First Coast Connect

Of all the hardships of dealing with a childhood cancer diagnosis, some of the most challenging are also the most mundane: like the cost of groceries. For many families, the expense of caring for a child, traveling for treatment and scaling back work hours can quickly translate into food insecurity. The problem is this year’s focus of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, which found that more than a third of Jay Fund families in Jacksonville are food insecure, far higher than the national average for pediatric oncology families. The Super Bowl-winning coach and his daughter discuss the foundation’s 31st year of helping families coping with childhood cancers.

Guests:

• Coach Tom Coughlin, Jay Fund Foundation president.
• Keli Coughlin, Jay Fund Foundation CEO.
• Sydney and Aundrey Jackson Jr., parents of 6-year-old cancer patient Saige.

Then, grants and new gear are helping first responders in St. Augustine and across the country. Created in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to provide food and supplies to depleted first responders, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation celebrates 20 years and a $100 million milestone.

Guests:

• Carlos Aviles, fire chief for the St. Augustine Fire Department.

• Robin Peters, executive director of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.

And, we get a September check-in with our resident spaceman at a time of peak Saturn viewing. The ringed planet was at opposition Sept. 21, placing Earth between Saturn and the Sun — the closest and brightest it will be all year. In the night sky, Saturn will be visible to the naked eye throughout the month, and its rings can be seen with a small telescope. We talk all things Saturnine, including the 13-year Cassini mission to explore the planet’s atmosphere and its iconic rings. We also get a look at what pop-ups MOSH has planned during its interstitial era, before the new museum opens in 2026.

Guest:

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

Once a commercial hub in the days of steamboat shipping, Palatka (Timucuan for "cow crossing") has weathered a buffeting mix of social, cultural and economic winds over the past century. But the small town is experiencing something of a downtown renaissance, with riverfront development, Main Street investment, a burgeoning bed and breakfast scene and even an acclaimed craft brewery. We talk to the mayor about changing perceptions of Palatka.

Guest:

• Robbi Correa, mayor of Palatka, owner of Lemon Street Mercantile.
  

Then, what began as a small rice farm has evolved into a farm-to-table adventure, complete with high-end, locally sourced dining, farm tours and retail and wholesale operations. And this fall, Congaree and Penn is broadening its offerings to include a pumpkin patch, live music, a bakery and overnight lodging. We talk to the founder about transforming the family farm into a 330-acre regional agrotourism destination.

Guest:

• Scott Meyer, founder and manager of Congaree and Penn.
  

And, the Friends of Talbot Islands State Parks marks its sixth year of helping support the network of seven state parks in northern Duval and southern Nassau counties. In honor of National Public Lands Day, the group hosts the 6th Annual Talbot Tidewater Celebration. The event includes guided nature and bird hikes, mock dolphin and manatee rescues, a fossil and shark tooth exhibit, SUP (stand up paddleboard) yoga demonstrations, kids’ crafts and geocaching, as well as a Junior Ranger Angler Fishing Clinic. We talk to organizers about how the annual celebration supports the state parks system.

Guests:

• Fred Richards, executive director of the Timucuan Parks Foundation.
• Sherri Hair, events coordinator, Friends of Talbot Islands State Parks. 

Our nation’s "epidemic of loneliness" is no longer just a theory, but a matter of medical fact, with multiple research studies showing isolation can be as damaging to our physical health as smoking. So what’s the cure? Increasingly, livable, walkable neighborhoods have been shown to be a balm to the crisis, by furthering social connection and community. Ahead of a local conference of planners and developers, we talk to a local new urbanist practitioner and advocate about the promise and pitfalls of placemaking.

Guests:

• Joel Embry, founder and developer of Amelia Park in Fernandina Beach.
  

Then, after a federal funding clawback that left a nearly $150 million hole in the construction budget for the city’s Emerald Trail, uncertainty looms. We talk to one of the project managers about whether the plan to connect 14 historic neighborhoods via a bike and pedestrian friendly linear park can still be completed — and on what timeline.

Guests:

• Kay Ehas, CEO at Groundwork Jacksonville.
  

And, a local nonprofit that describes itself as “small but mighty” celebrates 35 years of fighting hunger on the First Coast. Neither a food kitchen nor a food pantry, Waste Not Want Not connects surplus food with nearly 100 local distribution points. The group, which started with one person and a phone call, now “rescues” roughly 2 million pounds of food each year from 17 participating Publix, Trader Joe’s, Pepperidge Farms and BIMBO stores. Their fundraising gala features appearances by former Jacksonville Jaguars Tom McManus, Aaron Beasley and Donovin Darius.

Guests:

• Kathleen N. Spears, executive director, Waste Not Want Not.
  

Plus, an intense division rivalry ends in the Jaguars' favor, as the team beats the Houston Texans on Sunday at EverBank Stadium. We recap game highlights, lessons learned and what Game 3 portends for the team’s road ahead.

Guest:

• Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at WJXT News4Jax. 

