The Orlando Shine Show

Episode 20 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at  Still Lounge by Dre and Snoop  ( Website ) at Live! at Pointe Orlando for their big opening.  Topics this week include the new CineDome renovation at the Orlando Science Center, the return of TED x Orlando, fancy new seating at Inter&Co Stadium, Banana Ball coming to ESPN Wide World of Sports in 2026, and a change in scop for the Holocaust Mu...

Episode 19 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Corner Chophouse  ( Website ) in Winter Park's Hannibal Square neighborhood.  Topics this week include the City of Orlando not banning Pride banners (despite rumors) - but FDOT is going after them on state roads, Orlando naming a new Poet Laureate despite Florida's Chief Financial dude Natalie Imbruglia saying its dumb, Orlando's new football...

Episode 18 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar  ( Website ) in Orlando's Milk District. Topics this week include Coastal Catch Restaurant Month in New Smyrna Beach, Enzian Theater trying to get fancy new equipment, Kissimmee's new Latin Culinary Trail, and a new Master Plan renovation coming to Leu Gardens.  Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Orange...

Episode 17 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Funny Bone Comedy Club ( Website ) with guest Krista Spanick, the General Manager of Funny Bone Comedy Club, ahead of the JustCallMoe Comedy Jam on October 2. Topics this week include Orlando's plans for an O-Line multi-use trail in SoDo, an update for Eatonville's Hungerford site, the opening of a 24-hour arcade venue on International Drive,...

Episode 16 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida  ( Website ) with guest Greg Higgerson, the Chief Development Officer, to chat about Hunger Action Month. Topics this week include a woman who bit an aggressive off-leash pit bull to save her dog, Orange County going after the holiday decorations of a Winter Garden family, an "eatertainment" chain cl...

On this episode of The Orlando Shine Show , host Brendan O'Connor sits down with Leah Nash, Executive Director of the Timucua Arts Foundation ( Website ), and Benoit Glazer, its Founder and Artistic Director, to mark the organization's 25th anniversary.  Together they trace Timucua's evolution from intimate house concerts with friends and neighbors to a nationally recognized hub for live performan...

Episode 15 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at City Beautiful Cafe ( Website ) with guest host Scottie Campbell.  Topics this week include a new ordinance in Clermont that does away with height restrictions for American flags (because, America), a 74-year old arrested for a real estate Ponzi scheme, a citrus wizard in DeLand, an expansion of the Maitland Art Center, Apopka pausing funding...

Episode 14 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at The Porch Winter Park ( Website ) with guest hosts Moses DeWitt of JustCallMoe ( Website ) and Don Almeida, That Mortgage Guy Don ( Website ).  Topics this week include an opening date for the long-awaited H Mart, the closing of multiple PDQ locations, Christina Hollerbach stepping away from Hollerbach's German Restaurant to start her own cons...

Episode 13 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner  ( Website ) in The Milk District, where they "make food that makes people happy," inspired by the people, culture, and flavors of Hawaii. Yes, they have spam. Topics this week include the first episode of a new Radio Play series called "The Adventures of Ada Quark" (be sure to listen during the break or you'll miss it),...

Episode 12 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Beefy King  ( Website ) in The Milk Distrcit, a third-generation family-owned restaurant that serves up steamed hot sandwiches and crowd-favorite tater tots. Topics this week include a call for submissions for  Orlando Magazine 's 2026 Women of the Year awards, the recent removal of the Pulse Memorial Crosswalk by an overly zealous FDOT, polic...

Episode 11 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Austin's Coffee ( Website ), a landmark alt coffee space in Winter Park that's been around for 22 years and has become known for hosting loal artists, live music, and more. They're facing eviction at the end of October 31, when their lease runs out and the City of Winter Park readies to knock down the building to expand Fairbanks Avenue. They'...

Episode 10 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Lobos Coffee Roasters   ( Website ) with one of the co-owners, Pablo Sierra, who shared about the state of the current coffee market and their new location at A La Cart SoDo.  Topics this week included the latest Best of ORL results from  Orlando Magazine,  a $1 million state grant to help restore Indian River Lagoon, a price tag for weekend S...

Topics this week included an update on that "wonky" tree being knocked down in College Park, an audit of Visit Orlando that raised some questions on spending, a sinkhole in Kissimmee that's led to the closure of an apartment complex, the percentage of downtown Orlando used for parking, construction issues at the Winter Park Library, threats against Mayor Demings, and a research grant for Winter Pa...

Episode 8 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at A La Cart SoDo   ( Website ) with guest hosts, Misty Heath, the executive director of SoDo Main Street, and Kenneth Hughes, the executive director of Parramore Main Street.  Topics this week included lots of updates from the Parramore neighborhood, the launch of a new VR gaming venue at Pointe Orlando, the soon-to-open Korean grocer H Mart, Col...

Episode 7 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at  Hard Rock Cafe Orlando   ( Website ) at Universal Orlando to try their local entry in the Hard Rock World Burger Tour. 150 Hard Rock Cafe locations are currently in an all-out brawl to see who could create the best burger and the Orlando cafe has a pretty amazing entry - the Tropical Storm Smash Burger - which consists of two smash burger patt...

Episode 6 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Cups and Pups in College Park. Topics this week included a look back at Sanford having to cancel its fireworks show after a freak of nature dampened their July 4th party (it was lightning), the closure of a fancy French restaurant that wasn't around long enough, anniversary parties for Ten 10 Brewing and Windermere Brewing, less walking at Term...

Episode 5 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Brendan's house because he fell into a puddle and couldn't get up so he had to go to the ER. Life.  Topics this week included a new food hall in Apopka with giant  chickun  sandwiches, scrapped plans for a distillery in Clermont, the closing of Chicken Guy! in Winter Park, new rules for fireworks (and people stealing them), a stabbing incident...

Episode 4 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Palm Beach Meats, an restaurant and purveyor of all things Wagyu - which some say is the best-quality beef you can get. They've got Wagyu burritos, Wagyu cheesesteaks, and the only Michelin-rated Wagyu bologna in the country. And yes, we ate it (check our Instagram - @theorlandoshine).  Topics this week included the return of Pom Pom's to Centr...

Episode 3 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Simply Cheese College Park,  a new in-house cheesemonger at The Good Pour. They have a fancy station with all the cheese and charcuterie things you need to let your friends know you have money, you're an adult, and that you're not lactose intolerant. Or at least you're not worried about it.  Topics this week include the closing of a diner in Co...

Episode 2 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Redlight Redlight brewpub in Audubon Park and features an appearance by Chef Jes Tantalo, the genius behind one of the best kitchens in town.  Topics this week include three Church Street properties trying to safeguard their rights to reopen as bars after being closed longer than six months, a beaver-themed chain suing a local business for stea...

The official first episode of our rebranded show has finally dropped! Join Brendan O'Connor and Jon Busdeker as they chat through the latest Central Florida headlines at the newly-opened Lorelei Wine Bar in Orlando's trendy Mills 50 District.  Topics this week include Brendan's Brunch Roundup in the latest issue of Orlando Magazine (go get your copy now), a woman who beat up a kid on an airplane f...

Brendan and the Bus (working title) is here—live, loose, and leather-clad from Freehand Goods in College Park!  On this episode, Brendan O'Connor and Jon Busdeker embrace a new chapter following Brendan's departure from Bungalower. While the show's name may be up in the air, the laughs, local flavor, and Central Florida storytelling are as solid as ever. Tune in as the duo discuss Freehand Goods,...