The Palm Beach Current

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris Moody sits down with Elizabeth Holmes, candidate for Florida House District 94 and a Palm Beach County educator with 16 years of teaching experience, to discuss her journey into politics and the issues she believes are most important to local families.

Holmes shares how her experiences in the classroom inspired her to run for office, from witnessing the challenges students face to confronting low teacher pay and the growing cost of living. She outlines her priorities for Tallahassee, including insurance reform, affordable workforce housing, stronger public schools, accessible healthcare, and better resources for students with disabilities.

The conversation also explores the challenges facing communities such as Belle Glade and Pahokee, the importance of keeping local decision-making in the hands of residents, and concerns surrounding development and AI data centers. Holmes explains why she believes investing in teachers and public education is essential to building stronger communities and ensuring every child has access to opportunity.

Tune in for a conversation about education, affordability, and the future of Palm Beach County, as Holmes discusses her vision for representing the community and her commitment to staying accessible and accountable to the people she hopes to serve.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with Amy Kight, CEO of Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, to explore the vital work being done to protect and rehabilitate Palm Beach County's wildlife.

Amy shares her lifelong passion for animals and the more than 20 years she has spent at Bush Wildlife, from animal care and education to executive leadership. She takes us behind the scenes of what happens when an injured wild animal arrives at the sanctuary—from the initial examination and diagnostics to rehabilitation and, when possible, release back into the wild.

We also discuss some of the biggest challenges facing local wildlife, including development, habitat loss, fishing-line entanglements, vehicle collisions, and human interaction. Amy explains why many animals that appear to need help are actually best left alone, shares the heartwarming story of a baby sandhill crane finding a new family, and reveals some surprising facts about rabbits, opossums, birds, alligators, and even the elusive Florida panther.

Amy also talks about Bush Wildlife's new 19.4-acre Jupiter Farms campus, the expanded rehabilitation facilities and flight complex, the organization's partnership with Loggerhead Marinelife Center to train future wildlife veterinarians, and her vision for the sanctuary's future.

Most importantly, Amy explains how everyday residents can become better stewards of Palm Beach County's environment—from driving carefully around wildlife and securing garbage to planting native species and simply educating themselves.

It's a fascinating conversation about conservation, community, leadership, and the small actions we can all take to make a big difference for the wildlife we share our home with.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with Travis Conway, Executive Director of the Edna Runner Education Center, to learn how a longtime Jupiter community institution is expanding its mission and changing the lives of local children.

Named after Travis's aunt, Edna Runner—known as the "unofficial Black mayor of Jupiter"—the center has spent nearly 40 years providing education, support, mentorship, and a safe haven for children and families in the Limestone Creek community. Travis shares Edna's powerful legacy and explains how her commitment to helping children continues to shape the organization today.

Travis also takes us inside the center's new elementary school, which launched with kindergarten and first grade and is designed to grow one grade at a time. With a strong emphasis on phonics and literacy, small classroom sizes, certified teachers, STEM, art, music, Spanish, and hands-on learning, the school is creating an educational experience focused on both academic achievement and the whole child.

The conversation also explores the center's monthly real-world learning experiences, partnerships with local organizations, its Step Up scholarship model, and the importance of giving children opportunities to experience everything Palm Beach County has to offer.

Beyond education, Travis discusses the growing issue of food insecurity among local families and the center's partnership with the Quantum Foundation to provide healthy meals, fresh produce, and summer food assistance. He shares why something as simple as a $25 grocery gift card can make an enormous difference for a family in need.

From carrying on his aunt's legacy to building the next generation of the Edna Runner Education Center, Travis offers an inspiring look at the power of community, education, and simply showing up for the people who need it most.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with West Palm Beach community advocate and Flagler Drive Preservation Initiative founder Linda Grosz for an in-depth conversation about the rapid growth and development reshaping the city.

Linda shares her perspective from the North End, where new high-rise developments and construction are transforming the waterfront. She discusses the challenges residents are experiencing, from traffic and parking to road conditions, construction impacts, and questions surrounding infrastructure and development fees.

