Florida Uncut

KT Bryden is an Emmy-winning cinematographer, conservationist, and storyteller dedicated to creating compelling narratives about the natural world. Her work, featured on platforms such as Disney+, PBS, and National Geographic, bridges the gap between science and storytelling. As the Executive Producer and Film Director at Wildpath, KT partners with scientists, conservationists, and storytellers to craft powerful, purpose-driven films. Whether capturing rare wildlife moments or delving into the emotional stakes of conservation, she is deeply committed to inspiring audiences to protect the planet. 

KT is the director of films such as The Little Brown Bird, Florida Bear Tracks, a...

In this episode we sit down with Matt Caldwell, a 7th-generation Floridian whose life and career are deeply rooted in the state’s land, history, and future. From his early days as a real estate appraiser to serving in the Florida House of Representatives and now as Lee County Property Appraiser, Caldwell brings a unique perspective on growth, property rights, and conservation. He also serves as President of the Florida State Parks Foundation Board of Directors, where he helps lead efforts to preserve, protect, and expand Florida’s award-winning and record-holding state park system.

Caldwell reflects on his...

Senior Ranger Jerry Miller has spent most of his life in the landscapes he now helps protect. Growing up just outside what is now Duette Preserve in Manatee County, Jerry developed an early connection to Florida’s ranchlands, forests, and wildlife. Today, he serves as a Senior Ranger with Manatee County Natural Resources, helping manage the county’s largest preserve while sharing the wonders of wild Florida with the public.

Many people know Jerry through Jerry’s Wild Life page on Instagram, where he regularly shares photos and videos of animals encountered during his work in the field...

Since its release in 1984, A Land Remembered has been described as a lightning bolt on Florida’s culture, becoming required reading in Florida classrooms for years, not just as historical fiction, but as an inheritance of a way of life that once was. The story of the MacIvey family’s rise from poverty to prominence spans 150 years of Florida history, tracing the tension between survival, ambition, stewardship, and loss. 

It has captured the hearts and minds of those who identify with “old Florida”, and in no small part has inspired countless individuals, even a generation, to protect the land...

In this episode of Florida Uncut, we’re joined by avian ecologist Mary Marine, who is part of a team leading recovery efforts for one of North America’s most endangered birds, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, in the Everglades Headwaters. 

Mary shares how she codified her passion for this “little brown bird” and went from seasonal technician to an instrumental part of the recovery efforts with Archbold Biological Station. We’ll also discuss what endangered species recovery actually looks like on the ground, and why working lands and ranchers are essential partners in conservation (and why you should buy...

Last month I had the incredible pleasure of not only attending the inaugural Lake Wales Ridge Fire Festival, but sitting down on stage with three leaders in local, state, and regional fire management efforts to learn more about what they do and why the role of fire is important to the story of protecting and connecting wild Florida.

It was a great day of learning, engaging, great food, and being with the conservation community in central Florida. I ended up bringing my whole family, who all had a wonderful time. 

The panel included:

In this episode of Florida Uncut, Mason sits down with Ryan Young, founder and Lead Explorer of Rising Tide Explorers, an ecotourism company based in Naples, FL.

Back in 2016 Ryan and his group of biologist friends (including his future wife, Jeannine) realized that there were no certification, education, training, or experience requirements needed to conduct ecotours in the entire state of Florida. This left eager travelers with no way of knowing if the guide they were following into the wilderness had any training, safety certifications, or real knowledge of this unique and complex ecosystem. Having dedicated their...

Few names are as synonymous with wild Florida as Clyde Butcher. Known for his striking black and white large-format photography, Clyde has spent decades capturing the soul of Florida’s landscapes, from the ghostly cypress swamps of Big Cypress National Preserve to the vast wetlands of the Everglades. In this episode, I sit down with Clyde in Venice to talk about his story, beginning to end, and what it truly means to see Florida, not just look at it. 

We spend quite a bit of time reflecting on his early years, his shift from architectural focus and sai...

Elysia wears many hats, but in short she’s an all-around badass. She recently stepped into the role of Team Leader for the Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team, Archbold Biological Station’s in-house prescribed fire strike team. In this position, she leads regional fire management efforts to restore and maintain critical ecosystems while reducing wildfire risk across the Everglades Headwaters and the Lake Wales Ridge.

Before joining Archbold, Elysia served as the Area Biologist for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Lake Wales Ridge sites, where she worked to conserve large habitat corridors and restore some of Florid...

Today we’re sitting down with Zach Franco, Conservation Partnership Coordinator at Archbold Biological Station, to talk about the recent 242-mile canoe trip of the Suwannee River, from source to sea, without stopping.

A lot of folks have asked for more details and the “why” of this adventure. I’m not sure if we actually answered that question, but here’s a great conversation to enjoy!

