Welcome to Florida

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is proud to acknowledge that it didn't follow science when recommending a black bear hunt. Our guest this episode is documentary filmmaker Rob Hoovis. In November of 2025, he premiered "Outlaws of the Everglades," a film detailing the marijuana smuggling pipeline from Central America and the Caribbean that flowed through the 10,000 Islands area of rural southwestern Florida during the 1970s and 80s. Our "Florida Black History" YouTube channel has been updated with our past episodes on Fort Mose, Harry and Harriette Moore, and Reconstruction and Freedmen in the state. The next state legislative session is weeks away with the groundwork already being laid in Tallahassee. Jason Garcia's "Seeking Rents" and Ryan Smart and Ryan Worthington's "As Bad As It Is" are the two best podcasts to keep you informed on all the treachery. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

With the gubernatorial election less than a year away, now is the time to ask the crowded field of candidates about their positions on conservation and the environment. Three episodes ago, we discussed the impact America's lead-up to World War II had on Florida, bringing hundreds of thousands of servicemen and dozens of military installations to the state. That was the 1930s. In this episode with Florida author and historian Gary Mormino , we discussed what else was going on across the state during the 1930s - the heart of the Great Depression. If the Jeffrey Epstein scandal interests you, here's the link to our previous episode with Julie Brown , the Miami Herald investigative journalist who would not let the story die, even after Epstein initially got away with it. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Residents in Crystal River are worried about a sand mine disrupting their drinking water and springs. The smalltooth sawfish is one of the most unusual looking animals in the animal kingdom. Tonya Wiley has been studying the species for more than 25 years, most recently with her Havenworth Coastal Conservation organization. Tonya joins us to discuss this endangered species, how it has hung on in Florida while being wiped out elsewhere, and the latest threat to its survival. If you see a sawfish, call 844-472-9347 (1-844-4SAWFISH). "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter for only $5 per month. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Folks in the Panhandle are upset about a scheme to swap 200 acres of National Forest land to build a county recreation area. Our guest this episode is Patrick Manteiga, second generation owner, publisher, and columnist at the Tampa-based La Gaceta newspaper . La Gaceta is the state's - and the nation's - only trilingual newspaper. Filling in for Chadd Scott his episode is Florida author , podcaster , and newspaper publisher Cathy Salustri. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The local Audubon Society chapter and residents in Sarasota took on the country's largest homebuilder - and WON ! Florida was an essential training and support location for military operations during World War II. Anthony D. Atwood is a military historian who authored "State of War: A History of World War II in Florida." He joins us to discuss how Florida shaped the War and how the War shaped Florida. For only $5 per month, you can support "Welcome to Florida" by becoming a monthly patron. Patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Former unelected shadow president and super-villain Elon Musk wants to close public beaches and pollute an estuary near Cape Kennedy on the Space Coast so he can play astronaut. Pulitzer Prize winning author Gilbert King is back on the show to talk about his latest book, and podcast , both focused on an outrageous miscarriage of justice in Lakeland: "Bone Valley: A True Story of Injustice and Redemption in the Heart of Florida." Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

It's Halloween and "Welcome to Florida's" favorite spooky co-host, Cathy Salustri , is back, filling in for Chadd Scott. Cathy is a Halloween FANATIC and author of "It Came from Florida: The Best of Florida's Worst B-Movies." Cathy hosts her own Florida podcast, "The Florida Spectacular." Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Fort Mose roughly 1 mile north of St. Augustine has the distinction of being the first free Black settlement in what is now America. Despite that august history, the site remains little known inside or outside of Florida. Kathleen Deagan and Jane Landers have spent the last 40-plus years attempting to uncover and promote the history at Fort Mose. Their book, "Fort Mose: Colonial America's Black Fortress of Freedom," combines history and archaeology to provide as accurate an account of the Fort as exists. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Lake Okeechobee is the most polluted lake in the United States as a result of the governor's inaction on cleaning up the state's water. Jonathan Dickinson only spent about a year in Florida, stranded here after a shipwreck on his way to Philadelphia from Jamaica, but his name lives on with the Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County. Joining us to detail Dickinson's life and time in Florida is Jason Daniels, editor of "Jonathan Dickinson's Journal or God's Protecting Providence, an Early American Castaway Narrative." Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

