First Coast Connect

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

• Some Eastside residents want new leadership of the Community Benefits Agreement after reports about City Council member Raul Arias’ own finances.
• Duval Schools’ superintendent is no longer warning of a $100 million budget deficit, just one year after the projected shortfall prompted school closures. 
• Jacksonville homeowners sue the nation's largest homebuilder, claiming misleading sales tactics led to inflated mortgage payments.
• Prosecutors clear an officer who shot an unarmed 14-year-old in the back, saying the teen was partly to blame.
  

Guests:

• Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today
• Nikesha Williams, former TV producer, author of The Seven Daughters of Dupree
• David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union
• Tiffany Salameh, anchor and investigative reporter at News4Jax

And, a local poet is making space for the experience of moms. Nicole Zwolinksi, featured poet at JaxbyJax XI Literary Arts Festival in 2024 and St. Augustine PoetFest in 2025, created The Motherhead Project to provide a space for what she calls “anonymoms” to express their questions, joys and greatest fears. She is publishing her first full-length poetry collection, Motherhead, next summer and will give a preview at The Lynx, author Lauren Groff’s bookstore in Gainesville, on Saturday, part of the Local Author Festival.

Guest: Nicole Zwolinski, Jacksonville poet, author of Motherhead

Diana Sullivan was reunited with her three children in May — 19 months after they were taken by the state. Investigators suspected child abuse after Sullivan and her husband brought their infant daughter to the hospital with a swollen leg and X-rays revealed multiple fractures. The family contends her injuries were caused by a metabolic bone disorder. The child abuse pediatrician, or CAP, who made the abuse determination had previously been forced out of similar roles in Wisconsin and Alaska after questions surfaced about her tactics and the reliability of her abuse assessments. The problem of overly zealous CAPs is the subject of a New York Times podcast, which focuses in part on another Florida CAP, who was later named as a defendant in lawsuits filed by 27 Pennsylvania families. We discuss the experience of families affected by wrongful abuse claims and the problems inherent in making child abuse determinations.

Guests:

• Diana Sullivan, parent
• David Abramowitz, former chief of the state Department of Children and Families, Northeast Florida region
  

Then, the original star of The Phantom of the Opera. We preview Sarah Brightman’s upcoming holiday performance in Jacksonville and discuss her decade-spanning career, including originating the role of Christine Daaé in the hit musical written by her then-husband, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Brightman performs a range of songs in her touring “Winter Symphony,” backed by an orchestra and choir and accompanied by special guests.

Guest: Sarah Brightman, Grammy-nominated crossover soprano

And, the acclaimed Fletcher High School Band celebrates a winning competitive season and braces for a busy spring, including a performance at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15. We talk to three seasoned members ahead of an upcoming fundraiser about their musical accomplishments and the need for community support.

Guests:

• Samantha Wallis, junior, Fletcher High School Marching Band color guard captain
• Liz Vincent, senior, clarinet player in the Fletcher High School Marching Band
• Brianna Phillips, senior, Fletcher High School Marching Band lieutenant

At a time of increasing antisemitism, a global resurgence of far right doctrine and deepening political complexity around issues of Jewish identity, an author and filmmaker tackles the historical roots of hatred and resilience. In his recent Jacksonville appearance, Rabbi Raphael Shore explored the themes of his new book, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?, in which he posits that the core of antisemitism is actually founded on the strength of Jewish people.

Guests:

• Rabbi Raphael Shore, filmmaker, author of Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?
• Heather Terrill, director of Together Against Hate and the J Institute at the Jewish Community Alliance
  

Then, a dozen art galleries and studios are hosting a free self–guided tour across Jacksonville, offering a unique space for participants to search for one-of-a-kind works of art and holiday gifts. The Jax Gallery Brunch Hop scheduled for Sunday features galleries from San Marco to Riverside, including the recently established Unicat gallery and longtime local staple CoRK Studios.

Guests:

• Emily Moody, owner of Wolf & Cub, vice president and chief experience officer at Phoenix Arts & Innovation District
• Jim Draper, artist
• Kenny Page Jr., visual artist

And, a classical male vocal ensemble brings its acapella sound to the First Coast. The German vocal group Amarcord has been based in Leipzig, Germany, since its founding in 1992 by members of the St. Thomas’ Boys Choir and has never strayed far from its roots, performing Medieval and Renaissance music with contemporary composers mixed in. The five-member group takes the stage Friday at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church.

Guests:

• Wolfram Lattke, tenor, Amarcord
• Kathy Wallis, executive director of the Beaches Fine Arts Series

The city of Jacksonville has long struggled with the realities of one of its greatest assets: its sheer size. While the consolidated 840 square miles gives it scale and muscle (it’s also the most populous city proper in Florida by far), Jacksonville’s land mass is also unwieldy when it comes to identifying and celebrating defining characteristics. In recent years, the closest anyone has come to a unifying theme is the unfortunate moniker “the city of renderings.” No surprise, the boosters at the Jacksonville Civic Council believe the city deserves more and better, and they are asking the community to chime in. We discuss the newly launched Community Identity Survey and what is to be gained by a shared civic identity.

