90.7 WMFE's Intersection

More first responders in the US die by suicide than in the line of duty. Orlando firefighter Jeff Orrange says those numbers are staggering, and he’s working to change the equation

Orrange is part of a peer support team that helps firefighters reach out to fellow firefighters and get the mental health support they need. 

On this episode of Intersection we’ll talk to Orrange about the education process for first responders and the importance of peer support. 

A group of students are embarking on a new apprenticeship program on the space coast. They’ll work in advanced manufacturing with aerospace companies while taking courses in engineering and aerospace tech. 

Space Florida’s Dale Ketcham explains how the apprenticeship program will fill a gap in talent, and how higher education is changing to reflect the sunshine state’s growing space economy. 

And Orlando’s Pat Greene and Geoff Benge are planning an art and architecture tour to Mexico City. They join us for a conversation about art, tourism and the cultural communities in Orlando and Mexico city. 

Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo  Rosselló will step down in a week. 

The governor made the announcement in a recorded video message Wednesday night. The news was greeted with celebration from Puerto Ricans who had put pressure on Rosselló to step down over nearly two weeks of protest after a series of offensive chat messages were leaked from the governor and top officials. 

On this episode of Intersection– what’s next for Puerto Rico after the resignation of the governor? Does his departure signal a turning point for the territory which has been racked by economic turmoil and is still rebuilding from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. And what are the implications for Florida’s Puerto Rican population? We’re joined by Jennifer Marcial, editor of El Sentinel Orlando; Maria Padilla, editor of Orlando Latino and Ricardo Negron with Latino Justice. 

Then, Florida’s veteran population is growing.  What does that mean for veteran healthcare?  A conversation with VA secretary Robert Wilkie. 

And– a new interpretation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s light opera The Mikado aims to amplify the history of Central Florida’s Japanese American community. Nicole Dupre, Theresa Smith-Levin and Pam Schwartz join us to explain. 

What do social media companies do with all of the data they’ve got from you? How sophisticated does a phishing email have to be to work? What’s the downside to the internet of things– smart watches, smart fridges, smart toys? 

These are some of the questions that keep Dr. Yan Solihin up at night. He’s the director of UCF’s cybersecurity and privacy cluster– a department in the college of engineering and computer science that’s growing along with the growth in awareness of the need for better cybersecurity. 

Today on Intersection– a closer look at cybersecurity and the hazards of the Internet of things. 

Then– fusion fest is a celebration of Central Florida’s cultures and how they influence each other. We’ll chat to Thali Sugisawa and Terry Olsen who are planning this year’s fusion fest, about shining a spotlight on the diversity of Orange County. 

And– from Star Wars to Harry Potter– theme parks are unveiling new attractions this summer. Theme park writer Seth Kubersky joins us for a rundown of what’s new at Disney and Universal.

Today marks 50 years since Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center, sending Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on a mission that would land the first humans on the moon.

Today on Intersection, we’ll look back at that launch and speak with UCF historian Amy Foster about how the Apollo program shaped Florida’s space coast.

Then, Apollo inspired countless young people to explore space as a career. The Florida Space Institute’s Phil Metzger takes us back to his childhood where his dad worked on the program — and inspired Metzger to pursue a career in space and engineering.

Also, a conversation with Andy Aldrin, son of Buzz Aldrin, about what it was like growing up as an astronaut’s son.

And Fifty years ago this hour, the mission launched from Kennedy Space Center. We’ll step back in time and listen to that historic launch

Remembering Apollo 11, 50 years on.

How can you tell if your hamster’s unhappy? Is a loving home enough to help a dog from a troubled past change its behavior? Do pets grieve? And what kind of emotional toll does the work of a veterinarian take on the people who care for pets?

I’m Matthew Peddie and today on Intersection — these are some of the issues I’ll talk about with veterinarian Dr. Lynn Honeckmann.

And we’ll talk to Tom Bohn with the North American Veterinary Community about the role of pets in American society — the money we spend on pets, and the human animal bond.

Then, for the first time, Central Florida leaders are joining forces to plan for climate change.

We’ll talk to 90.7’s Amy Green about what the climate collaborative is focused on and how local governments in Central Florida can help prepare their communities for the impacts of a warming world.

And – Hannah Harber and the Lionhearts released their debut album this year. Hannah Harber joins us to perform songs from the album ‘Long Time Coming’.

For 15 years, author Ridley Pearson has been going behind the scenes at Disney World, doing research for his series of adventure novels for young readers called “The Kingdom Keepers.” Pearson says the series has given him a view of Disney that not many visitors to the theme park get to see.

