Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor

Six weeks after Hurricane Ian put 14 to 16 feet of water inside their building, Wahoo Willies was back open and somehow felt like a familiar home base on Fort Myers Beach. Sitting down with Billy at the open-air tiki bar, we get the real story of what it takes to reopen when the island is still cleaning up, inspections are still happening, and basic things like electricity, Wi‑Fi, and a full kitchen are not guaranteed. 

Billy shares what it’s like growing up on Fort Myers Beach, learning the restaurant world young, and saying yes to a chanc...

She left Frankfurt for a tiny motel steps from the Gulf, then helped bring it back to life after Hurricane Ian. We’re hanging out at the Flamingo Inn on Fort Myers Beach with Nicole, the on-site manager who knows exactly why people crave a smaller, quieter stay and why “Old Florida charm” is not just a slogan when you only have 12 rooms and the beach is about 100 feet away.

We talk about what makes the south end of Fort Myers Beach feel like a true reset: slower mornings, fewer crowds, and that moment when you can actual...

A sandbar party is fun. A sandbar party that actually strengthens a community is something else entirely. We’re joined by Kassidy from Nauti Nation, the group that calls itself “America’s least exclusive yacht club,” to talk about why their boat-life culture is exploding and why Fort Myers Beach is the perfect place to bring it to life. If you’re craving a weekend that feels laid-back, welcoming, and intentionally drama-free, this conversation lays out exactly what to expect.

We dig into the heart of Nauti Nation: openness, zero judgment, and that surprising “family” feeling that happens when p...

A tiki boat with bar stools, a big speaker, and the Back Bay sliding by in slow motion changes your whole definition of “Fort Myers Beach day.” Cabo Jim sits down with Bri and Taylor, the owners of Nautical Tiki Cruises, to talk about the leap from corporate life to running one of the most memorable on-the-water experiences behind Snug Harbor.

We get into their origin story, from early roots in the area to more than a decade on the corporate grind, then a bold move back to Southwest Florida with a young family. Bri and Taylor shar...

Labor Day weekend at Fort Myers Beach is about to get louder, brighter, and a whole lot more fun. We’re gearing up for Bash on the Bay at Matanzas on the Bay, a waterfront festival where you can roll in by car or pull up by boat and settle in for a full day of live music, cold drinks, food, vendors, and on-the-water activities. If you’ve been searching for things to do around Fort Myers Beach that actually feel local and alive, this one is built for you. 

We also sit down with headliner Jacquie Roar...

Botox and fillers aren’t the only path to looking refreshed, and they may not be the path you actually want. We sit down with Dr. Greet Baestaens from REnew Yu Natural Health and Beauty to unpack the “natural revolution” a growing shift toward natural rejuvenation that prioritizes how your body heals, communicates, and calms itself, not just how your face looks under bright lights. If you’ve ever worried about looking overdone, swollen, or simply not like yourself, this conversation is for you. 

We get specific about the Ryu device and how microcurrent facial therapy is designed...

A skin spot that “doesn’t hurt” is exactly the kind of problem people put off, and that delay is what we’re trying to interrupt. We sit down with Barry Frank, founder of Skin Triage, to unpack a platform built around early awareness and faster access to professional guidance when something on your skin feels off. Skin Triage is still in its onboarding stage and is currently inviting qualified, licensed providers to participate, but the mission is clear: make the first step easier, safer, and more realistic for everyday people.

We walk through what Skin Triage is and w...

A long weekend on the water can either slip by fast or turn into a story you tell all year. We’re betting on the second one, and we’re laying out the plan for Bash on the Bay at Matanzas on the Bay near Fort Myers Beach, happening Labor Day weekend (Saturday through Monday, the 5th-7th). Think waterfront dining, cold drinks, big views, vendors, contests, and the kind of bayfront energy that makes you want to stay “just one more hour” until the music ends.

We also bring in special guest Ben Allen of the Ben Alle...

