Welcome to Florida

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Episodes

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Welcome to Florida

Best selling author, award winning reporter and Florida native Craig Pittman is joined by radio personality and Florida transplant Chadd Scott to discuss the state's history, people, politics, environment, animals, current events and weirdness. You'll hear great storytelling and have great fun in each weekly episode.

Episodes

Episode 10: Florida's State Symbols

This 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...

Aug 27, 2020•36 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 9: Tampa Bay Noir - a sunny place full of shady people

Craig 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.

Aug 20, 2020•29 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 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...

Aug 13, 2020•34 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 7: Wildlife rehab - The Bird Man, the Tiger King and the Bank Robber

Craig 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 t...

Aug 06, 2020•40 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 6: Walking across Florida with Lawton Chiles and Kent Russell

Craig 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.'"...

Jul 30, 2020•37 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 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 Ce...

Jul 23, 2020•45 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 4: The Villages

Craig 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," wh...

Jul 16, 2020•42 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 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...

Jul 09, 2020•55 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 2: Florida's Civil Rights history and American Beach

Craig 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 Jackson...

Jul 02, 2020•52 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast

Episode 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 al...

Jun 25, 2020•26 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast

Welcome to Florida: Preview

Meet 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.

Jun 18, 2020•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast