In May of 1966, all three networks were flirting with the Sunshine State. From individual episodes, to shows entirely set in Florida, to a weekly show live from Miami, television had a lot to learn from Florida. This week, we explore how these shows came to our state, and what message they'd send about life in Florida. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA!…

Scratched into the walls of the coquina structures, the Castillo de San Marcos holds messages from occupants long past. What the words mean, who drew them and why are questions we will never have answers to. Yet the carvings remain. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Che…

This week, Jackson Oberlink from Florida For All joins us to discuss this past legislative session, a handful of bills focused on labor in Florida, and the future in Tallahassee as Governor DeSantis nears his final year in office. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chels…

This week is the 150th anniversary of the founding of Orlando, and to celebrate, we're explores the stories of those who have shaped us, from the founding figures, to the community heroes, to the faithful guardians of our Lake Eola swans. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Foll…

In 1879, the town of Orlando was dissolved, four years after it was formed. A year later, the train came to town. In the early years of the City Beautiful, the rich men who made decisions in Central Florida found themselves at odds, even as cities were formed and railroads were built. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea R…

This week, Rep. Anna V. Eskamani returns to the show to talk about the legislative session that just ended, the in-fighting within the Republican Party, her hopes for 2026, and her forthcoming campaign for Orlando mayor! See more from Rep. Eskamani right here! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible de…

In the 1950s, a man named Fred Rogers would attend Rollins College here in Orlando. In the years after, he would revolutionize children's television, and become a champion for public media in the United States. Contact your Senators to protect public media. Contact Rick Scott and Ashley Moody. Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of …

Should the flamingo become Florida's State Bird? Is the flamboyant bird even native to the Sunshine State? This week, with guest Dr. Steven Whitfield of the Audubon Nature Institute, we talk about the changes in our understanding of the flamingo, and how it effects our shared future. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Ri…

This week, we take a quick dive into the calendar, celebrate the champion Florida Panthers, and tell a quick tale about the importance of Pride Month. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! All of the music was originally composed.…

For a century, Florida has had the same state bird. Many Floridians would like that to change. But the path to change is rife with politics and lobbyists, and a debate over which bird should take the crown. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! Th…

For this week's bonus episode, we chat with Joshua Bailey, the filmmaker behind the documentary Stolen Kingdom about the urban explorers of Disney, a crucial stolen animatronic, the forgotten island, and how he brought this film to life. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follo…

In the 90's, Disney was on a historic winning streak. But when they tried to open a historical theme park just outside of the nation's capital, they found themselves in a fight they could never win. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! I do not o…

On Marco Island, behind glass, sits a small figurine of a wooden cat. Its origins, its creator, its purpose, even its inspiration are lost to time. The clues we have are fascinating - but lead to even more questions about this unusual feline. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! …

This week, we catch up on headlines from the last month, discuss the glory of hockey in the Sunshine State, and check in for the Baby Owl Shower at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. Check out the Community Paper here in Orlando! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Che…

Around the turn of the century, Greek immigrants brought their remarkable ability to harvest sponges from the ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. The city of Tarpon Springs would flourish around their industry. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! Thank…

I spent the whole ten days at the Florida Film Festival this year and interviewed a dozen filmmakers on their movies, their messages, and the task of making movies in the Sunshine State. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! Thank you to the filmm…

We've donated to Everytown. If you can spare it, we recommend you do the same here. This week, we go over a few headlines out of the Florida State Capitol, explore Rachel Carson's writing on Florida, and chat about the strange phenomenon of a senator's voicemail box. Find Your Representative and Find Your Senator. Learn how to call your Congresspeo…

In 1984, Sally Ride kept a promise onboard the Space Shuttle. We'll be back on Friday with the April Newsletter, on the 28th with our Film Festival extravaganza and on May 5th with our season finale! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! Watch the…

Around the turn of the century, Ponce de Leon Springs in Atlanta, Georgia was a true modern theme park. As it changed over the course of decades, the park would reflect the increasing impact of technology - until the springs were no more. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Foll…

Along the stretch of islands between the Everglades and Key West, a number of islands have survived centuries of change. But in the early 20th century, the railroad and the hurricanes brought boom and bust to the tiny, impossible communities of the Florida Keys. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible …

Munyon's Paw-Paw is a liqueur with an elaborate history. You can find it as the key ingredient to a handful of cocktails at Orlando's newest speakeasy, Permanent Vacation. This week, we talk snake oil, fruity beverages, and a city on the rise. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo!…

This week, alongside some pop culture recommendations, we dive into the legislative bills you should keep an eye on as the session ramps up, from labor to voting and so much more. Find Your Representative and Find Your Senator. Learn how to call your Congresspeople here concerning a number of topics. We've donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of…

Doretha Hair Truesdell saw life with the Florida Highwaymen firsthand. Back in the 1960s, she was married to one of the founders of the Floridian art movement, Alfred Hair. This week, she recounts life in the art collective, friendly competition between the artists, and the stunning legacy of this community six decades later. Pick up your copy of F…

In Fort Pierce in the 1950s, an artistic collective would grow along the Atlantic Coast, lead by Florida artist Beanie Backus. Beanie was an inspiration to many - and his influence would lead to an entire new artistic movement. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our logo! Follow Chelsea …

In 1999, Wade Boggs clobbered his three-thousandth hit over the right field wall in Tropicana Field. It was a feat only two dozen men had done before, but somehow, his was still the first of its kind. This week, Wade Boggs, the Devil Rays, and baseball in Tampa. We've donated to the California Community Foundation. If you can spare it, we recommend…

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…