Between The Beaches Podcast

Nothing terribly fancy this week, just an escape from the daily grind with some vivid poetry focused on family, friends, and Florida. Hope y'all enjoy it!

With three decades of research focused on the effects of land-based nutrient pollution on water quality, both here in Florida and globally, Dr. Brian Lapointe is an internationally respected expert and author of over 90 publications in the field of algal physiology, biochemistry, and ecology. In this episode, we have an in-depth conversation about Dr. Lapointe's findings regarding the main causes of Florida's water quality issues, how our state is a microcosm of the global crisis we all face if nothing is done. It's an exhaustive and comprehensive discussion of the topic and one not to be missed.

Mike Micco comes from a line of elders deeply committed to the Brighton Community and the Seminole culture. After years of mentoring with his family learning the art of cooking from his mom and wood carving from his dad then enduring much personal tragedy during the Covid era, Mike is now filling the important role of teaching these traditional Seminole arts to the next generation. Join us under the chickee for some great conversation and reflection on Seminole life.

This week we take a look at the highly strategic and covert way in which Walt Disney set about creating his second amusement park, Walt Disney World in the heart of Central Florida. We then weigh in with personal thoughts on the good and the bad that has resulted from that fateful transaction with it's long-lasting impacts upon the physical and political landscape of Florida.

This week we hit the 100th Episode milestone and to mark the occasion we share a history lesson about one of the biggest scourges to ever impact Florida cattlemen - the deadly screw-worm. Listen to firsthand accounts from Nancy Pearce Phares and Jeanette Peeples as they recall childhood stories from the 1950's helping their families deal with these deadly flies and screw-worm larvae on Florida's prairies and cattle country.

Very few people can rival Mike Elfenbein's commitment to preserving and protecting the Great State of Florida and her remaining wild places. Mike is a treasured friend and has been on the podcast a few times now to discuss the AguaCulture pilot project, but in this episode we keep the focus on Mike's backstory and the many ways he works selflessly to preserve wild Florida.

After last week's lengthy, deep dive into water quality, an episode full of pure entertainment was in order. However, it's been a bit too windy for another session of "poetry from the pasture" so Sam offered to sit in with me so we could share a few selected works from cowboy and cowgirl poets across the U.S. Hope y'all enjoy these works and that they offer a bit of an escape from your daily grind.

In Season 1 of Between The Beaches Podcast, Episode 35 introduced listeners to an innovative pilot project for nutrient and aquatic vegetation removal from Lake Okeechobee sponsored by FWC. After successfully, running the gauntlet of Florida politics, AguaCulture's project is well underway. Join our conversation ranging from the origins of the project to progress updates and answers for many of the questions or concerns raised along the journey.

In this episode, we take a look at the often overlooked parallels between Scottish settlers and Seminoles in the Southeast during the early years of American history as well as how those numerous commonalities influenced Seminole clothing and fashion. In the second half of the show, we discuss interior backcountry Florida's enduring beauty as seen through the eyes of non-residents.