Florida Spectacular

Send us your Florida questions! Ryan Worthington grew up in Florida's State Parks and loves Florida's wild spaces. And he's the subject of an FWC investigation — but no one will tell him why. Links We Mentioned Craig Pittman's reporting on the secret investigation Ryan Worthington on Instagram Ryan's Top Five Things To Do in and Near Green Cove Springs Ocala National Forest — Salt Springs, Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs, Silver Glen Springs and othersSpring Park in Green Cove Spri...

Send us your Florida questions! Jen Bannan, author of Tamiami Trail: Miami Stories, joins the podcast to talk about her book, Miami, and the Taimiami Trail. Links We Mentioned Jen Bannan's website Monroe Station Buy Tamiami Trail: Miami Stories Support the podcast! Five Things To Do in Miami that are Less "Miami" Everglades National Park The Pit BBQ Vizcaya La Carreta Calle Ocho Coral Gables Miracle Mile The Biltmore Crandon Park Support the show Question or comment? Email us a...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about what it costs to live in paradise, whether they'd do it all over again, and what Florida's "brand" is. Links We Mentioned Scott Maxwell's column in the Orlando Sentinel (note: this link is behind a paywall) Nine Nations of North America Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep ...

Send us your Florida questions! Doctor Tom Hoctor joins the podcast to talk about the Florida Wildlife Corridor's origins, how money flows to conservation lands, and how people can learn more. Then they talk Florida birds and birding. Links We Mentioned Florida Wildlife Corridor Florida Ecological Greenways Network Florida Forever Center for Landscape and Conservation Planning Hub for the maps at Center for Landscape and Conservation Planning Wild Waters at The Harn Tom's Top Five Birds...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy meet fans and talk roadside Florida attractions at FloridaRAMA, one of the most interesting pro-natural-Florida, immersive art experience in Florida. (About that episode art: Do not ever feed a monkey. Do not ever pet a monkey. Do not ever attempt to interact in any way with any monkey.) Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's t...

Send us your Florida questions! Links We Mentioned Palm Harbor Museum Wall Springs County Park Palm Harbor Library Detour Charters Presnell's RV Hurricanes.gov Mike's Weather Page Stephanie Stuckey Okahumpka Service Plaza Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at...

Send us your Florida questions! Angela Sayre brings crabs to the podcast! She's with Crustacean Plantation and wants to encourage people to "leave the shell — take the memory when you visit the Florida Keys (or any coastal community). Links We Mentioned Crustacean Plantation An example of a "broken home" for a hermit crab Cynthia Barnett's Sound of the Sea Jonathan Livingston Hermit Crab YouTube live feed of hermit crabs Things to Do in the Upper Florida Keys/Tavernier Harry Harris ParkDive...

Send us your Florida questions! Cozy mystery author Lucy Burdette joins the podcast to talk about her Key West Food Critic Mysteries, her favorite places in Key West, and yes, how she figures out how and where to kill people. Don't forget — Orange Blossom podcast members have their members-only t-shirt, created by Rick and printed by Yaint Local in production. We need your size! Links We Mentioned Key West Food Critic Mysteries Golf Lovers Mysteries (Roberta Isleib, aka Lucy Burdette) A...

Send us your Florida questions! While Cathy's camping lagoon-side in Brevard County, she and Rick talk about what they love about the Indian River Lagoon area and things to do while you're in town. Links We Mentioned Indian River Lagoon Did Ponce de León land in Melbourne instead of St. Augustine? Ponce de León and other myths Columbus' voyage map Florida Historical Society Kayak with giraffes at the Brevard Zoo Bioluminescence Jonathan Dickinson's God's Protecting Providence Highwaymen ...

Send us your Florida questions! Stephen Cabebe, of Fit for the Magic, joins the podcast to talk about how to enjoy Florida's natural spaces without withering in the heat — even in the summer months. Stephen's Top Five Disney-Adjacent Things To Do Paddle the canals in Winter Park (Dinky Dock) West Orange Trail (And Cathy's travel article about Oakland Nature Preserve along the trail) Rock Springs at Kelly Park Horizon West Regional Park Poke Hana Mills 50 District (Mills Market) Links We Menti...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about Florida mystery writers. Curl up with your next summer read after listening! Links We Mentioned Race of the Gazelles Striptease (also a book; this links to info about the film) Carl Hiaasen (website has links to Striptease, Tourist Season, Squeeze Me, and Stormy Weather) Cathy's 2017 interview with Carl Hiaasen Randy Wayne White (website has link to Dark Light) John D. MacDonald (not John D. MacArthur!) Condominium Tim Dorsey and S...

