Welcome to Florida

This week's episode begins with more "bigfooting" by the state legislature, once again in the pocket of developers, attempting to curtail the amount of impact fees local municipalities have accessed homebuilders in order for them to build the infrastructure necessary for all the new residents.

Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott are joined this week by Jeff and Ann VanderMeer. The married couple live in Tallahassee. Jeff is the best selling author of the Southern Reach Trilogy (Annihilation, Authority and Acceptance). His new book is a thriller, "Hummingbird Salamander." 

In a wide ranging conversation, we discuss:
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
VanderMeer Creative and the couple's philanthropic efforts
How to rewild your yard
Florida Native Plants
Keep Tallahassee Wild Facebook Page
Jeff's virtual book tour for "Hummingbird Salamander"

Follow Jeff and Ann on Twitter.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by Hipcamp. Start using your property in Florida to generate side income by listing it on Hipcamp. Hipcamp members around the nation want to visit Florida and Hipcamp needs more properties to welcome more guests. Hipcamp takes care of all the details. Contact them today at Hipcamp.com/land.

This week's episode begins with a look at why Florida's manatees are dying this winter at a rate which threatens the survival of the species. Craig Pittman's latest column for the Florida Phoenix digs in deep on the reasons, which are preventable.

Craig's 2010 book "Manatee Insanity" goes even further in detailing the decades-long conservation effort in Florida to protect manatees, as well as calling out the people working against manatee protection.

Our guest is Stephen Leatherman who you probably know as Dr. Beach. Each year he compiles a list of the 10 Best Beaches in the U.S. which leads to a tremendous amount of pride for those named, jealousy for those not named, and arguments among everyone.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by HipCamp. If you are a landowner in Florida with a flat spot large enough to pitch a tent or park an RV, HipCamp needs you to help host its growing community of nature-lovers looking to find quiet spots across the state. You can begin earning side income adding your property to the HipCamp portfolio and HipCamp will take care of all the details, including insurance. Learn more and start earning money today at Hipcamp.com/land.  

If your business would like to help sponsor "Welcome to Florida," reach out to Craig and Chadd Scott at [email protected].

This week's episode starts with Craig Pittman sharing some of his favorite Florida Women from the state's history in recognition of Women's History Month. Follow Craig on Twitter and Facebook @CraigTimes and on Instagram @CraigPittman78 for more.

Our guest this week is Amy Green, author of "Moving Water: The Everglades and Big Sugar." Amy's book, which published in March of 2021, takes a look at Big Sugar's influence on Everglades pollution and degradation, as well as Big Sugar's influence on Florida and national politics and efforts to repair the Everglades.

If this topic interests, you, Craig suggests further reading of Michael Grunwald's "The Swamp," and, of course, Marjory Stoneman Douglas,' "Everglades: River of Grass."

To keep up to date with conservation efforts for the Everglades, visit the Everglades Trust and the Friends of the Everglades. Florida Conservation Voters works to hold state politicians accountable for our environment. Additional information about pre-harvest sugar cane field burning can be found here.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by Hipcamp. Landowners across Florida are earning up to $1,000 per month by placing their properties on Hipcamp where Hipcamp's growing community of campers, glampers and RVers are renting those properties when they visit Florida to enjoy the state's natural beauty. Hipcamp handles all the details including book and insurance. To learn more, visit Hipcamp.com/land. 

If you or your business is interested in sponsoring "Welcome to Florida," send Craig and Chadd Scott an email at [email protected].

This week's episode begins with an update on the disastrous "Roads to Ruin" M-CORES toll road proposal and efforts in the state legislature to adjust it.

Our guest this week is historical reenactor Ersula K Odom who has been portraying Mary McLeod Bethune at events across Florida for many years. Odom's performances see her dress in period appropriate costumes and take on the personality of the famed educator, voting rights advocate, civil rights activist, feminist, stateswoman and humanitarian, Mary McLeod Bethune.

To book Odom to perform for your group or event, contact her at this link.

This week's episode is presented by Hipcamp. Hipcamp has members across the country looking to visit Florida to experience our natural beauty. That's where you come in. Hipcamp needs landowners in Florida willing to open up their property to welcome visitors to camp, glamp or RV. All you need is a flat spot where someone can pitch a tent or park an RV. Hipcamp takes care of the rest. Reach out today for more information about turning your property into side revenue with Hipcamp at Hipcamp.com/land. 

This week's episode begins with Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott discussing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's unanimous ruling to ban the possession of a large number of non-native snakes and lizards in the hopes of avoiding their introduction into the state's ecosystem like as happened with the Burmese python and tegu lizard.

Our guest is Jack Davis who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2017 for nonfiction with his book, "The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea." Craig and Chadd discuss Jack's time on the Gulf, his perspectives on the uses and abuses of the Gulf, what causes the Gulf Dead Zone, why he's optimistic about the Gulf's future, his favorite Gulfside restaurant and much more.

If you're interested in this topic, be sure to listen to previous "Welcome to Florida" episodes on Tarpon Fishing in Homosassa Bay and how industrial agriculture is destroying Florida's water supply.

If you'd like to help support Gulf of Mexico conservation, the Audubon Society's Gulf Restoration program is a great place to start.

This week's episode begins with a song from Zora Neale Hurston, "Shove it Over." Throughout this week's show we'll be hearing songs from Hurston which can be found in the State Archives of Florida.

Up next: cruise ships. Craig Pittman wrote recently how Republican state legislators are contradicting their so-called principles of "home rule" and "small government," trying to take away Key West's ability to limit the number of cruise ship passengers it receives in the future. In their haste to bow to the cruise ship industry's big money, however, they forgot one key point.

To learn more about Zora Neale Hurston, Craig and Chadd Scott talk to Kristy Anderson, writer and director of the documentary film, "Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun," which you can watch on Amazon. Zora Neale Hurston was a Florida author and anthropologist. While a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, she spent little time there, Her novels explored the lives of ex-slaves living in the Deep South.

Although she died penniless with her books out of print in Ft. Pierce, Florida in 1960,  Black feminists resurrected her work, particularly the 1937 novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God."

This week's episode of "Welcome to Florida" is sponsored by Hipcamp. Hipcamp is a growing community of outdoor enthusiasts who want to experience the natural side of Florida. That's where you come in. Hipcamp needs landowners in Florida to open their property up to Hipcamp members for camping, glamping and RV stays. If you have a flat piece of land large enough to pitch a tent or park an RV near a natural setting anywhere in Florida, Hipcamp wants to help you turn that property into side income. Contact them today at Hipcamp.com/land.

If your business would like to learn more about a sponsorship with "Welcome to Florida," email Craig and Chadd at: [email protected].

This week's episode begins with Craig Pittman's latest story for the Florida Phoenix about the remarkable discovery of a new whale species in the Gulf of Mexico. The whale was washed up on a beach near the Florida Everglades allowing scientists to study the animal. In doing so, they determined it had died as the result of a piece of plastic cutting through its stomach.

Single use plastics have become one of the greatest threats to the environment and animals globally, particularly fish and marine mammals. Learn more about the growing epidemic of plastic pollution and what is being proposed at a federal level to combat it. Make your voice heard. Amazon.com is increasingly coming under fire and being pressured to reduce the amount of plastic it uses.

Oceana is a conservation group doing good work globally to protect our oceans.

This week's guest is Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida.

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by Hipcamp! Consider Hipcamp Airbnb for campers. Hipcamp members around the country want to visit Florida to experience our mild winter climate and beautiful natural scenery. If you are a landowner in Florida, Hipcamp would like to work with you to generate extra money by hosting Hipcamp members on your property. Hipcamp takes care of all the work and details. All you need is a flat spot large enough to pitch a tent or park an RV. Visit Hipcamp.com/land to learn more.

If your business would like to help sponsor "Welcome to Florida," email Craig and Chadd Scott at [email protected], or reach either of them on Twitter @CraigTimes or @ChaddScott.

This week's episode begins with Craig Pittman putting Ron DeSantis in the crosshairs over the governor's big talk and small action on protecting the state's water. If you'd like to learn more about the state's water quality problems, what causes them, what can be done to fix them, a previous episode all about the Floridan Aquifer does so in depth.

This week's guest is artist Kelvin Hair. Kelvin is the son of Alfred Hair, one of the original, legendary, Florida Highwaymen painters. The Florida Highwaymen are the subject of an exhibition on now at the Tampa Museum of Art through March 28. Chadd Scott reviewed the show previously when it was in Orlando.

During the interview, Kelvin mentions a book titled, "The Highwaymen Murals: Al Black's Concrete Dreams." You can find that online here.

As always, this week's episode is brought to you by Hipcamp which is looking for landowners across Florida to welcome its members for experiences in natural Florida. Do you own property on or near a natural or scenic place around the state? If so, Hipcamp wants to hear from you. A flat piece of property large enough to pitch a tent or park an RV is all you need to start earning side income by welcoming Hipcamp members to your property, and Hipcamp takes care of all the details. Visit Hipcamp.com/land to learn more.

This week's episode focuses on two of Florida's - and the nation's - most endangered species. First up, Craig Pittman tells us about recovery efforts for the Florida grasshopper sparrow which he detailed in a recently released story for "National Geographic."

From the very small to the very big, Craig and Chadd Scott are then joined by Florida panther biologist Deborah Jansen, a key figure in Craig's book about the heroic efforts to save the panther against the forces of development and government in "Cat Tale."

"Cat Tale" was the genesis for the "Welcome to Florida" podcast and if you'd like to go back and hear that story, you can do so here.

This week's conversation also references episode three about Burmese pythons, which you can listen to here.

Learn more about the disastrous "Roads to Ruin" M-CORES project threatening Florida.

You can become personally involved in helping to protect natural and wild Florida through groups like the Florida Conservation Voters, Free the Ocklawaha, and Friends of the Everglades.

Here's a look at the cover art for Craig's upcoming book, "The State You're In: Florida Men, Florida Women and other Wildlife."

"Welcome to Florida" is presented by Hipcamp. Consider Hipcamp the Airbnb for campers. Hipcamp users are looking to experience natural Florida and Hipcamp is recruiting land owners across the state to help them find it. If you have a flat piece of land large enough for someone to pitch a tent or park an RV, or have accommodations you're willing to share with Hipcamp's respectful community of nature lovers, Hipcamp wants to hear from you. Landowners across Florida are earning up to $1,000 a month renting their land through Hipcamp. Visit them to learn more.

Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this week's episode discussing Craig's hope for a modern-day Richard Nixon (???) to save Florida from the disastrous M-CORES project, better known as the "Roads to Ruin." He explains the connection.

Chadd highlights a project working to secure American Beach's historic character and how you can help.

This week's guest is Neal Thompson, author of "Driving with the Devil: Southern Moonshine, Detroit Wheels, and the Birth of NASCAR."  Neal talks about Bill France, how France organized NASCAR in Daytona Beach in 1947 from its bootlegging roots, and how it's evolved since then.

"Welcome to Florida" is sponsored by Hipcamp which needs your help welcoming guests to our state. If you are a landowner in Florida, Hipcamp can put extra money in your pocket while using your land to host visitors. Hipcamp features simple plots of land, developed cabins, and everything in between. No matter what you have, you’re ready to get started today. Host when you want, get paid every week, and Hipcamp takes care of all the details, including insurance. Learn more today by visiting Hipcamp.com/land.