Guests:

• Will Ketchum,  Jacksonville Civic Council research committee co-chair, president and CEO, High Reason
• Dennis Whittle, Jacksonville Civic Council president and CEO
  

Then, the holidays are a joyful time but also the source of stress for many. Coupled with disrupted routines and Yuletide celebrations, it can be easy to overindulge in holiday spirits. For those in recovery, the risk of relapse can be heightened. Two experts discuss how to navigate holiday stress, avoid substance abuse as a coping mechanism and protect sobriety during seasonal gatherings.

Guests:

• Nick Padlo, CEO of Sophros Recovery
• Tracy Collins, author of Stumbling Into Sobriety

And, a networking event for the Northeast Florida podcasting community. Jax Podcasters United hosts its third annual Jax Podathon for aspiring, novice or seasoned podcasters, audio creators and anyone interested in the increasingly ubiquitous medium. Attendees will participate in mini-workshops, brainstorm topics for podcasts and get hands-on advice. The event also features a donation drive that includes a giveaway and “exclusive” prizes.

Guests:

• Blythe Milligan, co-founder, Jax Podcasters United and host, Everything is Logistics
• Tom Rossi, co-founder, Higher Pixels, creator of Buzzsprout

Nursing is no longer on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of “professional degrees,” a decision that could dramatically affect nursing students' access to funding and, critics say, could “threaten the very foundation of patient care." We discuss that in our monthly House Call with Dr. Joe, along with medical news headlines about post-partum GLPs, a decline in C-sections and a maternal health reporter’s own plan for a safe labor.

Guest: Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo Clinic neurologist and host of WJCT News 89.9’s What’s Health Got To Do With It?

Then, from Chuck E. Cheese animatronics to augmented reality, we discuss the evolution of the amusement park ride. Sally Dark Rides was founded in Jacksonville in 1977 and has grown to dominate the so-called “dark ride” industry, of which Disney’s "It’s A Small World" is probably the most iconic (and earliest) example. Though Sally wasn't involved in creating that ride, it has imagined hundreds of other rides and theme park features into existence, from the E.T. Adventure ride at Disney’s Universal Studios Florida to the irresistibly named Nights in White Satin – The Trip ride at the (now defunct) Hard Rock Park. We talk to the founder’s daughter about her own strange trip to the C suite of her father’s company and how the dark ride world is expanding and getting smaller, all at the same time.

Guest: Lauren Wood Weaver, vice president of marketing and business development, Sally Dark Rides

And, the Jaguars secured a three-game winning streak Sunday afternoon, taking down the Tennessee Titans 25-3. Sportscaster Alessandra Pontbriand gives us the Monday morning breakdown from an on-field scuffle that resulted in four personal fouls and an ejection to the team's current AFC standing. The Jaguars face off against the Colts next week at home, still navigating a roster slimmed by injuries.

Guest: Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at News4Jax

Despite what the internet is telling you, it’s possible to avoid the expensive and often soul-sucking experience of online shopping and behemoth retail. Buying (or sharing) a favorite book, making tribute donations to a selected nonprofit, keeping it local and shopping sustainably are all viable alternatives. We discuss ways to avoid the Black Friday blues.

Guests:

• Suzanne Pickett, artist and CEO of Historic Eastside Community Development Corp.
• Rona Brinlee, owner of The BookMark in Neptune Beach
• Virginia Chamlee, author of Big Thrift Energy: The Art and Thrill of Finding Vintage Treasures-Plus Tips for Making Old Feel New
• Erica La Spada, director of volunteer and community engagement, United Way of Northeast Florida

The National Retail Federation projects an increase in holiday spending this year, despite economic uncertainty. It predicts U.S. consumers will spend over $1 trillion in November and December. We talk to a financial expert with surefire ways to keep your budget intact, from strategic saving to avoiding your worst impulses to "buy now, save later" plans.

Guest: Victoria Jones, member success manager, RadiFi Credit Union. 

Finally, Carole Coplan is an author whose bi-coastal life is reflected in her new book for children,Orangey and Ricky: Country Cat, City Cat. The story centers on an unlikely yet transformative friendship. Copan, a former corporate attorney turned author and vineyard owner, discusses how her new book mirrors her own experience.

Guest: Carole Coplan, author of Orangey and Ricky: Country Cat, City Cat.