A scam of epic proportions has been perpetrated by the governor upon the people of Florida. Land conservation used an excuse to pay off political bribes. Robert Rauschenberg is arguably the most influential American artist of the 20th century. He moved from New York to Captiva Island in 1970 and would spend the rest of his life there, more than 30 years. 2025 is the centennial of Rauschenberg's birth year with celebrations being held around the world. Jade Dellinger is Director at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers and joins us to discuss the artist's time in Florida. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

In little Arcadia in southwest Florida in the 1980s, two tragedies became national news: the exoneration of a Black father wrongfully convicted in 1968 for the death of his seven children, and three little white boys being ostracized from the community after contracting the AIDS virus through blood transfusions. Jason Vuic grew up in nearby Ponta Gorda and remembers following these events closely as they unfolded. He dug back into the stories, and the story of Arcadia, in his newly released book for fall of 2025, "A Town Without Pity: AIDS, Race, and Resistance in Florida's Deep South." If the James Richardson portion of this episode interests you, be sure to visit our Florida Black History YouTube channel with all of our previous shows about Black History in Florida. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

This episode centers on music icon and Winter Haven native Gram Parsons . Parsons career took off in California, but his life began in Florida. Bob Kealing, author of "Calling Me Home: Gram Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock" joins us to discuss. Catch Bob October 9, 2025, at Florida Southern College in Lakeland for a lecture about Elvis' time in Florida. Gram Parsons' Derry Down music venue . Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

More incontrovertible evidence of climate change: Florida stone crabs are living in the Chesapeake Bay. On Christmas Eve, 1951, central Florida civil rights activists Harry and Harriette Moore were assassinated via bomb blast by Orlando members of the Ku Klux Klan in their home. The married couple became America's first civil rights martyrs. Robert W. Fieseler is a journalist, scholar and the author of " American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives," a book published in 2025 with newly discovered details about the assassination. Visit the Harry and Harriette Moore museum in Mims, FL. Visit our "Florida Black History" YouTube channel to hear previous "Welcome to Florida" episodes sharing Florida Black History. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Ron DeSantis is using his personal version of a Department of Government Efficiency to harass areas that didn't vote for him; he should turn the magnifying glass on the state's Everglades immigrant concentration camp . Mark Proctor leads the trust in charge of overseeing the historic Moseley Homestead in Branden. Proctor joins us to discuss the property's history and future. " Come to My Sunland : Letters of Julia Daniels Moseley from the Florida Frontier, 1882-1886." "Welcome to Florida" patrons can watch a Labor Day 2025 speech given by Chadd Scott in Fernandina Beach along with accessing our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The villains running British Petroleum - BP - want to drill in the Gulf again . Their last effort in the Gulf resulted in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Our guest this week is Eckerd College professor of environmental science and biology Beth Forys. Forys is also active with the Florida Shorebird Alliance , and that's our topic this episode: shorebirds. If you'd like to get involved with shorebird monitoring or birding in Florida, look up your local Audubon Florida chapter . "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly conservation newsletter for only $5 per month. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

A lawsuit seems to be all that now stands between Florida and a lot of dead black bears. Paynes Prairie Preserve just south of Gainesville has a fascinating ecological history and history of human habitation as well . Lars Anderson guides tours throughout Paynes Prairie and wrote "Paynes Prairie: The Great Savanna: A History and Guide." "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter." Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

A new law purporting to ease recovery from hurricane damage for Florida homeowners may have been a Trojan horse from developers looking to get around local growth ordinances. "Florida's Living Beaches: A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber," by Blair and Dawn Witherington, is a fantastic resource for anyone walking on a beach in Florida and wondering "what's that?" Blair joins the show to discuss his inspiration for the book and beachcombing finds. The couple have a new book, "Living Beaches of the Gulf Coast: A Beachcombers Guide including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida's Panhandle." "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for only $5 per month. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Cedar Key is running out of drinking water and wants to take some from their neighboring communities. Our guest Chad Crawford is a Florida native and creator and host of the popular "How to do Florida" TV Show. He also created the "Flip My Florida Yard" show and "Protect Our Paradise" docuseries. Check out Chad's new podcast, "Sunshine Junkie." Chad's "Flip My Florida" yard show focuses on using native and Florida friendly plants and landscaping designs to create a lawn that doubles as habitat for insects, birds, and animals, filters and cleans storm water, reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides, and mitigates flooding. Here are the 9 principles of a Florida friendly landscape. If you can't get Chad to come out and flip your Florida yard, your local Florida Native Plant Society chapter or F lorida native plant nursery can help. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for only $5 per month. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Chadd Scott visited DeSantis and Trump's immigrant concentration camp in the Everglades as far as the public is allowed to go. It was worse than he imagined. $5 per month "Welcome to Florida" patrons can watch a video of what he saw. Jason Garcia's exceptional "Seeking Rents" podcast and website are a great source for more information about the camp. Our guest this episode is Ann Colby, author of "Wicked St. Augustine," who tells us all about the storied history of prostitution in the city. She also hosts walking tours in St. Augustine. Find more information here about the Sierra Club Florida Chapter's statewide charter bus program taking people to the August 12 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting to speak in opposition of a proposed black bear hunt. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

How is human waste from Miami ending up polluting the St. Johns River? Craig explains. The Stonewall Uprising in New York in 1969 can be viewed as the start of the modern gay rights movement. A teenager in Hollywood, FL was inspired and started a small library to recognize the gay community. That effort gradually evolved into Fort Lauderdale's Stonewall National Museum, Archives and Library . Robert Kesten, the museum's director, joins us to discuss its history, and the history of the LGBTQ+ movement in America. Thanks to all of our $5 per month patrons on Patreon.com who help support the show and receive exclusive access to our weekly Florida Conservation Newsletter. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The Trump regime's attempts to destroy the federal government and sell off the pieces to private business is impacting Florida's public lands. Our guest this episode is Dalia Colón, author of the award-winning "The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook" and host of "The Zest," a Florida cooking podcast produced by WUSF radio in Tampa. We discuss popular Florida fruits and vegetables and how to incorporate them into your meals. Friends of "Welcome to Florida:" Jason Garcia's essential "Seeking Rents" podcast exposes the financial corruption inherent at the Everglades concentration camp. Ryan Smart and Ryan Worthington's "As Bad as it is" podcast examines the connection between conservation and politics in Florida. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Unsurprisingly, the Florida Department of Environmental Prostitution/Protection continues putting the interests of industry and developers ahead of the interests of our springs. One expert source in Craig's latest Florida Phoenix article linked above is springs advocate Ryan Smart. Smart co-hosts an essential podcast for Florida conservationists called "As Bad As It Is." Two recent episodes highlighted the damage Florida's legislature has done to environmental causes through defunding conservation projects in the state budget. Our guest this episode is author, historian, and lecturer Robert N. Macomber . Macomber has studied the Civil War and Reconstruction in Florida, focusing on the state's freedmen, formerly enslaved African Americans emancipated following the war. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The Manatee County Commission did what county commissions in Florida almost never do: it told a real estate developer "no." Our guest this episode is novelist, playwright, and Cedar Key clam farmer Michael Presley Bobbitt. Michael joins us to discuss Cedar Key history, his Cedar Key novel series , and clam farming in the Gulf of Mexico. More Florida history can be found at our "Florida Black History" YouTube channel and on Facebook where our friends and fellow Florida podcasters Cathy Salustri and Ryan Worthington have started a Florida history group titled "Submerged Stories" which is free to join. Remember to sign up for our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter." Just $5 per month gets you exclusive access to a weekly accounting of the state's top environmental stories. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The governor wants to put a concentration camp for immigrants in the Everglades, following in the footsteps of "Florida's Worst Idea." Previous “Welcome to Florida” podcast episode about "Florida's Worst Idea," the Everglades Jetport, which gave rise to conservation legend Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Our guest on that episode was Michael Grunwald, author of " The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise ," and he joins us again for this episode to discuss his new book about how the global agriculture system is destroying the planet. "We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate" prominently features a Florida man and a "super tree" that could replace failing Florida citrus. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Florida has a sewerage treatment problem . Our guest this week is Michael Adno who wrote a beautiful story about the life of north Florida native Ernie Mickler. Mickler became famous in the late 1980s for his offbeat Southern cookbook, "White Trash Cooking," which merged old country recipes with folklore, storytelling, and ethnography. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" for only $5 per month. The newsletter is a summary of the most important environmental stories from across the state and those across the nation impacting Florida. Nature Disturbed Mother Nature is one weird lady Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify