Central Florida: Beyond The Soundbite: Recent Episodes
Spectrum News 13
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Well, you know how that old song goes from your childhood…. “Jingle Bells, Batman smells…” Yes, Christmastime is here, and the whole holiday season is in full force, so we’re going to stop what we’re doing on the politics front and head over to the fireplace with a glass of milk and cookies for Santa… very informal, hopefully a fun listen for you while you get ready for the holiday.
Orlando is known as an accepting city to all, but being openly gay is hard for some, especially if you are in the law enforcement. Our guests are here to say they are gay and proud to wear the badge and want the world to acknowledge them in a respectful manner in a field known for toughness and boldness. Our guest(s) hope to shed some light about the Gay Officers Action League Central Florida. The league’s president, Brandon Ragan, is here along with recording secretary Alison Clarke.
There is a word getting attention these days and lots of traction on social media and even Harvard is talking about it. Neurodiversity… we’re talking about also with our guest, author, advocate, and inspirational speaker Haley Moss!
Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and if you’re like me, you’re probably making that last-minute trip to the store for Thanksgiving Dinner supplies, or you might be headed out of town to visit family. I know a lot of people are looking forward to that…. So what we wanted to do this week was hit the PAUSE button on politics and issues and all of that stuff and focus on the holidays, on traditions… very informal, hopefully a fun listen for you while you get ready for the holiday….
- What’s your favorite Thanksgiving memory?
- Favorite holiday food?
- The uniqueness of holidays in Florida
All right, it’s nostalgia time. On October 29, 1997, viewers first tuned in to a new station. From covering local events like theme park openings, the Pulse shooting, and hurricanes through the years, Spectrum News 13 has been with you every step of the way.
Now in 2022, we are celebrating 25 years of Spectrum News 13, so we’ve gone through the newsroom to find the stalwarts, the people who’ve seen it all. They are Managing Editor John Handiboe and Assignment Editor Luis Rivera.
Immigration is an issue not only impacting Florida, but many other states as well. How is the economy impacted by this? How did candidates on opposing sides shape the narrative? Just before the election, we sat down with other spectrum news journalists from across the nation to get the temperature of how the issue of immigration is being perceived where they are. Here is our conversation, led by Errol Louis.
The countdown is on to Election Day on Tuesday. By our count, some 205 races on Central Florida ballots with 432 choices out there. The question now is… are we in for a long night waiting for results, or will everything be decided rather quickly? And what does this all mean for 2024?
Let’s find out now from our guests, political analysts Wes Hodge and Eddie Fernandez.
The countdown is on to Election Day on Tuesday. By our count, some 205 races on Central Florida ballots with 432 choices out there. The question now is… are we in for a long night waiting for results, or will everything be decided rather quickly? And what does this all mean for 2024?
Let’s find out now from our guests, political analysts Wes Hodge and Eddie Fernandez.
Voters will decide who will be the next Chief Financial Officer of Florida in November. Jimmy Patronis is the incumbent that's looking for another term in the post, and Adam Hattersley argues he would do a better job looking out for residents.
Voters will decide who will be the next Chief Financial Officer of Florida in November. Jimmy Patronis is the incumbent that's looking for another term in the post, and Adam Hattersley argues he would do a better job looking out for residents.
The race for Florida Attorney General is set for November. Republican incumbent Ashley Moody is asking voters to have her back for another four years. Democratic challenger Aramis Ayala is asking voters if they’re satisfied with Moody, or if they think she needs to be a one-term AG.
Joining us now, Democratic candidate Aramis Ayala.
The race for Florida Attorney General is set for November. Republican incumbent Ashley Moody is asking voters to have her back for another four years. Democratic challenger Aramis Ayala is asking voters if they’re satisfied with Moody, or if they think she needs to be a one-term AG.
Joining us now, Democratic candidate Aramis Ayala.
In less than a month from now, Orange County voters will cast their ballots in the November election. There are TWO county referendums to vote on. We’re taking a look at them with our guest, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
In less than a month from now, Orange County voters will cast their ballots in the November election. There are TWO county referendums to vote on. We’re taking a look at them with our guest, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
Let me throw three dates at you…
- November 6th, 2018–Florida voters passed Amendment 4, 65 to 35. The citizen’s initiative called for the automatic restoration of felon voting rights upon completion of their sentences.
- June 28, 2019–Governor Ron DeSantis signs into law Senate Bill 7066, an implementing bill for Amendment 4. The law defined “completion of sentence” to include payment of restitution, or any fines, fees, or costs resulting from the conviction.
- August 19th, 2022–Governor Ron DeSantis’ Office of Election Crimes and Security announce the arrest of twenty individuals they say were felons who illegally voted in the 2020 election.
Has Amendment 4 been implemented as to the wishes of the voters? Or does it create more hoops for ex-felons to jump through before they have their voting rights restored? Let’s find out now from our guest, Neil Volz, Deputy Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.
Let me throw three dates at you…
- November 6th, 2018–Florida voters passed Amendment 4, 65 to 35. The citizen’s initiative called for the automatic restoration of felon voting rights upon completion of their sentences.
- June 28, 2019–Governor Ron DeSantis signs into law Senate Bill 7066, an implementing bill for Amendment 4. The law defined “completion of sentence” to include payment of restitution, or any fines, fees, or costs resulting from the conviction.
- August 19th, 2022–Governor Ron DeSantis’ Office of Election Crimes and Security announce the arrest of twenty individuals they say were felons who illegally voted in the 2020 election.
Has Amendment 4 been implemented as to the wishes of the voters? Or does it create more hoops for ex-felons to jump through before they have their voting rights restored? Let’s find out now from our guest, Neil Volz, Deputy Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.
Voters will face a long slate of races on their November ballot. It may feel like every month—every year—we are in an election, but in just weeks; really—voters will cast ballots for the November general election. Floridians will decide not only who will represent them at home and in Tallahassee–but in Washington, D.C. --- in the tight race for U.S. Senate—and in Congressional House races. That includes an open seat for District 10—currently represented by Congresswoman Val Demings.
Let’s find out now from our guest, one of the candidates in that race, Republican Calvin Wimbish.
Voters will face a long slate of races on their November ballot. It may feel like every month—every year—we are in an election, but in just weeks; really—voters will cast ballots for the November general election. Floridians will decide not only who will represent them at home and in Tallahassee–but in Washington, D.C. --- in the tight race for U.S. Senate—and in Congressional House races. That includes an open seat for District 10—currently represented by Congresswoman Val Demings.
Let’s find out now from our guest, one of the candidates in that race, Republican Calvin Wimbish.
Voters will face a long slate of races on their November ballot.
Floridians will decide not just who represents them here at home and in Tallahassee – but also in Washington. Floridians will have weight in the balance of which party is in power in D.C. OR…
It may feel like every month – every year – we are in an election.
Each one more critical than the one before. In just weeks – really – voters will cast ballots for the November general election.
Floridians will decide not only who will represent them at home and in Tallahassee – but in Washington, D.C. --- in the tight race for U.S. Senate – and in Congressional House races. That includes an open seat for District 10 – currently represented by Congresswoman Val Demings. You have Republican Calvin Wimbish who wants the seat – as well as our guest today – Democratic Congressional nominee Maxwell Frost
Voters will face a long slate of races on their November ballot.
Floridians will decide not just who represents them here at home and in Tallahassee – but also in Washington. Floridians will have weight in the balance of which party is in power in D.C. OR…
It may feel like every month – every year – we are in an election.
Each one more critical than the one before. In just weeks – really – voters will cast ballots for the November general election.
Floridians will decide not only who will represent them at home and in Tallahassee – but in Washington, D.C. --- in the tight race for U.S. Senate – and in Congressional House races. That includes an open seat for District 10 – currently represented by Congresswoman Val Demings. You have Republican Calvin Wimbish who wants the seat – as well as our guest today – Democratic Congressional nominee Maxwell Frost
We want to pull back the curtain on candidates and campaigns. HOW do they decide to go after your vote? What goes into figuring out what you care about?
Our guest this week you could perhaps call a maverick of political marketing and campaigns. A longtime advisor for progressive candidates. His resume includes extensive work for the 2008 Obama presidential campaign, as well as a slate of state races including Charlie Crist for Governor in 2016 – Andrew Gillum in 2018, Nikki Fried here in 2022 – and there’s no slowing down.
Joining us is Florida politics guru Kevin Cate of CateComm
We want to pull back the curtain on candidates and campaigns. HOW do they decide to go after your vote? What goes into figuring out what you care about?
Our guest this week you could perhaps call a maverick of political marketing and campaigns. A longtime advisor for progressive candidates. His resume includes extensive work for the 2008 Obama presidential campaign, as well as a slate of state races including Charlie Crist for Governor in 2016 – Andrew Gillum in 2018, Nikki Fried here in 2022 – and there’s no slowing down.
Joining us is Florida politics guru Kevin Cate of CateComm
The August primary is over, it’s a matter of history now, and NOW, it’s full speed ahead to the November general election, but in some cases, it’s actually a runoff election. We’re getting into the weeds here, so who better than to jump into the weeds with us than Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles!
The August primary is over, it’s a matter of history now, and NOW, it’s full speed ahead to the November general election, but in some cases, it’s actually a runoff election. We’re getting into the weeds here, so who better than to jump into the weeds with us than Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles!
It seems like just days ago kids were in class for the last day of school – you blinked – and summer break is over.
Kids are back in class – getting those new routines going.
There are a lot of changes this school year – especially when it comes to safety.
Many of these changes are inspired by the 2018 tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
You’ll remember there were some immediate changes to law – but also the governor and legislature then empaneled a group of experts across the spectrum along with parents and others.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission is tasked with finding the failures of the response but also the fixes to prevent another MSD in Florida.
Joining us is a member of MSD Public Safety Commission – a 50 year veteran of law enforcement – and honestly someone who doesn’t need much of an introduction.
Sheriff Grady Judd joins us on this week's Beyond the Soundbite.
Hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen discusses the Rosen Medical Center & RosenCare, with the focus of the conversation: Affordable health care.
He is asked: How on earth are you able to provide fairly inexpensive health care to thousands of your employees?
Hear his answer in the latest Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
We’re less than a week away from the August election. For partisan races, it’s the primary election, but for most non-partisan races, it’s all about commissioners, council members and judges.
It’s actually a general election, so as Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles said in Beyond the Soundbite podcast a few weeks ago, “There’s a ballot for everybody.”
One set of races on the ballot can often lead to voters throwing their hands up and just blindly picking a name are the judicial races: the circuit court judges and the county court judges.
The big question is: How do you make an informed decision on who to vote for?
We’re going to try and shed a little bit of light on that in this week’s Beyond the Soundbite podcast. We have four judicial candidates who are on the ballot for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange and Osceola counties.
Joining this week’s podcast are:
- Aldo Bartolone
- Judge Vincent Chiu
- Alison Kerestes
- Fay Olga Pappas
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Welcome to Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite, Spectrum News 13’s podcast that’s covering politics up and down the I-4 corridor.
Aug. 23 is primary election day and it’s coming up fast, with so many races to talk about.
This week, we’re hearing from two of the three Republican candidates running in U.S. Congressional District 11, the seat currently held by Congressman Dan Webster.
Hear from candidates Laura Loomer and Gavriel Soriano.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
We’re now less than a month away from the Aug. 23 primary election. Vote-by-mail ballots heading out already and early voting starting in a few weeks.
The top race on the ballot for Democrats is the primary for governor.
Voters will see four names on their ballots: Charlie Crist, Cadance Daniel, Nikki Fried, and Robert Willis.
Nikki Fried, the current commissioner of Agriculture, joins this week’s Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
We’re now less than a month away from the Aug. 23 primary election. Vote-by-mail ballots are heading out already and early voting starting in a few weeks.
The top race on the ballot for Democrats is the primary for governor. Voters will see four names on their ballots: Charlie Crist, Cadance Daniel, Nikki Fried, and Robert Willis.
Congressman Charlie Crist, the former governor of Florida, joins us in the latest Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
We’re now less than a month away from the Aug. 23 primary election. Vote-by-mail ballots are heading out already and early voting starting in a few weeks.
The top race on the ballot for Democrats is the primary for governor. Voters will see four names on their ballots: Charlie Crist, Cadance Daniel, Nikki Fried, and Robert Willis.
Congressman Charlie Crist, the former governor of Florida, joins us in the latest Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Aug. 23, mark it down. Florida voters head to the polls for the primary election.
For the partisan races, it’s like a playoff system to see who advances to the final in November. So many races on the ballots, well more than 100 contests that Central Florida voters will see on their ballot, among them, the Democratic race for attorney general.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican incumbent Ashley Moody in November. The three Democrats in that race are:
Former State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola County Aramis Ayala, who is a guest in this week’s Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
Attorney Daniel Uhlfelder from Santa Rosa Beach, up in the Panhandle. He was a guest in a recent Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Jim Lewis, who was our guest in last week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
Aug. 23, mark it down. Florida voters head to the polls for the primary election.
For the partisan races, it’s like a playoff system to see who advances to the final in November. So many races on the ballots, well more than 100 contests that Central Florida voters will see on their ballot, among them, the Democratic race for attorney general.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican incumbent Ashley Moody in November. The three Democrats in that race are:
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Former State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola County Aramis Ayala.
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Attorney Daniel Uhlfelder from Santa Rosa Beach, up in the Panhandle. He was a guest in last week’s Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
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Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Jim Lewis, who is our guest on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
August 23rd, mark it down. Florida voters head to the polls for the primary election. For the partisan races, it’s like a playoff system to see who advances to the final in November. So many races on the ballots… well over 100 contests that Central Florida voters will see on their ballot… among them, the Democratic race for Attorney General. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican incumbent Ashley Moody in November. Three Democrats in that race… former State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola County Aramis Ayala, Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney Jim Lewis, and attorney Daniel Uhlfelder from Santa Rosa Beach up in the panhandle.
For the last few weeks, there’s been a big focus on the 2020 elections which spurred the Jan. 6th riots.
That’s all everybody seems to be focusing on is 2020, but guess what? We are less than two months away from the August 2022 primary election.
We’re talking everything elections and what you need to know right now with Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
On June 24, 2021, at about 1:22 a.m., a 12-story beachfront condo building near Miami suddenly collapsed.
Hundreds of first responders spent countless hours and days literally crawling through the rubble of what was once the Champlain Towers South.
Families clinched onto any bit of hope they could. In the end, 98 people died. Only four people were rescued from the rubble as 35 were saved from the uncollapsed portion of the building.
There is still a full investigation underway, with teams determining exactly what caused the building to collapse, but it can’t ever be said this happened without warning.
Lawsuits and preliminary reports show the condo board failed to keep up the maintenance and assessments required to keep the building in safe conditions. This tragedy has not gone unnoticed to lawmakers. While nothing was done earlier this year during the regular legislative session, there was something given to the governor during last month’s special session.
This will mean big changes beginning in December 2024. Beyond the Soundbite co-hosts Greg and Gary were in Tallahassee for that special session and there is where we want to start breaking down the legislation, what we know, what still needs to be known and the impact on you.
And it’s all in the latest Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It’s no secret that so many Puerto Ricans call Central Florida home, but what you may not know is that the University of Central Florida actually studies the Puerto Rican connection to the Sunshine State with its UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub.
Dr. Fernando Rivera leads the research hub and talks the good, the bad and everything in between that is Puerto Rico in this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Dr. Fernando Rivera's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Prof_Rivera
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The soon-to-be-former Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón talks about his three decades with the police department as he prepares for retirement.
And he shares what he has seen in law enforcement, what events had the most impact on him and comments on what the future may hold for him in the latest Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
June 1 is the start of hurricane season, which lasts through Nov. 30.
Now, as we all know, it could be quiet, or it could be cantankerous, but the focus right now is being prepared.
We’re taking that deep dive into the Weather Center with Spectrum News 13 Chief Meteorologist Bryan Karrick as he returns to this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Spectrum News 13 Chief Meteorologist Bryan Karrick 's Twitter: https://twitter.com/BKarrickWX
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
So when you see a problem facing you, the best thing to do is take it head-on, right?
It works for so many of life’s simple tasks, but our guest employs that same strategy to confront what many might consider to be a monumental task … fighting racism one person at a time.
How in the world can you even do that? Let’s find out from the man himself, Dr. Daryl Davis, who is the guest in the latest Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
An amazing week is in store for some very special athletes. From June 5 through June 12, Central Florida hosts the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, and if you think the games just take place at a high school track or in a gymnasium with just a handful of families and friends in attendance, you are wrong.
More than 4,000 athletes are supplemented with 10,000 volunteers, making the games a special event not only for the athletes but also for the 125,000 fans who attend.
What’s the impact of the Games on Central Florida? How is the Sunshine State positioned to present the best of the best on a world-class stage?
The Vice President of Sports and Programs for Special Olympics Florida, Bankole “Banks” Adebanjo, talks about all of that on this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It’s being called a crisis, and Florida homeowners are bearing the brunt of the costs. We’re talking about property and homeowners insurance.
