Welcome to Florida

Lee County planning officials wanted to exclude public comment from rezoning decisions; residents laughed out loud!

Roseate spoonbills are one of Florida's iconic wading birds. Florida Audubon Executive Director Julie Wraithmell joins us to discuss the gorgeous pink bird.

On this episode we celebrate Florida's lifestyle magazine, 'Flamingo' magazine, as it enters its next 10 years of publication. Our guest is the magazine's founder and editor Jamie Rich.

The Hope Florida scandal involves Ron DeSantis, Casey DeSantis, and Ashley Moody, but the figure at the center of the theft is Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. 

Amaris Castillo's parents run the Orlando Latin Market bodega in St. Pete. Several years ago, she began sharing stories of the bodega online; that effort has become a new book, "Bodega Stories," published in September of 2026.

Florida's public school textbooks downplay the impacts of climate change and protect industry from blame. 

Between the late 1600s and the U.S. Civil War, freedom seekers from across the South fled south, and by sail, to the Bahamas and Caribbean. This escape route from slavery is what is known as the Saltwater Underground Railroad. Our guest this episode, Stefan Moss, is a historian researching the Saltwater Underground Railroad and has developed a website and app sharing what he's learned.

Learn more about Florida's Black history through our "Florida Black History" YouTube channel.

A Florida university wants to build an airstrip in the Ocala National Forest. 

George Siegal is a former weatherman turned documentary filmmaker. Upon moving to Florida, he was shocked by the state's casual attitude toward hurricane preparedness. His documentary, "Built to Last: Buyer Beware," catalogues the numerous ways in which Floridians ignore hurricane preparedness and how you can make yourself and your home safer from storms.

The super wealthy have found a new way to exploit Florida's undeveloped land: private auto racing clubs.

You know them, you probably hate them, they're lovebugs - the little black bugs that get all over your car during spring and fall. Our guest on this episode,  Norman Leppla, University of Florida professor of integrated pest management and biological control, is the nation's leading expert on lovebugs.

For only $5 a month, you can support the production of "Welcome to Florida" and receive our weekly Florida Conservation newsletter.

Florida wants to take almost $200 million from the federal government earmarked for electric vehicle charging stations and instead waste the money pursuing flying cars. Seriously.

Pamela Colloff spent a decade investigating the life and crimes of Paul Skalnik. Skalnik, among other things, was a longtime jailhouse snitch whose phony testimony was relied upon by Pinellas County prosecutors for decades. Colloff shares what she discovered in a new book out this summer, "Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast."

The Florida Department of Environmental "Protection" refuses to investigate a Key West utility company that has been injecting waste water underground only to have it surface elsewhere.

Everyone knows 1980s PBS TV painter Bob Ross, but most people don't associate him with Florida. Ross was born, raised, lived and died in Central Florida. The Bob Ross Art Workshop & Gallery in New Smyrna Beach is open to the public and carries on his legacy. Our guest this episode, Nicholas Hankins, carries on Ross' legacy through a new version of Ross' "Joy of Painting" TV show.

Ross...

The state kept an "enemies list" of outspoken environmental advocates with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission using government and law enforcement databases to illegally track and investigate the citizens. This shocking abuse of power demonstrates how developers and industry run this state and the degree to which the ruling party in Tallahassee will go to maintain that power imbalance. 

If you'd like to inquire with the state about your DAVID driver's record to see if the state has been investigating you, do that here.

Despite leading the nation in book banning, Florida has wonderful i...

Ron DeSantis first ran for governor promising to solve Florida's water quality problems. Every day in office since then, up nearly to his last, he has broken that promise.

Kenneth Sulak joins us on this episode to talk about gulf sturgeon. Sulak spent decades researching this ancient and endangered fish in the Suwanee River and Gulf of Mexico.

Craig takes us to the little fishing village of Cortez on the Gulf side for his latest "Florida Phoenix" column.

Tom Gaskins Cypress Knee Museum was a popular roadside attraction in Palmdale during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The business hung on until 1998, but Disney and the interstates have mostly disappeared these quirky, small, once-cherished tourist stops. Writer Amy Bennett-Williams from the Fort Meyers News-Press visited many times and met Gaskins. She shares her memories of the Cypress Knee Museum.