Most people do not think about osteoporosis until a simple fall turns into a fracture that “shouldn’t happen.” We want to change that timeline. Bone density peaks around age 30, and from there the choices you make with movement, nutrition, sleep, and hormones can quietly shape your strength and independence for decades.

We sit down with Dr. Greet Baestaens from Renew Yu, Natural Health and Beauty in Fort Myers Beach to make bone health practical and understandable. We break down osteoporosis vs osteopenia, what a DEXA scan T-score actually tells you, and why an additional test like TBS ca...

You can live in a town full of nice neighborhoods and still have hundreds of kids without a stable place to sleep. That’s the uncomfortable truth we sit with alongside Julie Lombardi, executive director of Cape Coral for the Children, as she explains why student homelessness is so often invisible and why the numbers in Cape Coral have climbed past 400 children.

We trace the origin story that sparked the nonprofit: a high-achieving teen, accepted to college and working part-time, revealed as homeless after losing a parent and stability at home. From there, we dig into what “couc...

Empty streets, easier parking, and a table on the dock without a wait: that’s the Fort Myers Beach off-season most visitors never experience. We’re back at Snug Harbor with Jason to talk about what really changes when the crowds thin out and why locals can turn “slow season” into the best season for dockside dining, sunset chasing, and genuinely relaxed nights on the bay.

We get specific about the food, too. Jason breaks down how their fresh seafood pipeline works, from weekly deliveries at the fish house to the moments when boats come in loaded and the...

A single bed can be the difference between chaos and stability for a child, and that is not a metaphor. We’re joined by Brent Hite, the founder of Connecting Blessings, to explain what he and his wife Kelsey are building in Southwest Florida: a practical, people-powered nonprofit that spots real needs and fills them fast.

We talk through how CarePortal works in real life, including how social workers and community partners share urgent “calls of concern” and how local groups can claim a request and respond. Brent explains why this model matters for family preservation and child...

A mobile clinic can feel like a small idea until you meet the people it’s built for. Gail Langner sits down with Dr. Nadine "Deanie" Singh, founder and CEO of Premier Mobile Health Services, to unpack the moment that made her stop accepting “that’s just how it is” in healthcare. After treating a 24-year-old in hypertensive urgency with kidney failure, Dr. Singh realized the real emergency was years without a simple physical, a blood pressure check, or any preventive screening. 

We walk through how Premier Mobile delivers primary care on wheels across Southwest Florida, focusing on uninsu...

A no-kill shelter can’t run on good intentions alone, and Caloosa  Humane Society in LaBelle, Florida proves what it looks like when a community decides animals are worth the work. We sit down with Executive Director Erin Hitsman to hear how her career in zoos, wildlife conservation, fundraising, and rescue led her to a shelter that cares for 70 to 80 animals at a time, from big dogs needing room to decompress to cats you can meet in commingled cat rooms.

Erin walks us through one of the most powerful solutions they’ve built: the Cell Dog program with...

Fort Myers Beach is packed with beach energy, but the best stories often live just behind it on the back bay. We’re Cabo Jim and Sean, and we’re kicking off Buzz on the Bay with a simple promise: we’ll bring you the people, places, and waterfront experiences that make life on the water feel electric, easy, and unforgettable.

We start with what’s happening right now at Matanzas on the Bay and the Matanzas Inn as new ownership pushes a bigger vision for the property. Think an upscale waterfront restaurant with standout service and food, th...

Most people don’t need another motivational quote to start a business. They need a roadmap, someone who has been there before, and a reality check that doesn’t crush the dream. We sit down with Bill Robertson, Chapter Chair of SCORE Southwest Florida, to talk about what entrepreneurs actually struggle with when they launch, grow, or even restart a small business and how SCORE’s free mentoring helps.

We unpack how SCORE works, who it serves across Lee and Hendry counties, and why the first mentor meeting is all about listening. Bill explains how mentors help founde...

