Let's Talk Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale deserves a better conversation than “nice beaches.” After a trip to Greenville, South Carolina, I came home thinking about how people talk about the places they love and what we could do better here. I get into Broward’s proposed pause on large data centers, the county’s growing dispute with Sheriff Gregory Tony, and why both stories deserve our attention. Then I turn toward our wa...

Who should answer when Broward residents call 911? That’s one of the bigger questions I’m following in this local catch-up. I’m Uncle Marv, and between running an IT business here and keeping up with life around Greater Fort Lauderdale, I want to know what these decisions actually mean for the people who call this place home. We’ll talk voting, emergency dispatch, and an HOA dispute where pickleba...

Dr. Ann Monis is the founder and CEO of Transformative Healthcare Solutions, a Fort Lauderdale-headquartered behavioral-health company providing talk therapy and corporate mental-health support across Florida. A Miami native who chose Victoria Park when she was ready to put down roots, Dr. Ann shares why Fort Lauderdale felt like the right balance of energy, community, charm, and a little less Mia...

I’m back with a packed Greater Fort Lauderdale update, and there is a lot going on from the grocery aisle to the railroad crossings. I dig into the Publix BOGO rule that has Florida shoppers asking why they have to buy two items when customers in other states can often get one for half off. It turns out it is not a Florida law. It is Publix policy, and that little detail matters when everybody is...

I took a break from the usual interview format for a special Saturday edition of Let’s Talk Lauderdale, because there was a lot happening around Broward that deserved more than a quick scroll-by. We start in Pembroke Pines with a leadership change at Children’s Harbor, where Teresa Kennedy steps in as president and CEO of the organization supporting teens, families, and young adults navigating fos...

Roneet Edrich, Executive Director of InSIGHT Through Education, joins me to talk about the work happening in Broward and Palm Beach County schools to teach kindness, acceptance, respect, and the courage to speak up against hate. A former educator with nearly three decades in South Florida, Roneet shares why this mission is personal for her family and why education has to go beyond grades, college,...

I start with one of those stories that gets people’s attention fast: a fire at Shooter’s Waterfront. When smoke is coming out of a place that has been a go-to spot for boaters, brunches, happy hour, sunset drinks, and visiting family, Fort Lauderdale notices. The good news is that the kitchen fire was contained quickly and no one was hurt, but it changed our family dinner plans. I share where we l...

This week, I start with a homeownership lesson from my own Fort Lauderdale water-meter mess. After the smart meter replacement, debris found its way into faucets, shower heads, and toilet lines, and one little shutoff valve turned into a much bigger headache. I share what I learned, why I decided not to push my luck with an aging valve, and why John the Plumber earned a genuine local recommendatio...

This week, I ask a straightforward local question: when a new development receives public incentives, what should the public expect in return? I look at The Cove project on North Federal Highway, which is bringing hundreds of apartments and workforce units to the area, along with the Bayview Drive project near the Galleria. Both stories show how changes in ownership, approvals, density, commercial...

Fort Lauderdale just wrapped a wild World Cup run, even without hosting a single match, and the ripple effects were huge for Broward’s hotels, bars, and neighborhoods. Inter Miami’s Florida Blue Training Center quietly became one of the busiest national team bases on the planet, while watch parties from Sunrise to Hollywood packed arenas and downtown streets with fans repping Colombia, Scotland, a...

Fort Lauderdale is not the same sleepy beach town you remember, and this week we unpack why it suddenly feels like the city hit fast forward. I walk you through everything from the Florida Air and Sea Show roaring over the coastline to the Great American Beach Party on Las Olas, plus the big economic headline about a Fortune 500 logistics company eyeing a headquarters move to our backyard with 150...

I had a powerful conversation with Children’s Harbor Chief Development Officer, and Fort Lauderdale local, Vanessa Seltzer about what foster care really looks like in Broward County, far from the postcard beaches most of us picture when we think about South Florida. We talked about the thousands of kids in Florida’s foster care system, the teens who have bounced through 20 different placements bef...

Fort Lauderdale just experienced one of its most turbulent weeks in recent history. Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations on May 2nd after 34 years, eliminating roughly 29,000 annual flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and devastating about 17,000 jobs, most held by Broward County workers.  Within hours of the collapse, JetBlue announced an aggressive expansion, addin...

