Best Cathy Salustri Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 228: The Florida Spooktacular, Robert the Doll, and Haunted Florida History 41:54

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3d ago41:54

41:54

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…

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Episode 227: Saw Palm, Fearsome Creatures, and Visiting Ybor City 47:49

10d ago47:49

47:49

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…

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Episode 226: Sex Robots and AI, UF Cheerleaders and Serial Killers, and a Real-Life Treasure Hunt 1:00:49

17d ago1:00:49

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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…

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Episode 225: Florida Springs Heritage Area, Reverse Springs, and What You Can Do 42:46

24d ago42:46

42:46

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 dur…

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Episode 224: Echoes of the Wild, Matt Keene, and Florida Photography Not Often Seen 56:20

1M ago56:20

56:20

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 e…

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Episode 223: An Unusual Florida Hero, the Fountain of Youth, and St. Augustine Bordellos 1:02:25

1M ago1:02:25

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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…

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Episode 222: Things To Do in St. Augustine, and Should You Move to Florida? 51:23

2M ago51:23

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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 Restaur…

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Episode 221: A Deadly Tallahassee Affair, Guilty Creatures, and Binge-able show 38:36

2M ago38:36

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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 publish…

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Episode 220: Florida's Folk History, Rosewood, and Florida's Indians 56:37

2M ago56:37

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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:…

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Episode 219: Alligators: Florida's Swamp Puppies 57:42

2M ago57:42

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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 Florid…

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Episode 218: Things To Do in Charlotte Harbor, and North Port, and Punta Gorda 44:56

2M ago44:56

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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 War…

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Episode 217: Get Outside! Florida waterways, Lars Andersen, and the Ocklawaha 32:40

3M ago32:40

32:40

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 Anderson Book a river tour with Lars at Adventure Outpost or email him. Lost Springs in one minute with Margaret Tolbert Wacissa Slave Canal Big Blue Sp…

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Episode 216: More Nature For Nature: Michael Grunwald, Steaks, and a Better Earth 49:20

3M ago49:20

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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.…

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Episode 215: Florida Goes to the Dogs! 50:14

3M ago50:14

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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) (bo…

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Episode 214: The Ocklawaha, Bass Fishing, and Hope for a Florida River 44:49

3M ago44:49

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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 le…

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Episode 213: Submerged Stories: An Effort To Find Florida's Forgotten, Buried, and Deliberately Erased History 30:31

4M ago30:31

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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 ou…

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Episode 212: The War of 1812, Florida along the Mississippi, and What Historians Get Wrong 52:03

4M ago52:03

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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 …

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Episode 211: Cows Kill More People Than Wolves, Florida Cattle, and a Moral Responsibility to Florida 50:25

4M ago50:25

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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 catt…

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Episode 210: Insider's Guide to Palatka, the Great Fire, and Even Better Beer 38:14

4M ago38:14

38:14

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 Stree…

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Episode 209: Insider's Guide to Winter Park 29:48

5M ago29:48

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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 …

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Episode 208: Surf's Up, Florida: Surfing, Sharks are Fun, and the Best Place To Surf in Florida 39:11

5M ago39:11

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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 Fro…

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Episode 207: Polk Parkway, an Endangered Mint Plant, and What Listeners Can Do 51:16

5M ago51:16

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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…

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Episode 206: St. Augustine's More Recent History, Why All Old Buildings Are Not Historic, and St. Augustine's Black History 34:44

5M ago34:44

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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 …

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Episode 205: Native and Wild Florida Landscapes, Yellow-Crowned Night Herons, and Weeds That Aren't Weeds 34:31

5M ago34:31

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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 Frogfrui…

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Episode 204: Walt Disney Didn't Buy Land in Secret, and Other Disney Myths 50:34

6M ago50:34

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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 Soci…

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Episode 203: Ocala Caverns, Colonial Mall, and Joffrey's Coffee 58:19

6M ago58:19

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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 Ocal…

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Episode 202: Forgotten Mermaids, Manatee Sex, and Killer Manatee! 53:26

6M ago53:26

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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 Clu…

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Episode 201: St. Johns River: Baby Birds, Tiny Gators, and Goat Island 42:51

6M ago42:51

42:51

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 Hou…

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Episode 200: What's So Secret About Florida? 34:23

7M ago34:23

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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 Gin…

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Episode 199: Craig Pittman, Naked People, and Dead Bodies 57:46

7M ago57:46

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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 …

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Episode 198: Let's Go to the Mall: Haunted Malls, Mall Culture, and Oviedo Mall 49:18

7M ago49:18

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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 …

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Episode 197: Tiki Culture, Clearwater, and Tiki-a-Go-Go 39:23

7M ago39:23

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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 T…

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Episode 196: Florida Landscaping, Wildflowers, and Disney Plants 54:51

8M ago54:51

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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…

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Episode 195: Paw-Paws, Munyon Island, and a Made-in-Florida Liqueur 44:02

8M ago44:02

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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 Associati…

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Episode 194: Botanical Gardens, Flamingos, and Florida Yard Lizards 42:50

8M ago42:50

42:50

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 th…

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Episode 193: Gulf of...?, John D. MacDonald, and Jack Davis' Gulf Coast Playlist 56:11

8M ago56:11

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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 Jesu…

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Episode 192: Spectacular Madcaps: Protect Florida Springs, Manatee Cavorting, and Other NSFW Environmental Fun Facts 57:03

9M ago57:03

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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 Federi…

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Episode 191: Floridiana, Taxidermied Gators, and Florida Collectibles 35:52

9M ago35:52

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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…

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Episode 190: Rosewood, Shana Smith, and 'Islands of Cedars' 57:11

9M ago57:11

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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 o…

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Episode 189: Insiders Guide to Ormond Beach 48:02

9M ago48:02

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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 Block…

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Episode 188: Orlando Murder Mystery, a Florida mystery writer, and Why Is It Snowing? 46:54

9M ago46:54

46:54

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…

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Episode 187: Florida's Lost Springs 53:44

10M ago53:44

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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 Tu…

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Episode 186: City and County Florida Parks You Need To Visit 43:19

10M ago43:19

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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 Pla…

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Episode 185: Florida Bucket List, a Kayak Tour, and Florida Plans for the New Year 50:18

10M ago50:18

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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-of…

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Episode 184: Marineland, Gators, and Top Three Places to Kayak near St. Johns 1:11:24

11M ago1:11:24

1:11:24

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 Ar…

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Episode 183: Florida Is Not For Sissies, Beautiful Danger, and Loving Florida 55:26

11M ago55:26

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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 [email protected]. Subscribe …

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Episode 182: Springs, Florida Studies, and Water Politics 45:28

11M ago45:28

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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 wat…

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Episode 181: Florida Gratitude, How To Kill Someone, and Florida Adventures 55:57

11M ago55:57

55:57

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.…

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Episode 180: Cryptids, Crazy, Florida!, and Skunk Ape Genitalia 41:40

12M ago41:40

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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! …

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Episode 179: How To Do Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs Run 28:40

12M ago28:40

28:40

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…