Send us your Florida questions! Chadd Charland fills in for Rick and talks about how Nassau County was able to stop AI data centers — and what every community can do to stop them! Cathy talks about why eliminating single-use plastics makes a difference and why July is the month to try it in your home, office, or school. Links We Mentioned Nassau County's temporary moratorium on AI data centers Florida Native Plant Society Project Tango in Palm Beach County SB44 Plastic-Free July Refill your l...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy showcase the state of journalism in Florida and talk about hyperlocal papers. Five of our Favorite Hyperlocal Weekly Newspapers The Community Paper (Orlando area) The Gabber Newspaper (Gulfport and South Pinellas) Winter Park Voice (Winter Park) West Volusia Beacon (West Volusia) The Herald (Gadsden County) Keys Weekly (Florida Keys) Links We Mentioned Donate to The Gabber Newspaper Florida Phoenix Support the show Question or co...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida poet Heather Sellers joins the podcast to talk about why alligators are the best, her latest poetry book about Florida, Women in Tampa Talking About Alligators, and things she thinks everyone should do in Tampa. Links We Mentioned Eureka Springs Heather Sellers Hike Hillsborough Hillsborough Hiking Spree Buy Heather's book! Former guest Mark Barrow's book about alligators Heather's Favorite Five Things To Do in and Near New Tampa Bookends in Ybor Eureka...

Send us your Florida questions! Lisa Moore, president of Save Crystal River, joins the podcast to talk about their efforts with the Kings Bay Restoration Project. Kings Bay is the second largest spring system in Florida. Links We Mentioned SaveCrystalRiver.com [a 501c(3) organization] Three Sisters Mertailors Lisa's Three Things Must-Do Things in Crystal River Bird watching Manatee tours Scalloping Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscri...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida artist Blair Petersen Updike joins the podcast to talk about why she created the Florida Gallery, Florida art, and what she thinks everyone should do in Polk County. Links We Mentioned Wild Space Gallery at the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Benjamin Dimmitt An Unflinching Look: Elegy for a Landscape Blair Petersen Updike website and Instagram George Snow Hill — WPA muralist Hollerbach's in Sanford The Florida Gallery (check out their art merch, t...

Send us your Florida questions! Mark Mustian, author of Boy With Wings and founder of Word of South, talks about his book, the wildly popular Word of South festival, and what it means to be different. Mark's Top Five Things To Do in Tallahassee Go to Cascades ParkSausage Dog at Bradley's Blue Tavern for musicBike trails at Piney ZBuy a book and eat pie at Midtown ReaderLinks We Mentioned Mark Mustian's website Boy with Wings Word of South festival Gibtown's Showmen's Club Clown is ...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick talks about his new book, Shaping a Sense of Place. Links We Mentioned: Shaping a Sense of Place by Rick Kilby. Florida artist Joy Postle. More about Joy. Florida artist Sam Stoltz. Little Red Riding Hood mosaic mural in Winter Park. Why Mid-Century Modern matters in Florida. Hannibal Square in Winter Park. The Rhea Marsh and Dorothy Lockhart Smith Research Grant. Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular...

Send us your Florida questions! Kristin Hemphill, the Creative Director for FloridaRAMA, an immersive Florida art experience with a conservation focus, joins the podcast to talk about the art, the artists, and why the experience focuses on Florida. Links We Mentioned FloridaRAMA Florida Wildlife Corridor Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.co...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida State Representative (District 60) Lindsay Cross joins the podcast to talk about Florida Forever, environmental challenges in Florida, and what she's doing to help make Florida a paradise for everyone instead of an elite few. Links We Mentioned Lindsay Cross Chadd Charland filled in for Rick Kilby on this episode, he is running for State House in District 15 (Nassau and portions of Duval counties). Florida Wildlife Corridor Florida Forever Florida Commu...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida lesbian author Kristen Arnett joins the podcast to talk about her favorite lizard, what led her to set her debt novel in a taxidermy shop, and other special Florida experiences. Links We Mentioned Mostly Dead Things With Teeth Stop Me If You've Heard This One KristenArnettWriter.com Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels...

Send us your Florida questions! Dawn Shirreffs, with the Environmental Defense Fund, talks about Florida's Coastal Resilience Bill. The bill protects Terra Ceia, the Skyway Fishing Pier, and the Santa Fe, among others. Links We Mentioned Environmental Defense Fund Coastal Resiliency Bill Protect Florida's Future Florida's Climate Future Why mangroves matter Mangroves FloridasClimateFuture.org Find your elected official and tell them to approve funding for the Resilient Florida Grant Tru...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about writing about Florida in front of an audience at their first-ever live podcast taping. Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere...

Send us your Florida questions! Cathy and Rick talk about only a few of the many Badass Florida Women in our history. Women We Mentioned Emateloye Commodore Rose May Mann Jennings Mary Lee De Pugh Mary McLeod Bethune Joy Postle (and more about her, too!) Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida author John Fleming joins the podcast to talk about his latest book, Wonders of Shadow Key. Links We Mentioned Wonders of Shadow Key Review of Wonders of Shadow Key Connections TV show (BBC) John Fleming's website Follow That Dream (movie) The Legend of the Barefoot Mailman Fearsome Creatures of Florida (and the website) Dave Barry's Swamp Story Songs for the Deaf The Book I Will Write Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods Support the show Questio...

Send us your Florida questions! Hilary Flower, author of The Kite and The Snail: An Endangered Bird, Its Unlikely Prey, and a Story of Hope in a Changing World, joins the podcast to talk about what prompted her to write the book. Links We Mentioned Review of The Kite and The Snail Limpkins Snail kites Apple snails Slugs Merlin bird app iNaturalist app HilaryFlowerAuthor.com How To Spot a Snail Kite Image courtesy of University Press of Florida Support the show Question or comment...

