In Episode 121, Garrett sits down with Chris Kneer, a retired banker turned author, to discuss his debut novel Bluebird: A Cigar City Thriller. The conversation explores Tampa as a rich setting for fiction, the cultural complexity of Ybor City, and how real-life financial events shaped the book's plot. Chris shares behind-the-scenes details about self-publishing, the audiobook production process, and why he believes storytelling is essential to capturing Tampa’s identity. The episode also covers firsthand insights into the shutdown of community banks, the evolution of SBA lending, and what makes Tampa an emerging creative hub.
0:00:00 - Cigar City
0:03:54 - Chris Kneer
0:13:56 - Ybor City
0:35:12 - Writing Bluebird
0:52:56 - Banking during 2008
1:01:44 - Banking during Covid
1:12:47 - Bluebird