Rona Brinlee's Holiday Book List:

• Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf, by Greg Wolfe
• The Christmas Sweater, by Jan Brett
• Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm, by Charlie Mackesy
• The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus: The Mathematics of Christmas, by Dr. Hannah Fry and Dr. Thomas Oleron Evans
• Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham
• What We Can Know, by Ian McEwan
• The American Revolution: An Intimate History, by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns.
• The Land of Sweet Forever, by Harper Lee
• The Widow, by John Grisham
• The Secret of Secrets, by Dan Brown
• The Great Mann, by Kyra Davis Lurie
• Slow Horses, by Mick Herron

From the resuscitated proposal to drill off Florida’s coast to the dismissed criminal indictments against the president’s enemies, we discuss the latest local, state and federal political news with Chris Hand. Among our topics: A judge’s dismissal of two major Trump-endorsed indictments, questions about whether Alligator Alcatraz will devour the state’s projected budget surplus and concerns over the racist imagery invoked by Florida’s latest GOP gubernatorial contender James Fishback.

Guest:

• Chris Hand, government expert, attorney and co-author with the late Sen. Bob Graham of America, the Owner's Manual.

Then, what a trio of stranded astronauts tells us about the burgeoning problem of space junk. We ask our resident spaceman to help us explore the known and unknown hazards.

Guest:

• Eddie Whisler, director of planetarium and outreach at the Museum of Science and History.

Nearly half of Floridians report experiencing sleeplessness, many relying on over-the-counter drugs and supplements like melatonin to catch up on rest. We meet a sleep psychologist who recommends ditching medications and tech gimmicks to nurture our relationship with sleep. She offers a gentler approach to “sleep hygiene” for those who suffer from insomnia and sleep deprivation and joins us ahead of her TEDxJacksonville presentation Jan. 17.

Guest:

• Dr. Jade Wu, sleep psychologist and author of Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications.

Then, a storyteller with a deep respect for public dialogue, Jenn White has been the guiding voice behind 1A since stepping into the host’s chair in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She creates a space fostering open dialogue around shifting politics and cultural fault lines — tackling questions that don’t have easy or comfortable answers. We talk to her about the art of civil discourse, the evolution of 1A and the current challenges facing public media.

Guest:

• Jenn White, host of the NPR program 1A.

And, the Jaguars took on the Cardinals in Arizona Sunday afternoon, barely clinching a win in overtime. We recap the team's performance from the quarterback's missteps to the defense's perseverance, and discuss whether the Jags have enough gas to make it to the playoffs as the team deals with a sizable injury list.

Guest:

• Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster for WJCT News4JAX.

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

• The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office quells unfounded rumors of a serial killer — but how does law enforcement typically handle such crimes?
• There are more tenants in the urban core, but Downtown still trails the rest of the state.
• A state lawmaker is accused of stealing FEMA funds for her own personal and political use.
• The House Ethics Committee reopens an investigation into beleaguered congressman Cory Mills.
• And the city’s DOGE committee continues to dig into Jacksonville’s telehealth provider.

Guests:

• Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today.
• Randy DeFoor, former Jacksonville City Council member.
• Frank Powers, former assignment manager at News4Jax.
• Dan Scanlan, reporter at WJCT News.

And, the local screenwriter behind a quirky holiday crime film. Dial It Back follows the antics of a blended family including two college-aged kids and their newly married parents. Amid family drama and the impending holidays, they also have to reckon with being taken hostage by mobsters. We ask the Ponte Vedra Beach resident about how the film is loosely based on her own experiences.

Guest:

• Erin Keefer, screenwriter of Christmas comedy Dial It Back.

It’s been called the “velvet rope” economy — a dividing line between those experiencing a friction-free life of privileged access and those enduring a less well-financed reality. Behavioral economist Peter Atwater says the divide has grown more pronounced since the pandemic, in what he calls a “K-shaped” recovery, with some moving steadily up the economic ladder and others headed straight down. We ask Atwater how uncertainty and lack of control affects not just our economic confidence but also our human interactions, for better or worse.

Guest:

• Peter Atwater, adjunct lecturer in economics at William & Mary, author of The Confidence Map: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity. 

Then, as hate and misperceptions about different groups become increasingly prevalent online and in social media echo chambers, a Jacksonville content creator is trying to use division as a means to better understand one another. John Filson believes that hate and harm can be avoided if we broaden our own world and perspective. We ask him about his digital strategy and how curiosity about our differences can preserve our humanity.

Guest:

• John Filson, content creator and social bridge-builder.

And, the legacy of late folk great Gamble Rogers has been celebrated at an annual Folk Festival since 1995. This year, organizers created a monthly series of concerts in his name, featuring a range of performers from Richie Havens sideman Walter Parks to acclaimed folk punk musician Sunny War. We caught up with bluegrass singer/songwriter Jordan Tice. In addition to performing alongside comedian and accomplished banjo player Steve Martin (with the Steep Canyon Rangers) and being a member of bluegrass supergroup Hawtail, Tice has churned out progressive bluegrass and folk solo work for the past two decades. He will perform at The Waterworks in St. Augustine on Saturday.

Guest:

• Jordan Tice, singer/songwriter.