Welcome to Florida

Craig and I open this episode discussing a return to the White House of the worst environmental president in history. Our guest is David Morton, author of "Motion Picture Paradise: A History of Florida's Film and Television Industry."  Florida was an epicenter of film and television production in the early 20th century, and again in the 50s and 60s, but politics has often derailed e...

Florida's politicians are bought and paid for by polluting industries : Big Sugar, Big Ag (agriculture), cattle ranchers, gas and oil, developers, phosphate mining. Kristen Hare traveled across the state researching her book "Hotels, Motels, and Inns of Florida." On this episode, she shares her favorite historic lodgings.  If you'd like to receive an historic hotel postcard fro...

Ron DeSantis thinks the Florida economy would suffer from fighting climate change; Craig Pittman knows the Florida economy won't exist if we don't . Cathy Salustri , host of the "Florida Spectacular" podcast and Florida author - and two-time former "Welcome to Florida" guest - fills in for Chadd Scott on this episode focusing on Robert the Doll. Author, historian, and...

Back-to-back hurricanes this October have Craig thinking about 2004 when four major hurricanes battered the state in a six week period. What was learned from those catastrophes 20 years ago? Nothing . Our guest this episode is Florida author Leslie Kemp Poole 's whose recently published book, "Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now" follows in th...

VOTE "NO" ON AMENDMENT 2 , the so-called "Right to Hunt and Fish." Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida celebrates its 50th anniversary as the nation's first National Preserve on October 11, 2024. The Preserve will be hosting a variety of events through the end of the year in recognition of the milestone. Lisa Andrews is the education and outreach coordinator at...

We start by explaining how climate change and increased development have made hurricanes in Florida stronger and more destructive . Theodore Pratt isn't a name most folks will know, but he was a highly acclaimed and prolific mid-century Florida author who is largely responsible for sustaining the legacy of the Barefoot Mailmen. Taylor Hagood is a professor at Florida Atlantic University in Bo...

Florida's so-called "law and order" governor isn't concerned about law or order when it comes to the state's freshwater springs . The best way to stay informed on news related to our springs is via the Florida Springs Council. We've previously featured Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's "The Yearling" book in an episode, this episode will center on the movie ada...

Another secretive, shady deal attempted between a private developer and the state government on supposedly protected public land has been exposed by the media. Harry Truman spent a remarkable amount of time during his presidency at his Little White House in Key West. The home is open to the public for tours. Clinton Curry, Director of Operations in Key West for Historic Tours America , which opera...

A secret meeting about water policy convened by a Florida congressman allowed polluting industries and state officials to scheme behind closed doors without the public or press allowed in. This episode takes us to Florida's most remote location, the Dry Tortugas. Ian Wilson-Navarro spent a month there photographing and fishing, and recalls the experience in a new book out this fall, "Dry...

Craig recently turned a story in to "Flamingo" magazine about Miami's Criteria Recording Studios , one of the 20th century's most influential hit makers. Our guest this episode is social media personality, humorist, and Florida Man OMGitsWicks . Follow him on TikTok , YouTube , Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter .

Don't believe Ron DeSantis' lies when he says he had no advance knowledge of plans to bring golf courses and hotels into Florida's state parks. Our guest this week is Florida author Cathy Salustri . She joined us all the way back on Episode 5 to discuss her first Florida book, "Backroads of Paradise," and she's back to discuss her latest book, "Florida Spectacula...

Craig's column on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's plan to build golf courses and hotels in the state parks . Story update . Another episode, more politicians lining up with developers to destroy protected natural areas against the wishes of citizens. Our guest is Florida food, travel, and lifestyle writer Carrie Honaker who took a trip scalloping off New Port Ritchey...

Florida's estuaries are warming faster than the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. Doug Alderson kayaked down the Kissimmee River twice, once in 2007 and again in 2024. He wrote about those experiences as well as the river's historic importance to Florida, it's channelizing in the 1960s, and restoration efforts to renaturalize it beginning in the 1990s, in his book "New Dawn for...

When is protected land not really protected? When it's in Florida . A.E. "Bean" Backus (1906-1990) is one of Florida's most esteemed artists. While best known today in connection to the Florida Highwaymen , Backus was an exceptional artist in his own right. J. Marshall Adams, executive director at the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Fort Pierce joins us to talk about Backus&a...

Encouraging news for the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow , the most endangered bird species on mainland America. A pair of notorious Florida villains have died. Norma Padgett Upshaw who falsely accused "The Groveland Four" of rape, and William Calley, Jr. a U.S. Army officer convicted for his role in 1968's My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. Our guest today is Erica Smith from Bok Tower Garden...

The right wing's gameplan for a second Trump administration is laid out in a 900-plus page document called "Project 2025." One of its aims is to privatize weather reports. Craig explains how this terrifying document would impact Floridians . Our guest this episode is Lynn Smallwood McMillin, owner and operator of the Smallwood Store in Chokoloskee since 1990. She is the granddaughte...

This episode begins by discussing Craig's most recent "Flamingo" magazine article about the Florida State Park system. Our guest is Lauren Ali, Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail coordinator. The Trail is a project of the FWC - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The New College of Florida has been purged of its academic integrity and set up as an incubator of right wing ideology by Ron DeSantis, now, the school's president has destroyed an environmental preserve to construct ball fields. Michael Adno is a freelance writer and photographer from Sarasota. He recently visited the Apalachicola State Forest in the Panhandle to investigate worm grunting.

What Donald Trump didn't say about climate change during the presidential debate spoke volumes. During the debate, Trump said, "During my four years, I had the best environmental numbers ever." The exact opposite is true. Trump was the most anti-environmental president in U.S. history, rolling back 100+ environmental protections. The built environment and "vibe" of Miami B...

Solar energy is heating up in Florida no thanks to state government . Harry Crews grew up dirt poor in south Georgia during the Great Depression before moving to Florida, enrolling at UF, and then becoming a famous writer of novels, essays, reported pieces, and screenplays. He also taught creative writing at the University of Florida for three decades. Ted Geltner met Crews while working at "...

Eco-criminal Ron DeSantis continues working against Florida's environment . They exist only in Miami: ventanitas. You'll find the "little windows" attached to Cuban restaurants. Customers can order food and coffee out of them, sometimes, 24-hours a day. This episode's guest Daniela Perez is a Miami native who wrote a book on the subject, "Ventanitas: A Window into Mia...

One of the worst bills to pass out of the Florida legislature in the most recent session was supported completely on lies. Everyone has heard of birder and artist John James Audubon, namesake of the Audubon Foundation. Audubon came to Florida twice while researching his epic "Birds of America." Our guest today, Kenn Kaufman , is one of America's great birders and author of “The Bird...

Florida congressman Matt Gaetz wants to bomb endangered whales in the Gulf of Mexico. One of Florida's great hidden gem cultural and tourist attractions is Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. As beautiful as the gardens are today, the history of Japanese immigration to Florida and the garden's founding are equally interesting. Curator of education at Morikami Wendy Lo j...

Beach renourishment : ecological necessity or government handout to the wealthiest of Florida's property owners? Former Florida governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham passed away in the spring of 2024 at the age of 87. Joining us on this episode to discuss Graham's life and legacy is S.V.  Date, author of "Quiet Passion: A Biography of Bob Graham." Thanks again to all of our patr...

Ron DeSantis: junkie . Our subject this episode is the fabulous Mar-a-Lago estate on Palm Beach. We discuss it's history from Marjorie Merriweather Post through Donald Trump and what makes the mansion/private club special. Les Standiford, author of "Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago, and the Rise of America's Xanadu,"  provides the expertise.