Welcome to Florida

The Florida State Legislature continues breaking state law and disobeying the will of the people by defunding the Florida Forever land conservation buying program.

Our guest for this episode is geologist and author Hilary Flower who has written a new book about Everglades Snail Kites, "The Kite and the Snail: An Endangered Bird, its Unlikely Prey, and a Story of Hope in a Changing World."

"Welcome to Florida" patrons receive our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter for only $5 per month.

Fifteen miles south of Tallahassee, one of Florida's most magnificent springs can be found: Wakulla Springs. Kellie Keys is a professor in the Communications Department at Florida State University working with FSU researchers at Wakulla Springs to help tell the story about what they're learning.

Big Sugar is leaning on the legislature to make it so people can't badmouth their product.

Big ag is leaning on the legislature to make it ok to graze cows on state land including state parks.

An unscrupulous business owner and lax Department of Environmental "Protection" contributed to a catastrophic fire in Dunnellon. 

If you've ever been to Lakeland, perhaps you've seen the Lake Morton swans. Steve Platt works for the City of Lakeland and it's his job to take care of the swans as "swanfather."

"Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for only $5 per month.

Spring Training has marked the end of winter in Florida for more than 100 years. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt, Greg Maddux, and today's stars have begun their legendary seasons and careers in places like Sarasota, Dunedin, Vero Beach, and Clearwater.

On this episode, longtime southwest Florida newspaperman Glenn Miller, who's attended spring training games since the 1960s and covered the games since the 1980s, joins us to discuss Spring Training's history and characters in Florida. Pinch hitting for regular co-host Chadd Scott is his wife, sports reporter, podcaster, author, baseball fan, and annual spring training in Florida attendee, Kristi Dosh.

Florida continues to promote unfettered growth without paying attention to the water demands of all those new people and businesses. 

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Vero Beach was the first site in a program that now features nearly 600 locations. Paul Tritiak was the former refuge manager at Pelican Island and tells us how the refuge came to be.

"Welcome to Florida" patrons receive our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter for only $5 per month.

The Florida State Legislature continues its rich tradition of doing the bidding of powerful corporate interests, this time - not for the first time - Mosaic mining company.

Carrie Sue Ayvar is a professional storyteller who embodies Dr. Anna Darrow, the 2nd ever female doctor in Florida, in programs around the state. Darrow was referred to as the Swamp Doctor for her work with residents in the Everglades in early 20th century Florida.

Ayvar is one of dozens of speakers available through the Florida Humanities that are happy to speak to your local community group if you have one.

Thanks again to our "Welcome to Florida" patrons who support the show for $5 per month and receive exclusive access to our Florida Conservation Newsletter.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement goons are murdering American citizens in Minneapolis, running concentration camps around the country - including Florida - and increasing their terror campaign in and around Orlando. The mission of ICE is to abuse Brown people, strike fear into their communities, and retrench white supremacy. 

Anthropologist and Puerto Rican/Hattian American Simone Delerme spent time studying the Latino community around Orlando, it's remarkable growth over the past 40 years, and how those residents are fitting into and remaking the area. Her book, "Latino Orlando," reveals her findings.

"Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for only $5 per month.

Craig has identified what he believes to be the single worst piece of proposed legislation for the upcoming session of the Florida State Legislature. Chadd's vote goes to the "Blue Ribbon Project" scheme.

Abbott Kahler is an author and investigative reporter. Her September of 2025 "Vanity Fair" article revealed the true identity - the Florida identity - behind an author who had stayed anonymous for more than 40 years. The anonymous author penned a how-to manual for contract murder that ended up being used for a triple murder and at the center of an important First Amendment court case.

"Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for just $5 per month.

The people of Palm Beach County are fighting a proposed data center.

Learn more about data centers by subscribing to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter."

Clarence Earl Gideon was tried and found guilty of burglary in 1961 in a circuit court near Panama City. He was poor, and despite asking for legal counsel, was denied that request. At the time, Florida was one of 13 states that did not guarantee legal counsel for all defendants in state court proceedings regardless of their ability to pay. The right was guaranteed in federal court.

Gideon petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court that he had been unfairly treated in violation of his 14th Amendment rights. The Court picked up his case, ultimately ruling in his favor and requiring that defendants in all U.S courtrooms, including state courts, have access to counsel.

Bruce Jacob represented the State of Florida before the Supreme Court in the Gideon case and joins us to discuss his upcoming book on the proceedings, "The Gideon Case: Inside the Supreme Court's Historic Right to Counsel Decision." 

Craig wraps up 2025 with his weirdest Florida headlines of the year.

Our patrons at Patreon have exclusive access to an interview Craig did with the co-curator of "It's Florida, Man," on HBO.

Our guest this episode is Jessica Pate from the Florida Manta Project who tells us all about one of our most remarkable endangered marine species: manta rays.