Shows
Welcome to FloridaEpisode 281: Florida's Trilingual NewspaperFolks in the Panhandle are upset about a scheme to swap 200 acres of National Forest land to build a county recreation area.Our guest this episode is Patrick Manteiga, second generation owner, publisher, and columnist at the Tampa-based La Gaceta newspaper. La Gaceta is the state's - and the nation's - only trilingual newspaper.Filling in for Chadd Scott his episode is Florida author, podcaster, and newspaper publisher Cathy Salustri.Nature DisturbedMother Nature is one weird ladyListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
2025-11-1846 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 278: Florida's Best (Worst) B-MoviesIt's Halloween and "Welcome to Florida's" favorite spooky co-host, Cathy Salustri, is back, filling in for Chadd Scott. Cathy is a Halloween FANATIC and author of "It Came from Florida: The Best of Florida's Worst B-Movies."Cathy hosts her own Florida podcast, "The Florida Spectacular."Nature DisturbedMother Nature is one weird ladyListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
2025-10-2852 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 271: The Moseley HomesteadRon DeSantis is using his personal version of a Department of Government Efficiency to harass areas that didn't vote for him; he should turn the magnifying glass on the state's Everglades immigrant concentration camp.Mark Proctor leads the trust in charge of overseeing the historic Moseley Homestead in Branden. Proctor joins us to discuss the property's history and future."Come to My Sunland: Letters of Julia Daniels Moseley from the Florida Frontier, 1882-1886.""Welcome to Florida" patrons can watch a Labor Day 2025 speech given by Chadd Scott in Fernandina Beach along with accessing...
2025-09-0943 min
Don't overthink it podcastEpisode 169: Doing Everything for New Money: The Chadd Scott story.This episode was a long time in the making. This gentleman prefers to keep a low profile and doesn't like being in front of cameras, let alone microphones. But with persistence, we have the man of the hour, Chadd Scott. If you were in Harrisburg last weekend and saw Musiq Soulchild, you saw what he's capable of planning. Chadd sat down with Dula and myself, and we discussed everything from how he became a producer and got engulfed in hip-hop to his jail time, getting focused, and coming out to hit the ground running with comedy shows, white parties...
2025-08-131h 32Welcome to FloridaEpisode 266: Wicked St. AugustineChadd Scott visited DeSantis and Trump's immigrant concentration camp in the Everglades as far as the public is allowed to go. It was worse than he imagined. $5 per month "Welcome to Florida" patrons can watch a video of what he saw.Jason Garcia's exceptional "Seeking Rents" podcast and website are a great source for more information about the camp.Our guest this episode is Ann Colby, author of "Wicked St. Augustine," who tells us all about the storied history of prostitution in the city. She also hosts walking tours in St. Augustine.Find...
2025-08-0553 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 236: David Kirby and Florida PoetsCraig Pittman has a wish list of gifts he hopes Santa brings Florida's environment.Our guest this episode is poet, essayist, and professor of English at Florida State University David Kirby. His latest anthology of poems is titled "The Winter Dance Party." In the episode, Craig quoted an Elizabeth Bishop poem you can read here.Thank you to all of our patrons at Patreon.com/WelcomeToFlorida. For $5 a month "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to bonus episodes, including our recent "Florida Holiday Traditions" episode, and Chadd Scott's weekly Florida conservation newsletter.
2024-12-2441 min
SeenBehind the Seen with Chadd ScottIn the first episode of Behind the Seen, Carrie chats with Chadd Scott, a writer at the intersection of art and travel. He’s interested in the art that happens outside of major cities and making sure that we know as much about what’s happening in say, New Mexico, as we do London’s Bond Street.
From Carrie:
"Chadd and I both care deeply about making the art world more inclusive and accessible to everyone, from first-time gallery-goers to seasoned collectors. But why does it so often feel like an exclusive club, and what are we...
2024-11-0543 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 228: Robert the DollRon 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 Florida Keys ghost tour host David Sloan joins to discuss the haunted doll.HauntedKeyWest.comNature DisturbedMother Nature is one weird ladyListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
2024-10-2937 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 209: John James Audubon in FloridaOne 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 Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness.”Start you adventures birding around Florida with the Great Florida Birding Trail.Thanks again to all of our patr...
2024-06-1838 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 207: Bob GrahamBeach 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 patrons on Patreon. For just $5 a month you can help support the show and receive bonus episodes. A new bonus episode was just published related to co-host Chadd Scott's recent visit to M...
2024-06-0444 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 197: OrlandoThe Florida legislature has appropriated $25 million to study a problem it already knows the causes of and solutions for.Everyone knows Orlando for Disney, even though the theme park isn't inside the city limits, but there's a lot more to the Magic City than rides and tourists. Scott Maxwell has been writing for the Orlando Sentinel since 1998 and joins us to discuss the myths and realities of Orlando.Nature DisturbedMother Nature is one weird ladyListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
2024-03-2639 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 175: Jimmy Buffett's Key WestValerie Vande Panne fills in again for Chadd Scott on this episode and she and Craig start off by discussing a limited-run TV series put out by Conservation Florida about the state's environmental problems called "Protect Our Paradise." Find Valerie and follow her work on her Substack page.This episode's guest is William McKeen, author of "Mile Marker Zero: The Moveable Feast of Key West," which details the cultural, anti-establishment peak of the city in the 1970s which featured an upstart musician, Jimmy Buffett."Welcome to Florida," as always, is presented by Windstorm...
2023-10-2442 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 174: Univision & Telemundo's Florida rootsValerie Vande Panne filled in for Chadd Scott on this episode of "Welcome to Florida." She and Craig began by discussing his latest Florida Phoenix column on airboats.Keep up with Valerie on Substack.This episode's guest is Craig Allen, author of "Univision, Telemundo, and the Rise of Spanish-Language Television in the United States." Both networks were headquartered mere miles from each other in Miami for decades."Welcome to Florida," as always, is presented by Windstorm Products.Nature DisturbedMother Nature is one weird ladyListen...
2023-10-1745 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 142: The Beatles in Florida (1964)Advocates for Florida Springs had to take the state Department of Environmental Protection to court for the terrible job its been doing protecting the state's drinking water from polluters.This week's guest Bob Kealing has joined us before to talk about Tupperware and Elvis. His latest book, "Good Day Sunshine State: How the Beatles Rocked Florida" takes us back to 1964 and the group's monumental visit to Florida and its various intersections with history.Chadd Scott's latest "My Favorite Florida" columns include Ron Jon Surf Shop and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge....
