Podcasts about WGCU

Edward “Teddy” Byrne is a Producer and Writer at WGCU on the “Southwest Florida in Focus” TV show team. After earning degrees in Journalism and Psychology from Keene State College Teddy settled in Southwest Florida starting with a job with WINK News. As a Sports Producer there, he had the opportunity to tag along with the FGCU Men’s Basketball team during their epic “Dunk City” adventure to the Sweet 16 in 2013. A trip back to the newsroom led to him becoming part of the NBC2/ABC7 team that spent multiple days covering Hurricane Ian. Now, he says he feels privileged to help develop strong newsworthy content to residents of Southwest Florida at WGCU. SONG 1: “Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass from their self-titled album released in 1972. https://youtu.be/DVx8L7a3MuE?si=gvoJp78YDuZYVTuC SONG 2: “Smile” performed by Nat King Cole, released in 1954...it's actually based on the theme song used in the soundtrack for Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film Modern Times. https://youtu.be/phS7BfOfTOY?si=7wg07rdZOxYTyv97 SONG 3: “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf from their 1968 album The Second. https://youtu.be/zROGY_nH5BU?si=6K3rDHK-y_L2UYXy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Bowen is a singer/songwriter/computer engineer who grew up in Fort Myers but headed off to New York City in the 90s, in part to live the big city life and in part to be able to see Moxy Früvous shows. Bill is also the former roommate and Foosball partner of WGCU’s own Mike Kiniry. SONG 1: "Garden Party" released in 1972 by Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band on the album of the same name. 3:45 https://youtu.be/1JK0Z6IdLF4?si=Ehx5EuV6wmldcnhw SONG 2: "The Drinking Song" by Moxy Früvous from their debut album Bargainville released in 1993. 5:09 https://youtu.be/M5Xf2xrcchw?si=mNKGGOZ07vhuxhlC SONG 3: Barenaked Ladies "War on Drugs" from their 2003 album Everything to Everyone. 5:32 https://youtu.be/3rWVeFzSrL0?si=udpJepjUyX7j0q5nSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 21 WGCU hosted an event at Florida Gulf Coast University's Water School that featured NOVA Executive Producer Chris Schmidt. That day we screened parts of the NOVA episode Weathering the Future for an audience of about 200 people. Between the segments we chatted with him, as well as two FGCU professors about issues raised in the film and the challenges we face in Southwest Florida when it comes to adapting to our changing climate. Chris talked about the challenges NOVA faces in communicating science to a broad audience, and Dr. Win Everham and Dr. Molly Nation helped tie it all together.

Dr. Jerry Jackson is known to WGCU listeners as the creator and host of With the Wild Things, heard weekday mornings at 7:19 and weekday afternoons at 5:18. He's a professor emeritus of Ecological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University, and a professor emeritus at Mississippi State University. Nick Penniman is a retired newspaper publisher, and he is chair emeritus of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and a Florida Master Naturalist. He and Dr. Jackson gave a talk together at Florida Gulf Coast University last week as part of the school's Provost's Seminar Series titled Getting to Know the World Around You: an Illustrated Conversation” so we had them come by the studio to chat.