Policies in Florida are not being renewed, some insurance companies leaving the state and some insurance companies are being dissolved.
The Florida Legislature is coming back for a Special Session May 23 through May 27, to address the problem, but what can they really do?
And what got us to this point in the first place? We break it all down with Dexter Chase, agency owner in Apopka with the We Insure Group, on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
IN THIS EPISODE
Dexter Chase's Twitter: https://twitter.com/weinsureapopka
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Huge news this week: a Monday night’s gigantic news bomb out of Washington, D.C.: Politico reporting on and publishing a draft of a majority opinion by the United States Supreme Court that would come out after a ruling on Dobbs vs. Jackson, the Mississippi abortion case, which could then ultimately overturn Roe vs. Wade, a decision that’s been in place since 1973.
The high court confirmed that the draft is authentic, but said it does not represent a decision by the court nor the final position of any of its members.
With so many implications from this, we’re going to break it all down for you with our guest attorney and former federal prosecutor David Haas in this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
David Haas' Twitter: https://twitter.com/HaasLawPLLC
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
There’s a new form of money out there that you may or may not have heard of, and for the people who haven’t heard of it, they might be saying “Wait, what? New money?” It’s true.
Forget nickels and dimes and dollar bills, there’s something out there called cryptocurrency. So what is it? Why is it different than cold hard cash? And how can you get some?
Karan Wienker is a realtor here in Central Florida but has had quite a financial career, including several years on Wall Street in New York City, so she’s seen a lot when it comes to money and the flow of money.
We’re doing Cryptocurrency 101 on this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
When we say this is a political podcast, it is not just about the horse race of campaigns. It is about the process of government.
The oversight approach. What government does and how it impacts our lives, and that is where we are this week, talking about government oversight of Florida’s most critical product: attractions and tourism.
There is so much attention on this issue in light of the recent death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson. He was here in Orlando with friends attending a football camp. Like so many, he was out one night, taking in the sights, sounds, and rides.
On March 24, Sampson fell to his death from the 430-foot-tall Orlando FreeFall attraction located at ICON Park. We should note here ICON Park is essentially the landlord. The attraction is owned and operated by The SlingShot Group. It’s estimated Sampson fell at least 50 feet to his death.
There are questions about how this happened.
- Did the ride malfunction?
- Did operators do something wrong?
- Was Sampson too big for the ride to begin with?
There are state investigations underway, and there are private investigations underway. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried’s office is overseeing the investigation since her agency has oversight of attractions. This is what she said April 1:
“I promise you all and to the families and this community and everybody, based on this investigation, we’ll be working internally if we’ve already gotten authority to make changes and with assistance from legislature to make changes we deem necessary based solely on the investigation.”
And this is where we are diving into the conversation. Ken Martin is a safety analyst and consultant with decades of experience inspecting attractions, investigating accidents, and being at the forefront of making sure the rides we ride are as safe as possible. He talks about all things regarding amusement ride safety on this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Ken Martin's Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenmartinsafety
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
This week, we are talking about what is perhaps becoming Florida’s fiercest political feud: Gov. Ron DeSantis vs. Disney.
In the last days of the Florida Legislative Session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1557 —Parental Rights in Education, dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. After its passage and support by DeSantis, Disney came out against the bill, and, in a show of support for their cast members, pulled political contributions in Florida.
DeSantis countered, saying Disney stepped over a line by condemning the legislation and called Disney a “woke” corporation. Beyond that, the governor intimated that perhaps lawmakers in Tallahassee should reexamine the special perks that Disney enjoys in Florida, specifically the Reedy Creek Improvement District designation, which allows Disney to basically operate as its own form of government on its property.
The RCID has been in place since 1967, enacted by the Florida Legislature at the time. Political analyst and former State Rep. Dick Batchelor joins Ybeth Bruzual and Greg Angel to talk about DeSantis vs. Disney on this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Dick Batchelor's Twitter: https://twitter.com/dickjbatchelor
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The 2022 Legislative Session is in the books. Lawmakers needed extra time to pass the budget, which, by the way, was because the budget got to lawmakers later than expected, and then there were lots of bills you probably heard about, lots of division down party lines.
We talk about that and significant bills that passed with Republican State Rep. Anthony Sabatini returning to this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
RELATED podcasts:
- 2022 Legislative Session in review
- GOP lauds legislative wins
- Democrats react to 2022 Legislative losses
IN THIS EPISODE
Anthony Sabatini's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnthonySabatini
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The 2022 Legislative Session is in the books, and the Session saw a lot bills that spurred heated debate and divisions among party lines. One bill, HB 5 “Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality,” also known as the 15-week abortion bill.
It passed, but not without fierce opposition from the left and fierce support on the right.
We talk about that and other significant bills as Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani returns to Beyond the Soundbite.
- RELATED: 2022 Legislative Session: GOP lauds legislative wins
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The 2022 Legislative Session is in the books. Lawmakers needed extra time to pass the budget, which, by the way, was because the budget got to lawmakers later than expected, and then they had to wait 72 hours before they could vote on it.
But before that, lots of bills you probably heard about and lots of division down party lines.
We talk about that and significant bills that passed with Republican State Sen. Jason Brodeur on this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
- RELATED: 2022 Legislative Session in review
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
March 16, 2022: The 2022 Legislative Session is in the books, and the Session saw a lot bills that spurred heated debate and divisions among party lines.
HB 1557, the “Parental Rights in Education" bill, is arguably the most controversial bill of the Session and was dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. It passed, but not without fierce opposition from the left and fierce support on the right.
We talk about that and other significant bills with State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite."
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Feb. 24, 2022: It was rumored to happen for months, but it finally did. Russia invaded Ukraine.
The whole world watched as Russian military vehicles line up for miles, waiting for the orders to go into Ukraine.
And then there was more video of missile attacks and the resulting damage. Thousands of Ukrainians trying to flee the country, however, reports also emerging of Ukrainians fighting back and not just rolling over for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This is a situation that’s changing minute by minute, and one of the many questions we have is, what are the local Central Florida effects of the Russia/Ukraine war?
Dr. Joan Davison, professor of political science at Rollins College, is our guest on this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
There is nothing we hate more than getting stuck in traffic, especially on the verge of a weekend getaway to, say, Miami.
Now, imagine bypassing the Turnpike and getting to Miami, going at points 135 miles per hour, and you don’t even have to do the driving! That is part of the pitch from the group behind Brightline, the near-high-speed rail service in development right now that will soon link Central Florida with South Florida by rail.
We talk about the four corners of the project with Brightline Chief Executive Officer Mike Reininger on this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
There is no denying it, Central Florida is busting at the seams. Growing rapidly. At one point Florida was seeing 1,000 people moving to the state every day.
We’ve talked extensively about housing and affordable housing, but that is one piece of a broader puzzle. This week, we’re talking about how to get those people around, and what Central Florida needs to do when it comes to transit.
Our guests this week know the challenges all too well. Naqiy McMullen, co-chair of the grassroots group Central Floridians for Public Transit, and Tim Hayes with Orlando Bike Coalition join us for this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
This week we are diving into several critical issues in Central Florida. Having a conversation about issues that arguably don’t get enough attention.
Human trafficking, opioid overdoses, and mental health, especially when it comes to law enforcement.
Our guest is on the forefront of all of these challenges.
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma is our guest for this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
To partially quote Benjamin Franklin, “… in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
So, how does the government spend our taxes, and are they doing it in our best interest?
Our guest this week oversees one of the state’s most prominent, independent, non-partisan nonprofits that helps keep the Florida government accountable.
Florida Tax Watch President and CEO Dominic Calabro is the guest this week and he shares some insightful information.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Florida is called “The Sunshine State” not only because of its estimated 237 days of sunshine each year, but also for the tradition of keeping a light on government: Making government records and processes public.
No one knows more about that than this week’s guest, retiring Communications Director for the Florida Supreme Court Craig Waters, who shares his experiences in the latest Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It’s been over a year since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, an attack driven by political division.
Hate is nothing new, and hate in politics is nothing new, either, but every time there is a new incident, we generally wind up saying “this is the worst it’s ever been”, and then of course, the next incident is “the worst it’s ever been” and so on and so forth.
How do we course-correct before it’s too late? What should we be looking out for?
Jonathan Greenblatt is the chief executive officer of the Anti-Defamation League and author of “IT COULD HAPPEN HERE: Why America Is Tipping From Hate to The Unthinkable — And How We Can Stop It”.
He will share his thoughts in the latest Beyond the Soundbite podcast.
