The 2022 season of "Welcome to Florida" has been about uncovering forgotten stories. We continue today as the anniversary of the Tampa Bay Skyway Bridge collapses approaches. On May 9, 1980, a container ship was blown off course by a freak weather system and into a piling of the Tampa Skyway Bridge. The collision caused a span of the bridge to collapse, sending 35 travelers over the edge and to their death below. Bill DeYoung wrote the definitive book on the tragedy, "Skyway: The ...
May 03, 2022•47 min•Ep 97•Transcript available on Metacast Craig got into with the governor and his press secretary on Twitter over Ron DeSantis' refusal to appoint African American candidates to the state's Water Management District Boards. Before the famous Mariel Boat Lift, 600,000 Cuban exiles immigrated to Florida following Fidel Castro's rise to power in Cuba in 1959. David Powell sought out these immigrants and allowed them to tell their stories in their own words. The result is his fascinating book "Ninety Miles and a Lifetim...
Apr 26, 2022•47 min•Ep 96•Transcript available on Metacast Another week, another proposal for a new toll road tearing through a protected natural area to service a new housing development. This week's guest is Steve Carr an authority on The Ashley Gang which operated in the Palm Beach County area during the 1910s and early 20s. The Elliott Museum in Stuart recently opened a permanent exhibition detailing the exploits of The Ashley Gang with the help of Carr's collection of materials related to the group. "Welcome to Florida" is prese...
Apr 19, 2022•50 min•Ep 95•Transcript available on Metacast We start this week's episode exposing a developer with close ties to Ron DeSantis - uncomfortably close - wanting to use his political connections to force new roads and houses in Volusia Country, right over top of a protected wetland . Our guest this week is Michael Phillips, Keeper of the House at the House of Refuge in Stuart , the last House of Refuge still standing in Florida. This week's episode is presented by Visit Sarasota where a surprising diversity of wildlife experiences a...
Apr 12, 2022•35 min•Ep 94•Transcript available on Metacast When developers in northeast Florida couldn't buy their candidate onto a conservation board, they conspired to do away with the boards all together, statewide. Another remarkable example of democracy rolling back in Florida. Our guest this week is University of North Florida in Jacksonville archaeologist Keith Ashley who is leading an effort to "rediscover" the Timucua/Mocama community of Sarabay on Big Talbot Island halfway between Jacksonville and Amelia Island on the Atlantic C...
Apr 05, 2022•49 min•Ep 93•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with Craig discussing a failure on behalf of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to do its job and protect our springs . Our guest is Florida author Tyler Gillespie who's 2021 book, "The Thing About Florida," attempts to answer that unanswerable question: "What's with Florida?" Gillespie is gay and grew up in the Southern Baptist Church in Pinellas County; we discuss his writing, "don't say gay," and grow...
Mar 29, 2022•44 min•Ep 92•Transcript available on Metacast Our episode begins with a takedown by Craig Pittman of the Governor and state legislature for their inaction on protecting manatee . Our guest is recently retired Florida Supreme Court Director of Communications Craig Waters. Waters was the public spokesperson for the Court during its most high profile cases including the recount of 2000 presidential election. Follow the Florida Supreme Court on Facebook and Twitter . This week's show is presented by Visit Sarasota. Soak up the sun along Sa...
Mar 22, 2022•53 min•Ep 91•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with a look at the political forces manipulating the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and how Trump Administration minions nearly cost the Key Deer its protection under the Endangered Species Act. Our guest this week is Mary Powell, former president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs , a national organization, and currently an official with General Federation of Women's Clubs - Florida Federation of Women's Clubs . Mary will tell us all about ...
Mar 15, 2022•31 min•Ep 90•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with a success in the battle of conservation vs. development in Florida and a blueprint for how to do the same in your area . Our guest this week is Raquel V. Reyes, author of the Miami-based cozy mystery "Mango, Mambo and Murder (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery)." We talk to Raquel about the popularity of the "cozy" genre, how her writing is shaking up the genre, and what she loves most about Miami. This week's episode of "Welcome to Flo...
Mar 08, 2022•46 min•Ep 89•Transcript available on Metacast The most dangerous time of the year in Florida is whenever the state legislature is meeting. More proof of this came recently with a bomb tossed into years of careful planning for Everglades restoration by the Senate president who is bought and paid for by Big Sugar. Craig Pittman explains. Our guest this week is Jack Davis who joined the show about a year ago to discuss his Pulitzer Prize winning book about the Gulf of Mexico. Look through the archives for that one which is a favorite. His new ...
