Sarasota Stories

Hey Sarasota - it's Bob.  So it's been a wonderful grind over the past 18 months. Fabulous guests. 150+ episodes and 10,000 listens from the wonderful folks in the Greater Sarasota Area. It's been a lot of fun and a lot of work went into it so we've decided to take a little break till this fall. When you check out other podcasts you’ll see that most put out a new episode only once a week.&nbs...

If you're a concert lover like me I'll bet you rarely consider the behind-the-scenes effort it takes to create the audible art we enjoy - especially when it entails hundreds of moving parts. But for any production to work well it needs planning, staff, and leadership to help the musicians actually deliver an excellent performance. Hi, I'm your host Bob Williams, and I'm very pleased to welcome Joe...

Our local economy is booming causing more and more businesses to compete for a limited labor pool. This fact is even more visible in the healthcare industry. Still, if you're a healthcare professional looking to move here or simply wanting to move up in your career, you do need a seasoned professional who has the pulse on the local labor market and can advise and help you find your next job. Today...

A 40-year career with a single company is certainly a rarity today. Even rarer is to spend all those 40 years with one goal in mind ... "To see every young adult reach their potential." Hi I'm your host Bob Williams and I'm very happy to welcome Joy Mahler, CEO at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast . In this episode, you'll learn... One thing that most people don't know about Joy How Big Br...

Many people don't realize that most counties in Florida and the US are in competition with each other. They compete to attract and retain business. Of course, whoever wins this competition better ensures the local economy is vibrant and growing. The smarter counties form private-public alliances where the local government and local industry work together. Fortunately for us, Sarasota County has su...

Cliches are cliches for a reason because they do have a lot of truth in them. Take the cliche that "the quickest route is always a straight line." One local business trainer and the coach believe in this concept so much that he has a coach for every major area of his life to reach his goals faster. Hi, I'm your host Bob Williams and I'm very pleased to welcome Tony Daum , CEO & Head Coach at E...

It's easy to take July 4th, our Independence Day, for granted. After all, this will make 247 years since the founding of our country. Far from being just another national holiday we at Sarasota Stories trust you will take a moment to stop and consider all the wonderful blessings we Americans enjoy... So today's episode will be abbreviated but with a little trivia-fun attached. Happy July 4th, 2023...

Some studies show that only the death of a loved one and divorce are more stressful than moving to a new home. But these studies focus on adults and not children. One talented, local realtor (and mother) saw this problem and decided to write a children's book to deal with this very real problem. Hi, I’m your host Bob Williams and I'm very pleased to welcome Alahna Nicolas of Living Vogue Real Esta...

Some residents are very tuned-in to our local government, while others are not. I used to be in the latter category. However, I changed my mind after speaking with today's guest who plays a critical role in broadcasting not only everyday governmental affairs but also such things as how to protect yourself during pandemics, Red Tides, and hurricanes. I'm very pleased to welcome Jamie Carson, Direct...

Every once in a while you run into a person whose record and reputation are so amazing you're a bit skeptical until you meet them face-to-face. You think to yourself is this person really as advertised? In today's episode, I interview one such individual and as you'll hear, indeed he is as advertised. Today, my guest is Philip Tavill President & CEO of Children First. Phillip will share with u...

Sunshine and beaches. That’s what we tell all our friends up north. Of course, this is a beautiful place to live, that’s why we moved here.  Unfortunately, there's a “soft underbelly” we don't often see — those who are most vulnerable to attacks from domestic abuse. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from one caring woman who leads an amazing organization whose mission is to “stop domestic and s...

The Florida economy is built on small, family-owned businesses. The Greater Sarasota Area is no different. Drive around town and you'll see all the mom and pop stores that offer products and services from A-Z. For example, there is one amazing cake business that has been a mainstay in Sarasota for years. And now the next generation is coming on strong to put their mark on what their father started...

