Florida Spectacular: Recent Episodes
Cathy Salustri
Take a weekly trip across Florida with authors Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile and discover a side of Florida you never knew existed. From the scallops in Panhandle bays to the Hemingway cats in Key West, every week's a Florida adventure.
Send us your Florida questions!
Cozy mystery author Lucy Burdette joins the podcast to talk about her Key West Food Critic Mysteries, her favorite places in Key West, and yes, how she figures out how and where to kill people.
Don't forget — Orange Blossom podcast members have their members-only t-shirt, created by Rick and printed by Yaint Local in production. We need your size!
Links We Mentioned
Key West Food Critic Mysteries
Golf Lovers Mysteries (Roberta Isleib, aka Lucy Burdette)
Advice Column Mysteries (Roberta Isleib, aka Lucy Burdette)
More Florida writers at the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America
Azur restaurant in Key West
David Sloan
Bum Farto
Lucy Burdette's Favorite Things To Do in Key West
Lucy's blog post about this very thing!
Truman Little White House
Latitudes sunset dining on a small island off the coast of Key West (take their boat out to the island )
Cuban sandwiches at Cuban Coffee Queen
Books and Books Key West (Judy Blume's bookstore)
Key West Island Books
Seven Fish
Louie's Backyard
Hemingway House
Robert the Doll
DJ's Clam Shack (but, Lucy cautions, only if you want fried conch)
[https://www..cityofkeywest-fl.gov/819/Historic-Key-West-City-Cemetery]Key West Cemetery
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
While Cathy's camping lagoon-side in Brevard County, she and Rick talk about what they love about the Indian River Lagoon area and things to do while you're in town.
Links We Mentioned
Indian River Lagoon
Did Ponce de León land in Melbourne instead of St. Augustine?
Ponce de León and other myths
Columbus' voyage map
Florida Historical Society
Kayak with giraffes at the Brevard Zoo
Bioluminescence
Jonathan Dickinson's God's Protecting Providence
Highwaymen Museum
Top Five (OK, Top Many) Things To Do Near the Indian River Lagoon
Melbourne
Melbourne Beach Supermarket
Long Point Campground
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (Turtles!)
Long Doggers (Hot dogs and more — and gluten free buns!)
Backwater (Make your own pancakes)
Indian River Roadside Citrus
Space Coast
Dixie Crossroads
Siam Orchid
I Dream of Jeanne at Lori Wilson Park
Black Point Wildlife Drive
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Stephen Cabebe, of Fit for the Magic, joins the podcast to talk about how to enjoy Florida's natural spaces without withering in the heat — even in the summer months.
Stephen's Top Five Disney-Adjacent Things To Do
Paddle the canals in Winter Park (Dinky Dock)
West Orange Trail (And Cathy's travel article about Oakland Nature Preserve along the trail)
Rock Springs at Kelly Park
Horizon West Regional Park
Poke Hana
Mills 50 District (Mills Market)
Links We Mentioned
Fit2Run
Robinson Preserve
Fort De Soto
Veggie Garden
Sampaguita
Flatlands Bar & Grill
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about Florida mystery writers. Curl up with your next summer read after listening!
Links We Mentioned
Race of the Gazelles
Striptease (also a book; this links to info about the film)
Carl Hiaasen (website has links to Striptease, Tourist Season, Squeeze Me, and Stormy Weather)
Cathy's 2017 interview with Carl Hiaasen
Randy Wayne White (website has link to Dark Light)
John D. MacDonald (not John D. MacArthur!)
Condominium
Tim Dorsey and Serge Storms books
Travis McGee movie
Lucy Burdette
Randy Wayne White's Gulf Coast Cookbook
Tara Lush
Carol Perry
Kristen Arnett podcast episode
Tara Lush podcast episode about Florida cozies and another about her haunted mysteries
Book cover via Tara Lush; used with permission.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Chadd Charland fills in for Rick and talks about how Nassau County was able to stop AI data centers — and what every community can do to stop them! Cathy talks about why eliminating single-use plastics makes a difference and why July is the month to try it in your home, office, or school.
Links We Mentioned
Nassau County's temporary moratorium on AI data centers
Florida Native Plant Society
Project Tango in Palm Beach County
SB44
Plastic-Free July
Refill your litter box at Petco
Byron Donalds on AI data center
James Fishback
Chadd Charland's Top Five Things To Do in Fernandina Beach
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Learn about American Beach at the Abraham Lincoln Lewis Museum
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Head to Old Town Fernandina Beach for some Spanish history
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Visit Centre Street
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Wander through or camp at Fort Clinch State Park
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Eat! Try: Happy Tomato (for ribs and barbecue), First Love Brewing (for beer and pizza), Drunken Noodle, and Curry Island
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy showcase the state of journalism in Florida and talk about hyperlocal papers.
Five of our Favorite Hyperlocal Weekly Newspapers
The Community Paper (Orlando area)
The Gabber Newspaper (Gulfport and South Pinellas)
Winter Park Voice(Winter Park)
West Volusia Beacon (West Volusia)
The Herald (Gadsden County)
Keys Weekly (Florida Keys)
Links We Mentioned
Donate to The Gabber Newspaper
Florida Phoenix
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida poet Heather Sellers joins the podcast to talk about why alligators are the best, her latest poetry book about Florida, Women in Tampa Talking About Alligators, and things she thinks everyone should do in Tampa.
Links We Mentioned
Eureka Springs
Heather Sellers
Hike Hillsborough
Hillsborough Hiking Spree
Buy Heather's book!
Former guest Mark Barrow's book about alligators
Heather's Favorite Five Things To Do in and Near New Tampa
Bookends in Ybor
Eureka Springs
Lettuce Lake Park
Hang out at the USF Tampa campus
Ride your bike along the Riverwalk (Don't miss Ulele spring!)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Lisa Moore, president of Save Crystal River, joins the podcast to talk about their efforts with the Kings Bay Restoration Project. Kings Bay is the second largest spring system in Florida.
Links We Mentioned
SaveCrystalRiver.com [a 501c(3) organization]
Three Sisters
Mertailors
Lisa's Three Things Must-Do Things in Crystal River
Bird watching
Manatee tours
Scalloping
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida artist Blair Petersen Updike joins the podcast to talk about why she created the Florida Gallery, Florida art, and what she thinks everyone should do in Polk County.
Links We Mentioned
Wild Space Gallery at the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
Benjamin Dimmitt An Unflinching Look: Elegy for a Landscape
Blair Petersen Updike website and Instagram
George Snow Hill — WPA muralist
Hollerbach's in Sanford
The Florida Gallery (check out their art merch, too!)
All Florida
Blair Petersen Updike's Top Five Seven Things To Do in Polk County
Bok Tower Gardens
Tiger Creek Preserve
Lake Wales Ridge State Forest Arbuckle Trail
Circle B Bar Reserve
Red Chilly's Indian Restaurant
Kualao Lao Thai Food
Andy's Igloo
Mark Catesby image from The Florida Gallery; used with permission
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Mark Mustian, author of Boy With Wings and founder of Word of South, talks about his book, the wildly popular Word of South festival, and what it means to be different.
Mark's Top Five Things To Do in Tallahassee
- Go to Cascades Park
- Sausage Dog at Bradley's
- Blue Tavern for music
- Bike trails at Piney Z
- Buy a book and eat pie at Midtown Reader
Links We Mentioned
Mark Mustian's website
Boy with Wings
Word of South festival
Gibtown's Showmen's Club
Clown is Not a Bad Word (Florida Spectacular episode #235)
Annie Laura's Triumph
The Gendarme
Wacissa Slave Canal
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick talks about his new book, Shaping a Sense of Place.
Links We Mentioned:
Shaping a Sense of Place by Rick Kilby.
Florida artist Joy Postle.
More about Joy.
Florida artist Sam Stoltz.
Little Red Riding Hood mosaic mural in Winter Park.
Why Mid-Century Modern matters in Florida.
Hannibal Square in Winter Park.
The Rhea Marsh and Dorothy Lockhart Smith Research Grant.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Kristin Hemphill, the Creative Director for FloridaRAMA, an immersive Florida art experience with a conservation focus, joins the podcast to talk about the art, the artists, and why the experience focuses on Florida.
Links We Mentioned
FloridaRAMA
Florida Wildlife Corridor
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida State Representative (District 60) Lindsay Cross joins the podcast to talk about Florida Forever, environmental challenges in Florida, and what she's doing to help make Florida a paradise for everyone instead of an elite few.
Links We Mentioned
Lindsay Cross
Chadd Charland filled in for Rick Kilby on this episode, he is running for State House in District 15 (Nassau and portions of Duval counties).
Florida Wildlife Corridor
Florida Forever
Florida Communities Trust
Find your Florida Representative
Find your Florida Senator
YIGBY
Campaign Finance Information
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida lesbian author Kristen Arnett joins the podcast to talk about her favorite lizard, what led her to set her debt novel in a taxidermy shop, and other special Florida experiences.
Links We Mentioned
Mostly Dead Things
With Teeth
Stop Me If You've Heard This One
KristenArnettWriter.com
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Dawn Shirreffs, with the Environmental Defense Fund, talks about Florida's Coastal Resilience Bill. The bill protects Terra Ceia, the Skyway Fishing Pier, and the Santa Fe, among others.
Links We Mentioned
Environmental Defense Fund
Coastal Resiliency Bill
Protect Florida's Future
Florida's Climate Future
Why mangroves matter
Mangroves
FloridasClimateFuture.org
Find your elected official and tell them to approve funding for the Resilient Florida Grant Trust Fund or Resilient Florida:
Florida House of Representatives and Florida State Senators
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about writing about Florida in front of an audience at their first-ever live podcast taping.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Cathy and Rick talk about only a few of the many Badass Florida Women in our history.
Women We Mentioned
Emateloye
Commodore Rose
May Mann Jennings
Mary Lee De Pugh
Mary McLeod Bethune
Joy Postle (and more about her, too!)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida author John Fleming joins the podcast to talk about his latest book, Wonders of Shadow Key.
Links We Mentioned
Wonders of Shadow Key
Review of Wonders of Shadow Key
Connections TV show (BBC)
John Fleming's website
Follow That Dream (movie)
The Legend of the Barefoot Mailman
Fearsome Creatures of Florida(and the website)
Dave Barry's Swamp Story
Songs for the Deaf
The Book I Will Write
Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Hilary Flower, author of The Kite and The Snail: An Endangered Bird, Its Unlikely Prey, and a Story of Hope in a Changing World, joins the podcast to talk about what prompted her to write the book.
Links We Mentioned
Review of The Kite and The Snail
Limpkins
Snail kites
Apple snails
Slugs
Merlin bird app
iNaturalist app
HilaryFlowerAuthor.com
How To Spot a Snail Kite
Image courtesy of University Press of Florida
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Ryan and Cathy talk about Santos' Black history and how it's been erased, and put out a call for help from anyone who knows the history of the people displaced for the Cross Florida Barge Canal.
Links We Mentioned
The Zorg
Santos historical marker
Historic Santos Recreation Area
Negro League Baseball
Saving Santos
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Springs artist and activist Margaret Ross Tolbert joins Rick Kilby and guest co-host Chadd Scott to discuss her artwork and advocacy on behalf of Florida's springs.
Links we mentioned:
Aquiferious.com
AQUIFERious Facebook group
Margaret Ross Tolbert on YouTube
Proje SU coffee table book
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Cathy Salustri and Ryan Worthington talk about Sundown Towns, apologies, and the problems the racism of the past still creates.
Links We Mentioned
Tougaloo College's Sundown Town database
Was Gulfport, Florida a Sundown Town?
South Pinellas Sundown Towns
Florida Sundown Towns
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Buckle in for a wild ride... this episode starts in Bithlo, detours through Orlando Speed World, gets chased by a cobra, and then goes on an adventure through the springs.
Links We Mentioned
Bithlo
Bithlo real estate
Orlando Speed World
Swampy
St. Cloud Serpentarium
Barberville Yard Art Emporium
DeLeon Springs State Park
Queenie the Waterskiing Elephant
Ginger Ale Springs
Green Springs
Sam Stoltz houses
Orlando Shine
Giant inflatable pigeons in Orlando
Photo of Orlando inflatable pigeons by Rick Kilby.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about gentrification, the difficult relationship white people have with Black history, its place in Florida's history, and how Florida's Black history impacts modern-day Florida.
Links We Mentioned
Lincolnville
Fort Mose
Axe Handle Saturday
The Zorg
Eatonville's Zora Neale Hurston Museum
Kingsley Plantation
Carter Woodson Museum
Lincolnville Museum
Historic Hampton House
American Beach
A.L. Lewis Museum
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Eliot Kleinberg, a journalist whose career spans five decades, has turned his talents to fiction. His first book, Hypocrite's Row, is due out February 26.
From Eliot:
Hypocrite’s Row, the first book of my “Adventures of Nate Moran” novels about the Roaring 20s Miami police detective, comes out next month. The setting is the real battle between gangsters and law enforcement during the mostly failed effort to enforce Prohibition in South Florida.
Florida native Eliot Kleinberg, creator of the Civil War historical novel "Peace River," the"Adventures of Nate Moran" novels, and the original "Weird Florida" books, spent nearly a half-century reporting on local news and writing about Florida and Florida history. He produced two history columns and wrote fourteen books -- and co-wrote or contributed to several more -- all of them about Florida. Son of longtime journalist Howard Kleinberg, he lectures regularly on Florida topics and runs a blog on better writing called "Something Went Horribly Wrong."
Links We Mentioned
Eliot's website
Eliot's newsletter
Level Best books
Planner or Pantser?
Hypocrite's Row
Bookshop.org
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Ann McCutchan's book, The Life She Wished To Live: A Biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Author of The Yearling, focuses on Rawling's life. Ann, Cathy, and Rick talk about Rawlings' life, how she learned not to be a racist, her struggles with alcohol, and why The Yearling is not the best of her works.
Links We Mentioned
Ann McCutchan's website
Here is Home: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Cross Creek
The Life She Wished To Live: A Biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Author of The Yearling
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society annual conference
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Author Holly Sprinkle joins the podcast to talk about her book, Florida Natural Springs: A History. The trio talks about — among other things — Naked Ed, the historic marker at Manatee Springs, and why fat mermaids are the best mermaids.
Links We Mentioned
The William Bartram plaque at Manatee Springs
Buy Holly's book!
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
While working as a journalist, Pete Gallagher investigated Florida stories that made a difference. He joins the podcast this week to talk about two of those stories, people buried under Tropicana Field, and his book (in progress) about his life in journalism.
Links We Mentioned
James Richardson
Emateloye Estenletkvte: Polly Parker Got Away
Florida Folk Show
radiostpete.com
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida has a significant history with enslaved people escaping their oppressors in the United States. If you want to see history, these are places you can visit to learn the real history of Florida's underground railroad.
Links We Mentioned
Fort Mose
Bill Baggs State Park
Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola
Podcast episode about Prospect Bluff
Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park
Kingsley Plantation
Fitzpatrick Plantation Ruins
Angola Settlement (more about Angola)
The Fort at Prospect Bluff by Dale Cox
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Nichole Delafield-Bromme and Lief Bromme talk about their book, Little Wekiva Memories: Kayaking & Other Adventures.
Links We Mentioned
Little Wekiva Memories: Kayaking & Other Adventures
NicholeDelafield.com
Maffrey's at Ivanhoe Village
Brick and Mortar Places Selling Little Wekiva
Sunshine Book Co.
647 Lake Ave., Clermont, FL 34711
Maffrey’s (see link above)
Barnes and Noble
B&N Sand Lake, 7900 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando
B&N Colonial Plaza Market Center, 2418 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando
B&N Altamonte Mall, Altamonte Springs
B&N 331 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Mary McLeod Bethune founded the school that became Bethune-Cookman University, but why — and how? Ryan and Cathy take a look.
Find Submerged Stories on Facebook.
Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram.
Links We Mentioned
Bethune-Cookman University
The Zorg
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
As Rick and Cathy look to the new year, they talk about the podcast's origin story, what Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings would have sounded like as an influencer, and the ways social media can help Florida research.
Links We Mentioned
Ann McCutchan
Desperately seeking information on:
Mary Mae Campbell (Most likely: South Florida/Homestead, ca. 1967)
Donald W. Sill (Winter Park artist /Altamonte Springs)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
A search for legendary Key West fire chef Bum Farto led historian David L. Sloan down a path that led to how Key West played a large part in the assassination of JFK in Dallas. His detailed research helps prove a conspiracy that has long plagued Americans.
Links We Mentioned
David's website telling the story of JFK, the CIA, and the mafia in Key West
Bum Farto
Buy the book
Cover image courtesy of David L. Sloan.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Tibbals Curator of Circus, Jennifer Lemmer Posey, talks about the history of the circus in Florida, where it's going, and the state of things today.
Links We Mentioned
The Ringling
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life
International Independent Showmen's Association
Showmen's Club
The Ringling collection at FSU
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Ross Allen's daughter, Betty Allen Bashaw, talks about growing up around her father's menagerie, some of her most interesting tasks at the Ross Allen Institute, and how to get a gator to take a nap.
Pictured: A young Betty Allen with her father Ross Allen. Photo courtesy of Betty Allen Bashaw.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Have you been to Havana? No, not that one — the one near Quincy, in North Central Florida. Mark Pettus, co-owner of 16 newspapers in North Florida, gives insider tips for visiting Havana and Quincy.
Things To Do in Gadsden County
Visit Quincy
Havana Main Street
Antiques in Havana
Havana Main Street
Sist3r Chicks
Oscar's in Havana
Heroes and Villains
El Jalisco
Weezy's Cottage
Red Door Wine Bar
Planters Exchange
Havana History and Heritage Society
Coon Bottom Farms Country Store
Off the Rails Irish Pub
Gadsden Historical Society
Links We Mentioned
Ray Charles in Florida
Attapulgite
The Herald
Florida Newsline
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
This week, Ryan Worthington and Cathy Salustri talk about their forthcoming podcast, Submerged Stories: Florida's Other History.
Find Submerged Stories on Facebook.
Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram.
Links We Mentioned
Prospect Bluff: Part of the Underground Network to Freedom
Dale Cox YouTube Episode
Fort Gadsden and the Underground Railroad
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
The Florida Wildlife Federation calls Karen Chadwick a conservation hero. She's spent her life on and around the waters of Central Florida, and she talks about her passion for the Ocklawaha, the impacts of keeping the dam, and the splendor of the regular drawdowns.
Links We Mentioned
Ocklawaha River
Rodman Reservoir and Dam
Cross-Florida Barge Canal
Kenwood boat ramp
Buckman Lock
North Star Charters
Karen's YouTube channel about the Ocklawaha
A Cruising Down the River
Photo of Karen Chadwick by Alan Halaly.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Jason Vuic (rhymes with Buick!) talks about his latest book, A Town Without Pity: Aids, Race, & Resistance in Florida's Deep South. In it, he delves into two notorious cases from Arcadia: the Ray brothers, and the James Richardson case.
Links We Mentioned
A Town Without Pity
Swamp Peddlers
Wheeler's Cafe
Florida's Peace River Frontier by Canter Brown, Jr.
PHOTO: In 1987, Arcadia brothers Ricky (left), Robert (center), and Randy (right) Ray suffered from hemophilia and contracted the AIDS virus through tainted blood factor. Ostracized by their community and thrust into the national spotlight, they were the victims of intense anti-AIDS hysteria (courtesy Tribune Publishing).
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Robin Mimna talks about the darker side of Henry Flagler, Stetson, and other "founding fathers" in Florida. We also talk about the women behind the men, and how the men controlled the narratives about them.
Links We Mentioned
Lake Helen
Flagler's Law
Arthur Hamlin
Mary Grace Quackenbos
Annie Laurie's Triumph
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Elizabeth Randall, author of Florida haunted history books, joins the podcast — this week only, we've changed the name — to tell us some fantastic Florida ghost stories.