2023-03-0735 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 141: Nikki FriedFlorida's State Attorney General is a villainous political hatchet queen.As Agriculture Commissioner, Nikki Fried was the last Democrat elected to a statewide office in Florida. We discuss the role of the state Agriculture Department from concealed carry firearm permits to state forests, invasive species, gasoline and Big Sugar. Fried was elected on February 25, 2023, as chair of the state Democratic Party.Thanks to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota for hosting Chadd Scott to record this episode of the podcast. Nature DisturbedMother Nature is one weird ladyListen o...
2023-02-2854 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 140: PensacolaThis episode begins in Eatonville, home of Zora Neale Hurston, where, not surprisingly, developers are up to no good.Our guest is lifelong Pensacola resident and longtime Pensacola newspaper reporter and editor Carl Wernicke. We discuss Pensacola's past, present and future, Matt Gaetz, what he loves about Pensacola, and how the city is, and isn't, changing. Craig's from Pensacola as well!This week's episode is sponsored by WindstormProducts.com, the world's largest online retailer of hurricane hardware, as well as a retailer of the Quick Dam flood barrier, a fantastically helpful product if your home...
2023-02-2150 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 135: '72 Miami Dolphins (NFL's only unbeaten team)The governor is touting his environmental record again, to which Craig Pittman cries foul. Follow Chadd Scott's travel writing at "My Favorite Florida."Our guest this week is Marshall Jon Fisher, author of "Seventeen and Oh: Miami, 1972 and the NFL's Only Perfect Season." Fisher was a 9-year-old living in Miami in 1972 following the Dolphins success week-by-week with his father and brother. He recalls the games, and looks at the societal backdrop of Miami and America at this time which included Nixon's presidential re-election and the early phases of Watergate along with the late stages of t...
2023-01-1736 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 82: Florida's state parksThis week's episode begins with a multi-hundred million dollar theft committed by the Florida state legislature.Our guest is recently retired director of the Florida State Parks Eric Draper. Craig Pittman recently featured Draper in his Florida Phoenix column and the threat climate change presents the parks. We discuss our favorite parks, other challenges facing the system and how the parks are funded.If you're interested in helping out at a state park in your area, there are numerous "friends" groups you can contact. The Florida State Parks Foundation is another citizen-run organization dedicated to...
2022-01-1851 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 76: Voting Rights with Desmond MeadeThis week's episode begins with discussion on a potentially unprecedented effort to sustain manatee populations through Florida's winter months.Our guest is civil rights activist Desmond Meade. Meade spearheaded the effort to restore voting rights to felons in Florida, an effort which resulted in the passage of Amendment 4 in 2018, restoring voting rights to some 1.5 million Florida residents. Meade is the author of "Let My People Vote: My Battle to Restore the Civil Rights of Returning Citizens." He has been the subject of a documentary. He serves as executive director for the...
2021-12-0737 minWelcome to FloridaBONUS EPISODE: Welcome to Sarasota! (Winter Preview)Nate Sweetman from VisitSarasota.com rejoins us to discuss the top winter and holiday events and activities to enjoy in Sarasota County.We discussed:St. Armond's CircleVan Wezel Performing Arts HallSelby GardensThe RinglingThe Celery FieldsMLB Spring TrainingSarasota's architectural historySarasota Trolly Tours
2021-11-3027 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 75: Pensacola PunkhouseIf you thought the "Roads to Ruin" were dead, think again. This week's episode begins with Craig's fabulous column from the Florida Phoenix which alerts us to how the Florida Department of Transportation, at the behest of developers and the road construction industry, wants to force another unwanted, unneeded, expensive turnpike extension in north Florida. As background to this story, an explanation of how roads can be racist.This week's guest is Scott Satterwhite, author of "A Punkhouse in the Deep South: An Oral History of 309." Satterwhite, who now teaches at the University of West Florida, didn't...
2021-11-2353 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 74: ButterfliesThis week's episode begins by discussing how Florida's lack of a clean energy plan is costing the state federal infrastructure dollars.Our guest is Dr. Jaret Daniels who leads the lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) research efforts at the University of Florida. Daniels' team can be found working at the world's most prestigious lepidoptera research facility in the world, the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity inside the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus in Gainesville. The McGuire Center houses 12 million butterfly and moth specimens from around the world. We discuss collapsing monarch p...
2021-11-1658 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 73: Florida novelist Tim DorseyThis week's episode begins with a conversation about a state law little-known to the public that further stacks the deck against conservation and sustainable growth in Florida in favor of developers. Meet Bert Harris.Our guest this week is Florida author Tim Dorsey. Tim will soon have his 25th novel in a series of wacky crime thrillers about a Florida-obsessed serial killer, Serge A. Storms, that use outlandish humor to pass along tidbits about the state's history and culture. Tim will be appearing at this year's Miami Book Fair.
2021-11-0947 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 72: Florida legal thrillers with James GrippandoThis week's episode begins with cowboy Craig telling us about a recent trip to a Florida ranch he took as well as introducing us to a new Florida acronym: earwig. This week's guest is part of the annual Miami Book Fair, author James Grippando whose written almost 30 novels, 17 of which focus on the adventures Miami criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck. Grippando is a practicing attorney and professor at the University of Miami."Welcome to Florida" is presented by VisitSarasota.com. From camping at Miakka River State Park to beach combing along Longboat or Siesta Keys...
2021-11-0240 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 71: Perversion of Justice - the Jeffrey Epstein storyThis week's episode begins with some Florida myth-busting from Craig Pittman.Our guest is author and Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie Brown. Brown's book "Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story" helped bring some measure of accountability to Palm Beach resident Jeffrey Epstein following his years' long, worldwide sex trafficking ring which saw him rape dozens of underage girls.Brown continues to report on the case and ongoing legal proceedings for the Herald. Find her writing and insights on Twitter at @jkbjournalist.
2021-10-2643 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 70: Disney WorldWith Halloween around the corner, we begin with a truly scary story: Giant African Land Snails.Our guest this week is Richard Foglesong, author of the definitive history on Disney coming to Florida, "Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando."If Disney World isn't your particular cup of tea, how about Sarasota? With one of Florida's largest and oldest state parks, a pair of wonderful art museums, leading research facilities open to the public for botany and marine life, plus shopping, dining and fabulous hotels - AND THE BEACH - VisitSarasota.com will...