If you’re looking for more of the “how” to do your own adventures in Florida, or repeat this one, please reach out.

Follow Zach and read more about the a...

In part three of our deep dive into Archbold Biological Station and its 10,500-acre working cattle operation, Buck Island Ranch, we sit down with assistant ranch manager, Mary Margaret Hardee, a lifelong Floridian whose path winds through ranching, conservation, and the cultural fabric of wild Florida.

Growing up on a family ranch in Chiefland, Mary is no stranger to early morning saddling horses. Her favorite way to start the day is greeting the sunrise as she helps gather cattle. In Lake Placid at Buck Island Ranch, she bridges the worlds of production and preservation, working alongside scientists...

On this episode of Florida Uncut, we sit down with Gene Lollis, Ranch Manager for the past 30 years at Buck Island Ranch, one of Florida’s most unique places where cattle ranching meets conservation science. 

Raised in St. Cloud, Florida, Gene’s journey began hoeing orange trees as a kid and working cattle, carrying forward a philosophy summed up in the phrase: “Open gates, open minds.” His deep roots in land and cattle shaped not only his career but also the way he approaches leadership and stewardship today.

At Buck Island Ranch, Gene oversees nearly 10,500 acres tha...

Since 1995, Dr. Hilary Swain has served as the Executive Director of Archbold Biological Station in Venus, Florida, leading one of the nation’s premier field stations dedicated to science, conservation, and education. In her role she oversees two flagship properties: the 8,800-acre Archbold Biological Station on the ancient Lake Wales Ridge, and the 10,500-acre Buck Island Ranch, a fully working cattle ranch and living laboratory within the headwaters of the Everglades.

Over the past 30 years she has played a pivotal role in advancing land conservation and the understanding of prescribed fire, as well as the role of ag...

Since 1995, Dr. Hilary Swain has served as the Executive Director of Archbold Biological Station in Venus, Florida, leading one of the nation’s premier field stations dedicated to science, conservation, and education. In her role she oversees two flagship properties: the 8,800-acre Archbold Biological Station on the ancient Lake Wales Ridge, and the 10,500-acre Buck Island Ranch, a fully working cattle ranch and living laboratory within the headwaters of the Everglades.

Over the past 30 years she has played a pivotal role in advancing land conservation and the understanding of prescribed fire, as well as the role of ag...

Trails are one of the most powerful tools we have for connecting people to nature and fostering a lasting sense of place. By providing direct, immersive access to the outdoors, trails invite us to build personal relationships with the landscapes around us. Whether it’s a shaded stretch of pine flatwood on a rail trail, a sandy path along a coastal estuary or a boardwalk hovering above a cypress swamp, these experiences deepen appreciation and often plant the seed for stewardship. When people fall in love with the places they explore, they’re far more likely to protect them. Trai...

In this special episode of Florida Uncut, we’re bringing you our first-ever live recording, captured this past weekend at the Wild Space Gallery in St. Pete.

The conversation centers around the behind-the-scenes efforts that brought the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s 2024 expedition film to life. Every two years, the Foundation leads a week-long journey, on foot, bike, and water, through a region of the Corridor that needs greater public awareness and protection.

This year’s expedition took place in Southwest Florida, tracing a route from the Western Everglades to the Caloosahatchee River, an infamously challe...

Would you like to attend a live recording of Florida Uncut? Be sure to save the date of July 12, 5–9 PM for a new exhibition "Blazing the Trail: From Strand to Slough" and a live recording of "Wild Takes: Florida Uncut Podcast Live" from 5-8pm at the Wild Space Gallery in St. Pete! I’ll be there interviewing the folks behind the scenes of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s last expedition, and upcoming film. 

In this episode, we catch up with Joe Howard, one of the original trekkers on the O2O: Path to Connection expedition. Joe ref...

Alex Freeze has been part of the movement to connect and protect wild Florida for well over a decade and now works as the Corridor Connect Director at the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. Alex brings a wealth of experience as a conservation photographer, environmental educator, and advocate for Florida's natural landscapes. Did I mention she was a field producer for the Emmy award-winning film, Path of the Panther?

In this conversation, Alex shares her journey from being a 6th-generation Floridian to a leading voice in conservation, highlighting her work in visual storytelling and her role in coordinating...

In this episode of Florida Uncut, we sit down with Brent Setchell, Drainage Design Engineer with the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 1, to talk about something most drivers rarely see—but Florida’s wildlife depends on: wildlife crossings.

Brent grew up immersed in the outdoors, and now he’s helping ensure Florida’s wild places remain connected. From panthers and bears to otters and deer, these crossings save lives—animal and human alike. But what goes into building one? When and where is the right time to act? And how many crossings do we actually need?

We dig...

