FORUM: Beyond the Pages

Writer Francisco Alvarado discusses his article, One More Serve ,  which looks at the history of jai alai—a once popular sport that is currently trying to revive its former glory.  Alvarado is a Miami-based print journalist whose work has appeared in The Real Deal, Florida Bulldog, The Washington Post and The Daily Beast. To read the digital edition of FORUM magazine, go to floridahumanities.onlin...

Florida historian Gary R. Mormino discusses his article, Gridiron Glory — a deep-dive on the cultural history of football in the Sunshine State. With a personal essay from veteran journalist Bill Maxwell, the story explores Florida's fervor for football and the game's connection to some of its growing pains.  Gary R. Mormino is the Frank E. Duckwall Professor Emeritus of History at the U...

Writer Eric Barton discusses his article, Send in the Clowns . The story dives into the not-so-funny history of one of Florida's winningest baseball teams. Eric Barton is a freelance journalist who has written for publications like Outside , Food & Wine , and Flamingo . To read the digital edition of FORUM magazine, go to floridahumanities.online . And to receive the latest issue of FORUM...

We're diving into the world of sports in Florida for the next season of FORUM: Beyond the Pages. Listen to revered writers and journalists discuss the stories featured in the Spring 2024 issue of Florida Humanities' award-winning magazine, FORUM. From Florida's deep-rooted passion for college football to the rise and fall of Jai Alai, every episode is a look at the state's spor...

Author and South Florida native Jonathan Escoffery discusses his article, Color Me King— a personal essay about a childhood memory that may have inspired the writer's first book. Jonathan Escoffery is the author of the international bestseller If I Survive You , a collection of eight short stories that follow the struggles of a Jamaican family who builds a new home in Miami. The book has been...

Historian and author Gregory Nobles discusses his article, Audubon, Revisited — a profile on the nationally renowned bird artist who was also a slaveholder. Gregory Nobles is Professor Emeritus of History at Georgia Tech, in Atlanta. He is the author of John James Audubon: The Nature of the American Woodsman and, more recently, The Education of Betsey Stockton: An Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom ....

Writer Craig Pittman discusses his article, Gatorland . The story examines the history and behavior of a species that has become synonymous with Florida all over the world. Craig Pittman is a columnist for the Florida Phoenix and cohosts the popular “Welcome to Florida” podcast. He is the author of six books, including The State You’re In: Florida Men, Florida Women and Other Wildlife . To read th...

FORUM staff writer Janet Scherberger discusses the many eco-adventures she went on across the State for her article, Let's Go Wild .  A former journalist and outdoors enthusiast, Scherberger traversed the state looking for what makes up Florida’s great outdoors – from snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas to exploring the Panhandle’s network of underground caves. To read the digital edition of FORUM...

Florida historian Robert A. Taylor discusses his article A Salty Story .  The story chronicles the rise of Confederate Florida's profitable salt mining industry in the midst of the Civil War. Robert A. Taylor is a professor of history and the dean of the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts at the Florida Institute of Technology. He has edited, co-edited, authored and co-authored eight book...

Journalist, professor and environmentalist Leslie Poole discusses her feature story: To Preserve and Protect — a snapshot of the crossroads Florida's environment is currently facing. Leslie Poole is an associate professor of environmental studies at Rollins College in Winter Park. She’s a fourth-generation Floridian who focuses her research on how grassroots activists, particularly women, hav...

Welcome to FORUM: Beyond the Pages , a new podcast from Florida Humanities. Each episode will take listeners behind the scenes of the award-winning magazine, FORUM , and speak to the writers who bring some of the most fascinating Florida topics to life. To read the digital edition of FORUM magazine, go to floridahumanities.online . And to receive the latest issue of FORUM magazine delivered to you...