Blue Spring State Park is layered with history: steamboats, citrus, naturalists and old travel novels. But the manatees are the heart of the park, and their survival depends on action by dedicated Floridians. We've donated to the California Community Foundation. If you can spare it, we recommend you do the same here. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! r…

It's baby bird season here in Florida, and the people of Audubon are taking up the task of making sure the hatchlings are returning safely to the wild. But every bird presents a new challenge, and a different style of care. We've donated to the California Community Foundation. If you can spare it, we recommend you do the same here. Pick up your cop…

This month, we talk some local artists making big splashes in award shows, the Republican movement against immigration in Florida, and the history of an icon from our home state. Find Your Representative and Find Your Senator. Learn how to call your Congresspeople here concerning a number of topics. We've donated to the California Community Foundat…

When an unusual war broke out between the English and Spanish in the 18th century, St. Augustine found itself at the heart of the conflict. One fortification found itself the turning point of the violence: Fort Mose, a fort run by formerly enslaved people, now liberated by the Spanish. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea …

During the heart of World War II, Americans from Canada to Key West took up a volunteer task to support one another: to watch for enemies from above. The Aircraft Warning Service allowed civilians to join the cause - including in the Sunshine State. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our…

In the first edition of our new monthly newsletter episode, we talk about Florida's new governmental positions, both in the state and at the federal level; the history of winters in Tallahassee; a proposed name change to our Gulf; and some recommendations for your winter. We've donated to the California Community Foundation. If you can spare it, we…

For our final episode of the year, we talk caroling and neighbors, presents for raptors, and discovering something new in the New Year. Thank you to our guests this week for joining us! Follow Rep. Eskamani on her Instagram! Pay a visit to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey! Follow Chelsea on her artist Instagram! All of the music was originally …

Through the 1990's in Orlando, if you turned on your television, you were bound to see a comic character with a cowboy hat - the one and only Ranger Bob. This week, we meet the man behind the mustache, and learn the history of how an Orlando icon was born. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design…

On the night of April 27th, 1986, viewers of HBO received a mysterious message. Watch the original Captain Midnight hijack right here. Read more about the Captain Midnight hijack on Mental Floss. All of the music was originally composed.By waitfiveminutes

Earlier this year, news of potential development on Florida's state parks sent the state into a frenzy. Protests erupted all over the peninsula, and the government responded quickly. What exactly were the plans, and what's the state of the development threat today? Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredib…

Our guest this week is Elizabeth Randall, author of Secret St. Augustine: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure. Book in hand, we walk the streets of the Ancient City, discovering all the hidden stories in the old homes of St. Augustine. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summe…

In the 1960s, the Miami Dolphins had an actual dolphin in their stadium. They aren't the only Florida team with a unique history of mascots. This week, we go team by team and explore the strange lore of our beloved team mascots. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow …

In a special collection at the University of Florida, a diverse array of birds are suspended in death - a vital tool to understand our feathered neighborhoods, and how we can protect them. Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! All of the music was originally composed. Thank you to …

Election Day was a big one - and revealed a lot about Florida's past, present and future. We go race by race, and sort out what to keep an eye on with 2026 on the horizon. Sources for quotes used in this episode. Please read the links below. Why Florida requires 60% approval for constitutional amendments - Axios Tampa Bay How DeSantis beat the abor…

Today is a little Fall Break for WFM - but we will be back on Friday with a full-length episode discussing Florida and its place in the 2024 Election - and a look-ahead to 2026. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! All of the music was ori…

Listen to our episode about the Florida state amendments on your ballot! Find your polling location! During the darkest days of the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon took solace in the privacy of his home in Miami, Florida - and his best friend who helped make Florida his home. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea…

For over a century, thousands have rested peacefully within the gates of Greenwood Cemetery. The founding of the cemetery was a fascinating journey - and the other burial sites in Orlando reveal dark truths about life and death. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow …

Owls roam the forests and neighborhoods of Florida - day and night - and the unique qualities of our native raptors make them one of the most diverse birds in our ecosystem. This week, we discuss the nocturnal hunters - and how we can protect them. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our …