If there's one thing a pandemic and the current war in Ukraine are teaching us, it's that we need to produce more food locally. But a critical part of that effort is to not waste what we already grow. One community group of dedicated volunteers is making big strides by gathering up the overproduction from local farmers and giving it to those most susceptible to hunger. Today I'm very pleased to we...

Ever wonder what a US soldier fighting in Iraq does during their downtime? You study up on quality wines of course! Sound strange to you? Sounded strange to me too until I met one former soldier who decided to educate himself on all things wine as he prepared to join his fiancé in the California wine culture after his tour was up.  Years later and after a move to the Sarasota Area with h...

What do you do with your life when you’re young, smart, and talented? Simple. You get a job, try to make a lot of money, or start a business to do the same thing. Or if you’re a free spirit maybe you budget travel the world for a few years. But none of these options fit for one very determined young woman who is making a big difference taking on the homeless problem in the Greater Sarasota Area. T...

Frankly, I love doing all these interviews. I get to meet really creative people doing amazing work. Plus, I always feel I grow as a person after hearing their wonderful stories. My latest interview is no exception. She is smart, dynamic, and building an award-winning marketing/advertising firm that would make any community proud. Today I'm very pleased to introduce President/CEO & Owner, Alli...

Business guru John Maxwell once said, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." It is safe to say a major reason why Sarasota Memorial Health Care Systems (SMH) keeps rising is its incredible leader who was recently and severely tested via a worldwide pandemic and a Cat-4 hurricane. I'm very pleased to welcome David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Medical Health Systems (SMHCS). In today's episode, yo...

After a stellar academic career, graduating Magna-cum-laud from Lafayette College and later completing the Women’s Leadership Forum at the Harvard Business School, she has worked in key leadership positions at The Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Botanical Gardens.  In 2015 she came to Sarasota to spearhead the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens master plan. Upon complet...

Making the transition from tourist to full-time Sarasota resident has taught me one thing: Sarasota has many, many very cool hidden gems and more people need to find them.  So I highly recommend you get off the water and the beaches and take a trip to find some of these little treasures inland, especially the one you’re going to hear about today. My guest today is Kim Livengood of The Ba...

One of the anchors of any community is of course the community bank. With so much consolidation in the financial industry, it's hard to know who's who anymore. 1-800 numbers are commonplace but one local banker doesn't use them since he's fully committed to making the banking relationship genuinely personal. Hi I'm your host Bob Williams, and I'm very pleased to welcome Dennis Murphy President &am...

I was always worried about Siesta Beach being named the #1 beach in America. To me, it was the kiss of death as I believed the title would draw hundreds of thousands of new tourists from across the US thus ruining the quaintness many of us have loved about the place. Given the now ever-expanding parking lot --which always seems full -- I think my concerns were warranted. The beauty (and marketing)...

Since I came to Sarasota in 2015 one topic has come up over and over again -- workforce housing. Let's face it: living in this area is both beautiful and expensive. So how can young families, professionals, and essential, front-line workers find a decent place to live while still putting away money for the future? My guest today is doing his part to help in the workforce housing shortage. His comp...

From the Archives: Right now many of you are thinking about your physical fitness in the new year. It's a common goal to "get into the best shape of your life" whenever January rolls around. But what about your mental fitness given all the pressures and toxicity of modern life today? I'm very pleased to welcome today, Denise Schonwald -Author, Registered Nurse & Nationally Licensed Mental Heal...

It's been said that a true entrepreneur can start and run any business regardless of whether they have specific expertise in the industry. Vision, enthusiasm, true grit, and a high tolerance for ambiguity are the required ingredients these unique individuals employ to build a successful business. ...and for the record, these qualities can be found just as much in women as men. Hi I'm your host Bob...

If hope springs eternal, there is no better place to find it than in a high school band. Four friends with real playing chops are striving to make their mark in the music world. Hi I'm your host Bob Williams and I'm very pleased to welcome Royal Fools Band to today's show. Royal Fools reached out wanting to expand their musical reach and I couldn't resist given their enthusiasm. In this episode, y...