90.7 WMFE's Intersection

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will have to wait a little longer to blast off into orbit. Bad weather delayed the launch of their historic mission yesterday- but when they do lift off they will be the first astronauts in nearly a decade to launch from US soil. 

What does this mission mean for the next generation of astronauts and for American aspirations to explore the far reaches of space? And what impact did the pandemic have on spectators’ plans to watch this historic launch?

On this episode of Intersection, we’re joined by 90.7 space reporter Brendan Byrne and UCF planetary scientist Addie Dove- talking about the return to human space flight from the United States. 

Later in the show – the pandemic has changed the way we do business- but what effect has it had on the legal system? What are the limits of online platforms like zoom when it comes to holding trials and other legal proceedings? 

We’ll talk to Orlando attorney Conti Moore about how people are navigating the legal system during the pandemic.

The State of Florida is now in full phase one of reopening. As more businesses open up, health officials and civic leaders are watching the data closely to see what impact the reopening may have on Coronavirus cases. And in the meantime, they’re continuing to test- in the hopes of identifying people who may not know they have the disease… but are still spreading it.

So what happens if things open up too fast? Could cases start to peak again? 

On this episode of Intersection– we’ll talk about who’s most at risk as the peak of the pandemic recedes and the economy comes back to life. Joining the show are WMFE health reporter Abe Aboraya and Orlando City Commissioner Bakari Burns. 

Later in the show- the official start of hurricane season is just around the corner. The Atlantic has already spun up its first named storm, but just how well prepared are Floridians for this storm season with the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic? 

We’ll chat about the upcoming hurricane season with Spectrum News 13 chief meteorologist Bryan Karrick. 

Coping with the coronavirus pandemic, with the challenge of home schooling, isolation and health concerns, is stressful for the abled, but what kind of resources are out there for the disabled in this crisis?  

On this episode of Intersection, host Matthew Peddie talks to Orlando area disability advocates- Kyle Johnson, Roderick Thomas, Cathy Matthews and Brittany Pilcher- about how disability organizations are navigating the challenges of the pandemic.  

For some Central Floridians, the pandemic is evoking painful memories of Hurricane Maria. WFTV Channel 9 morning anchor and reporter Nancy Alvarez joins us to talk about the Spanish language information gap in the early weeks of the crisis and the impact of the pandemic on Orlando’s Hispanic community. 

Edwin Alicea has a simple belief as a hospital chaplain: No one should die alone. That isn’t easy when hospitals are putting restrictions in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.Alicea talks to 90.7 Health Reporter Abe Aboraya about the challenge of ministry in the time of coronavirus. 

Floridians are out of work in massive numbers- either laid off due to the coronavirus or furloughed with a return to work uncertain. So what does that mean for those whose health insurance is tied to their employment? 

What are insurance companies doing to help people worried about losing their coverage, and what impact has the pandemic had on enrollments in the affordable care act? 

On this episode of Intersection we take a closer look at health insurance in the time of coronavirus with Anne Packham, marketplace network director with the Primary Care Access Network and Tony Jenkins, Market President for the Central Region with Florida Blue.

Then- when Beau Guyott lost his job in hospitality- he wanted to do something- not just for himself but for the tens of thousands of Floridians in the same predicament: out of work and struggling with an unemployment system that isn’t doing what it should. Guyott is walking from South Florida to Tallahassee to draw attention to the plight of the suddenly unemployed. We talked to Guyott as he stopped in Orlando. 

Businesses around the state are getting ready for a post pandemic future- but what exactly does that future look like?

Governor Ron DeSantis has outlined his step by step plan for getting businesses reopened- starting with restaurants and retail stores next week. 

But what does reopening safely actually mean- and what about businesses that have to keep their doors closed for now? 

On this episode of Intersection we talk with Dale Brill of the Orlando Economic Partnership- and Winter Park business owner Latria Graham about business in the shadow of the pandemic. 

