Florida Uncut

In this episode, we hear the inspiring story of a Lake Wales native, Blair Updike, who turned a childhood passion into a professional art career—and is now working to put Florida art back on the map. With no artistic background in her family—her father invented the Grove Goat, and her mother was an accountant—her journey began after an inspiring demo by Highwaymen artist Robert Butler. After years...

I don’t know about you, but I am not land rich. My quarter-acre yard won’t be doing much for the conservation of wild Florida. I don’t have the opportunity or burden of the decision to put my land in conservation. I don’t know what it’s like to weight the pros and cons, go through the application process, talk with my family, etc.  That’s why I was thrilled to sit down with the fifth-generation ci...

Travis Thompson is a 5th generation Floridian from Winter Haven, Florida. He’s the Executive Director of the conservation non-profit All Florida, as well as a co-owner of Duck Ranchin’ the state’s largest waterfowl hunting operation. Through his work, he advocates for the things that make Florida special - our woods, water, wildlife, and the way of life that connects us to those things. From spray...

Kaylyn, a proud 10th generation Floridian, is deeply connected to the unique landscape of Southwest Florida, near the Western Everglades. Raised barefoot among oak hammocks and cypress tree domes, she inherited a legacy of pioneering ancestors who settled in this region, fueling her passion for protecting this remarkable place. Overcoming the challenges of teen single motherhood and poverty, Kayly...

There have been a ton of updates since the last episode about the proposed plan to develop nine Florida state parks. Namely, part of the project proposal has been withdrawn. Great news but the story isn’t over… Places to follow for most up-to-date news and additional info: Max Chesnes - Environmental Reporter, Tampa Bay Times Florida Wildlife Federation , who broke the story Ryan Worthington , the...

Hey folks! This is a unique call to action to let your voice be heard about the new proposed developments (golf courses, resorts, etc.) inside of our state parks. Listen to the episode and read the article below to learn more about what is being proposed, as well as how to make your voice heard and be involved.  Tampa Bay Times article: https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2024/08/20/are-chan...

There are not many folks more central to the idea of a “connected and protected” Florida than Dr. Tom Hoctor. He’s the director of the Center for Landscape Conservation Planning at the University of Florida and is the co-founder of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, considered one of the most ambitious landscape conservation plans in the country.  As we’ll learn, the concept of a statewide ecological...

I have missed posting an episode for the last couple of months, but the good news is I’m catching up today with three guests at once! Joining us for a talk about conservation, recreation, and education are the Florida Madcaps, made up of Chelsey and Chris Stevens and Ryan Worthington. They’re three friends who love to volunteer, guide, and educate Floridians on our best natural resources. Although...

Hey folks! The show was recently featured in the Bradenton Herald and we have a lot of new listeners. You can read that article here: ‘Saved or paved.’ Palmetto-based podcast host explores Florida conservation stories If you have an idea for a future Florida Uncut guest, please fill out this form . Looking forward to bringing you more stories very soon! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle....

How does the Florida Wildlife Corridor help provide resilience to climate change? Florida is ground-zero for climate change impacts as our natural and human communities grapple with increasing heat, flooding, sea level rise, and wildfire risk.  In today's episode, we talk with Joshua Daskin, the Director of Conservation at Archbold Biological Station, about a recent assessment with Florida Atl...

Craig is a native Floridian and spent over 30 years as a journalist for the Tampa Bay Times . He has authored a half-dozen award-winning books about the wild ideas and quirkiness of our state. Among his publications are Oh Florida!, Cat Tale, The State You're In, and Manatee Insanity.  In 2022, Craig was given the Rachel Carson Award by the Sierra Club, which honors sustained achievement by pr...

Andrew loves exploring the mangroves down in Key Biscayne where he calls home. However, he got sick and tired of seeing trash each time he went out to enjoy wild Florida.  Like many of our guests, Andrew is action-oriented and decided to do something about it. His big plan? Start picking up all the trash. It was that simple.  His impact has grown into dozens of others doing similar work to him, ma...

