90.7 WMFE's Intersection

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.

President Trump’s re-election campaign launch brought thousands of spectators to the Amway Center, and protesters too. 

Some fans had camped out in front of the venue days in advance of the rally. 

On this episode of Intersection we were joined by political analysts Frank Torres and Jeremy Levitt.

Then- for youth in Florida’s foster care system, getting a driver’s license can be a challenge. Keys to Independence is trying to change that. For the last four and a half years, the state funded program has helped hundreds of older teens get driver’s licenses and learner permits. Danielle Levine and David Finucan explain how the program works.

This week, Orlando marks three years since the shooting at the Pulse nightclub. The site of the nightclub continues to be a place of reflection for mourners, and plans continue to take shape for a permanent memorial.

On this episode of Intersection, we’ll discuss plans to designate the site a federally recognised national memorial with US. Rep Darren Soto. And we’ll hear from Ricardo Negron, a survivor who’s turned to activism around gun safety.

Then– what happened to the thousands of items left at memorials across the city in the aftermath of the shooting? We’ll talk to the the chief curator of the Orange County History Center, Pam Schwartz about the ongoing work to curate and showcase memorial items, and efforts to help historians in other cities confronted by traumatic events like the Pulse shooting.

Later in the program– a conversation with former pro surfer CJ Hobgood, who’s the subject of a new documentary, And Two If By Sea, along with his twin brother Damien.

Hobgood joins us to talk about chasing the perfect wave, and finding meaning in life after walking away from the pro surfing circuit.

President Donald Trump plans his re-election campaign launch– in Orlando. Former Broward County sheriff’s deputy Scott Peterson is arrested on charges including child neglect for his role in the Parkland school shooting. And state attorney Aramis Ayala isn’t running for re-election– so who’s vying for the role of top prosecutor in Orange and Osceola County?

On this episode of Intersection, we go behind the headlines with political analysts Jason Henry and Frank Torres.

Then- do you love farmers markets… but hate the summer heat? Daily City publisher Mark Baratelli may have the answer. This weekend he launches his newest concept for Orlando—an indoor farmer’s market. Baratelli says it will allow sipping and shopping for local produce without the sweat.

And we continue airing our Tiny Desk local favorites performance recorded at the Abbey in Orlando—with rock trio Seek n Find.

This summer marks fifty years since the first humans set foot on the moon. A generation of Americans vividly remembers the fuzzy black and white images of those first steps that were beamed back to their television sets from the moon.

In a six hour documentary Chasing The Moon, which debuts on PBS next month, filmmaker Robert Stone tells the story of the space race from its beginnings to the lunar landing.

On this episode, 90.7’s Matthew Peddie talks to Stone about the politics behind the moon shot, and the parallels between the space race last century and the Trump administration’s goal of returning astronauts to the moon.

Beacon College just graduated its largest class of graduates ever. The Leesburg based college was founded in 1989, with a focus on educating students with learning disabilities.

Beacon’s director of corporate and academic outreach Esteban Lopez, and career development instructor Jeremy Neilson join us for a conversation about the opportunities and challenges facing those students.

And Kendra Lott, author of the new book Unique Eats and Eateries of Orlando explains what makes the dining scene special in the city beautiful.

Forecasters are predicting an average season, with between nine and fifteen named storms. Two to four of them could be major hurricanes, category 3 or higher.

On this episode of Intersection, we chat to meteorologist Bryan Karrick and Seminole County emergency manager Alan Harris about preparing for storm season: what to put in your emergency kit, how to plan for an evacuation, and what to expect after a hurricane passes through

And FPREN meteorologist Jeff Huffman talks to Jared Moskowitz, Florida’s new director of the state’s division of emergency management, about what’s changed since Hurricane Michael. 

Science fiction author Adam Troy Castro has 27 books under his belt, and not just in the sci-fi genre. Castro has also written a couple Spiderman books, he’s written horror novels and he’s written for young readers too.

Ahead of his appearance at the Orlando Area Science Fiction Society conference this weekend- we talk to Castro about where he gets his inspiration and what keeps him writing.