2021-10-1951 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 69: Celebration, Disney and Florida's Housing CrisisThis week's episode begins with more reasons to support the removal of Kirkpatrick Dam and a return to a free-flowing Ocklawaha River.Time is running out for you to voice your opinion to the St. John's Water Management District in favor of removing the dam and supporting the river. The comment period closes October 22, 2021. CLICK THIS LINK TO SUPPORT THE RIVER.Our guest this week is Andrew Ross who's followed up his 1999 book about Celebration, Florida, "The Celebration Chronicles: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Property Value in Disney's New Town," with a look at...
2021-10-1249 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 68: Free the Ocklawaha!This week's episode begins with Craig taking us to South Florida where Ron DeSantis has contradicted himself on the subject of Everglades restoration.Our guest this week is Jennifer Carr, president of Florida Defenders of the Environment, and granddaughter of Marjorie Harris Carr and Archie Carr, two of Florida's greatest conservationists. Marjorie stopped the Cross Florida Barge Canal while Archie was a powerful advocate for sea turtles.Jennifer joins us to discuss the movement to remove the Kirkpatrick Dam and free the Ocklawaha River, an effort her grandmother led for many years. Now is a...
2021-10-0540 minWelcome to FloridaBONUS EPISODE: Welcome to Sarasota! (Fall Preview)During this BONUS EPISODE of "Welcome to Florida" we learn all about the various activities available to visitors of Sarasota this fall from arts markets and eco-tours, to dining, art exhibitions and water sports. One of Florida's largest state parks, great apple pie, and the state's only Amish community welcome guests to Sarasota County for outdoor recreation, shopping, history, culture and more.You can learn about what Sarasota area has to offer by visiting its tourism website.
2021-09-3027 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 67: Iguana Invasion!This week's episode begins with good news on the conservation front and increasing numbers of a once critically endangered Florida butterfly.Our guest this week is Tom Portuallo, founder and CEO of Iguana Control. Tom has spent more than a decade removing invasive iguana from South Florida homes and yards.The best action you can take for Florida today is raising your voice in support of removing the Kirkpatrick Dam and allowing the Ocklawaha River to again flow freely, restoring thousands of acres of critical plant, animal and fish habitat in northeast Florida. The St...
2021-09-2839 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 66: Craig Pittman 'The State You're In'This week's episode is devoted to Craig Pittman's new non-fiction book, "The State You're In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and other Wildlife."Joining Chadd Scott this week to talk to Craig about the book is environmental journalist and author of The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans. Also: Mirage; Blue Revolution; and Rain: A Natural and Cultural History, long-listed for the National Book Award. Cynthia was our guest on "Welcome to Florida" episode #55 all about her seashell book.
2021-09-2143 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 65: Sinkholes!These week's episode begins with an update on efforts to save the Florida Reef - North America's only coral reef - and how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has habitually damaged the resource.Our topic this week is sinkholes and we're joined by USF researcher Philip van Beynan to learn all about them.
2021-09-1433 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 64: Gopher tortoiseThis week's episode begins with a familiar topic: the dangers of phosphate mining in Florida.Our guest is gopher tortoise biologist George Heinrich. If you'd like to do more to support gopher tortoise, look into the Gopher Tortoise Council.
2021-09-0744 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 63: Sea TurtlesThis week's episode begins with a recent conversation Craig had with a former Florida governor. Our guest is Dr. Kate Mansfield who runs the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group. We discuss the five species of sea turtles found nesting in Florida.In Florida, if you find a dead or stranded sea turtle, here's the number to call for the Fish and Wildlife Commission hotline: 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922).Coastal Connections was the sea turtle experience group in Vero Beach we mentioned. You can learn more about Coastal Connections by listening to...
2021-08-3149 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 62: Thomas Edison and Henry Ford winter estates in Ft. MyersThis week's episode begins along the Tamiami Trail and a discussion of Craig's latest Florida Phoenix story.Our guest today is Holly Shaffer who's going to tell us all about the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford winter estates in Fort Myers.
2021-08-2434 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 61: The Florida ManateeThis week's episode is all about the Florida Manatee. We start the show discussing how Craig came to write his second book, "Manatee Insanity," and are then joined by Florida Manatee researcher, Bob Bonde, who along with his wife, Cathy Beck, studied the animals for 40 years. Bob co-authored the most authoritative book on the subject of Florida Manatee, "The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation," which was updated with a second edition in the summer of 2021.
2021-08-1748 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 60: The Cuban Sandwich controversyThis week's episode begins with a discussion of Craig's latest Florida Phoenix column investigation the damage the state's latest red tide outbreak has had on seagrass. Our guest is Andrew Huse, author of "From Saloons to Steak Houses: A History of Tampa," and an upcoming title about the history of the Cuban Sandwich. Andrew's recommendations for a great Cuban sandwich: The Boozy Pig in Tampa and Sanguich in Miami.
2021-08-1042 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 59: Florida's freshwater springsThis week's episode begins with some budgetary chicanery linked to the Florida Wildlife Corridor that could mean more trouble to the state's diminishing wetlands. Our guest is filmmaker Oscar Corral who's new documentary, "The Fellowship of the Springs," examines Florida's best in the world freshwater springs resource and the various threats they face. Visit the film's website to find out when you can watch it on your local PBS station.
2021-08-0343 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 58: Orlando boy band scam artist Lou PearlmanThis week's episode begins with a tale of governmental treachery - at the behest of developers - from Santa Rosa County. Our guest is Helen Hartley, the former business reporter at the St. Petersburg Times. She uncovered a massive insurance and investment scam orchestrated by Lou Pearlman in the mid-2000s. Pearlman was the driving force behind the development of boy bands Backstreet Boys and NSYNC which, for a brief period, turned Orlando into one of the music industry's hotbeds.
2021-07-2753 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 57: Brownie Wise and Tupperware's move to FloridaThis week's episode begins with Craig's latest article for the Washington Post looking at the history of Seminole oversight of gaming in Florida. With a new gambling compact agreed to between the tribe and the state, the Seminole are expect to reap an even greater financial windfall due to the introduction of sports gambling in Florida.Our guest this week is Florida author Bob Kealing. Bob wrote a book all about one of Florida's most underappreciated entrepreneurs, Brownie Wise, who in the 1950s helped the Tupperware company build an empire by staging in-home Tupperware sales parties. Tupperware...