Send us your Florida questions! Ryan and Cathy talk about Santos' Black history and how it's been erased, and put out a call for help from anyone who knows the history of the people displaced for the Cross Florida Barge Canal. Links We Mentioned The Zorg Santos historical marker Historic Santos Recreation Area Negro League Baseball Saving Santos Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with ...

Send us your Florida questions! Springs artist and activist Margaret Ross Tolbert joins Rick Kilby and guest co-host Chadd Scott to discuss her artwork and advocacy on behalf of Florida's springs. Links we mentioned: Aquiferious.com AQUIFERious Facebook group Margaret Ross Tolbert on YouTube Proje SU coffee table book Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatflorida...

Send us your Florida questions! Cathy Salustri and Ryan Worthington talk about Sundown Towns, apologies, and the problems the racism of the past still creates. Links We Mentioned Tougaloo College's Sundown Town database Was Gulfport, Florida a Sundown Town? South Pinellas Sundown Towns Florida Sundown Towns Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatflorid...

Send us your Florida questions! Buckle in for a wild ride... this episode starts in Bithlo, detours through Orlando Speed World, gets chased by a cobra, and then goes on an adventure through the springs. Links We Mentioned Bithlo Bithlo real estate Orlando Speed World Swampy St. Cloud Serpentarium Barberville Yard Art Emporium DeLeon Springs State Park Queenie the Waterskiing Elephant Ginger Ale Springs Green Springs Sam Stoltz houses Orlando Shine Giant inflatable pigeons in Orlando Ph...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about gentrification, the difficult relationship white people have with Black history, its place in Florida's history, and how Florida's Black history impacts modern-day Florida. Links We Mentioned Lincolnville Fort Mose Axe Handle Saturday The Zorg Eatonville's Zora Neale Hurston Museum Kingsley Plantation Carter Woodson Museum Lincolnville Museum Historic Hampton House American Beach A.L. Lewis Museum Support the show Question or com...

Send us your Florida questions! Eliot Kleinberg, a journalist whose career spans five decades, has turned his talents to fiction. His first book, Hypocrite's Row, is due out February 26. From Eliot: Hypocrite’s Row, the first book of my “Adventures of Nate Moran” novels about the Roaring 20s Miami police detective, comes out next month. The setting is the real battle between gangsters and law enforcement during the mostly failed effort to enforce Prohibition in South Florida. Florida native E...

Send us your Florida questions! Ann McCutchan's book, The Life She Wished To Live: A Biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Author of The Yearling, focuses on Rawling's life. Ann, Cathy, and Rick talk about Rawlings' life, how she learned not to be a racist, her struggles with alcohol, and why The Yearling is not the best of her works. Links We Mentioned Ann McCutchan's website Here is Home: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Cross Creek The Life She Wished To Live: A Biography of Marjorie Kinnan R...

Send us your Florida questions! Author Holly Sprinkle joins the podcast to talk about her book, Florida Natural Springs: A History. The trio talks about — among other things — Naked Ed, the historic marker at Manatee Springs, and why fat mermaids are the best mermaids. Links We Mentioned The William Bartram plaque at Manatee Springs Buy Holly's book! Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up wit...

Send us your Florida questions! While working as a journalist, Pete Gallagher investigated Florida stories that made a difference. He joins the podcast this week to talk about two of those stories, people buried under Tropicana Field, and his book (in progress) about his life in journalism. Links We Mentioned James Richardson Emateloye Estenletkvte: Polly Parker Got Away Florida Folk Show radiostpete.com Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscri...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida has a significant history with enslaved people escaping their oppressors in the United States. If you want to see history, these are places you can visit to learn the real history of Florida's underground railroad. Links We Mentioned Fort Mose Bill Baggs State Park Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola Podcast episode about Prospect Bluff Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park Kingsley Plantation Fitzpatrick Plantation Ruins Angola Settlement ...

Send us your Florida questions! Nichole Delafield-Bromme and Lief Bromme talk about their book, Little Wekiva Memories: Kayaking & Other Adventures. Links We Mentioned Little Wekiva Memories: Kayaking & Other Adventures NicholeDelafield.com Maffrey's at Ivanhoe Village Brick and Mortar Places Selling Little Wekiva Sunshine Book Co. 647 Lake Ave., Clermont, FL 34711 Maffrey’s (see link above) Barnes and Noble B&N Sand Lake, 7900 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando&nb...

Send us your Florida questions! Mary McLeod Bethune founded the school that became Bethune-Cookman University, but why — and how? Ryan and Cathy take a look. Find Submerged Stories on Facebook. Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram. Links We Mentioned Bethune-Cookman University The Zorg Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at...

Send us your Florida questions! As Rick and Cathy look to the new year, they talk about the podcast's origin story, what Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings would have sounded like as an influencer, and the ways social media can help Florida research. Links We Mentioned Ann McCutchan Desperately seeking information on: Mary Mae Campbell (Most likely: South Florida/Homestead, ca. 1967) Donald W. Sill (Winter Park artist /Altamonte Springs) Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridasp...