A conversation with Ridley Pearson about how writing for kids has sharpened his skills in other genres. And we’ll chat about the supergroup he’s in– writers like Stephen King and Amy Tan who get together to play classic rock.

Then, summertime is thunderstorm time. Florida is the lightning capital of the country and according to the National Weather Service, more people die from lightning strikes in Florida each year than any other state. Researcher Amitabh Nag at the Florida Institute of Technology talks about the latest research: what we do — and don’t — know about lightning.

And, an invasive cane toad that first appeared in South Florida is hopping North. The Bufo toad which secretes a substance that’s toxic to dogs and cats has been spotted in Central Florida — and that has pet owners worried. We’ll talk to Jeannine Tilford, a high school science teacher who started toad busters after she realized there was nothing being done to curb the toxic toads. Tilford says her business is growing as the toad population booms.

It’s been more than a month since the season finale of Game of Thrones, HBO’s fantasy drama which captured the imagination of fans and became a cultural phenomenon. So what else are people watching on cable, streaming services or traditional network television? NPR’s TV critic Eric Deggans says there’s a lot– too much even for him to watch.

A conversation with Eric Deggans– from epic dramas to cutting edge new shows. How network television is responding to the onslaught of new material on streaming services, and shows that he wishes people were paying a little more attention to.

Then, Taylor Mali is a veteran of poetry slams. We revisit an interview with Mali, who talks to 90.7’s Brendan Byrne about his craft-and rolling what he calls metaphor dice to spark creativity in young poets.

And it takes 21 years to get good at playing the Uilleann pipes. Kathleen Cavanaugh joins us to perform the Irish bagpipes along with fiddler Vicky Gish.

LGBTQ youth have a higher risk of reporting homelessness compared to heterosexual & cisgender youth– according to a study from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. And homeless youth are also at an increased risk for sexual abuse and exploitation.

Today on Intersection, a conversation with Derek Shaye, who came to Orlando after escaping trafficking, and Heather Wilkie with the Zebra Coalition, about the challenges facing homeless LGBTQ homeless youth– and the people who are working to help them.

Then, Summer’s here and Floridians are hitting the beach. If you’re swimming at a Florida beach you just might have a shark encounter. We might think we know sharks, but how much do we really know about the apex predator of the oceans?

Marine biologist Toby Daley Engel joins us to talk myths and misconceptions about sharks, what we still have to learn about sharks and what they can teach us.

And, LA based chef Matthew Kenney has built an empire of restaurants focused on plant based food.

Kenney and Paul Mascia– co-founders of a new restaurant with a plant based menu join us to talk about how this cuisine has broken into the mainstream.

One stage, twenty candidates and two nights in Miami. What did we learn from the Democratic presidential candidates in the first debates of the primary? 

Immigration, climate change, and healthcare were top of mind for candidates as they each made their pitch to voters— so who had the clearest message, what policies stood out, and did the debates sort out any clear front runners? 

On this episode of Intersection, we recap the Democratic Primary debates with Jason Henry and Jeremy Levitt. 

Then: Innocent Lives Foundation is a non profit that uses so-called ethical hackers to try and track down online predators, and turn them over to law enforcement.  

Orlando based founder and CEO Chris Hadnagy talks about the tools his foundation uses to combat online predators. 

And Orlando singer songwriter Tracey Coryell stops by our studios to talk about the new album she’s writing and how music has helped her deal with the grief of losing her husband. 

 

This morning the city of Orlando unveiled an historic marker commemorating July Perry. Perry was lynched during the Ocoee massacre in November 1920, a wave of violence in which between 6 and 30 black residents of Ocoee were killed and the town was burned by a white mob.  

The marker represents an effort to come to terms with a painful episode in the history of the state of Florida. On this episode of Intersection, we discuss what it means to address the history of racial violence in Central Florida, with Charley Williams, task force member with the truth and justice project of Orange County; Rachel Allen, director of the peace and justice institute at Valencia College; and Will Jefferson, community manager with the Peace and Justice institute.

Then– the 2020 presidential election cycle is in full swing. A crowded field of Democrats are vying to take on a Republican president who’s effectively been campaigning – and raising money– since the day he was sworn in. NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith joins us for a conversation about covering an unconventional president, what Florida looks like politically to the rest of the country, and life on the road as a political reporter.

And we air the final performance from our Tiny Desk Local favorites showcase– songs from Chloe Hogan.