2021-07-2042 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 56: The Florida Wildlife Corridor with Carlton Ward Jr.Turkey hunting, off road vehicles and drones in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge? Maybe.This week's guest, Carlton Ward Jr., has been instrumental in casting a vision for the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Florida Wildlife Corridor imagines a contiguous linkage of undeveloped land from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp. As a nature photographer, Carlton helped promote the idea by traversing the entire route and sharing his stories with politicians and in the media. In late June 2021, as a result of his efforts and those of many others, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act was signed into...
2021-07-1349 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 55: Seashells!This week's episode begins with Craig Pittman and his wife encountering red tide near their home in St. Petersburg.Our guest is Cynthia Barnett, author of the newly published book, "The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans." Cynthia has written numerous books about Florida's freshwater, but dives into the salt for the first time here. She is also an environmental journalism professor at the University of Florida living in Gainesville.
2021-07-0650 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 54: The Swamp Peddlers (Florida's land giant communities)This week's episode begins with Craig's investigation of the MURDER of a Florida river.Our guest for this episode is Punta Gorda native Jason Vuic, author of the recently released book, "Swamp Peddlers: How Lot Sellers, Land Scammers, and Retirees Built Modern Florida and Transformed the American Dream." Jason tells a Florida origin story of sorts about how land speculation, unethical developers and lack of regulation wrought upon the state the numerous environmental disasters we're currently facing. Why is Florida so screwed up? This book has A LOT of the answers. Find it at your l...
2021-06-2950 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 53: Betty Osceola and the Miccosukee TribeThis episode marks the one year anniversary of the "Welcome to Florida" podcast. Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott look back at the first 52 episodes, highlighting some of the most memorable. All previous episodes, and the "Preview" episode which explains how "Welcome to Florida" came to be can be found in the archives.This week's guest is Miccosukee tribal elder Betty Osceola. Osceola works as an environmental advocate on behalf of her tribe and the Everglades and owns Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours in the Glades. You can find Betty Osceola on Facebook as well as her Walk For...
2021-06-2250 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 52: Red TideThis week's episode begins with good news for conservationists in Florida from a most unlikely place: the Florida state legislature.Craig also updates on a scary development regarding Florida's coral reef.Our guest this week is Dr. Cynthia Heil, Director of the Red Tide Institute at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota.In the episode, Heil mentions resources available for Florida residents and tourists regarding the health of our beaches including:visitbeaches.org (updated twice daily with current beach conditions)myfwc.com/redtidestatus (current sample/cell concentrations of Karenia)
2021-06-1549 minWelcome to FloridaBONUS EPISODE: Indian River County!With the Indian River Lagoon - North America's most biodiverse estuary - two National Wildlife Refuges and miles of critical sea turtle habitat along the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River County boasts remarkable natural beauty, even for Florida.This bonus episode of "Welcome to Florida" focuses on Indian River County's ecotourism opportunities from sea turtle and manatee experiences, to hiking, biking, kayaking, birdwatching and much more.Our guests are Barbara Schlitt Ford, Executive Director of the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach, and Kendra Cope, founder of Coastal Connections.We'll learn about what there...
2021-06-1038 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 51: John D. MacDonald (America's first environmental novelist)This week's episode begins with Craig throwing his hat in the ring for a new job! Don't worry about him leaving the podcast, the chances of him landing this job are low.Our guest is Calvin Branche, a leading historian on Florida author John D. MacDonald whose 21 Travis McGee novels captivated readers for decades. His novels have been turned into successful movies including "A Flash of Green" and "Cape Fear." MacDonald is also likely America's first environmental novelist, incorporating conservation themes into his work as far back as the 1960s."Welcome to Florida" is presented...
2021-06-0846 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 50: The Cabbage Palm (Florida's state tree)This week's episode begins by discussing a puzzling decision by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to recommend opening a fishing season on goliath grouper.Our guest is Jono Miller, author of "The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm." The Cabbage Palm is Florida's state tree and essential to understanding its history. What makes this tree unique? How has it influenced Florida history? What does it have to do with Elvis and gangsters? We get the lowdown from Jono who you can find online, here.At the end of the episode...
2021-06-0141 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 49: Florida ranching and cattlemenThis week's episode features Buck Island Ranch manager Gene Lollis. Buck Island Ranch is unlike any cattle ranch you've heard of. Buck Island Ranch is working in part to protect the environment and wildlife.Take a look for yourself.Ranching and agriculture are both major causes of and solutions for climate change, biodiversity collapse, clean water and clean air. If you'd like to learn more about this connection, regenerative agriculture and our national food production system, listen to "The Doctor's Farmacy Podcast" with Dr. Mark Hyman. Want to buy more sustainably and ethically r...
2021-05-2537 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 48: Florida in the MoviesThis week's episode begins with Craig's latest "Washington Post" article where he writes about Miami making history in hiring the nation's first Chief Heat Officer.Our guests are Susan Fernandez and Bob Ingalls, authors of "Sunshine in the Dark: Florida in the Movies." We'll trace Florida's history in film from the silent area when Jacksonville was Hollywood, all the way through 2016's "Moonlight" which won the Academy Award for best picture.We'd like to welcome Eco-Pathways as our latest sponsor. Eco-Pathways is a Florida company that designs and constructs beach walkovers, boardwalks, trail bridges, docks...
2021-05-1840 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 47: Florida's ancient inhabitants + AngolaThis week's episode begins with a takedown of the Florida Legislature (both parties), Ron DeSantis and Agriculture Secretary Nikki Fried, all of who bowed down to BIG SUGAR in allowing them to continue poisoning residents of western Palm County through pre-harvest sugar cane field burning.Our guest is New College of Florida anthropologist and archaeologist Uzi Baram. We discuss Florida's surprisingly robust history of ancient inhabitants along with the emerging researching shining more light on the maroons of Angola and Florida's connection to the Underground Railroad.If you find these conversations interesting, our previous episodes...
2021-05-1158 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 46: Florida's worst idea (the Everglades Jetport)This week's episode begins with Craig's concerns Florida could be facing another "Summer of Slime" due to blue green algae and red tide (cow tide) outbreaks. We also talk about corruption in the state legislature and the death - mostly - of M-CORES (Roads to Ruin).Our guest is author Mike Grunwald who wrote "The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida and the Politics of Paradise." Our conversation focuses on the worst idea ever in Florida: the Everglades Jetport.If these topics interest you, be sure to listen to back episodes on the Floridan Aquifer, the Gulf...
