Florida’s Fourth Estate: Recent Episodes
WKMG and Graham Media Group
Florida’s Fourth Estate looks at everything from swampy politics to a fragile environment and even the crazy headlines that make Florida the craziest state in the Union.
Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin use decades of experience as journalists to dissect the headlines that impact Florida. Each week they have a guest host who helps give an irreverent look at the issues impacting the Sunshine State. Big influencers like Attorney John Morgan, renowned Florida journalists and the scientists protecting Florida’s ecosystem can often be found as guests.
Look for new episodes every week, and visit ClickOrlando.com for the latest WKMG News 6 coverage of Orlando and beyond.
Alex Pring was born with one arm. His other extends to his forearm and stops. As he started growing up and going to school, he had some questions about his limb difference. “I kinda asked the question, ‘Why can’t I have an arm? Everyone else has an arm, why don’t I,’” Pring said. He said his mom loves solving problems, so she reached out to the University of Central Florida and a student helped to create his very first arm. Then, that student, Albert Manero, went on to launch Limbitless Solutions, a company that makes prosthetics for children. Manero then upgraded Pring’s arm, giving it an “Iron Man” design, and invited Robert Downey Jr. to present it to him in 2015. The moment went viral. Pring said the experience, “was probably the biggest time for any 7-year-old possible.” The first version of the arm helped him to hold a pencil, and the “Iron Man” arm helped him to build confidence, but because he is growing so fast, he said he needs to be resized regularly and sometimes he goes without his prosthetic. That includes when he is doing football conditioning. Pring said he power cleans 135 pounds with one arm. He said his teammates at South Lake High School are often surprised at what he can pull off. And, his opponents often underestimate him. “In one of our games, the seniors told me all the players were trash-talking me saying, ‘There is no way this one-armed kid can do it.’ Next play, I destroyed the running back,” Pring said. It’s not always easy, but he said he gets his confidence from his parents. “They have taught me every single day of my life, work hard and you will be rewarded at the end of the day,” he said. Pring said he would love to eventually play football professionally and that he looks up to Shaquem Griffin, the former University of Central Florida, football player who also has a limb difference and went on to play for the NFL. But, if football doesn’t pan out, Pring said he would like to go UCF to pursue aerospace engineering, the same degree Manero pursued. To learn more about Pring and how he is making an impact on and off the field check out Florida’s Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Even though theme park attendance is down this year, the companies are investing more than ever. According to the International Association of Amusement Park and Attractions, which is the global association for the theme park industry, American theme parks are expected to invest $1.5 billion in attractions this year alone. IAAPA’s CEO Jakob Wahl spoke with Florida’s Fourth Estate about some fascinating trends taking place across the industry. He said parks are creating rides less focused on being the biggest and fastest. Instead, companies like Disney, Universal and SeaWorld are honing in on new technologies and intellectual property. “Delivering the same services to the same people is stagnation. The theme park industry is huge about innovation,” Wahl said. Last Year at IAAPA’s big convention in Orlando, SeaWorld announced a new idea for a ride. The rollercoaster called Pipeline would allow riders to feel like they’re surfing a wave. The ride keeps guests in the standing position instead of the standard strapped-in coaster. The roller coaster is now open at Sea World. Disney used IP and technology fused together to create the new Tron ride, which uses a new seating position and some serious technology to give a new experience. Universal used a motorcycle and sidecar in Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure to make muggles feel like they’re experiencing Harry Potter’s magical land in a whole new way. But, with all the new technology, questions have arisen about safety. In 2022, 14-year-old Tyre Sampson tragically fell from a ride at Orlando’s Icon Park putting ride safety at the forefront of the national conversation. “I can guarantee you safety is the number one priority for our industry,” Wahl said. Wahl claims engineers make safety decisions early in the process of creating a ride, but, questions about how theme parks police themselves when it comes to ride safety have crept in. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has questioned whether Disney should be put under the microscope of state inspectors. Wahl didn’t want to speak on the political battle. “I prefer not to comment on that individual case between Disney and DeSantis, but I can tell you Disney has an excellent safety record. Disney has always been on the forefront of safety globally. I think the industry today is a better place in terms of safety thanks to the efforts of Disney and many others. I’m not sure how that would help the already excellent safety records of Disney,” he said. Either way, with tourism cutting back in Florida it will be interesting to see if theme parks continue making these huge investments in the coming years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From book bans to changing classes and educational requirements, what children are learning in the classroom will be different this year. “I think this is going to be a very strange year, simply because people do not know what’s happening,” University of Central Florida history professor and News 6 Political Analyst Jim Clark said. “Teachers are unsure. Administrators are unsure. You have one district doing one thing and another district doing another thing and I think there are just so many red flags flying that it’s going to be a strange year.” One point of difference this year focuses on AP Psychology. There was a battle over the coursework and any potential focus on gender identity which encouraged some schools to drop it right before classes began. Matt Austin shared on Florida’s Fourth Estate that his daughter was supposed to be in the class and was stuck in the middle wondering what the school district would decide. “My kid has been like, ‘Oh, I’m in the class, I’m out of the class, I’m in the class, I’m out, what am I gonna do?’ and this is after the schedules have already come out,” Austin said. This isn’t the first class caught in the middle of the political debate over education. “Earlier we had the controversy over the AP History exam, which is still going on, so for students that want to take these, this is a troubled time,” Clark said. In addition to focusing on coursework, lawmakers are also working to rid school libraries of books that “depict or describe sexual conduct.” That means librarians must now inspect over a million books. Ginger Gadsden pointed out it’s not just Florida politicians focused on the classroom. “There are a number of states, led by Iowa, that see Florida as the role model, and the governor there is an admirer of Gov. Desantis and has been copying much of what goes on,” Clark said, To learn more about the political impact on Florida’s schools check out Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can download it from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Instead of vacationing or partying, a group of students from the University of Central Florida set out for the U.S.-Mexico border this summer. They wanted to learn more about the people working to call America home and bring those stories back to students at UCF. Amy Diaz and Ian Rodriguez both said they brought a unique perspective to the trip. “Even though we are in Florida and we are far away from the border we have family that crossed, or we have family that has come here from Central America, or from other countries,” Rodriguez said. They both also speak Spanish, so it made it easier to learn the stories of those working to gain citizenship in the United States. Diaz said some of the conversations he had were “hard to think about.” That includes one he had with two fathers at a shelter in El Paso, Texas. “They told me they started in Venezuela and walked up into Mexico and it’s just with kids, with a family, walking up there. It’s hard to even imagine that happening,” she said. Diaz said experiencing the process from their point of view was gripping. She said when the group of students and professors went into a stock room where clothes, baby shoes and toiletries are kept everyone got quiet. “It just put it into perspective that thousands of kids and parents are going through these, just as a stop in their journey, but this is making such an impact on them,” Diaz said. Rodriguez said he has never experienced anything like standing at the border wall. “You are just separated by this man-made marker, but it’s just like lack of opportunity on the other side, but you know being in university and having the privilege to be able to get a college education that many people literally a stone’s throw away from you don’t have, it’s interesting,” he said. He said being able to “touch the fence” and to learn the stories of the people trying to cross it has made him feel more connected to his father’s journey to America and appreciative of his own American experience. Now, the stories he and Diaz helped gather will be turned into a multi-phase documentary called “A Break for Impact.” “In addition to that it’s going to be used in several classes for Criminal Justice, for Human Trafficking, for Immigration law and for Journalism, and it’s going to be used to teach students in a more immersive way what it’s like out there,” Diaz said. To hear more about their journey to the U.S.-Mexico border, what they learned and how it will be used to teach others check out Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Amy Siewe goes out at night, sometimes alone, to hunt pythons. She said it’s a passion that started when she was a child, but it’s not without risk. The python huntress talked to Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsdenon Florida’s Fourth Estate about her mission to rid Florida’s Everglades of the invasive reptiles. Siewe has bagged several Burmese pythons and knows how to “work the animal.” “They could easily crush us in a second without even thinking about it,” she said. She said she “really had an appreciation for their power” when she caught a 9-foot python and it wrapped its tail around her leg for leverage. She described it as “no big deal” because “that’s what they always do.” But, then things took a turn. “This thing vice grips me, vice grips my calf and it felt like either my calf muscle was going to explode or my bone was going to break. I have never felt anything like it in my life and it was only a nine-foot python,” Siewe said. She added that it usually easy to deal with a python when an encounter goes wrong. “All I have to do is let go and it will take off,” she said. “It will probably bite me a couple times, but it will take off.” Aside from this unexpected encounter things are a bit more quiet when the Python Huntress heads into The Everglades. She even describes the experience as cathartic, but she is always paying attention, ready for the next takedown, even if it’s not her own catch. Recently she was driving down the road when she happened to come upon Jake Waleri wrestling a 19-foot, python. It was the largest documented Burmese python ever captured in Florida. “I saw him go on the ground which was a little risky,” Siewe said. Then she hopped into action. “So I told two of the kids to pull the tail, I got the coil off of his shoulder, I came around and told him to sit all the way on top of her, and so then I wrapped her mouth up,” she said. Waleri also talked to Florida’s Fourth Estate about the experience. “It felt incredible. I thought this was just a