RELATED: This Ex-Orlando Cop Survived a Kidnapping in the Congo. Here's How He Saw the Capitol Siege.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Well, no doubt you know, but 2022 is an election year. On the federal level, a third of all U.S. senators, as well as all members of the House of Representatives, are up for re-election.
And a bit different on the state level as all seats are up because of redistricting.
Redistricting, by the way, is top of mind for Florida legislators now as their annual 60-day lawmaking session is underway.
To talk about all of that and more is this week’s guest, Cecile Scoon, the president of the League of Women Voters of Florida on Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
One word: Omicron. Just the latest variant of concern of COVID-19, after last summer’s delta.
In the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the lines for COVID-19 testing were eye-opening.
At the Barnett Park testing site in Orlando at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, cars wrapped throughout the park, out to West Colonial Drive, back to Mercy Drive, and back up Mercy Drive, all before the testing site opened for business at 9 a.m.
However, it appears as though deaths and hospitalizations with omicron are not higher than what we would consider normal.
So why is Omicron pushing more people to testing sites? Is there something special about omicron?
We find out from Orlando pulmonologist Dr. Fortune Alabi on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The numbers are just heartbreaking. Over the last 30 years, 216,786 hate crimes were reported in the United States.
And 34% of those crimes were against African Americans. Hate crimes against Jewish Americans placed second, with nearly 13%.
Now, as 2022 gets underway, state lawmakers are looking to pass new hate crime legislation. The question is: Will it have an effect?
Those are the questions Spectrum News 13’s Ybeth Bruzual puts to Sarah Emmons, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, and Olivia Babis, senior public policy analyst for Disability Rights Florida, on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Check that calendar. Oh yes, 2022 is just around the corner! Can you believe it? Neither can we!
So what we’re doing this week is to talk about heading into a new year. What’s on tap? What’s on the horizon?
And, yes, to keep in good standing with the head honchos, what’s going to happen in the political world in 2022?
Ybeth, Greg, and Gary are consulting the crystal ball on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Well, you know how that old song goes from your childhood: “Jingle Bells, Batman smells …”
Yes, Christmastime is here, and the whole holiday season is in full force, so for this week, Ybeth, Greg, and Gary are hitting the pause button on politics and instead are heading over to the fireplace with a glass of milk and cookies for Santa.
We’re getting into the holiday spirit and sharing warm holiday memories on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
There are some things that transcend everything and become iconic of an area, a region, a state.
Here in Florida, that is no better defined than by oranges. Just look at a standard Florida license plate, oranges are front and center. And why not?
Florida has, or at least had, the reputation of being the citrus king for decades.
But now, with so many people moving into the state every year and so much development trying to keep up with growth, is that a formula that’s detrimental to Florida’s citrus industry?
Let’s find out now from our guests, Shannon Shepp, the executive director at the Florida Department of Citrus, and Matt Joyner, the director of Government Affairs at Florida Citrus Mutual.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
No doubt you saw, or at least heard about, the big festivities down Disney way this fall.
Yes, it was the 50th anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World, and when you look at Central Florida, so much of the area is tied into Disney and the theme parks.
Disney, the number one employer in Orange County, with nearly 60,000 workers answer to the Mouse, but for Central Florida, it wasn’t always like that. This week’s guest has a long history with Disney in Florida, dating back to the very beginning.
Charles Gray, the Chair Emeritus and founding partner of GrayRobinson law firm throughout Florida and in Washington, D.C., is on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
If I asked you what a county comptroller does, you might talk about county budgets, and maybe, especially if you are here in Central Florida, you might know about the tourist tax dollars, the bed tax, but there is a lot more going on in the comptroller’s office than what’s perceived by the public.
In this week’s podcast, we’re peeling back the layers and looking at what else the comptroller does, and who better to explain that than Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond who returns to Beyond The Soundbite?
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and if you’re like a lot of us, you’re probably making that last-minute trip to the store for Thanksgiving dinner supplies, or you might be headed out of town to visit family.
So for this week, Ybeth, Greg, and Gary are hitting the pause button on politics and issues to focus on the holidays, traditions, and family.
We’re getting into the holiday spirit on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The United States is easing travel restrictions for fully vaccinated visitors from Mexico starting in November, allowing people traveling for nonessential reasons to cross the U.S. borders if they show proof of vaccination.
And in January, the second phase begins: Extending vaccine requirements so that it also includes people traveling for essential reasons.
To find out how the impact that immigrants have in Florida, Agustín Gutiérrez from the Mexican Consul in Orlando shares that information and more in this week’s Beyond the Soundbite.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Affordable housing. It’s a hot topic.
Either the rent is going through the roof or people are trying to find new homes and all of this during a pandemic, where so many families had to deal with income issues.
Forget toys and gadgets, for some people, it’s a struggle just to have a roof over their head.
Spectrum News 13 is taking a deep dive into the housing struggles that are pervasive across Central Florida with the special “Uneven Odds: Chasing the American Dream.” It airs Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m., which is also available live on the Spectrum News 13 app and then later on the app for your viewing convenience
And this podcast is sort of like a sequel to last week’s “Making ends meet: The rising cost of renting.”
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Rental prices in Central Florida are climbing and in some cases, by extremes.
Co-hosts Ybeth, Gary and Greg talk about how expensive renting is in Central Florida, especially in Orlando.
In our latest podcast, hear how difficult it has been for both renters and landlords.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
If you’ve been in the market for a house here in Central Florida for a while, you know how it’s been, in a word, insane.
So many people want to buy, so much building going on, so much money changing hands, but what’s really going on with the market when you pop the hood?
Angela Jaspon, a realtor with Homewise Realty, discusses all of that and more.
In This Episode
Angela Jaspon's Twitter: @AngelaJaspon
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
If you’ve noticed price hikes at the store as of late, and more products out of stock, there’s a reason.
Look no further than the delays in offloading container ships from overseas. Currently, there are more than 50 ships waiting to be offloaded off California’s coast and there are very real impacts.
Helping to link the links and connect the dots is Ray Aguerrevere, general manager and vice president of Custom Metal Designs Inc. in Oakland in western Orange County.
He also serves as president of the Board of Manufacturers Association of Central Florida and Board Chair of Florida Makes, just to name a few.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
When you look at Central Florida, one letter and a single digit make up one of the most famous, if not infamous, highways: I-4.
For several years, I-4 has been going under a lot of construction. You know it as I-4 Ultimate Project, and now more construction is already underway in a project called Beyond the Ultimate.
So, what, are we destined to be under highway construction forever? Or is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
Let’s find out now from our guest, from the Florida Department of Transportation, District Five Secretary Jared Perdue.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
At the moment, Gabby Petito's fiancé Brian Laundrie is still missing, but what has made the social media rounds is the term "missing white woman syndrome" where the majority of the media does mass coverage if a pretty, white, well-to-do woman goes missing.
Is there such a thing? Is it like a feeding frenzy, where one news outlet talks about it, so then other news outlets feel compelled to cover it, and pretty soon, everyone is on board because the worst thing that can happen in the eyes of your news director is that you’re not covering “The Big Story.”
We’re taking a deep dive with this week’s guest, Dr. Kim Anderson, professor at the University of Central Florida’s School of Social Work.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It’s been almost 20 years since the tragic Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, February 2003, to be exact.
It was the second shuttle disaster for NASA, of course, the first being Challenger in January 1986.
In both instances, the review of procedures and cultures brought about significant change. Following Columbia, NASA brought on Dr. Phillip Meade to lead the organizational culture, and he brought upon his colleague, Dr. Laura Gallaher, to assist him in his efforts.
They’ve written a new book, “The Missing Links: Launching a High Performing Company Culture,” and they join us this week on Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Dr. Laura Gallaher’s Twitter: @drlauragallaher
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
With all going on during the pandemic — there was no slow go in the housing market. People went on a shopping spree. Offering thousands of dollars above the asking price — perks for home sellers like cruise vacations.
And if you think that doesn’t have an impact on you — think again. We talk about the housing market and what exactly the role of the property appraiser is with Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Amy Mercado’s Twitter: @AmyMercado
And if you think that doesn’t have an impact on you — think again. We talk about the housing market and what exactly the role of the property appraiser is with Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Needless to say, the Afghanistan situation just basically was a rapid implosion once we started to reduce our presence there.
The Beyond the Soundbite guest this week is Owen Kirby. He’s a fellow with the University of Central Florida’s Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives.
He recently served as the director of USAID Office of Transition Initiatives where he oversaw U.S. assistance programs to nations struggling to build democracy and peace.
Prior to that, he was the senior governance advisor in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in 2009 and served as the senior adviser in the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from 2004 to 2009.
He has worked on projects in Afghanistan since the initial U.S. occupation.
Kirby was in Kabul in early August working on civil society projects and engaging with Afghan government officials before the Taliban took over.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It's the peak of hurricane season, so how has technology helped track hurricanes in the last couple of years? Plus, what government grants, if any, help with this?
Spectrum News 13 Chief Meteorologist Bryan Karrick joins this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Bryan Karrick’s Twitter: @BKarrickWX
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
A Floridian’s favorite motto is likely “We live where you vacation.”
We’ve got theme parks, beaches, resorts aplenty, and so much to do, but at what cost?
We’re talking about the price of employment and the tourism rebound with Eric Clinton, the president of Unite Here Local 362, the union representing Disney cast members.
He shares some of the good and bad that many have experienced during the pandemic.
IN THIS EPISODE
Eric Clinton’s Twitter: @EricBClinton
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
You’ve heard this before.
“If it on the internet then it must be true, and you can’t question it,” said Abraham Lincoln.
Okay, that’s not true at all. Lincoln didn’t say that, and the reality is that some of what you see online is twisted, bent, and pushed in a way to make you completely believe something that’s not real at all.
Aaron Sharockman, the executive director of PolitiFact, joins Greg Angel and Gary Darling for a deep dive into social media and how you can actually apply some fact-checking forensics for yourself.
In This Episode
Aaron Sharockman's Twitter: @asharock
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
China wants to dominate the U.S. in every way possible, Cubans have been successful all over the world except in Cuba and a Taliban take over in Afghanistan could result in increased terror attacks in America, says Beyond the Soundbite guest.
First Green Beret to serve in Congress, a combat-decorated veteran, a Florida native, Congressman Mike Waltz returns to the show to share how international events can have a very real impact on Central Florida and he explains why in the latest episode.
In This Episode
U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz's Twitter: @michaelgwaltz
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Call it the “Pandemic Déjà Vu”. A year and a half since the first peak of COVID cases in Central Florida – we are again facing alarming warnings about what’s happening and what needs to be done.
In the matter of days, Orange County and the state for that matter saw its COVID cases rocket upwards, with the positivity rate tripled within days.
So, time to cut through the politics and misinformation of the pandemic and get straight to the facts and reality.
Orange County’s “Top Doc” Director of Florida Department of Health in Orange County, Dr. Raul Pino is here to shed light on the Delta variant.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It’s been described as the worst attack on the U.S. since the Civil War. Insurrection. Riot. Call it what you want. Where does a divided nation go from here?
We’re diving into that with Spectrum News 13 digital journalist Pete Reinwald. A journalism veteran – who since January has been extensively digging into the capitol riot, its impact and the prosecutions that followed.
IN THIS EPISODE
Pete Reinwald's Twitter: @petereinwald
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Before the pandemic, Orlando International Airport would have about 900 daily flights.
Then, in a snap, everything stopped. There were more than 100 airplanes just parked around the airport with no place to go. So, where are we now and where are we going?
Phil Brown, chief executive officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which oversees Orlando’s International and Executive airports, talks about that and more in this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
If you’ve been out on a neighborhood walk lately, you might have seen more and more of these big black panels on your neighbors’ roofs.
What’s going on? Those are solar panels, and that’s big business here in the Sunshine State, but what else is out there waiting to capitalize on?
Jeff Benavides, Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer at Orange County, talks about that on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Jeff Benavides' Twitter: @_jeffbenavides
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Over the last several months, there’s been a wave of manatee deaths that have made officials take notice.
Since December, manatees have been dying off at an alarming rate. Several theories have been put out there to try and figure out why this is happening.
Patrick Rose, aquatic biologist and executive director of the Save the Manatee Club, talks about what needs to be done to save the sea cows.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Masks are off. Restaurants are filling up. Theme parks are packed.
But how about the Orange County Convention Center? How did the pandemic change how it operated, besides giving out COVID tests and vaccines?
Orange County Convention Center Executive Director Mark Tester shares the unique ways the center handled the pandemic and explains why conventions and events help the local economy.
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
For more than a year, podcast co-host Greg Angel has extensively covered the problems within Florida’s unemployment system.
While the state says it has paid out billions in benefits — and people are returning to work — there remains a reality for many that is starkly different.
Frustrated families are still waiting months for payments and say getting a new job is easier said than done.
Greg is going to be giving us insight along with Florida unemployment advocate Vanessa Brito.
In This Episode
Vanessa Brito's Twitter: @VanessaBritoMia
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Por más de un año, nuestro periodista y podcaster Greg Angel ha estado reportando sobre los problemas en el Departamento de Oportunidades Económicas de Florida (DEO) cuando miles de personas desempleadas en la Florida han tenido cuando van a solicitar beneficios y asistencia temporal y otros programas que pueden ayudar a las personas si pierde su trabajo durante la pandemia.
La defensora del desempleo y activista comunitaria Vanessa Brito les dice a los solicitantes que tengan paciencia. Brito nos cuenta que mientras que el estado de la Florida insiste que desde el 7 de junio, del 2021 ha pagado el 99 porciento de las reclamas, es decir, a 2,384,935 reclamantes mas de $29.2 mil millones ($29,245,335,851) todavia hay personas que no han ni podido llenar los formularios electronicos por que el sistema no los deja conectarse. Estos llaman y llaman y nadie les contesta.
¿Por qué han creado un nuevo sistema ? El sistema anterior tenía más de 30 años de antigüedad y ya no era capaz de servir eficientemente a los reclamantes y los empleadores. El sistema modernizado de Asistencia de Re-empleo (AR ) será mejor para las necesidades de los reclamantes y de los empleadores.
Fuente: https://floridajobs.org/espanol/centro-de-beneficios-de-la-asistencia-de-reempleo/connect-p%C3%A1gina-web-de-informaci%C3%B3n-general
Además, el gobernador Ron DeSantis, decidió retirar al estado, de forma adelantada, del programa federal de compensación, que entrega un pago suplementario por desempleo de $300 semanales durante la pandemia.
Estos programas de beneficios por parte del gobierno federal adicionales tienen vigencia hasta el 6 de septiembre de 2021, sin embargo, algunos estados, entre estos la Florida han decidido suspender la ayuda el 26 de junio.
Preguntas frecuentes del reclamante: (FAQ for DEO)
https://floridajobs.org/espanol/centro-de-beneficios-de-la-asistencia-de-reempleo/reclamantes/connect-faqs
In This Episode
Vanessa Brito's Twitter: @VanessaBritoMia
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Something that’s been debated for what seems like forever: Puerto Rico and statehood.
For years, there’s been a call for Puerto Rico to become the 51st state, but with supporters, there are also those who are against it.
Are there advantages to the U.S. to bring Puerto Rico into the Union? And how could it affect Florida?
This week’s guest Congressman Darren Soto, Democrat from District 9, discusses the issues of turning Puerto Rico — where its people are already U.S. citizens — into the next U.S. state.
In This Episode
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto's Twitter: @RepDarrenSoto
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
June is Pride Month, a celebration of the gay community and the advances that have been made over the years.
Those advancements coming, though, with heartbreak interweaved throughout Florida history, where you have a breakthrough like legalizing gay marriage or you have a tragedy like the Pulse attack, so it hasn’t been the smoothest of journeys.
But do we fixate on the past or focus on the future? Honestly, that’s a conversation we’ve had on so many occasions in the newsroom here, and one of the people that’s been integral in many of those conversations is Spectrum News 13 Executive Producer of Special Projects John Handiboe as he shares his struggles of coming out and how the LGBTQ community has diverse opinions from Pulse to the bill banning transgender athletes.
In This Episode
John Handiboe's Twitter: @JBoe11
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
One of the most traumatic and gut-wrenching feelings that families endure is when one of their family members is a victim of a crime and they disappear without a trace, or their assailant is never found or convicted.
You’ve heard about these cases, and as days turn into weeks that turn into months and even years, the wounds never completely heal without closure.
Several cases in the Central Florida area over the years are brought back to our attention, usually on a yearly observance of that disappearance.
Spectrum News 13’s Watchdog reporter Curtis McCloud has followed these cold cases and the law enforcement departments tasked with finding answers.
In This Episode
Curtis McCloud's Twitter: @CurtisNews13
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
May 2020: George Floyd dies in Minneapolis while being detained by police. Nearly one year later, Derek Chauvin is convicted of Floyd’s murder.
Other officers are also set to stand trial. In the aftermath of the death of Floyd, nationwide protests regarding “Black Lives Matter” were held, and calls to “defund the police” both, of course, politicized by both Republicans and Democrats.
With a year in the rear-view mirror, how do we move forward as a community, a state, and a nation to make this a better and safer place to live?
We’ll ask our guest Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
In This Episode
Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón's Twitter: @OrlandoPDChief
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
If you thought there was a respite from elections and campaigns because the November 2020 elections are in the rear-view mirror, guess again. Now it’s time to look ahead to 2022.
The first big-name here in Florida to get on board, former Gov. and current U.S. Congressman Charlie Crist announcing his plans to run for governor in 2022.
Before Crist’s announcement, political speculation was sort of bubbling under on which people would campaign for what office, and so now it’s sort of a domino effect, so what are all these politicians going to do? Grab your scorecard, because you can’t tell the players without a scorecard.
Political analyst Frank Torres has once again joined Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite to help spell out what you need to know right now about Decision 2022.
In This Episode
Frank Torres' Twitter: @MrFrankTorres
About This Podcast
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
If you’ve heard some rumblings lately from due east, you’re not alone. After 10 long years, activity along the Space Coast is reaching epic proportions as public-private partnerships with companies like SpaceX are thriving.
Soon, it won’t be just about going to the International Space Station. The moon, and eventually Mars, are in our sights, but with these new partnerships with private businesses, what’s the role of NASA and the NASA administrator?
We talk exclusively with the former head of NASA Charles Bolden on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite and he shares what his role was like, what it was like flying the space shuttle and much more.
IN THIS EPISODE
Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden’s Twitter: @cboldenjr
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It’s been more than a year and many in Central Florida are still feeling the pressures of the pandemic.
We’ve taken deep dives into the aspects of health, economics, jobs — and the ways in which COVID-19 impacts our lives — and will continue to do so.
Those challenges will continue to play out in classrooms where educators have had to balance pandemic precautions with learning.
Our guest this week oversees all academic, administrative, and operational functions related to teaching at Orange County Public Schools, a district with more than 212,000 students and more than 25,000 teachers and staff.
Dr. Maria Vazquez, deputy superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, reveals how the school district plans on handling the next school year in this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
IN THIS EPISODE
Dr. Maria Vazquez’s Twitter: @maria_f_vazquez
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
It just goes without saying that the coronavirus pandemic took a toll on a lot of people in a lot of different ways. For some, the domino effect was disastrous. Lower-income workers furloughed, struggling with the unemployment system, and then the bills keep rolling in, including for a roof over your head. What was once a somewhat back-burner issue has now come to the forefront.
We’re talking about affordable housing in Central Florida. Spectrum News 13’s Molly Duerig, our affordable housing expert and Report for America reporter, goes in-depth on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
She not only talks about the economic impacts of affordable housing but also the psychological impacts as well.
IN THIS EPISODE
Molly Duerig’s Twitter: @mollyduerig
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
In last week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite, Equality Florida's Director of transgender equality Gina Duncan talked about how Florida’s bills banning transgender women from playing women sports had no basis in fact.
In the second part of that podcast, State Rep. Anthony Sabatini from District 32 in Lake County returns to the show and says that women’s sports should have “biological women” as players only, saying, “It would mess with the integrity of the sport” if a trans woman played.
Plus, he also explains more about his proposed House Bill 935: Youth Gender and Sexual Identity, which the bill states, “provides criminal penalties for health care practitioners who engage in or cause specified practices to be performed on minor under certain conditions.”
IN THIS EPISODE
State Rep. Anthony Sabatini’s Twitter: @AnthonySabatini
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Currently, several state legislatures across the country, Florida included, are considering transgender bans specifically relating to trans women participating in women’s sports. What does that mean?
Gina Duncan, Equality Florida's director of Transgender Equality, says the bills have no basis of fact and they only feed the political bias.
In fact, Duncan claims there have been no issues of a “transgender athlete was called out for having athletic prowess that was considered unfair on the playing field.”
She has more to say about this topic and also shares her personal experiences during her own transition in the latest Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Gina Duncan’s Twitter: @DuncanGina
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
From the six Asian women killed in a shooting in Atlanta to Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis apologizing for saying a slur, the national spotlight now focusing on violence and hate directed at Asian Americans, and it is not the first time they have experienced this.
For the longest time, it was normalized into the psyche of Americans, even during this past year throughout the pandemic when political leaders used an Asian slur to describe the COVID-19.
But Atlanta changed all that and Ricky Ly says that speaking out against Asian discrimination is a first step to combatting it.
IN THIS EPISODE
Ricky Ly’s Twitter: @TastyChomps
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Two words in politics that sound esoteric, but can have real consequences for us here at home and in Florida: Foreign Policy.
So many things play into U.S. policies abroad, and financial and other impacts ripple back to the states.
This week’s guest spent time overseas as a U.S. Army National Guard Special Forces officer, and has seen first-hand the effects that foreign policy has.
We’re going to talk about a few different topics — such as the Beijing Olympics and fleeing Venezuelan refugees — within that umbrella with Congressman Michael Waltz (R-U.S. House District 6) as he returns to Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
U.S. Congressman Michael Waltz’s Twitter: @RepMichaelWaltz
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Climate change is a hot-button topic for so many people, especially those who are in, or follow, politics. It’s a divisive issue, so much so that at one point, Gov. Rick Scott famously mandated that nobody under him could even say “climate change” out loud.
However, in this week's Central Florida Beyond the Soundbite, we are cutting through the clutter and debunking the top five myths about climate change with Spectrum News 13 certified meteorologist Maureen McCann.
IN THIS EPISODE
Spectrum News 13 certified meteorologist Maureen McCann's Twitter: @MaureenMcCann13
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
In 2020, Florida voters passed Amendment 2, the minimum wage amendment. Touted as the $15 per hour minimum wage, it is a gradual increase over the next five years.
This year, it will jump to $10 per hour, then next year $11 per hour, and so on and so forth, until 2026 when it reaches $15 per hour.
However, Republican State Sen. Jeff Brandes wants a constitutional amendment that would limit the starting wage for former convicted felons, teenagers and “hard to hire” employees.
He explains why he wants to give these groups of people a temporary training wage, which he says that they will eventually get to minimum wage.
Plus, he also explains why he supports legalizing marijuana in Florida.
IN THIS EPISODE
State Sen. Jeff Brandes’ Twitter: @JeffreyBrandes
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The year of COVID. It has impacted people from all walks of life. Special-guest host Rick Elmhorst of Spectrum Bay News 9’s To The Point Already podcast joins Ybeth Bruzual in this touching show that looks at how it has impacted Floridians.
Both Rick and Ybeth hold conversations with people who were affected by the deadly virus. Each person shared a personal story that touched on misfortune, ingenuity, and hope.
Hear how Ana Rubenstein has been using paint therapy to help her deal with the grief of her mother’s death and not being able to attend her mother’s funeral in Brazil.
Both Ybeth and Rick spoke to various small-business owners who had to be creative and reinvent themselves in order to survive as COVID chipped away at their livelihoods.
Then hear the heartbreaking story of Kim Bailey, who was diagnosed with stage IV terminal lung cancer during the coronavirus pandemic.
He decided against medical intervention because he does not want to prolong his pain and suffering. He has outlived the life expectancy he was given by one of his doctors.
But hear how he has spent the last year visiting his family, friends, and loved ones to tell them goodbye.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Let’s turn the clock back a bit. Last April, you’ll remember that, because of COVID-19, just about everything got shut down as officials grappled with the exploding pandemic, and that list of places shut down by county officials included Florida beaches in their jurisdictions, including private beaches, by the way.
By the end of the month, Gov. Ron DeSantis put out the word: the beaches can be open, and you would think that everybody would wear masks and social distance and do everything that health officials were recommending, but no. Plenty of people just resumed regular beach-going habits. That prompted one person into action.
Attorney Daniel Uhlfelder dressed up as the Grim Reaper and headed out to Florida beaches to try and educate people about the dangers of the coronavirus and why masks and social distancing were necessary.
Now, he's on a different mission in 2022, establishing the RemoveRon PAC to help his fight to make DeSantis a one-term governor.
IN THIS EPISODE
Attorney Daniel Uhlfelder’s Twitter: @DWUhlfelderLaw
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
If you’ve turned your gaze toward the space coast recently, you’ve probably seen a lot more activity than in years past.
SpaceX leading the charge as they are launching rockets at a pace that would have been unthinkable years ago, not to mention the fact that we are again launching American astronauts from American soil after a nearly 10-year drought following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program.
