Welcome to Florida

Timber company Rayonier wants to develop a toxic bioethanol producing plant near downtown Fernandina Beach. Explosions at these plants are not uncommon. A local group, No Ethanol Fernandina, is fighting the effort.

Miccosukee Indian John Tigertail leads airboat tours of the Everglades just like his father and grandfather did.

Information on the 2024 Miccosukee Indian Arts and Crafts Festival December 26-29 in Miami. Information on the 2025 Seminole Tribal Fair & Pow Wow January 29-February 3.

Craig and I open this episode discussing a return to the White House of the worst environmental president in history.

Our guest is David Morton, author of "Motion Picture Paradise: A History of Florida's Film and Television Industry." Florida was an epicenter of film and television production in the early 20th century, and again in the 50s and 60s, but politics has often derailed efforts in the state to create an East Coast Hollywood.

Florida's politicians are bought and paid for by polluting industries: Big Sugar, Big Ag (agriculture), cattle ranchers, gas and oil, developers, phosphate mining.

Kristen Hare traveled across the state researching her book "Hotels, Motels, and Inns of Florida." On this episode, she shares her favorite historic lodgings. 

If you'd like to receive an historic hotel postcard from Kristen, email her at oldfloridahotels at Gmail.com.

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

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Ron DeSantis thinks the Florida economy would suffer from fighting climate change; Craig Pittman knows the Florida economy won't exist if we don't.

Cathy Salustri, host of the "Florida Spectacular" podcast and Florida author - and two-time former "Welcome to Florida" guest - fills in for Chadd Scott on this episode focusing on Robert the Doll. Author, historian, and Florida Keys ghost tour host David Sloan joins to discuss the haunted doll.

HauntedKeyWest.com

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

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Back-to-back hurricanes this October have Craig thinking about 2004 when four major hurricanes battered the state in a six week period. What was learned from those catastrophes 20 years ago? Nothing.

Our guest this episode is Florida author Leslie Kemp Poole's whose recently published book, "Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now" follows in the footsteps of famous visitors to Florida, including "Red Badge of Courage" author Stephen Crane. His trip here in 1898 was not a pleasant one.

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

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VOTE "NO" ON AMENDMENT 2, the so-called "Right to Hunt and Fish."

Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida celebrates its 50th anniversary as the nation's first National Preserve on October 11, 2024. The Preserve will be hosting a variety of events through the end of the year in recognition of the milestone. Lisa Andrews is the education and outreach coordinator at Big Cypress and joins us to discuss what makes it a unique place.

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

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We start by explaining how climate change and increased development have made hurricanes in Florida stronger and more destructive.

Theodore Pratt isn't a name most folks will know, but he was a highly acclaimed and prolific mid-century Florida author who is largely responsible for sustaining the legacy of the Barefoot Mailmen. Taylor Hagood is a professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton where Pratt's archive is housed. Hagood had a biography of Pratt published in summer of 2024.

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

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Florida's so-called "law and order" governor isn't concerned about law or order when it comes to the state's freshwater springs. The best way to stay informed on news related to our springs is via the Florida Springs Council.

We've previously featured Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's "The Yearling" book in an episode, this episode will center on the movie adaptation which starred Gregory Peck and won a pair of Academy Awards. Our guest is documentary filmmaker and Cross Creek local Donna Green-Townsend who produced a documentary on the making of "The Yearling."

Visit Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park.

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

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Another secretive, shady deal attempted between a private developer and the state government on supposedly protected public land has been exposed by the media.

Harry Truman spent a remarkable amount of time during his presidency at his Little White House in Key West. The home is open to the public for tours. Clinton Curry, Director of Operations in Key West for Historic Tours America, which operates the home, joins us this episode. 

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

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A secret meeting about water policy convened by a Florida congressman allowed polluting industries and state officials to scheme behind closed doors without the public or press allowed in.

This episode takes us to Florida's most remote location, the Dry Tortugas. Ian Wilson-Navarro spent a month there photographing and fishing, and recalls the experience in a new book out this fall, "Dry Tortugas: Stronghold of Nature."

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify