Everybody Loves Naples

There’s a whole other side of Naples beyond the beach chairs. On this episode of Everybody Loves Naples, we’re joined by husband-and-wife duo Ryan and Jeannine Young of Naples Outfitters and Rising Tide Explorers, who help locals and visitors experience our wild backyard.

With backgrounds in environmental science and education, they bring a deeper understanding of Southwest Florida to the adventure—from biologist-led kayak and boat tours through Rookery Bay to the gear and local know-how you’ll find at their Bayshore Drive shop. Get to know the couple helping people explore, appreciate, and protect the natural side of Naples.

Find them here:

• Naples Outfitters: 3570 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112
Website: naplesoutfitters.com

• Rising Tide Explorers: Kayak and boat tours in the Naples–Marco Island area, with launches at Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park and Shell Island Road. Check your reservation for the specific launch location.
Website: risingtidefl.com
Instagram: @risingtidefl

The songs you know. The stories you haven’t heard. Mitch Vanderhagen, co-founder of Nash to Naples Songwriter Fest, joins Everybody Loves Naples to talk about bringing Nashville’s hit songwriters to Naples—and the purpose behind the music.

N2N brings people together through songs and storytelling while supporting meaningful causes. This year’s beneficiaries include St. Matthew’s House, helping individuals and families facing hunger, homelessness, and addiction, and Hacienda of Hope, a children’s home and school in Ecuador.

Upcoming events:
• November 5, 2026: A Night on the Naples Princess—an intimate songwriter showcase on the water.
• January 23, 2027: The 6th Annual Nash to Naples Songwriter Fest at Cambier Park.

A perk for our listeners: Use code ELN27 for 10% off tickets to the January main show!

Get tickets and event details.

Chef Kayla Pfeiffer returns to Everybody Loves Naples—and this time, we’re catching up on her newest venture, Heyday Cookshop.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Food Network Chopped Champion, and 2025 James Beard Emerging Chef semifinalist, Kayla has become one of the leading voices in Naples’ evolving culinary scene. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of Heyday, sharing how the concept came together, what distinguishes it from Bicyclette Cookshop, and how food, music, local ingredients, and creative collaboration all play a part in the experience.

We also talk about the inspiration behind her dishes, the realities of opening another restaurant, Heyday’s rotating chef residency program, and what Kayla hopes to bring to the Naples community.

And of course, we finish with rapid fire—covering food, music, personal favorites, kitchen opinions, and a few answers that may surprise you.

Visit Heyday Cookshop at 4691 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, FL 34103.

Open daily from 5–9 p.m.

Learn more and make a reservation at heydaycookshop.com.

What happens when you trade a 14-year career in federal law enforcement for entrepreneurship—and build a thriving business while raising a newborn?

In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer Cail, founder and CEO of Medrano & Cail, to talk about her remarkable career transition and the heart behind her mission to empower small-business owners. Jennifer shares how she grew her firm from the ground up, why understanding your numbers is essential for sustainable growth, and how the right financial partner can give entrepreneurs more confidence, clarity, and freedom.

Jennifer is also my own bookkeeper, so I can personally attest that she offers far more than bookkeeping—she’s a trusted advisor, problem-solver, and true advocate for her clients. Whether you’re building a business, navigating growth, or simply feeling overwhelmed by your finances, this conversation will leave you feeling informed, inspired, and far less alone.

Connect with Jennifer and Medrano & Cail:

📍 Naples, Florida
🌐 Website: www.medranoandcail.com
📸 Instagram: @medranoandcail
💼 LinkedIn: Jennifer M. Cail – Medrano & Cail
📘 Facebook: Medrano & Cail
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 239-610-5056

What does it take to build one of Naples' most beloved restaurants?

This week on Everybody Loves Naples, we're joined by Chef Jeff Mitchell, owner and executive chef of The Local—Naples' first farm-to-table and sea-to-table restaurant. A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Jeff has spent more than two decades in the culinary and hospitality industry, building a reputation for seasonal cooking, scratch-made cuisine, and a commitment to supporting local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and artisans.

Inspired by his Italian family's restaurant roots in Detroit, Jeff shares his incredible journey—from an unexpected life-changing trip to Patagonia, to training at The Ritz-Carlton, to opening The Local in 2013 with a vision of creating a restaurant that celebrates the best of Southwest Florida. Along the way, we talk about entrepreneurship, raising a family in Naples, the evolution of our local food scene, and why independently owned businesses are the heart and soul of our community.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Jeff's path to becoming a chef
• The story behind The Local
• What "farm-to-table" really means
• How Naples' restaurant scene has evolved
• Why supporting local businesses matters
• Jeff's favorite spots around town
• His vision for the future of Naples dining

Whether you're a foodie, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply love the people who make Naples special, this conversation is full of inspiration, insight, and a deeper appreciation for the community we call home.

📍 The Local
5323 Airport-Pulling Rd.
Naples, FL 34109

Learn more: https://thelocalnaples.com

Follow The Local: @thelocalnaples

What happens when a classically trained musician decides to rethink what live entertainment can look like?

In this episode of Everybody Loves Naples, we sit down with Jade Gibson, founder of Jade Strings, a Southwest Florida-based entertainment company that has transformed the traditional string music experience into something entirely its own.

From elegant wedding ceremonies and intimate events to electric violins, DJs, vocals, immersive performers, and full-scale productions, Jade has built a brand around creating experiences people remember. Along the way, she’s performed alongside some incredible names and productions, including Frankie Valli, The Who, Cirque du Soleil, Electric Light Orchestra, Amy Grant, Itzhak Perlman, and more.

We talk about Jade’s journey as a musician and entrepreneur, how Jade Strings grew from an idea into one of Southwest Florida’s most recognizable entertainment companies, the realities of building a creative business, and what it takes to continue evolving in an industry where no two events are ever the same.

Whether you’re a musician, business owner, creative, or just someone who loves discovering the people behind the businesses that make Naples special, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.

Learn more about Jade Strings:

Website: JadeStrings.com

Instagram: @jadestrings

This week on Everybody Loves Naples, we sit down with Matt Poland, the Head Coach and Sporting Director of FC Naples — Southwest Florida's first professional soccer club.

Matt's journey to leading FC Naples is anything but ordinary. A former professional player in Finland and longtime local coach, he has spent years developing talent both in Europe and right here in Southwest Florida. Before joining FC Naples, he served as Head Coach and Technical Director for Chicago House AC and previously led Naples United FC, building a reputation for developing players, building winning cultures, and creating pathways to the professional game.

In this episode, we dive into what it takes to build a professional soccer club from the ground up, how FC Naples exceeded expectations in its inaugural season, the growth of soccer in America, youth development opportunities in Southwest Florida, and Matt's vision for the future of the club. Under his leadership, FC Naples became the first USL League One expansion club to host and win a playoff match in its inaugural season, helping put Naples on the professional soccer map.

Whether you're a lifelong soccer fan, a parent with a young athlete, or simply curious about the future of professional sports in Southwest Florida, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Learn more about FC Naples and get tickets:
FC Naples Official Website

Tickets:
FC Naples Ticket Hub

Follow FC Naples:
FC Naples Instagram

Listen now and let us know: Have you been to an FC Naples match yet?

https://www.instagram.com/fc.naples/

Before Sugarshack Sessions became a global music brand with over hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, it was just a backyard in Bonita Springs. Today, it's one of Southwest Florida's most unique live music experiences.

This week on Everybody Loves Naples, we're joined by Julia Szilagyi, Events & Operations Coordinator for Sugarshack Sessions, and Bryce Ivie, VP of Sugarshack Experience & Venue Manager of Sugarshack Downtown, to share the story behind the brand that put Bonita Springs on the map for music lovers around the world.

