Florida Specifier Podcast

As the 40th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School approaches, host Brett Cyphers sits down with Linda Dickinson and Cindy Littlejohn for a conversation about the origins and evolution of one of Florida's longest-running environmental conferences. The episode explores Chuck Littlejohn's vision for creating what was originally the Environmental Permitting Short Course, designed to help envir...

As the 40th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School approaches, hosts Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews sit down with two pioneers of Florida's environmental community—Steve Lewis and Terry Lewis, founding partners of Lewis, Longman & Walker—for a conversation reflecting on the people, partnerships, and policies that have helped shape Florida's environmental landscape for decades.  The con...

In the latest Editorial Board episode, the crew returns to the ever-evolving “Specifier Media Studio” — still light on decorations, but never short on opinions. Host Brett Cyphers is joined by co-host Ryan Matthews, along with Patrick Gillespie and Jeff Littlejohn, for a candid conversation about Florida’s ongoing budget showdown, the special session drama unfolding in Tallahassee, and the environ...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast , host Brett Cyphers is joined by Patrick Gillespie and Jeff Littlejohn to reflect on the close of Florida’s legislative session and the uncertain road ahead as budget negotiations and potential special sessions continue. The group briefly recaps key policy developments, including stormwater treatment updates, nature-based solutions, and the phaseou...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast , hosts Ryan Matthews and Brett Cyphers are joined by fellow editorial board members Patrick Gillespie and Jeff Littlejohn for a wide-ranging conversation on the latest developments shaping Florida’s water and environmental policy.  The team sits down for a timely discussion recorded in the newly launched Specifier Media Studio in Tallahassee. As Fl...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier podcast, host Ryan Matthews and co-host Brett Cyphers, along with Editorial Board members Patrick Gillespie and Jeff Littlejohn gather in the newly minted Specifier Media Studio to go through the major policy themes shaping Florida as Committee Week number four moves forward. The team unpacks the House’s property tax proposals, looming budget pressures, and...

In this special episode, host Brett Cyphers welcomes listeners to a dynamic conversation with four former secretaries of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Herschel T. Vinyard Jr., Jon Steverson, Shawn Hamilton, and Ryan Matthews — moderated by current Secretary Alexis Lambert. Recorded at the Environmental Permitting Summer School in Marco Island, the panel reflects on how Flori...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast , hosts Ryan Matthews and Brett Cyphers are joined by fellow editorial board members Patrick Gillespie and Jeff Littlejohn for a wide-ranging conversation on the latest developments shaping Florida’s water and environmental policy.  The team kicks off by recapping summer conference season, including Environmental Permitting Summer School in Marco Is...

This special joint episode from Water for Fighting and the Florida Specifier Podcast —a product of the Specifier Media Group—was recorded in front of a live audience at the American Water Resources Association’s annual conference in Key West. Host, Brett Cyphers sits down with three of Florida’s most influential voices in water policy and advocacy : Kim Shugar, Senior Advisor and Environmental Pol...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast, Ryan Matthews, Brett Cyphers and Jeff Littlejohn sit down with Doug Corbett, Director of Sales and Marketing at the JW Marriott Marco Island. Together, they reflect on the rich history of the Environmental Permitting Summer School, now in its 39th year and gearing up for its 40th anniversary. The conversation blends personal stories, family legacie...

In this episode of The Florida Specifier Podcast , co-hosts Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews are joined by Representative Toby Overdorf, an environmental consultant, engineer, and longtime legislator, as he enters his final year in the Florida House. Recorded on-site at the 39th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, the conversation explores how Representative Overdorf’s background continu...

