Between The Beaches Podcast

Florida has experienced some extraordinary flooding events throughout its history. Some have been associated with hurricanes, others with prolonged periods of heavy rainfall, and still others with combinations of weather conditions that overwhelm even well-designed drainage systems. Two such events, separated by nearly eighty years, provide an especially interesting comparison. At first glance, th...

We had a lot of interference last week and missed our regularly scheduled podcast installment so we're offering up a bonus episode this week and we'll come back with all new content next week to get back on our regular bimonthly schedule.  Technically, this is a rebroadcast but it's as timely now as it was when it first aired roughly 5 years ago.  In this episode, we take a really deep dive into h...

From the view atop a saddle to the underside of a hoof, there's not much about a horse that Jerald Lowe hasn't seen or learned through decades of experience as a farrier and cowman. The wisdom he's accumulated is hard to rival and in so many ways is reminiscent of the Dorrance brothers and Ray Hunt. It's simple and subtle yet profound knowledge gained by a whole lot of observation and personal exp...

Equal parts general Florida history and family drama, Cow Creek Chronicles conveys the story of our state, our ranching heritage, and one family's rise to prominence and ensuing downfall. Gregory Enns does a masterful job of weaving together the two subjects into one story that is candid and engages all of the reader's emotions. Listen for the links to purchase at the end of the episode and grab a...

We dug deep into the archives this week for some deep insight into the life of a day working cowboy from Mr. BJ Johnson. There's plenty of good lessons and laughs in this conversation that made it worth sharing once again. Hope y'all enjoy!

Having access to personal, first person historical accounts is one of the most invaluable tools a society can have when it comes to understanding current times as well as planning for future generations. Thanks to Mr. Charles William Flint of Lee County, Florida, we have an exceptional collection of history to reflect upon through his memories that are collected in his book, "Barefoot To Boots." I...

Florida was the last man standing so to speak when it came to mandatory fencing of cattle and when the law took effect in 1949 it marked the end of the open range grazing while ushering in a myriad of changes for Florida cowmen. In this episode of the podcast, we begin with a look back at what it was like to spend a week driving cattle across the state in the mid 1930's based on a firsthand accoun...

There's no shortage of waterways in Florida's interior, and each of them reflect the particular region of the state in which they flow. There are however certain rivers that hold a larger significance for our state both environmentally and culturally. Originating in South Georgia and snaking its way through north Florida en route to the Gulf, the Suwannee River may be the most prominent of them al...

As our name suggests, the primary focus on this podcast is the overlooked interior of Florida and all its intricacies, but we also have a commitment to sharing Florida history in general so that folks can better understand our state's story. Sometimes, sharing Florida's story takes us to the beaches and the endless blue that lies beyond. Such is the case this week as we revisit some of the Spanish...

This episode is a throwback to our very first season as a tribute to Mr. Matt Arrieta who recently passed. Matt was a cowboy's cowboy and always rode for the brand. We hope you'll enjoy this blast from the past and a glimpse into the life of a working cowboy. Rest easy Matt, and we hope you're finding plenty of good horses to ride.

Florida was built on the legacies of men like Captain F. A. Hendry and the other cow men like him; men who created a solid economic foundation, gave generously to build their communities, and had a keen vision for the future. In this episode we examine Captain Hendry's life from his earliest days in South Georgia to his cattle empire and ultimately his navigation through the state's political chan...

As we approach the hot summer and accompanying rainy season, the specter of Florida's water quality issues will no doubt rear its ugly head so it seemed like the perfect time to spread some educational science ahead of all the seasonally induced emotional rhetoric and grifting. Unfortunately, and against all scientific data, agriculture in Florida has become the easy target, the primary scapegoat...

The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources strives to develop new skills and refine the capabilities of leaders throughout our state's agriculture and natural resources sectors. As Florida continues to face rapid environmental and demographic changes, it's more important than ever to equip our ag leaders with the means to effectively share our story and WLI is one way...

On this week's show, we're offering a live recording of Brad's April 2nd presentation "Cow Hunting On Florida's Peace River Frontier" to an audience at The Clewiston Museum. Starting off we revisit the most basic cow culture history and origins before examining why the 19th century along the Peace River Frontier was such a pivotal period in our cattle heritage but in Florida's overall success. Bra...

Mr. Paul Bowers Sr. is readily recognizable in any crowd not only for his trademark red scarf but also for his quiet, self-assured demeanor and warm smile.  You'll usually spot him nearby a couple of endeavors he's remained committed to throughout his life - working at creating and selling his wood carvings that are beautifully hand crafted in the traditional Seminole way or you'll find him near a...

Florida was the third state to secede from the Union and played a key role in supplying not only beef, but also other subsistence supplies, to the Confederate States Army. What turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles during the War Between The States occurred on February 20, 1864 in the pine flat woods near Ocean Pond east of Lake City. The Battle of Olustee was the largest battle fought in...

Thanks to our daughter we've just discovered epic new theme music for the show. It's called "Watch Florida Grow (The Cracker Theme Song) and was recorded by the South Ocean String Band. This song speaks to the heart and soul of anyone who truly cares about Florida so we debut it in this episode and discuss the backstory behind it. We then go on a rambling discussion about conservation in general,...

Leading up to the Great Florida Cattle Drive 2026, we're looking back at some of Florida's earliest settlers, the cattle drives they made, how they registered cattle ear marks and brands at the county courthouse, and some of the battles they fought for survival in Florida's unforgiving wild places. From the early 1800's through to the 1940's, we take you on a journey through time as seen through t...

Welcome to Season 7 of Between The Beaches Podcast! To kick off the New Year, we're sharing some cowboy poetry focused on transitions of various types that we all face in our journey through this life. Our hope is that these sentiments bring you some reflections and clarity to propel you forward in a positive direction in 2026. Thanks to our sponsors and you, our dedicated listeners, for your cont...

In this episode, we cover some fun history by taking a look at the name origins for Florida's 67 counties. The names come from many sources including famous public figures, historic languages, prominent landmarks, and more. There are surprises here even for the seasoned Florida native so be sure to tune in and share it with your friends and family. Note:   We had multiple undiagnosed technical dif...

NOTE: This week in honor of Giving Tuesday we're re-airing our episode describing all the wonderful work done by our partners at the Florida Cattlemen's Foundation.  If you're considerig year-end giving and want to know that your contribution will used wisely, please visit www.floridacattlemen.org and select the tab for the Foundation where you'll be able to donate.  Alternatively, you can contact...

This week we're collaborating with the hosts from Herding Her Story. For those listeners who've never tuned into this podcast, their goal is to showcase women from across the agriculture industry to highlight their accomplishments, success stories, and unique perspectives. In this conversation, we dive into their individual background stories, how they came together to produce the podcast, and the...

NOTE:  On the heels of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting and a lot of time on the road for numerous other obligations, we're taking a break to regroup this week.  While we get reorganized, please enjoy this batch of cowboy poetry that originally published on the podcast a couple years ago.      Episode 117 serves up some cowboy poetry focused on finding the underlying, essential va...

This week we have a candid conversation about the current state of agriculture and its importance to our state and our nation. We discuss the Farmer of the Year program at the state level as well as its culmination at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. From there, we talk about the farmer's roundtable discussion that's part of the expo proceedings along with all the highs, lows, and in between of being an agric...

For Bud Barnes, these two places share a lot more in common than the first two letters of their names. On this week's episode, Bud shares stories of growing up in south Florida, working cows, hunting, fishing, and generally enjoying the backwoods of our state whether from horseback or the seat of an airboat. We discuss how rodeo carried him west where he met his wife and built a ranch and thriving...