So what’s in store next for the Space Coast and the space industry? For that, we turn to our resident space expert for Spectrum News 13, Greg Pallone.
IN THIS EPISODE
Spectrum News 13 reporter Greg Pallone’s Twitter: @gpallone13
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Two words: Government oversight. It’s a concept in place to make sure that businesses are, quote, “doing the right thing” and being good members of the community, but here in Central Florida, there’s a region that, in some cases, notoriously falls outside of those parameters.
We’re talking about the theme parks, the bread and butter for our local economy. So what’s really going on?
Spectrum News 13 Digital Producer and Attractions Insider expert Ashley Carter will talk about government oversight, the state report that lists injuries from theme park guests, and more on the latest Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Spectrum News 13 Digital Producer and Attractions Insider expert Ashley Carter’s Twitter: @AshleyLCarter1
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
After you’re fully vaccinated, can you stop wearing your mask? Can the vaccine have an impact on a woman's fertility?
Central Florida pulmonologist Dr. Faisal Fakih joins Ybeth and Greg in this week's special edition of our Beyond the Soundbite podcast to separate fact from fiction.
IN THIS EPISODE
Dr. Faisal Fakih’ Twitter: @OrlandoLungDoc
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Después de estar completamente vacunado, ¿Se puede dejar de usar la mascarilla? ¿Puede la vacuna tener un impacto en la fertilidad de la mujer? ¿Pueden vacunarse los inmigrantes indocumentados y qué ocurrirá con ellos en los centros de vacunación?
El Dr. Faisal Fakih es un neumólogo de Winter Park, Florida, con casi 50 años de experiencia en el campo de la medicina. El doctor Fakih se une a la presentadora Ybeth Bruzual en un episodio especial en español de nuestro podcast, Beyond the Soundbite, para separar la realidad de la ficción en lo que respecta a las vacunas COVID-19.
The coronavirus pandemic has been with Florida for just about eleven months now, and while the crucial numbers early were about cases and hospitalizations and slowing the spread, now the attention has been shifted to the vaccine rollout, and it’s not been without its share of problems.
So many of you have asked why? Why does it feel like it’s not a smooth process? And did officials drop the ball in their distribution planning?
Alan Harris, the chief administrator and emergency manager for the Office of Emergency Management in Seminole County, discusses that on this week’s Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
Chief Administrator and Emergency Manager for the Office of Emergency Management in Seminole County Alan Harris’ Twitter: @SeminoleCounty
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The last tax collector was brought up on charges of child sex-trafficking, fraud, and identity theft.
Now the new Seminole County Tax Collector, J. R. Kroll, has a lot of work ahead of him as he explains the purpose of the tax collector’s office and why the Bitcoin machines that his predecessor brought in were taken away in the latest Beyond the Soundbite.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The riots and storming of the Capitol building by President Donald Trump's extreme supporters captured the nation’s attention and it is on the forethought of everyone’s minds as President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration draws near.
Security expert and former Orlando Police Department Capt. Joe Robinson shares his thoughts on what happened at the Capitol, why law enforcement reacted the way it did, and what he calls an imbalance of reactions between the Capitol and city riots that happened earlier in the year.
Plus, he will share how his life lessons helped him when he was kidnapped in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 10 days back in 2006.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Cash flow. Everything depends on it, especially in government. Will the effects of the pandemic in 2020 have a negative impact on state finances in 2021?
We are less than two months away from the start of the Florida Legislative Session. There is only one thing that the Legislature is required to do: pass a budget, but by the time the Session starts, we will have been in the pandemic for a full year.
How is that going to affect the budget? Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis answers those questions on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
IN THIS EPISODE
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ Twitter: @JimmyPatronis
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The waiting game … that sums up 2020. Waiting for a vaccine, and now, so many people waiting to be vaccinated. What’s the plan? How are Central Florida counties preparing?
Now, the vaccine for COVID-19 is here and no doubt you’ve seen the video of vaccines being manufactured and packaged and then administered. Ten months, that’s how long it took to get a vaccine developed but deployed to the local level? That’s a different story.
Seminole County District 3 Commissioner Lee Constantine talks all about planning and logistics regarding the vaccine rollout in his county.
IN THIS EPISODE
Seminole County District 3 Commissioner Lee Constantine’s Twitter: @Lee4Seminole
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
As 2020 is wrapping up, Ybeth, Greg and Gary dug through viewer comments of News 13’s Facebook posts of Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite podcast to see which topics really struck a nerve with fans.
It was not easy, but some of the big podcasts were about the state’s minimum wage increase, if athletes should have a say in politics, and of course, the mask mandate.
See, or hear, if your name and comments were read in the last podcast of 2020.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has authorized strike teams to conduct compliance checks on businesses, including restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, to make sure they are following the rules, and, if not, assessing fines on those businesses.
In this week's Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite, he explains the importance of COVID executive orders and why businesses like nightclubs and bars need to be inspected as the coronavirus numbers continue to climb.
He takes the time to explain how the county's COVID strike teams operate and he shares his plans on how to get the economy on the road to recovery in 2021.
IN THIS EPISODE
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ Twitter: @JerryDemings
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The lone Democrat in the Florida Cabinet is not afraid to speak her mind on issues directly affecting Floridians.
This week, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried talks about a variety of issues, including the legalization of marijuana, the coronavirus response by the state, her next possible political paths, and so much more.
IN THIS EPISODE
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried’s Twitter: @NikkiFried
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The numbers are staggering: More than 1 million cases of coronavirus in Florida. Just last month, the daily additions to the state’s database of cases were averaging around 6,300.
Those same averages showing an average of 60 deaths reported each day, and if that pace continues, we will have lost more than 20,000 Floridians by the end of the year to COVID-19.
Could the state have mitigated those numbers at all? Or was it just inevitable? State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith has some choice words for state leadership in the latest Beyond the Soundbite.
Plus, the positive story is about the heroic rescue of a little pet puppy from the jaws of a Florida alligator.
IN THIS EPISODE
Florida State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith’s Twitter: @CarlosGSmith
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The Pentagon has given new hope to Florida’s Space Coast: Florida back in the mix!
Could Patrick Air Force Base and the Space Coast be the home of the U.S. Space Command?
U.S. Congressman Michael Waltz discusses the importance of a decision that could affect the local economy in a huge, huge way on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
IN THIS EPISODE
Congressman Michael Waltz’s Twitter: @RepMichaelWaltz
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
For us here in Central Florida, our economy is just absolutely dependent on the tourist industry, and if the tourists ain’t coming, the cash ain’t flowing. And that’s the case since the coronavirus pandemic.
Where is Central Florida now, economically, and what do the forecasts say about the health of the local economy, especially now that two companies have announced COVID-19 vaccines?
Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond has all the facts and figures in this week’s Central Florida; Beyond the Podcast.
And Greg and Gary talk about some of the more famous write-in presidential candidates that were found in Central Florida’s ballots, including local favorite Mickey Mouse.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
We are a few weeks removed from the November general election, and while most races were determined that night, there was a handful that took a few days to figure out, you may have heard of them, but here’s the reality: most of those newly-elected lawmakers aren’t actually in office yet.
In fact, members of Congress aren’t sworn in until January. What does that mean for sitting lawmakers? Is this a time to push last-minute agendas? Or is it a period of phoning it in?
We turn to our resident expert-in-knowledge-of-all-things-political, former State Representative Dick Batchelor, to discuss on this week’s “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.”
IN THIS EPISODE
Dick Batchelor’s Twitter: @DickJBatchelor
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Call it The Great Divide, call it Chaos in Congress. Political divisions have always been a part of American politics, but it seems that these days, those divisions are set in something even stronger than stone, and the American people know it, based on those very low approval ratings you see.
In 2020 and now heading into 2021 and beyond, regardless of who controls the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives, is there a place for bipartisanship and civility in the halls of Congress? This week’s guests say yes.
Our two guests this week are co-editors of the new book A Divided Union: Structural Challenges to Bipartisanship in America, available now from Routledge. Former Congressmen Patrick Murphy and David Jolly are the guests on Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite.
IN THIS EPISODE
David Jolly’s Twitter: @DavidJollyFL
Patrick Murphy’s Twitter: @PatrickMurphyFL
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Not all of the ballots have been counted across Florida, but the Associated Press called the Sunshine State for President Donald Trump.
Political analyst Frank Torres returns to Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite and talks about what the results of Election Night mean for both Trump and his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden as Ybeth, Greg and Gary talk about the differences between how the two campaigns were run and how that might have influenced the outcome.
Plus, Ybeth shares what life is like while recovering from an illness during election coverage.
