The Florida History Podcast  - podcast cover

The Florida History Podcast

The Florida History Podcastthefloridasqueeze.com
A weekly look at a different fascintating topic in Florida History Cover art photo by Derek Reese. @DR928

Episodes

Podcast Update: March 4, 2025

We do not have a new podcast this week as Robert and Kartik in the final stages of finishing the initial manuscript on a new book which will be published later this year. We hope to be back next week, but for certain we will be back the following week.

Mar 04, 20252 min

Episode 295: The Crist Governorship

One of Florida's most controversial politicians, Charlie Crist won election as Governor in 2006- he was then a Republican but didn't necessarily govern as one and would end his term as an Independent.

Feb 25, 202520 minSeason 13Ep. 27

Episode 292: Chiles becomes unpopular but manages reelection

The period between Hurricane Andrew and the 1994 Election saw a period in Florida politics characterized by flux and a GOP surge- which would carry us into a 1995 Legislative Session at parity between the parties.

Feb 04, 202513 minSeason 13Ep. 24

Episode 288: The legacy of Buddy MacKay

We discuss Buddy MacKay, former Florida Governor and US Congressman who passed this week at 91. Additionally, we've recorded a 1 hour video discussion about MacKay which is available at the Florida Squeeze's YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/HwO2PRL93Bk

Jan 04, 202513 minSeason 13Ep. 20

SPECIAL: Jimmy Carter and Florida

President Jimmy Carter passed away today at age 100. We bring you an encore podcast taped in 2021 honoring him and discussing his links to Florida.

Dec 29, 202424 min

Episode 287: Bob Graham

It fits in our Governor's series coincidently right during our holiday break, so here is an encore presentation of our Bob Graham tribute podcast from when he passed away earlier this year.

Dec 24, 202446 minSeason 13Ep. 19

Episode 286: Askew as Governor

The Governorship of Reubin Askew was a Golden Age for Florida. We discuss it in this pod.

Dec 17, 202420 minSeason 13Ep. 18

Episode 285: Reubin Askew is elected Governor

The emerging Florida Republican majority took a thud in 1970 as Reubin Askew won back the Governorship for the Democrats and ushered in a decade of Dem dominance in the state up-and-down the ballot.

Dec 10, 202423 minSeason 13Ep. 17

Episode 284: Claude Kirk and the 1968 Miami RNC Protests

Claude Kirk was oh so close to being on Richard Nixon's 1968 GOP ticket and with the RNC convention in Miami, it seemed written in the stars. But then protests happened and got out of control and Kirk's national ambitions were thwarted.

Dec 03, 202411 minSeason 13Ep. 16

Episode 281: Leroy Collins Governorship

We've discussed Leroy Collins many times on this podcast but never taken quite the deep dive into his Governorship that we do on this episode.

Nov 12, 202423 minSeason 13Ep. 13

Episode 280: Dan McCarty

The first Governor from South Florida died tragically in office- but changed the trajectory of Florida politics forever.

Oct 29, 202422 minSeason 13Ep. 12

Episode 279: Fuller Warren

We discuss Florida's populist Governor Fuller Warren who was impeached multiple times by the legislature. NOTE: Portions of this podcast were recorded in 2019.

Oct 22, 202417 minSeason 13Ep. 11

Milton aftermath emergency pod

A record breaking tropical system, one of the strongest in the history of the Atlantic basin has just ravaged Florida. Kartik Krishnaiyer, Ryan Ray and Johnathan Starling give their take on the impacts, the devastation in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas, the Tornado outbreak in south Florida as well as some comments on the NHC forecasting and TV meteorologists in the state and climate action.

Oct 10, 202448 min

Major Hurricane Milton: Potential Florida History event

Major Hurricane Milton is barreling toward the Sunshine State. A Cat 5 Hurricane with one of the lowest ever central pressures at the time of recording, we dive into some hurricane history in Florida and talk about the threats to the Tampa Bay and Orlando areas as well as the rest of the peninsula with longtime hurricane watcher Johnathan Starling.

Oct 08, 202424 min

EMERGENCY POD: Helene aftermath - Historic statewide impacts especially in the Tampa Bay area

What was supposed to the "big one" for Tallahassee ended up being a "bigger one" for the storm-ravaged Big Bend and unfortunately a potential Katrina-like event for the Tampa/St Peterburg Metropolitan area. Helene delivered statewide impacts from Miami to Apalachicola. In a state littered with historic Hurricanes, this one has made immediate and unfortunate history. We discuss this unfolding historical event in this emergency podcast.

Sep 27, 202440 min

Episode 276: Spessard Holland

We discuss one of the giants of 20th Century Florida public life - Spessard Holland. Holland's career saw the transition of Florida from largely rural backwater to urban-driven megastate.

Sep 24, 202426 minSeason 13Ep. 8

Squeezing the Season Bonus EP 1 : Fernand Amandi on Florida's Hispanic woes and what Florida Democrats can learn from North Carolina

In this first edition of "Squeezing the Season" a special podcast we will run during Election season 2024, Democratic pollster and MSNBC contributor Fernand Amandi offers a frank look at why Florida's Hispanic vote has shifted heavily toward the GOP since 2016 as well as an in-depth look at Democrats success in North Carolina and what Florida Democrats can learn from that state.

Sep 20, 202429 min

Episode 275: The Governorship of Sidney J Catts

Arguably the most embarrassing figure in Florida History, Sidney J. Catts is probably the worst Governor that Florida ever had. The violently anti-Catholic and racist Governor was also inept at the actual art of Governance.

Sep 17, 202420 minSeason 13Ep. 7

Episode 274: Napoleon B. Broward

Napoleon Bonaparte Broward is one of the most famous Floridians ever- he drained the Everglades threaded the needle between Populist and Bourbon Democrats while maintaining a Teddy Roosevelt like-persona. He also was close to being on the Democratic ticket as VP in 1908.

Sep 10, 202418 minSeason 13Ep. 6

Episode 273: The legislative impact of George Smathers

Florida has never had a President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader or Minority Leader or major party nominee for President or Vice President (excluding Donald Trump who wasn't exactly a Floridian). But when was Florida closest to real power? Fernand Amandi our guest argues it was during the Senate tenure of George Smathers.

Sep 03, 202417 minSeason 13Ep. 5

Episode 272: Oshian B. Hart

We discuss Governor Oshian B. Hart, the first Florida native to be Governor of the state.

Aug 27, 202411 minSeason 13Ep. 4