Hidden Florida and Beyond

Travel writer, food journalist, and The Browardist co-founder Jesse Scott joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a wide-ranging conversation about journalism, travel, local culture, and why Broward County deserves a bigger spotlight.

The conversation dives into the launch of The Browardist, his mission to create a daily source for local news and culture, and the challenges of building independent media in an era dominated by social media, AI, and content scraping. Jesse opens up about plagiarism, the changing media landscape, and why real reporting and human storytelling still matter.

Of course, the travel stories get wild. From documenting life near the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia to participating in sauna rituals in Latvia, temple ceremonies in Japan, and exploring Colombia long before it became a trendy destination, Jesse has seen firsthand how travel challenges assumptions and changes perspectives.

The episode also turns hyper-local, covering Broward's restaurant boom, hidden neighborhood gems, the best places worth driving to, and his case for why the 954 is better than the 305. Along the way, there are debates about Brightline, naked restaurants, Broward city slogans, dive bars, and what makes South Florida such a unique place to call home.

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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In this special host-only episode of Hidden Florida & Beyond, Frankie, Amelia, and John sit down to talk about everything from baby teeth and colonoscopies to weed, weddings, parenting, and why golf might be the worst activity for couples.

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leonard Goldberg, founder and CEO of Gold Aviation Services, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the world of private aviation, high-net-worth clients, and what it really takes to operate a successful aircraft charter company for more than three decades. 

From managing private jets for celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and ultra-wealthy travelers to coordinating flights around the world on just a few hours' notice, Leonard shares how he built Gold Aviation from the ground up after unexpectedly finding himself out of a job. What started as a passion for flying eventually evolved into a business that now handles aircraft management, charter operations, maintenance, and acquisitions. 

The conversation dives into the realities of private aviation, including the strict confidentiality that comes with flying high-profile clients, how much it really costs to charter a jet, and the surprisingly small number of passengers most private flights actually carry. Leonard also shares stories about unusual requests, transporting everything from jewelry and wedding attire to beloved family pets, and what separates old-money clients from new-money ones.

Along the way, the discussion covers aviation myths, turbulence, aircraft safety, billionaire travel habits, private islands in the Bahamas, and some of the incredible logistics involved in moving people and cargo around the globe on a moment's notice.

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jill Kaye, owner of Fort Lauderdale's The Color Cove, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a candid, hilarious conversation about entrepreneurship, beauty trends, and the surprisingly chaotic world of professional hair care. 

The conversation dives into the reality of being a hairstylist, which, according to Jill, is often equal parts artist, entrepreneur, therapist, and secret keeper. From relationship drama and family secrets to clients accidentally opening the wrong thing on their phones, Jill has heard and seen just about everything. 

She also breaks down common hair myths, social media beauty trends, salon horror stories, why some celebrity-inspired looks are impossible to recreate, and the mistakes people make trying to save money with box dye and questionable online products.

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special host-only episode of Hidden Florida & Beyond, Frankie, Amelia, and John sit down to catch up, overshare, and accidentally learn way more about each other than anyone was expecting. 

Amelia explains why she found herself trying to sneak onto the set of a television show filmed in Fort Lauderdale, reveals her plan to become an extra just to recruit a guest for the podcast, and shares the details of her upcoming European honeymoon adventure which sparks a discussion about last names, future kids, and how every family seems to have a completely different set of rules about how all that is supposed to work.

The biggest surprise of the episode comes from John, who opens up about growing up in Gary, Indiana, surviving circumstances that could have taken his life in a very different direction, and why he's finally considering writing a book for his sons. 

We also discuss some childhood shoplifting stories, gambling in Malta, and why Frankie believes everyone is secretly calling him an idiot in professional emails.

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spero Georgedakis, founder and CEO of Good Greek Moving & Storage, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, policing, customer service, and the unexpected path from SWAT team officer to one of South Florida's most recognizable business owners.

Before building Good Greek into a nationally recognized moving and relocation company, Spero spent nearly a decade working in law enforcement, including as a member of a North Miami SWAT team. He shares how those experiences shaped his approach to business, leadership, hiring, and customer service, and why many of the lessons that apply to policing also apply to running a company with hundreds of employees.

