Welcome to Florida

We begin this episode with county commissioners in Manatee County favoring sprawl over wetlands.

Our guest is University of Florida professor of insect systematics and taxonomy and firefly researcher Marc Branham who tells us all about these fascinating insects.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by Windstorm Products the leading online retailer of hurricane hardware at www.windstormproducts.com. Protect your home or business from the effects of hurricane wind damage with Windstorm Products.

Thank you to all of our patrons at www.patreon.com/welcometoflorida. For as little as $5 per month you can help support the show and receive exclusive bonus episodes.

While the world burns and Florida scorches as a result of global warming driven by carbon emissions, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is working to prevent fossil fuel power plants from having to clean up their act.

Former "Welcome to Florida" guest Diane Roberts wrote a wonderful column for the Florida Phoenix recently titled, "GOP Death Cult is holding Earth hostage to White Privilege." Roberts' article serves as a wonderful combination punch in conjunction with Jeff VanderMeer's "TIME" magazine article from earlier this summer encapsulating Florida's numerous environmental calamities and how the state arrived at this catastrophe. VanderMeer is also a former "Welcome to Florida" guest.

On this episode, we discuss Florida Humanities with the group's Executive Director Nashid Madyun. The mission of Florida Humanities is to preserve, promote and share the history, literature, cultures and personal stories that offer Floridians a better understanding of themselves, their communities and their state. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Florida Humanities is publishing a coffee table book anthology of the state's history. 

Thanks as always to Windstorm Products for its support of the show. WindstormProducts.com not only has the "stuff" you need to protect your house from hurricane wind damage, it also has the expertise to let you know what you need and what you don't.

Thanks also to all of our patrons at patreon.com/welcometoflorida where for as little as $5 per month you can personally support the show and receive regular bonus content.

This week's episode begins with Florida's connection to the Endangered Species Act.

Our guest is Josh Liller, historian and collections manager at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Josh edited the Florida Lighthouse Trail book and is a member of the Florida Lighthouse Association, which you can join as well.

We discuss the history of lighthouses and lighthouse keepers in Florida.

Thanks for Windstorm Products for helping sponsor "Welcome to Florida." Use Windstorm Products helpful 800-number to ask the experts about what you need to do to protect your home or business from hurricane wind damage.

Thanks also to the growing group of "Welcome to Florida" patrons supporting the show via our Patreon link at www.patreon.com/WelcometoFlorida. For as little as $5 per month, you can help us put the podcast together each week and receive regular bonus episodes.

We begin our episode with a Florida location we've not discussed previously: Alva.

Our guest is JB Miller, a Mennonite who grew up in Pinecraft next to Sarasota in the 60s and 70s. A community of Mennonite and Amish farmers started coming to the area to farm in the 1930s and has persisted ever since. No longer farming, tourism is now the top draw.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by WindstormProducts.com, a Florida company and the world's largest online retailer of hurricane hardware to protect your home from hurricane wind damage.

We begin with a follow-up to last week's episode in which we talked to legendary Florida conservationist Jack Rudloe.

Our guest this episode is author and historian Robert Bucellatto whose book "Rumrunners and Moonshiners of Old Florida" recalls the Prohibition era in Florida.

If you'd like to personally support the production of "Welcome to Florida," you can do so by visiting patreon.com/welcometoflorida and for as little as $5 per month receive access to exclusive bonus episodes of the show.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by Windstorm Products, a locally owned Florida company which has grown to become the world's largest online retailer of hurricane hardware - the stuff that protects your home from hurricane wind damage.

What is "environmental racism?" It goes on all over Florida (BIG SUGAR). Craig Pittman explains.

Jack Rudloe has been observing marine life on the Gulf of Mexico around Panacea, FL since the 1950s. He's an author. An environmental activist. And founder of the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory.

We mention Jack's abuse at the hands of law enforcement; here's more information regarding local efforts to protect Wakulla Springs from development.

Thank you PATRONS! For as little as $5 per month you can personally support our production of "Welcome to Florida" and receive regular bonus episodes. Visit patreon.com/welcometoflorida.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by WindstormProducts.com, protecting your home from hurricane wind damage.

Not only is climate change adversely impacting those of us on land, it's warming waters around Florida taking a toll on marine life.

Our guest this episode is Kevin Sheilley, president and CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership. Ocala is "the Horse Capitol of the World." Kevin explains how the city earned that moniker, when Florida became a horse destination, and we discuss the jewel in Ocala's horse crown, the World Equestrian Center.

World Equestrian Center offers a non-stop schedule of free horse competitions and events open to the public. If you're interested in visiting Ocala and Marion County to explore Florida Horse Country, start your planning here.

Former "Welcome to Florida" guest and best-selling author Jeff VanderMeer wrote a magnificent and thorough article for TIME magazine detailing the variety of environmental calamities in Florida and Ron DeSantis' complicity in exacerbating them.

"Welcome to Florida" is sponsored by WindstormProducts.com, the world's largest online retailer of hurricane hardware.

This week's episode begins with a look at the series of disastrous bills signed into law by Ron DeSantis that will imperil Florida's environment for decades to come, if not forever.

Our guest this week is author Michael Tougias whose book "Above & Beyond: John F. Kennedy and America's Most Dangerous Cold War Spy Mission" centers around the Cuban Missile Crisis. His most recent book, "Extreme Survival," shares lessons learned from individuals who survived the most perilous of situations.

We regularly discuss the ruinous effects of Big Sugar on Florida, if the topic interests you, an exceptional podcast series titled "Big Sugar" has been released investigating the industry from the perspective of its abused employees. You can, of course, also learn more from our "Big Sugar" episode. Lastly, Alec Wilkenson's book, "Big Sugar," is a great exploration of the industry's atrocities.

Another recommendation, "Invisible History: Middle Florida's Hidden Roots" is an eye opening look at the founding of Tallahassee and its connection to slavery. It can be seen free of charge on Amazon Prime.

Thanks, as always, to Windstorm Products for supporting "Welcome to Florida." Windstorm Products is the world's largest supplier of hurricane hardware.

Thanks also to our patrons at Patreon.com/welcometoflorida. For as little as $5 per month you can help support our production of the show and receive access to bonus content.

We begin today's show with some shady developer dealings in Captiva.

Florida is as well-known as a haven for retirees as anything. Helping people make that transition is the American Association of Retired Persons - AARP. Jeff Johnson is the state director for AARP Florida and he joins us to discuss AARP's work in Florida.

Thanks again to Windstorm Products for supporting the podcast. Windstorm Products is a small Florida company that has grown into the largest online retailer of hurricane hardware. Protect your home or business from hurricane wind damage with Windstorm Products.

We have hit the 3rd anniversary of the "Welcome to Florida" podcast and we want to thank you for listening. If you'd like to take your support of the show further, you can do so by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/welcometoflorida.

For as little as $5 a month you'll help us continue producing the show and have access to exclusive bonus episodes.

Our guest this week is Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates. We discuss the current abortion laws in Florida and Planned Parenthood's efforts to challenge them on privacy grounds. If you'd like to know more about the privacy clause in Florida's Constitution, read this.

Here is where you can find the petition to force a ballot measure demanding an amendment to the state constitution protecting abortion rights in Florida.

Thanks as always to Windstorm Products for supporting the show. It's hurricane season, is your home protected from effects of hurricane wind damage? Probably not, but Windstorm Products can help you be safe and secure.