Cape Coral has more burrowing owls than anywhere else in Florida, and the empty lots they depend on are disappearing fast. We sit down with Janet Windisch from Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife to hear how a retired chemist turned a love of birding into hands-on wildlife conservation after Hurricane Ian, and why this all-volunteer organization has become a quiet force for habitat preservation in Southwest Florida.

We dig into the real work behind protecting native species: staking and trimming burrowing owl burrows so they are not destroyed by mowing or construction, responding to community calls through...

Drowning is one of those risks people underestimate until it hits close to home, and in Florida, water is everywhere. I’m Gail Langner with State Insurance Cares, and I sat down with Terri Ballo, president of the Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation, to talk about what actually prevents child drowning and why “it only takes a second” is not just a saying. Terry shares the heartbreaking moment that pushed her to take action, and how that personal turning point became a statewide mission built on education, access, and community support.

We get practical about water safety for famili...

A rent notice, a medical bill, a week without wages, or even higher grocery prices can knock a working family off balance fast, especially in Southwest Florida. We’re joined by Caily Martin, Executive Director of Bonita Assistance Office in Bonita Springs, to talk honestly about what crisis support looks like when you treat people like neighbors, not numbers. Gail Langner asks the questions many of us are afraid to ask until we need help ourselves: who qualifies, how private is it, and what can you do when you’re trying to hold it together?

Caily breaks down...

A lot of people say they want to “give back,” but the real question is how. We sit down with Gary Israel, president of the Rotary Club of Estero, to get specific about what community service looks like when it’s organized, consistent, and welcoming. Rotary is one of the oldest service organizations in the United States, and Gary explains how local clubs take on real problems close to home while still carrying a bigger mission of service above self. 

We dig into the projects that make the Rotary Club of Estero stand out in Southwest Florida, especia...

Diapers sound small until you learn the truth: families can’t buy them with SNAP or WIC, daycares often require them, and running out can spiral into stress, missed work, and avoidable doctor visits. We sit down with Amanda Brunson, Associate Executive Director of Healthy Start Southwest Florida, to explain how one nonprofit is closing that gap and strengthening maternal and infant health across Lee, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties.

Amanda shares her personal why, including her own experience with a premature birth, limited family support nearby, and the challenges that follow a NICU stay. That story co...

Your feed is full of nutrition rules, but your body still feels stuck. We’re joined by Francesca Scerbo, founder of Balanced Nutrition, to talk about what actually works when you want better energy, better digestion, and a plan you can live with not a short-term diet you’ll quit by next month. Francesca brings a food first, evidence-based perspective shaped by her background in clinical nutrition and exercise science, plus real life experience coaching clients through change without the all-or-nothing pressure.

We dig into why “diet” is often a recipe for disaster and how a lifestyle-based approach...

A lot of schools talk about “student-centered learning,” but what does that actually look like when a child is tired, overwhelmed, or starting to disappear in a crowded classroom? We sit down with Megan from Summit Christian School in Southwest Florida to talk about the practical choices that shape a calmer, happier, more connected K to 8 experience, from smaller class sizes to a culture where kids are truly seen and known.

Megan shares what she does at Summit, including admissions, onboarding, communications, and events, and why she’s passionate about changing what customer service looks like in educat...

Pink shrimp has a nickname for a reason: “pink gold.” We’re on the bayside of Fort Myers Beach at Erickson Jensen Seafood with Anna, a fourth-generation shrimper who grew up on the docks and still feels that pull every day. She shares the real story behind Gulf pink shrimp, including what makes this species unique to local waters and why so many people swear it’s sweeter and better than what’s shipped in from far away. If you care about fresh seafood, local flavor, and buying with confidence, you’ll want to hear how she thinks about origin, tast...