Bennett-Williams mentioned a Florida land conservation program called Preservation 2000. A recent episode of "As Bad...

Craig Pittman surveyed a variety of Florida water experts with advice for the dictator about his algae problem.

In the 1940s, 50's, and 60's, bald eagle populations nationally were collapsing. The poison DDT, widely used in crop dusting, was eventually determined to be the culprit. A retired man in Florida, Charles Broley, banded bald eagles throughout mid-century; his research was essential in establishing that the birds were in trouble.

Barbara Walker from Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue joins us on this episode to discuss Broley's efforts to understand bald eagles.

Volunteer with Audubon Florida...

Invasive Burmese pythons continue swallowing the Everglades while the state wastes money on concentration camps.

Ma Barker and one of her sons engaged federal agents in an hours-long gunfight near Ocala in the 1930s. Wayne Hughes is a tour guide at the Ma Barker House and tells us the story.

"Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to your Florida Conservation Newsletter, a weekly roundup of the top conservation stories from around the state.

A species of moth thought to be extinct was rediscovered by researches in Florida.

Florida's role in the American Revolution is little known or discussed. That is our topic for this episode with historian David Head.

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

Our friend Jason Garcia from "Seeking Rents" takes a first look at everything wrong with the legislature and governor's proposed property tax break.

Florida Keys historian Brad Bertelli joins us on this episode to talk about the old wrecking industry that made Key West one of the wealthiest cities in America at the turn of the 19th century.

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

The state is about to miss a critical deadline by which it was supposed to have cleaned up water flowing out of the Big Sugar plantations into the Everglades.

Join Craig, Chadd and Jason Garcia from the "Seeking Rents" podcast for their next live, in-person event June 12th at Happy Medium Books Cafe in the Riverside neighborhood of Jacksonville. The event is free and begins at 6:30. RSVP if you can.

Our guest for this episode is photographer and food writer Chip Weiner. Chip went across Tampa looking for the best devil crab. What is devil...

Seafood dealers, commercial fisherman, and conservationists came together to stop the governor's reckless plan to extend the recreational red snapper fishing season.

Independent local journalism is a pillar of democracy. American democracy has evaporated in conjunction with a rapid decline of local media sources in the past 25 years. One of those local media sources in Florida, The Gabber newspaper in south Pinellas County, needs your help to continue its 60-year tradition of local news.

Join Craig Pittman, Chadd Charland, and Jason Garcia from the "Seeking Rents" podcast and Substack newsletter for our next in-person event...

Florida didn't always used to be this way. Unregulated development. Runaway sprawl. Developers controlling the state. What happened?

Chadd Charland is running for State House in District 15 (all of Nassau and parts of Duval counties).

"Welcome to Florida's" next live event comes Friday, June 12th, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Happy Medium Bookstore Cafe in Jacksonville! It's a free event. Come out and say "hello."

Joining us today are Bob Kealing and Rev. Billy C. Wirtz to discuss the Chitlin' Circuit in Florida. The Chitlin' Circuit was a network of Black live music establishments...

What should be done with the site when the Everglades concentration camp closes?

Chadd Charland is running for State House in District 15 (Nassau and parts of Duval counties).

Diego Waisman spent years visiting and photographing South Florida's mobile home parks. He produced a book from the experience titled "Sunset Colonies: A Visual Elegy to South Florida's Mobile Home Communities." He shares with us what he found.

Jason Garcia hosts the "Seeking Rents" podcast and writes the "Seeking Rents" Substack newsletter. Both investigate government corruption in Florida. Both are essential for Floridians interested in state government and politics.

This episode was recorded at Tombolo Books in St. Pete in advance of our first co-hosted live event.

Martin County wants to prevent a slaughterhouse from being built there. The state says it doesn't have a say in the matter. Another example of state overreach crushing home rule.

Chadd Charland is running for State House in District 15 (Nassau and parts of Duval County) on a platform of equity, the environment, and public education.

See "Welcome to Florida" and Jason Garcia from the "Seeking Rents" Substack and podcast in person!

Jamie Holmes is an author and historian. His latest book provides fresh insights into the Seminole War: "The Free and the Dead...

Join "Welcome to Florida" along with Jason Garcia from "Seeking Rents" for our first in-person event. May 7 we'll be at Tombolo Books in St. Pete and May 9, we'll be at Austin's Coffee in Winter Park. Full details and RSVP here!

Chadd Charland is running for Florida State House in District 15 (Nassau and parts of Duval counties). Follow his campaign.

The Suwanee River has been named one of America's "10 Most Endangered Rivers."

Freelance writer Mike Kane joins us on this episode to discuss his summer trip to the Everglades and the first martyr of...

Join Craig, Chadd, and Jason Garcia from "Seeking Rents" Thursday, May 7, from 7:00-8:30 PM at Tombolo Books in St. Pete and on Saturday, May 9, from 3:00-5:00 PM at Austin's Coffee in Winter Park for our FIRST EVER LIVE PODCAST meet-and-greets!

Chadd Charland is running for State House in District 15. Learn more.

Our guests this episode are archaeologists and anthropologists Uzi Baram and Kat Napora. Uzi has joined the show previously to talk about the Angola community. Today we're talking about the manchineel tree, the deadliest tree in the world. 

BIG NEWS! 

"Welcome to Florida" is hosting our first ever in-person events along with Jason Garcia from "Seeking Rents!"

Thursday, May 7, from 7:00-8:30 PM at Tombolo Books in St. Pete.

Saturday, May 9, from 3:00-5:00 PM at Austin's Coffee in Winter Park.

PLEASE come out and say "hi" if you're in the area.

MORE BIG NEWS!

Chadd Scott is running for State House in District 15. Chadd Scott is a name he's used on radio for 30-plus years; he'll be running under his legal name: Chadd Charland.

T...

Not satisfied with simply being a dictator, Donald Trump allowed for the convening of the Endangered Species Committee "God Squad" at the behest of Secretary of War Crimes Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has declared a phony-baloney "national security emergency" that he says should preempt off-shore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from Endangered Species Act regulations. The regime's "God Squad," a cabal of villains with oil and gas backgrounds, not surprisingly, agreed.

Make plans to join us in person in St. Petersburg May 7 and Orlando May 9. More details to follow.

This episode centers on Florida's...

Craig found a villainous Floridian who thinks his interest in building a home is more important than the survival of Florida scrub jays.

Our topic this episode is guavas. Joining us in guava farmer and historian Jorge J. Zaldivar.

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

The state legislature passed laws preventing Florida municipalities from pursuing clean energy.

Mobster Charlie Wall ran Tampa in the 20s and 30s. Author and journalist Paul Wilborn researched Wall's life for a fictionalized version of it he wrote titled " The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall."

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

Florida U.S. Representative Cory Mills is one of the most unscrupulous politicians and businesspeople in the state, or nation.

Colonial history in what is now Florida typically revolves around the Spanish, but for a period between the 1760s and 1780s, the English occupied the state. Andrew Turnbull tried establishing a British-style plantation in the New Smyrna Beach area with disastrous results. Greg Holbrook, Executive Director at the New Smyrna Museum of History, tells us all about it.

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 e...

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...

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...

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 a...

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.<...

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...

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.

In the upcoming legislative session, Florida politicians will be considering a bill which would give the biggest Florida land developers and land developments the least oversight and opportunity for public input.

Jason Garcia's fantastic "Seeking Rents" podcast episode about the scheme.

This week's episode focuses on who Craig considers to be the ultimate Florida man: James Weldon Johnson. Johnson wrote the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the Black National Anthem. Joining us to discuss Johnson is Florida State College of Jacksonville English professor, author, and historian Tim Gilmore.

Drawing down the Rodman Reservoir proves how a free-flowing Ocklawaha River would benefit Florida.

Free the Ocklawaha!

Amazingly, a distinct species of whale lives year-round in the Gulf of Mexico that until the last decade was largely a mystery to biologists: the Rice's whale. Former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist and Rice's whale expert Laura Engleby joins us to discuss this critically endangered species.

Pensacola Gulf Coast Whale Festival.

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