2021-05-0452 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 45: Marjorie Kinnan RawlingsThis week's episode started with BIG news from the Everglades and a look at a VERY important Florida woman whose job it will be to protect the state's environment. Our guest is author Ann McCutchan who has written a new biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, a Florida transplant and author of "The Yearling." The book is titled "The Life She Wished to Lead" and details Rawlings' time spent in Cross Creek, Florida.This week's show also mentioned Bok Tower Gardens conservation efforts, Craig's book "The Scent of Scandal," and Marie Selby Gardens."Welcome...
2021-04-2747 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 44: Key WestThis week's episode begins with discussion of Craig's latest Florida Phoenix column and the "solution" for what to do with all of the toxic waste from the Piney Point phosphorus plant.Our guest is Nancy Klingener, Florida Keys reporter for WLRN - South Florida's Public Radio - and a 30 year Key West resident. We dig into the history, culture and weirdness that is Key West with stops along the way talking about Conchs, Earnest Hemmingway, Bum Farto, Jimmy Buffett, cats, chickens and Fantasy Fest.Consider Amelia Island for your next long weekend or family vacation...
2021-04-2049 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 43: Florida's state climatologistThis week's episode begins with Craig's ongoing reporting of the environmental disaster at the Piney Point phosphate plant where hundreds of millions of gallons of toxic wastewater has been diverted into the Tampa Bay estuary to avoid a collapse of the gypsum stack there. Craig has reported on this coming apocalypse for decades, highlighting how the Florida Department of Environmental "Protection's" history of favoring industry over the environment and its lack of serious regulation put us here.This week's guest is Florida's state climatologist David Zierden. We talk about our state's climate, how it's changing, what can...
2021-04-1355 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 42: Florida Scrub-JayThis week's episode begins with Craig Pittman's latest Florida Phoenix column highlighting the disastrous environmental impacts of the widely used herbicide/poison glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup. Our guest is author, veterinarian and professor Mark Jerome Walters whose latest book, "Florida Scrub-Jay: Field Notes on a Vanishing Bird" was released in March of 2021. Mark has also authored "Six Modern Plagues and How We Are Causing Them" and "A Shadow and a Song: The Struggle to Save an Endangered Species," both of which are referenced in the episode.For more information about the effort to save...
2021-04-0646 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 41: Rewilding your yard with Jeff and Ann VanderMeerThis week's episode begins with more "bigfooting" by the state legislature, once again in the pocket of developers, attempting to curtail the amount of impact fees local municipalities have accessed homebuilders in order for them to build the infrastructure necessary for all the new residents. Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott are joined this week by Jeff and Ann VanderMeer. The married couple live in Tallahassee. Jeff is the best selling author of the Southern Reach Trilogy (Annihilation, Authority and Acceptance). His new book is a thriller, "Hummingbird Salamander." In a wide ranging conversation, we discuss:
2021-03-3053 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 40: Dr. BeachThis week's episode begins with a look at why Florida's manatees are dying this winter at a rate which threatens the survival of the species. Craig Pittman's latest column for the Florida Phoenix digs in deep on the reasons, which are preventable.Craig's 2010 book "Manatee Insanity" goes even further in detailing the decades-long conservation effort in Florida to protect manatees, as well as calling out the people working against manatee protection.Our guest is Stephen Leatherman who you probably know as Dr. Beach. Each year he compiles a list of the 10 Best Beaches in the...
2021-03-2354 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 39: The Everglades and BIG SUGARThis week's episode starts with Craig Pittman sharing some of his favorite Florida Women from the state's history in recognition of Women's History Month. Follow Craig on Twitter and Facebook @CraigTimes and on Instagram @CraigPittman78 for more.Our guest this week is Amy Green, author of "Moving Water: The Everglades and Big Sugar." Amy's book, which published in March of 2021, takes a look at Big Sugar's influence on Everglades pollution and degradation, as well as Big Sugar's influence on Florida and national politics and efforts to repair the Everglades.If this topic interests, you, Craig...
2021-03-1653 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 38: Mary McLeod BethuneThis week's episode begins with an update on the disastrous "Roads to Ruin" M-CORES toll road proposal and efforts in the state legislature to adjust it.Our guest this week is historical reenactor Ersula K Odom who has been portraying Mary McLeod Bethune at events across Florida for many years. Odom's performances see her dress in period appropriate costumes and take on the personality of the famed educator, voting rights advocate, civil rights activist, feminist, stateswoman and humanitarian, Mary McLeod Bethune. To book Odom to perform for your group or event, contact her at this...
2021-03-0938 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 37: The Gulf of MexicoThis week's episode begins with Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott discussing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's unanimous ruling to ban the possession of a large number of non-native snakes and lizards in the hopes of avoiding their introduction into the state's ecosystem like as happened with the Burmese python and tegu lizard.Our guest is Jack Davis who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2017 for nonfiction with his book, "The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea." Craig and Chadd discuss Jack's time on the Gulf, his perspectives on the uses and abuses of the Gulf...
2021-03-0248 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 36: Zora Neale HurstonThis week's episode begins with a song from Zora Neale Hurston, "Shove it Over." Throughout this week's show we'll be hearing songs from Hurston which can be found in the State Archives of Florida.Up next: cruise ships. Craig Pittman wrote recently how Republican state legislators are contradicting their so-called principles of "home rule" and "small government," trying to take away Key West's ability to limit the number of cruise ship passengers it receives in the future. In their haste to bow to the cruise ship industry's big money, however, they forgot one key point....
2021-02-2151 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 35: SHARKS!This week's episode begins with Craig Pittman's latest story for the Florida Phoenix about the remarkable discovery of a new whale species in the Gulf of Mexico. The whale was washed up on a beach near the Florida Everglades allowing scientists to study the animal. In doing so, they determined it had died as the result of a piece of plastic cutting through its stomach. Single use plastics have become one of the greatest threats to the environment and animals globally, particularly fish and marine mammals. Learn more about the growing epidemic of plastic pollution and what...
2021-02-1646 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 34: Kelvin Hair and the Florida HighwaymenThis week's episode begins with Craig Pittman putting Ron DeSantis in the crosshairs over the governor's big talk and small action on protecting the state's water. If you'd like to learn more about the state's water quality problems, what causes them, what can be done to fix them, a previous episode all about the Floridan Aquifer does so in depth.This week's guest is artist Kelvin Hair. Kelvin is the son of Alfred Hair, one of the original, legendary, Florida Highwaymen painters. The Florida Highwaymen are the subject of an exhibition on now at the Tampa Museum...
2021-02-0941 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 33: Panther biologist Deborah JansenThis week's episode focuses on two of Florida's - and the nation's - most endangered species. First up, Craig Pittman tells us about recovery efforts for the Florida grasshopper sparrow which he detailed in a recently released story for "National Geographic."From the very small to the very big, Craig and Chadd Scott are then joined by Florida panther biologist Deborah Jansen, a key figure in Craig's book about the heroic efforts to save the panther against the forces of development and government in "Cat Tale." "Cat Tale" was the genesis for the "Welcome to...
2021-02-0244 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 32: Daytona Beach, Bill France and the origins of NASCARCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this week's episode discussing Craig's hope for a modern-day Richard Nixon (???) to save Florida from the disastrous M-CORES project, better known as the "Roads to Ruin." He explains the connection.Chadd highlights a project working to secure American Beach's historic character and how you can help.This week's guest is Neal Thompson, author of "Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR." Neal talks about Bill France, how France organized NASCAR in Daytona Beach in 1947 from its bootlegging roots, and how it's evolved since t...
2021-01-2643 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 31: Cockroaches!In what is sure to be the grossest episode of "Welcome to Florida" yet, Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin by discussing Craig's latest story for the Florida Phoenix which focuses on a toxic sludge disposal facility in Lakeland, aptly called the BS Ranch, that has neighbors upset and is looking to renew its permit to handle 5,000 tons of sludge PER DAY!From there, Dr. Roberto M. Pereira joins us. He specializes in urban entomology, conducting research on different aspects of the biology and control of cockroaches, ants, bed bugs, flies, mosquitoes and other insects that live...
2021-01-1932 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 30: Con Men (Lt. Commander Bobby Thompson)Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this week's episode talking briefly about the history of con men in Florida, the attempted overthrow of the federal government last week by white nationalists which prominently featured a Florida Man, and Craig's latest Florida Phoenix article about ecological catastrophe caused by a paper mill on the Fenholloway River in Perry.This week's guest is Jeff Testerman, a now-retired former investigative reporter at the St. Petersburg Times (before it became the Tampa Bay Times) whose background as a mortgage banker gave him a unique ability among reporters to follow a paper...
2021-01-1246 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 29: America's most evil sheriff: Lake County's Willis McCallThis episode begins with exciting news about "Welcome to Florida's" first sponsor, Hipcamp. Hipcamp is a growing community of respectful people looking to get outside for camping, glamping, and RV stays on private land. Anyone with a property that helps people connect with nature can be a Hipcamp Host. Landowners across Florida are earning up to $1,000 a month. It’s free to list and Hipcamp takes care of everything including liability insurance! All you need is a flat spot where someone can pitch a tent or park an RV.Got a place to shar...
2021-01-0552 min
Art Dealer Diaries PodcastChadd Scott: Arts & Travel Writer discusses how art changed him- Epi. 133, host Dr. Mark SubletteI had Forbes and Essential West writer Chadd Scott on the podcast today. Chadd is such an energetic person that it's hard not to get revved up when I get to talk to someone that is even more enthusiastic about art than I am, and it's hard to find because I really love art. Whether it's collecting, seeing art, or being around artists. Chadd has that, right? He has that in spades! Chadd was involved in the sports world working for ESPN, in all these major sporting areas as an announcer, as a writer, and then got the a...
2020-12-301h 35Welcome to FloridaEpisode 28: Triumph and Tragedy on Henry Flager's Over-Seas RailroadThis week's episode of "Welcome to Florida" begins with great news for Florida's critically endangered grasshopper sparrow. Being Florida, the story of course involves a long and twisty road with no shortage of "colorful" characters who Craig Pittman introduces us to.Craig and Chadd Scott's guest this week is Les Standiford, author of "Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean."Standiford provides the definitive account of an essential Florida story featuring one of the state's most prominent figures, an engineering marvel and a deadly...
2020-12-2937 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 27: Jacksonville and the Roots of Southern RockMerry Christmas everyone. Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this week's episode of "Welcome to Florida" with unusual ways in which the holiday has been celebrated around the state.20 years ago, a multi-billion dollar, bipartisan, multi-agency, decades-long plan to restore the Everglades to a more natural water flow and ecology was signed by President Bill Clinton and hailed as a fix for what ailed the 'Glades and a model of future ecosystem-scale conservation and environmental restoration globally. Since then, hardly a fraction of what was envisioned has been completed. Craig wrote about this in the Florida Phoenix...
2020-12-2242 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 26: Miami 1980: Riots, Refugees and CocaineThis week's episode begins with Craig Pittman offering advice to Governor Ron DeSantis. Craig and Chadd Scott are joined by Nicholas Griffin, author of, "The Year of Dangerous Days: Riots, Refugees and Cocaine in Miami 1980." Griffin's book shares the remarkable, harrowing and history-altering interconnected stories of Cuba's Marielitos, the largest mass migration event in U.S. history, the explosion of the cocaine trade, and the race riots spawned by the acquital of four Miami-Dade police officers following their beating to death of Black resident Arthur McDuffie, all of which shook Miami to its foundations over a matter...
2020-12-1554 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 25: Landscape photographer Clyde ButcherCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this week's episode talking about the return of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to public view following a month in hiding. Craig and Chadd discuss the governor's handling of the Coronavirus pandemic.This week's guest is renowned Florida landscape photographer Clyde Butcher, Clyde has been photographing the state for 30 years and shares his favorite spots to shoot, tips for hobbyist photographers, and how his career led him into environmental activism.
2020-12-0842 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 24: Tarpon fishing ('Lords of the Fly')Craig Pittman shares good environmental news with Chadd Scott to begin this episode and the two discuss a quirky feature of Fernandina Beach's local government.This week's guest is best-selling author Monte Burke whose latest book, "Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession, and the Hunt for the World Record Tarpon," dives into the tarpon fly fishing craze around Homosassa in the early 1980s. From Flip Pallot, to Ted Williams, Jimmy Buffett to a hardened gangster, everyone wanted to take a crack at landing a world record tarpon on fly tackle.