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

• The state’s chief financial officer takes a granular interest in city finances, as a budget vote looms on Tuesday.
• A controversial Duval County jail death is under the microscope of federal investigators, as the FBI takes the lead on the case.
• The fallout over Charlie Kirk's death continues, as concerns about speech freedoms mount.
• JEA’s old home gets a new lease on life with a purchase offer from Live Oak Contracting.
  

Guests:

• Nate Monroe, executive editor at The Tributary.
• Randy DeFoor, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council member.
• Anthony Austin, anchor at First Coast News.
• David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union. 
  

Then, a local staging of a classic play adds a layer of creativity and compassion through the use of double-casting. Tennessee William’s groundbreaking 1944 script for The Glass Menagerie introduced audiences to the concept of a “memory play,” told through the narrator’s imperfect and emotional recollections. In its version, APEX Theatre employs actors with physical challenges and neurodiverse perspectives, sharing the lead roles with two other actors playing siblings Laura and Tom.

Guests:

• Ian Mairs, managing director at APEX Theatre.
• Jack Gallison, actor playing Tom.
• Sophie Somaru, actor playing Laura.
• Ailee Somaru, Sophie’s mom. 

A Mexican immigrant with his own remarkable story created a global nonprofit to foster equally unlikely transformations in health care. Now a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, “Dr. Q” as he is known, founded Mission:BRAIN with the goal of training neurosurgeons in far-flung places. The group recently celebrated success as Dr. Alieu Kamara became the first and only neurosurgeon in Sierra Leone, with training, equipment and support provided by the organization. Though he is just one doctor for 8 million people, he is already performing complex, lifesaving surgeries amid challenging conditions. We talk to Dr. Q about the organization’s evolution and his history of making the improbable real.

Guest:

• Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, co-founder and president, Mission:BRAIN.

Then, changing the narrative of the city by changing who tells the story. We preview the Front Porch History: Mapping Undiscovered Stories of Black Jacksonville Artist Talk which features both a research project and an artistic undertaking staged at the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum at 2 p.m. Sunday. The stories shared are personal, but also political — a reaction, organizers say, to the "Stop WOKE Act," which alters how Black history is taught in Florida schools. The stories promise to evoke a lesser-known side of local history and its residents, as well as celebrating some city icons. The exhibit will be on display through January 2026.

Guests:

• Dana Maule, executive director of Northside Pride.
• Kelsi Hasden, founder of Rooted.
• Vic Alexander, artist and storyteller, Elevated Media.
• Coach Alfred Austin, former Ribault High girls basketball coach and FHSAA Hall of Fame inductee.

And, showing your support for public media has never been more valued — and necessary. Despite new financial realities ushered in by state and federal budget cuts, WJCT Public Media remains committed to serving the community on air and online, from educational television to news programming. We kick off a brief pledge drive and give you an opportunity to show your support by calling (904) 353-9528 or going to wjct.org/sustain.

Guest:

• David Luckin, WJCT station manager and Electro Lounge host.

A vote Tuesday could be enormously consequential for city health care providers, and potentially the health of many city residents. The Jacksonville City Council is poised to remove millions in spending on local health care programs, an effort to make budgetary space for a ⅛-mill property tax rollback. Although council members voted to restore some proposed cuts after a concerted campaign by local providers and advocates, the remaining cuts would stall one of the mayor’s signature issues and affect primarily poor and low-income residents.

Guests:

• Jennifer Ryan, CEO, Volunteers in Medicine. 
• Angela Strain, CEO, We Care Jax.
• Mia Jones, CEO, AGAPE Family Health.

Then, the 2026 election season officially gets underway as a local attorney and civic leader throws his hat into the ring. We introduce you to Democrat Michael Kirwan, the District 4 candidate who announced his run live on First Coast Connect. Kirwan spoke about what drove him to seek a position in Congress, amid what he calls "chaotic" times in Washington, D.C. District 4 includes Nassau and Clay counties and most of Duval’s Westside, and is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean.

Guest:

• Michael Kirwan, candidate, U.S. Congress, Florida District 4.

And, though microbreweries and craft beers dominate the modern First Coast landscape, the beer industry has deep roots in Jacksonville, dating to the 1800s. We talk to the author of a new pictorial history of beer in Jacksonville, from the early saloons, to the mid-20th century dominance of the Anheuser-Busch plant, to the arrival of the first microbrews at River City Brewing Co. in the 1990s. In addition to a loving look at a favorite city beverage, the book is full of period photos, including a bustling Bay Street bar scene, a historic shot of the old Two Spot on Moncrief Road and a picture of Pete’s Bar founder Peter Jensen, after he made the transaction from bootlegger to bar owner.

Guest:

• Andrew R. Nicholas, historian and author of Brewing in Jacksonville.

The assassination of a political firebrand has exposed — and reinforced — the power of the algorithm, as partisans and the apolitical alike are drawn into heated, often hateful debates. We talk to a local campus leader about how his group is working to bring civility to campus conversations. We also discuss how to do hard conversations right in an age of hyperpartisanship and zero-sum political thinking.