Kim Dunham was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Michigan. She moved to Connecticut after high school and lived there for about six years before moving to Florida in 1999. Kim’s been working at WGCU since 2019 as part of the membership team. SONGS AND LINKS The original opening 20th Century Fox intro into the original theatrical release of Star Wars in 1977. https://youtu.be/oJguy6wSYyI?si=SRwB09rUgasvWdrI Black Celebration by Depeche Mode - it's the title track of their fifth album release in 1986. https://youtu.be/axs85iB5y1E?si=F6PNbeg2_daFPvCG I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner from their album Agent Provocateur released in 1984. https://youtu.be/4jA-_g_iSY0?si=JXmiBVLX3o5FsPxQSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Bayles is Senior Environmental Reporter at WGCU. A lifelong Florida journalist, Tom has covered stories in 67 counties, including plenty of hurricanes. Tom covers climate change, biodiversity, water quality and quantity issues, Everglades restoration efforts, endangered and invasive species, beach and coastal issues, and the intersections of global warming and the economy, politics, religion, society, and science. Bayles worked for The New York Times Company in Sarasota, the Associated Press in Tampa, Miami, and Tallahassee, and he was a staff writer at the Tampa Bay Times in Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. For all of his work, Tom was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal for Public Service in Investigations from the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, a Waldo Proffitt Award for Excellence in Environmental Journalism in Florida, was named the state’s top environmental journalist by the FSNE and the Florida Press Club. SONG 1: “Fools Game” from Michael Bolton off his self-titled album released in 1982. https://youtu.be/NukzQZM-1Qk?si=QnPLGcJMiD0QHRr1 SONG 2: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” from Guns n’ Roses’ 1988 album Appetite For Destruction. https://youtu.be/1w7OgIMMRc4?si=Cm1CoijOT0N5V9nF SONG 3: “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf from his album Bat Out of Hell released in 1977. https://youtu.be/a136H5K3OKw?si=LIe0QLEqWd64A_raSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday's election marks an historic red wave here in Florida from the Presidential race to constitutional amendment proposals, down to local political contests. WGCU Southwest Florida in Focus host Sandra Viktorova provides some post-election analysis in a conversation with FGCU political scientist Dr. Sandra Pavekla and WGCU host/reporter John Davis.

As of 2:00 p.m. Hurricane Milton is a Category Five storm with maximum sustained winds of 175 miles per hour. This storm has intensified more quickly than the models predicted over the weekend — and it could intensify further as it continues its path toward Florida's west coast. Its current projected path shows Hurricane Milton making landfall north of Tampa on Wednesday afternoon or early evening. Some models show it arriving to shore early Thursday morning. We check in with Tim Miller at the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network — and get a bit of historical context on similar storms that have hit southwest Florida in the past from WGCU's Tom Hall, author of Historic Hurricanes of Fort Myers: How Three 19th Century Hurricanes Influenced the Town's Development.

Jay Allison is host and producer of The Moth Radio Hour,  host, curator, and producer of This I Believe on NPR, and creator/producer of hundreds of documentaries, essays, and special series for national and international broadcast. Jay has won virtually every major industry award for his productions and collaborations, including six Peabodys.  He was also the 1996 recipient of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding contributions to public radio, the industry's highest honor.  Jay is also a founder of the Association of Independents in Radio and founder of The Public Radio Exchange (or PRX), which is how many Public Radio shows and other content are shared with stations like WGCU…it's a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation's “Genius Organization” Award.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We listen back to last week's forum with City of Naples Mayoral candidates ahead of the March 19 election. The forum included all three candidates: incumbent Mayor Teresa Heitmann, current Naples City Councilman Ted Blankenship, and former councilman Gary Price. The forum was moderated by WGCU's John Davis and Naples Daily News Executive Editor Wendy Fullerton Powell, and organized by the League of Women Voters of Collier County and the Collier Forum Coalition.

The college admission process has become increasingly competitive over the past few decades — especially so in recent years — and incredibly so when it comes to the country's most elite colleges and universities. So, it's easy to understand the pressures they face and the stress they feel as their high school years wind down and they await word on whether they've been admitted to the school or schools they've set their hearts and minds on. On Tuesday, January 9 at 9:00pm WGCU will debut a TV documentary that explores the high stress world of college admissions, especially for students who have their sights set on the country's most elite institutions. “Dream School: A Journey to Higher Ed” was produced, directed, written, and hosted by WGCU's Sandra Viktorova, who listeners will recognize as our All Things Considered Host.

Dr. Jonathan Harrison obtained his PhD in Sociology from the University of Leicester in the UK in 2006 and then migrated to Florida that same year. He has taught as an adjunct instructor since 2012 at FGCU, Florida Southwestern State University, and Hodges University. Jonathan has written extensively about segregation in Fort Myers and contributed to the WGCU documentary With a Made Up Mind, which explores the history of voter suppression in Southwest Florida.

David Oquendo worked in business and retail management more than a decade, and decided decided to turn his passion for film and television in his actual job. Since then, has worked on productions for CMT, PBS, Oxygen, the Travel Channel, and the El Rey Networks, and is now at the helm of WGCU's video productions for TV and web.

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Drifts Across The United States This week, smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south, enveloping the Northeastern United States, casting an ominous orange glow. The smoke continued spreading outwards to the Southeast and to the Midwest. While climate change is extending and worsening the Canadian wildfire season, it's still rare for this many fires, so early in the season. Ira talks with Katherine Wu, staff writer at The Atlantic, about the latest on the Canadian wildfires and other top news stories of the week, including; a new type of cat contraception, drilling into the Earth's mantle, and a ‘virgin' crocodile birth.   30 Years Later, 'Jurassic Park' Still Inspires On June 11th, 1993, what would become one of the biggest movies of all time was released in theaters: Jurassic Park. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton, the film is about people's belief that they can control nature. Wealthy businessman John Hammond creates a dinosaur nature park. Things go awry quickly. Electric fences break down, dinosaurs get loose, and people are eaten. At the time of its release, the film became the highest-grossing movie of all time. In the decades since it came out, the film has spawned a multi-movie franchise, amusement park rides, video games, and every type of merchandise imaginable. The movie also had a tremendous impact on visual effects, both computer animated and practical, which are still seen today in the media. When the first Jurassic Park movie came out, many of the paleontologists of today were children—or not even born yet. Ira speaks with a trio of paleontologists about the film's impact on them as kids, and its continuous use as an educational tool to inspire young dino enthusiasts: Riley Black, Steve Brusatte and Yara Haridy.   A Biotech Offensive Against Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes Mosquitoes are the primary spreaders of some highly dangerous diseases for people: The insect spreads diseases like yellow fever, dengue fever, malaria, and zika, which kill millions of people globally each year. There's one species of mosquito that's invasive to the United States, and whose populations are spreading: Aedes aegypti, which is recognizable by black and white markings on its legs. Lee County, Florida is taking aim at this species with biotechnology. Their strategy is to release 30,000 sterilized male mosquitoes into the environment, who will go on to mate with females, who then will release eggs that do not hatch. Male mosquitoes don't bite, only females do. The goal of this method is to decrease the Aedes aegypti population with every generation. Biotechnology to combat this mosquito species is nothing new. Ira speaks with reporter Cary Barbor at WGCU in Fort Myers about this strategy in her city. He also speaks with Dr. Omar Akbari, professor of cell and developmental biology at UC San Diego, about his research on using CRISPR to alter Aedes aegypti into harmless insects.   To stay updated on all-things-science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters. Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.    

Tim Morrison is a lifelong musician and singer, but he says he still took the safe path and made sure to go to college. A Journalism degree later and a move to New York City led him to a unique career and life that wound up in anti-counterfeiting in the fashion world.  Deaths in the family lead to a move to Naples in 2005 and a return to music. His self-written/performed/engineered/produced/promoted/laptop album ended up with his song “Weight” featured on All Songs Considered - Second Stage and an interview on Gulf Coast Live - Arts Edition, back before it was Gulf Coast Life.  Tim ended up working at the Naples Zoo, the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, and right here in public media at WGCU.

Dayna Harpster is a journalist, writer, and Communications Specialist at WGCU. She started teaching journalism classes at Florida Gulf Coast University last year.

Rendy Ramos is a videographer, editor, and avid cinephile. He has worked on shoots including ESPN, music festivals on cruises, nationally broadcast dog shows, wedding films, and music videos.  Rendy moved back to Southwest Florida in 2013 and was a Production Director for Waterman Broadcasting, the local NBC/ABC affiliate before shifting to Photojournalism and joining us here at WGCU developing content and stories.

Mike Braun is managing editor at WGCU working with our reporters to dig deeper and add context to stories affecting Southwest Florida. In his career in print media, he's been a general assignment reporter, copy editor, Sunday edition editor, designer, and chief of the design desk. In 1985 he convinced the editors that he could fill a page weekly with news about hunting, fishing and conservation topics, and did just that as de facto outdoor editor for the next 20 years in addition to his regular duties.  Mike then moved to southwest Florida and joined The News-Press in 2005 as a front page designer and then moved back to reporting in 2011.

