The Florida Gulf Coast University Jazz Combo returns to our studios for a live on-air performance! Members of this quartet are considered some of the top musicians at FGCU’s Bower School of Music & the Arts . We’re joined by FGCU’s Emmy nominated Director of Jazz Studies, Brandon Robertson , along with his students Isaiah Suriel on alto saxophone, Jose Cordero on flute and piano, Miguel Azcuy on percussion, Steven Giro on trumpet and Jonathan Taylor on bass.

New information about whale shark behavior, biology, and ecology is being released today in the scientific journal BioScience . The 22 year long citizen-science effort has given researchers a whole new understanding of the global behavior of endangered whale sharks. We’re joined by one of those researchers. Dr. Robert Hueter is a Senior Scientist and Director of the Center for Shark Research, and the Perry W. Gilbert Chair in Shark Research, at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota .

Florida has the most invasive species of any state in the country, and h alf of the insects, reptiles, arachnids and crustaceans imported into the United States come through Florida ports, that’s according to researchers at the University of Florida . So, in an effort to identify invasive insects before they become prolific, UF/IFAS has created the Florida First Detectors program . The idea is to train stakeholders like Florida Master Gardeners, nursery managers, and farmers to identify invasive

While the opioid epidemic continues to grow across southwest Florida, in Lee County overdoses increased by more than 800 percent over the past four years -- that’s according to data from LeeHealth . There is a new trend in efforts to help people struggling with addiction, opioid or otherwise, called Sober Homes .

Mexico’s new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador , who is often referred to as just López Obrador, or AMLO, has for years been a perpetual outsider and critic of the long-standing governing consensus in Mexico. But, he won the country's Presidential Election back in July and is going to officially take office this Saturday, December 1st. This all is happening at what you might call an interesting time when it comes to the US.-Mexico relationship. So, we’re sitting down with Dr. Rick Coughlin

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular over the past 15 or so years. These small, handheld electronic devices simulate the feeling of smoking by heating a liquid to generate an aerosol, which is commonly called "vaping." The liquid in e-cigarettes often contains nicotine, but not always.

It’s Zinfandel day - a day set aside to recognize the Zinfandel grape which is responsible for not only for the sweet version of rosé wine, it’s also considered by many to be the “original” American grape. Our Grape Minds podcast hosts Julie Glenn and Gina Birch talk about the real origin of this variety, some history of American grapevines, and find a few pairings for your holiday table.

Florida’s newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried will become the first woman to ever hold the office, and she’s the first Democrat elected to the Florida cabinet in more than a decade. She’ll replace outgoing Commissioner Adam Putnam in January. Fried is an attorney and life-long Floridian who previously headed the Felony Division of the Alachua County Public Defender’s Office. In the private sector, she also worked on behalf of Florida homeowners facing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently accepting comments on Habitat Conservation Plan , or HCP, that would allow new development on about 45,000 acres of rural land in Easter Collier County. That comment period runs until December 3rd. Last week we had someone on the show from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida , which vigorously opposes this draft plan. But, not all environmental groups agree with that perspective. After that show we got an email saying there are a number of

We’re checking back in with our panel of realtors to get the latest on southwest Florida’s real estate market. According to FloridaRealtors.org , the market remains strong, with new home sales, median prices, and the number of new listings still on the rise . But, some economists are predicting a slowdown sooner than later. But, does that apply to us here in Southwest Florida, as our local market is pretty much an outlier as compared to much of the rest of the country?