The federal government has tried many times to create a canal through Florida. When they finally got their way, more than just the environment paid the price. To make a path for their grand plans, a small town in Marion County made up of Black residents was intentionally wiped out of existence. This is their story.

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Thank you to Blue Nelson for all of his amazing help! Read Blue's paper on Santos right here.

Pick up your copy of the book DITCH OF DREAMS right here!

Looking for more? Check out these episodes!

Homosassa, Part One

Homosassa, Part Two

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Songs

Streelight Silent Film

Traveling to Louisiana

Smuggler

Desert Ghost Town

Peaceful Morning

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

A repeated anthem, a shared loaf of bread, and a twisted myth of pirates and islands. These tales are all parallels to other stories from this season, from Sanibel to Ybor City. Now, as we reach the end of summer, let's dive into some of the other stories of name origins, familiar tunes, and time with friends.

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Check out more work by Gabrielle Calise here!

Read Gabrielle's story about La Segunda here!

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Songs

Springtime

You Get The Blues

Blackbird

Smuggler

Good Thoughts

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

In 1915, human remains were found in a freshly dug canal near Vero. As scientists flocked to the site to seek out answers, controversy soon followed. The conflicts twisted into a knot, and a century would pass before an answer was finally discovered.

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Looking for more WFM? Listen to the episode on The Shape of Florida!

Check out more of the work by Dr. Andy Hemmings right here!

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Songs

Smuggler

Brain - Instrumental Retro

You Get The Blues

Peaceful Morning

Things You Never Known

Traveling Horse

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

Fifty years after Henry Flagler died, the railroad company he founded was at war. With a labor strike raging, and anonymous attacks against the tracks mounting every day, officials searched for an answer before things became deadly.

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Email the show at [email protected]!

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Songs

Blackbird

Bad Old Daemons

Smuggler

Hey Go

Peaceful Morning

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

Today is the Two Year Anniversary of Wait Five Minutes, and to celebrate, we are taking a podcast holiday to the beautiful Sanibel Island. This city, mostly conserved land, took decades to develop. Today, it is a vibrant, unique community with an endlessly rich history and a story all its own.

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Thank you to Emilie Alfino and the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village for all of their help!

Learn more about the museum here!

Read Emilie's book right here!

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Songs

Traveling Horse

Desert Ghost Town

Blackbird

Piano Parapentes

Echoes Boogie Dancehall

Peaceful Morning

Good Thoughts

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

The first brewery in Florida was on the edge of Ybor City, one of the state's most important cities. Today, beer is still inherent to its character and, for the folks behind that industry, it's just as much about the artistry as it is about the craft.

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Thank you to the folks from the Tampa Bay Brewing Company! Check out all of their amazing work right here! 

Thank you to Gary Mormino for his input! Check out his book right here! 

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Songs

Brain - Instrumental Retro

Blackbird

Speedy Delta

Desert Ghost Town

Traveling to Louisiana

Things You Never Known

Traveling Horse

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

The Orlando Magic were on a surefire trajectory to win the NBA Championship within their first decade of existence. By 1997, however, those dreams were dashed when an unfortunate trade and interpersonal drama led to a team-wide fallout that changed the game forever.

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Thank you to John Denton from the Orlando Magic! Read more of his stories here!

Check out the Orlando Sentinel article from the era, "The Last Days of Brian Hill" by Larry Guest and L.C. Johnson!

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Additional Audio

1989 Orlando Magic Inaugural Season Opener

"The Original Decision" Shaq to LA

Songs

Brain - Instrumental Retro

Hey Go

Smuggler 

Peaceful Morning

Echoes Boogie Dancehall

Good Thoughts

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

Of all the animals native to Florida, it is hard to imagine an animal as unique, and as vital, as our beloved tortoise. Named for their burrowing habits, these critters find themselves in a unique position: they're one of the most important animals in the Floridian ecosystem.

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Thank you to Dr. Steven Whitfield from Zoo Miami! Check out more of his work here.

Learn more about the Gopher Tortoise FWC program run by Dr. Katherine Gentry!

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Songs

Smuggler

Peaceful Morning

Traveling to Louisiana

Blackbird

Traveling Horse

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

Over the course of the last century, Florida has had a handful of songs that could potentially hold the title of State Song. Our first state song sounds very familiar; our second and current state song has a brutal and racist history built into its very DNA. How we got here begins in Maryland...

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Thank you to Alex Lothstein from the Maryland Historical Society!

Thank you to Tracy C Davis from Northwestern University!

Read more about the history of our state songs in this article by David Z. Kushner!

The photography used in the marketing of this show is by Lauren Nix. Check out more of her art right here!

Music 

Maryland, My Maryland

Swanee River (Intstrumental)

Florida's Song

Florida (Where The Sawgrass Meets The Sky) State Anthem

Songs

Brain - Instrumental Retro

Desert Ghost Town

Piano Parapents

Traveling to Lousiana

Good Thoughts

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!

Florida is flat. Florida has hills. Both are true, and every story we tell ourselves about our state changes each time we tell them. In Season 4 of Wait Five Minutes, we'll talk about stories and lies, falsehoods and half-truths.

Season 4 premieres on Monday, June 22nd!

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Read more about the elevation of our state (and others) in this report!

Songs

Springtime

Good Thoughts

Hear more music from Lobo Loco here!