Unsealed

In 2017, the Florida Legislature quietly created a new weapon for agencies facing public records lawsuits: the “improper purpose” defense under § 119.12, Florida Statutes. The idea was simple, stop the so-called “cottage industry” of public records litigation. But nearly a decade later, one thing is striking: There is almost no appellate case law explaining what “improper purpose” actually means....

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler breaks down section 119.12 of the Florida Statutes and its critical notice requirement. Added in 2017, this provision requires requesters to provide written notice of their public records request at least five business days before filing suit—unless the agency has failed to properly post its custodian of records contact information. Joel discusses the Fo...

On January 5, 2006, fourteen-year-old Martin Lee Anderson entered the Bay County Sheriff’s Office juvenile boot camp in Panama City, Florida. Less than twenty-four hours later, he was dead. This episode of Unsealed investigates the cover-up that followed Anderson’s death: a surveillance tape hidden from the public, a medical examiner’s questionable ruling of “natural causes,” and high-level offici...

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler takes us from the shadowy corners of the Watergate scandal to the lurid undoing of Jeffrey Epstein—and shows us what they have in common: legacy media that once had the power, resources, and guts to challenge the government and win. Joel reflects on the sobering realization that the watchdog press is fading fast. As legacy institutions collapse, who’s le...

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler breaks down the six most common—and completely avoidable—mistakes that get Florida agencies into legal trouble when responding to public records requests. Spoiler alert: it’s rarely about complex law and almost always about bad habits, bad attitudes, or bad advice. Joel walks through the real-world consequences of these mistakes and explains how agencies...

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel takes listeners inside the largest women’s prison in the United States—Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida. Drawing on federal Department of Justice findings, investigative reporting from the Miami Herald , and recent PREA audits, this episode exposes a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse, retaliation, medical neglect, and impunity. From the myster...

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler exposes the dark history of Florida’s Sunland Hospital System. Originally designed to provide care for individuals with developmental disabilities, Sunland became synonymous with abuse, neglect, and systemic failure. Joel traces how these state-run institutions, hidden behind bureaucratic walls, became places of suffering rather than healing. Through pub...

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler introduces listeners to the Poor and Minority Justice Association (PMJA), an organization dedicated to advancing transparency, accountability, and equal justice in Florida. Joel shares PMJA’s history, its mission, and the projects it leads to uncover the truth through public records and Sunshine Law enforcement. With stories from years of advocacy, Joel...

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler highlights the resources available to citizens, journalists, and advocates who want to better understand and use Florida’s Public Records and Sunshine Laws. From the Florida Attorney General’s Sunshine Manual to grassroots networks of open government supporters, Joel explains where to find the tools and knowledge you need to hold government accountable....

In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler takes listeners inside the world of Florida’s Public Records Act to show how both citizens and government agencies can avoid the courtroom. Drawing from years of experience and hundreds of cases, Joel explains the common mistakes that land agencies in litigation—and the simple steps that can prevent it. With practical advice for requesters, strategies fo...

In this practical episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler breaks down the essentials of Florida’s Public Records Act and gives listeners a clear, step-by-step guide to making their own public records requests. From identifying the right custodian to crafting an effective written request, Joel explains how everyday citizens can use the law to hold government accountable. Along the way, he shares real-w...

In this powerful episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler unpacks the brutal history of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida. For over a century, the reform school operated under the guise of discipline and rehabilitation while hiding a legacy of abuse, forced labor, and systemic cover-ups. Drawing on public records, survivor accounts, and decades of official investigations that le...

In this harrowing long-form episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler takes listeners inside one of the darkest investigations of his career: Florida’s public housing authorities. What began in 2017 with a single phone call about a slap inside the Lakeland Housing Authority spiraled into a years-long battle uncovering systemic abuse, sexual harassment, exploitation, and secrecy. From whistleblowers and...

Joel Chandler investigates Florida’s charter schools and uncovers systemic violations of Sunshine and Public Records laws. What began as a simple request reveals a culture of secrecy, ghosting, and unlawful board practices in publicly funded education.

Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals has been called everything from the Devil’s playbook to a democracy saver. In this episode of Unsealed , Joel Chandler unpacks the myths, the infamous Lucifer epigraph, and the 13 rules for grassroots change—and explains why both activists and public officials should still be paying attention today.