Damon is a restoration ecologist and practitioner with 20 years of experience designing and implementing habitat restoration projects in southwest Florida. He played an instrumental role in local large-scale habitat restoration projects including the restoration of Perico and Robinson Preserve, among many other habitat improvement projects across Manatee County.

In late 2022 Damon founded the nonprofit Oyster River Ecology to scale up local habitat restoration projects including large scale oyster restoration in the Tampa Bay & Sarasota Bay watersheds. Damon has led an effort to conduct a massive oyster restoration project in the Manatee River, once called the "Oyster River"...

For this episode I'm sitting down with Mike Elfenbein, an incredibly dedicated advocate for wild Florida. You might find Mike hunting pythons barefoot in the Everglades, or dressed in a suit and tie (shoes optional) on Capitol Hill pushing for further focus and protection for Florida's wildlands.

Mike now resides on Florida's southwest coast where he serves as the executive director for the Cypress Chapter of the Izaak Walton League. of America.

Mike’s conservation journey started in the fishing industry and evolved after a pivotal invitation to go hunt in Big Cypress as a ki...

In this episode, we hear the inspiring story of a Lake Wales native, Blair Updike, who turned a childhood passion into a professional art career—and is now working to put Florida art back on the map. With no artistic background in her family—her father invented the Grove Goat, and her mother was an accountant—her journey began after an inspiring demo by Highwaymen artist Robert Butler.

After years working in marketing and sales at her family’s manufacturing business, art resurfaced when she painted her youngest child. That moment sparked a full-time career and, most recently...

I don’t know about you, but I am not land rich. My quarter-acre yard won’t be doing much for the conservation of wild Florida. I don’t have the opportunity or burden of the decision to put my land in conservation. I don’t know what it’s like to weight the pros and cons, go through the application process, talk with my family, etc. 

That’s why I was thrilled to sit down with the fifth-generation citrus grower and landowner, Ned Hancock, to hear about his family’s decision to apply to put their 2,600-acre parcel in...

Travis Thompson is a 5th generation Floridian from Winter Haven, Florida. He’s the Executive Director of the conservation non-profit All Florida, as well as a co-owner of Duck Ranchin’ the state’s largest waterfowl hunting operation. Through his work, he advocates for the things that make Florida special - our woods, water, wildlife, and the way of life that connects us to those things. From spraying to snook fishing, cattle to citrus, Travis and his team are in rooms every day around the state of Florida working on authentic conservation solutions.

Travis has been a huge part o...

Kaylyn, a proud 10th generation Floridian, is deeply connected to the unique landscape of Southwest Florida, near the Western Everglades. Raised barefoot among oak hammocks and cypress tree domes, she inherited a legacy of pioneering ancestors who settled in this region, fueling her passion for protecting this remarkable place.

Overcoming the challenges of teen single motherhood and poverty, Kaylyn has gained invaluable experiences that have shaped her commitment to safeguarding Florida’s natural treasures. 

With over a decade of hands-on experience in agriculture, land management across the Southern United States, and invasive species removal, she has...

There have been a ton of updates since the last episode about the proposed plan to develop nine Florida state parks. Namely, part of the project proposal has been withdrawn. Great news but the story isn’t over…

Places to follow for most up-to-date news and additional info:

Hey folks! This is a unique call to action to let your voice be heard about the new proposed developments (golf courses, resorts, etc.) inside of our state parks. Listen to the episode and read the article below to learn more about what is being proposed, as well as how to make your voice heard and be involved. 

Tampa Bay Times article: https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2024/08/20/are-changes-coming-floridas-state-park-system/

Numbers to call:

All meetings are Tuesday, August 27th from 3-4pm ET. Locations and emails are listed b...

There are not many folks more central to the idea of a “connected and protected” Florida than Dr. Tom Hoctor. He’s the director of the Center for Landscape Conservation Planning at the University of Florida and is the co-founder of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, considered one of the most ambitious landscape conservation plans in the country. 

As we’ll learn, the concept of a statewide ecological corridor is not new. Decades of scientific research has led to the understanding that connected landscape-scale conservation is imperative to the survival of many species and among the best methods of preven...

I have missed posting an episode for the last couple of months, but the good news is I’m catching up today with three guests at once!

Joining us for a talk about conservation, recreation, and education are the Florida Madcaps, made up of Chelsey and Chris Stevens and Ryan Worthington. They’re three friends who love to volunteer, guide, and educate Floridians on our best natural resources. Although they all do their own form of volunteering and advocacy, they join forces weekly to produce the Florida Madcaps podcast to talk about these topics. 

I figur...

Hey folks!

The show was recently featured in the Bradenton Herald and we have a lot of new listeners. You can read that article here: ‘Saved or paved.’ Palmetto-based podcast host explores Florida conservation stories

If you have an idea for a future Florida Uncut guest, please fill out this form.

