In this week's new Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite, Amendment 4, or better known as the felon voting rights, is the fiery topic that doesn't seem to die down.

Voters approved Amendment 4 in 2018, restoring voting rights to most non-violent felons who finished their sentences. There is a legal battle over Florida's law requiring them to pay legal fees before they can vote again.

However, there is an ongoing discussion in the Legislature and litigation in the courts. As that whole process continues, the man behind the 2018 amendment cast his ballot for the first time in more than 30 years on August 18.

Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Desmond Meade shares his personal struggles and why the fight is far from over.

And Greg Angel shares his positive story of the week that features Tucker, his cute little dog.

IN THIS EPISODE

Desmond Meade's Twitter: https://twitter.com/desmondmeade

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

State Rep. Geraldine Thompson says that women have made great changes to society after gaining the right to vote, but she also talks about the struggles Black Americans faced during the Civil Rights era and the decade that followed.

She also recounts the horrific tale of July Perry, an affluent Black man who wanted to vote in 1920 and it ended in his death by a mob of white men.

IN THIS EPISODE

Geraldine Thompson's Twitter: https://twitter.com/electgeraldine

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

In the latest Beyond the Soundbite podcast, U.S. Rep. Val Demings shares her thoughts on why President Donald Trump does not understand what it is like to worry about working every day and trying to take care of a family.

The former Orlando police chief also recalls being on the shortlist for being a vice presidential candidate and the intense vetting process that she endured and what it was like to speak with Joe Biden.

Plus, Gary shares his positive story of the week.

IN THIS EPISODE

Val Demings' Twitter: https://twitter.com/RepValDemings

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

Political analyst Frank Torres says that Orange County Sheriff John Mina "didn't have to strap on the gloves" for his re-election race during the primary elections as he also talks to Ybeth, Greg, and Gary about some of the political upsets of incumbents who were unseated and how write-in candidates may or may not impact races.

Plus, the gang talks about the surprising release from the Orange County Sheriff's Office of the body-cam footage of deputies involved in the deadly shooting of a wanted Black man from earlier this month. The footage was released minutes before the polls closed.

IN THIS EPISODE

Frank Torres' Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrFrankTorres

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

Republican State Representative Randy Fine shares the struggles he and his family faced when they got the coronavirus, with him saying, "it's not the flu" and admits that his lungs have been damaged by the virus.

And while he says it's "stupid" that people do not social distance or wear a mask, he is against a face-covering mandate. He explains why in our next podcast.

In the second half of the podcast, former Democratic State Representative Dick Batchelor talks about the difficulties of campaigning during the pandemic and he says that mail-in voting will be popular for people who don't want to expose themselves or family members to the coronavirus while waiting in line to vote.

IN THIS EPISODE

Randy Fine's Twitter: https://twitter.com/VoteRandyFine

Dick Batchelor's Twitter: https://twitter.com/DickJBatchelor

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

State Representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat representing District 47 in Orlando, says she would give Gov. Ron DeSantis a D+ over his handling of COVID-19 and points out some of the reasons for the grade: lack of a statewide mask mandate, reopening the state too early and Floridians still have not gotten their unemployment payments.

Later in the episode, Ybeth shares why SpaceX's Crew Dragon splashdown was a special moment for her and her young son.

IN THIS EPISODE

Anna Eskamani's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaForFlorida

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

With two big elections just around the corner, voting by mail has become a hot-button topic. What's the process, and is it secure? Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays explains to Ybeth Bruzual, Greg Angel, and Gary Darling why mail-in ballots are secure. He also delves into Russian meddling in Florida's last big election. Plus, Greg recounts a recent kayaking trip to Wekiva Springs, where he helped some kids who had fallen out of a canoe.

IN THIS EPISODE

Lake County Elections' Twitter: https://twitter.com/LakeElections

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

State Rep. Anthony Sabatini has been lighting up Twitter over the last few months. Sabatini represents District 32, which covers all of South Lake County, Clermont, Montverde, Groveland, Mascotte, Minneola, Howey-in-the-Hills, Astatula, and Leesburg, and has been serving in that role since being elected in November 2018. Now, in 2020, Sabatini is making national headlines with his calls for mask mandates to be struck down, saying they're unconstitutional and a violation of personal liberties and freedoms.

Later in the episode, Gary talks about finding normalcy in these difficult times through gardening.

IN THIS EPISODE

Anthony Sabatini's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnthonySabatini

ABOUT THE SHOW

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.

Listen every Wednesday, starting July 29th.