William Grefé is a master of horror and exploitation cinema in the Sunshine State. From telepathic sharks to humanoid jellyfish, his movies are epic, ridiculous, and charming - and perfectly capture the filmmaking scene in mid-20th century Florida. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our …

In Florida, the haunted attraction industry just continues to grow. From theme park horror nights, to local haunts in small town forests, Halloween is good business for those seeking a proper fright. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! Th…

Make sure you are registered to vote! The deadline is October 7th! There are SIX amendments on the Florida ballot this year and we're breaking them down, one by one. Listen on your way to vote! Read more about all six amendments at Ballotpedia Read more about Amendment 3 in the Florida Phoenix Read more about Amendment 4 in NPR Read more about the …

Make sure you are registered to vote! The deadline is October 7th! This week in our latest political episode, we dive into the highlights of Debbie Mucarsel-Powell's career - from local work to Congress, and the policies she's hoping to bring to the Senate. Below are links to articles referenced in the episode: Read the policies on Mucarsel-Powell'…

Make sure you are registered to vote! The deadline is October 7th! This week in our latest political episode, we dive into the highlights of Rick Scott's career - from businessman to governor to senator, now seeking re-election. Below are links to articles referenced in the episode: Rick Scott's 12 Point Plan to Rescue America Rick Scott- Britannic…

Out in Biscayne Bay, a handful of buildings represent whats left of a unique town from the mid-20th century. Standing on tall structures buried in the sand, Stiltsville was a community at the edge of the ocean - filled with family stories and classic Florida characters. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her inc…

Make sure you are registered to vote! The deadline is October 7th! This week, we do a quick breakdown of a couple stories related to our governor, Ron DeSantis, as he enters the last two years of his tenure as Governor of Florida. Below are links to articles referenced in the episode: DeSantis signs bill allowing people to shoot Florida bears in se…

The Underground Railroad ran a route through Florida, bringing enslaved people from the United States to freedom. The impact of this route through Cape Florida and the coasts of the state shaped the country, alongside our neighbors to the east, the Bahamas. Our guest this week is Stefan Moss, who is part of a group collecting and organizing more hi…

For thirty years, NASA's most iconic vehicle launched from Florida's shores. This week, we dive into the origin of the Space Shuttle with Central Florida Public Media's Brendan Byrne - and explore the complexities of this incredible era of space travel. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of…

Check to see if you are registered to vote, and read your ballot right here! Read about the Republican candidates for Senator here Read about the Democrat candidates for Senator here Florida has a primary on August 20th - let's go over what is on your ballot, and prepare for the major election in November! All of the music was originally composed.…

Miami is home to one of Florida's most confusing landmarks: a giant castle made entirely of limestone. If the castle itself is mysterious, its creator is even more so, a man of enigmas and obsession. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! Pl…

Learn more about your ballot at Vote.org in preparation for Florida's next primary on August 20th! All the way south of St. Pete Beach stands the last remnants of Fort De Soto, an unusual structure in the heart of a beach park. It's the key the unlock centuries of history, hidden on an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA!…

In the summer of 1961, the King of Rock and Roll filmed a movie in the small town of Inverness, Florida. To this day, the city still tells the tale of Elvis in the city - and celebrates the legacy he left behind. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow Chelsea on Insta…

In 1956, Orlando was home to the shopping center of the future, Colonial Plaza. Over the decades, it would expand in a wholly unusual way, as malls became the core of American comerce. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Thank you to Rachel Williams from the History Cente…

Training for D-Day was essential to the invasion's success. For a few pivotal teams preparing for June 6th, 1944, the shores of Florida were where they trained - where the victory in Europe began. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Thank you to Grant Mann and the Nationa…

During the end of segregation, Black tourists had to find other places to enjoy on vacation, separate from the white public. Paradise Park was different, a segregated version of Silver Springs, with a whole lot more to offer than a typical segregated theme park. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible …

The history flowing from the Silver Springs dates make centuries. Whether it's in the form of a mammoth bone, or a glass bottom boat, there's loads of stories to tell. This week we dive in and find surprising tales, of Black Lagoons and dugout canoes and truck driver scuba divers. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice …

The richest man on board the Titanic had a town bearing his family name in the heart of Florida. His death in the frozen waters of the Atlantic changed the future of the small town in the heart of the Ocala National Forest. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Thank you to…

Cattle roam the middle of our state, and for a hundred years, their ranchers took up rest at Yeehaw Junction. But what today appears to be just an intersection of the highway is loaded with history just below the surface. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Read more abou…

NEW EPISODES JUNE 3RD! We spent a week at the Florida Film Festival back in April, and now it's time to recap the most exciting movies we saw! Plus, a preview of our next episode, coming this upcoming Monday! All of the music was originally composed.By waitfiveminutes

At the 1933 World's Fair, Florida presented its vision of a home of the future: pink, shiny, with a view of the water. Throughout our trip to these fairs, Florida sold many ideas, from tobacco to citrus - and everything in between. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about the Philippines exhibit at the 1904 fair. Read more about ab…

In 1893, Florida tried and nearly failed to bring an exhibit to the World's Fair in Chicago. It was our first major foray into an international event with decades of popularity - but not the last. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read the incredible article about Florida at the Chicago World's Fair here! Read more about the 1851 World's Fa…

Follow Betty Osceola, and learn more about what's going on with the Everglades right here Learn more about the Seminole Tribe of Florida here, and the Miccosukee Tribe right here Visit the Seminole museum, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum In 1836, the first full year of the Second Seminole War, the American troops were constantly on the losing end. Using natur…

Under the tiny town of Mount Dora, Florida, there is a massive bunker, built at the height of the Cold War, designed to house a hundred people in case the worst was to occur. It remains there to this very day. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about the bunker at Abandoned Florida and on the Mount Dora Buzz website! All of the mus…

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that environmental advocates have called dangerous for the future survival of our state's black bears. This week, we dive into the bill and the arguments against it. Thank you to Bear Warriors United for their help in this week's episode! Check out more at their website. Watch the full committee where …

Last week, we spent the day at the Florida State Legislature, and today, we're breaking down the events with Rep. Anna V. Eskamani! We dive into the complicated relationship between Republicans and Democrats, how legislators plan out their debates, and the usefulness of a can of tomato juice. Listen to last week's episode before you dive in! Check …

I shadowed Rep. Anna V. Eskamani for an entire day in January of this year, winding the hallways of our legislature, meeting politicians, sitting in on their meetings, and witnessing their debates in committees. This week, we're talking about the inner workings of life in state government, and life as a legislator in 2024. Pick up your copy of FLOR…

In the 1930s, St. Petersburg, Florida, became a spot for filmmakers to attempt to relaunch their career. It was a short-lived and disastrous endeavor that produced only three movies - and a new chapter in the failing career of a Hollywood legend. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Check out the main source for this episode, Camera Man by Dan…

In 1956, Satchel Paige pitched in the biggest game in minor league baseball history. He was fifty years-old, the ageless wonder, making an appearance in Florida near the end of his long, storied and career. And somehow, that wasn't the end. All that, plus Miami baseball, a no-hitter record, and the surprising Cuban baseball rivalry in the 1940s. (C…

What White Publishers Won't Print by Zora Neale Hurston In 1957, The Fort Pierce Chronicle started publishing a newspaper aimed at the local Black community. Enter Zora Neale Hurston, near the end of her life, looking for a new opportunity. The rest is a history we are still looking to preserve. Thank you to Gregory Enns of the Indian River Magazin…

During Prohibition, rum running had a king. Based out of Florida, with a special brand of criminal dealing, Bill McCoy became known for his truth in advertising - and his ability to avoid capture. Until he couldn't any longer. That, plus the history of rum, more musical theater references, and an invitation to Nevada. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! …

During his farewell tour, the great showman of the West, Buffalo Bill Cody brought his show to Florida. What did the show look like, and how did it change over its four decades of existence? That, plus Annie Oakley, 1940s musicals, and one scathing review! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Jeremy Johnston from the Buffalo Bill …