Jeremey Hobson has worked in public radio for more than 20 years and was a host for NPR's Here & Now for more than seven years. Now, he is launching a new live, nationwide call-in show called The Middle with the goal of elevating the voices of Americans who live in between the coasts and bringing a wider variety of voices to the public radio airwaves. He and his team are in town preparing to do the show from the WGCU studio so we talk with him about how The Middle came to be and why he believes it's important to bring a show like this to the public radio airwaves now.

Brendan Rivers is the lead reporter for ADAPT, which is WJCT's digital magazine exploring how Northeast Florida is adapting to sea level rise and other effects of climate change. He also hosts the ADAPT podcast. Brendan originally planned to pursue a career as a composer, arranger, music producer and recording engineer, but he got an internship at WGCU and that convinced him he belongs in broadcasting and public media. He's been a Special Projects Producer at WJCT in Jacksonville since 2018. Prior to that he spent time as a reporter and then News Director at Southern Stone Communications, which owns and operates several radio stations in the Daytona Beach area.

John Albion is running for Lee County Board again. Dr. Traci Kohler is the new Beach School Principal. Michael Braun is leaving the News-Press after 17 years to take on a new role at WGCU.

Scott Miller comes from a radio background as his father was a DJ in Toledo when he was growing up. He spent 4 years in the United States Coast Guard, and has worked in radio for the last 29 years in both management and sales roles. For the past 9 years he's been a resident of Southwest Florida and worked as a Sales Manager for iHeart Media before joining WGCU as Associate General Manager of business partnerships and corporate investments.

Mike Walcher worked for 42 years as an anchor and reporter in radio and TV News, almost always as a hard and breaking news reporter, covering things like the police beat, courts, politics, and local government. Mike retired from broadcasting at the end of 2016 and immediately started teaching journalism at Florida Gulf Coast University. He's currently teaching the new Democracy Watch course and fellowships at FGCU and is working closely with us here at WGCU.

Born in Venezuela, Samantha Romero immigrated to Miami, FL in to 2006, and is now a journalism student at FGCU. She's also a reporter at WGCU, and produces Noticias de WGCU en Español – a weekly news round up produced at WGCU and aired on Radio Conciencia, a community radio station in Immokalee, FL. Sam also works at WINK News where she edits video, and does photography for FGCU.  Sam also produces music, documentary film, knits sweaters, and even breeds butterflies.

Sabrina is the Editor-in-Chief of Eagle News and is one of WGCU's Democracy Watch Fellows, covering news local to Southwest Florida with a focus on government. She's also been a Next Generation Radio reporter for NPR.  Sabrina plans to graduate this semester, and will be working on her Masters in Journalism at NYU in the Fall.

Katie Fogarty is a junior Journalism major at FGCU. She's involved in Eagle News, the FGCU Odyssey Magazine, the Journalism department at FGCU, and WGCU as a News Reporting Intern. Over the summer, Katie plans to intern at the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting in Jackson, Mississippi. 

This podcast may help you more than any other episode I have done so far.  Overall, this episode will do the most for you and your business.   It will move you ahead by drastically reducing the learning curve that you would normally go through.In this episode, I help you make the decision whether the Government market is right for you or not!.Assuming the answer is yes, I drastically shorten the learning curve by telling you what's important now, which includes the following 7 steps: Get registered in SAM.gov and DSBS - I also talk about optimizing these registrations, and how to optimize your website for Government procurement. Most people never consider these things. I tell you how to locate Government buying offices near you and locate your advocate in those offices.I tell you how to use SAM.gov to learn and gather info, and the types of info you can gather.  What to do if it seems like drudgery and you aren't enjoying it.Putting Small Business certifications to work for you. When to get started.Emphasize the process and the results will come.  This one is a must listen.  ----------------------As you know,  Winning Government Contracts University is live!  I have gotten a lot of great feedback from subscribers.  To join the group, go to winninggovernmentcontracts.com, and click the WGCU link in the menu at the top.  The first 100 subscribers get a tremendous deal!  $12 a month for a monthly subscription and $120 for a yearly subscription (purchasing a year in advance saves you an additional $24 off the monthly rate).  Use coupon code WGCU for the monthly deal and WGCU2 for the yearly subscription. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) payments begin as soon as next month, for many small businesses with monthly payments ranging from hundreds up to $2500/month.  At the same time, there are supply chain issues hindering many industries.   Staffing shortages seem to be everywhere.  Inflation is up. gas prices are up.   Building materials and raw materials, also up. I could go on.  I see a "perfect storm" coming.  It seems that many small businesses survived due to EIDL loans, but haven't recovered to the point that they will be able to make the loan payments.  That is the subject of this podcast. I also include some thoughts on what could be done.   Please share this episode with others, and let me here from you.  It's important. My email is rick@federalpcs.com.----------------------Also,  Winning Government Contracts University is live!  To join the group, go to winninggovernmentcontracts.com, and click the WGCU link in the menu at the top.  The first 100 subscribers get a tremendous deal!  $12 a month for a monthly subscription and $120 for a yearly subscription (purchasing a year in advance saves you an additional $24 off the monthly rate).  Use coupon code WGCU for the monthly deal and WGCU2 for the yearly subscription.  