News Chapters 00:04 Welcome to Let's Talk Lauderdale 01:40 Spirit Airlines Faces Shutdown 03:50 The Water District Unveiled 04:32 Air Show Excitement Returns 05:41 New Restaurants on the Horizon SPIRIT AIRLINES ON THE BRINK (Source: https://www.local10.com/news/local/2026/05/01/spirit-airlines-flyers-employees-brace-for-potential-shutdown-i-wish-there-was-a-way-out/ | Published: May 1, 2026)  (Sou...

If you’ve ever looked at your jam‑packed closet and thought “too many clothes, nothing to wear,” this one is for you. In the studio with me is Fort Lauderdale luxury realtor and hanger founder Donna Zalter, who saw messy closets in million‑dollar South Florida properties and decided to tackle the problem starting with the hanger. We talk real estate cycles, e‑commerce reality, AI, and why All Hung...

South Florida is full of people with big ideas and side hustles, but turning that into a real business is where a lot of locals get tripped up. In this episode, I’m joined by Coral Springs and Parkland business attorney Matthew Fornaro to talk about what it actually looks like to start, grow and protect a business in Broward County, Palm Beach and Miami‑Dade. We get into the good, the bad and the...

Melanie lays out the vision for the fifth annual Artful Minds and how it has grown beyond a traditional gallery show. Every ticket, sponsorship, and piece of art sold sends funds back into NAMI Broward’s free programs for individuals and families here in Broward County. Brian shares how he always saw himself as an artist first, even while playing at UCLA and in the NFL.  He also gives us a peek in...

If you want to know where the energy is in Broward County right now, this episode connects the dots between policy, tourism, and the parties lighting up South Florida nights. === Chapters 00:12 Welcome & South Florida headlines setup 00:43 Port Everglades land deal & economic ripple effects 01:47 Tourism surge, hotel numbers & major 2026 travel event 03:20 Tortuga Music Festival on Fort Lauderdale...

This episode of Let’s Talk Lauderdale is straight South Florida: a little bit of real estate, a little bit of lifestyle, and a whole lot of “here’s how it really is.” I’m hanging out with Karen “You Need Sneed” Sneed, who came down for spring break 40‑plus years ago, never left, and has been helping people figure out where they belong in Broward County ever since. We start with how Fort Lauderdale...

Spring Break Feels Different This Year Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/fort-lauderdale-spring-break-2026-alcohol-ordinance-effects/ City Commission Greenlights Major Events and Youth Workforce Programs Source: https://fortlauderdale.legistar.com/View.ashx? M=F&ID=15152192&GUID=19DCACA4-50FB-4B51-94A6-099C1ECDD5FE $2.18 Million Upgrade Coming to Carter Park Source: https://www.caribbeann...

Marv and Jen catch up after Super Bowl weekend with pizza naps, MVP debates, and a surprising shoutout to the kicker before diving into Broward’s newest upgrades. They walk listeners through the revamped Broward County Convention Center, new flyover, and a weekend packed with Emily’s Garden, Revolution Live’s all-female Early Birds Club, Pizza Fest, and a sneak peek at upcoming spots like Monster...

A major New River rail crossing proposal is getting called a “zombie project,” while Fort Lauderdale’s event calendar stays very much alive—think reggae legends, a Riverwalk takeover by thousands of dogs, and a guided downtown architecture walk. Plus, a feel-good workforce trend (reverse mentoring) and a spotlight on women trailblazers remind us why community connections still matter. Story recaps...

This episode is your casual guide to what’s happening in Fort Lauderdale right now, whether you’re into football, food, art, or just people-watching along the New River. Marv and Jen mix hyper-local insight with personal stories that make you feel like you’ve lived here for decades, even if you’re new to the 954. Why Listen Get real, local Super Bowl weekend ideas without the tourist‑trap feel. He...

For more on today’s stories, check out these links: Mayor Dean Trantalis’s proposal for the old federal courthouse and a potential AI-focused charter school, Habitat for Humanity of Broward’s 7th Annual CEO Build at BBI Village, and Baptist Health’s new $500 million Sunrise hospital project and groundbreaking coverage. Mayor's newsletter: New role for old courthouse -- downtown charter school? Sou...

Marv and Jen spotlight South Florida restaurants like Cote Miami, LARB Thai Nissan, Revelry in Pompano, Rosalia’s Kitchen in Miramar, and Archibald’s in Fort Lauderdale, plus the arrival of Filipino fast food chain Jollibee. They connect the dots between Yelp rankings, community reviews, high-rise development on Hollywood Beach, affordable housing policy, and the evolving professional job market....