Links We Mentioned
Elizabeth Randall website
Bosque Bello Cemetery in Fernandina
Amelia Island Museum of History (the old jailhouse)
Robert the Dollby David Sloan
David Sloan ghost tour and VIP Robert the Doll Experience
Robert the Doll Florida Spectacular episode
Books from Elizabeth Randall
Women in White
Murder in St. Augustine: The Mysterious Death of Athalia Ponsell Lindsley
Haunted St. Augustine
Between The States
Three friends, zero filters, endless chaos. Tune in and see what happens.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
To celebrate the 25th annual issue of Saw Palm, the editors came on the podcast to talk about what sorts of things to expect in the anniversary issue, a book from the man who started Saw Palm, and things to do in Ybor City.
Links We Mentioned
Saw Palm
Fearsome Creatures of Florida
Columbia Restaurant
The Castle
Kress Contemporary
Between The States
Three friends, zero filters, endless chaos. Tune in and see what happens.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Can AI make Florida better? Bess Auer joins the podcast to talk about AI, being a UF cheerleader during the Danny Rollins serial killings, and her Orlando treasure hunt.
Links We Mentioned
Cherry 2000
"How Ted Bundy Ended Our Innocence" by Diane Roberts
Second Harvest Food Bank
Fenn's treasure
HoundsHouse Orlando
The Secret: A Treasure Hunt (Byron Preiss)
HaveIBeenTrained.com
Bess' SubStack
Can AI plan a decent Florida road trip? Here's what happened when Rick and Cathy tried to get AI to do just that.
Between The States
Three friends, zero filters, endless chaos. Tune in and see what happens.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Haley Moody, the director of the Florida Springs Institute, joins the podcast to talk about the idea of creating a National Springs Heritage Area in Florida.
About Haley
Haley’s passion for the springs began during her first visit to the Ichetucknee River. Her love of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was born during her time at the University of Florida, where she graduated with honors in Landscape Architecture. After a GIS Internship at the Florida Springs Institute, she transitioned into managing FSI’s outreach efforts and now focuses on the direction of FSI. Her dedication to the springs continues to grow as she communicates the challenges that face the Floridan Aquifer.
Links We Mentioned
The VRBO Cathy mentioned in the Orlando area
Florida Springs Institute
Reach out to Haley to be a stakeholder: hmoody@floridaspringsinstitute.org
Learn about how springs work and who controls what with the FSI Pocket Guide
Springs photo by Rick Kilby.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida nature photographer Matt Keene talks about how he uses large-format film cameras to create his portraits. Matt has an exhibit at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine (through Jan. 18, 2026), and this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how much work, forethought, and effort goes into this extraordinary body of work.
Links We Mentioned
More about Matt Keene
River Be Dammed
Lost Springs
Echoes of the Wild at the Lightner Museum Oct. 3, 2025-Jan. 18, 2026
Image: Gores Landing on the Ocklawaha River, Florida, Aluminum, 2024, by Matt Keene
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Brandy Carlisle, a tour guide at St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth Park, is fascinated with the woman who bought the land that is now the park. So much so she's published a book about her: Luella. The trio talks about Luella, prostitution, and the Fountain of Youth.
Links We Mentioned
Luella
Fountain of Youth Park in St. Augustine
Find out more about Brandy — and her fascinating hobbies — on her website.
Unearthing St. Augustine: America's Oldest City, by Kathy Deagan.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about Rick's trip to St. Augustine, then answer a letter from a listener about whether or not moving to Florida is a good idea.
Things To Do in St. Augustine
St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth (visit with a critical eye!)
The San Marco shops in St. Augustine, including Duddington's
Columbia Restaurant in the St. Augustine Historic District
Don't forget to check out Spinster Abbott's.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Mikita Brottman, author of Guilty Creatures, joins the podcast to talk about the Tallahassee murder that scandalized the town when Denise Williams and Brian Winchester plotted and executed the murder of Denise's husband, Mike.
Mikita Brottman is a writer and psychoanalyst. Her latest book Guilty Creatures was published by Simon and Schuster in 2024. She has a D. Phil from Oxford University and is a professor of literature at the Maryland Institute College of Art, in Baltimore.
Links We Mentioned
Vilano Beach
Cap's on the Water
Guilty Creatures
Mr. & Mrs. Murder
Springs of Florida
Image via Simon & Schuster
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
The face behind the super-popular Florida's Folk History Instagram account joins the podcast this week. Aubrey Naulin talks about her art, her hopes for Florida's future, and Florida's Indians.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Folk History on Instagram
Rosewood Remembered
Islands of Cedars by Shana Smith
Submerged Stories: Florida's Other Histories on Facebook
Lake Hourglass Studio
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Mark Barrow grew up around gators — both the real one and a certain Florida college that pays homage to them. Now, he's written a book about alligators, and he joins Rick and Cathy to talk about why alligators deserve respect, not fear. The trio also talks about the gator's place in Florida's culture, roadside Florida gator attractions, and why gators are amazing creatures.
Links We Mentioned
Mini-Lights and Black children used as gator bait?
Mini Lights proof of concept trailer from Vitale Brothers
Nature's Ghosts(this is the one we mentioned with the dead Carolina Parakeet on the cover)
William Bartram's alligator
"Alligator Capital of the World": A post by Rick Kilby
The alligator engravings some call DeMoyne, but are not
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
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This week Rick and Cathy talk about Punta Gorda
Links We Mentioned
Warm Mineral Springs
Things To Do in North Port
Myakka River State Park
Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors
Radioactive Fountain of Youth in Punta Gorda
Sunseeker Resort
DeSoto Veterans Memorial Park
Ponce-apalooza
Ponce-y Scheme
Revisiting Warm Mineral Springs
Old World Meets New Age at Warm Mineral Springs
(Image via Google Maps/Fair Use)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida icon Lars Andersen joins the podcast to talk about his passion: Florida waterways.
Links We Mentioned
Payne's Prairie: A History of the Great Savanna by Lars AndersonBook a river tour with Lars at Adventure Outpost or email him.
Lost Springs in one minute with Margaret Tolbert
Wacissa Slave Canal
Big Blue Spring.
Haulover Canal.
Photo: Canon Springs during drawdown.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Michael Grunwald talks about cattle ranching and why Floridians — and everyone — should eat more plants. He, Cathy, and Rick also talk about meat grown in a lab, why Grunwald thinks Michael Pollan gets things wrong, and Michael's new book, We Are Eating the Earth: The Race To Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate.
Links We Mentioned
We Are Eating the Earth
The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Anna Cooke, editor-in-chief at The New Barkermagazine, jons the podcast to talk about rescue work in Florida; the long-gone Florida roadside attraction, Dogland; and a few famous Florida dogs.
Links We Mentioned
The New Barker Magazine
An abandoned dog in Memphis
Dave the Wonder Dog (Annie Oakley was a snowbird) (bonus link)
Brownie the town dog of Daytona Beach
Garden of Love
Coonhound Cemetery in Alabama
Senior Dog Sanctuary in Nashville
Donte's Den Animal Sanctuary
Pinkey Sells War Bonds
Suncoast Animal League
Image generated by AI (we couldn't get a real dachshund mermaid to pose for us)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
The Ocklawaha River in Central Florida has been dammed for decades. Now, there's a chance to tear down the dam and reunite the rivers. That's good news for bass, anglers, environmentalists, and the local economy. Margaret Spontak comes on the podcast to talk about why, and she encourages people to call their state legislators and ask them to support restoration of the Ocklawaha and reuniting the rivers.
Links We Mentioned
Interactive map of the Ocklawaha
Reunite the Rivers and the Rodman Dam
Governor Ron DeSantis and the budget to tear down the dam
Great Florida Riverway Trust
Reunite the Rivers Student Showcase
Rick Kilby: Reclaiming the Sublime on the Ocklawaha
Rick Kilby: Return the Ocklawaha
Rick Kilby: Holy Water, Sacred Ground
Rick Kilby: What I Saw at Silver Springs
Photo by Rick Kilby
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Ryan Worthington joins the podcast to talk about a new initiative he and Cathy are working on — a podcast to document and discuss history in Florida that doesn't get taught in schools. Submerged Stories is the name of the forthcoming podcast, and the Facebook group they've created to crowdsource information. Check out the link below, join the group, and share it with your like-minded friends.
Links We Mentioned
Submerged Storie: Florida's Other History (Ryan and Cathy's Facebook Group)
Magnolia Lakes State Park
Don't Tread on Me history
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
With Cathy traveling through what she calls "historic West Florida", she and Rick talk about forgotten parts of Florida's history — and geography, the War of 1812, and some less savory parts of the early history of the United States and why they get left out of history classes.
Links We Mentioned
Map showing Florida and a "contested" area "sold" to the US by France
Documents Accompanying the Message of the President of the United States of the Fourteenth Instant on the Subject of East Florida (abstract only; paid subscribers should email us for a full copy of the letters)
The Other War of 1812, by Jim Cusick
Image in the public domain.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Did you know cattle ranchers were the "first intentional conservationists" in Florida? Annie Muscato does. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on it, and this week she joins the podcast to talk — passionately! — about research into how some Florida cattle ranchers are working to protect wild Florida, why Florida cattle ranching isn't nearly as cruel as it is in the rest of the country, and how ranchers work with the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Links We Mentioned
From Cattle to Conservation (the ecological humility of cattle ranching)
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Food, Inc.
Florida Wildlife Corridor
Adena Farms
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Andrea Conover of Azalea City Brewing and Palatka Mayor Robbie Correa join us this week to help roadtrippers find Palatka's best-kept secrets.
Links We Mentioned
Palatka Coffee Company
Angel's Diner
Palatka's historic riverfront
Velchoff's Corner
Ravine Gardens State Park
Magnolia Cafe
Azalea City Brewing
Lemon Street Market
Kayak tours
North Star Charters
Amara Zee
Bronson Mulholland House (and Rick's post about it — and this one)
Camping in Palatka
25 Taps for the St. Johns
Festivals
Azalea Festival (last weekend in February)
Bartram Frolic (April)
Palatka Blue Crab Festival (Memorial Day weekend)
Palatka Craft Beer Festival (November)
Palatka Porch Fest (first Saturday of December)
Historic Home Tours (second Saturday in December)
Mayhem Datil Pepper Festival (November)
Photo by Rick Kilby
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick serves on the board of the Winter Park History Museum, and Cathy lived there for a time in the '90s (and loves to go back). That's why the book written by this episode's guest, Kim Michalak, was so appealing to both of them. Kim shares how she selected her 100 things for her book 100 Things To Do in Winter Park Before You Die.
Links We Mentioned
100 Things To Do in Winter Park Before You Die
Winter Park History Museum
Barnie's Coffee
The Imperial
Ten Thousand Villages
Tyler Gillespie
"Because This is Florida" by Campbell McGrath
Umi Japanese
Park Plaza
Ancient Artifacts and Treasures
The Hurston Museum in Eatonville
The Enzian
Prometheus Esoterica
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Dan Reiter joins the podcast to talk about his career surfing Florida and writing about the same. The trio talks about everything from the best place to surf in Florida to why surfers shouldn't be scared of sharks. Check out Dan's book about surfing (link below).
Links We Mentioned
On a Rising Swell: Surf Stories From Florida's Space Coast(and a link to buy the book)
Ron Jon Surf Shop
Kelly Slater
Surfing Upham in Pinellas County
Beach renourishment and why it's bad for surfing (and so many other things)
Florida Surf Festival Film Festival June 13-14, 2025
Siam Orchid Thai food in Cocoa Beach
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
"Nature isn't just more complex than we know, it's more complex than we can know."
There's a sadly great chance that the State of Florida is going to build a toll road through the last remaining wild growth of a pretty — and pretty endangered — plant. Here's what's happening, where it's happening, and what you can do about it.
Links We Mentioned
Background on the dangers to this endangered mint
Sign up and get involved to protect this mint
Article by Rose Schnabel, WUFT on the mint and the road
Background article on the threats to the genus Dicerandra in Florida
President Eugene Kelly's interview about this issue
Horse Creek (where you can see the last remaining stand of this wild mint)
More about the mint
FDOT details on the project
Photo by Gene Kelly
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Historian Holly Baker joins the podcast to talk about her work in preservation in St. Augustine, Vero Beach, and throughout Florida. The trio also talks about what makes a building historic, preserving historic evidence of Jim Crow, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Links We Mentioned
St. Augustine
Davis Shores
Bridge of Lions
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in St. Augustine
Lincolnville Museum
Where is Lincolnville?
Cathy's article about Lincolnville
Rick's post about St. Augustine and the battle for civil rights
Vero Beach
Pocahontas Park
The Driftwood
Elsewhere
More about the Orlando Public Library
Photo: Orlando Public Library
Casa Feliz
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' home
Image via (State Archives of Florida)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida author and naturalist Andrew Furman returns to the podcast to talk about his latest book, Of Slash Pine and Manatees: A Highly Selective Guide to My Suburban Wilderness.
Links We Mentioned
Bitten: My Unexpected Love Affair With Florida
Bidens pilosa (aka beggartick, etc., etc.) and its medicinal uses
Frogfruit (aka hatpin)
Who invented the grassy lawn?
Yellow-crowned night heron
Photo by Andrew Furman
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
How Bowers of the Retro WDW podcast joins Rick and Cathy to talk about the not-so-secret-after-all Florida Project, the origins of Disney Springs, and what Cypress Gardens had to do with Walt Disney deciding Florida would be a great place for a theme park.
Links We Mentioned
Retro WDW
Lake Buena Vista Historical Society
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Orlando historian Rachel Williams joins the podcast to talk about Colonial Plaza Mall (now a shadow of its former self and called Colonial Marketplace), and from there the conversation moves to caves in Ocala, coffee roasters we love, and the importance of the shopping mall in Florida culture.
Links We Mentioned
Ocala Caverns (and what's the difference between a cave and a cavern, anyway?)
Rachel's article about Colonial Plaza
Florida Historical Society conference in Orlando (May 15-17 in Orlando)
Remembering Ronnie's Restaurant
Rick's post about living on the former Datson Dairy land
Who created the shopping mall?
Secret Mall Apartment
Joffrey's Coffee
Barnie's Coffee
Orlando Milk District
Happy Mother's Day to a fierce Florida mom
Roadhouse movie
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
TJ Fridrich, with the Save the Manatee Club, joins the podcast to talk about what listeners need to know about when manatee can be dangerous (seriously!), what their mating behavior might look like, and where you can see some excellent documentaries about manatee and their ilk.
Links We Mentioned
Save The Manatee Club
The Disturbance Theory
Mating herd in Haulover Canal
Report a manatee sighting
Amazonian manatee and Last Chance To See
Last Chance To See documentary
Swimming Through Airwith the Springs Eternal Project
Forgotten Mermaids(Jacques Costeau)
Save the Manatee 5K
Attack of the Killer Manatee
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about the middle basin of the St. Johns River, eco tours, and wildlife seen along the waterway.
Links We Mentioned
Floridiana Festival at the Matheson
Squarehouse Pizza
Love Vine?
Welaka Florida
Lake Jesup
St. Johns River info
Airboat on the St. Johns
Airboat chase sequence in Gone Fishin'
"36 Hours in Orlando" (New York Times)
Bill Belleville's River of Lakes
Florida's American Heritage River: Images From the St. Johns River
St. Johns Riverkeeper
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Josh Ginsberg, author of Secret Tampa Bay, Secret Orlando, Tampa Bay Scavenger, Oldest Tampa Bay — among others — joins the podcast to talk about his favorite hidden gems in Tampa Bay and Orlando. The trio talks about everything from the Wizard of Oz to taxidermied animals.
Links We Mentioned
TerriblyOdd.com
Josh Ginsberg books
Dysfunctional Grace (Ybor City)
Tiger Dust (Seminole Heights)
Wizard of Oz Museum (Cape Canaveral)
Ripley's world headquarters (Orlando)
Prometheus Esoterica in Winter Park
More info on Josh
SecretTampaBay.com
Books and PublicationsSecret Tampa Bay: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure (Reedy Press)
Tampa Bay Scavenger (Reedy Press)Oldest Tampa Bay (Reedy Press)
Secret Orlando: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure (Reedy Press)
Haunted Orlando (Arcadia/The History Press)Coming soonThe Ghostly Tales of Orlando (Arcadia)
Tales from the Dusty Tiger (Independent)
Amazing Florida (Reedy Press)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Craig Pittman, co-host of the Welcome to Florida podcast, joins Florida Spectacular to talk about his latest book by the same name. This episode takes a roller coaster approach to Florida, and along the way the trio discusses nudist resorts, snakes, where to find dead bodies, and... well, take a listen. It's quite a ride.
Links We Mentioned
Welcome to Florida
Dawn Lee McKenna
God's Trombone's
Florida Phoenix
Flamingo Magazine
FORUM Magazine
Reptile World Serpentarium in Kissimmee
Nowak's Swamparium is gone but there's a book by the owner.
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Josh Gunderson, the creative mind behind the popular Oviedo Mall account on Twitter, joins the podcast to talk about mall culture in Florida, his new book, The Lamenting Mall Rats Society, and whether or not Oviedo Mall really is haunted.
Links We Mentioned
@OviedoMall on Threads
The actual Oviedo Mall
The Lamenting Mall Rats Society
B. Dalton Booksellers
District Oviedo
Paddler's Guide to the Sunshine State
Top 3 Oviedo Experiences
Crazy Cork Wine Bar
Pinball Lounge
Find the chickens!
Take the Central Florida Mall Tour
Mall at Millenia
Altamonte Mall
Florida Mall
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Jon Bortles joins Cathy and Rick to talk about Florida Tiki culture and all things Tiki.
Bahi Hut Meetup with Rick, Cathy, and Jon — April 11, 7 p.m.
Links We Mentioned
Tahitian Motor Lodge Tarpon
Tahitian Inn Tampa
Hawaiian Inn Daytona
Best Western Aku Tiki
Peking Palace in Clearwater
Mai Kai
Julian's Ormond Beach
The Honu
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Spring has sprung, the pollen is here, and it's time once again to talk about plants and landscaping. Eric Schmidt, the Botanical Records Specialist for Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens, talks about a few of his favorite plant places in Florida, his experiences consulting on the Animal Kingdom and Star Wars landscaping efforts at the Walt Disney World Resort, and a special tree he has planted in his own yard.
Links We Mentioned
What Hurricane Michael Did to the Torreya Tree (non-paywall link)
Mail Order Natives
Charles Bronson
Kilbee Trail
Seminole State Forest
Rock Springs Run State Reserve
Tosahatchee
Native Butterfly Wildflowers
Sand Live Oak (Eric suggested this tree for residential landscapes)
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
This week, Joe Colucci from Munyon's Paw Paw Liqueur joins the podcast to talk about his Florida-made papaya liqueur — and the fascinating Florida history behind it.
Links We Mentioned
Munyon Island
Munyon's Paw Paw Liqueur
Mai Kai
The Great Outdoors in High Springs
Ottos High Dive
Copper Rocket
Munyon Hope Association
Tiki A Go Go
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Cathy and Rick give a whirlwind tour of botanical gardens they have loved, talk about Rick's proposal to his wife and where he hid her ring, how to pronounce anole, and where to find flamingos.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Botanical Gardens
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Orlando Exploration Gardens
Brown anoles and more about them
Selby Botanical Gardens (and the George Harrison exhibit)
Boiled books
Botanical gardens at Cypress Gardens
Bok Tower Gardens
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
McKee Botanical Gardens
Sunken Gardens
Wonder Gardens
Growing bamboo in Florida
Yellow trumpet tree
Image by Rick Kilby
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Jack Davis, the Pulitzer-winning author of The Gulf: Making of an American Sea, joins the podcast to talk about what he thinks of the Gulf of Mexico's nomenclature glow-up. The talk migrates to sea level rise, John D. MacDonald's books, and his "Gulf of Mexico" playlist.
Links We Mentioned
General Jesup and Lake Jesup
Pork Chop Gang
John D. MacDonald and his book Condominium
Cathy's article about paddling with Jack
Brian Woodall's Instagram
Tillie Fowler Park
Kerry McNulty's Florida Totem
Betts Boys Adventure
Brigadier General Thomas Sidney Jesup
Jack Davis' Gulf of Mexico Playlist
All song titles are simply "Gulf of Mexico"
Alabama
Clint Black
Shawn Mullins
Tracey Lawrence
Steve Earle
Larry Foley
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
At the Florida Springs Council, the Florida Madcaps podcast host Ryan Worthington and Florida Spectacular host Cathy Salustri taped a crossover podcast in front of a live audience. Their guests are Max Chesnes, the Tampa Bay Times environmental reporter; TJ Fridrich, a biologist with Save the Manatee Club; and Federico Acevedo, of the Florida Wildlife Federation.