Then- a conversation with three tech entrepreneurs who’ve had to radically rethink what they do in the pandemic- Joe Moye, Spencer Elliott and Mauricio Toro. 

Florida’s economy has taken a huge hit from the coronavirus pandemic. The shutdown of businesses and disruption to the supply chain has meant farmers can’t sell a lot of what they produce. So what does that mean for farmworkers? 

On this episode of Intersection we talk to Antonio Tovar of the Farm Worker Association of Florida about the impact of the pandemic on the people who harvest the food we eat, many of whom are now out of work and unable to pay rent. 

Health leaders are cautiously optimistic that the peak of the pandemic for Florida may have passed. We talk to 90.7’s health reporter Abe Aboraya about how one Central Florida hospital system has handled hundreds of COVID-19 cases- including new therapies they’re using to try and treat the disease. 

So much of Central Florida’s economy is tied to hospitality. It’s not just big theme parks and hotels closing -restaurants and bars are struggling to survive too. Orlando wine blog creator Judith Smelser is following the lives of three people working in the wine and hospitality business as they navigate the pandemic- she joins us to chat about her podcast- UnWineding. 

The pandemic is changing the way we live, and for tens of thousands of Floridians, it’s not just a matter of hunkering down and waiting for business to resume. 

Many of those suddenly without work are also wondering how to pay rent and keep a roof over their heads. 

On this episode of Intersection, host Matthew Peddie is joined by state representative Anna Eskamani and attorney Alex Mestdagh for a conversation about what the pandemic means for tenants and landlords. 

Author Don Winslow is best known for his crime fiction, including the Power of the Dog trilogy about the drug trade.  

Winslow talks about his new book Broken, what he’s reading and watching during the stay at home order, and the TV series based on his books. 

And Nicole Stott has taken creativity to new heights herself. She’s painted watercolors on the International Space Station. 

The retired NASA astronaut talks about what the last few months have taught us about how we need to work better on what she calls spaceship earth. 

Could the pandemic teach us some things about how to live better? Retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott thinks so. She says some of the lessons that astronauts learn about team work, isolation and resilience could be applied to the way we’re dealing with this crisis on earth.

The peak of coronavirus cases isn’t expected to hit Florida for another two weeks- but already the economic pain of the pandemic is being felt statewide. 

On this episode of Intersection, we talk to US Rep. Darren Soto about what the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package means for Floridians. 

Soto also reflects on Vermont Senator Bernie Sander’s impact on the Democratic presidential primary campaign. 

Then 90.7 Health reporter Abe Aboraya talks with Dr. Ali Mokdad from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, about the science behind coronavirus projections and about the huge challenge of treating COVID-19 patients. 

And Opera Orlando director Gabriel Preisser hasn’t gone out on his balcony to serenade his neighbors- yet. He’s still figuring out how to keep the opera company afloat while performances are suspended. Preisser joins us to discuss the challenge of keeping the performing arts going during the pandemic.

After calls mounted for governor Ron DeSantis to lock down the state and try to stop the spread of coronavirus, on Wednesday the governor announced a statewide stay at home order. Orange County’s stay at home order began last week. 

On this episode of Intersection we talk to mayor Jerry Demings about why he thinks that was the right call.  Demings says the peak of this epidemic is likely still weeks away, and the death toll for the state could climb into the thousands. He says the next week will be critical as Central Florida hospitals prepare for a surge in patients. We also talk about the economic impact of the pandemic– with 30 thousand people applying to the county’s emergency rental assistance program in just 12 days. 

Then- Stetson University epidemiologist Asal Johnson explains the efforts to slow the spread of this deadly virus as case numbers increase in Florida. Dr. Johnson tells Intersection more testing is still needed to fully understand the virus. 

And- restaurants are struggling to stay afloat with their dining rooms shuttered and takeout service only. We talk to Orlando Sentinel multimedia food reporter Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Weekly restaurant critic Faiyaz Kara, and Matt Hinckley, chef and owner of Hinckley Fancy Meats, about how restaurants are trying to survive the pandemic.