First Coast Connect

Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with former CIA operative and author T. L. Williams about his new novel and Chinese cyber hacking. We also heard from TapImmune CEO Glynn Wilson about a breast cancer study at the Mayo Clinic. WJCT’s Indie Endeavor host Ryan Benk and 1904 Music Hall co-owner Jason Hunnicut announced a new partnership at the downtown venue.

Our weekly Media Roundtable featured David Bauerlein , reporter for the Florida Times-Union; Claire Goforth , editor of Folio Weekly; Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk . We spoke with Peggy Bulger , the author of “Stetson Kennedy, Applied Folklore and Cultural Advocacy.” Host Melissa Ross spoke by phone with Branden Miller, creator of YouTube sensation “Joanne the Scammer” and we spoke with City Year AmeriCorps recruitment manager Mia Francis and

Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Cultural Council executive director Tony Allegretti about U.S. News and World Report ranking Jacksonville 45th on the list of best U.S. cities to live in. We also heard from Douglas Anderson School for the Arts principal Jackie Cornelius about this year’s Extravaganza.

Ahead of Wednesday evening’s Community Thread on the possible expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to cover the LGBT community, we look at how the politics of the issue has changed in the past few years on “First Coast Connect” with University of North Florida political science professor Matt Corrigan and WJCT reporter Lindsey Kilbride. We also spoke with Melanie Stewart Bentley, the clinical research coordinator with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of

Tuesday on “First Coast Connect,” as part of WJCT’s on going Community Thread looking into the area’s Opioid epidemic, we spoke with Dr. Scott Miles, medical director of Coastal Community Behavioral Health in St. Mary’s. Georgia. We also heard an interview with Florida Blue CEO Pat Geraghty about his trip to the World Economic Forum, also known as Davos. Naomi Sheridan and Jeff Tawney with Friday Musicale had a preview of next Saturday’s fundraiser featuring The Chris Thomas Band, and ahead of

Monday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Mike Binder, director of the Public Opinion Research Laboratory at the University of North Florida, about his new poll on the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. We also heard from Baptist Health cardiologist Dr. Pamela Rama about American Heart Month. Humana Vice President Dr. John Montgomery and health solutions executive Laura Nolan joined the show give an update on the company’s Bold Goal initiative, and Cole Pepper talked about the historic comeback

Friday on First Coast Connect, our weekly Media Roundtable. Our panel included Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth , Florida Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein , blogger Fred Mathews and WJCT business analyst John Burr. We also spoke Jacksonville Library director Barbara Gubbin about the this year’s Jax Reads initiative with the book “The Namesake.” Dr. Amy Pollak from the Mayo Clinic and heart attack survivor Kathy Ellis talked about Go Red for Women Day, as part of Heart Disease Awareness

Thursday on First Coast Connect, 4th District medical examiner Dr. Valerie Rao and Lt. Mark Rowley, quality improvement officer with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, talked about how the opioid epidemic is straining their offices. We also spoke by phone with Abe Gol about an upcoming NOVA episode dealing with the discovery of tunnels in Lithuania used by Jews to escape the Nazi’s during the Holocaust, and Niki Brunson and Dana Miller, organizers of Saturday’s Melanin Market and

Wednesday on First Coast Connect, we were joined by phone with Nagol Ghandnoosh , the author of a study by the Sentencing Project that finds those serving life terms in the U.S and Florida who are eligible for parole are less likely to earn their release than in the past. We also heard from local comedian Richard Cuff, who is kicking off an initiative to curb violence in Jacksonville. Ahead of Valentine’s Day we spoke with local matchmaker Renee Richel Steilberg about her upcoming event, “Love

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, we were joined by Downtown Investment Authority Executive Director Aundra Wallace and Board Chair Jim Bailey to bring us an update on several proposed downtown development projects. We also spoke with Donna Orender and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Director of Patrol and Enforcement Michelle Cook about this weekend’s Generation Works project. Travel blogger Judy Wells discussed two large travel shows in New York City.