Florida Matters

Tourism is a vital industry for our state, and Florida Matters is taking a look at how businesses fared in the wake of red tide, what's new with our theme parks, and where tourism is heading after another record-breaking year. Host Robin Sussingham spoke to Erin Duggan of Visit Sarasota County; reporter Veronica Brezina of the Tampa Bay Business Journal; and Alan Fyall, Visit Orlando Endowed Chair...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked off the 2019 legislative session with his first State of the State address. He asked lawmakers to "be bold" as they address issues like education, the environment and health care. We hear highlights from his speech and the Democratic response, which was delivered by Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson.

Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of calls placed to the national human trafficking hotline. The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a summit on the topic during a luncheon for local business owners. The panel was moderated by Dottie Groover-Skipper, who fights human trafficking with the Salvation Army's Florida division. The panel also included Hillsborough County She...

These are very exciting times for eating out in the Tampa Bay area! Our cuisine is getting better and more varied, and it's starting to draw national attention.  Host Robin Sussingham recently moderated a panel on international dining at the St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs, held at USF St. Pete,  where she was joined by Laura Reiley, restaurant critic for the Tampa Bay Times; Janet Keel...

This week's Florida Matters highlights some of the places and events that make Plant City special, like the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, which houses more than 120,000 images and countless other items that capture the town's legacy.

Growth is no stranger to Florida. We’ve been a magnet for migrants, immigrants and sun-seekers for hundreds of years. But will too much growth crowd out what people come here for to begin with? This week on Florida Matters we talk about balancing development with protecting our state’s environment and quality of life.

The annual Gasparilla celebration is one of Tampa Bay's biggest social events, drawing in hundreds of thousands of people to live the pirate life. The tradition has also played an important role in Tampa's high society. Host Robin Sussingham sits down with historian Rodney Kite-Powell of the Tampa Bay History Center, and Don Barnes, Executive Officer of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.

Florida’s new Governor Ron DeSantis has wasted no time in putting his stamp on the state. This week on Florida Matters we take a look at some of his actions so far, and talk with journalists William March and Zac Anderson about other political happenings like the upcoming mayoral race in Tampa.

Look up "keto cookbooks" and you find a plethora of options: Quick and Easy Ketogenic Cooking, Southern Keto, Ketogenic Cleanse, Keto Comfort Foods… It’s fair to say this is a diet craze. But does it really work? This week on Florida Matters we talk with nutrition experts about the keto diet and how it can affect your health, from weight loss to possibly treating cancer. Florida Matters host Robin...

Happy 2019! As WUSF prepares to bring you the news you rely on this year, we’re looking back at some of the station's big moments in 2018 through the lens of Florida Matters.

Much has happened in our state this year. We elected a new Governor, U.S. Senator and a number of other political positions. We lost 17 lives in a mass shooting that led to new laws on school safety. This week on Florida Matters we revisit some of the major events and news stories that affected Tampa Bay and our state in 2018.

Alternative kinds of housing like shipping containers or tiny houses are quickly growing in popularity. We discuss whether they could help relieve some of the pressure from the affordable housing crunch. WUSF's Robin Sussingham speaks with Robert Cox, CEO of Sundog Structures; Mickey Jacob, an architect and Chairman of the Tampa Downtown Partnership; and Elizabeth Strom, an Associate Professor at...

Last year, our series, "Telling Tampa Bay Stories," took us to Tampa's Progress Village. This year, the focus is Plant City -- a Hillsborough County community where agriculture and development, history and progress all meet.

Retail is changing and there will be winners and losers. Florida Matters Host Robin Sussingham talks to the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Ashley  Gurbal Kritzer; David Ortinau, a Marketing Professor at USF's  Muma College of Business; and Paul Rutledge, First Vice President, retail brokerage in CBRE’s Tampa office about the secrets to retail success. And why do the big drug stores always want to be...

Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham recently moderated a community discussion about veteran entrepreneurs with professionals who've been working on training and educating former soldiers on skills they need, not only to integrate back into society, but to take on the risks and rewards of being an entrepreneur. The panel took place in front of a live audience at USF St. Petersburg, and we also to...

The 2018 midterm election was supposed to be over last night, but this is Florida, so of course it looks like there will be at least one recount, and maybe several. Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham talks to WUSF's Mark Schreiner, Stephanie Colombini, and Roberto Roldan about winners, losers, taxes and gambling, among other topics.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Fou...

Florida Matters Host Robin Sussingham sits down with long time political journalist and analyst William March to talk about the political zeitgeist, whether polls can be trusted, and whether the issue of gun control is working for the Democrats. Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they...

Florida cancelled its tax credits for film makers in 2016 -- and now industry observers say some big productions are moving to places like Georgia, which are still giving out large financial incentives. But several studies have come out saying state support for the film industry might not be worth the money -- including one from Florida's Office of Economic and Demographic Research, which showed a...

Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham sits down with Lillian Dunlap, the executive director of Your Real Stories and creator of Story Days in Tampa Bay. The annual storytelling festival has just finished up, and Robin asks Lillian what she hopes listeners will come away with. Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents...

Hurricane Michael disrupted our plans for Florida Matters this week...so we're rebroadcasting a great one! On this week's podcast, we talk about what makes a craft beer special. Does it matter if it's been acquired by a big corporation? What is a "hoppy" taste? And we taste the hugely popular Cigar City Jai Alai IPA. Host Robin Sussingham sits down with Neil Callaghan, Brand Ambassador for  Cigar...

Forty-nine people died in the Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando in 2016, but new information indicates that 16 of those victims may have been able to survive their injuries -- if they'd been treated sooner. Robin Sussingham talks to John Montes, an Emergency Services Specialist with the National Fire Protection Association about the NFPA's new standards for first responders.   Support for F...

(Originally broadcast 5/15/18) Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham speaks to Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve; Daniel Elias, president of Pharmacology University, a medical marijuana education program; and Darrin Potter, Chief Horticulture Officer at GrowHealthy in Lake Wales. GrowHealthy and Trulieve are licensed medical marijuana treatment centers and are authorized to cultivate, process and dispen...

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico a year ago this month, and on WUSF's Florida Matters we're hearing the stories of people who fled to the Tampa area when they had to evacuate. On today's podcast, a conversation with WUSF reporter Roberto Roldan. Support for Florida Matters MORE comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant...

Robin Sussingham had a chance to speak with Jordan Peterson before his appearance at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg this weekend, catching up with him while he was in Miami for a book tour event there.  Jordan Peterson is a clinical psychologist and a Professor at the University of Toronto. He's the author of the bestseller 12 rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, which carries a message o...

WUSF's expert on all things relating to USF, Mark Schreiner, joins Robin Sussingham to talk about his series on entrepreneurs with ties to the University of South Florida. Plus, USF President Judy Genshaft has announced her retirement, and Mark discusses her role in lifting the reputation and quality of the University.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Trans...