Send us your Florida questions! A search for legendary Key West fire chef Bum Farto led historian David L. Sloan down a path that led to how Key West played a large part in the assassination of JFK in Dallas. His detailed research helps prove a conspiracy that has long plagued Americans. Links We Mentioned David's website telling the story of JFK, the CIA, and the mafia in Key West Bum Farto Buy the book Cover image courtesy of David L. Sloan. Support the show Question or comment? Email...

Send us your Florida questions! Tibbals Curator of Circus, Jennifer Lemmer Posey, talks about the history of the circus in Florida, where it's going, and the state of things today. Links We Mentioned The Ringling Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life International Independent Showmen's Association Showmen's Club The Ringling collection at FSU Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and ke...

Send us your Florida questions! Ross Allen's daughter, Betty Allen Bashaw, talks about growing up around her father's menagerie, some of her most interesting tasks at the Ross Allen Institute, and how to get a gator to take a nap. Pictured: A young Betty Allen with her father Ross Allen. Photo courtesy of Betty Allen Bashaw. Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at great...

Send us your Florida questions! Have you been to Havana? No, not that one — the one near Quincy, in North Central Florida. Mark Pettus, co-owner of 16 newspapers in North Florida, gives insider tips for visiting Havana and Quincy. Things To Do in Gadsden County Visit Quincy Havana Main Street Antiques in Havana Havana Main Street Sist3r Chicks Oscar's in Havana Heroes and Villains El Jalisco Weezy's Cottage Red Door Wine Bar Planters Exchange Havana History and Heritage Society Coon Bottom Fa...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Ryan Worthington and Cathy Salustri talk about their forthcoming podcast, Submerged Stories: Florida's Other History. Find Submerged Stories on Facebook. Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram. Links We Mentioned Prospect Bluff: Part of the Underground Network to Freedom Dale Cox YouTube Episode Fort Gadsden and the Underground Railroad Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacu...

Send us your Florida questions! The Florida Wildlife Federation calls Karen Chadwick a conservation hero. She's spent her life on and around the waters of Central Florida, and she talks about her passion for the Ocklawaha, the impacts of keeping the dam, and the splendor of the regular drawdowns. Links We Mentioned Ocklawaha River Rodman Reservoir and Dam Cross-Florida Barge Canal Kenwood boat ramp Buckman Lock North Star Charters Karen's YouTube channel about the Ocklawaha A Cruising D...

Send us your Florida questions! Jason Vuic (rhymes with Buick!) talks about his latest book, A Town Without Pity: Aids, Race, & Resistance in Florida's Deep South. In it, he delves into two notorious cases from Arcadia: the Ray brothers, and the James Richardson case. Links We Mentioned A Town Without Pity Swamp Peddlers Wheeler's Cafe Florida's Peace River Frontier by Canter Brown, Jr. PHOTO: In 1987, Arcadia brothers Ricky (left), Robert (center), and Randy (right) Ray...

Send us your Florida questions! Robin Mimna talks about the darker side of Henry Flagler, Stetson, and other "founding fathers" in Florida. We also talk about the women behind the men, and how the men controlled the narratives about them. Links We Mentioned Lake Helen Flagler's Law Arthur Hamlin Mary Grace Quackenbos Annie Laurie's Triumph Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cat...

Send us your Florida questions! Elizabeth Randall, author of Florida haunted history books, joins the podcast — this week only, we've changed the name — to tell us some fantastic Florida ghost stories. Links We Mentioned Elizabeth Randall website Bosque Bello Cemetery in Fernandina Amelia Island Museum of History (the old jailhouse) Robert the Doll by David Sloan David Sloan ghost tour and VIP Robert the Doll Experience Robert the Doll Florida Spectacular episode Books from Elizabeth ...

Send us your Florida questions! To celebrate the 25th annual issue of Saw Palm, the editors came on the podcast to talk about what sorts of things to expect in the anniversary issue, a book from the man who started Saw Palm, and things to do in Ybor City. Links We Mentioned Saw Palm Fearsome Creatures of Florida Columbia Restaurant The Castle Kress Contemporary Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter...

Send us your Florida questions! Can AI make Florida better? Bess Auer joins the podcast to talk about AI, being a UF cheerleader during the Danny Rollins serial killings, and her Orlando treasure hunt. Links We Mentioned Cherry 2000 "How Ted Bundy Ended Our Innocence" by Diane Roberts Second Harvest Food Bank Fenn's treasure HoundsHouse Orlando The Secret: A Treasure Hunt (Byron Preiss) HaveIBeenTrained.com Bess' SubStack Can AI plan a decent Florida road trip? Here's what happened when Ric...

Send us your Florida questions! Haley Moody, the director of the Florida Springs Institute, joins the podcast to talk about the idea of creating a National Springs Heritage Area in Florida. About Haley Haley’s passion for the springs began during her first visit to the Ichetucknee River. Her love of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was born during her time at the University of Florida, where she graduated with honors in Landscape Architecture. After a GIS Internship at the Florida Springs...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida nature photographer Matt Keene talks about how he uses large-format film cameras to create his portraits. Matt has an exhibit at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine (through Jan. 18, 2026), and this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how much work, forethought, and effort goes into this extraordinary body of work. Links We Mentioned More about Matt Keene River Be Dammed Lost Springs Echoes of the Wild at the Light...

Send us your Florida questions! Brandy Carlisle, a tour guide at St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth Park, is fascinated with the woman who bought the land that is now the park. So much so she's published a book about her: Luella. The trio talks about Luella, prostitution, and the Fountain of Youth. Links We Mentioned Luella Fountain of Youth Park in St. Augustine Find out more about Brandy — and her fascinating hobbies — on her website. Unearthing St. Augustine: America's Oldest City, by...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about Rick's trip to St. Augustine, then answer a letter from a listener about whether or not moving to Florida is a good idea. Things To Do in St. Augustine St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth (visit with a critical eye!) The San Marco shops in St. Augustine, including Duddington's Columbia Restaurant in the St. Augustine Historic District Don't forget to check out Spinster Abbott's. Support the show Question or comme...

Send us your Florida questions! Mikita Brottman, author of Guilty Creatures, joins the podcast to talk about the Tallahassee murder that scandalized the town when Denise Williams and Brian Winchester plotted and executed the murder of Denise's husband, Mike. Mikita Brottman is a writer and psychoanalyst. Her latest book Guilty Creatures was published by Simon and Schuster in 2024. She has a D. Phil from Oxford University and is a professor of literature at the Maryland Institute College of Ar...

Send us your Florida questions! The face behind the super-popular Florida's Folk History Instagram account joins the podcast this week. Aubrey Naulin talks about her art, her hopes for Florida's future, and Florida's Indians. Links We Mentioned Florida Folk History on Instagram Rosewood Remembered Islands of Cedars by Shana Smith Submerged Stories: Florida's Other Histories on Facebook Lake Hourglass Studio Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular...

Send us your Florida questions! Mark Barrow grew up around gators — both the real one and a certain Florida college that pays homage to them. Now, he's written a book about alligators, and he joins Rick and Cathy to talk about why alligators deserve respect, not fear. The trio also talks about the gator's place in Florida's culture, roadside Florida gator attractions, and why gators are amazing creatures. Links We Mentioned Mini-Lights and Black children used as gator bait? Mini Lights p...

Send us your Florida questions! This week Rick and Cathy talk about Punta Gorda Links We Mentioned Warm Mineral Springs Things To Do in North Port Myakka River State Park Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors Radioactive Fountain of Youth in Punta Gorda Sunseeker Resort DeSoto Veterans Memorial Park Ponce-apalooza Ponce-y Scheme Revisiting Warm Mineral Springs Old World Meets New Age at Warm Mineral Springs (Image via Google Maps/Fair Use) Support the show Question or comme...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida icon Lars Andersen joins the podcast to talk about his passion: Florida waterways. Links We Mentioned Payne's Prairie: A History of the Great Savanna by Lars AndersonBook a river tour with Lars at Adventure Outpost or email him. Lost Springs in one minute with Margaret Tolbert Wacissa Slave Canal Big Blue Spring. Haulover Canal. Photo: Canon Springs during drawdown. Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.c...

Send us your Florida questions! Michael Grunwald talks about cattle ranching and why Floridians — and everyone — should eat more plants. He, Cathy, and Rick also talk about meat grown in a lab, why Grunwald thinks Michael Pollan gets things wrong, and Michael's new book, We Are Eating the Earth: The Race To Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate. Links We Mentioned We Are Eating the Earth The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise Support the show Question or co...

Send us your Florida questions! Anna Cooke, editor-in-chief at The New Barker magazine, jons the podcast to talk about rescue work in Florida; the long-gone Florida roadside attraction, Dogland; and a few famous Florida dogs. Links We Mentioned The New Barker Magazine An abandoned dog in Memphis Dave the Wonder Dog (Annie Oakley was a snowbird) (bonus link) Brownie the town dog of Daytona Beach Garden of Love Coonhound Cemetery in Alabama Senior Dog Sanctuary in Nashville Donte's Den An...

Send us your Florida questions! The Ocklawaha River in Central Florida has been dammed for decades. Now, there's a chance to tear down the dam and reunite the rivers. That's good news for bass, anglers, environmentalists, and the local economy. Margaret Spontak comes on the podcast to talk about why, and she encourages people to call their state legislators and ask them to support restoration of the Ocklawaha and reuniting the rivers. Links We Mentioned Interactive map of the Ocklawaha...

Send us your Florida questions! Ryan Worthington joins the podcast to talk about a new initiative he and Cathy are working on — a podcast to document and discuss history in Florida that doesn't get taught in schools. Submerged Stories is the name of the forthcoming podcast, and the Facebook group they've created to crowdsource information. Check out the link below, join the group, and share it with your like-minded friends. Links We Mentioned Submerged Storie: Florida's Other History (Ryan an...

Send us your Florida questions! With Cathy traveling through what she calls "historic West Florida", she and Rick talk about forgotten parts of Florida's history — and geography, the War of 1812, and some less savory parts of the early history of the United States and why they get left out of history classes. Links We Mentioned Map showing Florida and a "contested" area "sold" to the US by France Documents Accompanying the Message of the President of the United States of the Fourteenth Instan...

Send us your Florida questions! Did you know cattle ranchers were the "first intentional conservationists" in Florida? Annie Muscato does. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on it, and this week she joins the podcast to talk — passionately! — about research into how some Florida cattle ranchers are working to protect wild Florida, why Florida cattle ranching isn't nearly as cruel as it is in the rest of the country, and how ranchers work with the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Links We Mentioned...

Send us your Florida questions! Andrea Conover of Azalea City Brewing and Palatka Mayor Robbie Correa join us this week to help roadtrippers find Palatka's best-kept secrets. Links We Mentioned Palatka Coffee Company Angel's Diner Palatka's historic riverfront Velchoff's Corner Ravine Gardens State Park Magnolia Cafe Azalea City Brewing Lemon Street Market Kayak tours North Star Charters Amara Zee Bronson Mulholland House (and Rick's post about it — and this one) Camping in ...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick serves on the board of the Winter Park History Museum, and Cathy lived there for a time in the '90s (and loves to go back). That's why the book written by this episode's guest, Kim Michalak, was so appealing to both of them. Kim shares how she selected her 100 things for her book 100 Things To Do in Winter Park Before You Die. Links We Mentioned 100 Things To Do in Winter Park Before You Die Winter Park History Museum Barnie's Coffee The Imperial Ten Thous...

Send us your Florida questions! Dan Reiter joins the podcast to talk about his career surfing Florida and writing about the same. The trio talks about everything from the best place to surf in Florida to why surfers shouldn't be scared of sharks. Check out Dan's book about surfing (link below). Links We Mentioned On a Rising Swell: Surf Stories From Florida's Space Coast (and a link to buy the book) Ron Jon Surf Shop Kelly Slater Surfing Upham in Pinellas County Beach renourishment and why it...

Send us your Florida questions! "Nature isn't just more complex than we know, it's more complex than we can know." There's a sadly great chance that the State of Florida is going to build a toll road through the last remaining wild growth of a pretty — and pretty endangered — plant. Here's what's happening, where it's happening, and what you can do about it. Links We Mentioned Background on the dangers to this endangered mint Sign up and get involved to protect this mint Article by Rose...

Send us your Florida questions! Historian Holly Baker joins the podcast to talk about her work in preservation in St. Augustine, Vero Beach, and throughout Florida. The trio also talks about what makes a building historic, preserving historic evidence of Jim Crow, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Links We Mentioned St. Augustine Davis Shores Bridge of Lions Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in St. Augustine Lincolnville Museum Where is Lincolnville? Cathy's article about Lincolnville Rick's po...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida author and naturalist Andrew Furman returns to the podcast to talk about his latest book, Of Slash Pine and Manatees: A Highly Selective Guide to My Suburban Wilderness. Links We Mentioned Bitten: My Unexpected Love Affair With Florida Bidens pilosa (aka beggartick, etc., etc.) and its medicinal uses Frogfruit (aka hatpin) Who invented the grassy lawn? Yellow-crowned night heron Photo by Andrew Furman Support the show Question or comment? Email u...

Send us your Florida questions! How Bowers of the Retro WDW podcast joins Rick and Cathy to talk about the not-so-secret-after-all Florida Project, the origins of Disney Springs, and what Cypress Gardens had to do with Walt Disney deciding Florida would be a great place for a theme park. Links We Mentioned Retro WDW Lake Buena Vista Historical Society Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep...

Send us your Florida questions! Orlando historian Rachel Williams joins the podcast to talk about Colonial Plaza Mall (now a shadow of its former self and called Colonial Marketplace), and from there the conversation moves to caves in Ocala, coffee roasters we love, and the importance of the shopping mall in Florida culture. Links We Mentioned Ocala Caverns (and what's the difference between a cave and a cavern, anyway?) Rachel's article about Colonial Plaza Florida Historical Society c...

Send us your Florida questions! TJ Fridrich, with the Save the Manatee Club, joins the podcast to talk about what listeners need to know about when manatee can be dangerous (seriously!), what their mating behavior might look like, and where you can see some excellent documentaries about manatee and their ilk. Links We Mentioned Save The Manatee Club The Disturbance Theory Mating herd in Haulover Canal Report a manatee sighting Amazonian manatee and Last Chance To See Last Chance To See&n...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about the middle basin of the St. Johns River, eco tours, and wildlife seen along the waterway. Links We Mentioned Floridiana Festival at the Matheson Squarehouse Pizza Love Vine? Welaka Florida Lake Jesup St. Johns River info Airboat on the St. Johns Airboat chase sequence in Gone Fishin' "36 Hours in Orlando" (New York Times) Bill Belleville's River of Lakes Florida's American Heritage River: Images From the St. Johns River...

Send us your Florida questions! Josh Ginsberg, author of Secret Tampa Bay, Secret Orlando, Tampa Bay Scavenger, Oldest Tampa Bay — among others — joins the podcast to talk about his favorite hidden gems in Tampa Bay and Orlando. The trio talks about everything from the Wizard of Oz to taxidermied animals. Links We Mentioned TerriblyOdd.com Josh Ginsberg books Dysfunctional Grace (Ybor City) Tiger Dust (Seminole Heights) Wizard of Oz Museum (Cape Canaveral) Ripley's world headquarters (Orland...

Send us your Florida questions! Craig Pittman, co-host of the Welcome to Florida podcast, joins Florida Spectacular to talk about his latest book by the same name. This episode takes a roller coaster approach to Florida, and along the way the trio discusses nudist resorts, snakes, where to find dead bodies, and... well, take a listen. It's quite a ride. Links We Mentioned Welcome to Florida Dawn Lee McKenna God's Trombone's Florida Phoenix Flamingo Magazine FORUM Magazine Reptile World ...

Send us your Florida questions! Josh Gunderson, the creative mind behind the popular Oviedo Mall account on Twitter, joins the podcast to talk about mall culture in Florida, his new book, The Lamenting Mall Rats Society, and whether or not Oviedo Mall really is haunted. Links We Mentioned @OviedoMall on Threads The actual Oviedo Mall The Lamenting Mall Rats Society B. Dalton Booksellers District Oviedo Paddler's Guide to the Sunshine State Top 3 Oviedo Experiences Crazy Cork Wine ...

Send us your Florida questions! Jon Bortles joins Cathy and Rick to talk about Florida Tiki culture and all things Tiki. Bahi Hut Meetup with Rick, Cathy, and Jon — April 11, 7 p.m. Links We Mentioned Tahitian Motor Lodge Tarpon Tahitian Inn Tampa Hawaiian Inn Daytona Best Western Aku Tiki Peking Palace in Clearwater Mai Kai Julian's Ormond Beach The Honu Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, a...

Send us your Florida questions! Spring has sprung, the pollen is here, and it's time once again to talk about plants and landscaping. Eric Schmidt, the Botanical Records Specialist for Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens, talks about a few of his favorite plant places in Florida, his experiences consulting on the Animal Kingdom and Star Wars landscaping efforts at the Walt Disney World Resort, and a special tree he has planted in his own yard. Links We Mentioned What Hurricane Michael Did to the T...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Joe Colucci from Munyon's Paw Paw Liqueur joins the podcast to talk about his Florida-made papaya liqueur — and the fascinating Florida history behind it. Links We Mentioned Munyon Island Munyon's Paw Paw Liqueur Mai Kai The Great Outdoors in High Springs Ottos High Dive Copper Rocket Munyon Hope Association Tiki A Go Go Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, an...

Send us your Florida questions! Cathy and Rick give a whirlwind tour of botanical gardens they have loved, talk about Rick's proposal to his wife and where he hid her ring, how to pronounce anole, and where to find flamingos. Links We Mentioned Florida Botanical Gardens Harry P. Leu Gardens Orlando Exploration Gardens Brown anoles and more about them Selby Botanical Gardens (and the George Harrison exhibit) Boiled books Botanical gardens at Cypress Gardens Bok Tower Gardens ...

Send us your Florida questions! Jack Davis, the Pulitzer-winning author of The Gulf: Making of an American Sea, joins the podcast to talk about what he thinks of the Gulf of Mexico's nomenclature glow-up. The talk migrates to sea level rise, John D. MacDonald's books, and his "Gulf of Mexico" playlist. Links We Mentioned General Jesup and Lake Jesup Pork Chop Gang John D. MacDonald and his book Condominium Cathy's article about paddling with Jack Brian Woodall's Instagram Tillie Fowler Park K...

Send us your Florida questions! At the Florida Springs Council, the Florida Madcaps podcast host Ryan Worthington and Florida Spectacular host Cathy Salustri taped a crossover podcast in front of a live audience. Their guests are Max Chesnes, the Tampa Bay Times environmental reporter; TJ Fridrich, a biologist with Save the Manatee Club; and Federico Acevedo, of the Florida Wildlife Federation. The podcast subjects — a definite variation from either's usual format — ranged from the 2024...

Send us your Florida questions! Ken Breslauer joins the podcast to talk about collectible Florida ephemera, his annual Floridiana show, and his favorite roadside attractions. Links We Mentioned Floridiana Fest (Sarasota, April 11-12) Florida Attractions History Atomic Tunnel Sarasota Jungle Gardens Bongo Land Pinecrest Gardens Sunken Gardens Silver Springs Ken's Feb. 19, 2025 talk in Winter Park about Florida souvenirs Image by Ken Breslauer Support the show Question or comment? Email us at...

Send us your Florida questions! Shana Smith joins the podcast to talk about her book, Islands of Cedars. Shana based the book on actual events, but is a well-researched book of fiction. It's a beautifully written piece of history and Shana talks about what motivated her to write the book, what happened, and what's next. Links We Mentioned Islands of Cedars FloridaRAMA The Rosewood Massacre Voice and Pen nonprofit Zora Seasonal Events Image via Shana Smith Support the show Question or ...

Send us your Florida questions! Looking for things to do that most people miss in Ormond Beach? Historian Randy Jaye has a lot for you to explore. Links We Mentioned Tomoka Mound Complex Legend of Tomokie (and that ridiculous statue Rick loves) Old Kings Road Three Chimneys Dummett Plantation The Loop Scenic Drive McRae Plantation and Addison Blockhouse The Ormond Hotel Fortunato Park Birthplace of Speed Anderson-Price Memorial Building The Casements The Casemente Annex The Dix House The Lipp...

Send us your Florida questions! Joy Wallace Dickinson, author of the old Florida murder mystery, Secrets of the Flamingo Café, joins the podcast to talk about her book, the history in which she grounded it, and her writing process. There's a rare snowfall in North Florida as we taped this podcast and of course Cathy has some big feelings about that. Links We Mentioned About Joy Wallace Dickinson Secrets of the Flamingo Café: An Old Florida Mystery John D. MacDonald Support the show Question o...