The podcast subjects — a definite variation from either's usual format — ranged from the 2024 "golf courses in the parks" debacle to manatees cavorting (we'd call it reproductive behavior, but according to TJ, the way these sea cows cavort, reproduction isn't possible when they do), and then — logically — to other not-safe-for-work environmental fun facts. Just what are they? Take a listen and learn.
Links We Mentioned
Sign up for Florida Wildlife Federation updates
Florida Springs Council
Florida Springs Passport
Florida Madcaps Podcast
Save the Manatee Club
Image via Florida Springs Council
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Ken Breslauer joins the podcast to talk about collectible Florida ephemera, his annual Floridiana show, and his favorite roadside attractions.
Links We Mentioned
Floridiana Fest (Sarasota, April 11-12)
Florida Attractions History
Atomic Tunnel
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Bongo Land
Pinecrest Gardens
Sunken Gardens
Silver Springs
Ken's Feb. 19, 2025 talk in Winter Park about Florida souvenirs
Image by Ken Breslauer
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Shana Smith joins the podcast to talk about her book, Islands of Cedars. Shana based the book on actual events, but is a well-researched book of fiction. It's a beautifully written piece of history and Shana talks about what motivated her to write the book, what happened, and what's next.
Links We Mentioned
Islands of Cedars
FloridaRAMA
The Rosewood Massacre
Voice and Pen nonprofit
Zora Seasonal Events
Image via Shana Smith
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Looking for things to do that most people miss in Ormond Beach? Historian Randy Jaye has a lot for you to explore.
Links We Mentioned
Tomoka Mound Complex
Legend of Tomokie (and that ridiculous statue Rick loves)
Old Kings Road
Three Chimneys
Dummett Plantation
The Loop Scenic Drive
McRae Plantation and Addison Blockhouse
The Ormond Hotel
Fortunato Park
Birthplace of Speed
Anderson-Price Memorial Building
The Casements
The Casemente Annex
The Dix House
The Lippincott Mansion (aka Melrose Hall)
Ormond Fire House
Ormond Yacht Club
The Porches
Talahloka
Joy Postle murals at Rowallan
Florida Bucket Li
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Joy Wallace Dickinson, author of the old Florida murder mystery, Secrets of the Flamingo Café, joins the podcast to talk about her book, the history in which she grounded it, and her writing process. There's a rare snowfall in North Florida as we taped this podcast and of course Cathy has some big feelings about that.
Links We Mentioned
About Joy Wallace Dickinson
Secrets of the Flamingo Café: An Old Florida Mystery
John D. MacDonald
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Ever heard of a zero-magnitude spring? It's a spring that has "historic flow" — meaning it doesn't have any water anymore (usually — some get water during times of heavy rain). Rick and Cathy talk about some of Florida's lost springs.
Links We Mentioned
Mosaic Peace Park
Wakulla Springs State Park
Daytona's Atomic Tunnel
White Sulphur Springs
Hampton Springs
Newport Springs
Suwannee Springs
Worthington Springs
Benjamin Dimmitt: An Unflinching LookAround Enterprise, Florida Jan. 18? Come see Rick!
Image of White Sulphur Springs via Suwannee River Water Management District
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Cathy and Rick talk about their favorite parks that aren't state parks.
City and County Florida Parks You Need To Visit
Fort De Soto (St. Petersburg)
Greenwood Cemetery (map showing GAR) (Orland)
Mead Botanical Gardens (Winter Park)
Boyd Hill (St. Petersburg)
Moss Park (Orlando)
Shingle Creek (Kissimmee)
Princess Place Preserve (Flagler County)
Brooker Creek Preserve (North Pinellas County)
Weedon Island (St. Petersburg)
Clam Bayou (Gulfport)
Juan Ponce de Leon Landing (Melbourne Beach)
Sand Key Park (Clearwater)
Venetian Gardens Park (Leesburg)
Links We Mentioned that Aren't Parks
Lake Placid
The Florida Excursionist
Pictured: Fort De Soto
Support the show
Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.
Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).
NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about Florida adventures for the new year and talk about kayaking. They also look ahead to 2025 and some possible new benefits for podcast subscribers.
Links We Mentioned
Earth Kinship bioluminescence kayak tours
Florida State Parks camping reservations
Harvest Hosts
Florida Bucket List scratch-off adventures
Keaton Beach
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
AyoLane Halusky talks about possible changes at Marineland, why you shouldn't be afraid of alligators, and favorite paddles in St. Johns area.
Marineland
Unusual gator behavior in Big Cypress
My Life as a Turkey
Earth Kinship Kayak Tours & Nature Education
Geotripper
Local Lorax
Top Kayaking Spots in the St. Johns Area
Deep Creek
Welaka (Dunn's Creek to Murphy Island or Mud Springs)
Guana Lake at the dam (bioluminescence tour)
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Kimball Love makes an appearance on the podcast to talk about her new book, Florida Is Not For Sissies.
Links We Mentioned
Florida is Not for Sissies
Florida Is Not for Sissies merchandise
Florida Is Not For Sissies on Facebook
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Chris Meindl, associate professor or geography and the director of the Florida Studies Program at USF-St. Pete, joins the podcast to talk about his new book, Florida Springs: From Geography to Politics and Restoration. Cathy, Rick, and Chris talk about the springs, the Florida Studies Program, and the politics of water.
Go see him at the Sulfur Springs Museum in Tampa: Jan. 12, 2 p.m.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Geological Survey: Florida Springs
Water's Journey: The River Returns
Fenholloway River
Florida Swallets
Florida Studies Program
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
What started as an episode on gratitude for Florida things meandered as much as the Kissimmee River in the 1920s. Rick and Cathy talk about what they're grateful for in Florida, and — naturally — that turns to talk of finding dead bodies and how to kill someone. It's the most nontraditional Thanksgiving episode ever. Take a listen.
Links We Mentioned
White Gate Court
Drawdown on the Oklawaha River
Birding in Florida
Crescent Moon Mysteries by Tara Lush
Bury me under a tree and let me be part tree
(Untested, but Cathy's buying it): Florida Adventure Bucket List)
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Chris Beachum and Rich Robinson created a TV series, Crazy, Florida! — and the first episode is live now. Rich and Chris join Rick and Cathy to talk about the inspiration for Crazy, Florida!, what makes it special, and what's next for the docuseries.
Links We Mentioned
Crazy, Florida! S1E1 on YouTube
Crazy, Florida! YouTube Channel
Fast Channels include RokuTV, Pluto, and RVTV.
Animals once thought to be cryptids
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about what to do at Wekiwa Springs, along the Wekiva River, at Rock Springs Run, and the surrounding waterways.
Links We Mentioned
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Wekiva Island
Wekiva River: a Wild & Scenic River
Friends of Wekiva River
Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
Emerald Cut
Rock Springs Run
Kelly Park/Rock Springs Run
Katie's Landing
King's Landing
Seminole State Forest
Along the Wekiva by Bill Belleville and Jim Robison
Little Wekiva River
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
This week, Florida Spectacular takes a deep dive into DeLeon Springs. Rick and Cathy talk about the first people who lived in the area, EuroAmerican settlers, and the history of the sugar mill and plantation that formed around the spring. They end the podcast talking about the more "roadside Florida" aspects of the spring, including, of course, waterskiing elephants and make-your-own pancakes.
Links We Mentioned
De Leon Springs State Park
Old Florida's Finest: DeLeon Springs
A deeper dive into the spring
Stetson project abut enslaved people at DeLeon Springs
Queenie the Waterskiing elephant
Waterskiing elephants at DeLeon Springs
Liz and Queenie
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Brendan O'Connor, of Bungalower and Orlando Magazine, joins the podcast to talk about his intense knowledge of Orlando neighborhoods and hidden Orlando. He's the author of 100 Things To Do In Orlando Before You Dieand, as we mentioned, a bit like an onion: He has layers.
Brendan's Top Five Hidden Orlando Experiences
- Winter Park Boat Tour
- Dickson Azalea Park
- Giant Pigeons
- Orange Hill Cemetery
- Serpentarium
Links We Mentioned
Whiskey Lou's
Nile Ethiopian District
Packing District
Milk District
Foxtail Coffee
Shitty Beautiful on Instagram
Debonair Social Club
Genius Preserve
Also mentioned but not in Orlando: Vintage Marché
Suggested reading (author will be a guest soon!):
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Robert the Doll isn't the only ghost in the Florida Keys. Hear a few more tales from Brad and Cathy.
Links We Mentioned
Haunted Key West
Key West Theater
Robert the Doll
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
With scary season in full swing, Cathy and Rick talk about some of the creepiest — and most fun — places they've visited along the roadside.
Potter's Wax Museum
Hall of Presidents in Clermont, what's in the gift shop, and a blog post from Rick
The Sandman Motel
Casa Marina
Jungle Adventure
Barberville Produce
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
"Art is not for everyone, but it can be for anyone," so says today's guest, freelance arts writer and Fernandina Beach resident Chadd Scott.
Art Basel
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Sarasota Modern
Highwaymen Art Weekend
Purvis Young
Robert Rauschenberg
Appleton Museum
Norton Museum of Art
Vickers Collection at UF
Rollins College Museum of Art
The Alfond
The Morse Museum
Mannello Museum of American Art
Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter Park
Chihuly Collection at Morean Arts Center
Fresh Squeezed Emerging Artists at the Morean
Wolfsonian
Mildred Thompson's 'Magnetic Fields' at Cummer Museum in Jacksonville
Thomas Moran's Ponce de Leon pain
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
With Hurricane Milton approaching Florida, Brad and Cathy talk about historic hurricanes in the Florida Keys, including Labor Day 1935 and Irma.
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
In the path of Hurricane Milton, Rick and Cathy talk about the history of hurricanes, what Milton could mean for Florida — and Gulfport, and the value of the National Hurricane Center.
Links We Mentioned
New experimental cone
Sights N Sounds with Allen Kiger
Interviewing music and racing royalty.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
In wake — the literal one — of storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Cathy and Rick talk about what Gulfport looks like, what's next for the 25% of Gulfport residents who no longer have a home, and who's been helping.
Links We Mentioned
The Gabber Newspaper's Helene coverage
Gulfport web cameras
World Central Kitchen
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Brad wrote a (mostly) fictional book, The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files. While many of the narratives in the book came from the depths of his imagination, not all of them are false. Brad and Cathy talk about real stories of people who believe they saw a skunk ape. They also talk about why they both believe the Skunk Ape — and other bigfoots — exist.
Cathy's favorite quote about what we know about what is real:
"Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow." —Agent K, Men in Black
Check out Cathy's article about her quest to find the skunk ape in Big Cypress.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida has a treasure trove of Folk, or Self-Taught, Artists. Bailey Wright, with Jeanine Taylor Folk Art in Sanford, joins the podcast to talk about Florida Folk art and the gallery's upcoming exhibit (featuring Rick!), Florida Gothic. While the show runs a limited time, there's no shortage of arts, food, and culture in Sanford. Rick, Bailey, and Cathy talk about all the things and yes, Sanford does have a craft marshmallow maker.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Gothic Folk show
Mennello Museum of American Art
Morean Fresh Squeezed
House of Blues
Jesse Aaron
Mary Proctor
Mr. Imagination
The Salesman documentary
How To Do Sanford
Historic Downtown Sanford
Art in Sanford
Jeanine Taylor Folk Art
Sanford Art Walk
Eat & Sanford
Hollerbach's German restaurant
Wondermade Craft Marshmallows
Celery City Craft Beer
Artwork: 'Full Moon' by Melissa Menzer
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Just in time for the start of the scary season, Florida cozy author Tara Lush joins the podcast to talk about her three mystery series — all set in Florida. One has a haunted cookie jar, one has a decades-old disappearance, and one has a gator. Well, technically, they're all set in Florida, so there are probably gators in all of them, but one specializes in gators. Check out the links below!
Links We Mentioned
Murdle daily puzzle (and Murdle books)
Catitude and Charms (the novella with a haunted cookie jar)
You can order these books from Tombolo and Books at Park Place — and any indie bookstore can likely order them, too.
Tara Lush website
Coffee Lovers Mystery Series
Crescent Moon Mystery Series
Critters and Criminals Series
The Rules for Cozies
- Usually about domestic matters and a comforting setting
- Amateur sleuth, often a woman who may be middle-aged or elderly
- Gore and violence are off-page
- Sex, if it exists, is also off-page
- Great example is "Only Murders in the Building" (although it has swearing and Lush's cozies do not)
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Brad and Cathy talk about the origins of Key West — and the chapter in Cathy's new book about how Key West came to be the place we know today.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Florida conservation biologist Gene Kelly joins the podcast to talk about the proposed Withlacoochee land swap. We talk about some of the best things about the area (Red-cockaded woodpeckers! Wilderness! Sand hill habitat!) as well as why the area's significant and deserves continued protection.
The notes from this episode are too detailed for this space, but please hop on over to greatfloridaroadtrip.com to see the link.
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy talk about what went into researching Cathy's new book, Florida Spectacular. They also talk about how to approach Florida history that challenges traditional interpretations of historic events, what Cathy learned from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and why the ideas of "Florida Man" and "Real Florida" both hurt the Sunshine State.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Spectacular
The Idea of Florida
Florida's Healing Waters
Muein Mystery School Adventures
Get more from an audio drama than simply escapism.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
History Shorts
Daily dose of fun history in <10 minutes from award-winning historian P.S. Zablocki
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Key lime pie: The myth, the truth, and the best place to get it in the Florida Keys. They also talk about Key lime pie on a stick, Key lime ice cream, and Key lime margarita floats. Dig in!
Links We Mentioned
The End of an Era: The Key Lime Tree
Brad's Pick for Key lime pie: Key Lime Pie Lady
Muein Mystery School Adventures
Get more from an audio drama than simply escapism.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Leslie Kemp Poole joins the podcast to talk about Florida's true first state park, the one forgotten and ignored by the Florida state parks system — but prized by the National Park Service (and part of Everglades National Park). The trio also talks about the powerhouse of a woman instrumental in the park's creation: May Mann Jennings. Finally, listeners get an update on the proposed changes to several state parks and learn how they can take action.
Links We Mentioned
- Updates to Florida State Park proposed changes (with link to the FDEP survey)
- Florida's first state park, now called Royal Palm State Park and inside Everglades National Park
- Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
- Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
Image via National Parks Service
Muein Mystery School Adventures
Get more from an audio drama than simply escapism.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
This podcast was supposed to be about Ryan Worthington's quest to visit all 175 Florida State Parks, but then FDEP announced plans to build giant hotels and golf courses in the state parks. Ryan, Cathy, and Rick talk about the plans and what action people can take if they don't want to see the parks get paved.
Florida State Parks at Risk
Click the links for the meeting locations — they do not take place at the parks!
- Hillsborough River State Park
- Honeymoon Island State Park
- Oleta River State Park
- Jonathan Dickinson State Park
- Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
- Anastasia State Park
- Camp Helen State Park
Muein Mystery School Adventures
Get more from an audio drama than simply escapism.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Brad and Cathy talk about the best dive bars in the Florida Keys.
Links We Mentioned
A Local's Guide to Bloodline
Florida Keys Dive Bars (show notes with links and history)
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Campers, listen up! From Tin Can Tourist to air conditioned cabins, Florida's a camper's paradise. Rick and Cathy talk about the origins of Tin Can tourists in Tampa, which state parks have the best camping, and how to camp in comfort at them.
Links We Mentioned
Lance Campers (2565)
Lazy Days RVs
Desoto Park in Tampa
Tin Can Tourist websites
Briny Breezes
In Her Shoes
Photo by Britt Fuller/public domain
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Along the Suwannee River, there's a treasure trove of fossilized rhinos and elephants. Stephenie Livingston, a science journalist, joins the podcast this week to talk about the Montbrook fossil site, what we can learn about climate change from it, and why it matters.
Links We Mentioned
National Wildlife article about Florida's elephants
More about Montbrook fossil site in Levy County
Stephenie's website and Instagram
Image: Florida Museum illustration by Merald Clark
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Brad and Cathy take a look at the state of shark populations in the Keys, explain that the shark's reputation as man-easting beast is undeserved, and why they're a lot better — and nicer — than dolphin.
Links We Mentioned
Brad's post on Facebook about shark finning
Meet the sharks of the Florida Keys
Info about endangered sharks
"Why the Author of Jaws Wishes He Never Wrote It"
"Why Dolphins Are Evil"
Nat Geo video of dolphin-on-dolphin violence
Shark bite statistics
Fins, part of the Sharks Incorporated series by Randy Wayne White
Marine biologist on why dolphins are scarier than sharks
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Who loves a good dive bar? Rick and Cathy do. This week they chat about their favorites — send them yours!
Whiskey Lou's in Orlando's Milk District
The Emerald in downtown St. Pete
Tony's Liquors in Winter Garden
Wally's on Mill in Orlando
Joannie's Blue Crab in Ochopee
Last Chance Saloon in Florida City
Mahuffer's on Indian Shores
The Palace Saloon in Fernandina
Flora-Bama Bar
Burton's in Thornton Park
Links We Mentioned
Knuckleheads with a boat in Crystal River (please drink responsibly!)
Lucky Cole
List of "dive" bars in Florida (but not really)
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Rick and Cathy look at Florida crackers: Cracker culture, Florida cowboys, and cracker villages.
Links We MentionedThe Secret History of the Word Cracker
Florida Wildlife Corridor and Wild Space Gallery
Florida Cracker Horse
Florida Cattle History
Lake Kissimmee State Park Cow Camp
Florida Cracker entry at FL Memory
Rick's post about Kissimmee/Osceola Co cattle history
Fort Christmas
Rick's post about Christmas
Dade City's FL Pioneer Village
Barberville Pioneer Settlement
Rick's post about Barberville
Cracker Country at the State Fairgrounds
Dunn History: Black Cowboys
Lawrence Silas at Osceola Co History Center
Dunn History: Rosewood Before the Massacre
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Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Cathy and Brad talk about Florida lobster. Lobster season runs Aug. 6- Mar. 31, but there's more to this tasty crustacean than meets the antenna! Hear why Brad (and many other Keys residents) thinks the mini-season has gotten out of hand, why spiny lobsters are actually crayfish, and how they reproduce.
“You should have seen the crawfish in the mangrove roots along the shores. They were stacked up two feet – one on top of the other. I’ve had them weigh seven pounds. The whole shore would be red, two or three hundred feet. One time I caught 2,900 crawfish with a small net. My father had a contract with the railroad to supply crawfish to Key West. The last season we worked for them, we shipped 54,000 pounds even though the supply was depleted by that time. That was the only year we kept a record. We found most of them on the lee side of Key Largo, Rodriguez, and Tavernier – wherever there was a mangrove shore. Nothing much on Dove Key.” —Beauregard Albury, Florida Keys
Links We Mentioned
Scorpion sex
How do spiny lobsters reproduce?
Spiny lobster fun facts
Facts about Florida lobster
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
A look at the history of Florida's role in the American revolution, the history of the Gadsden flag, and why Floridians hated everything for which it stood when it was a symbol of the American Revolution.
Links We Mentioned & Further Reading:
Don't Tread on Me post about the license plate and Florida history
Florida Frontiers podcast about early Florida history
Florida Veterans Foundation
Don't Tread on Anyone version of the flag
Gadsden/Tampa Connection
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Willett Hancock Museum Assistant at the Matheson Museum joins the podcast to talk about a new exhibit at the Matheson Museum in Gainseville: Voices and Votes. Rick, Cathy, and Willett talk about democracy in Florida, and the historical struggle to make sure everyone can participate in it.