In this episode of theFlorida Specifier Podcast, Brett Cyphers is joined by editor-in-chief Patrick Gillespie and editorial board member Jeff Littlejohn for a lively conversation that dives into Florida’s finalized state budget, line-item vetoes, and what it all means for environmental funding—particularly water quality grants and Everglades restoration. Special guest Jamie Sheehan, Conference Dir...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast , hosts Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews are joined by editorial board members Jeff Littlejohn and Patrick Gillespie for a dynamic roundtable conversation that blends policy insight with candid storytelling. As Florida approaches a new fiscal year, the team tackles the looming uncertainty surrounding the state budget. With the House and Senate still...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast , hosts Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews are joined by fellow members of the Florida Specifier editorial board: Jeff Littlejohn and Patrick Gillespie. Together, they dive into the fast-moving first week of Florida’s legislative session, analyzing the impact of delayed committee meetings, the challenges of processing nearly 1,800 filed bills, and the...

In this episode, Ryan and Brett get to catch up with 5th generation Floridian, former President of the Florida Senate, and Florida’s 13th Commissioner of Agriculture – Wilton Simpson. They discuss the state of agriculture in Florida today; the massive reach of the Department’s responsibilities; the tremendous work of Department staff in helping hurricane preparedness and recovery, as well as wildf...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast, Ryan and Brett speak with Brewster Bevis, CEO of AIF, from the AIF Water Forum. This event, held annually for the past six years, brings together legislators and environmental leaders to discuss Florida's most pressing water issues. Brewster shares the origins of the Water Forum and its evolution into a key platform for addressing water challenges...

In this episode, Patrick, Ryan, and Brett get together to discuss the January/February issue of the Specifier.  They talk about the upcoming legislative session; their favorite articles; Upcoming environmental events around the state; and some upcoming Specifier and Water for Fighting podcast episodes, including one featuring a Ryan and Brett interview with Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, Wilt...

In this episode, Brett takes the show on the road without Ryan to moderate a discussion at the One Water Summit in Winter Haven.  His conversation partners included Lynn Spivey, the City of Plant City Utilities Director; David MacIntyre, the President of AquaSciTech Consulting; and Frank Bernardino, Partner Ameritus with Anfield Consulting.  They discuss the definition of One Water; how the regula...

Ryan and Brett continue their look back at the Environmental Permitting Summer School through the eyes of its founders and supporters – both past and present – to provide a snapshot of who they are; what they do; why they’ve continued their support over the years; and what the conference means to them.   This volume begins with Fred Aschauer and Robert Williams from Lewis, Longman, and Walker.  Th...

In this special episode, released under the Water for Fighting as well as the Florida Specifier banner, Brett gets to sit down with Bartow’s favorite son, Adam Putnam.  At the time he served, Punam was the youngest person ever to be elected to the Florida House of Representatives at barely twenty-two years old. He would go on to serve as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms...

In this episode, a Patrick-less Florida Specifier editorial board is back in the lead up to the holiday season to discuss the November/December issue of the Specifier.  They provide a rundown on the post-election leadership changes at the state level and what that may mean for the upcoming legislative session; give their best predictions on the fate of 404 wetland permitting assumption and Waters...

Ryan and Brett continue their look back at the Environmental Permitting Summer School through the eyes of its founders and supporters – both past and present – to provide a snapshot of who they are, what they do, why they’ve continued their support over the years; and what the conference means to them.   This episode begins with Mark Thomasson from National Stormwater Trust.  He discusses the diff...

In this first of five special editions of the Florida Specifier Podcast, Ryan and Brett take a look back at the Environmental Permitting Summer School through the eyes of its founders and supporters – both past and present – to provide a snapshot of who they are; what they do; why they’ve continued their support over the years; and what the conference means to them.   This volume begins with the F...

In this episode, the Florida Specifier’s editorial board is back during the “quiet season” to discuss the September/October issue of the Specifier.  Ryan gives the rundown on the Legislative Budget Request (LBR) and grants processes; Jeff gives an update on Florida’s legal wrangling with the federal government regarding Ch. 404 assumption; Brett directs readers’ attention to the federally mandated...

In this episode, Ryan and Brett sit down with Spencer Tuell of Gulf Coast Underground to discuss his work in the Gulf Coast, see what he did there, on municipal infrastructure and the work that GCU does to improve aging wastewater pipelines. Spencer and GCU have worked extensively in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and now Florida. Spencer discusses the updated technology that will allow communit...