big snake at the time. I thought it would maybe be 16 or 17 feet. I never dreamed that it would actually be the record holder,” he said. Waleri donated the snake to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. But he kept the skin for himself. “I’m going to turn it into some leather and make a nice trophy out of it,” he said If you are interested in being part of the solution, you can join the Python Elimination Program or learn the ropes from Siewe, who also teaches people the basics of Burmese python hunting, and make some big money along the way by taking part in the Florida Python Challenge. Learn more on Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can download it from wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It was a typical spring afternoon in southwest Florida’s Myakka River. Jeffrey Heim strapped on his mask, fins and head-mounted GoPro and eased into the murky water to begin his favorite hobby: hunting for massive megalodon shark teeth. The hobby would later become a career for Heim, who now owns a company called SHRKco which collects and sells the ancient shark teeth and donates profits for ocean research organizations. “I did know the dangers but I don’t think I took them seriously enough back then,” Heim told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on the latest episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate. While sifting through sand on the river bottom, Heim says he felt what seemed like a boat strike his head. “It was very powerful. It seemed a lot larger than it actually was,” Heim said. “I saw her. She did bite me twice before I knew what was happening.” The GoPro strapped to his head was recording at the time and the footage shows a large jolt and bubbles in the cloudy water as the camera sunk to the bottom of the river. Heim then realized a large female alligator bit a section of his scalp and his hand — and was coming back for another strike. “You never want to thrash or splash or act like prey, so I stayed calm,” Heim said. After avoiding two more attempted bites, Heim managed to make his way onto the riverbank and call for help. He was rushed to the hospital where nurses put 34 staples into his head and treated severe puncture wounds on his hand where the gator chomped down. Heim believes his injuries could have been much worse if it weren’t for the waterproof camera strapped to his head. “I still don’t think I felt the full force of that bite. And if I did, my head would’ve exploded,” he said. It has been over two years since the attack and Heim’s scars have healed while his passion for megalodon tooth collecting has only grown. “Eventually someday when I’m old I want to have a museum of my best finds... and then pass that story on when I’m no longer here as well,” he said. Heim’s most well-known megalodon tooth find came about two months after the gator attack when Heim uncovered a “miracle” 6 inch megalodon tooth. Watch the full interview on Florida’s Fourth Estate at the top of this story to learn what happened to the 8-foot alligator that bit him and Heim’s advice for finding ancient megalodon teeth in Central Florida. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On July 24, 2015, Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen left on a fishing trip. The two 14-year-olds took off from Jupiter Inlet on a 19-foot fishing boat. When they didn’t return, the Coast Guard started a massive search but never found them. Both of their families were left devastated. Perry Cohen’s Dad, Phil Cohen, recently discussed how he has dealt with the grief of losing his only child in a Ted Talk. Now he is sitting down with Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate to talk about how he is using this devastating experience to help others. “Losing a child has been known by and said by many to be arguably one of the most profound and painful things that a human being can endure,” Phil Cohen said. The father said he didn’t know how to cope. “At one point I actually went online, and I Googled ‘How to grieve,’” he said. He said the results were dominated by The Five Stages of Grief. Then he realized those were actually created for people diagnosed with life-ending cancer, not for those grieving the loss of a loved one. So, he decided to focus his Ted Talk on what he calls The Grief Continuum. He said it suggests navigating grief is different for everyone. “We don’t all start at the same place, graduate through the same stages to eventually arrive at the same destination. Rather that grief would be more accurately represented on a continuum with acceptance in the middle and negative emotions on this side and even positive things that can happen after acceptance,” Phil Cohen said. “I believe grief is something that we move back and forth through forever; from good to bad, to good to bad, this never-ending cycle of back and forth as opposed to going from one step to another to reach this place where you’re like ‘Alright I made it,’” he added. Phil Cohen said he also leans on his faith to deal with losing his son, an experience he calls “indescribably painful.” “God is good. He has brought me through it. Quite honestly, I don’t even know how people make it through something like this without God. It’s ultimately my relationship with Jesus Christ that really helped me break through this,” Phil Cohen said. To hear more from Cohen and how he is helping others to cope with loss listen to Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can download it from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s been a week and a half since Miki Sudo dominated the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest, downing 39.5 franks in 10 minutes. Now she is coaching two fellow Floridians, telling them what it takes to rise to the top of the competitive eating circuit. Sudo talked about her craft with Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden during an episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate. “You want to minimize chewing,” she said. “Chewing is a waste of time and signals to your brain that you are getting full.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Twiggy the waterskiing squirrel got her start in Sanford in 1979. Since then she has appeared in several movies and a music video and performed at the X Games. She retired in 2018, but not she is back. Chuck Best Jr. told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate it all started when someone gave his mom and dad, Chuck and Lou Ann Best a baby squirrel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wolves are beautiful animals, but if you want to have one as a pet, like the popular show “Game of Thrones,” you need to make sure you meet the minimum requirements. Deanna Deppen, executive director of Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Center in Naples, recently talked to Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate about the challenges she faces when people are not able to care for the wolves they adopt. “Florida actually requires licensing, so you should not have a full wolf without having two and a half acres of land, 500 hours working with them, 10-foot fences and an 8-foot perimeter fence,” Deppen said. Wolves need more space than your house can provide. “In the wild, they can travel up to 120 miles per day, up to 40 miles per hour, and they have needs where they need to stay active.” Wolf dogs, or dogs that are bred with wolves, can also pose unforeseen problems when people need to put them up for adoption. “Shelters won’t adopt them out. They’ll put them down. Other rescues won’t take them—they consider them unadoptable, they just have nowhere else to go,” Deppen said. That’s where her sanctuary comes in. She said it has been around for a long time. Now, she is planning and preparing to move to a new 17-acre property. The move will be expensive and the sanctuary is asking people to step in and help sponsor the animals, or even come in and volunteer. To join the wolf pack, click here for more information. You can also learn more on Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can watch the podcast anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alex Schulze has collected plenty of cell phones from the ocean, but only one has turned on. “Most of the time, the [phones] are basically locked up or the salt water has kind of destroyed them,” Schulze said. Schultze is the co-founder and CEO of ocean cleanup company 4ocean and was recently looking for trash in the Boca Raton Inlet in South Florida when he came across an iPhone in a clear waterproof case on the sand. It appeared to be in great shape. I brought it back to our office where I was able to charge it and then looked at the emergency contacts on the lock screen,” Schultze told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden during a conversation on Florida’s Fourth Estate. That’s when Schultze said he called the emergency contact number labeled “Mom”. “The woman answered and said ‘oh my god I can’t believe you found my son’s phone,’” he said. Turns out, her son lost his iPhone a few days prior. Schultze said the woman traveled to the 4ocean office and happily retrieved her son’s iPhone. The discovery and happy ending make for a great story, but sadly the plight of Florida’s polluted water is not over. 4ocean employs captains and crews worldwide who have now removed over 30 million pounds of trash from the ocean. The company transforms the collected plastic into products like bracelets and sells those products to fund more cleanups. Florida’s Fourth Estate learned more about the most common and most shocking items found by the 4ocean team during cleanup dives. “The most common thing we find is single-use plastics,” Schultze said. Those include plastic bottles, chip bags and multi-layer packaging. When it comes to the craziest thing he’s found, Schultze says it’s not pirate treasure or a pallet of smuggled cocaine. “I’d have to say our crews have actually come across a few dead bodies. It’s been pretty heavy,” Schultze said. You can listen to Schultze’s full conversation about his ocean floor discoveries, his path to co-founding 4ocean and how others can make a positive impact in their environment on Florida’s Fourth Estate. Be sure to download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The world cheered when Joseph Dituri beat the world record for living underwater without depressurization. Now that he’s back on dry land he said he lost something when he was down there. “I shrunk about half an inch,” Dituri said. He compared the height he lost to the height astronauts gain when they are in space. “Astronauts are in tension, so they are basically being flung apart and I’m being compressed together,” Dituri said. He told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden during a conversation on Florida’s Fourth Estate that he noticed something was different while he was still inside the Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo. “Here, I am the tall guy right and I’m constantly scrapping my head on the escape hatch on top, and I was like ‘Hey, I’m not hitting the escape hatch anymore’ and I’m like ‘I must have shrunk’ and then of course there’s no good place to measure yourself. When I get to the surface, I am 72 and a little bit inches. I’m like ‘Maaaan, I was 73!’” The question now is: Will he get that height back? “I don’t know. The astronauts do compress back down, so we will see,” he Florida’s Fourth Estate will be in touch and have an update if Dituri does in fact regain that height. You can listen to Dituri’s full conversation about what it was like to live underwater for 100 days, who he really wants to inspire and what he hopes to achieve next on Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Axiom-2 pilot John Shoffner recently returned to Earth after spending 10 days in orbit on the International Space Station. He said he learned a lot and is excited to share his passion for space exploration with young people. “I have dreamed of space since I was a young boy. The space race was starting in the 60s when I was growing up and it was easy to be captivated by it and I certainly was. So I spent literally my