Links We Mentioned
Voices and Votes (and other exhibits) at the Matheson Museum
Ocoee Massacre
Rosewood Massacre
Pork Chop Gang
William A. Shands
Satchel's Pizza
The Top
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Were there pirates in the Florida Keys? Who was Black Caesar? What does Black Caesar have in common with The Princess Bride?
Brad Bertelli explains it all.
Links We Mentioned
Elliot Key in Biscayne National Park
Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli, Volume II
Mostly Fake Black Caesar History
General History of Pyrates (1724)
Gasparilla Pirate Fest
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
This week, the best parts of Kissimmee, from roadside ephemera to the headwaters of the Florida Everglades.
Stay
Legacy Vacation Resorts, Cathy found it to be a great home base for exploring the less touristy areas of the area.
Disclaimer: Legacy hosted most of her stay, but she chose to mention them because of the B Corp certification and location.
Eat
Woodsby's Cafe
Catfish Place St. Cloud
1881 Restaurant & Bar
ExploreShingle Creek paddling (Read about Rick's experience)
Downtown Kissimmee and the Kissimmee Monument of States
Learn More About KissimmeeRoadside Kissimmee
Kissimmee Follow-Up
Kissimmee and Shuffleboard
Links We MentionedBig Bamboo
Kast Club
Xanadu: House of the Future
Osceola History and Cow Town Recreated (Rick)
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Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
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This week Rick and Cathy talk about some of their favorite bike trails in Florida.
Orange County Bike Trails
West Orange Trail
Bikes and Blades at Killarney Station
Northeast Orlando Trail Map
Cady Way Trail
Post: Biking the Orlando Urban Trail
Post: West Orange Trail
Oakland Nature Preserve
Downtown Winter Garden
Plant Street Market
Hunger Street Tacos
Pinellas Trail
Pinellas Trail Guide
Wall Springs
Casa Tina
Fenway
Tallahassee
BikeTallahassee
Word of South Festival
Volusia's Spring-to-Spring Trail
Gainesville-Hawthrone Trail
Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
About the Trail
Trail brochure/map
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Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
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Send us your Florida questions!
If it's Old Key West you want, stop short of Key West on your drive down US 1 and explore Stock Island. Brad and Cathy talk about the island's cow-centric and crime-adjacent history, what's worth doing now, and where you can meet an ostrich.
Links We Mentioned
Bone Island Mamboby Tom Corcoran
Stock Island Festival
Cow Key 0K
Monroe County Petting Zoo
A Sketch of the History of Key West, Florida (Florida and the Caribbean Open Books Series) by Walter C. Maloney
Lucy Burdette's Key West food critic murder mysteries
Brad Bertelli books — Cathy says get the Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files book!
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
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This week the "Florida Spectacular" welcomes Carey Winfrey, the editor of Key West Sketches: Writers at Mile Zero. Carey and Cathy talk about the writers who contributed to the anthology, Judy Blume's Key West bookstore, and what Carey says he wishes people would see instead of Duval Street.
Links We Mentioned
Elizabeth Bishop house
Key West Sketches
Hidden Key West: What To See Off Duval
Key West Literary Seminar
The Tropic Cinema
Books & Books Key West has events, some on the roof
Key West Island Books events
Key West Library readings
Image courtesy of Blair Publishing. Please buy the book.
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Lower insurance and power bills? Stop flooding in your neighborhood? Protecting Florida's beaches without spending billions on beach renourishment? This might sound too good to be true, but this week's podcast has ways you can help do all those things. Dawn Shirreffs, the Florida Director of the Environmental Defense Fund, joins the podcast to talk about why all isn't lost to climate change — if people speak out and ask their local governments for practical, fiscally responsible solutions. Take a listen, then get involved!
Links We Mentioned
Environmental Defense Fund
Dawn Shirreffs, Florida Director of EDF
Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
Florida's Climate Future
Environmental Defense Fund on Twitter
Let's Tackle Climate Change Florida
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
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Send us your Florida questions!
Some Florida Keys history is hidden in plain sight — and that's especially true when it comes to Henry Flagler's railroad from Homestead to Key West. Brad and Cathy give listeners insight to some ways to experience railroad history while enjoying the natural beauty of the Florida Keys.
Links We Mentioned
Alabama Jacks (not along the original railroad route)
How to see the Original 4A
Pigeon Key
Bahia Honda
Long Key
Windley Key
Photo courtesy (State Archives of Florida)
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
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Jono Miller, author of "The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm," joins the podcast to talk about the Myakka River. We're loving the Myakka River — and the park — a little too hard, but there are ways to experience the park without impacting the natural environment.
Jono talks about ways such as canoeing to the Upper Myakka, exploring the dry prairie, and stopping at the park bridge. And don't miss the CCC cabins made from cabbage palm logs!
You can support Myakka by joining Friends of Myakka River State Park. Follow Jono on Instagram.
Links We Mentioned
Myakka River State Park
Dry Prairie at Myakka
Myakka by Paula Benshoff
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Merrillee Jipson, owner of Rum 138 in the High Springs area, joins the podcast to talk about the tragedy at Ginnie Springs last weekend, how to enjoy the springs responsibly, and some of the best places to paddle the springs.
Links We Mentioned
Silver Glen
New River
Santa Fe River Preserve Guide from Alachua Conservation Trust
Gilchrist Blue Springs
Ichetucknee Springs
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Think crocodiles are only for Australia? Think again, because you can find them alive and well in the Florida Keys.
Brad and Cathy talk about where in the keys you can find crocodiles and alligators, and also talk about why Florida crocodiles aren't as energetic as their Australian cousins. And caimans? They're here, too — but they're not the same animal, and they're considered invasive.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
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Rick and Cathy take a (metaphorical) dive into Warm Mineral Springs and the Venice/Nokomis area. They give you a guide of things to do and places to eat along the Venice/Nokomis coast.
Don't forget to subscribe to Florida Keys Spectacular — premium content about the Florida Keys! Support all things Spectacular, starting at $5/month.
Warm Mineral and Little Salt Springs
Warm Mineral Springs (City of Northport)
More about Warm Mineral Springs (Visit Sarasota)
"Revisiting Warm Mineral Springs" (Rick's post)
"Old World Meets New Age at Warm Mineral Springs" (Rick's other post)
Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (Save Warm Mineral Springs!)
Little Salt Springs
Bulletin 31: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Florida Springs
Venice and Nokomis
Shark's Teeth: A Guide
Stay in Nokomis: Casa Nokomis
Dining: Crow's Nest,
Backroad Odyssey
Traveling America's backroads, history lovers - Noah and Noodles - uncover...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Send us your Florida questions!
Cathy and Rick talk about Florida hurricane prep, the history of hurricanes, and how to prepare without freaking out.
Links We Mentioned
Hurricanes.gov
Oranges and Alligators: Sketches of South Florida Life by Iza Duffy Hardy
Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen
Hurricane prep suggestions: Turn off your TV and check hurricanes.gov, the least weather-terroristy source for real news. Instead of bottled water, buy five gallon reusable jugs (we suggest glass, but you can get plastic ones, too) and a USB-powered water dispenser (you can recharge it in your car if needed). You can also get a five-galloon cooler with a dispenser built in the bottom.
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Send us your Florida questions!
Brad and Cathy talk about Bahia Honda State Park. Brad shares the little-known history of Bahia Honda's pre-park days, and Cathy talks about which parts are best for camping and water activities.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Kristalyn Shafveland joins the podcast to talk about her book, Selling Vero Beach. They talk about Vero's history, its first people, and why the past matters to newcomers.
Links We Mentioned
Selling Vero Beach: Settler Myths in the Land of the Aís and Seminole
Florida's disastrous plan for a reservoir
McKee and Sexton: A Perfect Match
Where's Waldo?
Oh, and Cathy's breakfast? Muhammarra dip on gluten-free sourdough toast, with broccoli sprouts
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Rick and Cathy welcome Florida historian Joey Vars on the podcast to talk about Henry Plant's Belleview Biltmore hotel. Joey's the former staff historian for the hotel, now called the Belleview.
Links We Mentioned
The Belleview Inn
Watch Joey's former tour of the Biltmore
Aerial view of Belleview Biltmore demolition [VIDEO]
Lost: Belleview Biltmore hotel
Buy a piece of the Belleview Biltmore at Schiller's Salvage
Giant Steps: The History of Morton F. Plant Hospital
Charlotte Douglas' It's About Time on Kindle
Secrets in the Shadows by Marina Malcolm (pen name of Charlotte Douglas)
Other Charlotte Douglas books still available
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
If you've driven past it and not stopped, you don't know what you're missing. Sure, you can do tourist things like feed a tarpon and have a frozen drink... but they also have a fantastic fish sandwich, knowledgeable fishing guides, and one particularly amazing Florida Keys historian (and some other stuff, too.)
Learn what Brad and Cathy both love Robbie's — and the family who owns it.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Ryan Smart, Executive Director of the Florida Springs Council, joins Cathy and Rick on the podcast to answer a listener's questions about Florida springs.
Q: If the springs naturally come to the surface, why would the bottled water companies need permits to pump out?
A: We answer this more in-depth in the podcast, but it's because they don't scoop the water out of the springhead — they tap the spring with a well, and they need permission for that.
Q: When I lived in Orlando there was a Spring on the West bound lanes of Hwy. 17-92 in Longwood and people, including myself, would just stop with empty milk bottles and fill up with the spring water and drink it at home. They have since shut the location off from the public and I don’t know the current status.
A: That's near the now-gone famous tree in Sanford, the Senator, and it is closed to the public.
Q: Could you repeat the ways to help springs ?
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Stop drinking bottled water.
-
Plant Florida-friendly landscaping.
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Turn off your irrigation or change to drip irrigation.
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Don't fertilize.
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Connect with and support with a group advocating for springs. A great start is the Florida Springs Council or any of Florida's Riverkeepers. Get involved!
Things You Can Do To Make a Difference
Berkey water filters
Five-gallon water jugs and USB water jug dispensers
Links We Mentioned
Santa Fe Springs Celebration (April 27, 2024)
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Cathy and Rick talk about their favorite Tiki bars and events in Florida.
Links We Mentioned
The Donn of Tiki film
Tiki hotels in Daytona Beach
Tiki Bars
Bahi Hut in Sarasota
The Wreck Bar in Fort Lauderdale (Rick's post)
Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale (Rick's post)
Don the Beachcomber in Madeira Beach
Suffering Bastard in Sanford
Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at Walt Disney World
Bar Tiki on Clearwater Beach
Tiki Events in Florida
Tiki-a-Go-Go
The Hukilau (Rick's post)
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Florida Key Deer are the smallest of the white-tailed deer subspecies, and you can only find them in the Florida Keys. Brad and Cathy talk about the oft-debated origins of these tiny creatures, the legend of the cryptid key deer (aka Conch Republic Border Guards), and how and where to see — and photograph Key Deer — responsibly.
Links We Mentioned
National Key Deer Refuge
No Name Pub
Fearsome Creatures of Florida (we suggest the Kindle edition, as it contains animations)
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Rick and Cathy welcome Keri Watson, author of Florida's New Deal: Parks and Post Office Murals. Her book takes people on an armchair tour of Florida post offices with New Deal art. It explores Florida's first 10 state park (nine of which still exist as state parks today.)
Links We Mentioned
Get Keri's book
Living New Deal
Diane Craig's thesis on George Snow-Hill
USPS Murals
Image: Progress of Industry (1934) by Charles W. Ward, at the Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Trenton, New Jersey
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Rick and Cathy talk about what there is to do at some of their favorite small towns in Florida, and why you should visit. Take a listen, load up the car, and let's go!
Links We Mentioned
Safety Harbor Resort & Spa | Spa Resort in Tampa Bay, FL
Welaka, Florida | Quiet Old Town on the St. Johns River
Stegbone's Fish Camp and Resort
Green Cove Springs
Matlacha
Gulfport
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Islamorada means "purple island." After all, Isla (island) and morada (purple), right? Think again.
Brad explains why that's not how this part of the Florida Keys got its name. He takes Cathy — and listeners — on an armchair journey on why the "morada" in the name dates back to William Krome and Flagler's railroad and means "island home" rather than "purple islands."
Take a listen to find out why.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Rick and Cathy talk about mangos, Matlacha, and a different type of Florida paradise. Pine Island and Matlacha don't have high rises, chain hotels, or franchises. This small island haven has plenty of small pleasures on offer, especially for people seeking a less-traditional type of paradise.
Things To Do in Matlacha
The Perfect Cup
Tarpon Lodge (lodging and dining alike)
Randell Research Center
Leoma Lovegrove galleries
Bokeelia Art Gallery
MangoMania
Links We Mentioned
Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford series (check out Dark Light)
John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series
Calusa Heritage Trail
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
On this week's podcast, Jenny DeWitt talks about why she left Florida, where she traveled when she did, and why she came back.
Links we mentioned:
Eau Gallie Arts District.
Backwater restaurant.
Downtown Creedo.
Green Gables, Melbourne, FL
Lil Bit of Life, Mount Dora, FL
Grow Lake County - Local Farm & Food Map
Architecture SRQ - Home of Architecture Sarasota MOD Weekend
Townie Tourist (2016-2020)
Slow Travel Society Guide to Orlando (2021)
Find Jennifer online at: https://cultura.travel
Instagram: https://instagram.com/jennyintransit
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Everyone loves the Florida Keys — but not everyone has discovered the sheer magnificence of the wilder and more natural parts of the island chain. The Florida Keys tourism board wants to change that; they created an an app that lets anyone earn points (and swag) for checking out an eco trail that runs from Key Largo to Key West.
Ashley Serrate joins Brad and Cathy to talk about why the Fla-Keys.com created the Eco Experience Pass, how it works, and some of the more intriguing experiences along the Florida Keys Eco Trail.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Keys Eco Experience Pass
Slice of Paradise Coral Fragging Experience (Look for "Hands On Experiences) toward the bottom
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Meet Shilpi Rawat, who left Mumbai for a life in Florida. As a new Floridian, she planned a Florida lighthouse road trip. Learn about her experiences from the panhandle to the Dry Tortugas, the time she swam with a barracuda (not on purpose), and hear about some of her favorite lighthouses.
Links We Mentioned
About Dooder and the Lighthouse short film (and trailer)
List of Florida lighthouses
Check out Shilpi's travel photos here and here.
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Leslie Kemp Poole, author of Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now, comes on the podcast to talk about recreating Florida journeys made by famous Floridians and Florida-fans such as John Muir, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. She gives life to these journeys — take a listen!
Leslie's books
Watch Leslie follow Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' journey
Book cover courtesy of Leslie Kemp Poole/University Press of Florida.
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Looking for places to snorkel in the Florida Keys? Brad's the expert. He explains not only how snorkeling ignited his interest in Florida Keys and Monroe County history, but where anyone can snorkel in the Florida Keys.
Brad's Florida Keys snorkeling spots
Bahia Honda State Park
Looe Key
Key West Marine Park (you can walk/swim to this one)
Garden Key and Dry Tortugas
Links We Mentioned
At Robbie's: Sundance Watersports often goes to Alligator Light reef
Your guide to reef-friendly sunscreen
What does a Caribbean reef shark look like?
Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Cathy and Rick talk about how nature influences their writing, Cathy's camping experience at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Rick's upcoming keynote at the MKR annual conference, and where to find wild citrus.
Links We Mentioned
Matheson Museum, with the anniversary exhibit Rick designed
Squarehouse Pizza in Gainesville (Formerly Satch Squared, partly owned by Satchel's Pizza)
Rawlings Society and annual conference in May
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park and its Citizen Support Organization (also called a "friends group")
Sour Orange Pie and Sour Orange Margaritas
Volunteer at a Florida State Park
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
People love pirate lore — but what did it mean to be a pirate in Florida? According to Cathy, a lot more bureaucracy than you'd think. Rick and Cathy talk about pirates, real and imagined, and make a few Florida detours along the way.
Links We Mentioned
Legend of Jose Gaspar
Sir Francis Drake and privateer Robert Searle
Florida Pirate Festivals
Pirates in St. Augustine
A history of pirates in Florida
Sir Frances Drake in St. Augustine
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Did the Florida Keys have pirates? Brad and Cathy debate. Brad unearthed an 1829 Keys newspaper and talks about an article warning of land sharks and advertising a house for rent for $20 a month in Key West.
They also chat about the San Carlos, the Key West Firehouse Museum, and Carysfort Reef.
Links We Mentioned
Key West Firehouse Museum
San Carlos Institute
Carysfort Reef National Marine Sanctuary
The U.S.S. Schooner Alligator and Alligator Key
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings made Cross Creek famous through her writing, and if you want to experience Florida as she did, there's no better place. From free-range venison starters at a Cross Creek restaurant to paddling the same creeks she did, immerse yourself in the world of Cross Creek. Here's how!
Spoiler alert: Cathy gives away the ending of The Yearling at the start of the podcast, because she says everyone knows. Rick disagrees, so if you don't know the story, consider yourself warned!
Links We Mentioned
The Yearling Restaurant
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Cross Creek paddle trips
Wood & Swink general store in Evinston
Ocean Grill in Vero Beach
Cathy Salustri's Writer's Talk at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park (Feb. 24, 2024)
Salt Springs
Real Florida? The Ocklawaha River
Explore More of the Area
Exploring Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' homestead
Where's Waldo?
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Ryan Smart, the executive director of the Florida Springs Council, joins the podcast to talk about threats facing springs, some recent victories for Florida's environment, and how people can support the work that protects Florida springs.
Image of the Profanity Manatee courtesy of Florida Springs Council; used with permission.
Links We Mentioned
Manatee Profanity t-shirt and other merch that supports Florida Springs Council
Become a sustaining member
Ditch the plastic water bottles for hurricane prep: Get reusable five-gallon glass water jug and USB-powered pump dispenser
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Brad and Cathy take a deep dive into two of the best Florida State Parks in the Florida Keys: Bahia Honda and Long Key.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Keys Eco-Experience Trail app for exploring the Florida Keys.
Bahia Honda State Park
Long Key State Park
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Today's guest, Charles Ellis, who serves as the Fort Mose Historical Society president, talks about the reconstruction of the Fort, what’s happening in February, and Florida's place on the Underground Railroad.
Links We Mentioned
Fort Mose State Park
Flight to Freedom
Fort Mose Historical Society
Jazz and Blues at Fort Mose
Support Fort Mose and Black History in Florida
Gullah Geechee Heritage Trail
What is a "ring shout"?
How To Be an Anti-Racist
Middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
If you want to explore Sarasota, Rick and Cathy have plenty of favorites.
Places to Eat
Owen's Fish Camp
Yoder's of Pinecraft and The Gabber Newspaper's feature on Yoder's
Bali Hut Tiki Hut
Outdoors and Nature Experiences
Myakka River State Park
Warm Mineral Springs
Selby Botanical Gardens
Mote Marine Aquarium (kayaking and the February Farm to Fillet)
Venice Beach and Shark's Teeth
Roadside Attraction: Sarasota Jungle Gardens Arts
Ringling
Sarasota School of Architecture
Urbanite Theatre
Sarasota Art Museum
Shopping: St. Armand's Circle
Links We Mentioned
Orchid scandal at Selby and Craig Pittman's The Scent of Scandal about that scandal
Feld Entertainment
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Flying into Key West is super-convenient, but people who fly into Key West miss one of the best parts of the Florida Keys: The Overseas Highway, which connects mainland Florida with the Florida Keys. The road didn't always look the way it does today, however. Brad and Cathy explain it all.
Florida Keys Extras
No Name Pub on No Name Key used to be a brothel
The Pineapple Express? Yup, pineapples in the Florida Keys!
The Seven-Mile Bridge in True Lies
A pictorial trip across the Overseas Highway
Last Train to Paradise
Hurricane of 1935
Have you met Fred?
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
It's January! It's cold! It's the best time to see manatee! Where can you see them?
Rick and Cathy name their favorite spots (see the links) and talk about whether manatee resemble sea potatoes or zaftig mermaids, manatee flatulence, and manatee nipples (when an animal has armpit nipples, you have to mention it.)
Links We Mentioned
Is it a manatee or a mermaid?
How smart are manatee?
The year almost 800 manatee died
Panther attacks?