You can spend years chasing quick cosmetic fixes and still feel like you’re only treating symptoms. We wanted a clearer, more grounded map, so we sat down with Dr. Greet Baestaens for a plain language breakdown of REYU and why REnew Yu frames it as natural rejuvenation that starts from the inside out.

We talk about the real mechanics behind the promise: restoring biofeedback loops in the nervous system, using the spine as the access point, and supporting the body’s ability to regulate and recover when chronic stress and inflammation take their toll. Dr. Baestaens expl...

Hospice is often misunderstood as a place you go, but what we see on the ground is a network of care that follows families through some of the hardest seasons of life. We’re joined by Jennifer Thrash, Director of Philanthropy for Hope Healthcare, to unpack what they actually do across Southwest Florida, including Charlotte County, Lee County, Collier County, Hendry County, and Glades County. From hospice houses in Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, and Cape Coral to in-home visits, the goal stays the same: comfort, dignity, and real support for patients and families.

We dig in...

Cancer can make everything feel urgent, but urgency is not the same as clarity. We sit down with Nikki from Naples Cancer Advisors to talk about a rare kind of resource in Southwest Florida: free, expert cancer second opinions that are independent, unbiased, and built to support you and your current oncologist, not compete with them.

Naples Cancer Advisors is a local nonprofit that does not bill insurance, does not require a referral, and does not make you “qualify.” If you have an active cancer diagnosis, you can self-refer and get access to a powerhouse oncology team that...

Some pain doesn’t go away with time or willpower. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same reactions, the same inner narrative, or the same relationship patterns, this conversation puts language to what many people quietly carry and offers a clear path toward change.

We sit down with Pastor Warren Kooi of Into His Image, a Southwest Florida nonprofit that provides emotional healing and spiritual healing through a structured “Restoring the Foundations” approach. Warren explains how the ministry looks for roots beneath the surface, including generational issues, wrong beliefs, fractured identity, life traumas, and spiritual strongho...

Turning 18 is hard enough with a family to call. Now imagine hitting adulthood with no safety net, no steady adults, and a history of being moved again and again. That’s the reality for many foster youth aging out of foster care, and it’s why we invited Rebecca Clark from Advanced The Faith to join us for a frank, practical conversation about what real support should look like.

Rebecca walks us through how Advanced The Faith, a Christian nonprofit serving Southwest Florida and beyond, partners with group homes and emergency youth shelters to help teens build a fo...

Join Us on a Tour of the Fort Myers Beach Library with the Friends of the Library as a beautiful reminder that this isn’t just a place for books — it’s a true island treasure filled with history, heart, resilience, and community spirit. Hosted by Jan Fleming and Kelly Smith from the Friends of the Library, the tour highlighted everything from patron parking and the volunteer-run bookstore to the whimsical signs, murals, bike racks, local art, children’s spaces, quiet rooms, historic displays, and stunning third-floor views. Every corner of the building seems to tell a story, including the last...

The Florida marine world is packed with legends, but most of them are too busy at sea to ever tell their story. We’re joined by Captain Melody King, CEO of Florida Boat Adventures, to share how she’s turning boating across the Gulf Coast into something bigger than charters and pretty sunsets: a storytelling-driven marine lifestyle brand built on real people, real work, and real community.

We talk about how Florida Boat Adventures evolved into a vetted directory of captains, charter experiences, rental vessels, marine businesses, creators, and hidden Florida destinations. Melody explains why modern travelers want...

When a toilet backs up or a water heater quits, you don’t just need a fix, you need someone who shows up calm, clear, and ready to help. We talk with Ashleydawn, the “call the cowgirl” face of Diversified Plumbing Services, about what it really takes to deliver reliable plumbing and septic service across Southwest Florida, from Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach to Marco Island and beyond.

We get into the behind-the-scenes reality of running a family-owned plumbing company in a high-demand area: emergency calls, tight timelines, and the hardest piece of growth, finding great employ...