entire life thinking about what it would be like to be in space, to go to space,” he said. Shoffner said he trained for up to two years to prepare for the incredible adventure, but liftoff was a little different than he expected. “At the moment of liftoff, which was a bit surprising, it wasn’t this big explosive blast and lots of G-forces,” he said. “It was this very initially gentle lift, where we felt the entire vehicle begin to rise. It later accelerated and got a little more dramatic, but those beginning phases, I’ll never forget those.” Once he got to space and looked back at Earth, he was in for another surprise. “It’s just now revealing itself to me,” he said. “I’m just now able to talk about it. It’s funny because as a new astronaut onboard the station one of the first things I wanted to do was hurry into the cupola, drop myself in there, look out over the planet and prepare to be moved and amazed and it was truly beautiful to see the Earth sliding by underneath endlessly, but this breakthrough moment didn’t happen right then and I was a little disappointed. ‘So, maybe I’ll come back a little later on,’ and it wasn’t quite that thing. But I can tell you that after returning (to Earth) it’s slowly bringing itself to me. It’s unfolding itself in a way that I could not have imagined. It’s causing me this sense of longing to go back to it and be able to speak to it. This overview effect is real, but it just does not happen on a schedule. It happens to you as an individual in a way that is familiar and comfortable to you.” Shoffner has only had his feet back on Earth for a short time but would be excited to buy a second ride back to the space station, despite pushback from people who bash him for paying to take part in the unique experience. “I would ask them to look at what we do in orbit,” he said. “We conduct research. We provided access to experiment packages that would otherwise wait a long time. We act as a resource. We undertake the training, and we make ourselves available to scientists and researchers to do that. My big effort was to create a conversation so that teachers and educators and parents could look at this and say, ‘My children would like to do this also.’ We demonstrate that we are in the early days of spaceflight, and we have to create that bridge so that it becomes available to others. Whenever commercial aviation was started, it was hugely expensive to people at the time in the 20s. Only people of means could do that. But the continued effort to develop aviation just as now we want to develop space flight in the economy of low earth orbit there has to be a beginning. The participation by people who can is hugely needed. I did my part and I also wanted to contribute some value by creating awareness among teachers, educators and young people that space is real and that we have a space among the stars.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you have ever wanted to get a bird’s eye view of Florida, now is your chance. You can soar through the sky on a hang glider at Wallaby Ranch. Malcolm Jones said he bought the property in 1991 so he could bring his favorite sport back to Florida. He told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate his love for the sky started when he was growing up in Tampa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With the kids off of school for the summer, some families think now is a good time to get a dog. But Kiersten Benitez with Bark Orlando said it’s important to consider what kind of breed you adopt. Benitez started Bark Orlando in 2016 as a dog training company and eventually expanded it to a full-service pet care company. Every day she comes in contact with different breeds of dogs. She shared her experience and advice for first-time dog owners with Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin on Florida’s Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A walk with family turns into an epic discovery. Paleontologist Jonathan Bloch with the Florida Museum of Natural History said his team would have never uncovered a prehistoric site filled with fossils if it weren’t for a 5-year-old little girl. “She was walking on this property up around Williston and she was there with her family, and they were looking for arrowheads, taking a walk,” he said. “And this 5-year-old found a handful of bones in the site. And that’s how it was discovered. And that’s when they contacted us about seven years ago. And we very quickly, once we went out there and started digging, we started finding fossils.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hurricane Nicole devastated parts of Florida’s coastline, but it also churned up the sea and spit out long-lost treasure. While the wind was still whipping our state, Jonah Martinez and his daughter, Kaylee Martinez, set their sights on the sand. “When the cold fronts or the hurricanes come up, we usually get an opportunity to go out there and look for stuff that has been lost. Mother Nature does a job and erodes the sand away and if you are in the right place at the right time, you never know what you are going to find,” Jonah Martinez said. The pair said they found a lot of junk, but they also uncovered gold coins. Florida’s Fourth Estate host Ginger Gadsden asked them if they “found a sweet spot, and where is it?” But co-host Matt Austin chimed in before they could dish out the details, saying, “I’m not going to let you answer that.” “Through the 30 years of doing this, I have found many sweet spots and I can tell you that when I find them, they are sweet and when I leave them there is not much for anyone else to find,” Jonah Martinez said. But he added you can look around online to find information on how to succeed at finding treasures along the coast like he has. “Little by little, Kaylee’s got involved with this and it’s kind of something now that we are doing and she’s just having fun with it too,” he added. And she’s not just having fun; her Dad said she also uncovered several coins. “It was a totally new feeling, just holding this piece of treasure and this piece of history that hasn’t been held in 300 years,” she said. “It’s just mind-boggling.” Her dad said it’s an incredible find, especially considering how often he goes out to search for treasure and comes up empty-handed. “The chances that you actually do are very, very slim, so you gotta have that “no-finds” or the “treas-aren’ts” before you have the “treas-are,” Jonah Martinez said. It was a pun that left his daughter with her hand palmed to her face. Along the way, Jonah Martinez said he has also found “wedding rings, GoPros, sunglasses, cellphones, hand grenades, bullets... World War II stuff” and more. But his best find was back in 2015 when he said he uncovered about $6.5 million worth of gold coins. Learn more about the Daddy-Daughter Hurricane Treasure Hunters on Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can download it from wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch it anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hosts Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden poke fun at some of the memorable moments in Florida politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most of us have been there: You have a dream and you wake up struck by how real it felt. But why did you have that dream? An Orlando-based mental health counselor says he is helping people figure it out all, while at the same time improving their mental and physical health. Jesse Lyon describes himself as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Dream Interpreter who helps people work through the trauma they face in their day-to-day life by analyzing the dreams they have at night. “One of the symptoms of trauma are post-traumatic nightmares, and so helping people learn what those nightmares are, trying to teach them and really helping them unlock their mental health through the messages from their mind, is what I am all about,” Lyon said. He says while there are naysayers, there’s also a lot of research to support what he does. “The research is just astounding -- how many research articles, how many scientific papers have been written about dreams and their connection with mental health,” Lyon said. He also says there are a lot of myths surrounding dreams. “The falling and hitting the ground -- big myth -- it’s not going to hurt you, but there is some really great research behind it. What we have researched and found is two things: there can be kind of a physical interpretation and an emotional interpretation,” Lyon said. He says the emotional side can be attached to us feeling like we have not reached our goals, but the physical ones may happen because you are experiencing a blood sugar drop. If you think you don’t have dreams, Lyon says you actually do, you just may have forgotten them by the time you open your eyes. “Everyone dreams. The research is very conclusive,” says Lyon. “Every time you go to sleep you go through many phases of sleep -- in each of those, you have dreams. Those dreams can be different based on the phase, but everybody dreams. The big problem, though, is that many people don’t remember their dreams when they wake up, so it’s a memory issue not a dreaming or not dreaming issue,” says Lyon. Lyon says he has found a lot of success with his message on TikTok and through his website. You can hear more from Lyon as he discusses his business and future plans on Florida’s Fourth Estate. The podcast can be downloaded from wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch it anytime on News 6+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden discuss a viral post made by Matt about his daughters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate, hosts Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin continue to explore the spirit world as we get closer to Halloween. Austin and Gadsden’s guest, Ting Rappa, said we have to be open to the idea we are not alone. Talking to Rappa about the paranormal is eerily comforting. Perhaps that explains why for 18 years now the company she founded, American Ghost Adventures, has been so successful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What is it about being terrified that brings people so much joy? Why do some relish thrills so chilling it could lead to heart palpitations? This is certainly the time of year curiosity gets the best of anyone looking for a scary good time. When you think of creepy stories — whether in real life or in the movies — strange, unexplained things almost always happen in places that have stood the test of time. They are old, musty and mysterious. Think of the creepy hotel in The Shining, the mansion in The House on Haunted Hill or the house in The Amityville Horror. All places that send a chill up the spine just thinking about them. This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate, hosts Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden get the haunting details on what is considered to be one of, if not the most haunted cities in America: St. Augustine. The man brave enough to pull back the curtain on the dark side this haunting season is Stephen Mitchell. Mitchell, with Historic Tours of America, knows about things that go bump in the night in St. Augustine because he has been bumped by a spirit or two while working at the Old Jail in St. Augustine. Mitchell has been featured on shows that conduct paranormal investigations and St. Augustine is a hot spot. Mitchell said while doing research on ghost tours in America he discovered the first ghost tours may have started in St. Augustine. “There is so much history and so much happens, people come looking for the ghosts and they have been for much longer than we’ve had ghost tours,” he said. “But the ghost stories keep building and building and so much keeps happening there it’s no wonder that hundreds of tours go out on any given night all over the city. It’s really incredible.” One of those takes place at the Old Jail on San Marcos Avenue, just north of downtown. It served the city from 1891 to 1953 and housed some of the most violent criminals within its walls. A tourist attraction now but at one point the Old Jail carried out capital punishments in public. It should come as no surprise when Mitchell explains there are nightly sightings and encounters with spirits and dark energies at the jail. Mitchell said each night there is a paranormal investigation being conducted. “Every night people are in there from midnight until two o’clock looking for the ghosts, looking for evidence, looking for a sign of some sort of paranormal activity because in that building something happens at least once every 24 hours that nobody can explain. It is truly and certifiably, incredibly haunted,” he said. Mitchell has had his own encounters with dark forces in the Old Jail. He said he has come across things he can’t explain, like the time he was pushed down some stairs. “I was going up the staircase, it was late in the day and all of a sudden I was stopped. I could feel that push right on my chest as it pushed me backward right back down the stairs. I didn’t get hurt. I didn’t fall entirely. I was able to catch myself, turn around and run the rest of the way,” he said. If you would like to hear more about the local haunts in St. Augustine take a tour and experience the unknown for yourself. Click here for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Carlos Navarro is one of the voices behind “Monsters in the Morning” on Real Radio 104.1, but you may recognize him from “The Walking Dead” and the Marvel Studios series “Hawkeye,” too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
‘Billy Flanigan: The Happiest Man on Earth’ follows Disney World’s longest contracted performer, Billy Flanigan, as he cycles seven thousand miles cross-country delivering ‘Flanigrams’ to friends and family when theme parks and businesses were shut down at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s a pretty tall order to live up to when you’re known as the Happiest Place on Earth. Is it just hyperbole or do some people—young and not so young—experience a bit of nirvana topped with pixie dust as soon as they cross the threshold of a Disney theme park and get a glimpse of Mickey and Minnie? Depends on who you ask. On this episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate, hosts Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin speak with Dr. Abigail Disney, whose grandfather was Roy Disney and great-uncle was Walt Disney. They are the two men who built Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Abigail Disney is quick to point out you would be hard-pressed to find anyone else who loves Disney more than she does. But these days, her love hurts and is cutting to the core of Disney culture as she questions why some loyal employees can’t make ends meet. Some of them claim they can barely afford food while others say they know cast members who have slept in cars because they can’t afford an apartment or home. She said it wasn’t always that way. “I grew up with my grandfather going through the cast member entrance to the park and I remember the people who work there with incredible affection,” Disney said. “And there was a great deal of affection between them and my grandfather as well.” Disney added she saw the relationship shift over the decades as management changed. “I saw the nature of the way workers were treated there and frankly, everywhere else, in America over the last 50 years. And I wanted to make a film about why it changed so dramatically... and what we can do about it,” she said. Her new documentary, “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales” takes a walk down memory lane as she fondly recalls the early days of Disneyland. The theme park in Anaheim, California opened in 1955. She has many happy memories of park visits there, so it is troubling when she hears stories about cast members who are struggling. And while looking for answers, Disney has come across a lot of people who don’t appreciate her opening previously shut doors. “I would say I probably love Disney more than any other super fan could possibly love Disney. It’s in my DNA, it’s down to my toes, and I remember every detail and every nuance of both of those parks,” she said. “I will tell you, though, if you really, really, really love something, then you have to see it truthfully and you have to speak the truth about it and it’s not perfect. I wish it were.” Disney said she knows not everyone will understand her plight or even agree with it, but she believes the company she shares a name with can and must do better by its workers. “Disney can make money and still be a visionary company, a company that supports the wellbeing of their employees. Both of these things can coexist,” she said. “Unfortunately, the way we run businesses in this country, we’ve come to believe these things are mutually exclusive, that managements must always get workers for as little as they can possibly get workers.” Disney said it’s not the amount of money CEOs make that bothers her. “I don’t have a problem with your $65 million, I really don’t. Bless you, you’re welcome to it. But don’t take it until everybody’s fed,” Disney said. News 6 has also reached out to Walt Disney World for comment, but the company has not responded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The State of Florida is cracking down on illegal voting. Governor Desantis announced 20 felons were charged with election fraud. News 6 reached out to some of the suspects and found several thought their rights had been restored. News 6 Investigator Louis Bolden takes a closer look at the confusion and why lawmakers are now pointing fingers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There’s more to the Sunshine State than Florida Man, gators and hurricanes. How well do you know the state you call home? With nearly a thousand people moving to Florida every day there are bound to be some gaps in state knowledge. Quick, when did Florida become a state? What’s the population of the Sunshine State? If you got both of those right then chances are you have generations of Florida blood running through your veins. In case you are wondering, Florida became the 27th state on March 3, 1845. This year Florida is expected to have 22 million residents making it the 3rd most populous state in the country. This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden are putting you to the test and learning a few things along the way. They want to know what you know about the state so many people love to berate. So, they invited Steve Griffiths on to help out. He is not a name you may recognize but Matt and Ginger work with him daily. He is their floor director, but, he has also managed trivia nights in years past and still goes strong on the trivia scene. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two of the messages have one thing in common, hair. Ginger said she got a message from a viewer and the subject was “That Stupid wig on your head.” Inside she said there was a whole paragraph. “I didn’t even know what to say to this woman so I just didn’t say anything,” Ginger said. One viewer also reached out to Matt about his hair. “Matt my name is Denise I watch the news every day and I hope I don’t afend (sic) you but your new hair style (sic) needs to go. You are very handsome (sic),” the message read. “So, I started doing something a little bit different with my hair. Just a little bit.” Matt said. “I got this new hair apparatus for my wife right, and she was like ‘You should use it’ and I started using it and it just gave me a little extra zhoosh.” The hate didn’t end there, Matt also said a viewer sent him a very long message bashing several things about him but finishes with “I am not trying to abase (sic) or degrade you in any way.” and “Have a nice day.” Hear more about the hatemail on Florida’s Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clayton Sellars grew up in Fruitland Park and has since gone on to become a rising star in the professional rodeo circuit.
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There is a new option for getting your dog off the couch and outside for some exercise this summer. Linden Hollow Sheep Farm in St. Cloud lets dogs tap into their wild side. Natalie Cole said her grandma started the unique business with shelties. “We used to show Shetland sheepdogs in confirmation and we wanted to compete with them in herding as well. So, my grandma got a few sheep for herself to work her dog and we started from there when I was very little and have been going since then,” Cole said. Cole gave News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden a behind-the-scenes look at the training on Florida’s Fourth Estate. She said when people bring their domesticated dogs out to the property, some of them act like “they are born and bred on a farm.” “It’s just hard-wired (in their) DNA. So, when they say that they have their pup that lives in an apartment and they want to bring it out for herding lessons and it comes out and does what it is supposed to do, it doesn’t surprise me at all,” she added. Ginger takes her dog Finn to the farm and says when he goes, he gets a great workout and comes home tired. Other than tapping into their natural instincts, Cole said dogs also get a boost in their confidence after visiting the farm. “I will have some people come out that say, ‘You know, my dog is a little timid, my dog is a little afraid of people’ and stuff like that, so a lot of times, we’ll bring the dogs out here if they are bred for this and we get them on sheep and a totally different dog just comes alive. They are not afraid of things. They come out of their shell, they learn how to do this and it’s something that they love and it keeps their brain busy and it’s a good stimulation for them,” Cole said.
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Florida's Fourth Estate talks to two of Florida's biggest social media influencers. They explain how a hobby became a big business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We all know gas and grocery prices have climbed substantially since this time last year. What you may not have noticed is that even though some products are still being sold at the same price, the sizes are shrinking. For instance, you likely remember Gatorade selling large 32-ounce drinks. Now their slimmed-down bottles are just 28 ounces. UCF business professor Anand Krishnamoorthy says it’s called “Shrinkflation” and says it is here to stay. To make sure their customers don’t feel too bad about it, Krishnamoorthy says companies often pass it off as “product innovation.” “Gatorade in this case, PepsiCo. argued that the size of the packaging decreased not because they wanted to provide less of the item, but because these containers are becoming less easy to hold so what they did is they introduced a groove in the middle of the packaging which makes a product easier to hold, so this is positioned less as shrinkage, more as product innovation,” said Krishnamoorthy. Krishnamoorthy says something similar happened with bar soap as well. He says soap was originally square. Then, over time manufacturers put a groove in the soap so it would be easier to hold. Then, he says the groove got deeper and deeper, meaning less product for consumers, even though the prices remained the same. But, Krishnamoorthy says companies are not always working to fool customers, sometimes they do just make valid changes. For instance, “There might be cases where there is actual innovation going on because Bounty for a long time has claimed that their paper towels are more absorbent today, as a result of which you don’t need as much paper towel.” Krishnamoorthy says chocolate bars also used to be a lot longer 15 years ago. But, changing the size of the sugary snack could be a part of trying to reduce the number of calories people are consuming. With costs rising, Krishnamoorthy says many companies are struggling to stay profitable and even after the market stabilizes package sizes likely won’t go back to their original sizes. You can learn more about shrinkflation on Florida’s Fourth Estate. In this episode, you can also learn more about this year’s Fireworks at The Fountain returning to Lake Eola. You can check out Florida’s Fourth Estate with Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts.