Where to See Manatee
Crystal River
Blue Spring State Park
Haulover Canal
TECO Viewing Center
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
A reader question about hiking shoes leads to a discussion about best places to hike in Florida. The Florida Madcaps' Chelsea Stevens joins to talk about hiking and water shoes, that time she stepped on a copperhead, and her favorite hikes.
Links We Mentioned
FloridaHikes.com
Shoes for Hiking Florida Trails
Altra shoes
What are shoe gaiters and do you want them?
Fit2Run
Track Shack
Astral hiking shoes
Hikes in Central Florida
Little Big Econ State Forest
Chelsea's favorite Central Florida hike: Charles Bronson State Forest
Chelsea's favorite hike in Florida: Torreya State Park (and the nearby Apalachicola Bluffs)
Salt Springs
The Yearling Trail with Jody Spring and Long Cemetery
Rick's favorite Central Florida hike: Lyonia Preserve
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Subscriber-only episode
Florida does an amazing job with state parks, and perhaps this is best showcased in the Florida Keys. In the inaugural episode, take a tour of some of Brad and Cathy's favorite state parks in the Upper Keys.
State Parks to Visit in the Florida Keys
• Dagny Johnson Key Largo Botanical State Park for hiking and the chance of seeing the endangered woodrat.
• Windley Key Fossil Reef State Park for the hiking and the history (they have ranger-led tours)
• Indian Key State Park for the history, solitude, lack of mosquitoes, and snorkeling. Paddle out to the island (which has no facilities). Snorkel the patch reef and grass flats by the island.
• Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park for ranger-led tours, history, and the chance to see one of the last virgin West Indian hardwood hammocks.
Links Brad & Cathy Mentioned
Key Largo woodrat (but is it a rat?)
Bayside Gourmet
Robbie's Islamorada
Matheson home at Lignumvitae
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Take a hike in the swamp! Cathy and Rick talk about hiking in Florida swamps, venomous snakes, and other things you might find as you experience Florida's wilderness. Also, Cathy talks about the time she got lost in the swamp and almost stepped on a venomous snake.
Pictured is the juvenile cottonmouth from Cathy's hike in Big Cypress. No, it's not a Magic Eye; look closely and you'll see him. Or her. Cathy didn't want to check.
Links We Mentioned
Clyde Butcher's swamp walk
Wild hog
Ranger-led tours at Big Cypress
Monroe Station
Cottonmouth facts
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Rick and Cathy talk about Florida places they want to visit in 2024. Unsurprisingly, many of the trips involve kayaking.
Quick Travel Guide to St. AugustineMeehan's Irish Pub
Osteen's
Casa de Sueños
Quick Travel Guide to West Volusia Heritage CorridorCassadaga
DeLand Memorial Hospital Museum
Main Street DeLand
Hontoon Island
The Forgotten Mermaids: Jacques
Quick Guide to Paddling Ocala National ForestJuniper Run
Juniper Springs (Campsite info)
Salt Springs Recreation Area
Black Water Creek
Paddling the Wekiva River AreaWekiwa Springs State Park
King’s Landing
Kelly Park/Rock Springs Run County Park
Emerald Cut
Paddle Rainbow RiverSwampy's at the end of the paddle
Paddle Weeki Wachee Springs & the ChassahowitzkaWeeki Wachee Springs State Park
Upper Deck Restaurant
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Rick and Cathy talk about places they want to visit–or revisit—in 2024. Below, find guides to two not-often-visited places in Florida.
Visit Sanford
Visitor's Guide
December's St. Lucia Festival
Celery Soup—a folk life play
Hollerbach's German Restaurant
Pico Hotel (similar to the Tampa Bay Hotel, now University of Tampa)
Henry's Depot
Folk Artist Alyne Harris at Jeanine Taylor Folk Art
Maya Books
Suffering Bastard
Visit Arcadia, Sebring, and Lake Placid
Arcadia antiques
Arcadia rodeo
Davidson's of Dundee
History of Sebring
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park
Other Links We Mentioned
Florida Memory — State Archives of Florida
Disney Wilderness Preserve
Lyonia Environmental Center
Lightner Art Nouveau exhibit
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Jacki Levine joins Rick and Cathy today to talk about Once Upon a Time in Florida, a gorgeous coffee table book celebrating 50 years of essays about Florida. Jacki edited the book, which includes essays from Stetson Kennedy, Michael Gannon, and Rick Kilby.
Links We Mentioned
Once Upon a Time in Florida(with discount code XM23) for sale
Review of Once Upon a Time in Florida
Find a talk about the book in your neighborhood.
Florida books Jacki gifts to people:
Florida's Healing Waters by Rick Kilby
The Sound of the Sea and other Cynthia Barnett books
Jack Davis' books
Florida in Poetry,edited by Jane Anderson Jones and Maurice O'Sullivan
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
This week, the "Florida Spectacular" welcomes back a familiar voice — Brad Bertelli, an early and super-popular guest. Cathy, Rick and Brad talk about where to find hidden springs in the Florida Keys, an old manuscript that mentions a "fairy grotto" by Robbies, and how people are "reverse snowbirding" north of Florida.
Links We Mentioned
Robbie's
Last Local
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
This week, Florida Spectacular hosts Cathy and Rick celebrate the work of Tim Dorsey. Dorsey created the lovable serial killer Serge Storms, who served vengeance with a side of history... or perhaps history with a side of vengeance. From there, they talk about Florida books for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
Links we Mentioned
Florida books for every reader
Tim Dorsey books in order
A History of Florida Through Black Eyes by Marvin Dunn
We Come for Good
A People's History of Florida
The Burden of Southern History by C. Vann Woodward
Souvenirs of the Old South: Northern Tourism and Southern Mythology by Rebecca Cawood McIntyre
The Springs of Florida by Doug Stamm
Once Upon a Time in Florida
The History of Florida by Michael Gannon
Gamble Rogers: A Troubadour's Life by Bruce Horovitz
Dreams in the New Century by Gary Mormino
Healing Watersby Rick Kilby
Backroads of Paradiseby Cathy Salustri
Bookstores
Sanford: Maya Books
Deland: Muse Bookshop
Barrel of Books
...and...
Gamble Rogers Folk Festival in St. Augustine
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
If you thought the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in the present-day United States in Plymouth, well, you've been lied to. Cathy and Rick talk about the first and second Thanksgivings, both of which happened in Florida, and why the 16th-century French Huguenot Thanksgiving — celebrated in what is now Jacksonville — may be the only of the first three that didn't celebrate the darkest parts of our national origin story.
Links We Mentioned
The French first Thanksgiving in North America
LeMoyne engravings of French first Thanksgiving
Michael Gannon and the "Grinch who stole Thanksgiving"
How the Mayflower arrived in a world already scarred by slavery.Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
This week, Cathy calls BS on Turkey Day and scholar Jeremy Carnes helps us understand the connection between art created by American Indians imprisoned at Fort Marion and the art produced by contemporary indigenous people. The trio also offers their perspective on how they attempt to respectfully observe the fourth Thursday in November.
Ever heard of Ledger art?
Links We Mentioned
Ledger Art and Comics: The Talk
Away from Home exhibit about Indian boarding schools
Betty Mae Tiger Jumper (a legendary storyteller)
Highwater Press (comics)
Marvel's Indigenous Voices
Red Planet Books and Comics
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki (Seminole Tribe of Florida museum)
nativelands.ca (Who lived where you lived before colonization?)
Catalog of Plains Ledger Art
Silberman collection of Native Art (with a lot of Ledger Art) from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
Red Planet (Now ATCG) books and Comics
Highwater Press
The origin story for America's Indian Boarding Schools begins in St. Augustine
Ledger drawings produced by American Indians who were prisoners at Fort Marion
Connect wth
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Rick and Cathy talk about the evils of beach renourishment — not only why it's a no-win situation, but how great Florida beaches could look without renourishment. It's a controversial take — especially for beach property owners.
Links We Mentioned
Fort De Soto
Canaveral National Seashore
St. George Island State Park
Anastasia Island
Anna Maria Island public beach
Washington Oaks State Park
Army Corps will not renourish Pinellas Beaches
Indian Shores Tiki Garden Beach
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
This week's episode welcomes Floridian David Jordan, a puppet master (not his real title, but we love to use that phrase) who wrangled the puppets on Pee-wee's Playhouse. Hear him talk about his puppetry with efforts to save the whooping crane and the Florida panther, his work with the Henson family, and his Central Florida charity, the Big Potato.
Links We Mentioned
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Pee-wee's Christmas Special
David Jordan
Billy Baloney
Panther and Crane
Heather Henson
Kermit's Swamp Years
Big Potato Foundation
Support the show
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
For the final podcast of October, Rick and Cathy tell ghost stories and a few "wait, was that a ghost?" stories. Join the fun and let yourself get scared (or not so scared!) with the Florida Spectacular podcast this week!
Links We Mentioned
The Blair Witch Project
Robert the Doll
Robert the Doll by David Sloan
Robert the Doll Key West Ghost Tour of Fort Martello
Hernando Historical Museum Ghost Tour
May-Stringer House in Brooksville
Imagination Skyway podcast about Disney's Haunted Mansion
Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp
Rick's Cassadaga blog.
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Forget ghosts and ghouls, this week Rick and Cathy talk about Florida things that should scare you — like baby gators (a protective mom is near), coyotes (hide your cats!), and killer manatee (OK, that one isn't a thing.)
They end on a Florida B-movie note (because happy scary season!) and talk about, of course, snakes (they're more scared of you than, but don't push it!).
Links We Mentioned
Frogs
Slotherhouse
Rick's post on Reptile World in St. Cloud
Yearling special with rattlesnake
And looks like Rick was wrong about the brown recluse spider
National Park Service's social media bear safety post.
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Quick, name a B-movie made in Florida. Did you say Creature from the Black Lagoon? Cathy and Rick talk about the history of one of Florida's most enduring movies and the areas where Universal filmed it, its little-known connection to Citizen Kane, and why The Little Mermaid and Creature from the Black Lagoon tell essentially the same story.
Links We Mentioned
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Shape of Water
Fiji Mermaid
Ningyo
The Legend of Mami Wata
Rick’s blog "Remembering Marineland”
Rick’s blog about Marine Studios
Rick’s blog about underwater starlet Ginger Stanley Hallowell
Newspaper article about Ricou Browning
The Creature Returns to Florida
Check out classic horror films showing on Turner Classic Movies all month.
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
This week Rick and Cathy talk about Florida Man — but not the weird ones; the men who make Florida spectacular. From Abiaka to Lawton Chiles, they celebrate these wonderful men. (And yes, there's at least one in the works about great Florida women, too.)
Links We Mentioned
Governor Bob Graham and his Workdays
Governor Lawton Chiles and Walkin Lawton [VIDEO] — trail named for Chiles
Nat Reed (and his book, Travels on the Green Highway)
Guy Bradley and Officer Down Memorial Page and the Guy Bradley Trail
Abiaka/Sam Jones
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
"The rules are different here." Florida attracts all kinds, but often not the right types of people.
This week Rick and Cathy talk about some notorious Florida men, starting with the earliest exploration narratives to more contemporary gentlemen (and they use that term loosely.)
Links We Mentioned
Governor Claude Kirk
Governor Sidney Catts
The biggest con man in Florida: Gregor MacGregor
Jean Jacques LeMoyne (more plates here)
Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues and Theodor de Bry's Images of Florida Indians
Murph the Surf
“Florida Man,” explained article by Kristen Arnett
Support the Show.
Support the podcast! For $5/month, you get premium Florida Keys history and travel tips with Brad Bertelli and Cathy Salustri.
Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy; Twitter/IG: @CathySalustri
Question or comment? Email: cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Free, weekly episodes of "The Florida Spectacular" are co-hosted by Rick Kilby.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/ and http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/. Connect: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and IG (@ricklebee).
Premium, biweekly episodes of "The Florida Keys" Spectacular are co-hosted by Brad Bertelli. Find Brad's column in The Keys Weekly newspaper, ch...
Bird is the word on today's episode of The Florida Spectacular! Hurricane Idalia brought more than storm surge to Florida — for the first time in a long time, flamingos stroll along our beaches. Although many people (including Cathy!) didn't realize this, flamingos are, indeed, Florida natives — or so says the FWC.
Photo credit Beth Forys, for The Gabber Newspaper.
Places to Bird in Florida
Archbold Biological Station, Ding Darling, Disney Wilderness Preserve, Everglades National Park, Fort De Soto (Pinellas County on Tampa Bay), Lyonia Preserve, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Orlando Wetlands Park in Christmas, Oscar Scherer State Park, Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park, Sweetwater Wetlands Park
Links We Mentioned
Atlas Obscura: "The Centuries-Old Mystery of How Florida Got Its Flamingos"
Birdwatcher, or you want to be? Check out the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Learning the Birds by Susan Fox Rogers
Vultures strip mining cars in Everglades National Park
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
With Jimmy Buffett's death still sending waves of sadness through his immense fan community, Rick and Cathy turn to talk of Florida's music scene. Although Buffett wasn't a native Floridian, he spent his fair share of time in the Sunshine State — but he's far from the only great musician to make beautiful music in Florida. Join the as they talk about Tom Petty, Gamble Rogers, and other storied Florida musicians.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Folk Festival
Southern Accents by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from the Runnin' Down A Dream documentary.
Gamble Rogers: The Black Label Blues
Tom Petty: Among The Wildflowers exhibit at the Cade Museum in Gainesville
Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free: the Making of Wildflowers documentary, 2021
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream documentary
Return to Forever: Gainesville’s Great Southern Music Hall exhibit at the Matheson History Museum in Gainesville
Figurehead: Music & Mayhem In Orlando’s Underground exhibition at the Orange County Regional History Center
Gamble Rogers: A Troubadour's Life, by Bruce Horovitz
Music Everywhere: The Rock and Roll Roots of a Southern Town, by Marty Jourard
Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey To Fillmore East, by Bob Beatty
Good Day Sunshine State: How the Beatles Rocked Florida By Bob Kealing
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
This week, Rick and Cathy welcome Joy Wallace Dickinson to talk about Florida's film history. From the silent film era, to the definitive film on aging gracefully (Cocoon), to more modern films, this episode's a walk down Florida's celluloid history. Find Joy’s old Florida mystery, Secrets of the Flamingo Cafe, on Amazon.
Links We Mentioned
Dave Barry'sBig Trouble
Why you can't watch Cocoon anywhere.
Jacksonville’s Norman Studios
Bouncing Baby, a 1916 silent comedy, that was filmed in Jacksonville and stars a young Oliver Hardy.
A Florida Enchantment, 1914 silent comedy filmed partly in St. Augustine.
Florida filmmaker Victor Munez
Gal Young Unon Prime
Elvis Presley’sFollow That Dream
Ruby in Paradiseon Prime starring Ashley Judd
Trailer for Ulee’s Gold
Theatrical trailer ofSunshine State by John Sayles1981 trailer for Body Heat with Kathleen Turner and William Hurt
1948’s Key Largo (mostly not filmed in Florida)
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
There's no denying Florida's dealing with its hottest summer in... well, as long as we've measured such things. It's tempting to feel like individuals cannot make a difference, but that's not the case. This week's episode goes over simple things everyone can do to help cool Florida — and the planet.
Links we mentioned
The Plastic Project
FDEP's letter to the EPA
Diane Roberts' brilliant opinion piece from the Florida Phoenix
Map of Wakulla cave system (largest on the planet)
Proposed 16-pump gas station above aforementioned cave system fails
Florida Springs Council
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
Florida education's making national news. This week, Cathy and Rick take a walk down memory lane to their own first days of school. They also talk about Florida school integration — which happened not that long ago — and how that created a ripple effect that still impacts where elementary school students attend school.
Finally, they debate the merits of sending a child to a public Florida school knowing the state has revisionist history curriculum mandates.
Links we mentioned
School integration in Florida
Florida school choice
A fantastic history teacher from a Florida public school (read the comments under his obituary)
Why Governor Ron DeSantis is a modern-day Claude Kirk (no, seriously)
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
Ever heard the phrase, "you have to go north to get South"? That's not untrue. People often ask whether Florida is part of the South. The short answer: It's complicated. Yes... and no.
Rick and Cathy talk about why that is, what they love about the South, and why it's such a complicated answer.
Links We MentionedGarden & GunMagazine
Burden of Southern Historyby C. Vann Woodward
"Is Florida Part of the South?"
Southern Storytellers on PBS
The Liberal Rednecks and the Liberal Redneck Manifesto
Our Favorite Southern Towns in FloridaWelaka(To see: Welaka Fish Hatchery and Aquarium)
Two-EggHistory of the name
Two-Egg Stump Jumper
Cross CreekThe Yearling Restaurant
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Wood and Swink General Store
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
With unprecedented temps scorching the country, Florida may not seem like the place where you can stay cool in the summertime, but Cathy and Rick share how they stay cool, where they go, and what they do that make summertime in Florida delightful.
Links We Mentioned
North Florida
Dry Air Caves at Florida Caverns State Park
Apalachicola Chocolate & Coffee Company
Up the Creek Raw Bar
Boss Oyster — closed
Kelly Park at Rock Springs
John Gorrie Museum (He invented air conditioning!)
Northeast Florida
Flagler College Tour (formerly Ponce de Leon Hotel, built and owned by Henry Flagler)
Lightner Museum
Government House Museum
Springs Park (Green Cove Springs)
Lincolnville Museum
Meehan Irish Pub
Central Florida
Orange County Regional History Center
Orlando Science Center
Blue Bamboo Arts
Timucua Arts Foundation
Disney Springs
Boathouse (eat!)
Drawn to Life (watch!)
House of Blues (art! blues! food!)
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar (Indiana Jones, tacos, and the Fountain of Youth!)
Rick's piece about Disney Springs
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
This week, fellow Florida-phile Craig Pittman joins Rick and Cathy to talk about Florida's most current "it" exotic invasive: the Burmese python. As usual, the podcast slithers all over the place, so expect some talk about frogs and iguanas, too.
More about Craig
Craig Pittman is a native Floridian, an author, podcaster and an award-winning reporter. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where his muckraking work for the student paper prompted an agitated dean to label him "the most destructive force on campus."
After 31 years at the Tampa Bay Times, he now writes a weekly column on environmental issues for the Florida Phoenix and is co-host of the popular podcast "Welcome to Florida."
He's the author of six non-fiction books about Florida, including the New York Times bestseller Oh, Florida: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country. His most recent one, published in 2021, is The State You're In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife.
Check out Craig's podcast (after you listen to ours, of course!) — especially his podcast about pythons and python hunting!
Links we mentioned
Some writing on the "Ladies of the 'Glades"
More about whether the python hunt works
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
Whether you want to know about Florida travel, history, gardening, or food, Rick and Cathy have a short list of websites you should bookmark and use to make life in Florida even better.
Links We Mentioned
Authentic Florida
Visit Florida
Florida Memory
Pinellas Memory
Water Atlas
Palmm collections
IFAS/ Extension
Fresh From Florida
Florida: A History in Pictures
Just for fun, or if you're in the Santa Fe area
Rum138
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
Cathy and Rick discuss their beloved Florida books — along with some they can do without. No matter what you love to read, there's something on this list for every Florida-phile.
Books We Suggest
Fireworks Every Night by Beth Raymer
The Mango Opera by Tom Corcoran
The Travis McGee Series by John D. MacDonald
Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen
Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen
Mostly Dead Things and With Teeth by Kristen Arnett
Sinkhole, by Davida Breier
Florida by Lauren Groff (check out this podcast with her as a guest)
The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files by Brad Bertelli
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Sunshine State by Sarah Gerard
Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands Susan Carol McCarthy
Islands of Cedars by Shana Smith
Lost in the Everglades by Lucy Salamanca (Also: Lost in the Everglades by Carolyn Keene)
Key West Food Critic Lucy Burdette
Secrets in the Shadows and
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
After more than 100 episodes, Rick and Cathy talk about what the podcast is — and what it isn't.
Links We Think You'll Like
Facebook page for Rick’s books
Florida nostalgia Facebook page
More Florida nostalgia
Rick’s blog
The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise, by Michael Grunwald
Image credit: Rick Kilby
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Get Rick's books at rickkilby.com/, and make sure to bookmark Old Florida with Rick Kilby (http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/) and read through the
archives.
Connect with Rick on social media: Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Twitter (@oldfla), and Instagram (@ricklebee).
Florida's home to some truly horrible B movies. B movies so bad, they're amazing. Rick and Cathy take a road trip around the state, using some of the best of the worst films made in Florida as a guide.
St. Cloud: 2,000 Maniacs
Right next door to tourist-swollen Kissimmee, you'll find St. Cloud, where this delightfully bad film was made in 15 days. Stop by St. Cloud, an area with some fascinating history, and don't forget to eat at The Catfish Place.
Watch the trailer.
Green Cove Springs: ZAAT
Take one mad scientist, a catfish, and a human, and what do you get? ZAAT. Filmed in Green Cove Springs, a small town on the St. Johns River.
Watch the trailer.
Marianna Florida:Sharkansas Women's Prison's Massacre
Don't be fooled by the name — This film is all Florida. Check out the scenes filmed at the caves at Florida Caverns State Park. A Jim Wynorski classic.
Watch the trailer.
Everglades City: Devil Fish (Monster Shark)
A visit to Everglades City isn't complete without an airboat ride and a look inside the lobby at the Everglades Rod & Gun Club. Check out Joannie's Blue Crab down the street.
Watch the trailer.
Orlando: Miami Connection
Watch the trailer
Santa Rosa Beach & DeFuniak Springs: Frogs
Watch the trailer.
How to Stream Frogs
You need this Frogs t-shirt, you really, really do.
(Photo credit for newspaper ad for Frogs: American International Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Pythons. Iguanas. Brazilian peppers. Florida's overflowing with tales of exotic invasives threatening paradise. But... not all exotic invasives are created equal.
Join Rick and Cathy for a short foray into some of their favorite exotic invasives, which ones they wish would leave the state forever, and which ones are — believe it or not — the tastiest.
Meet the python hunters of the 'Glades
Watch Guardians of the Glades
Curious how python hunting works? The last half of this video has a simulated capture that almost went sideways.
Ethics and Maximum Good
Water Hyacinth
Combating Invasive Species in Florida
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week, Rick and Cathy welcome Elizabeth Herryman Lasley, host of Keys Traveler podcast, as they talk about the things that make the Florida Keys special.
They start the podcast with a pair of key deer wandering past Cathy, and from there they talk about the Turtle Hospital, Hemingway cats, and the best way to get to the Florida Keys.
Links We Mentioned
Florida Keys Wild Bird Center
Where to Eat Lionfish
San Carlos Institute
Indian Key State Park
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Looking for a great weekend getaway, or something new to do in Central Florida? Rick and Cathy have some great places to see, things to do, and restaurants to try in Mount Dora. The small city's famous not only for its antiques; the downtown painted itself pink for a movie (which starred a waterskiing elephant and some fantastic Hollywood talent).
Also, Pat Frank set his apocalyptic novel, Alas Babylon, in Mount Dora. Here's where to go to see Mount Dora like an insider.
Links We Mentioned
Honky Tonk Freeway
Alas, Babylon
Things to Do
Mount Dora Sailing Regatta
Mount Dora special events calendar
Mount Dora Bicycle Festival
Antiques
Rennigers
Places to Eat
1921
Pisces Rising
Goblin Market
Hotel
Lakeside Inn
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week, inspired by Cathy's recent travels to central Florida, Rick and Cathy talk about places they love in Lake County, some of the more surprising aspects of Lake County history, and why, even in the middle of The Villages, you can find hidden scraps of natural Florida.
Helpful Links and Links We Mentioned
Visit Lake County travel website
Authentic Florida's Things to Do in Clermont
Citrus Tower (also has a Facebook page)
Lake Louisa State Park
Ferndale
Howey Mansion Official and RIck's blog about it
Fenney Springs at The Villages
Alexander Springs
Harris Chain of Lakes
History of Lake Apopka
Lake Griffin State Park
Green Isle Gardens
Annie Oakley in Lake County
Devil in the Grove
Redwing Restaurant
Things to Do in Astor
Drifter's Riverfront Restaurant
Paisley
Disney's parents first couple wed in Lake County
Yalaha Bakery
Seaplane Rides
Leesburg history
Green Mountain Scenic Overlook
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Join Cathy and Rick as they venture through Ocala, making virtual stops at their favorite restaurants, natural areas, and roadside attractions.
Along the way, discover (or re-discover) a central Florida Elvis movie, learn about the "wild west" in Florida, and find out which one of the podcast hosts is kin to Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Links We Mentioned
Appleton Museum
Barberville Produce
Carney Island Recreation Area
Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott's "Welcome to Florida" podcast
Florida Trust for Historic Preservation/ Preservation on Main Street
Follow That Dream
Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Palmetto Leaves
La Cuisine French Restaurant
Lorito's Italian Kitchen
The Ma Barker House (Florida's first dumb criminals—who, of course, were not from Florida)
Marion Theater
Old Crow BBQ
Ray’s Wayside Park
Silver River Museum
Silver Springs
Silver Spring Camping
Six-Gun Territory weekend
Sonny's BBQ started in Gainesville
Sun Plaza Motel
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Rick and Cathy welcome Melanie Lentz-Janney, of Authentic Florida fame, to the podcast. They spend the episode talking about some of their favorite Florida kitsch, the difference between Florida collectibles and Disneyana, and their favorite Florida roadside attractions.
Links we mentioned
Authentic Florida
Presidents Hall of Fame (Clermont)
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Boyett's Citrus Attraction (and Authentic Florida's day trip there)
Signup link for Authentic Florida newsletter or follow Authentic Florida on Facebook
Tupperware Museum
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes back Keys historian Brad Bertelli. Brad talks about some little-known Keys history (including a deserted island), but then he talks about where the locals eat in the Florida Keys. To wrap it all up, he talks about some of what he thinks are the most special places in the Keys (hint: get in or on the water!)
Headed to the Keys soon? Stop by Robbie's Marina and have Brad mix up a rumrunner for you!
Links We Mentioned
Visit Indian Key (rent a kayak at Robbies if you don't have one of your own)
Brad's Facebook group k
Square Grouper (Brad says try the peanut butter dessert
Try the conch salad at Geiger Key Marina
Keys Fisheries in Key Largo MM100
El Siboney on Stock Island
All Florida state parks here are amazing, but Brad suggests Dagny Johnson, and Windley Key; Cathy loves Bahia Honda and Long Key.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week, Cathy and Rick have Florida architecture on their mind. Specifically, different historic homes. From the simple cracker cottages of Florida's first EuroAmericans to the grandeur of Ca'dZan, spend some time taking a virtual road trip across Florida, to the state's most iconic homes.
Links we mentioned
Ybor City Casitas
Heritage Village
Pioneer Villages
Classic Cracker: Florida's Wood-Frame Vernacular Architecture, by Ronald Haase
Ca’ d’Zan
Vizcaya
Trapper Nelson
Flagler Museum/ Whitehall
Mar-a-Lago Kellogg Mansion
This Flickr album has some fantastic shots of abandoned Florida places
Fort Christmas Historical Park
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Miami Beach Art Deco Tours
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
In anticipation of the Floridiana Festival on Gulfport, Rick and Cathy talk about Gulfport: What to do, where to eat, and how to enjoy the small city by the sea.
Links we mentioned
Outside
Kayak Clam Bayou
Hike Clam Bayou
Culture & Live Music
Gulfport History Museum
Gulfport Arts Center
Art in the Yard
ArtJones
Walking Tour
Blueberry Patch
North End Taphouse
The Tiki on Shore & 56th
The Gabber Newspaper
Shop & Eat
Gulfport Beach Bazaar
Brenda McMahon Gallery
Stella's Sundries
Pia's
Let It Be Ice Cream
Gulfport Brewery (try Disston Lager!)
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week, The Florida Spectacular welcomes CJ Oliverio, who talks about Florida springs, how to enjoy them, and which ones are his favorites. Cathy and Rick also celebrate the 101st episode and talk about why it's ill-advised to scuba dive with gators.
CJ Oliverio is the CEO and founder of Play Hard Florida Adventures, a team of tour guides who offer adventures across the state. His business has a mission to support Florida environmental nonprofits.
Links we mentioned
Play Hard Florida
Water State Festival
The State of Water art exhibit
Florida Springs Institute
Florida Springs Council
King's Bay
Itchetucknee River
Florida's Most Wasteful Crop
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week Rick and Cathy explore a few "truths" about Florida, from the Seminole Tribe's origins to the real story about Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth.
Things we mentioned
Seminole Tribe of Florida
Fountain of Youth
Florida: The forgotten colonies during the American Revolution
What does it mean to be a cracker?
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week, Rick and Cathy take a trip to Winter Park, talking about their favorite places, things you should do (and eat!) while you're there, and why, despite all the changes, Winter Park's still a special Florida place.
Links we mentioned
Eat
Bosphorous Turkish Food
Austin's Coffee
Stay
Alfond Inn Experience
Casa Feliz History
The Langford Hotel
El Cortez Apartments
Read what Cathy and Rick have written about Winter Park.
Art at the Alfond
Barnie's (and the historic courtyard)
Dinky Dock Park
Mr. Rogers at Rollins College
Morse Museum
Polasek Museum
Rollins College
Scenic Boat Tour
Sunrail commuter train
Winter Park Farmers Market
Winter Park History Museum
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week, Florida adventurer, springs advocate, and all-around good guy Ryan Worthington joins Rick and Cathy once again to talk about Florida's springs. The trio talks about challenges facing Florida Springs, how to enjoy the springs without doing any harm, and, of course, a few of their favorite springs.
Find Ryan on Instagram, and check out his podcast, The Florida Madcaps.
Links We Mentioned
The Florida Springs Council
Has Our Love of Springs Become a Fatal Attraction?
HB 359
Bill Belleville
Springs We Mentioned
Blue Hole
Clifton Springs
Gilchrist Blue Springs
Seminole State Forest Springs (state site to get the code to gain access and a post from Rick about these springs)
Another column from Rick about Florida springs.
Shark's Tooth Spring
Three Sisters
White Sulphur Springs
Wall Springs
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
The Angola settlement along the Manatee River lasted for roughly 50 years. Uzi Baram, a professor at New College of Florida, speaks about the enslaved people who escaped to Spanish Florida in search of freedom. They settled near the Manatee River. Here's some of what we know of their stories.
Want to know more?
Visit Reflections of Manatee, Bishop Museum, and watch this video with Uzi.
Rick's post, Celebrating Sacred Ground
Links We Mentioned
Looking for Angola
Back to Angola Festival
Fort Mose
Prospect Bluff
De Soto National Memorial
Rick Kilby's blog post on Angola.
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Meet Bernadette Reeves, who, as a teenager in Lincolnville, marched for civil rights. Today, she gives tours and talks about the civil rights movement – and how what happened in St. Augustine led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
Links & Places we mentioned
The Corner Market
More about taking a civil rights tour with Ms. B.
Lincolnville Museum
Google map of Lincolnville
Rick's post about the Civil Rights movement in Florida and the Quadracentennial
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Rick and Cathy talk about some off-the-beaten-path places in Florida that have not-often-discussed historical significance. Here's their Top 5 places to visit where you can soak in some unusual Florida history.
- Ma Barker House
- New Smyrna Beach & The Turnbull Colony
- Rosewood
- Micanopy
- A Concentration Camp at Egmont Key
Links we mentioned
New Smyrna Museum of History
Sugar Mill Ruins
The Turnbull Colony
Cedar Key Museum State Park
Cedar Key Historical Society Museum
Rosewood marker
Ocoee Massacre exhibit
Micanopy Historical Society Museum
Herlong Mansion B&B
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park
Wood & Swink General Store and Post Office
Egmont Key State Park
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Cathy and Rick take a road trip to Winter Garden, which has a definite back-to-nature-meets-bougie vibe that only a Florida city can have (and we mean bougie in the best possible way!) Take a listen, then grab your keys and go explore Winter Garden on your own!
Eat
Plant Street Market Food Hall (including Crooked Can Brewery!)
Thai Blossom
Yellow Dog Eats
See
Winter Garden "Marina"
Trailer City (next to the "marina")
Do
Central Florida Railroad Museum
Lake Apopka North Shore Wildlife Trail
Oakland Nature Preserve
Ocoee Parking Lot Bluegrass Jam
West Orange Trail (Read Rick's article)
Nehrling Gardens
Winter Garden Heritage Museum
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week Cathy and Rick take a virtual road trip to Gainesville, talking about their favorite things to do, eat, and see when they're in town. They also delve into the history of Waldo/Archer Road (SR 24) that runs from Yulee to Cedar Key, how to stay in an on-campus hotel at UF, and where you can find an elevator with an honest-to-god elevator operator.
Links we mentioned
See & Do: History & Nature
Haile Homestead Homes (and its talking walls)
Florida Museum and the Butterfly Rainforest
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
Matheson Museum
Bat Houses
Rum 138 Kayaking
Gargoyles on UF Campus See & Do: Music & Culture
The Hippodrome Theater
Lightning Salvage
Harn Museum of Art (check out the Vickers Collection)
4th Avenue Food Park (check for live music schedules)
See & Do: Fests
The Fest
The Bash
Eat & Drink
Leonardo's Pizza
Satchel's Pizza and Satch Squared
Dragonfly (Sushi/Asian)
Lillian's Music Store
4th Avenue Food Park
Sleep
Reitz-Union hotel on campus at UF
Sweetwater Inn
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
A special guest this week as Stacey Matrazzo, Executive Director for the Florida Wildflower Foundation joined the show. She is the co-author of Native Plants for Florida Gardens, which she wrote with botanist/restoration ecologist Nancy Bissett.
Stacey has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Rollins College, where she is also an adjunct professor. A native Floridian and certified Florida Master Naturalist, she spends much of her free time kayaking, hiking, birding and photographing Florida’s amazing natural environments.
Find resources on how to select, grow and maintain native plants at FlaWildflowers.org.
Links we mentioned:
noblenativegardens on Instagram
Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative (order Florida wildflower seeds!)
Green Isle Gardens in Groveland
Find great colorful native plants (like tropical sage) at a Florida Association of Native Nurseries retailer (plantrealflorida.org)
Find resources on how to select, grow and maintain native plants at flawildflowers.org
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Downtown St. Pete has exploded with growth, people, and food – but that's not what we're talking about this week. Instead, Rick and Cathy talk about places in St. Pete not in the downtown area that most tourists never see. Take a listen, and get started planning your next road trip to explore Hidden St. Pete!
Things to Do
freeFall Theatre
Sunken Gardens
Parrot shows and Bird Shows around Florida.
Places to Eat
Mullet's Fish Camp
Nueva Cantina
Atwaters
Baker's Hogley Wogley
El Cap
Elsewhere
Gardens of Christ at Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Think Orlando is mostly Disney, I-Drive, and theme parks? Think again! In this episode, Rick and Cathy explore the heart of Orlando. They have must-see museums, walkable cultural areas, and places to eat. Planning a trip to Orlando? Don't miss this episode!
Spend the Day in Orlando
Brunch
Tamales in the Hourglass Social District or Daybreak Diner or Zaza's Cuban Comfort Food
Museums
Art & History Museums Maitland
Sports
Catch a UCF game or Orlando City SC
Theater: Dr. Phillips Center
Dinner: East End Market (Try Domu)
Sleep at The Wellborn
Lake Eola
Try the shrimp tacos at World of Beer
Thornton Park District (eating and farmer's markets!)
Mills 50 District
Dumpster Art
The Imperial Wine Bar
Menello Museum of American Art
Ivanhoe Village
Orlando Fringe
Orlando Shakes
Orange County Regional History Center's One Orlando Collection
Snap Orlando
Orlando Museum of Art scandal (best of luck, guys!)
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
The Everglades is a series of connected ecosystems that runs from right by Sea World's front door south to the Florida Keys. Today, Cathy and Rick talk about some unique Everglades experiences, lodging, and roads. They end with a top five "must do" when you visit Everglades National Park or the surrounding Everglades.
Places we mentioned:
Rod & Gun Club
Everglades National Park
Camping in Everglades National Park
Camping & Cabins in the Everglades on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation
Nike Missile Site
Authors mentioned:
John D. MacDonald
Randy Wayne White
Carl Hiaasen
Tim Dorsey
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Every year, people make resolutions for the new year. In this episode, Rick and Cathy talk about resolutions for Florida — and how you can help protect the state's natural beauty, waters, and wild places as you travel (and even if you don't!)
Links we mentioned:
Cathy's quest to remove single-use plastics from her home, RV and office
Blue Highways
Alachua Conservation Trust
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville
Lyonia Preserve in Volusia County
Great Florida Birding Trail
Mark Walters' entertaining and well-written Florida Scrub Jay: Field Notes on a Vanishing BirdBlue Highways
The hotel where the Beatles stayed on Miami Beach – and its recent demolition
Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Florida Waterkeepers
St. Johns Waterkeepers
Florida Springs Council
Florida Springs Institute
Surfrider
Oceana
Find Rick on Twitter (@OldFLA) and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Cathy turned 50 this month, and it made her think about all the things she still wants to do in Florida, so this week she and Rick reviewed some (mostly) South Florida bucket list items. Take a listen, and watch for our Florida panhandle bucket list in 2023!
Here's what's on our bucket lists:
Rick: Fort Jefferson & Dry Tortugas
Cathy: Coral Spawning in the Florida Keys
Rick: Airboat ride in the Everglades
Cathy: Milky Way in the Everglades and Big Cypress
Rick: Art Basel
Cathy: Hobe Sound & Blowing Rocks
Rick: Fairchild Botanical Garden
Cathy: Juniper Springs in Ocala National Park
Rick: Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki
Cathy: See the ghost orchid
Already in the bucket
Bioluminescence
Links We Mentioned
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Fern Hammock Springs (or look here)
What's a sand boil, anyway? (you're gonna have to scroll!)
Spring Boils Trail at Silver Glen
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Christmas in Florida hits different, but that doesn't mean you can't find a spectacular winter event. Cathy and Rick talk about some only-in-Florida Christmas and holiday experiences.
Links we mentioned
Snowcat Ridge
Margaret Tolbert
Iche Nippy Day
Nights of Lights
About Christmas, Florida (an Orange County park)
Orlando Wetlands Park
Fred the Tree
Earnest Saves Christmas
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Did you know Florida has dry air caves you can explore, even if you don't have any experience spelunking? This week, Rick and Cathy explore Florida caves – virtually, of course. They also talk about underwater caves, and while they both strongly advise against attempting to explore underwater caves, the show notes contain a link to a great video, Water's Journey.
Florida Caverns State Park
Ocala Caverns
Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre
Water's Journey with Wes Skiles
Devil's Den
Blue Grotto
Florida Museum (with a cave exhibit!)
Bill Belleville blog about Florida water. More from Bill.
Eric Hutchinson cave map drawing
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Rick and Cathy talk about iconic Florida restaurants, past and present, and others that are just plain fun. This episode focuses mostly on Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area, but look for a future episode about the best restaurants in South Florida, the panhandle, the Keys, and other parts of the Sunshine State!
Links we mentioned
Bubble Room
Sci-Fi Dine In Theater Restaurant
Boathouse at Disney Springs
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar at Disney Springs
94th Aero Squadron
Kapok Tree Inn
Tarpon Springs food
Greek salad with potato salad
The Yearling
The Columbia
Ulele
Outz Too
Lee and Rick's Oyster Bar
Bern's
Fun with taxidermy
Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.
Support the showWant more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Find her on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy
Twitter and Instagram: @CathySalustri
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
This week Cathy Salustri and Rick Kilby talk about their favorite beaches (and why they love them) and what makes Florida beaches unique.
Among their favorite beaches mentioned were:
Little Talbot Island State Park
Egmont Key State Park
Fort De Soto Park
St. George Island
Have a favorite Florida beach? Let 'em know!