Mar 01, 2022•42 min•Ep 88•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with the disturbing news that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has marked a Florida panther for death or capture after the complaint of one rancher. Our guest is Sam Carr, president of the Bartram Society of Florida . William Bartram was a British naturalist who explored northeast Florida, and much of what became the southeastern United States, in the late 1700s. The Bartram Society of Florida is working to establish "Bartram Trails" throughou...
Feb 22, 2022•44 min•Ep 87•Transcript available on Metacast The humanitarians in the Florida legislature are again providing more relief to the state's struggling and needy developers - sarcasm intended - now seeking to make it easier for developers to displace gopher tortoises. That's where we begin this week's show. Search the "Welcome to Florida" for an entire episode devoted to gopher tortoise. Our guest is Peggy Bulger, author of "Stetson Kennedy: Applied Folklore and Cultural Advocacy," a biography of one of Flori...
Feb 15, 2022•58 min•Ep 86•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with threats to Florida's most famous and mysterious flower, the ghost orchid. Our guest is Berlynna Heres, statewide coordinator for the Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch. We learn all about this prehistoric creature and its essential role to human health during this conversation. If you'd like to volunteer with the Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch, click here. "Welcome to Florida" is presented by Visit Sarasota and on this episode we discuss just a co...
Feb 08, 2022•37 min•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast Disaster was predicted when the Florida Department of Environmental Protection was given oversight of wetland development permits in state, taking that responsibility from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Disaster has occurred . That's where we begin this week's episode. Our guest is Matthew Frick, curator at the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum . Matthew is a pirate historian who tells us all about piracy off the coast of Florida, with an emphasis on St. Augustine....
Feb 01, 2022•56 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast Manatees in Florida are dying in record numbers from starvation due to a decrease in the seagrass beds on which they feed. Republicans in the state legislature want to make it easier for developers to destroy those beds . That's where we begin the show. This week's guest is Florida wildflower expert Craig Huegel. In this episode we mention: Craig Huegel's wildflower books which you can find here. Craig Huegel's wildflower blog . Criag Huegel's landscaping blog . Florida ...
Jan 25, 2022•58 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast This 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 numero...
Jan 18, 2022•52 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with a chilling disaster from Florida's environmental history and hopes for long overdue resolution. Our guest is John Capouya, author of "Florida Soul: From Ray Charles to KC and the Sunshine Band." Florida has a surprisingly robust history of Soul Music which we discuss. "Welcome to Florida" is presented by Visit Sarasota . For Soul Music in Sarasota, check out the calendar of events at the Van Wezel performing arts hall . Congratulation...
Jan 11, 2022•44 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with a hippo, and Craig's recent column on the outgoing head of Florida's State Parks. Our guest is Jack Coffey who leads the tours and educational programming for Florida Southern College's Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center in Lakeland. How did the famed architect end up in Central Florida? Let's find out. Made in Spain Whether you’re an expat chasing the dream, a traveller inspired by European elegance... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spot...
Jan 04, 2022•41 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with our annual holiday tradition: Craig Pittman's favorite wacky headlines from the year gone by across Florida. Our guest this week is dolphin researcher Randy Wells who works for the Chicago Zoological Society out of offices in Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota . Randy has been studying dolphins in and around Sarasota for over 50 years! Craig and Randy go way back as he has written about Randy's work previously. "Welcome to Florida" is pres...
Dec 28, 2021•44 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with foolishness from the governor in the state's efforts to combat climate change where he's more concerned about "left wing stuff." Our guest this week is Erin Thursby, author of "Florida Oranges: A Colorful History." From the Spanish colonizers through the Harriet Beecher Stowe, the Ku Klux Klan, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Bing Crosby and citrus greening, we discuss the enormous impact oranges have had on Florida....
Dec 21, 2021•50 min•Ep 78•Transcript available on Metacast This week's episode begins with Craig Pittman telling us how the CIA took over Sanibel Island! Our guest this week is Pamela Marsh, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee, a non-profit group working to secure and enforce open government in the state of Florida. Our topic this week is the state's Sunshine Law which requires official government meetings be open to the public. In the episode, we mention a story from Madeira Beach you can read more about here ,...
Dec 14, 2021•52 min•Ep 77•Transcript available on Metacast This 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 Re...
Dec 07, 2021•37 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Circle Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Selby Gardens The Ringling The Celery Fields MLB Spring Training Sarasota's architectural history Sarasota Trolly Tours...
Nov 30, 2021•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast If 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, aut...
Nov 23, 2021•53 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast This 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 c...
Nov 16, 2021•59 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast This 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 w...
Nov 09, 2021•48 min•Ep 73•Transcript available on Metacast This 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 VisitSara...
Nov 02, 2021•41 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast This 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 th...
Oct 26, 2021•43 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast With 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...
Oct 19, 2021•51 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast This 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 C...
Oct 12, 2021•49 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast 