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Florida: Where some of the best stories in the country are born. Based in Orlando, journalist Katrina Scales voices a selection of the day's top headlines, along with a nugget of Florida knowledge you may have never heard before. Ready by 7:00 a.m. every weekday morning.
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You likely know John Morgan from billboards across Florida or from his commercials featuring the popular tagline “For The People.” You may not know that Morgan actually got his start in law following what he calls an “ugly legal battle” with Disney that involved his brother Tim. “He was paralyzed out at Disney World and he was paralyzed on the water,” Morgan said. Morgan said his brother was not adequately compensated due to the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which happens to be locked in a political battle that could cause Disney to lose its special governing authority. “The reason that his case, that he could never sue Disney World is because Reedy Creek was owned by Disney, so that was his employer and they had comp immunity so that Tim was never able to bring a lawsuit,” Morgan said. Morgan said the whole experience was a nightmare, “Disney treated Tim terribly,” he said. “They just fought him like he was a combatant enemy, even on his comp benefits and I was 19. We were poor as hell, and here we were with my brother a C6, C7 quadriplegic with this gigantic company. And, then they finally said to him they said ‘Well we will put you back to work,’ so they could get out of paying him benefits. They said ‘We will make you an operator from 11 at night until 7 in the morning.’” This experience steered Morgan’s career. “When Disney was messing with Tim, I became as mad at Disney as Ron Desantis is at Disney and that was — those moments in my life — was my inspiration for becoming a personal injury lawyer. I said then and there that my life’s work was going to be representing people who were powerless, hopeless and helpless against big corporations like Walt Disney World. That’s all I’ve ever done. I’ve never applied for a job anywhere else. Everybody that knows my story knows this is the story. So, it’s been interesting to hear Reedy Creek’s name come up after all those years after Tim was hurt in 1977.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Florida’s Fourth Estate is taking a walk on the wild side. As mating season comes to an end and nesting season begins Gatorland said alligators are more active this time of year. You have likely seen stories of them popping up at schools, in pools and in some cases people getting attacked. In one recent encounter an alligator bit a man who mistook the reptile for a dog. Brandon Fisher with Gatorland joined hosts Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate. He said he has never mistaken a gator for a dog but said their personalities can actually be similar to cats. He said some people nickname them “swamp kittens.” “Cats, they’ll do stuff to (make you think) they’re all cute and cuddly and then all of a sudden turn on you. Gators are the same way,” Fisher said. Fisher said gators lack the part of the brain for feelings and emotions. “They do have their own personalities, some more calm than others, some you can really tell they want to be around you... some of them like their butt scratched, you know right on the back of the tail and they kinda wiggle and move with it,” Fisher said. He went on to say the reptiles he works with every day know and respond to their names. In the wild, gators don’t respond to verbal commands and can end up in places they don’t belong. Fisher said the weirdest place he has heard of an alligator going is into a house that was under construction. If you have an unexpected run-in with an alligator, there are some steps you can take to defend yourself. “Your best bet if you’re in the water and you are able to... stand up make yourself look bigger than that gator is. If you think about it, we still look like monsters to them. They don’t realize that they are bigger than us and can hurt us,” Fisher said. He added, that typically you will not run into a situation like this because they are afraid of people. Host Matt Austin also asked about other popular theories when it comes to escaping a gator attack such as jamming your fingers into its eyes or nose. “The eyeballs is not true. Eyeballs sink right into the sockets in the head to help protect them,” Fisher said. Though a young girl said she was able to fight off an alligator in 2017 by sticking her fingers in its nose. “You might get lucky, but it’s not 100% guaranteed,” Fisher said. He also said punching and kicking the animal’s head will likely just lead to you breaking your hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We understand if just the mere thought of talking about a nude resort makes you blush. It’s generally the first response from a lot of people followed quickly by a barrage of questions. What are the rules? Is it family-friendly? How do I get started? Where do I sit? How do I sit? Where do I look? Don’t worry. Here at Florida’s Fourth Estate, we ask all those burning questions, so you don’t have to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The man who deemed the recent fight between Disney and Florida politicians “like a really ugly middle school ugly middle school breakup” sat down to talk with Florida’s Fourth Estate hosts Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin about the Reedy Creek Improvement District debacle. “(Disney and Florida politicians) were hot and heavy in this case for, like, five decades sort of each scratching each other’s back and then all of a sudden you know Disney said, ‘Eh, we’re not so fond of this Don’t Say Gay bill, which they only said after a lot of pressure,” Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell said. “And then Disney, and this is really important in my mind and it gets overlooked, Disney also said we are going to stop giving you money, which Disney has given to politicians on both sides of the aisle for decades and as soon as that happened the politicians just went apoplectic.” He’s referring to politicians approving a bill that would dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Maxwell, who has been covering Central Florida for years, calls it a rush job. “Part of the problem here, Ginger, is that you have probably done more research into what Reedy Creek involves than the legislatures and the policymakers who abolished it,” Maxwell said. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law in April. If nothing changes, the special district that has given Disney space to self-govern for decades would go away in 2023. On Florida’s Fourth Estate, Maxwell discusses what getting rid of that district could mean for Disney. “There are some people who say, ‘Well, Disney is going to disintegrate and problems will happen if they don’t have these powers.’ I think that’s a bunch of horse hockey,” Maxwell said. “If Disney doesn’t have its own government, you know what Disney will do? It will function just like every other company in the world that doesn’t operate its own government.” Maxwell also discussed the impact on local taxpayers. “Last we checked, there was something like a billion dollars worth of bond indebtedness that Disney has basically assumed right now via Reedy Creek, and if the state takes it over or if Orange County takes it over, that means taxpayers ultimately take it over and we still don’t have good answers on to who is going to be responsible for all of that,” he said. Maxwell also goes on to talk about how all this plays into the DeSantis’ political aspirations on the latest episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can hear his analysis and get a breakdown of this political battle and the week’s most interesting stories in our state from hosts Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden Talk To A Father Daughter Duo Who Were Hit By Lightning. How Did This Happen? Why Is Their Bond Now Stronger Than Ever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week we tackle a bunny issue. Every year Floridians buy bunnies for their kids on Easter. But, these little creatures weren't meant to be a child's play toy. We talk about a neighborhood overrun by adorable bunnies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We know Florida is a wild place. This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, we take a closer look at the wild animals people bring to our state and we track the instances in which they escape. From zebras on the lamb to anacondas in a garage we analyze it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, we speak with the leader of Keep Florida Beautiful. They have a new 900lb. robot roaming Florida beaches while picking up litter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, we speak with the founder of Space Perspective. Her company plans to use balloons the size of a football stadium to lift a luxury capsule filled with people up to the edge of space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate Disney gives News 6 exclusive access to its brand-new Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. It's considered a "Land Cruise." But is this experience for everyone? How much does it cost? We answer your questions on Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Florida's Fourth Estate Anchors Read Their Hate Mail Part 4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We speak with the star of a new Netflix reality show called "Twenty Somethings". Raquel Daniels tells us about her new found fame, her love interest from the show and why she's so proud to tell people she's from Eatonville, FL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On This Episode of Florida's Fourth Estate Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin Speak With Lake Mary, Florida Resident and Olympic Bobsled Team Member Josh Williamson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Here's this week's podcast on Florida's legislative session. Governor Ron DeSantis brings a lot of power into the fold. The question is, what will he do with it. Political Expert Jim Clark tells us how it will all play out. We'll tell you why he doesn't expect many surprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Florida's Fourth Estate hosts, Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin, settle a newsroom bet. Does Krystal Burger really taste different from White Castle? And, who reigns supreme, BurgeFi or Shake Shack? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal’s Isleworth mansion is off the market and his realtor is sharing the details behind the deal. Benjamin Hillman with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty tells News 6 Anchor Matt Austin about the big sale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, we speak with UCF Marketing Professor Dr. Axel Stock about the current shipping crisis. Why are all of those ships stuck out there and could Florida actually help? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Orlando Television Anchors Ginger Gadsden, Matt Austin and special guest, Julie Broughton, discuss hate mail from viewers of WKMG News 6. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate we speak with Professor Dr. Dan Britt. We discuss a mission to explore asteroids near Jupiter. They may tell us how the universe began. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, we speak to a local UCF lab that makes space dirt and sells it to companies looking to operate on other planets. It's guaranteed to be the most exciting podcast ever done on dirt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, are Florida families priced out of the market? Rents are rising exponentially. Could something called a land trust save us? Find out on this week's Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate, we tackle the issue of pregnant women struggling with COVID-19. Local OB/GYN, Dr. Pamela Snook, tells us why so many pregnant women are ending up on ventilators and why vaccines are so important for expecting moms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin talk about the hidden Disney gems and debate the issue of middle class families getting priced out of Disney adventures with theme park expert Ken Pilcher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin speak with Kelly Kibler, a scientist from UCF, who has the audacity to say hurricanes have positive impacts on Florida and its animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode we talk with Gregory Paul, the creator of the Velocicoaster at Universal Studios. He tells us how many times he's been on the ride and what it's like watching people ride it the first time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Florida's Fourth Estate team speaks with a man who found two Megalodon teeth in a matter of weeks at a Florida beach. What does he say to the people calling him a fake? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden Pull Out Their Meanest Messages From Viewers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin talk to Harris Rosen about how the medical system that he uses for his hotels, and about the philanthropic efforts that make him happy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Florida's Fourth Estate team talks to Harris Rosen, the Largest Independent Hotel Owner in Florida, about how the pandemic affected his business in Part 1 of this fantastic interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's gator mating season in Florida and we speak with Brandon Fisher, from Gatorland, who guides us through the sights, sounds and altogether craziness of this time of year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate, anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin invited Beverly Brooks to speak about the hesitancy of getting a COVID-19 vaccine among those in the Black community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Florida's Fourth Estate team speaks with a Florida pediatrician about giving kids the COVID-19 vaccine. Is it safe? What will happen to our kids in 20 years? How do we make this decision? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Florida's Fourth Estate team talks to a woman on a mission to find her donor conceived siblings. Kianni Arroyo has found 65 half siblings conceived using the same donor. She talks about the stupid questions people have and the handsome attributes of the donor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The cruise industry has been crushed during the pandemic. The question is: Will the industry ever recover? Also, some companies are getting creative to stay afloat. We speak with a cruise expert about the recovery and how to capitalize on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Central Florida realtor tells us how some homes are selling before they even hit the market. Low inventory and flourishing demand are causing bidding wars once a listing hits the market. Is it a bubble? Should you sell now? We cover it all on Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week Deputy Royce James breaks down how he rescued a 13-year-old girl from a hotel room with a shirtless stranger she met online. Turns out, before rescuing people Deputy James was a financial planner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In a world where hackers never sleep there are companies tracking and anticipating their next move. Waiting to see if this time it’s the big one or simply another test looking for cracks in the system. Ready, if, and when they blink. Hackers always blink. It’s like a game of chess only this is no queen’s gambit. These hackers are constantly creating and looking for new opening moves. So how do you track what you can’t immediately see? This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate, Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin talk to a cyber intelligence expert and the CEO of a cyber intelligence company. These companies are the tasked with hunting hackers before the damage is done by sending out a warning beacon and highlighting the vulnerable spots a cyber security company may have missed. Karim Hijazi is the CEO of Prevaillion and an expert on cyber-attacks targeting critical industries.