2020-12-0136 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 23: Immigration (Cubans, Minorcans, Greeks, Puerto Ricans, Italians, Sicilians)Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this Thanksgiving Week episode discussing their favorite holiday traditions before engaging in a conversation with historian and author Gary Mormino about the influence immigrants have had, and continue to have, on Florida.Mormino is the author of "The Immigrant World of Ybor City: Italians and their Latin Neighbors in tampa, 1885-1985."
2020-11-2437 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 22: Florida TV showsCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott take a break from the anxiety of 2020 to discuss their favorite Florida TV shows and the shows which have shaped the state's image. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans joins to discuss everything from "I Dream of Jeannie" to "Miami Vice," "Golden Girls," "Dexter" and "Siesta Key."Remember to follow Craig on Twitter and Facebook @CraigTimes and Chadd on Twitter @ChaddScott.
2020-11-1743 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 21: Election analysis and the Miami Book FairCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this episode of "Welcome to Florida" discussing the 2020 election in Florida, why Trump took the state, where the Democrats failed and what it means moving forward.This week's guest is Mitchell Kaplan, co-founder of the Miami Book Fair which begins November 15, the most prestigious litterary event in the country. Mitchell is a long-time Miami resident and owner of Books and Books bookstore. We discuss Miami's turnaround, why the fair and his shop have done so well in Miami, and he shares stories of Hunter S. Thompson and Judy Bloom. ...
2020-11-1048 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 20: Presidents at work and at play in FloridaThis week's episode of "Welcome to Florida" releases on Super Tuesday! As Floridans go the the polls and await the outcome, Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott share their voting experiences from this year and years previous. This week's guest is UCF historian Jim Clark. Jim has authored several books on Florida history, including "Presidents in Florida." That's what we're talking about this week. From Andrew Jackson to Donald Trump, Harry Truman's "Little White House" and the seeds of Watergate, we trace Florida's history from presidential afterthought to presidential essential.Throughout election week, Craig will be...
2020-11-0336 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 19: Discovering forgotten cemeteriesOn this week's Halloween-themed episode, Craig Pittman shares Florida ghost stories before Craig and Chadd Scott talk with Tampa Bay Times reporter Paul Guzzo who has done outstanding work finding lost cemeteries in the Bay Area.The episode wraps up with a discussion of Craig's recent "National Geographic" article surrounding the end of greyhound racing in Florida.
2020-10-2737 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 18: Presidential politicsThis week's episode, unfortunately, begins with bad news as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to begin water releases from Lake Okeechobee. Why does this happen and what makes this decision so environmentally ruinous? Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott explain.Gary Fineout from Politico.com is this week's guest. He has covered government and politics in Florida for almost 30 years. Gary discusses many of the key issues impacting how the presidential race in Florida will turn out focusing on Florida's ever-evolving demographics. Finally, Craig and Chadd share the story of their first...
2020-10-2047 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 17: HikingCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this week's episode talking about a strange obsenity case from Florida's past which is back in the news. They also help you make sense of the proposed amendments to the state constitution on this year's ballot.They're guests this episode are Sandra Friend and John Keatley. Sandra has written numerous guide books to hiking throughout Florida, she's logged almost 10,000 miles across the state on foot herself, and is the founder of FloridaHikes.com. John's a former NASA employee who's a Florida resident and has hiked, biked and paddled extensively around the...
2020-10-1344 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 16: Lisa Nowak the NASA love triangleIn 2007, astronaut Lisa Nowak drove 900 miles to confront her lover's new lover in the parking lot of the Orlando airport. Then things really got weird, especially with the discovery of used diapers in her car.This episode of "Welcome to Florida" features Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott discussing the NASA love triangle which fed the tabloids and legitimate media for weeks, cast a harsh spotlight on NASA, and changed the way it psychologically profiles astronauts with Kimberly Moore, author of "Starcrossed: The Story of Astronaut Lisa Nowak." Craig and Chadd also discuss NASA's history in...
2020-10-0844 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 15: Religion - Billy Graham, Jim Bakker and the Cult of Cyrus TeedOne of the many histories explored in Craig Pittman's great book on the state of Florida, "Oh, Florida!," is Florida's checkered history of religion. Billy Graham found his calling here. Martin Luther King was arrested here. Jim Bakker visited Florida for illicit sexual affairs.Craig and Chadd Scott discuss these events on their way to being joined by this episode's guest, Lyn Millner, author of "The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp and a Renegade Prophet." Millner's book recalls the Koreshan cult, which, among other things, believed the earth was hollow and that their...
2020-10-0137 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 14: Cigar City MafiaCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this week's episode discussing the latest environmental nightmare Floridians, and Florida Panthers, have to worry about.This week's guest is Scott Deitche, author of "Cigar City Mafia" and numerous other books about the mob. He shares details and stories about the Mafia's involvement in Florida politics and gambling. The Mob was big in Tampa and South Florida, starting in the 1930s when they moved in on the locals who were bootlegging and running the bolita racket during Prohibition. In the 1950s, when the Kefauver Committee held hearings here, Senate investigators found...
2020-09-2428 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 13: The Florida House, Florida's embassy in Washington, D.C.This episode of "Welcome to Florida" was recorded hours after the attempted murder of Jacob Blake by police officers in Chadd Scott's home state of Wisconsin. Chadd and Craig Pittman discussed the shooting and their reactions to it, how Trayvon Martin's murder was the catalyst for Craig's book "Oh, Florida!" and why the Florida Department of Environmental Protection doesn't protect Florida's environment.This week's guest is Diana Beckman, executive director at the Florida House, Florida's embassy in Washington, D.C. Florida is the only state with an embassy! Why does it need one? What takes place there...
2020-09-1736 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 12: The Floridan AquiferThe Floridan Aquifer is one of the most amazing natural resources in the world, producing eight billion gallons of fresh water daily! Julie Hauserman joins Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott to discuss her book, "Drawn to the Deep: The Remarkable Underwater Explorations of Wes Skiles," which examines the aquifer, one of it's greatest champions - Wes Skiles - and the threats it faces.
