Todd's Podcast

Major General H.D. “Jake” Polumbo returns to reflect on America’s semiquincentennial and what it will take to carry its freedoms and democratic principles forward for generations to come. Building on his keynote address at the America 250 Celebration, held June 13 at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida, General Polumbo discusses the nation’s enduring pursuit of a more perfect...

Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell joins Todd for a timely conversation on the proposed Florida constitutional amendment involving property taxes and homestead exemptions. Bill breaks down how property tax bills are calculated, the role of the property appraiser, how millage rates are set, and why rising property values can increase tax bills even when local millage rates are reduced.  Todd an...

Dan Chesnicka is the Producing Director and chief executive of Theatre Winter Haven, “one of the best community theatres in America.” This episode covers the role community theatres play beyond entertainment, creating a gathering place where people of all ages and backgrounds can connect, participate, and help strengthen their local culture.  Dan shares how people can get involved in a production,...

Ryan McKellen is an entrepreneur, bourbon collector, sports card dealer, and founder of One Day Business Solutions. He joins Todd for a wide-ranging conversation on rare bourbon, collectible sports cards, business, and the relationships that often connect them. From building a 600-bottle bourbon collection to buying and selling sports cards through live-streamed markets, Ryan shares how passion, t...

Brenda Eubanks Burnette, a Florida Citrus Hall of Fame inductee, joins Todd to reflect on a career spanning more than four decades in the citrus industry. From her start as Florida Citrus Queen to her work as a spokesperson traveling across the U.S. and abroad, Brenda shares stories from a time when citrus marketing was at its peak, along with the relationships and experiences that shaped her path...

Lieutenant Commander Zachary Drum is a Naval Aviator with over 1,800 flight hours and more than 400 carrier landings. In this episode, he shares what life is really like behind the scenes of naval aviation, including his path from the Naval Academy to flying the F/A-18 Super Hornet.  Zach offers a firsthand look at the intensity of military flight training, the discipline required to operate from...

Paris Richardson is Miss Florida 2025 and the second runner-up at the Miss America Pageant. She joins Todd to share her path from growing up in Jacksonville to becoming a University of Florida cheerleader and Hall of Fame honoree, along with the persistence that led to earning the Miss Florida title. She also reflects on her experience at Miss America, where she received the preliminary fitness aw...

Mark Becker is a former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, former Chief of Police of both East Chicago and Portage, Indiana, and the founder of Becker Consulting Group. From his early inspiration to join the FBI to leading police departments in Indiana, Becker shares a candid look at the realities of policing, leadership, and public safety. The conversation explores his time a...

In this installment of General-ly Speaking on Todd’s Podcast, Todd is joined by United States Air Force veterans Major General H.D. “Jake” Polumbo and Major General Larry Martin, senior consultants with Two Blue Aces. Recorded one week after the February 2026 air strikes on Iran, the discussion focuses on helping listeners better understand the military planning, terminology, and operational conce...

Ed Chiles is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, organic farmer, and philanthropist with a family legacy in Florida and national public service. In his conversation with Todd, he shares many moments and lessons from his storied career, including working in a safari park wrangling baboons before entering the hospitality industry.  The episode explores Ed's decades-long career building and operating...

Anthony Pedicini is a political consultant, owner, and partner at Strategic Image Management (SIMwins) based in Tampa, Florida. In their conversation, Todd and Anthony dig into the real mechanics of political campaigns, drawing from their own experience working together during Todd’s run for Polk County Commission.  The episode covers what candidates should look for when hiring a consultant, the f...

Charles Olvis and Elizabeth Muthard are two of the most accomplished and respected dog show judges in the United States. They join this episode to share an inside look at the world of competitive dog shows, discussing how a lifelong love of dogs evolved into decades-long careers judging at the highest levels of the sport, including the National Dog Show, Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and the A...

Melony Bell, Supervisor of Elections for Polk County, joins Todd for an in-depth and wide-ranging interview about elections, public service, and civic engagement in Polk County. She shares her unique path into public life, from organizing a grassroots effort against a proposed private prison to serving as mayor, county commissioner, state representative, and now Supervisor of Elections.  Their dis...

Sarah Falcetti and Aubrey Martin, two of Saunders Real Estate’s Gen Z team members, return to the show for a wide-ranging follow-up conversation that dives deeper into Gen Z culture, values, and perspectives. The discussion covers work ethic, financial pressures, the influence of public figures and media, Sarah’s recent engagement, the latest on Taylor Swift, social media and TikTok, and Todd’s di...

Just in time for Christmas, Todd is joined by Santa and Missus Claus for a spirited and unconventional holiday episode. With a wink and plenty of good humor, the Clauses offer a lighthearted peek into life at the North Pole, including the role of elves, integrating AI, holiday stress, and everything in between. This isn’t your typical fireside chat with St. Nick. Equal parts festive and cheeky, th...

Dr. Stephen J. Nelson is the Chief Medical Examiner for Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit, serving Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties. Drawing from nearly three decades in the role, Dr. Nelson joins Todd for an in-depth interview covering the world of forensic pathology from how his office operates and is funded to the realities of staffing, autopsy procedures, toxicology, and the growing challeng...

In this episode, Todd welcomes back Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about public safety in Florida and beyond. Sheriff Judd breaks down the realities of immigration enforcement, how local agencies now coordinate with ICE, and his proposed solution for fixing the nation’s immigration system. He also discusses open carry laws, human trafficking investigation...

Angela Davis, Polk County coordinator for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, joins Todd for a heartwarming episode about the mission and impact of this beloved program. She shares how her team brings Christmas joy to thousands of children each year, explaining what it takes to organize large-scale toy drives, manage volunteers, responsibly manage donations, and build the community partnerships t...

Johnny Townsend is a former NFL punter and a 2x All-American Florida Gator. He joins Todd to talk about life on and off the field, from his record-setting days in The Swamp to becoming a 2018 NFL draft pick. Johnny reflects on his journey through recruitment, his time with the Raiders and Chiefs, and the lessons learned about discipline, leadership, and identity in sports.  He also shares the stor...

Jerry Layne is a recently retired Major League Baseball umpire whose career spanned 35 years, from 1989 in the National League through both leagues until 2024. As one of the game’s most experienced officials, his resume includes historic moments such as being behind the plate for Barry Bonds’ 71st home run and Fernando Valenzuela’s no-hitter.  Jerry joins Todd in this episode to dive into the real...

Christiaan Abbott is an Executive Cruise Director for Disney Cruise Line, currently serving aboard the Disney Wish. Joining Todd in this episode, Christiaan shares his remarkable journey from starting as a professional dancer at age 15, to performing around the world, to eventually leading entertainment for Disney overseas. He reflects on his background in dance, comedy, and theater, his time as a...

This podcast episode takes a fun turn as Todd sits down with two of Saunders Real Estate’s Gen Z team members, Sarah Falcetti and Aubrey Martin. Sarah, the firm’s Event and Community Outreach Coordinator, shares how her love for communication, community involvement, and event planning led her to the real estate industry. Aubrey, the Property Management Coordinator, talks about her path from intern...

Ben Friedman is the Senior Rates & Regulatory Strategy Analyst at Duke Energy in Tampa, Florida. He joins this podcast episode to share economic insights on the direction of U.S. interest rates, housing affordability, and workforce challenges in a rapidly changing market shaped by AI and demographic shifts.  Ben and Todd's discussion then pivots to energy—covering the role of solar, the r...

Drew Wilcox is the Vice President and General Manager of Nucor Steel Florida. He joins Todd in this episode to talk about his company’s micro mill in Frostproof and its overall impact on Central Florida.  Drew shares his journey from starting at Nucor in Texas earning $5.25 an hour to leading a $250 million plant project in Polk County. He discusses Nucor’s environmentally friendly electric arc fu...

This episode welcomes Alex Cruz, cofounder of The 22 Project, and USAF veteran Major General Robert “Mumbles” Polumbo. Together, they share the powerful story behind The 22 Project, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing suicides amongst veterans struggling with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD through innovative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and community support.  Since initially sponsoring t...