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On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin discuss Turtle Rehabilitation with Allison Bernstein, the Manager of Turtle Rehab at the Marine Science Center. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger Gadsden discusses how this year's travel season will be affected by the COVID 19 pandemic with Orlando Pediatrician, Candice Jones. Will there be an increase in new cases over the holiday season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin talk space with Laura Forczyk, a Space Consultant who specializes in space science, industry, and policy. She also offers space career coaching services and is a NASA Subject Matter Expert for planetary science missions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger Gadsden, Julie Broughton and Matt Austin from WKMG News 6 in Orlando, tell some of the crazy stories from their years of working in the news business. It's a lighter version of Florida's Fourth Estate this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s the amendment many say will change their lives and finally give them a living wage. Amendment 2 will raise the minimum wage in Florida to $15 an hour. It will happen in stages so the process will take until 2026 to get to that amount. While many workers in the service industry are saying it’s about time, others are saying we shouldn’t be so quick to celebrate because it could have dire consequences for businesses. Some say those businesses will have to cut jobs and raise prices on products, leaving the consumer digging deeper into their wallets. But, the man firmly behind this fight, high profile attorney John Morgan, said the threat of layoffs and price hikes are just scare tactics. Morgan, who also led the fight to legalize medical marijuana in Florida, also put his name and $6 million of his money behind Amendment 2. Morgan joined News 6 anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin on this week’s edition of Florida’s Fourth Estate to talk about why he led the fight to get the issue on the ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Florida's Fourth Estate team, Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin, discusses Pythons in the Florida wild. How do Pythons affect the native Florida habitat? Kevin Pavlidis & Ryan Ausburn give us a close up look at what being a Python Contractor is all about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you close your eyes and listen to Jim Wahlberg, his voice sounds very familiar. He has that unmistakable Eastern New England twang that pegs him as a Bostonian from the jump. And yes, he is one of those Wahlbergs, a family most people know from Hollywood, most notably, his famous brother, Mark Wahlberg. But what many don’t know is that this Wahlberg brother was troubled from the time he was a kid and turned to drugs and alcohol at an early age. Jim says he had his first drink when he was 8 years old and it was one hustle after another from there. He hopes by sharing his story in his new book, “The Big Hustle,” people will overcome their shame and get help. Jim joined Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden from his Fort Lauderdale home for this week’s edition of Florida’s Fourth Estate to talk about being in recovery for 32 years now, and what it took to get him there to begin with. Jim says he knows during the pandemic that people with addictions are suffering. He said people who suffer from addiction or mental illness are fragile. “Recovery is connection. It’s love. It’s friendship," he said. "Addiction is the opposite. It’s isolation. It’s loneliness. It’s depression. We’ve been forced into a depressive state.” In a pandemic, when you’re forced to isolate, he says it has done a number on many who turn drugs and alcohol for escape. He encourages those struggling to reach out and not be ashamed to ask for help. At the age of 22, Jim found himself in prison for the second time for breaking into a police officer’s home. Jim says part of what contributed to his childhood problems was that his family was poor. He says his dad worked really hard, got lucky enough to put a down payment on a house in a decent neighborhood, but they were on food stamps. He recalls how he would go to the store and wait for the older cashier’s shift to begin because he wasn’t embarrassed to use the food stamps around him. He did not want his friends to see him in the store. “My dad worked every day of his life,” he explained. “We needed help. We needed assistance.” "As men, we’re sort of taught that we have to be strong, we have to provide and have to be all of those things. But there is more to being a man than all of those things,” he said. “We also have to be loving, kind and pointing people in the right direction.” If you want to hear how Mother Teresa pointed him in the right direction and how introducing his wife to Jesus earned him some serious brownie points, download the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gatorland has been around for 71 years and current CEO Mark McHugh says they have never seen anything like what the coronavirus pandemic. The popular family attraction, which is still family owned, has suffered major setbacks over the years. It has weathered hurricanes, tornadoes, recessions and even a fire that burned down its main building some 14 years ago. Still, McHugh says the pandemic has outdone all of those major disasters. But a place that houses thousands of live animals can’t just shut its doors and hope for the best. The attraction closed for two and a half months due to the pandemic. “We’ve got 2,500 crocodiles and alligators at Gatorland so even if you are closed you still have mouths to feed. You don’t want hangry alligators on your hands, they get really grumpy” he joked. While nothing could prepare them for the coronavirus, Gatorland was somehow prepared to take care of its 190 employees though it all. “We were also blessed to be able to continue to pay all 190 of our employees through the pandemic” McHugh said during a recent appearance on the podcast Florida’s Fourth Estate with News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden. “Most of them were at home, sheltering in place, taking care of themselves and their families," McHugh said. "We had a small crew in here taking care of the animals but we were fortunate to be able to pay all of our employees through the entire pandemic and get back open with everybody that we had back in March when we had to close so the park was ready to open up and start welcoming guests back. McHugh credits the local love from Florida residents for getting them through past disasters and this one. He said every time there’s a crisis, it’s the locals who save the day. And now he wants to assure them when they return to the 110-acre park that they will get all that love back by the great care they’ve taken to keep everything pristine. Each day crews clean the entire place and they have put safety protocols in place to make sure guest can have a great time and stay safe. It’s a lot of work but McHugh says it’s worth it. McHugh even gave us his impression of another guy who used to run a local zoo and became a household name for all the wrong reasons. When Matt asked him about the Netflix hit “Tiger King” and its star, Joe Exotic, McHugh wasted no time in saying, “Well I’m no Joe Exotic, I’ll tell you that. That cat is crazy!”
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We are talking about football, college, and NFL, with two guys who know the game very well. Mac Loudermilk is the standout former UCF punter known for his flowing hair both on his head and chin...and his exuberant celebrations on the field. Michael Coe is a former NFL player. The cornerback has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and the Indianapolis Colts to name a few. Both men joined us to talk about the return of pro and college ball. Of course, one big concern was players returning to the field amid the coronavirus pandemic. Loudermilk says it’s a challenge to keep the college crowd in line but the one thing players have to remember is they are not on the field for just themselves. “We had a saying at UCF that was you’re not just playing for yourself or the name on the back of your jersey. You’re playing for the buddy to the left and the buddy to the right of you and that’s what kind of propelled us from that horrible 0-12 season to now the success that we have.” So far the NFL has seen a lot of success as well. After week one, no teams have reported an outbreak of COVID-19 despite the fact they are not in a bubble like we saw with the NBA. Michael Coe said with the frequency of testing it’s almost like being in your own bubble. “The protocols are pretty stringent and you are in your own little bubble so to speak anyway. And the fact of how many times and the frequency which they test guys and like you said the staff. I am pretty sure before the game, after the game on the travel on the plane they are doing the same thing. I think the NFL is going to make it as safe as possible. Obviously nothing is 100 percent proof. I think a lot of the guys watching them play, everybody was just excited to play again.” Coe also said as a new dad and a guy who has had his share of injuries and surgeries, he definitely doesn’t miss time on the gridiron. Both Cole and Loudermilk were not fans of the fake crowd noises pumped into the stadiums or the lack of cheering during the college games. To hear more of their take on the return of football Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week’s Florida’s Fourth Estate guest is Emilee Speck, the host of WKMG’s new podcast called Space Curious. We often take for granted the modern miracle known as the International Space Station. It’s basically a six-bedroom house the length of an American football field and has been floating 200 miles above the Earth for more than two decades. So, it came as a bit of a surprise when a young person in the newsroom asked Speck, how the space station got up there. The result: the first episode of a brand-new WKMG podcast focused on answering your space questions called “Space Curious.” How do you get your hair cut in space? How do the Russians and Americans get along so well in space, while we have so much drama down here on Earth? Have the astronauts ever seen a UFO? We discuss these questions and more with Emilee Speck on this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate.