2020-09-1037 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 11: Author Carl HiaasenMulti-time best-selling author, Florida native and resident, Carl Hiaasen, joins us to discuss his latest book, Squeeze Me, a satire not-so-loosely based on Donald Trump.We also shout out another of our favorite Florida-focused podcasts, "Wait Five Minutes," great work being done to restore coral reefs by the Mote Marine Laboratory & Acquarium and Craig shares exciting news on his writing career.
2020-09-0347 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 10: Florida's State SymbolsThis week, Craig and Chadd discuss Florida's state symbols with Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News Journal columnist and author of "Roaring Reptiles, Bountiful Citrus & Neon Pies." Did you know Florida has a state song and a state anthem? A state reptile, state mammal, marine mammal, saltwater fish, freshwater fish, tree (which is actually a grass) and a remarkably unremarkable state bird due to the lobbying efforts of one of Florida's most villianous influence peddlers. And a state soil too.Oh, and there's a state play with an outrageous history. The seemingly mundane becomes co...
2020-08-2736 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 9: Tampa Bay Noir - a sunny place full of shady peopleCraig and Chadd begin this week's episode discussing a recent list of Florida's "secret" tourist destinations.This week's interview is with Colette Bancroft, editor and contributor to Tampa Bay Noir, a collection of fictionalized crime short-stories set in the Tampa Bay area.
2020-08-2029 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 8: NUDISTS!This week's episode begins with a conversation surrounding the loss of a great fall tradition in Florida before transitioning into a recent story Craig wrote in the Florida Phoenix about Governor Ron DeSantis' failure to fill vacant positions on the state's five water management districts. What are water management districts? Why are they critically important to life in Florida? We discuss.This week's guest is Erich Schutthauf, Executive Director of the American Association for Nude Recreation. We talk all about how Florida became America's capitol for nude resorts, what to expect when visiting one, and common misconceptions...
2020-08-1334 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 7: Wildlife rehab - The Bird Man, the Tiger King and the Bank RobberCraig and Chadd begin this episode looking at Florida's checkered history of hosting political conventions. Craig wrote about the topic for Politico.com earlier in the summer as the Republicans were supposed to nominate Donald Trump in Jacksonville in late August before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 health concerns.This episode's guest is author Sarah Gerard who penned a series of essay's collectively titled "Sunshine State: Essays." One of the essays shares the story of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and its founder Ralph Heath. Heath oversaw the Tampa-area wildlife rehab facility from its heights as...
2020-08-0639 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 6: Walking across Florida with Lawton Chiles and Kent RussellCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott recall the story of former Florida governor "Walkin'" Lawton Chiles and how he helped inspire author Kent Russell to similarly walk across Florida. Russell shares the story of his journey in the new book, "In the Land of Good Living: A Journey to the Heart of Florida." This episode also features Craig explaining old-time Florida lingo such as "Florida cracker," "he-coon," and "worm gruntin.'"
2020-07-3037 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 5: Classic roadside attractions (Weeki Wachee and Skunk Ape Research Center)Craig and Chadd begin this week's episode discussing the collapse of the Apalachicola Bay oyster fishery which is likely to prevent the harvesting of any oysters there for the next five years. This week's featured guest is Cathy Salustri, author of "Backroads of Paradise," a book detailing her 5,000 mile road trip across Florida highlighting the strange, kitschy and wonderful roadside attractions throughout Florida including Weeki Wachee Springs and the Skunk Ape Research Center.The episode concludes with an update on Chance the Snapper at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
2020-07-2344 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 4: The VillagesCraig and Chadd begin this week's episode with follow ups to Episode 3 on invasive species and Episode 2 regarding American Beach and Evan's Rendezvous. Also discussed was Craig's recent story from the Florida Phoenix about the Stillwright Point neighborhood in Key Largo and how Florida continues pushing for more development in areas especially prone to flooding.This week's guest is Andrew Blechman, author of "Leisurland: Adventures in a World Without Children," which is all about the famous/notorious Florida planned 55+ community The Villages. The Villages has been in the news recently for fiesty Trump vs. Biden protests...
2020-07-1641 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 3: Pythons!This week's episode begins with Craig discussing his recent Florida Pheonix column about an experimental program releasing genetically modified mosquitos in the Keys. Also from the Florida Phoenix, Craig has a story about the longest running environmental battle in the state, the fight over the Kirkpatrick Dam.Most of the episode, however, is spent with Burmese python hunter Donna Kalil who shares her harrowing adventures of python encouters in South Florida. For more than 10 years, Donna has been hunting these invasive snakes which have devastated the Everglades ecosystem. How many are there? How do you kill them...
2020-07-0955 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 2: Florida's Civil Rights history and American BeachCraig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this episode discussing a personal experience with white supremacy as Black Lives Matter protests and the nation's history of racial inequality fill our consciousness. Craig shares stories of Florida's Civil Rights past including details about the arrest of Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Augustine. The episode concludes with a conversation with Marsha Dean Phelts, author of "An American Beach for African Americans." Marsha grew up in Jacksonville visiting American Beach as a child. Why is American Beach important? Because the beach and community on Amelia Island was the...
2020-07-0251 minWelcome to FloridaEpisode 1: ALLIGATORS!J.R. Greene enjoys taking "Sweetie," the blind, 6-foot rescue alligator he cares for at Jungle Adventures wildlife park in Christmas, Florida to the Florida Key Lime Pie Store in Cocoa Beach. Despite her name, Sweetie does not eat pie.A photo of Sweetie and J.R. at the Pie Store went viral recently as a classic, "only in Florida" sighting. Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott talk to J.R. about how citizens in Florida share the state with alligators, safety tips for dealing with alligators, alligators' surprising comeback story in Florida and what to see and d...
2020-06-2525 min
Welcome to FloridaWelcome to Florida: PreviewMeet best selling author, award winning reporter and Florida native Craig Pittman who is joined by radio personality Chadd Scott for the preview episode of "Welcome to Florida." In this series, Craig and Chadd will explore Florida's history, people, politics, environment, animals, current events and weirdness.Meet Craig and Chadd as they discuss what they love most about Florida and how they came together to create the "Welcome to Florida" podcast.
2020-06-1820 min
iHeartSECiHeartSEC: Let's Have A Conversation w/ GN's Chadd Scott (11-17-17)On this edition of iHeartSEC we engage in conversation with Gridiron Now's Chadd Scott as we talk the job Ed Orgeron has done at LSU, Will Muschamp's unexpected success within his 2nd year, Mizzou football & much more.
2017-11-1824 min