Losing your vision is scary enough. Losing it because you cannot afford care is something our community can change. We sit down with Kyle Hartman, Executive Director of the Florida Lions Eye Clinic, to hear how a small, mission driven nonprofit delivers specialty eye care, eye exams, and life changing surgeries for people who are uninsured or underinsured across Southwest Florida and beyond.

Kyle walks us through the clinic’s origin story and the practical reality of meeting a growing need: a team powered by volunteer ophthalmologists, supported by paid doctors so patients can be seen consistently th...

Youth sports can shape a kid’s confidence for life, but the price tag is getting out of hand. I’m joined by Marissa Battle of All-Star Athletics Foundation, a Southwest Florida nonprofit built to help families keep their kids in the game when tuition, uniforms, equipment, camps, and travel start to feel impossible. If you’ve ever wondered how families afford all-star cheerleading or the football camp and recruiting grind, this conversation gets real fast.

Marissa shares how the foundation started, why it operates beyond a single school or gym, and what makes their model different: athlet...

A taco night on land is fine, but a taco night by tiki boat feels like a vacation you can squeeze into a Tuesday. We climb aboard the brand-new Chickee Tiki in Fort Myers Beach, point the bow toward Bonita Fish Company, and turn Tequila And Taco Tuesday into a quick, salty-air cruise with a dockside food mission. 

On the ride, we get into the practical stuff people actually want to know before booking a boat tour in Southwest Florida: how many guests the boat fits comfortably, what BYOB really looks like, and why having water, soda, a...

Hurricane protection gets marketed like a simple choice, but it’s really a chain of decisions where one weak link can ruin the outcome. We sit down with Jaime Zabala Jr. from Advanced Hurricane Technologies to hear how a family-run manufacturer (founded in 1993) designs, builds, and supports hurricane shutters at a level most homeowners never get to see and why they say quality is as much about people and process as it is about aluminum, motors, and hardware.

We walk through what’s new behind the scenes: a purpose-built 55,000-square-foot facility, a digital workflow with iPads and qual...

Your face doesn’t need a “big procedure” to look better but it does need a plan that makes sense. Cabo Jim sits down with Dr. Greet Baestaens from ReNewYu in Naples to talk about natural face rejuvenation that skips lasers, Botox, fillers, threads, and other high-drama fixes. We get honest about what most of us are really after: fewer lines, tighter-looking skin, a smoother texture, less puffiness, and fewer brown spots and hyperpigmentation, especially under the Southwest Florida sun.

We dig into the difference between skin quality and facial structure, because those are two totally different proble...

A child gets dropped off in the middle of the night. No suitcase, no toothbrush, sometimes not even a car seat. The adults want to help, but the logistics hit fast. We talk with Hannah Creech from Foster Village of Southwest Florida about what happens in those first hours and why practical support can make the difference between a family burning out and a family staying steady.

We break down how Foster Village serves foster parents, kinship caregivers, reunified families, and adoptive families with tangible items and real community. Hannah explains their welcome pack program for the...

Triple negative breast cancer at 37. Seven surgeries. Eight rounds of chemo. Months on oxygen. Danielle Rambur lived through the kind of health crisis that forces you to rethink what “wellness” even means, and she’s honest about the dark moments, the stress load, and the turning points that helped her rebuild. Her story doesn’t land on a perfect routine or a magic shortcut. It lands on something more useful: recovery as a skill you can practice, one choice at a time.

We get into what she hears from people every day in Southwest Florida: insomnia, chronic fatigue...

A lot of people say they want to “do what they love,” but Garrett Kraska actually did it, and his path is anything but typical. We hang out with the founder of The Art of Pour Decisions, a Fort Myers Beach-based wine experiences business led by a WSET Level 3 certified wine educator who knows how to make wine feel welcoming, not intimidating.

We talk about Garrett’s pivot from funeral director to wine professional, what it takes to build a small business after a major relocation, and how Fort Myers Beach became home, even with the curveball of Hur...