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Former NBA star Adonal Foyle has always been outspoken when it comes to social justice issues and these days he has a lot to talk about. The recent NBA boycott in protest of another black man being shot by a police officer has Foyle recalling his own encounter with police when he was a player with the Orlando Magic. On this week’s edition of Florida’s Fourth Estate with Ginger and Matt, Foyle explains why the recent protest by NBA players is such a powerful statement. He says being in a bubble while they are away from family and friends has forced the players to take a good look at what’s really happening in society right now. Foyle says the days of expecting NBA players to shut up and dribble are over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Who would have thought mail-in-ballots would be such a hot topic during election season, but here we are. Snail mail is one of the fastest growing controversies in Decision 2020. President Donald Trump has made it clear he is not a fan of allowing all registered voters access to mail in ballots, otherwise known as universal vote-by-mail. “It will be the scandal of our times,” he tweeted, saying millions of mail-in-ballots will be printed by foreign countries and others. The president has also said Florida is the exception when it comes to mail-in-ballots. Trump himself voted by mail because he is registered to vote in Florida. In Florida, a person must required a mail-in ballot. Trump has said the Sunshine State knows what it’s doing in that department. But are those ballots really scandalous and could they swing an entire election? Not so fast, says University of Central Florida History professor Jim Clark. He says voter fraud takes some serious work. “They keep unbelievable records. People don’t realize that people who vote by mail it’s recorded on line,” he explained. “They can go in and check ... the fact that you voted is recorded.” “Once you’ve requested a mail in ballot you’re taken off the list and cannot come in and vote so there are safeguards, people are worried about this.” From mail-in-ballots to who buys stamps these days and an update on Florida’s Primary election, News 6 anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin speak with UCF history professor Jim Clark on this week’s edition of Florida’s Fourth Estate.
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On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden Talk To CBS News Correspondent, Bill Harwood, About SpaceX’s Historic Crewed Test Flight. Was Dragon's mission considered a success and what's next for SpaceX? Find out on this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
News anchors are not strippers but do they wear dead animals on their shoulders? This week News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden open up the hatemail bag and unpack a few gems from some people who just don’t like long hair. In this week’s edition of Florida’s Fourth Estate, we share some of the messages viewers send in when they just don’t like what they see. Often the comments we receive from people who watch the news have nothing to do with a story or the content of the show but rather what we look like or what we’re wearing. Some people send direct messages to our inbox but others are brazen enough to post it on the News 6 Facebook page for everyone to read. One person pointed out our long hair made us look like strippers. Another recent gem was to remind my co-anchor Lisa Bell and I that our long hair just isn't professional. "Please tell your female newscasters on the 6 pm news (Ginger and Lisa) that their long stringy hair is not attractive and is very distracting. Why does it have to hang over their shoulders like a dead animal? Just saying..." Ouch! People often ask if it hurts our feelings when people write mean things. Quite honestly the answer is no. We take it in stride but regret not asking our boss for hazard pay.
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Masks are dangerous to wear? Nope. Coronavirus case numbers inflated? Not true. Fake testing? False. It turns out it’s harder than most people realize to stop a fake news cycle once it has hit social media. How does it all start and who is responsible for calling it out? We all have a role to play to stop the proliferation of news that is not only fake but dangerous. A lot of false information about the coronavirus is parading around as fact and people are buying into it. This week Florida’s Fourth Estate podcast hosts Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin spoke with Dr. Chrysalis Wright, a fake news expert and professor at the University of Central Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we get the teachers' perspective on opening schools during a pandemic. Vanessa Skipper, Vice President of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, tells us how their teachers union is reacting to the government's mandate to open brick and mortar schools during the week. Skipper talks about the issues of busing, cafeterias and teachers who are in the vulnerable population. Some states have given staggered schedules as an option to students and parents. Skipper says her teachers would prefer that option, but leaders are not listening. Join us for another edition of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To mask or not to mask? It’s a debate happening across the country right now as coronavirus cases spike. Some counties have mandated wearing a mask while others are letting the people decide. This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate News 6 anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin speak with brain doctor Romie Mushtaq about what triggers people on both sides of this debate.
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The death of George Floyd, who was killed while in police custody, has sparked a national conversation on race and what it means to be black in America. Some people are having frank conversations with family, friends and coworkers. But what happens when our kids start asking questions? How do we tell them the truth without igniting fear? Ginger and Matt speak with Psychotherapist Dr. Annette Nunez about how to talk to your kids about race and when that conversation should or should not happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The death of George Floyd has ignited protests and unrest around the world. Floyd was an unarmed black man in Minneapolis who was killed by a police officer who kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes as Floyd pleaded for his life. This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, Matt and Ginger speak with Dr. Jonathan Cox, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at UCF. Dr. Cox is a race scholar who explains why the protests happening now have a different feel this time. He also discusses how we can begin a meaningful dialogue about race without everyone leaving the discussion feeling defeated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It has been a long time coming but the United States is on the cusp of history once again as American astronauts prepare to launch from Florida’s Space Coast. News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk with colleague and space expert, Erik von Ancken, about his years of covering the space program and having a front seat to this extraordinary moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Many people know local news anchors as the familiar faces they see on the air. But it takes a lot of people to make a TV station run like a well oiled machine . This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate, Matt and Ginger talk to the General Manager at WKMG-TV about what it’s like running a news station during a pandemic with hurricane season looming. Jeff Hoffman also shares how a phone call changed his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ever wonder the kinds of voice messages and emails news anchors receive? Well, wonder no more. This week anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin give us a delicious taste of the dreaded compliment sandwich. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Now that some non-essential businesses are open again, employees may be skeptical or scared to go back to work. How will companies handle mental health as employees head back to the office? News 6 anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin speak with Terran Peizer,the CEO of Catasy, Inc., about why now, more than ever, telehealth can be a vital tool in our new normal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger and Matt show off their new home podcast set ups. They also discuss topical news and the "Floridiot of the Week". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We know the coronavirus can be deadly but there are many people who recover from it. This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we speak with a man whose story of survival is nothing short of a miracle. Kevin Rathel was in a coma when he was treated with convalescent plasma therapy. Rathel was the first patient at Orlando Health to be infused with convalescent plasma from a man who had already recovered from the virus. We hear his first hand account of the harrowing toll COVID-19 took on him. From vivid nightmares to losing thirty pounds he speaks to us about what life is like now during the recovery phase. He also tells us even though he was in a coma, he was very clear about one thing that was happening in his hospital room on a regular basis. Join us for a candid conversation with Kevin and his wife Stacie on this weeks edition of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we get spiritual with the leader of one of the fastest growing churches in America. Pastor Justin Dailey from Action Church in Orlando talks about having Easter services without anyone in the audience. How he says the church is able to reach more people during these tough times. We also talk about the biggest issues facing his congregants during the coronavirus pandemic. He has counseled people who have lost jobs and worry about getting sick. It's one of the few podcasts in which you will see a pastor address Tiger King and tight pants all in the same conversation. All of this and more on this edition of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we dive into the stimulus efforts from the government. How can you save your business? When will you get your stimulus check? How does the government know how many kids you have? Our guest Joshua Jenson, A.K.A JJ the CPA, has the answers. Also, small businesses have faced many issues when it comes to applying for government assistance. JJ explains how one government program may have lost all of the applications. Also, he tells us which banks are dealing with the government programs. Let's do your taxes with a pro! It's all this week on Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic we will continue to bring you Florida's Fourth Estate. It will look and sound a little different but our mission is the same, to keep you informed about what's happening in the Sunshine State. This week most students began distance learning and we wanted to offer a little help to frustrated parents who may not know where to start or what to do so this can be a good experience for them and their kids. Who better than a teacher who has nearly 30 years under his belt. Orange County teacher, Chris Crisona, says this is a learning curve for them too. While nothing can take the place of one-on-one classroom time, he says teachers are learning meaningful ways to connect with their students on line. The process is different depending on the grade level. Elementary kids love seeing their teachers in a video chat because it gives them some comfort. Mr. Crisona also offers up some advice on how to structure the day for students so they stay on track. Bottom line, don't panic because most parents have not done this before and are feeling the same anxiety as you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate News 6 investigator Mike Deforest talks about an investigation involving a YouTuber accused of breaking into theme parks after hours. Mike has investigated this young man for months. We ask how he's getting into the parks and how he's making money off of the videos. The affordable housing crisis in Florida has hit hard for a local dad. He adopted his niece and her three siblings. Even though he makes $15 per hour, he can barely afford his rent. And, a Florida family expands in a 7-Eleven parking lot. We hear the dispatcher say, "Try not to push." But, the directions come a moment too late. All this and more on this week's Florida's Fourth Estate!
