Welcome to Florida

Multi-time best-selling author, Florida native and resident, Carl Hiaasen, joins us to discuss his latest book, Squeeze Me, a satire not-so-loosely based on Donald Trump.

We also shout out another of our favorite Florida-focused podcasts, "Wait Five Minutes," great work being done to restore coral reefs by the Mote Marine Laboratory & Acquarium and Craig shares exciting news on his writing career.

This week, Craig and Chadd discuss Florida's state symbols with Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News Journal columnist and author of "Roaring Reptiles, Bountiful Citrus & Neon Pies." 

Did you know Florida has a state song and a state anthem? A state reptile, state mammal, marine mammal, saltwater fish, freshwater fish, tree (which is actually a grass) and a remarkably unremarkable state bird due to the lobbying efforts of one of Florida's most villianous influence peddlers. And a state soil too.

Oh, and there's a state play with an outrageous history. 

The seemingly mundane becomes contentious and provocative with regularity in Florida and the state's symbols are no exception.

Craig and Chadd begin this week's episode discussing a recent list of Florida's "secret" tourist destinations.

This week's interview is with Colette Bancroft, editor and contributor to Tampa Bay Noir, a collection of fictionalized crime short-stories set in the Tampa Bay area.

This week's episode begins with a conversation surrounding the loss of a great fall tradition in Florida before transitioning into a recent story Craig wrote in the Florida Phoenix about Governor Ron DeSantis' failure to fill vacant positions on the state's five water management districts. What are water management districts? Why are they critically important to life in Florida? We discuss.

This week's guest is Erich Schutthauf, Executive Director of the American Association for Nude Recreation. We talk all about how Florida became America's capitol for nude resorts, what to expect when visiting one, and common misconceptions about nudism.

Craig and Chadd begin this episode looking at Florida's checkered history of hosting political conventions. Craig wrote about the topic for Politico.com earlier in the summer as the Republicans were supposed to nominate Donald Trump in Jacksonville in late August before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 health concerns.

This episode's guest is author Sarah Gerard who penned a series of essay's collectively titled "Sunshine State: Essays." One of the essays shares the story of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary and its founder Ralph Heath. Heath oversaw the Tampa-area wildlife rehab facility from its heights as the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the United States and tourist attraction, to run down and under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

Every Florida story seemingly has a bright side and a dark side, this one brighter and darker than most.

Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott recall the story of former Florida governor "Walkin'" Lawton Chiles and how he helped inspire author Kent Russell to similarly walk across Florida. Russell shares the story of his journey in the new book, "In the Land of Good Living: A Journey to the Heart of Florida." 

This episode also features Craig explaining old-time Florida lingo such as "Florida cracker," "he-coon," and "worm gruntin.'"

Craig and Chadd begin this week's episode discussing the collapse of the Apalachicola Bay oyster fishery which is likely to prevent the harvesting of any oysters there for the next five years.

This week's featured guest is Cathy Salustri, author of "Backroads of Paradise," a book detailing her 5,000 mile road trip across Florida highlighting the strange, kitschy and wonderful roadside attractions throughout Florida including Weeki Wachee Springs and the Skunk Ape Research Center.

The episode concludes with an update on Chance the Snapper at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. 

Craig and Chadd begin this week's episode with follow ups to Episode 3 on invasive species and Episode 2 regarding American Beach and Evan's Rendezvous. Also discussed was Craig's recent story from the Florida Phoenix about the Stillwright Point neighborhood in Key Largo and how Florida continues pushing for more development in areas especially prone to flooding.

This week's guest is Andrew Blechman, author of "Leisurland: Adventures in a World Without Children," which is all about the famous/notorious Florida planned 55+ community The Villages. The Villages has been in the news recently for fiesty Trump vs. Biden protests - from the comfort of golf carts of course - one of which led to Trump retweeting a video of a supporter shouting "White Power." 

A conversation that was expected to be amusing takes a seriously dark turn as Blechman recalls stories of his time spent living in The Villages. 

This week's episode begins with Craig discussing his recent Florida Pheonix column about an experimental program releasing genetically modified mosquitos in the Keys. Also from the Florida Phoenix, Craig has a story about the longest running environmental battle in the state, the fight over the Kirkpatrick Dam.

Most of the episode, however, is spent with Burmese python hunter Donna Kalil who shares her harrowing adventures of python encouters in South Florida. For more than 10 years, Donna has been hunting these invasive snakes which have devastated the Everglades ecosystem. How many are there? How do you kill them? What do you get paid for killing them? What do they taste like? Oh, yeah, Donna cooks some of her catch. All of these questions and more are answered in this expansion of Craig's Flamingo Magazine article on female python hunters.

Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott begin this episode discussing a personal experience with white supremacy as Black Lives Matter protests and the nation's history of racial inequality fill our consciousness.

Craig shares stories of Florida's Civil Rights past including details about the arrest of Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Augustine.

The episode concludes with a conversation with Marsha Dean Phelts, author of "An American Beach for African Americans." Marsha grew up in Jacksonville visiting American Beach as a child. Why is American Beach important? Because the beach and community on Amelia Island was the first beach and resort in Florida set up specifically to welcome black visitors. Marsha has lived in American Beach for over 30 years now and shares stories of its past, present and future.