Welcome to Florida

Join Craig, Chadd, and Jason Garcia from "Seeking Rents" Thursday, May 7, from 7:00-8:30 PM at Tombolo Books in St. Pete and on Saturday, May 9, from 3:00-5:00 PM at Austin's Coffee in Winter Park for our FIRST EVER LIVE PODCAST meet-and-greets! Chadd Charland is running for State House in District 15. Learn more. Our guests this episode are archaeologists and anthropologists Uzi Baram and Kat Napora. Uzi has joined the show previously to talk about the Angola community. Today we're talking about the manchineel tree, the deadliest tree in the world.

BIG NEWS! "Welcome to Florida" is hosting our first ever in-person events along with Jason Garcia from "Seeking Rents!" Thursday, May 7, from 7:00-8:30 PM at Tombolo Books in St. Pete. Saturday, May 9, from 3:00-5:00 PM at Austin's Coffee in Winter Park. PLEASE come out and say "hi" if you're in the area. MORE BIG NEWS! Chadd Scott is running for State House in District 15. Chadd Scott is a name he's used on radio for 30-plus years; he'll be running under his legal name: Chadd Charland. This episode begins with good news out of the state legislature, then we head down to southeast Florida to learn about the tiny burrowing owl with Kelly Heffernan and Dr. Brian Mealey from Project Perch.

Not satisfied with simply being a dictator, Donald Trump allowed for the convening of the Endangered Species Committee "God Squad" at the behest of Secretary of War Crimes Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has declared a phony-baloney "national security emergency" that he says should preempt off-shore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from Endangered Species Act regulations. The regime's "God Squad," a cabal of villains with oil and gas backgrounds, not surprisingly, agreed. Make plans to join us in person in St. Petersburg May 7 and Orlando May 9. More details to follow. This episode centers on Florida's greatest archaeological discovery, Miami Circle. The ancient Tequesta Indian site was discovered and researched by Bob Carr who joins us. Learn more about Bob Carr and purchase his novel here.

Craig found a villainous Floridian who thinks his interest in building a home is more important than the survival of Florida scrub jays. Our topic this episode is guavas. Joining us in guava farmer and historian Jorge J. Zaldivar. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter for only $5 per month.

The state legislature passed laws preventing Florida municipalities from pursuing clean energy. Mobster Charlie Wall ran Tampa in the 20s and 30s. Author and journalist Paul Wilborn researched Wall's life for a fictionalized version of it he wrote titled " The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall." "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly conservation newsletter for only $5 per month.

Florida U.S. Representative Cory Mills is one of the most unscrupulous politicians and businesspeople in the state, or nation. Colonial history in what is now Florida typically revolves around the Spanish, but for a period between the 1760s and 1780s, the English occupied the state. Andrew Turnbull tried establishing a British-style plantation in the New Smyrna Beach area with disastrous results. Greg Holbrook, Executive Director at the New Smyrna Museum of History, tells us all about it.

The Florida State Legislature continues breaking state law and disobeying the will of the people by defunding the Florida Forever land conservation buying program. Our guest for this episode is geologist and author Hilary Flower who has written a new book about Everglades Snail Kites, "The Kite and the Snail: An Endangered Bird, its Unlikely Prey, and a Story of Hope in a Changing World." "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter for only $5 per month.

Fifteen miles south of Tallahassee, one of Florida's most magnificent springs can be found: Wakulla Springs. Kellie Keys is a professor in the Communications Department at Florida State University working with FSU researchers at Wakulla Springs to help tell the story about what they're learning.

Big Sugar is leaning on the legislature to make it so people can't badmouth their product. Big ag is leaning on the legislature to make it ok to graze cows on state land including state parks. An unscrupulous business owner and lax Department of Environmental "Protection" contributed to a catastrophic fire in Dunnellon. If you've ever been to Lakeland, perhaps you've seen the Lake Morton swans. Steve Platt works for the City of Lakeland and it's his job to take care of the swans as "swanfather." "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for only $5 per month.

Spring Training has marked the end of winter in Florida for more than 100 years. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt, Greg Maddux, and today's stars have begun their legendary seasons and careers in places like Sarasota, Dunedin, Vero Beach, and Clearwater. On this episode, longtime southwest Florida newspaperman Glenn Miller, who's attended spring training games since the 1960s and covered the games since the 1980s, joins us to discuss Spring Training's history and characters in Florida. Pinch hitting for regular co-host Chadd Scott is his wife, sports reporter, podcaster, author, baseball fan, and annual spring training in Florida attendee, Kristi Dosh.

Florida continues to promote unfettered growth without paying attention to the water demands of all those new people and businesses. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Vero Beach was the first site in a program that now features nearly 600 locations. Paul Tritiak was the former refuge manager at Pelican Island and tells us how the refuge came to be. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter for only $5 per month.