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This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, News 6 Anchor Julie Broughton takes us inside her inbox. One viewers shames her for wearing pants. Julie is shocked when she researches her troll and finds out what he does for a living. Matt Austin also shares a voicemail of a viewer who describes making fun of Matt with her friends. Also, a family vacationing in Florida gets trapped more than 10 stories up. Firefighters have to pull them through the elevator ceiling. Floridians are using goats to fix their weed issues. Why rent-a-goat operations are popping up and how they're good for the environment. All this and more on this week's Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we take a deep dive into DNA. News 6 investigator Mike Deforest tells us about a fascinating case in which an accused killer was found because his cousin put his DNA online. It took a clandestine mission to find the suspect and gather his DNA. The question is, do cases like this open Pandora's box? Also, we break down the video of a 6-year-old's arrest. The police officer has been fired for using Zip Ties to subdue the little girl and put her in his patrol car. Floridians also showed love this week. A man jumps into a canal to save a stranger. a woman was having a seizure when she crashed into the water. Her car was sinking as one man jumped in to rescue her. All of this and more on this week's Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate an accused steak stealing Floridiot runs out of a grocery store without pants and gets tased in a different kind of meat, a couple of Kyakers brush up agains a Florida Dinosaur...then they get lost in the woods. And this week's guest, Sports Director Jamie Seh, tells us what it's like in the infield during a devastating crash at the Daytona 500. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, A father says strangers took his daughter, it turns out...he lied. Plus, a controversial arrest. An officer says a bicyclist ignored his commands and resisted arrest. Hear the body cam audio and you make the call. And our guest this week is a Florida Meteorology Icon. Chief Meteorologist, Tom Sorrells cuts through the bologna when it comes to Climate Change. All that and the Floridiot of the Week gets points for romance as police find a heart shaped box of "not chocolates", but marijuana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on "Florida's Fourth Estate" we tackle the tricky issue of Florida's Guardianship program. The program is built to protect vulnerable Floridians, but one case in particular has cast doubt on the oversight of these guardians. These people control a person's life. They have a say in bank accounts and even do-not-resuscitate orders. We take a deep look at the program and the Rebecca Fierle case sparking so much attention. Also, a Florida daycare sends a message to a mom. They wrote, "Mom, I need diapers," on the child's belly. The mother was not very happy. An earthquake rocked the Caribbean and people in south Florida were shaken. We have reaction from someone inside a swaying building. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we delve into one of Florida's biggest dangers. Rachael Maney with advocacy group Bike Law tells us why Florida is the most dangerous place to bike or walk in America. We break down the problems and the solutions for the epidemic. Also, she tells us about legislation in the Florida Capitol right now that could change the game. This week's "Floridiot" is very organized. After getting pulled over, law enforcement found a bag labeled "Bag Full of Drugs." Inside, a smorgasbord of mind altering substances. And, a company puts shelter dogs on beer cans hoping to find them a home. Turns out, one family found their lost furry friend. Cheers to another frothy episode of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, It's raining Iguanas, Astronauts get a vehicle upgrade, this week's Floridiot of The Week AND breaking news from Ginger Gadsden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Amazon Echo and Alexa devices to the Google Home Smart Speaker and Home Assistant, each comes with exciting features many of us don’t fully understand. From Amazon Echo and Alexa devices to the Google Home Smart Speaker and Home Assistant, each comes with exciting features many of us don’t fully understand. This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate, we speak with UCF assistant professor Paul Gazzillo about these smart home devices and what we’re really agreeing to when when sign up to use them. Are the risks worth the convenience? And which devices are likely the most invasive once we set them up in our homes? It’s a conversation that will have you reading the fine print on those user agreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden discuss WILDLIFE with Brandon Fisher from Gatorland Florida. What wild guests did the team get to hang out with on the set? That, the Floridiot of the Week and more on this week's episode of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this edition of Florida's Fourth Estate we interview former Miss America Ericka Dunlap. She's the only African American woman to ever win Miss Florida. Dunlap reveals the gritty secrets to winning a pageant crown and her opinion of pageants shedding the swimsuit competition. Also, this week's "Floridiot of the Week" wins the creepy crown. He shows up to a police sting buck naked. In the spirit of giving, one Florida church pays off millions of dollars in medical debt for strangers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin discuss the importance of strength training with Fitness Expert, Missi Mitchell. A young surfer is knocked off of a surfboard by a shark and the Floridiot of The Week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger and Matt talk to Political Expert, Jim Clark, about the state of Politics. Plus the weird stories of the day and the "Floridiot of The Week". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A successful Central Florida real estate mogul, Jenny Wemert, tells us about the state of Florida real estate. Why are so many rich people flocking to Florida? Is it a good time to buy? And, a bankruptcy rule in Florida shielding millions for those facing financial ruin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin discuss the problems that Burmese Pythons pose to wildlife in the Florida Everglades. Plus, the "Floridiot of the Week". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, a high speed chase on a stolen motorcycle ends painfully, but not how you would expect...and two teens who were stuck at sea had their prayers answered when a boat with the perfect name saves the day...the "FlorIdiot of the Week" and this episode's guest celebrity who has been forecasting Florida Hurricanes for 20 years, Central Florida Meteorologists, Tom Sorrells. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate, the Easter Bunny delivers some punches to one of his peeps. A Florida man stabs his nephew for taking too long in the bathroom. The “Floridiot Of The Week” AND we ask the question "Why Is Measles So Contagious?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate...What's green, explosive and flies through the night sky? What's 17 feel long and has Floridian's terrified? Who's the "Floridiot Of The Week" and Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin discuss the worst career advice they have been given over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Florida's Fourth Estate...how could snoring lead to shooting, plus a camel busting a move on a school bus, this week's "Floridiot Of The Week" and Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden Interview Erich Shuttauf About Nude Recreation In The State of Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, a cruise ship tips causing panic, a monster gator, who is this episode's "Floridiot of the Week" and Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin Interview Mariana Castro about the impacts of being an undocumented youth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, why did a Central Florida neighborhood put up with a loud, daily noise that shattered their peace and quiet for a long time, why did a Vice Mayor leave a profanity laced message for a citizen, who is this episode's "Floridiot of the Week" and Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden Interview Emily Speck About Space X Crew Dragon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin talk about a unique type of therapy animal, a messy opioid story and the historical case of "The Groveland 4". UCF History Professor, Jim Clark discusses the controversial case where 4 young black men were wrongly convicted of raping a white woman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Erik Kohler, The Voice Of The UCF Knights, discusses the recent success of the University of Central Florida's football team. What's the future look like for the Knights? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to UCF Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Humberto Campins, about what mining asteroids is all about and why it is important for us to be doing so. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Imagine being raised an only child and then discovering you have more than 40 half-brothers and half-sisters scattered around the globe. On this episode of Florida's Fourth Estate, we talk to Kianni Arroyo about how she used Instagram to connect to all of her donor siblings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to Political Expert, Jim Clark, about the 2018 Election. What makes 2018 a potentially record breaking year and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to ER Doctor, Chase Fawcett, about how the Emergency Room functions. Is it being used the way Doctors feel it should be used. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to CBS News correspondent and space expert Bill Harwood about the future of space exploration. What exactly is going on in the Milky Way and beyond? Matt and Ginger also discuss important Florida headlines and the “Floridiot of The Week." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to Orlando attorney John Morgan about Florida's marijuana predicament and why he chose to not run for governor. Matt and Ginger also discuss important Florida headlines and the “Floridiot of The Week." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell about Florida politics. Which attack ads are telling the truth and which ads are not telling the truth? Matt and Ginger also discuss important Florida headlines and the “Floridiot of The Week." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to theme park expert Ken Pilcher. The discussion is centered around an exclusive Disney Club designed exclusively for the rich. Matt and Ginger also discuss important Florida headlines and the “Floridiot of The Week." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden discuss the specifics of the “Stand Your Ground" law with attorney Mark O'Mara. What does the attorney who defended George Zimmerman have to say about the controversial law? Matt and Ginger also discuss important Florida headlines and the “Floridiot of The Week." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to University Of Central Florida linguistics professor Dr. Beth Young. They discuss “Why Words Matter." Matt and Ginger also discuss important Florida headlines and the “Floridiot of The Week." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On the pilot episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate, Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk to scientist Kelli Hunsucker about “The Living Dock Project". What is it and what type of effects will it have on the Indian River Lagoon? They also cover the important Florida headlines and the “Floridiot of The Week". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices