The Community Podcast

The Parramore District is the newest Main Street district in the City of Orlando, branching off from the City District and becoming its own district this February. Executive director Natasha Gaye comes on The Community Podcast to discuss her plans for the district and explains the mission of historic preservation and economic development in Main… Continue reading Episode 29

Tommy, Debbie and Nick break down the hot news from the June edition, including an in-depth look at the pizza ovens of Edgewater Drive, A La Cart’s expansion into the SoDo District and other new business openings. Nick also explains the plans to convert the Ambassador Hotel into affordable housing and Tommy updates listeners on… Continue reading Episode 28

The Community Podcast is brought to you by the Community Paper. Join publisher Debbie Gunter and managing editor Tommy Cardinal as they discuss what’s happening around downtown Orlando and College Park.

Tommy heads to the WMFE studios to get to know local NPR station’s newly appointed president and general manager, Judith Smelser. The two talk about their paths to journalism, wine, road trips and what Smelser’s new role on the other side of the newsroom looks like.

In this episode, Debbie, Tommy and Nick discuss what events from the Community Calendar they’re looking forward to in March, the formation of the Parramore District, how the Packing District development is repurposing old buildings, the redrawing of commissioner district maps and the latest from city council including the latest on the Edgewater Drive redesign.

In this episode, Nick tells us about the new YMCA being built in the Packing District, Logan discusses the FDOT’s plans to reconnect the Griffin Park Housing Project to the Parramore neighborhood, Debbie breaks down the crazy real estate market, and Tommy tells us what city council is up to.

Debbie and Nick interview author and longtime Orlando resident Joanie Schirm about her latest book, Steadfast Ink: The Journey Within. This is the third book she has written about her father’s experiences escaping the Nazis in Czechoslovakia, working at a hospital in China where he met his wife, and eventually moving to Central Florida with… Continue reading Episode 23

In this episode, Tommy, Debbie, and Nick discuss the deals made to move the newest mixed-use apartment project in Ivanhoe Village forward, the science behind juice diets, and the planned renovations for the Wells’ Built Museum. They also discuss their new year’s resolutions and changes to The Community Paper being implemented in 2022.

A look back at the most interesting stories of 2021.

Debbie, Tommy and Nick discuss the start of the holiday season and some of the iconic holiday decorations in downtown Orlando. The three also discuss what the future holds for the historic OUC building in Ivanhoe Village, the redesigns of Albert and Dartmouth Parks in College Park, how to help J. Henry’s after the iconic… Continue reading Episode 20