares the winding journey that led him to the foodservice industry.  They discuss Jim’s role as the unofficial pitmaster at local backyard cookouts, hi...

Steve Giordano is the President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County. Drawing from decades of experience in corporate turnarounds, Steve brings a practical, solutions-driven approach to nonprofit leadership—one that has helped stabilize and grow the organization while deepening its impact on the lives of local families. From reducing teen pregnancy and increasing graduation rates t...

In this installment of our entrepreneur series, "Launching From Scratch," Todd invites TJ Zimmerman, co-owner of Concord Coffee. Founded in 2015, Concord is a craft coffee roaster and café with locations in Lakeland and Gainesville, Florida—built on a mission to create meaningful local communities through quality coffee and intentional spaces. Todd and TJ explore the early days of Concor...

In this installment of General-ly Speaking on Todd's Podcast, Todd is joined by Major General (ret) H.D. "Jake" Polumbo and Major General (ret) Kurt “Nubes” Neubauer. Their conversation revolves around the complexities of Air Force operations, with a particular focus on safety, risk management, and leadership under pressure, and General Neubauer's background as the USAF Chief o...

Walker Peek is the Founder & CEO of Commercial Acoustics—a company specializing in commercial soundproofing, acoustic treatment, and sound masking solutions nationwide. In the inaugural episode of our "Launching From Scratch" series, Todd sits down with Walker to discuss his company, how it came to fruition, and their goals going forward.  Walker shares about the challenges of entrep...

Carter Henne is a marine biologist and is the CEO of Sea & Shoreline, an aquatic restoration firm based in Florida. Joining Todd in this episode, Carter shares his passion for restoring and preserving aquatic ecosystems, discussing the importance of seagrass restoration, water quality improvement, and coastal resiliency. From his early days growing up in Polk County to leading large-scale rest...

Emily Rogers is the Founder & CEO of Emily Rogers Consulting + Coaching. With a career spanning over 12 years as an executive leader and advisor to Fortune 100 brands, Emily joins Todd to discuss the power of executive coaching, team development, and legacy leadership, offering insights into how leaders can grow with purpose and intention.  From succession planning to behavior change, she brea...

Joining this episode is Nick Del Castillo, a former Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and a former Deputy Sheriff with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Nick has spent much of his law enforcement career undercover, navigating high-stakes drug busts, criminal investigations, and intense operations that helped take dangerous criminals off the streets. From chasing dow...

Robbie Bell is one of the largest and most respected beekeepers in the state of Florida. From his humble beginnings inspired by his grandfather to running thousands of hives across the state, Robbie joins this podcast episode to share his journey into the buzzing bee business. Todd and Robbie discuss how bees are essential to agriculture and our food supply, the challenges facing the industry—like...

Tim Weisheyer is the 2025 President of Florida Realtors®, the largest professional trade association in the state. In this podcast episode, Tim joins Todd to share his vision for Florida Realtors®, how Realtors® add value to the real estate transaction, and his thoughts on various challenges and opportunities within the real estate industry in general. The conversation also covers a range of topic...

Business owner, author, and passionate advocate for organ donation, Casana Fink is Miss Florida 2024. In this podcast episode, she shares her inspiring journey through the world of pageantry, the rigorous preparation it entails, and how her personal experiences have fueled her advocacy for organ donation awareness. From competitive dancing to starting a nonprofit at just fourteen years old, Todd a...

This special and lighthearted holiday episode is joined by none other than Mrs. Claus herself! In their somewhat unconventional conversation, Todd and Mrs. Claus discuss how she and Santa met, her role in keeping the elves fed and the reindeer ready, and how she manages the stress of Christmas. From pickleball games with the elves to her favorite holiday traditions, Mrs. Claus shares an insider lo...

Grown out of Winter Haven, Florida, Otis Birdsong is a former professional basketball player who was the second overall pick in the 1977 NBA draft. In this podcast episode, Todd and Otis dive deep into the NBA All-Star's roots, exploring his stellar high school career, earning the state championship, and his journey through college to a professional basketball career. Otis shares many memorie...

In this episode of General-ly Speaking on Todd's Podcast, we are joined by Major General (Ret) H.D. "Jake" Polumbo and Major General (Ret) Larry Martin to delve into pressing military and geopolitical issues. The conversation highlights the perspectives of these seasoned Air Force veterans on contemporary military strategies, the importance of international alliances, and the role o...

Rex Dimmig is the public defender for Florida's 10th Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties. During this podcast episode, Todd and Rex discuss the intricacies of managing a public defender's office, the evolution of the public defense system, and the perception of legal representation in the United States.  They also discuss the challenges and philosophi...

This episode is joined by Brian Haas, State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, who shares his insights into overseeing criminal prosecutions and the operations of his office, which handles thousands of cases annually. Brian and Todd discuss a wide range of topics, including prosecutorial discretion, the importance of diversion programs, and how the State Attorney's Office man...

A man of many titles, Chad Ward is an award-winning pitmaster, the owner of Whiskey Bent BBQ, and the Director of BBQ Marketing at Traeger Pellet Grills. In this podcast episode, Chad shares about his transformation from a software career to becoming a renowned pitmaster known for his award-winning rubs which are now featured in over 400 storefronts internationally. Chad also shares some memorable...

In this special episode, Todd introduces a new series entitled General-ly Speaking . Through the lens of experienced military leadership, this series will engage in high-level discussion regarding modern military issues and conflicts. Our inaugural episode is joined by Major General (Ret) Richard "Beef" Haddad and Major General (Ret) Robert "Mumbles" Polumbo. Together, Todd and...

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Charles “Buck” MacLaughlin is the Range Operations Officer at the Avon Park Air Force Range. In this podcast episode, MacLaughlin joins Todd to share stories from his 21-year career as a fighter pilot for the United States Air Force and his current role in military training operations. MacLaughlin also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the operations and strategic impor...

Join Todd as he celebrates the first exciting year of Todd's Podcast. This special episode explores some of the motivations behind starting the podcast, the challenges of naming it, and a heartfelt reflection on memorable moments with various guests. Todd also shares listener feedback and his thoughts on the podcast's future direction, emphasizing his desire to keep producing engaging an...

This episode explores the evolution of transportation in Florida and what it means for the future of planes, trains, and automobiles across the globe. Joined by public affairs and transportation expert Bob O'Malley, President of Right Track Public Affairs, the conversation delves deep into the development of rail systems, highway expansions, and express lanes aimed at alleviating traffic cong...