The conversation dives deep into an industry most people don't think about until they're forced to move. Spero explains how rogue movers and brokerage scams operate, why moving fraud remains a major problem, and the simple steps consumers can take to avoid becoming victims of companies that hold belongings hostage for extra money.

He also reveals what it really takes to run a large moving operation, from training employees in Good Greek's in-house academy to handling everything from luxury homes and corporate relocations to specialty items most movers won't touch.

The conversation also touches on technology, AI, self-driving vehicles, company culture, leadership, and how a former introvert reluctantly became the face of a brand known throughout Florida for its commercials, reputation, and memorable marketing..

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley O, longtime South Florida radio personality and founder of Ashley O's Food Fight, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a funny, candid conversation about broadcasting, community impact, and the unexpected twists that shaped her career.

What started as an accidental path into radio turned into a career connecting with listeners across South Florida and Central Florida. Ashley shares how she worked her way through the industry, learned from some of the biggest personalities in local radio, and discovered that authenticity, not perfection, is what audiences connect with most.

The conversation dives into the changing state of radio, the rise of social media and AI, and why Ashley still believes local personalities and local storytelling matter. She talks about the unique connection radio creates with listeners, the responsibility that comes with having a platform, and why community-focused media still has a place in an increasingly digital world. 

Ashley also shares the story behindn Ashley O's Food Fight, a charity initiative that has helped erase student lunch debt for schools across South Florida. What began with helping a single school eventually turned into a broader effort to make sure students aren't going hungry while trying to learn.

And yes, the conversation eventually gets into one of the more surprising chapters of her life: her time on America's Next Top Model. Ashley reflects on the reality TV experience, what happened behind the scenes, and how different reality television really is compared to what audiences see on screen.

Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Camila Clark, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications for Visit Lauderdale, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a fascinating conversation about tourism, destination marketing, and what makes Greater Fort Lauderdale one of the most dynamic places to live, visit, and explore. 

With more than two decades in hospitality, tourism, and communications, Camila shares how a career built around creating memorable experiences led her from the hotel industry to helping tell the story of Broward County on a global stage. She explains why tourism isn’t just about hotel rooms and beaches. It’s about emotion, connection, and creating the kind of experiences that people remember long after they’ve gone home.

The conversation dives into what separates Greater Fort Lauderdale from other Florida destinations, why the region’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and how campaigns like Everyone Under the Sun and Never Lose Your Splash evolved to better reflect what visitors are actually looking for today.

Camila also pulls back the curtain on destination marketing, discussing everything from influencer partnerships and social media trends to the impact of major events like international soccer tournaments, concerts, conventions, and sporting events that continue to bring new visitors to South Florida.

Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special host-only episode of Hidden Florida & Beyond, Frankie, Amelia, and John sit down to do what they do best: go completely off the rails.

John reignites a grudge with a former coworker, Amelia recaps her first-ever Buc-ee's experience, and Frankie has reached a new milestone in getting old. They also talk about fantasy football punishments, Australian culture, parenting philosophies, and whether anyone should actually be taking life advice from this group.

Hidden Florida & Beyond... where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabby Allen, longtime in-arena host for the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, television personality, media host, and co-host of the I’m With Her Podcast, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for an honest conversation about sports, entertainment, mental health, and the reality of living life in the spotlight. 

Known to Panthers fans as one of the most recognizable voices inside Amerant Bank Arena, Gabby shares the unlikely path that took her from growing up in South Florida to working in professional sports, television, live events, and digital media. She talks about getting her start with the Panthers, the setbacks that came before her big break, and why persistence often matters more than talent when building a career in entertainment. 

The conversation goes far beyond sports. Gabby opens up about her struggles with depression, the pressures of constantly performing in public-facing roles, and the disconnect between how someone's life may appear on social media versus what they're actually experiencing behind the scenes. She explains why she and her co-host launched I’m With Her, a podcast centered on vulnerability, relationships, mental health, and the shared challenges people often feel they have to navigate alone.

She also shares stories from her career, including nerve-racking live hosting moments, working major sporting events, navigating viral internet attention, and learning how to keep performing even when life is throwing challenges her way off camera. Along the way, the conversation touches on confidence, imposter syndrome, burnout, friendship, family, and the importance of creating space for honest conversations

Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.