Looking forward to bringing you more stories very soon!

How does the Florida Wildlife Corridor help provide resilience to climate change?

Florida is ground-zero for climate change impacts as our natural and human communities grapple with increasing heat, flooding, sea level rise, and wildfire risk. 

In today's episode, we talk with Joshua Daskin, the Director of Conservation at Archbold Biological Station, about a recent assessment with Florida Atlantic University that identified the overlaps between land conservation in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the resilience of the state's nature and people to advancing climate change. Archbold's conservation program uses the report's results to credibly motivate t...

Craig is a native Floridian and spent over 30 years as a journalist for the Tampa Bay Times. He has authored a half-dozen award-winning books about the wild ideas and quirkiness of our state. Among his publications are Oh Florida!, Cat Tale, The State You're In, and Manatee Insanity. 

In 2022, Craig was given the Rachel Carson Award by the Sierra Club, which honors sustained achievement by professional journalists or authors and was also awarded a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Book Festival.

Craig is now a columnist for the Florida Phoenix and co-hosts the w...

Andrew loves exploring the mangroves down in Key Biscayne where he calls home. However, he got sick and tired of seeing trash each time he went out to enjoy wild Florida. 

Like many of our guests, Andrew is action-oriented and decided to do something about it. His big plan? Start picking up all the trash. It was that simple. 

His impact has grown into dozens of others doing similar work to him, making it their passion to clean south Florida. 

Andrew drives awareness in other ways too. He carried a 35-pound bag of man...

Traci of Conservation Florida and Chad of Crawford Entertainment teamed up to produce the 6-part documentary, Protect Our Paradise, a riveting series that follows Chad around the state of Florida as he discovers some of Florida’s most pressing environmental issues. 

Every episode showcases a distinctive facet of Florida's environment and highlights individuals dedicated to safeguarding its wildlife, untamed landscapes, and pristine waters.

As a 6th generation Floridian born in Homestead, Florida, Traci is passionate about

protecting Florida’s wild and working lands for the generations of Floridians to

come. She leads...

Karlos’ passion for off-road bike route building came out of the necessity to learn the skills needed to complete the Tour Divide. Filled with the desire to create training routes in his local area of Florida, he discovered a talent for connecting green spaces and reviving old pathways and started inviting folks to join his crazy adventures…and they came willingly.

Over 15 years later, Karlos is known as the best bikepacking route builder in Florida and is responsible for getting hundreds of people per year to experience the Florida Wildlife Corridor, many for the first time. You can...

Julie Morris has over 25 years of experience in Florida conservation—from working as a research wildlife biologist and land manager to implementing land protection and developing conservation policy at regional, state, and federal levels.

Julie founded Florida Conservation Group (FCG) in 2015 with fellow ranchers and scientists. Through FCG, she has represented private landowners in the conservation of over tens of thousands of acres of land and has represented government entities in the conservation of many thousands of additional acres.

She held leadership roles in the Southwest Florida Conservation Blueprint pilot project for FWC, the protection of...

Hey y’all! Today’s episode is a recap of a recent adventure I took on to raise awareness for Florida conservation. This conversation is originally from my other show, Adventure Sports Podcast, where I talk to guests about the various adventures they undertake. 

However, because I did this adventure to shed light on the topics we discuss on this show, I wanted to also share it here. Also, the Lake Okeechobee discharges were just announced and it doesn’t look good. Hopefully we can continue to push more water south to the Everglades in the near future...

Watch a presentation by Clay Henderson at the Corridor Connect here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABBTl8KOq5Q&t=3s

Clay Henderson has had a long career as an environmental lawyer, educator, and writer. He has served as president of Florida Audubon Society and Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as two terms as Volusia county commissioner. Until his retirement in 2019, he served as Executive Director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience at Stetson University.

As a writer, he has been published in both law reviews and scientific journals extensively...

Rick Smith (Patrick Jr.) is the son of acclaimed author, Patrick D. Smith, who helped propel the focus of “old” Florida into the minds and hearts of an entire generation with the book, A Land Remembered, released in 1984. It is historical fiction set mostly in pioneer or "cracker" Florida that follows the fictional MacIvey family through three generations, covering over a century of Florida history from 1858 to 1968.

Although it’s historical fiction, the scenarios and settings within the book were common situations and struggles that early pioneers into Florida would have faced. 

Rick has done over 30...

William started out life in El Salvador, where he was inspired by his parent's dedication to restoring Lake Ilopango. They weren't trained environmentalists, just folks who understood that something needed to be done to protect the place they loved. 

After moving to Florida, William carried these lessons and influence with him. One day, while hiking in a remote Florida wilderness, he looked down and saw a panther track between his feet and knew he needed to do something to bring attention to this disappearing animal. 

fStop Foundation was born. Williams's idea was to capture the "hi...