Also mentioned were:
Old Florida Facebook group
Sandbar on Anna Maria Island
White Gate Court
Long Key State Park
My Octopus Teacher
The Soul of an Octopus
Cathy's favorite waterfront restaurant
Rick's favorite waterfront restaurant
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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We welcome Rick Kilby as The Florida Spectacular's new co-host, and he and Cathy talk about the first two Thanksgivings celebrated in North America, which – spoiler alert – both happened in Florida. Learn the short history of the French Huguenot Floridians who celebrated the first Thanksgiving on North American soil – in 1564. The second Thanksgiving, celebrated by the Spanish in 1565, takes us to St. Augustine, where there's plenty to discover outside the Spanish Quarter.
Links we mentioned:
Lincolnville Museum
Fort Mose
Lightner Museum
Ax Handle Saturday
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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This week Cathy sits down with Davida Breier and talks about her novel, "Sinkhole," growing up as a GenX in Florida, and how she came to write this particular delicious book.
Davida Breier's Fun Stuff
Reader's Guide for Sinkholereaders-guide.pdf
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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Welcome to fall in Florida! Cathy and Jon talk about how real Floridians know fall has arrived, the best reason to travel to the Keys in September, and what the season looks like in different parts of the state.
Links we mentioned
On This Day: 1933 gas prices in Key West
Hidden Gem: King Seafood, Marathon
Holderness Family's Fall Expectations vs. Realty Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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This week, Cathy and Jon debunk famous Florida history myths, stepping on all the cherished legends they learned in grade school.
Some myths we discussed
Fountain of Youth
Gasparilla Myth
First Thanksgiving
History that isn't fake
Discover Florida Tours – (Sacred Lands)
The Seminole Tribe of Florida's origin
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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In January, Cathy decided she'd get rid of single-use plastic in her home, RV, and at the newspaper she and her husband own – all by Dec. 31. Her travels through the best parts of Florida motivated this decision, because everywhere she went, she saw plastic litter.
She and Jon talk about the Florida road trip that cemented that decision, what she's doing to make earth-conscious swaps, and why she doesn't recycle. They also talk about which Florida beach town is fireworks-safe for people with PTSD, dogs, and wildlife, why Jon's seventh-grader has a case of existential angst about the environment, and how trash can reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.
The Plastic Project
Boca Ciega Bay
Zero Waste Cartel
Little Pond Farm
Sans Market
Find your city's water quality report
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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Today Jon and Cathy talk about hurricanes in the panhandle, UFOs in the Florida panhandle, and hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail through Eglin Air Force Base.
Hiking through Eglin
Carnivorous pitcher plants at Apalachicola National Forest
Wewahitchka
Ulee's Gold
DeFuniak Springs
Wewa RV Park
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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This week Cathy and Jon talk about the Clermont area of Florida, including Lake Louisa State Park, Citrus Tower, and a few other places of note in the area, including the Presidents Hall of Fame.
Links we mentioned
Lake Louisa State Park
Citrus Tower
Presidents Hall of Fame at Atlas Obscura or on Facebook, or on Florida Traveler
Clermont Brewing Company
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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In this episode of The Florida Spectacular, Jon and Cathy talk about the best beaches in Florida (well, some of them), beach renourishment, and each of their favorite beaches. They also mention a secret sidewalk in Pass-a-Grille, Mike Huckabee, and the not-so-great history on Egmont Key (that not that many people know.)
Fort De Soto Park
Caladesi Island State Park
The concentration camp on Egmont Key
American Beach
Mike Huckabee and beach renourishment
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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This week, Cathy and Jon talk about a pair of water shoes Cathy's worn for 21 years as she paddled, snorkeled, waded, swam, and hiked through Florida. (Her Teva protons have seen more of Florida than most Floridians.) They also talk about other essential Florida gear, places they use them, and read a letter from a fan.
Links we mention
Gator "harassing" paddler at Silver Springs
Cathy's post about her Teva Protons
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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This week, The Florida Spectacular takes you to Cedar Key, a tiny island along Florida's Nature Coast. Jon and Cathy talk about the island's award-winning clam chowder, the tragic history of nearby Rosewood, and the legendary headless horseman of neighboring Seahorse Key.
Links we mentioned
Cedar Key Events
Cedar Key Seafood Festival
Tony's Clam Chowder (Hey, it beats New England chowder at contests – and he also has a restaurant on Cedar Key)
The only motel on Cedar Key, the Cedar Inn
Remembering Rosewood.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
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This week, Cathy and Jon take a meandering look at what Florida's tourism board call each section of coastline. Some of the names make sense, others are a little weird, but at the end of the podcast, we'd all learned something.
Links we mentioned:
• (Warning: Wikipedia link ahead, but these are largely accurate) List of what people call different parts of the Florida coastline
• The oldest operating hotel in Florida, nestled on the beaches of the no-longer-called-this Surf Coast.
• A road Jon thinks is the prettiest road that was much longer than he thought along the Nature Coast
• A nude beach (sort of; take your chances and keep your coverup close!) on Florida's Space Coast
• Sebastian Inlet State Park and the McLarty Treasure Museum
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Support the show
This week, hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile welcome back celebrated Florida springs expert and author Rick Kilby. Rick, Orlando-based author ad graphic designer, wrote Florida's Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas, which received the silver medal for Florida nonfiction from the Florida Book Awards and the Florida Historical Society’s Stetson Kennedy Award.
Check out his website at rickkilby.com
Alligator attack in springs
"Pipeline" to the Aquifer
"Mirage" by Cynthia Barnett
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Support the show
This week hosts Jon Kile and Cathy Salustri talk about their favorite summer experiences – and how they don't "beat" the Florida heat, but instead embrace it. Love Florida but don't love the heat? This is the podcast for you.
Links we mentioned:
Utilikilt
Reef-safe sunscreen
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Have a Florida question or comment? Love the show? Hate it? Let us know – email us at cathy@floridspectacular.com.
Support the show
Today hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk about the magic of Florida springs, their favorite springs, and why bottled water is, indeed, the Devil. With almost 1000 springs in Florida, they didn't talk about them all, but today's episode is a great start.
Links we mentioned
Nestle protests about pumping water out of the Santa Fe River
Tampa Bay Times editorial on savin Florida springs
Blue Springs State Park
Seven Sisters Springs
Three Sisters
Cave diving warning sign
Florida's first magnitude springs & Florida Forever
Water's Journey: Video of SCUBA divers in the Floridan Aquifer
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
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This week on The Florida Spectacular, hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk about northeast Florida, including St. Augustine's African American Trail, Lincolnville, Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area (and great oceanside campground) in Flagler Beach, Anastasia State Park, Faver-Dykes State Park, Washington Oaks Gardens, and the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
Have a Florida travel question or want to know more about something we mentioned? Drop us a line.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
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This week we welcome Ryan Worthington, a Master Naturalist who celebrates Florida road trips on Instagram (@the_Florida_Excursionist). He gives a wonderful tour at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park.
Jon, Cathy and Ryan talk about the Cross Creek and Gainesville area, and, as per usual, the conversation heads off for parts unknown, much like a decent Florida road trip. Listen in to their conversation about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ struggles and triumphs, how to camp at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park, and where in Florida you can hike to a now-shuttered segregated state park. Ryan has some travel spots for hikers, and of course, there’s plenty of Florida history packed in the episode, too.
Places and links we mentioned:
Hiking in Seminole State Forest, Jennings State Forest – and at Boneyard Beach.
We also talked about camping in and hiking at
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park and nearby (now closed) Magnolia Lake State Park
Hidden in Plain Sight (Ghosts of Segregation)
Have a Florida travel question? Send ‘em to us via email.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
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This week, Jon’s on safari and Cathy interviews Bruce Hunt, author of “Visiting Small Town Florida” (and 10 other Florida travel and dining books.)
Bruce is a rare bird – a native Floridian – who also has some Florida photos you’ll want to see. Here’s how to connect with him:
Bruce's website
Bruce's occasional blog
Bruce on Twitter
Bruce's photography on Flickr
Links we mentioned:
Florida Oysters and why we can’t get them right now
St. George Island State Park
Honky Tonk Freeway
Perfect Cup in Matlacha
Matlacha Cottages
Steamers in Cedar Key
Big Deck in Cedar Key
Island Hotel Cedar Key
Ice Plant St. Augustine
Preserved St. Augustine
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
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Meet Dr. Jaret Daniels, the curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History's McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity and Professor of Entomology at the University of Florida. That’s right, a butterfly expert.
He talks to Cathy and Jon about how why some milkweed makes monarchs want to have sex – and whether or not that’s a bad thing, where to see the best butterflies in the Florida Keys, and whether or not Florida has invasive butterflies.
Find his books on Amazon or at an indie bookseller, and if you have a chance, visit his open lab at UF where he works with conservation and rare species.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes back Jamie Rich, the founder, publisher, and editor of Flamingo Magazine. They talk about the newest issue – on newsstands now! – as well as Jamie's favorite parts of the Jacksonville beaches. Have a Florida question – travel-related or otherwise? Drop us a line.
Links we mentioned:
Flags over Fernandina
Jean Ribault ferry
If you visit the beaches:
The Bookmark
North Beach Fish Camp
Safe Harbor Seafood
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
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This week Cathy and Jon talk about Florida supermarkets, grocery stores, which – shocker – include more than simply Publix. Join them on the podcast that went a little sideways and veered into the history of Winn-Dixie, Hitchcocks, and the Aldi Aisle of Shame.
Links we mentioned:
History of Winn Dixie
History of Hitchcock's (and a link we found after the show)
Dowling Park, Florida
Aldi Quarter Keepers, Aisle of Shame, and Facebook group
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
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This week, Cathy and Jon talk about Florida's "Southern" beach: Amelia Island. They also talk about the history and beauty of Fort Clinch, the War of Jenkins Ear, and why you should stop for boiled peanuts on every road trip.
Amelia Island
Fernandina Beach
More about the War of Jenkins Ear and Cathy's (notably less academic) article about the War of Jenkin's Ear.
Fort Clinch State Park
Amelia Island Museum of History
Fort Clinch history author Frank A. Ofeldt III at Friends of Fort Clinch State Park
Fort Clinch books by Frank A. Ofeldt
Jon's article about his son and boiled peanuts
Cathy's article about a road trip through Fernandina
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week, Cathy and Jon talk about Everglades City, Chokoloskee, and the Tamiami Trail. They also help out a listener looking for travel advice crossing the state from Englewood to the Hard Rock in Hollywood.
Send us your Florida road trip questions.
Links we mentioned:
Forrey Grill
Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail
Camping at Lake Okeechobee (Okeechobee County and Army Corps of Engineers)
Everglades City
Rod & Gun Club
Lucky Cole photography and Lucky Cole's on Loop Road.
Joannie's Blue Crab
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week, Cathy and Jon talk to Ben Montgomery about Axios Local, journalism, and why the City of Tampa should set aside one day a year where it's legal to camp in any of its parks. It's kind of a wild podcast, so buckle up and tune in.
Ben Montgomery is a journalist and author of four nonfiction books, and he writes a local newsletter for Axios. Twitter: @gangrey.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week, your hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk to John Athanason, who spent almost two decades doing marketing for the world's most famous mermaids – the Weeki Wachee mermaids! Last year, he started working with Florida's Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau, and he joins the podcast ready to talk about the best places along Florida's Adventure Coast (think Brooksville and Weeki Wachee) – including some you've probably never hear of, much less visited.
Links we mentioned:
Tourism website
Chinsegut
Downtown Brooksville
Withlacoochee State Forest
Richloam General Store
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Follow Jon's road trip adventures at Don't Make Me Turn This Van Around.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week, "The Florida Spectacular" hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk about Disney, Reedy Creek, and Ron DeSantis – as well as the PeopleMover, Disney prices, and why there are no mosquitoes at Walt Disney World.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week :The Florida Spectacular" welcomes a new co-host, Jon Kile. Jon's a Florida-based writer who loves Worldle but hates Wordle, loves to camp with his family in and out of the state, and posts tales of his adventures at dontmakemeturnthisvanaround.com.
Cathy and Jon talk with Maureen McDole about the upcoming SunLit literary festival (produced by Keep St. Pete Lit) the antiquarian book fair, and the St. Petersburg area's cultural and fishing mashup.
Links we mentioned:
SunLit Festival (April 1-3, 2022)
SunLit on Facebook
Florida Antiquarian Book (April 1-3, 2022)
Keep St. Pete Lit on Facebook and Instagram
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Florida Keys historian Brad Bertelli. Brad's penned several books about Florida and the Florida Keys, most recently the (mostly) fictionalized "The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files." Cathy and Brad talk about Brad's new (and wildly popular) Facebook group, Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli, keys people have never heard of, and how Dildo Key got its name.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes David Powell, author of "Ninety Miles and a Lifetime Away: Memories of Early Cuban Exiles."
David worked as a reporter for 10 years in New York, Miami, and Tallahassee, and then practiced law for 30 years. He and Cathy talk about the first two waves of Cuban immigrants, how they impacted Florida, and the stories of Cuban who came to Florida in the first years after Castro came to power in Cuba.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week Cathy Salustri chats with David Shealy, the mastermind behind the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee, and noted Skunk Ape author Brad Bertelli. Follow Brad on Twitter, or join his Florida Keys history Facebook group, and pick up a copy of his book, "The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files". After you're done, you may want to follow the Southernmost Skunk Ape Society on Twitter, too.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Stephanie Shuster, CEO and owner of "WDW Magazine." Stephanie and Cathy talk about a different part of Florida: the Walt Disney World Resort. They chat, of course, about Disney and why they both enjoy it, but also about the landscaping, natural plants, and acres of preserved land on the Walt Disney World Resort property.
More about Stephanie:
As CEO and Owner of WDW Magazine, Stephanie Shuster leads a team that connects thousands of Disney fans to the Most Magical Place on Earth from wherever they are, in a role that combines her expert knowledge of Disney parks, and talent for developing operational strategies, and passion for travel. Find more Disney online with the WDW Magazine Blog and the Dad's Guide to WDW.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week The Florida Spectacular talks to food historian Andy Huse. Cathy and Andy talk about Florida restaurants, Florida cocktails, and Florida desserts.
Huse, who's written three books with the University Press of Florida, lives in Tampa. He's the archivist and special collections librarian at the University of South Florida, but his fascination is Florida: writing, speaking, and cooking Florida. He's written a history of the Columbia Restaurant and a "thirsty" history of Tampa. His latest book (with coauthors Barbara Cruz and Jeff Houck) is called "The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers", due to be published by the University Press of Florida in September 2022.
Links we mentioned:
Casa Santa Stefano
Tampa: Impressions of an Emigrant (by Andy Huse)
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Susan Rogers, author of the forthcoming book "Learning the Birds", available in April from Cornell Press. Susan talks with Cathy about her birding trip to the Everglades, the time she (sort of) found a dead body, and why birding is dangerous. Cathy and Susan also talk about the most dangerous animal in Florida (it's not what you think), why osprey are superior to bald eagle, and whether or not Marjorie Stoneman Douglas is overrated.
If you want to order Susan's book, you can use code 09SAVE at the Cornell Press website (where you can see the awesome cover she mentions in the podcast) and get a hefty discount. Follow Susan on Twitter and Facebook, and check out her website, too.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes back Bill DeYoung, author of many books, most recently "Vintage St. Pete Volume II: Legends, Locations, Lifestyles."
Even people who don't live in St. Pete will appreciate this picturesque history of the area, told through some of the city's more interesting people and places throughout history. In this week's Florida Spectacular, Bill and Cathy talk about the St. Pete beach iconic Beach Theatre, John Candy and Summer Rental, artist George Snow Hill and how his WPA-era painting helped radicalize a young man fighting for equality.
Buy the book online or get it at Tombolo Books or the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
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This week The Florida Spectacular talks with Ben Kirby, who worked alongside St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman as the Communications Director for Kriseman's two-term tenure, which ended earlier this year. Cathy and Ben talk about Kriseman's famous "no Trumps allowed" tweet, the challenges facing a Florida community recovering from a Jim Crow South, and the way Florida government – St. Petersburg in particular – allows people accessibility to their government.
More about Ben: Benjamin J. Kirby is a communications professional with 30 years in politics, federal and local government, the nonprofit sector, and advocacy. From 2014 to 2022, he served as the Communications Director for St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. Born in western North Carolina and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Benjamin lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Kendra, and his children, Emeline, Finnegan, and Elle.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Bill DeYoung, a St. Petersburg native, veteran journalist, and author of "Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay's Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought it Down." Bill and Cathy talk about the Skyway Bridge disaster of 1980, the (untrue and harmful) rumors about Captain Lerro's role in the disaster and, most notably, his play, "Mayday: Captain Lerro and the Skyway Bridge", which opens in St. Petersburg Feb. 10
More about Bill:
In addition to "Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay’s Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought it Down" Bill's also written books about Florida music, including "Phil Gernhard Record Man""I Need to Know: The Lost Music Interviews", "Vintage St. Pete: The Golden Age of Tourism and More" and "Vintage St. Pete Volume II: Legends, Locations, Lifestyles". He is senior writer and editor at the St. Pete Catalyst.
About the play:
"Mayday: Captain Lerro and the Skyway Bridge" is a one-person play centered around John Lerro, the harbor pilot at the helm of the freighter that knocked down the Sunshine Skyway Bridge during a freak storm in 1980. Lerro relates the story of his life, up to and including the "day he checked into hell," and describes – in harrowing detail – the unhappy years that followed. Much of the dialogue was taken from Lerro's own words, in court testimony and media interviews.
Links we mentioned:
"Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay's Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought it Down"
Off Central (For tickets to "Mayday" when available; the show opens Feb. 10)
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Tara Lush, author of the Coffee Lover's Mystery Series, talks about writing cozy mysteries, using Florida as a backdrop, her love of coffee, and other Florida cozy writers.
Connect with her on Twitter (@tamaralush) or Facebook, or come see her at the Gabber Book Club in Gulfport on Jan. 12.
Links we mentioned:
St. Petersburg Coffee Tour
"Arya Winters and the Tiramisu of Death" (Spicy Cozy)
Jenny Crusie
Florida Cozy Mystery Writers
Elaine Viets
Lucy Burdette
Margaret Lashley
Raquel Reyes
Pre-order "Drive", a contemporary romance by Tamara Lush
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week, The Florida Spectacular welcomes John Fleming, author of "The Legend of the Barefoot Mailman." Host Cathy Salustri and John talk about the actual Barefoot Mailman, his book about what may have happened to Ed Hamilton, and why Cathy thinks his next book about the Lewis & Clark expedition should talk about Florida.
John's a creative writing professor at the University of South Florida, the founder of Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Artmagazine, and the author of "Fearsome Creatures of Florida", "Songs for the Deaf", and "The Book I Will Write."
Like what you heard? Check out the Giants, Dragons & Unicorns traveling exhibit at the Orlando History Center, the Cryptomundo cryptid website, and John's website.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week Cathy Salustri welcomes Dr. Saundra TenBroeck, an associate professor and state extension horse specialist for the University of Florida's Extension Service, to The Florida Spectacular. Dr. TenBroeck works with kids and adults... and horses.
They chat about Florida's horse industry, which has an annual $6.8 billion economic impact on Florida. They also talk about Florida research on horse health and performance.
More information about:
UF Equine Program
American Horse Council
The US economic impact study about horses
Florida Horse Industry / Horses/Equine / Agriculture Industry / Home - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (fdacs.gov)
Florida Horseback Trail Riding (floridahorseriding.com)
Where to Go Horseback Riding on the Beach | VISIT FLORIDA
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This week The Florida Spectacular chats with John Pendygraft, a longtime journalist with a forthcoming book, "Lost Storytellers: The Information Apocalypse in the Modern Newsroom." John and Cathy talk about journalism, and its future in Florida.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week, The Florida Spectacular welcomes John Fleming, author of "Fearsome Creatures of Florida." Host Cathy Salustri and John talk about the Skunk Ape, were-panthers and a host of other fearsome creatures of Florida – some real, some maybe not so real.
John's a creative writing professor at the University of South Florida, the founder of Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Artmagazine, and the author of "The Legend of the Barefoot Mailman", "Songs for the Deaf", and "The Book I Will Write."