Traci of Conservation Florida and Chad of Crawford Entertainment teamed up to produce the 6-part documentary, Protect Our Paradis e, a riveting series that follows Chad around the state of Florida as he discovers some of Florida’s most pressing environmental issues.  Every episode showcases a distinctive facet of Florida's environment and highlights individuals dedicated to safeguarding its wi...

Karlos’ passion for off-road bike route building came out of the necessity to learn the skills needed to complete the Tour Divide. Filled with the desire to create training routes in his local area of Florida, he discovered a talent for connecting green spaces and reviving old pathways and started inviting folks to join his crazy adventures…and they came willingly. Over 15 years later, Karlos is k...

Julie Morris has over 25 years of experience in Florida conservation—from working as a research wildlife biologist and land manager to implementing land protection and developing conservation policy at regional, state, and federal levels. Julie founded Florida Conservation Group (FCG) in 2015 with fellow ranchers and scientists. Through FCG, she has represented private landowners in the conservati...

Hey y’all! Today’s episode is a recap of a recent adventure I took on to raise awareness for Florida conservation. This conversation is originally from my other show, Adventure Sports Podcast, where I talk to guests about the various adventures they undertake.  However, because I did this adventure to shed light on the topics we discuss on this show, I wanted to also share it here. Also, the Lake...

Watch a presentation by Clay Henderson at the Corridor Con nect here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABBTl8KOq5Q&t=3s Clay Henderson has had a long career as an environmental lawyer, educator, and writer. He has served as president of Florida Audubon Society and Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as two terms as Volusia county commissioner. Until his retirement in 2019, he serve...

Rick Smith (Patrick Jr.) is the son of acclaimed author, Patrick D. Smith, who helped propel the focus of “old” Florida into the minds and hearts of an entire generation with the book, A Land Remembered , released in 1984. It is historical fiction set mostly in pioneer or "cracker" Florida that follows the fictional MacIvey family through three generations, covering over a century of Flori...

William started out life in El Salvador, where he was inspired by his parent's dedication to restoring Lake Ilopango. They weren't trained environmentalists, just folks who understood that something needed to be done to protect the place they loved.  After moving to Florida, William carried these lessons and influence with him. One day, while hiking in a remote Florida wilderness, he looke...

Mallory is a seventh-generation Floridian who grew up exploring the lands and waters of Florida. Those experiences shaped her love of the outdoors and appreciation of the environment from a young age, as well as her career choice in natural resource conservation and policy.  She is now the CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, which is largely the driver of the idea of the Florida Wildl...

It's always exciting when more land is acquired for conservation in Florida, but have you ever asked what happens with the land? What if it's an active farm, grove, or ranch land? How does it return to a more natural condition? How is it managed from here on out? Who managed it? Etc.  Mike Elswick is Manatee County's division manager of the Natural Resources Division in the county'...

As a Florida native, Haley has come to believe that making smarter building and development decisions has allowed Floridians to continue welcoming people to our state while also protecting natural and agricultural lands. The folks at 1000 Friends of Florida calls this "smart growth."  Haley grew up tubing the Ichetucknee River, sticking her head in spring vents, and paddling the Santa Fe R...

I'm a firm believer in Miri's favorite quote from David Attenborough, "No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced".  So many folks never see the real Florida, and for Miri, it took birds on the beach to draw her inland to see a side of Florida not often featured in the brochures.  Miri is unique in that she had th...

George McKenzie Jr. is a National Geographic Society award-winning visual storyteller from Brooklyn, NY, who specializes in wildlife, natural history, and conservation. How did George go from being born and raised in Brooklyn to a career focused on some of the deepest wildernesses in Florida? It started with seeing a job opening for the Northern Everglades Camera Trap Technician.  Most recently, G...

Eric is an Emmy-winning director, producer, and writer whose films explore connectivity, conflict, and ingenuity at the intersection of human and wild spaces. He’s led storytelling expeditions to the heart of many of the last intact and untamed landscapes on Earth as well as to the front lines of habitat destruction and fragmentation. His films for National Geographic, PBS, Smithsonian, History Ch...