We also explore Linda's mission to preserve the character and scenic beauty of Flagler Drive and her efforts to build support among neighborhood associations and residents. She explains why she believes community involvement is essential to shaping West Palm Beach's future and shares what she has learned while advocating for greater transparency and accountability.

Plus, Linda talks about some of her favorite local restaurants, a local business that went above and beyond to help her restore her historic home, and why she believes small acts of community involvement can make a meaningful difference.

Topics include:

• The rapid development of West Palm Beach's North End

• The Flagler Drive Preservation Initiative

• Growth, infrastructure, traffic, and road conditions

• Community advocacy and neighborhood coalitions

• Development and impact fees

• The importance of preserving Palm Beach County's character

• Linda's favorite local restaurants and businesses

Tune in for a candid conversation about growth, preservation, and the people working to shape the future of West Palm Beach.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with local author Susannah Marren to discuss her latest novel, Palm Beach Confidential—a story of family, secrets, loyalty, betrayal, and the pressures of maintaining appearances in the glamorous world of Palm Beach.

Susannah takes us inside the Barrows family, a powerful matriarch and her three adult daughters whose lives begin to unravel when secrets from the past threaten everything they've built. We explore the inspiration behind the novel, the complicated dynamics between mothers and daughters, female friendships, aging, belonging, and the expectations society places on women.

Susannah also shares how her decades of research into women's lives and relationships have influenced her fiction, her journey from wanting to become a writer as a child to becoming a published author and professor, and why she chose to write her fiction under the name Susannah Marren. She offers insight into her creative process and advice for aspiring writers about finding the time and courage to tell the stories they feel compelled to write.

Plus, we talk about Susannah's nonfiction work, the real-life experiences that shape her characters, her connection to Palm Beach, the importance of independent local businesses, and what readers can expect from another Palm Beach novel already in the works.

It's a fascinating conversation about the people, relationships, secrets, and stories that exist beneath Palm Beach's glamorous exterior.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with Dre Baldwin, founder and CEO of Work On Your Game, for a wide-ranging conversation about professional sports, entrepreneurship, leadership, discipline, and the power of execution.

Dre shares how he went from barely making his high school basketball team to building a nine-year professional basketball career—not simply through talent, but through sales, marketing, preparation, consistency, and the willingness to create his own opportunities. He also explains how the mindset he developed as an athlete ultimately became the foundation for his work helping entrepreneurs and business leaders perform at a higher level.

The conversation dives deep into Dre's philosophy that execution is the bridge between strategy and results, why many businesses are solving the wrong problems, and how leaders can diagnose the root cause before trying to prescribe a solution. Dre also breaks down the difference between motivation, discipline, and organizational structure—and explains how an "architecture problem" can prevent people from succeeding even when they are doing everything correctly.

Chris and Dre even put the philosophy into practice with a real-time business exercise, using The Palm Beach Currentas a case study to demonstrate how to work backward from big goals into measurable targets, specific actions, and accountability.

They also explore "power presence," why leadership presence can be developed through practice, how successful people can continue raising their standards after achieving financial or professional success, and why entrepreneurs may actually need more constraints—not more freedom—to consistently execute.

Plus, Dre shares some of his favorite South Florida spots and businesses, including Pura Vida, Niles Berry Farm, Brickell Cleaners, BoxR Gym, and the Palm Beach Zoo.

If you're an entrepreneur, athlete, business leader, or simply someone looking to stop overthinking and start executing, this conversation offers plenty to take away.

Listen now and learn why sometimes the next level isn't about getting more information—it's about working on your game.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with Heather Needleman, Senior Litigation Counsel at Radar Law Group, to break down the proposed amendment in plain English. Heather explains how the proposed changes would increase the homestead exemption, what that could mean for taxable property values, and why the impact could look very different from one city or county to another.

We also explore some of the biggest questions surrounding the proposal, including how municipalities could respond to reduced property-tax revenue, what could happen to services like police, fire, infrastructure, sanitation, and community programs, and the potential effects on unincorporated areas.

Heather also shares insight into homestead exemptions, primary-residence requirements, code enforcement, property liens, and the importance of understanding your rights and responsibilities as a homeowner.

