Welcome to Florida

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 Spectacular: Extraordinary Places and Exceptional Lives." We focus on her chapter about Polly Parker.

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 and wrote about the adventure for Flamingo magazine. Scallops are in trouble across Florida, but remain abundant enough in select locations to allow for a harvesting season.

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 the Kissimmee River: Orlando to Okeechobee by Kayak." More information on: Kayaking in Kissimmee Florida's designated paddling trails Florida Paddling Trails Association The failed community of Destiny, FL

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' life and legacy. Listen to our previous episode with Kelvin Hair, son of legendary Florida Highwaymen artist Alfred Hair.

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 Gardens in Lake Wales. Here's more information about its native plant conservation and research efforts.

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 granddaughter of the store's original owner, Ted Smallwood, who began operating the business out of his home there in 1906.

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 Beach are defined by Art Deco, an architectural style popular during the 1920s and 30s. Daniel Ciraldo is executive director at the Miami Design Preservation League and tells us how Art Deco came to Miami Beach, how it has been protected, and the threats it faces.

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 "The Gainesville Sun" and wrote "Blood, Sweat, and Marrow: A Biography of Harry Crews." He joins us to discuss the legend of Harry Crews.

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 Miami’s Coffee Culture." Two of the ventanitas mentioned in the episode are at Versailles and Mary's Coin Laundry. Thanks to all our patrons for helping support the show at Patreon.com. We have a new bonus episode for you about Craig's next book project.

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 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 patrons at Patreon.com. For just $5 per month, you can help support production of the show and receive BONUS episodes. Two new bonus episodes published recently about Chadd Scott's May trip to Miami, and news regarding Craig Pittman's next book.

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 joins us to discuss.

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 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 Miami.

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.

The state's Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson wants to sell off public lands to farmers and ranchers. This week's subject is Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, first chairwoman of the Seminole Tribe in Florida. Our guest is Patsy West, co-author of Tiger Jumper's autobiography, "A Seminole Legend: The Life of Betty Mae Tiger Jumper."

Could golf courses hold a solution for conservation in Florida? Tampa Bay is surprising young, and shallow, and NOT the name of a city. Our guest this episode is Evan Bennett, author of "Tampa Bay: The Story of an Estuary and Its People."

Our episode begins with a $400 million mystery in the state budget. Folklorist and musician Robert Stone joins us. He helped bring the steel guitar music popular in the House of God and Church of the Living God communities in South Florida and around the South to greater prominence.

Former Florida governor Bob Graham wasn't born an environmentalist, he became one. Our guest this episode is New York Times best-selling author, TIME magazine 100 most influential people for 2024, Gainesville resident, and now bookstore owner Lauren Groff. Groff's new bookstore, The Lynx Books, opened in late April 2024 with an emphasis on selling banned books and Florida authors.

We begin this week's episode remembering former Florida governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham who passed away recently. Our guest is Marty Fleischman who worked in the Jai-Alai industry across Florida for more than 40 years. He explains how the sport came to Florida, its rise to incredible popularity in Miami and Tampa, and the factors which have rendered it largely forgotten today.