Todd's Podcast

In this episode, Todd sits down with Howe Wallace, a former National President of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the current President of PalletOne Inc . Together, they discuss the influential role of Greek life on college campuses, stressing its importance in shaping leadership skills and community involvement among young adults. Both alumni of ATO from the University of Florida, Howe and Tod...

David R. Carmichael is an attorney with Boswell & Dunlap LLP in Polk County, Florida who is Board Certified as an Expert in Criminal Trial Law. In this podcast episode, Todd and David explore the topic of Florida's Risk Protection Orders (RPOs), also known as Red Flag Laws, which were enacted in response to the tragic Parkland mass shooting in 2018. RPOs are legal orders that allow law en...

This podcast episode features an eye-opening interview with Dan Levy and Cynthia Henderson, who discuss environmental and legislative efforts to combat harmful algal blooms and related issues. Dan Levy, a vice president of AECOM , shares his experience in algal bloom mitigation, algae harvesting technology, and AECOM's work at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, Florida. Cynthia Henderson, a sea...

Major General (Ret) Richard "Beef" Haddad is a veteran special operations pilot with hundreds of hours of combat flying during Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. In this podcast episode, General Haddad shares his extensive military career, from playing football for Bill Parcells and the Air Force Academy to becoming the first Air Force general officer to serve...

In this episode of Todd's Podcast, Todd interviews Paul Womble, the Emergency Management Director of Polk County, Florida. Paul is in charge of preparing, coordinating, and responding to a diverse array of emergencies and disasters, including hurricanes, pandemics, and other hazards. While ensuring the safety preparedness and well-being of our citizens, he is also responsible for the county e...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Todd's Podcast! Join Todd as he celebrates the milestone of reaching 20 podcast episodes and reflects on the journey so far. Looking ahead, Todd plans to introduce more exciting guests including military leaders, political figures, professional athletes, scientists, and much more. Additionally, Todd's Podcast may begin to integrate more real estate c...

Captain Nathan "Shaka" Kahn is the Commanding Officer of the NOAA Hurricane Hunters at the Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida. As hurricane season approaches, Captain Kahn joins Todd's Podcast to discuss his role as a Hurricane Hunter pilot, detailing the challenges and importance of flying into these devastating storms. Throughout the show, Captain Kahn emphasizes the...

In this podcast episode, Todd interviews Dr. Randy Avent, the founding President of Florida Polytechnic University. Having recently announced his retirement, Dr. Avent reflects on his time at the university, its accomplishments, and its mission to advance technological education and research in Florida. Dr. Avent shares his diverse interests from dirt biking and woodworking to his plans for conduc...

Brad O’Connor, Ph. D. is the Chief Economist for Florida Realtors®, the state’s largest trade association. In this podcast episode, Todd and Brad discuss various economic topics pertinent to Florida, including the state’s housing market, employment trends, and the broader economic implications of national policies. They also provide their perspectives on how different economic factors like mortgag...

In this episode of Todd's Podcast, Bud Strang, CEO of Six/Ten LLC , shares about his company and the urban development work they are doing in downtown Winter Haven, Florida. While revitalizing their community, Six/Ten has led many mixed-use developments, integrating residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to create a vibrant environment. Bud is an effective leader who values consensu...

Gene Conrad is the President & CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence. In this episode, Gene joins Todd to share his unique experience in aviation as well as some exciting insights into the upcoming SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo, which takes place on April 9-14, 2024, in Lakeland, Florida. Now in its 50th year, the SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo is one of the largest and most successful a...

Stephanie Conners is the President and CEO of BayCare Health System , a leading not-for-profit health care system based in West Central Florida. In this podcast episode, Conners shares her inspiring journey from a background in West Philadelphia to her current leadership role. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes the importance of compassion in nursing and leadership, sharing personal stories th...

This episode of Todd's Podcast is joined by Major League Baseball player and 2021 American League Comeback Player of the Year, Trey Mancini. Opening up about his baseball journey and battle with cancer, Mancini's resilience, humility, and unwavering commitment to making a difference can be clearly seen both on and off the field. Throughout the episode, Todd and Trey dive into various top...

In this podcast episode, Todd catches up with Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell. From his modest beginnings in Bartow, Florida, Braswell reflects on his education and career choices, military and aviation experience, and eventual transition into agriculture. With such a diverse career, Braswell has been an excellent leader in both the military and the public office. Commissioner Braswell also...

Frederick Heid, the Superintendent of Polk County Public Schools, joins this podcast episode to share his remarkable journey in education and leadership, as well as his deep passion for students. The episode explores various facets of education, including challenges in teacher recruitment and the important role of volunteers and mentors in the school system. Todd and Mr. Heid also explore discussi...

In this podcast episode, Todd is joined by Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti, President of Polk State College. Throughout their conversation, Dr. Falconetti shares her impressive academic journey, the challenges of education funding, and the role that Polk State College plays in the community. Additionally, she emphasizes the important mission of community colleges in fostering workforce development. T...

Major General (Retired) Robert "Mumbles" Polumbo is a distinguished two-star general officer of the United States Air Force and Senior Consultant at Two Blue Aces. In this podcast episode, General Polumbo joins Todd as they reminisce about their high school days, share some great aviation stories, and provide our listeners with valuable leadership insights. The episode explores the world...

This holiday special of Todd's Podcast features none other than the one and only Santa Claus! In this slightly unconventional conversation, Santa and Todd tend to explore some of the less traveled paths of holiday humor. As this week's episode is a tad more mature, remember to be mindful of any little elf ears that may be listening. While providing some comedic relief in this holiday sea...

In this episode of Todd's Podcast, Major General (Retired) Larry Martin, a 30-year Air Force veteran and senior consultant at Two Blue Aces, joins Todd for a great conversation about leadership, the military, and what it took to become a general officer in the United States Air Force. Having traveled all over the world, General Martin shares some of his favorite planes as well as his most int...

Miss Florida 2023, Juliette Valle, joins this episode of Todd's Podcast to share her inspiring journey and experiences in the world of beauty pageants. The discussion spans from Juliette's childhood passion for performing to her plans to run for Miss America in January 2024. Juliette also highlights her platform's focus on raising awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the...

This episode of Todd's Podcast invites Congressman Scott Franklin, a Navy pilot veteran turned Florida Congressman. Throughout the episode, Congressman Franklin takes us on a journey from his initial catapult launch off of an aircraft carrier to the intricacies of both local and federal politics. Keeping an open mind, Todd and the Congressman also highlight some of the challenges and complexi...

In this episode of Todd's Podcast, retired Major General Jake Polumbo, a distinguished Air Force General Officer, shares his extraordinary military journey and the leadership insights he gained along the way. From growing up in a military family to pushing the limits of F-16 fighter jets, General Polumbo's career is a testament to dedication, faith, and resilience. Todd also highlights T...

Margy Grant, CEO of Florida Realtors®, has led a remarkable real estate career and has proven herself to be an outstanding leader in her industry. In this episode, Todd and Margy explore some of her early leadership experiences, outlining her journey from law school to now managing a prestigious, 243,000-member organization. The discussion also covers the challenges of managing staff during a glob...

This episode of "Todd's Podcast" is joined by the legendary three-time Olympic gold medalist and swimming's greatest ambassador, Rowdy Gaines . Among other topics, Todd and Rowdy share their unique past as childhood friends, the mental and physical preparation of competitive swimming, and some of the challenges Rowdy faced with the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. Rowdy also share...

In part two of Todd's interview with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, they take a deep dive into the Sheriff's responsibilities and initiatives that go beyond enforcing laws. Amongst other topics, Todd discusses how the Sheriff prepares for his many press conferences, the vision behind philanthropic projects like Polk Sheriff's Charities, and the Sheriff's involvement in the cre...