Guests:

• Gabriel James, Flagler College student, founder of Pathway America chapter at Flagler College.  
• Zuzanna Pankowski, strategic initiatives officer, Pathway America. 
• Michael Binder, political science professor at the University of North Florida.
• Elizabeth Andersen, CEO of OneJax.

Then, a 2023 report by the Florida Forest Service finds that trees are disappearing fast across the First Coast — and so are the benefits their canopies provide. In a discussion at WJCT Studios on Wednesday, “ADAPT: State of the Canopy” panelists will discuss the impacts that a depleted tree canopy has on the region and how to ensure the future of sufficient tree cover in Northeast Florida. If you want to see the tree canopy and planned projects where you live, you can search by neighborhood here.

Guests:

• Jessica Palombo, editor, Jacksonville Today.
• Lisa Grubba, executive director, Greenscape of Jacksonville.
• Jonathan Colborn, urban forestry manager, city of Jacksonville. 
• Joe Anderson, arborist and vegetative specialist at JEA.

And, a percussionist regarded as one of the world’s greatest conga players is coming to the First Coast. Grammy Award-winning percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, aka “Mañenguito,” is revered in musical circles for his hand-drumming technique, blending Latin jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms, and his professional CV includes sharing the stage with Dizzie Gilespie, Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, Mickey Hart, Paul Simon, Phish and Art Blakey. We sit down with Hidalgo ahead of his performance at The Bier Hall at Intuition Ale Works at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Guest:

• Giovanni Hildago, Grammy Award-winning percussionist.

Is it time to add a Category 6 to the hurricane rating scale? A new study by researchers at the University of South Florida says yes. The existing storm classification system doesn’t include rainfall or storm surge risks, which can cause catastrophic damage and are responsible for more than 80% of hurricane-related deaths. We talk to two local, lifelong meteorologists about how adapting to a warming planet may mean expanding the hurricane scale and possibly even lengthening the season.

Guests:

• Tim Deegan, former chief meteorologist at First Coast News.
• Lewis Turner, chief meteorologist at First Coast News.

Then, Frisbee golf gives sober living a boost. We meet the organizer behind DISC Jax, a social, competitive and sober nonprofit that helps sustain the work of sober living houses on the First Coast. The group’s acronym stands for Dudes Impacting Sober Communities, and its stated mission is to create community in the world of recovery while “creating a space built on connection, wellness, and a shared sense of purpose.”

Guests:

• Michael Fisher, co-founder and vice president of DISC Jax Inc.

And, it was a Week 2 proving ground for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. We get a Monday morning recap from WJXT Sportscaster Alessandra Pontbriand.

Guest:

• Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at WJXT News4Jax.

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

• A chaotic City Council meeting included multiple do-over votes, ad hominem attacks and a four-member walkout — and still, the future of the budget remains uncertain.  
• Law enforcement across the state stops enforcing a ban on the open carry of weapons.
• Former Mayor Lenny Curry says he’s not running for reelection, but he’s sure being vocal about city business.

Guests:

• Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today.
• Robin Lumb, former Jacksonville City Council member.
• Jim Piggott, former City Hall reporter at News4Jax.
• Christina Burgess, reporter at First Coast News.

Then, local talent takes the stage at nearly two dozen locations around St. Augustine as part of the ninth annual Sing Out Loud festival. We talk to two local artists (including our own multitalented First Coast Connect producer) to preview the four-weekend Local Artist Showcase, in which regional artists perform free indie, hip hop, Americana and bluegrass concerts along with the festival’s national headliners.

Guests:

• Darren Ronan, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
• Stacey Bennett, singer-songwriter, Folk is People.

A budget season like no other: We ask Jacksonville’s mayor about the dramatic standoff at Tuesday’s contentious City Council meeting over spending on DEI and immigration. We also discuss the groundswell of opposition to a tax rollback from civic leaders and public safety advocates, and the possibility of using city incentives for a Southside surf park.

Guest:

• Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

Then, “piecemakers” of a different sort. We talk to the organizers of the upcoming Quiltfest Jacksonville about the artistry behind both traditional and modern versions of the craft. The event, which aims to inspire and showcase the art of local quilters, includes the work of seven sister quilting guilds from around the First Coast.

Guests:

• Alison McConoughey, Quiltfest chair and president of the Jax Modern Quilt Guild.
• Janis Turecky, Quiltfest chair.
• Randy Powers, Quilts of Valor representative.

And, The Neighborhood with Mr. Al Pete moves from the airwaves to the stage in a special live performance of the popular Saturday night WJCT show. In addition to mixing classic R&B with modern soul, hip-hop and jazz, the live edition includes special guests, storytelling and great conversation with the master DJ, performer and podcaster.

Guest:

• Mr. Al Pete, founder of the MPN Network and host of The Neighborhood with Mr. Al Pete.