With the ballot language still being revised, there are more questions than answers. Heather offers one consistent piece of advice: get your information directly from your local government and find out how the proposal could affect your specific community.

Tune in for an informative conversation designed to help Palm Beach County residents better understand this complicated issue before it reaches the ballot.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with the newly crowned Miss America, Regan Hutsell, for an inspiring conversation about her journey from professional dancer and Rockette to the national stage.

Regan takes us behind the scenes of her Miss America experience in West Palm Beach, sharing what it was like competing alongside 51 other women, the genuine friendships and support that developed throughout the week, and the emotional moments leading up to her crowning. She also reflects on her time exploring Palm Beach County, from a catamaran ride and food tours to visiting the Palm Beach Zoo and Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

But Regan's story goes far beyond the crown. She opens up about the challenges she faced as a dancer, including multiple knee surgeries and an eating disorder, and how those experiences ultimately inspired her "Your Body Is Your Home" initiative. Regan explains how changing the way she viewed her body became a turning point in her recovery and how she hopes to help others develop confidence, self-worth, and a healthier relationship with themselves.

She also discusses her experience as a Rockette, choosing to compete with her natural curls, the importance of authenticity, and her goal for her year as Miss America: bringing hope to as many people as possible.

From the stage at Radio City Music Hall to the Miss America crown, Regan Hutsell shares a story of perseverance, authenticity, community, and hope — and why sometimes the most important journey is learning to truly feel at home in yourself.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris sits down with multifaceted Palm Beach County artist Craig McInnes for a fascinating conversation about creativity, murals, music, storytelling, and the business of being an artist.

Craig shares the journey that took him from discovering his passion for art at a young age to building a career spanning painting, illustration, large-scale murals, music, and his longtime role as creative director for Fright Nights at the South Florida Fairgrounds. He opens up about the creative process behind his murals, including how he transforms a client's vision into a finished piece, and the freedom that comes with creating art without boundaries.

The conversation also explores Craig's signature artistic imagery—including clowns, arrows, and keyholes—and the deeper meanings behind them. He discusses how frustration, helplessness, gratitude, and curiosity influence his work, as well as the role art can play in connecting people and encouraging them to see the world from a different perspective.

Craig and Chris also dive into the challenges and impermanence of public murals, the story behind his "Interconnected"mural for the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, and what Craig would create if he were given one completely unrestricted wall anywhere in Palm Beach County.

From painting walls to designing haunted attractions and performing music, Craig's creative career has taken him in countless directions. He explains how working with Fright Nights taught him to think about what resonates with an audience and how those lessons have influenced his work as an artist.

Plus, Craig gives a glimpse into some of his favorite Palm Beach County spots and talks about why supporting local artists and creative businesses is so important to preserving the culture of the community.

Tune in for a conversation with one of Palm Beach County's uniquely creative voices and discover the stories, ideas, and inspiration behind the art shaping South Florida.

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris Moody sits down with A.J. Titus, president of Signarama and executive director of United Franchise Group, for a conversation about family business, entrepreneurship, franchising, leadership, and the rapid evolution of Palm Beach County.

A.J. shares what it was like growing up in a family deeply rooted in franchising, from debates around the dinner table to working in the West Palm Beach Signarama location and eventually becoming president of the company. He reflects on the lessons he learned from his father, Ray Titus, including the importance of persistence, passion, hard work, and earning your place as a leader—even within a family business.

The conversation dives into how Signarama evolved from traditional hand-painted signs to a technology-driven business incorporating digital signage, 3D printing, and AI. A.J. also explains what makes a successful franchise owner, the advantages and trade-offs of buying a franchise versus starting a business from scratch, and how a proven system can help entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes and build long-term value.

A.J. also discusses the balance between maintaining a consistent global brand while giving franchise owners the freedom to adapt to their local markets. He shares his perspective on AI, the importance of personal relationships in business, and why simply showing up, working hard, and connecting with people can go a long way.

Finally, A.J. talks about growing up in West Palm Beach, the transformation of Palm Beach County, the area's growing business community, and what it will take to attract and retain the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.

It's an insightful conversation about building a lasting family business, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, embracing change, and the people and businesses helping shape the future of Palm Beach County.