The Florida State Legislature continues its rich tradition of doing the bidding of powerful corporate interests, this time - not for the first time - Mosaic mining company. Carrie Sue Ayvar is a professional storyteller who embodies Dr. Anna Darrow, the 2nd ever female doctor in Florida, in programs around the state. Darrow was referred to as the Swamp Doctor for her work with residents in the Everglades in early 20th century Florida. Ayvar is one of dozens of speakers available through the Florida Humanities that are happy to speak to your local community group if you have one. Thanks again to our "Welcome to Florida" patrons who support the show for $5 per month and receive exclusive access to our Florida Conservation Newsletter.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement goons are murdering American citizens in Minneapolis, running concentration camps around the country - including Florida - and increasing their terror campaign in and around Orlando. The mission of ICE is to abuse Brown people, strike fear into their communities, and retrench white supremacy. Anthropologist and Puerto Rican/Hattian American Simone Delerme spent time studying the Latino community around Orlando, it's remarkable growth over the past 40 years, and how those residents are fitting into and remaking the area. Her book, "Latino Orlando," reveals her findings. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for only $5 per month.

Craig has identified what he believes to be the single worst piece of proposed legislation for the upcoming session of the Florida State Legislature. Chadd's vote goes to the "Blue Ribbon Project" scheme. Abbott Kahler is an author and investigative reporter. Her September of 2025 "Vanity Fair" article revealed the true identity - the Florida identity - behind an author who had stayed anonymous for more than 40 years. The anonymous author penned a how-to manual for contract murder that ended up being used for a triple murder and at the center of an important First Amendment court case. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for just $5 per month.

The people of Palm Beach County are fighting a proposed data center. Learn more about data centers by subscribing to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter." Clarence Earl Gideon was tried and found guilty of burglary in 1961 in a circuit court near Panama City. He was poor, and despite asking for legal counsel, was denied that request. At the time, Florida was one of 13 states that did not guarantee legal counsel for all defendants in state court proceedings regardless of their ability to pay. The right was guaranteed in federal court. Gideon petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court that he had been unfairly treated in violation of his 14th Amendment rights. The Court picked up his case, ultimately ruling in his favor and requiring that defendants in all U.S courtrooms, including state courts, have access to counsel. Bruce Jacob represented the State of Florida before the Supreme Court in the Gideon case and joins us to discuss his upcoming book on the proceedings, "The Gideon Case: Inside the Supreme Court's Historic Right to Counsel Decision."

Craig wraps up 2025 with his weirdest Florida headlines of the year. Our patrons at Patreon have exclusive access to an interview Craig did with the co-curator of "It's Florida, Man," on HBO. Our guest this episode is Jessica Pate from the Florida Manta Project who tells us all about one of our most remarkable endangered marine species: manta rays. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

In the upcoming legislative session, Florida politicians will be considering a bill which would give the biggest Florida land developers and land developments the least oversight and opportunity for public input. Jason Garcia's fantastic "Seeking Rents" podcast episode about the scheme. This week's episode focuses on who Craig considers to be the ultimate Florida man: James Weldon Johnson. Johnson wrote the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the Black National Anthem. Joining us to discuss Johnson is Florida State College of Jacksonville English professor, author, and historian Tim Gilmore. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Drawing down the Rodman Reservoir proves how a free-flowing Ocklawaha River would benefit Florida. Free the Ocklawaha! Amazingly, a distinct species of whale lives year-round in the Gulf of Mexico that until the last decade was largely a mystery to biologists: the Rice's whale. Former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist and Rice's whale expert Laura Engleby joins us to discuss this critically endangered species. Pensacola Gulf Coast Whale Festival. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter for only $5 per month. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is proud to acknowledge that it didn't follow science when recommending a black bear hunt. Our guest this episode is documentary filmmaker Rob Hoovis. In November of 2025, he premiered "Outlaws of the Everglades," a film detailing the marijuana smuggling pipeline from Central America and the Caribbean that flowed through the 10,000 Islands area of rural southwestern Florida during the 1970s and 80s. Our "Florida Black History" YouTube channel has been updated with our past episodes on Fort Mose, Harry and Harriette Moore, and Reconstruction and Freedmen in the state. The next state legislative session is weeks away with the groundwork already being laid in Tallahassee. Jason Garcia's "Seeking Rents" and Ryan Smart and Ryan Worthington's "As Bad As It Is" are the two best podcasts to keep you informed on all the treachery. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

With the gubernatorial election less than a year away, now is the time to ask the crowded field of candidates about their positions on conservation and the environment. Three episodes ago, we discussed the impact America's lead-up to World War II had on Florida, bringing hundreds of thousands of servicemen and dozens of military installations to the state. That was the 1930s. In this episode with Florida author and historian Gary Mormino, we discussed what else was going on across the state during the 1930s - the heart of the Great Depression. If the Jeffrey Epstein scandal interests you, here's the link to our previous episode with Julie Brown, the Miami Herald investigative journalist who would not let the story die, even after Epstein initially got away with it. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify