Florida Uncut

It's always exciting when more land is acquired for conservation in Florida, but have you ever asked what happens with the land? What if it's an active farm, grove, or ranch land? How does it return to a more natural condition? How is it managed from here on out? Who managed it? Etc.  Mike Elswick is Manatee County's division manager of the Natural Resources Division in the county'...

As a Florida native, Haley has come to believe that making smarter building and development decisions has allowed Floridians to continue welcoming people to our state while also protecting natural and agricultural lands. The folks at 1000 Friends of Florida calls this "smart growth."  Haley grew up tubing the Ichetucknee River, sticking her head in spring vents, and paddling the Santa Fe R...

I'm a firm believer in Miri's favorite quote from David Attenborough, "No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced".  So many folks never see the real Florida, and for Miri, it took birds on the beach to draw her inland to see a side of Florida not often featured in the brochures.  Miri is unique in that she had th...

George McKenzie Jr. is a National Geographic Society award-winning visual storyteller from Brooklyn, NY, who specializes in wildlife, natural history, and conservation. How did George go from being born and raised in Brooklyn to a career focused on some of the deepest wildernesses in Florida? It started with seeing a job opening for the Northern Everglades Camera Trap Technician.  Most recently, G...

Eric is an Emmy-winning director, producer, and writer whose films explore connectivity, conflict, and ingenuity at the intersection of human and wild spaces. He’s led storytelling expeditions to the heart of many of the last intact and untamed landscapes on Earth as well as to the front lines of habitat destruction and fragmentation. His films for National Geographic, PBS, Smithsonian, History Ch...

On the inaugural episode of Florida Uncut, we sit down with the legendary Florida cowboy, Jim Strickland, to talk about the intersection of ranching and conservation. The talk, which took place in a cabin on Blackbeard’s Ranch in Myakka City, FL, which Jim manages, is a mix of personal history and education on conservation topics. Jim claims to be a simple sixth-generation Florida cowboy, but his...

Get ready for an immersive journey into the heart of Florida's vibrant conservation movement with ‘Florida Uncut’. Whether you're a seasoned environmentalist or just dipping your toes into the cause, our podcast is here to inspire you with captivating stories and firsthand experiences from the unsung heroes dedicated to safeguarding Florida's breathtaking wilderness. Join us as we delv...