Like what you heard? Check out the Giants, Dragons & Unicorns traveling exhibit at the Orlando History Center, the Cryptomundo cryptid website, and John's website.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
Today host Cathy Salustri welcomes Colette Bancroft, book editor for the Tampa Bay Times. Listen in as they talk about the Tampa Bay Times annual Festival of Reading (the Festival takes place over seven days this year, via Zoom, Nov. 8-14), why Florida has so many writers, and which book in this year's lineup will make you remove your mindfulness app from your phone.
About Colette: Colette Bancroft grew up in Tampa and has been the book editor of the Tampa Bay Times for 15 years. She edited the anthology Tampa Bay Noir, and the short story she wrote for that book won an award from the Mystery Writers of America.
Follow her on Twitter at @colettemb.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week the Florida Spectacular welcomes Holly Abeels, to talk about Florida fishing and how to find a fishing guide who will help you make your next fishing trip exciting – and sustainable.
Links we mentioned:
• Choosing a Florida-friendly fishing guide
• What is Florida Sea Grant?
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week the Florida Spectacular welcomes back Jamie Rich, founder and publisher of Flamingo Magazine. With the new issue just days away from subscribers' mailboxes, Cathy and Jamie talk about what to expect under the cover, the Fresh Squeezed newsletter, why Carlton Ward's work makes the magazine even more amazing, and the upcoming Florida gift guide.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes back historian Brad Bertelli, who talks about his historical (mostly) fiction book, "The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files: Island Cryptids, Histories & Mysteries" and whether or not he believes in the Skunk Ape. Take a listen to hear his stories and learn about the Southernmost Skunk Ape (that's a bigfoot, for those of you who didn't grow up in Florida.)
Here's some of the links we mentioned:
Brad Bertelli's website (including all the books he's written)
Brad's Southernmost Skunk Ape Society's Twitter
Buy Brad's historical fiction book about the Skunk Ape, "The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files."
Florida Skunk Ape Research Headquarters
Come meet Brad and hear him talk about the Skunk Ape Oct. 24 at the Museum of the Everglades. More info.
Brad's also written two books about snorkeling: one about snorkeling in Florida and one about snorkeling in the Florida Keys.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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Today The Florida Spectacular welcomes Lu Vickers, author of – among others – "Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions." Lu and Florida Spectacular host Cathy Salustri talk about the Weeki Wachee Mermaids
No matter where you are, you can always see Weeki Wachee mermaids on film and in photos at the Florida Memory Project, part of the State Archives of Florida.
Looking for more about Weeki Wachee and its legendary mermaids? Zoom on in to see Lu speak at the Orange County Regional History Center's November 13 event.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Joey Vars, the historian at the Belleview Inn (formerly Henry Plant’s Belleview Biltmore) as well as the Curator of the Gulfport Historical Society. He’s also a masters student in the USFSP Florida Studies Program.
Host Cathy Salustri and Joe talk about the Plant empire, the urban legends about Morton Plant hospital, and whether or not there was an actual moat around the Biltmore.
Connect with Joe: @historiclandmark.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Alex Freeze, who talks about the Florida Wildlife Corridor. As a sixth-generation Floridian, Alex's passion for the Corridor – and all of wild Florida – comes through in this episode, co-hosted by Cathy Salustri and James Chapin.
Connect with Alex – and the Corridor – at the links below.
The Last Green Thread film
Hidden Wild film
The Forgotten Coast trailer
Instagram and Twitter
alexfreeze.com
Florida Wildlife Corridor
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Today the Florida Spectacular welcomes Craig Pittman, Florida environmental reporter, columnist, and author of many books – most recently, The State You're In.
Get Craig's book for a discounted price – $20 – plus free shipping when you order from upress.ufl.edu or call 800-226-3822 and use the code FLMAN. Valid through September 30, 2021.
Stories from Craig mentioned in this episode:
Hunting Pythons with the Ladies of the Glades
A Tale of Two Toms and Three Ks
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Lara Milligan and Shannon Carnevale, and Cathy chats with them about their podcast, Naturally Florida, which delves into natural Florida and the things that live here. They also talk about Cuban tree frogs and other exotic invasives, fireflies (yes, we have them here!) and green anoles (you may call them geckos, but you'd be wrong.
Lara's the Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County; she focuses on wildlife, water, and general environmental education. Shannon leads the Natural Resources and Conservation Extension program in Polk County, addressing issues related to watershed ecology & restoration, invasive plant management, and wildlife ecology. Lara helped author a field guide called "This or That: A Beginner's Field Guide to Commonly Misidentified Animals and Plants in Florida"
Don't miss their YouTube channel, as well as Lara's blog.
Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes John Bisney and J.L. Pickering, the co-authors of Picturing the Space Shuttle: The Early Years. On the podcast they chat about the space shuttle, but not only that – you'll learn about I Dream of Jeannie's connection and the nude beach by Cape Canaveral.
John Bisney, a retired journalist who covered the space program for more than 30 years for CNN, the Discovery Science Channel, and SiriusXM Radio, contributed the text. J. L. Pickering is a spaceflight historian with a robust archive of rare space images stretching back more than 50 years. Together, they've written four other books:
Spaceshots and Snapshots of Projects Mercury and Gemini
Spaceshots and Moonshots of Project Apollo
The Space-Age Presidency of John F Kennedy
Picturing Apollo 11
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Holley Short, an Audubon Florida Shorebird Program Manager in the Tampa Bay Area. Holley works closely with cities, counties, and landowners to project nesting shorebirds and seabirds.
Check out the Florida Audubon Society's website, flbeachbirds.org and follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Also, check out one of Holley's favorite birds, the Snowy Plover.
Find your Audubon chapter at audubon.org. Find bird walks on the "field trip" section of the chapter's website.
Learn about FWC enforcement in your area
Subscribe to other FWC reports
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This week the Florida Spectacular welcomes Ray Bodrey of UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County. Ray's the County Extension Director and Florida Sea Grant Agent. Today we're talking about scallops in Franklin, Gulf, and Bay County. Ray talks about bay scallops and the volunteer scallop sitter program.
Links we mentioned:
Find the Gulf County Extension on Facebook
Register to become a scallop sitter
Learn about the scallop rodeo
More info on Bay Scallops from the FWC
Scalloping tips
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes author Cynthica Barnett to talk about seashells and her new book, The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans. Cynthia and host Cathy Salustri talk about sushi, scallops, and whether or not it's OK to collect seashells (yes, as long as they're not alive and please don't take them all!) Connect with Cynthia on Twitter or her website.
More about Cynthia Barnett: She's an environmental journalist who has reported on water and climate change around the world, and a fifth-generation Floridian raising a sixth generation in Gainesville. The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans, is Cynthia’s fourth book, and she describes it as her completion of the water cycle. She is also the author of Rain: A Natural and Cultural History, which was longlisted for the National Book Award 2015. Her previous books are Blue Revolution: Unmaking America’s Water Crisis, which articulates a water ethic for America, and Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S. which won the gold medal for best nonfiction in the Florida Book Awards and has been listed by The Tampa Bay Times as one of the top 10 books that every Floridian should read.
She has written for National Geographic, the Atlantic, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Tampa Bay Times and many other publications, and she serves as Environmental Journalist in Residence at the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications.
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Today The Florida Spectacular welcomes Tom Wichman, who works with landscapers to teach them how to keep landscapes Florida-friendly. Learn about how to mulch, which tree stands through (most) hurricanes, and how Florida-Friendly landscapers (and landscaping you can do yourself!) can make your Florida yard more spectacular.
Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM in a Minute radio show
Flip My Florida Yard TV show
Florida-Friendly landscape apps
Florida-Friendly webinars for professionals and homeowners
Guidelines for hiring a Florida-friendly landscaper
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Jason Katz, a South Florida writer who also teaches English and publishes the Islandia Journal in and around the Miami Metropolitan Area. Tune in to hear about the Everglades Griffin, why Miami has more on offer than most people realize, and the work that appears in the Journal.
He also writes for himself – check out his local writing at jasonkatz.info. He's working on a novel, called Foreclosure, set during the housing market crash, and a nonfiction book about Florida Futurism.
Slate podcast we mentioned about Anita Bryant, Florida, and the year 1977: One Year.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Tina Marie Osceola, an enrolled member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. We talk about Seminole gaming and what it means to her family, her feelings about the compact before the Department of the Interior, and life as part of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Read more of her work at Life in Naples magazine.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week the Florida Spectacular welcomes writer James Chapin, author of Ride South Until the Sawgrass, a "Florida western."We talk about Florida's forgotten history, why Daytona Beach doesn't suck, and Hillsborough County's Environmental Lands program and why it's amazing. Listen along!
Read James's Washington Post article about Florida's invasive species.
Follow James on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Find James online and subscribe to his email newsletter.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes Paul Strauss, owner of Osprey Nature Photography. Paul's work celebrates his curiosity about and appreciation of rural Florida and its flora and fauna. He's an Advanced Florida Master Naturalist (UF-IFAS), a Certified Interpretative Guide (NAI), a PADI-certified SCUBA diver, and a board member of the Florida -Coastal Conservation Association (Martin County Chapter.) He's also a volunteer with a myriad of Florida-centric organizations: the Florida Park Service, Native Plant Society, Florida Trail Association, and the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission's Ridge Rangers.
Find him on Twitter or Facebook, and make sure to check out and like his business, Osprey Nature Photography, on Facebook. Search for his work on either platform with #FLhike or #ospreynaturephotography
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In this episode "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes David Anderson, who grew up on the Jungle Prada site, a potential landing site for Panfilo de Narvaez. Take a walking tour with David the next time you're in St. Petersburg and learn more about the tours and property here.
fb.com/discoverfloridatours
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Today, Rachel Arndt, communications manager for Tampa Bay Watch, an environmental nonprofit organization.
Links we mentioned:
Tampa Bay Watch
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
Tampa Bay Watch Facebook page
How can I get a vertical oyster garden for my dock?
Sign up for alerts (including red tide alerts) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
In this episode, the Florida Spectacular welcomes Jamie Rich, the founder and editor in chief of Flamingo, Florida’s only statewide lifestyle magazine—For Floridians. By Floridians.
Here's how to connect to Flamingo:
https://www.flamingomag.com
social: @theflamingomag
Women of Waves and equal pay in surfing.
Have you met the lady python hunters of Florida?
Get the Fresh Squeezed newsletter from Flamingo Magazine.
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Rachel Doll, who markets every book printed by the University Press of Florida. Rachel talks about current Florida books that can help you take a deep dive into the Sunshine State. Take a look at how you can read more about what makes Florida spectacular, and below find Rachel's top three books for new Floridians.
Books we mentioned:
- "The Palmetto Book: Histories and Mysteries of the Cabbage Palm"
- "The Wilder Heart of Florida: More Writers Inspired by Florida Nature"
- Norm Van Aken's cookbook, "Norman Van Aken's Florida Kitchen"
- "Seeking the American Tropics: South Florida's Early Naturalists"
- "The Thing About Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State"
- "Roaring Reptiles, Bountiful Citrus, and Neon Pies: An Unofficial Guide to Florida's Official Symbols"
Rachel's Top Three Books for New Floridians
- "The History of Florida," edited by Michael Gannon
A comprehensive guide to Florida history
- "This Day in Florida History," edited by Andrew Frank
A day-by-day guide to what happened, and when, in Florida
- "Field to Feast: Recipes Celebrating Florida Farmers, Chefs, and Artisans," by Pam Brandon, Katie Farmand, and Heather McPherson
A cookbook that tells the story of Florida food
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes Chadd Scott, Conservation Chair of the Florida Native Plant Society Ixia Chapter (northeast Florida) and Andrew Furman, avid southeast Florida gardener and author of Bitten, Goldens Are Here, and Jewfish. They talk about attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife to their three respective landscapes.
If this podcast inspires you to make your own Florida landscape spectacular, start here. To learn more about native Florida plants and flowers, check out the Florida Native Plant Society and look for a nursery that sells Florida plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Mark Walters, journalist, veterinarian, and author of “Florida Scrub-Jay: Field Notes on a Vanishing Bird.”
Why the scrub jay? Tune in to find out.
Want to buy the book? (Spoiler alert: You do!) Get it here.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
In this episode, the Florida Spectacular welcomes Rick Kilby, Florida author.
Orlando-based writer and graphic designer Rick Kilby is the author of Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas, which received the silver medal for Florida nonfiction from the Florida Book Awards and the Florida Historical Society’s Stetson Kennedy Award. His first book, Finding the Fountain of Youth: Ponce de León and Florida's Magical Waters, won a Florida Book Award in the Visual Arts category.
Rick's Old Florida Blog: http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com or oldfa.com
Twitter @OldFLA
Facebook: www.facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth
Instagram: @ricklebee
rickkilby.com
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This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Bruce Horovitz, author of Gamble Rogers, A Troubadour's Life. Listen to the story of this man's incredible life, his impact on Florida and his influence on songwriters and musicians like Jimmy Buffett.
Bruce Horovitz is an award-winning author and an entrepreneur with extensive experience in the non-profit and business communities. His book, Gamble Rogers, A Troubadour's Life, won the Charlton Tebeau Award and the Bronze Medal for Non Fiction from the Florida Book Awards.
Links we mentioned:
Gamble Rogers Memorial Foundation
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
Gamble Rogers Music Festival
Facebook page for Gamble Rogers book
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The Florida Spectacular welcomes Dr. José García, the author of Voices from Mariel. Dr. Garcia also co-produced the award winning documentary by the same name.
Both his book and documentary have been presented nationally and internationally in such places as Europe and Australia.
Dr. Garcia left Cuba as apart of the Mariel boatlift when he was a teenager.
Get the book here.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
Today "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes Jim Ross, Florida author and the managing editor of the Ocala Star Banner. Jim edited and contributed to In Season: Stories of Discovery, Loss, Home, and Places in Between (University Press of Florida, 2018.
Get the book here.
Find Jim on Twitter, Facebook, or at jimross96@gmail.com.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
Meet William McKeen, who shows us the bookish history of Key West in his book, Mile Marker Zero. He's written a bunch of other stuff, too: Everybody Had an Ocean, a nonfiction narrative; Asshole: A Memoir, a blog; Homegrown in Florida, an anthology; Outlaw Journalist, a biography; Highway 61, a memoir; and Rock and Roll is Here to Stay, an anthology. He lives in Boston but we love this book enough that we'll forgive him. He's written nine books, two more than he has children.
williammckeen.com
Twitter & Insta: @wmckeen
Facebook: William McKeen
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When the Florida bug bites you, you'll know. Andrew Furman, this week's guest on The Florida Spectacular, knows. Andrew Furman wrote the novel Jewfish (Little Curlew Press, 2020.) He teaches at Florida Atlantic University's Creative Writing MFA program, and his nonfiction work, Bitten: My Unexpected Love Affair with Florida talks about falling in love with Florida.
Another one of Andrew's books discussed on the podcast was, Goldens Are Here (Green Writers Press, 2018).
Follow Andrew online, on Instagram and on Facebook.
Support the show (https://paypal.me/floridaspectacular?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US)
Tyler Gillespie joins the podcast this week to talk about his new book, The Thing About Florida (UPF, April 2021), growing up in Florida as a gay Christian, and other Florida stories (including how lucky he feels to be Floridian.)
To learn more about Tyler's book and his upcoming speaking events, visit his website.
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Scott Deitche talks about the Tampa mafia and some of the key players. He also talks about what made the mafia in Florida a bit different than in the rest of the country.
Join Scott on the Tampa Mafia Tours at tampamafia.com.
scottdeitche.com
facebook.com/Scott-M-Deitche-Author-211094778568
twitter.com/Scottyyz
instagram.com/scottdeitche/
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Mary Szaroleta, director of OLLI at Eckerd, joins the podcast to talk about the Explore Florida program at Eckerd, which is open to anyone, as well as her favorite Florida places, and what it's like being the daughter of a Weeki Wachee mermaid.
Learn more about OLLI at Eckerd's Explore Florida program and their all-access Zoom pass at eckerd.edu/olli.
If you want to try out an Explore Florida class for free, email olliregistrar@eckerd.edu for more information.
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Today, Amanda Hagood talks about Cli-Fi, which stands for Climate Fiction. She talks about why these books are gaining momentum, and offers some examples you have to add to your nightstand.
Links from the podcast:
Orange World and Other Stories, by Karen Russell
Florida, by Lauren Groff
Mr. Eternity, by Aron Thier
Today, Florida writer Nikesha Williams joins us to talk about how her fiction writing career morphed into a full-time publishing career. Her press focuses on "publishing great writers who weave compelling narratives that intrigue, foster great conversation and debate, and urge people to action" much like Nikesha's first book, Four Women, did.
At the end of the podcast, we talk about American Beach and what it means for the Black community – and Florida's history.
Links we mentioned:
Four Women: newreadspub.com/books/four-women
Nikesha's website: newwrites.com
Nikesha's publishing website: newreadspub.com
The Spirits of American Beach: bittersoutherner.com/2020/the-spirits-of-american-beach-florida
Beans and Rice: bittersoutherner.com/southern-perspective/2020/beans-and-rice-more-than-a-poor-mans-meal
Ax Handle Saturday: bittersoutherner.com/southern-perspective/2020/ax-handle-saturday-60th-anniversary-jacksonville-florida-civil-rights
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Jon Kile talks about RVing through Florida with his kids and wife, and how his travels in a Dodge Ram turned Florida travel into a way of life for his family.
dontmakemeturnthisvanaround.com
The Grandfather Clock by Jon Kile
VEDS
Fort De Soto Campground
Chassahowitzka River Campground
Suwannee River State Park Campground
John Pennekamp State Park
Bahia Honda State Park
Long Key State Park
The Key Marco Cat
Goodland, Florida
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This week we talk to Jono Miller, who has written a delightful book about the cabbage palm. Join us as we talk about mob stories and cabbage palms, conquistadors and cabbage palms, and the war between the states (no, not that one) to get the cabbage palm as the official tree.
You can pre-order Jono's book from the University Press of Florida.
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This week, Early Florida scholar Dr. Thomas Hallock joins the podcast to talk about getting "the story about the story" and how travelers can see Florida like its first Euro-Explorers did.
Read Tom's blog about exploring Florida here, and pre-order his book here.
Dave Scheidecker, the historic archaeologist for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, joins the podcast this week to talk about what his work with the Tribe involves, myths surrounding the Tribe, and how Florida itself helped the Seminoles remain unconquered.
We look forward to having Dave back on the podcast to talk more about Polly Parker, Egmont Key's concentration camp, and other Tribal history.
Links we mentioned:
"We Come For Good" – The Seminole Tribe of Florida's story of archaeology and tribal preservation: upf.com/book.asp?id=9780813062280
Seminole Tribe of Florida newspaper: seminoletribune.org
Seminole Tribe of Florida website: semtribe.com
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum: ahtahthiki.com
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum blog: ahtahthiki.wordpress.com
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Today we welcome Brad Bertelli, curator of the Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada, Florida. This Keys historian talks about piracy in the Florida Keys – or lack thereof, we touch on the only ghost island in the Keys, and tell you about a forthcoming book about the Skunk Ape (#Believe.)
Links from the podcast:
fb.com/FloridaKeysHistoryAndDiscoveryFoundation
Twitter: @keyshistory
Instagram @flkeyshistorydiscovery
Skunk Ape Twitter: @skunkapesociety
bradbertelli.com
The Florida Keys: Skunk Ape Files: bradbertelli.com/southernmost-skunk-ape-society/
Find Brad's books about snorkeling the Florida Keys at upf.com, books about Keys history at arcadiapublishing.com, and books about Bloodline and the Skunk Ape at phantompress.com.
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Florida author Craig Pittman joins Cathy to talk about his unique view on what makes Florida special. Find out what Hog and Hominy Road, a phoenix, and Cobragator have to do with making Florida spectacular.
Links we mentioned:
Craig's newsletter.
"Welcome to Florida" podcast.
The Florida Phoenix
Craig's books:
Cat Tale
Oh, Florida!
The Scent of Scandal
Paving Paradise
Manatee Insanity
Read about Cathy's first book, Backroads of Paradise, in the New York Times and get a copy here.
Subscribe to the Florida Spectacular Newsletter here.
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Florida author Cathy Salustri introduces you to the "Florida Spectacular" podcast.
Find Cathy on line at: http://greatfloridaroadtrip.com/.
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