IN THIS EPISODE
Frank Torres' Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrFrankTorres
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
While there are some differences between the world of politics from decades ago and today, some things remain the same, says a politician who never lost an election.
Grandson of a baseball legend, Connie Mack served in Congress for 18 years, six in the House, and 12 in the Senate.
He gives us a glimpse of what the political world is like in the latest Beyond the Soundbite.
Plus, Ybeth shares her positive story by recalling the advice she recently gave her young son when it comes to elections and the candidates.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Polls, polls, everywhere polls! We are just days away from Election Day, and wouldn’t you know it, we are being inundated with polls about who’s winning where, what voters think about this and that, and frankly, it can get overwhelming, because who do you believe?
And if you think a poll is right, somebody will remind you about 2016 when the polls didn’t match the electorate.
Shedding some light on all of this is Chris Jackson, the senior vice president of Ipsos Polling Place.
Plus, Gary recalls how an old Batman episode featuring Adam West shows that a mayoral race between the Caped Crusader and Penguin is not too different from real-life elections decades later.
IN THIS EPISODE
Chris Jackson's Twitter: @jcbjackson
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Florida Amendment 1 focuses on if citizenship should be a requirement to vote.
Florida Amendment 2 is about the gradual raising of the minimum wage.
These are just some of the amendments on the ballot this election year and University of Central Florida political prof. Aubrey Jewett breaks them all down.
Plus, Greg explains why his little dog Tucker would make a great “dog ambassador” for children.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Living in a bubble. Originally, it was somewhat of an insult, that somebody was disconnected from real life, but now, in this 2020 era of the pandemic, living in the bubble has become a reality, especially for athletes.
Now the question is, will the actions and views of athletes on political topics have an impact on choices voters make in November? Or are the athletes themselves living in that non-reality bubble?
In the new episode of "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" podcast, we talk about those issues and viewpoints with professional golfer Maurice Allen, a native of Pine Hills.
Plus, Greg Angel talks about how it's OK to go to a water park on a rainy day.
IN THIS EPISODE
Maurice Allen's Twitter: @MauriceAllen360
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Politics is in the fall air right now, a month out from the November election, and that campaign machinery has been churning for a long time leading up to now. What works? What falls flat? What are the insider secrets that campaigns know about you that they don’t want you to know?
In our latest Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite, the founder of the political consulting firm CATECOMM Kevin Cate shares all the dirty little secrets that go into campaigning.
Plus, Ybeth shares her positive story of the week and it's a sweet one.
IN THIS EPISODE
Kevin Cate's Twitter: @KevinCate
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
On this week's edition of "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite," former Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente discusses the importance of every single vote in an election, and recalls the controversy surrounding 2000's Bush v. Gore election battle in the courts.
Pariente also talks about what you should know about merit retention races you'll see on your ballot.
Plus, Ybeth shares a bit of history when she whips out 20-year-old newspapers of the 2000 Election Day.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
The minimum wage in Florida right now stands at $8.56 an hour. In 2004, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that increases the state minimum wage each year based on inflation.
By the way, Florida’s minimum wage is higher than the national minimum wage, which stands at $7.25 an hour.
However, some say that $8.56 isn’t enough to live on. The calls for $15 an hour have dominated elections and presidential debates, and now you, the voter, will get to decide on whether Florida should move to $15 an hour.
With us to talk about it, the man behind Amendment 2, attorney John Morgan.
IN THIS EPISODE
John Morgan's Twitter: @forthepeople
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
In this week's upcoming episode of "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite," former Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez discusses 2018's Amendment 4 and the restoration of felon voting rights as it pertained to her.
She talks about regaining the right to vote after being released from prison in 2013, and also about the events that put her behind bars in the first place.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
In this week’s new Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite, Amendment 4, or better known as the felon voting rights, is the fiery topic that doesn’t seem to die down.
Voters approved Amendment 4 in 2018, restoring voting rights to most non-violent felons who finished their sentences. There is a legal battle over Florida's law requiring them to pay legal fees before they can vote again.
However, there is an ongoing discussion in the Legislature and litigation in the courts. As that whole process continues, the man behind the 2018 amendment cast his ballot for the first time in more than 30 years on August 18.
Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Desmond Meade shares his personal struggles and why the fight is far from over.
And Greg Angel shares his positive story of the week that features Tucker, his cute little dog.
IN THIS EPISODE
Desmond Meade's Twitter: https://twitter.com/desmondmeade
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
State Rep. Geraldine Thompson says that women have made great changes to society after gaining the right to vote, but she also talks about the struggles Black Americans faced during the Civil Rights era and the decade that followed.
She also recounts the horrific tale of July Perry, an affluent Black man who wanted to vote in 1920 and it ended in his death by a mob of white men.
IN THIS EPISODE
Geraldine Thompson's Twitter: https://twitter.com/electgeraldine
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
In the latest Beyond the Soundbite podcast, U.S. Rep. Val Demings shares her thoughts on why President Donald Trump does not understand what it is like to worry about working every day and trying to take care of a family.
The former Orlando police chief also recalls being on the shortlist for being a vice presidential candidate and the intense vetting process that she endured and what it was like to speak with Joe Biden.
Plus, Gary shares his positive story of the week.
IN THIS EPISODE
Val Demings' Twitter: https://twitter.com/RepValDemings
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Political analyst Frank Torres says that Orange County Sheriff John Mina “didn’t have to strap on the gloves” for his re-election race during the primary elections as he also talks to Ybeth, Greg, and Gary about some of the political upsets of incumbents who were unseated and how write-in candidates may or may not impact races.
Plus, the gang talks about the surprising release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office of the body-cam footage of deputies involved in the deadly shooting of a wanted Black man from earlier this month. The footage was released minutes before the polls closed.
IN THIS EPISODE
Frank Torres' Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrFrankTorres
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Republican State Representative Randy Fine shares the struggles he and his family faced when they got the coronavirus, with him saying, “it’s not the flu” and admits that his lungs have been damaged by the virus.
And while he says it’s “stupid” that people do not social distance or wear a mask, he is against a face-covering mandate. He explains why in our next podcast.
In the second half of the podcast, former Democratic State Representative Dick Batchelor talks about the difficulties of campaigning during the pandemic and he says that mail-in voting will be popular for people who don’t want to expose themselves or family members to the coronavirus while waiting in line to vote.
IN THIS EPISODE
Randy Fine's Twitter: https://twitter.com/VoteRandyFine
Dick Batchelor's Twitter: https://twitter.com/DickJBatchelor
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
State Representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat representing District 47 in Orlando, says she would give Gov. Ron DeSantis a D+ over his handling of COVID-19 and points out some of the reasons for the grade: lack of a statewide mask mandate, reopening the state too early and Floridians still have not gotten their unemployment payments.
Later in the episode, Ybeth shares why SpaceX's Crew Dragon splashdown was a special moment for her and her young son.
IN THIS EPISODE
Anna Eskamani's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaForFlorida
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
With two big elections just around the corner, voting by mail has become a hot-button topic. What's the process, and is it secure? Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays explains to Ybeth Bruzual, Greg Angel, and Gary Darling why mail-in ballots are secure. He also delves into Russian meddling in Florida's last big election.
Plus, Greg recounts a recent kayaking trip to Wekiva Springs, where he helped some kids who had fallen out of a canoe.
IN THIS EPISODE
Lake County Elections' Twitter: https://twitter.com/LakeElections
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don't capture the context of the whole story. "Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite" expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
State Rep. Anthony Sabatini has been lighting up Twitter over the last few months. Sabatini represents District 32, which covers all of South Lake County, Clermont, Montverde, Groveland, Mascotte, Minneola, Howey-in-the-Hills, Astatula, and Leesburg, and has been serving in that role since being elected in November 2018. Now, in 2020, Sabatini is making national headlines with his calls for mask mandates to be struck down, saying they’re unconstitutional and a violation of personal liberties and freedoms.
Later in the episode, Gary talks about finding normalcy in these difficult times through gardening.
IN THIS EPISODE
Anthony Sabatini's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnthonySabatini
ABOUT THE SHOW
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Political figures and influencers are often heard in brief bites that don’t capture the context of the whole story. “Central Florida: Beyond the Soundbite” expands the conversation with these newsmakers along the I-4 corridor and beyond. Join award-winning Spectrum News 13 anchor and Orlando Woman of the Year Ybeth Bruzual, political reporter Greg Angel, and veteran producer Gary Darling for a must-hear interview each week and learn about the issues affecting Central Florida.
Listen every Wednesday, starting July 29th.