We dive into the origins of Sugarshack Sessions, how a passion project evolved into a globally recognized music channel, and what makes the Sugarshack Experience so special. From intimate acoustic performances and behind-the-scenes artist access to unforgettable nights under the palms, Sugarshack has created something that's difficult to explain until you've experienced it yourself.

Whether you've been following Sugarshack online for years or you've driven past Sugarshack Downtown and wondered what all the buzz is about, this episode is your inside look at one of Bonita Springs' greatest success stories.

🎶 Upcoming events include nationally touring artists and special ticketed performances throughout the year, including shows from artists like KBong & Johnny Cosmic and other fan favorites.

🎟️ Learn more about the Sugarshack Experience and purchase tickets:
https://sugarshacksessions.com/collections/sugarshack-session-experiences

🎤 Upcoming concerts and events:
https://www.sugarshackdowntown.com

📲 Follow Sugarshack Sessions:
https://www.instagram.com/sugarshacksessions/

📍 Sugarshack Downtown
Bonita Springs, Florida

If you're looking for a unique date night, a memorable night out with friends, or one of the coolest live music experiences in Southwest Florida, this episode is for you.

This week on Everybody Loves Naples, we sit down with brothers Ben and Alex Voss — the founders of Alligator Bay Distillers and the team behind the highly anticipated new cocktail concept, Hide-a-Wai, coming soon to Downtown Bonita Springs.

What started as a small family-run distillery has grown into one of Southwest Florida’s most unique craft spirit brands. Founded by the Voss brothers, Alligator Bay Distillers built a loyal following through their handcrafted “cane-to-bottle” rum production, using traditional copper stills and Florida-inspired flavors.

Now, Ben and Alex are bringing that same energy to Downtown Bonita with Hide-a-Wai — a rum hideaway and mojito bar located at 27306 Old 41 Rd, Unit A, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. The concept blends tropical cocktails, Old Florida vibes, and craft distilling into what’s shaping up to be one of the coolest new additions to the downtown scene.

In this episode, we talk about entrepreneurship, building a family business from scratch, surviving Hurricane Ian, Florida rum culture, and what locals can expect from Hide-a-Wai when the doors officially open.

Follow along:

Instagram:

@alligatorbaydistillers

@hide.a.wai

@hey_alligatorbenni —

Website:

www.alligatorbaydistillers.com

If you love local business stories, good drinks, and hearing from people building cool things in SWFL, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

On this episode of Everybody Loves Naples, we sit down with visionary arts leader Kristen Coury — the powerhouse behind one of Southwest Florida’s most exciting cultural transformations.

Kristen founded Gulfshore Playhouse in 2004 after relocating from New York City, where she worked on Broadway productions with Walt Disney Theatrical and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group. What started as a small professional theatre company has grown into a nationally recognized performing arts organization with an annual budget exceeding $14 million and a reputation for world-class productions. (Gulfshore Playhouse)

We talk about the journey of building the stunning new Baker Theatre and Education Center — a breathtaking $75 million state-of-the-art campus that officially opened in downtown Naples in late 2024. The new venue is already reshaping the city’s arts scene and serves as a major cultural gateway into Naples. (Gulfshore Playhouse)

Kristen shares the highs, challenges, and vision behind creating a thriving professional theatre in Southwest Florida, the importance of arts education, and how Gulfshore Playhouse is helping shape the future of Naples’ cultural identity.

Whether you’re a theatre lover, entrepreneur, creative, or community supporter, this conversation is packed with inspiration, leadership insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at one of Naples’ most ambitious artistic projects.

📍 Gulfshore Playhouse
100 Goodlette-Frank Rd S, Naples, FL 34102

🌐 Website: Gulfshore Playhouse
📸 Instagram: @gulfshoreplayhouse
📘 Facebook: Gulfshore Playhouse Facebook
🎭 Kristen’s Instagram: @theladydirects