Send us your Florida questions! Ever heard of a zero-magnitude spring? It's a spring that has "historic flow" — meaning it doesn't have any water anymore (usually — some get water during times of heavy rain). Rick and Cathy talk about some of Florida's lost springs. Links We Mentioned Mosaic Peace Park Wakulla Springs State Park Daytona's Atomic Tunnel White Sulphur Springs Hampton Springs Newport Springs Suwannee Springs Worthington Springs Benjamin Dimmitt: An Unflinching Look Around ...

Send us your Florida questions! Cathy and Rick talk about their favorite parks that aren't state parks. City and County Florida Parks You Need To Visit Fort De Soto (St. Petersburg) Greenwood Cemetery (map showing GAR) (Orland) Mead Botanical Gardens (Winter Park) Boyd Hill (St. Petersburg) Moss Park (Orlando) Shingle Creek (Kissimmee) Princess Place Preserve (Flagler County) Brooker Creek Preserve (North Pinellas County) Weedon Island (St. Petersburg) Clam Bayou (Gulfport) Juan Ponce de Leon...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about Florida adventures for the new year and talk about kayaking. They also look ahead to 2025 and some possible new benefits for podcast subscribers. Links We Mentioned Earth Kinship bioluminescence kayak tours Florida State Parks camping reservations Harvest Hosts Florida Bucket List scratch-off adventures Keaton Beach Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida S...

Send us your Florida questions! AyoLane Halusky talks about possible changes at Marineland, why you shouldn't be afraid of alligators, and favorite paddles in St. Johns area. Marineland Unusual gator behavior in Big Cypress My Life as a Turkey Earth Kinship Kayak Tours & Nature Education Geotripper Local Lorax Top Kayaking Spots in the St. Johns Area Deep Creek Welaka (Dunn's Creek to Murphy Island or Mud Springs) Guana Lake at the dam (bioluminescence tour) Mantanzas Inlet Du...

Send us your Florida questions! Kimball Love makes an appearance on the podcast to talk about her new book, Florida Is Not For Sissies. Links We Mentioned Florida is Not for Sissies Florida Is Not for Sissies merchandise Florida Is Not For Sissies on Facebook Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohou...

Send us your Florida questions! Chris Meindl, associate professor or geography and the director of the Florida Studies Program at USF-St. Pete, joins the podcast to talk about his new book, Florida Springs: From Geography to Politics and Restoration. Cathy, Rick, and Chris talk about the springs, the Florida Studies Program, and the politics of water. Go see him at the Sulfur Springs Museum in Tampa: Jan. 12, 2 p.m. Links We Mentioned Florida Geological Survey: Florida Springs Water's Journey...

Send us your Florida questions! What started as an episode on gratitude for Florida things meandered as much as the Kissimmee River in the 1920s. Rick and Cathy talk about what they're grateful for in Florida, and — naturally — that turns to talk of finding dead bodies and how to kill someone. It's the most nontraditional Thanksgiving episode ever. Take a listen. Links We Mentioned White Gate Court Drawdown on the Oklawaha River Birding in Florida Crescent Moon Mysteries by Tara Lush Bury me ...

Send us your Florida questions! Chris Beachum and Rich Robinson created a TV series, Crazy, Florida! — and the first episode is live now. Rich and Chris join Rick and Cathy to talk about the inspiration for Crazy, Florida!, what makes it special, and what's next for the docuseries. Links We Mentioned Crazy, Florida! S1E1 on YouTube Crazy, Florida! YouTube Channel Fast Channels include RokuTV, Pluto, and RVTV. Animals once thought to be cryptids Support the show Question or comment? Email us...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about what to do at Wekiwa Springs, along the Wekiva River, at Rock Springs Run, and the surrounding waterways. Links We Mentioned Wekiwa Springs State Park Wekiva Island Wekiva River: a Wild & Scenic River Friends of Wekiva River Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Emerald Cut Rock Springs Run Kelly Park/Rock Springs Run Katie's Landing King's Landing Seminole State Forest Along the Wekiva by Bill Belleville and Jim Robison Little We...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Florida Spectacular takes a deep dive into DeLeon Springs. Rick and Cathy talk about the first people who lived in the area, EuroAmerican settlers, and the history of the sugar mill and plantation that formed around the spring. They end the podcast talking about the more "roadside Florida" aspects of the spring, including, of course, waterskiing elephants and make-your-own pancakes. Links We Mentioned De Leon Springs State Park Old Florida's Finest: ...

Send us your Florida questions! Brendan O'Connor, of Bungalower and Orlando Magazine, joins the podcast to talk about his intense knowledge of Orlando neighborhoods and hidden Orlando. He's the author of 100 Things To Do In Orlando Before You Die and, as we mentioned, a bit like an onion: He has layers. Brendan's Top Five Hidden Orlando Experiences Winter Park Boat TourDickson Azalea ParkGiant PigeonsOrange Hill CemeterySerpentariumLinks We Mentioned Whiskey Lou's Nile Ethiopian District Pack...