The fast lane to growing your small business growth is to sell to the Government.  Nothing else comes close.  In this episode find out about – The kind of growth other people like you are seeing,  Why the Government is the best option for small business growth,  The steps to getting into The Fast Lane (it's not as hard as you think!!)Also,  Winning Government Contracts University is live!  To subscribe, go to winninggovernmentcontracts.com, and click the WGCU link in the menu at the top.  The first 100 subscribers get a tremendous deal!  $12 a month for a monthly subscription and $120 for a yearly subscription (purchasing a year in advance saves you an additional $24 off the monthly rate).  Use coupon code WGCU for the monthly deal and WGCU2 for the yearly subscription.  

What's it like to experience a piece of Dom Pérignon history? Has the legendary California Chardonnay Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay held up in the years since the Judgement of Paris? How can you pair wine with your Zodiac sign? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer, Gina Birch and broadcaster Julie Glenn, hosts of the Grape Minds podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights What makes Spain a great destination for wine lovers? How did Julie finally become a Lambrusco fan? Has the legendary Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay held up in the years since the Judgement of Paris? What can you learn through comparative tastings? What was it like to experience the history of Dom Pérignon through St. Hilaire Abbey in Limoux? How can you pair wine with your zodiac sign? Which controversial Grape Minds interview almost didn't make it to air? How has cancer affected Julie's experience with wine? What are my favourite Pinot Noirs? Why does Julie believe consolidation of the wine industry is bad for wine? How can you pair your favourite childhood foods with wine? What are Gina and Julie's go-to wine books? Which of Gina and Julie's favourite wine gadgets should you try? How long should you save "special" wines?   Key Takeaways I loved Gina's story about experiencing a piece of Dom Pérignon history. That's the magical connection between wine and place. I'm impressed that the legendary California Chardonnay Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay held up in the years since the Judgement of Paris. I enjoyed Julie pairing wine with your Zodiac sign. It's uncanny that she picked Pinot Noir for Libras even before we met. As you know, it's my go-to vino.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621   About Gina Birch and Julie Glenn Gina Birch grew up in Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and public relations from Troy University, in Alabama. Her first job was in radio news, which eventually led her to Fort Myers, Florida, where she hosted a top-rated morning show for almost 15 years. She also started writing about food, wine, spirits and travel for USA Today, the Napa Register and the Fort Myers News-Press. Julie Glenn earned her Master's degree in communication from the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences in Piedmont, Italy and is fluent in Italian. She also has an undergraduate degree in Mass Communication from the University of Missouri. She began her broadcasting career as a reporter/anchor/producer for both CBS and NBC affiliates. Before becoming the News Director at WGCU, the NPR affiliate for southwest Florida, Julie was the regular wine columnist for the Naples Daily News. Gina and Julie had been friends for years and together they created Grape Minds, a wine podcast that's also broadcasted on NPR. They talk about the people, culture, and history behind the wines, as well as wine travel and food pairings. They've also interviewed some of the best-known people in the wine world and as they note, have only destroyed one soundboard while tasting in the studio.     To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/157.

Are you curious about slow food and wine? What's special about the Alto Adige region of Italy? Why should you consider Portugal and Dubai for your next wine-fueled trip? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer, Gina Birch and broadcaster Julie Glen, hosts of the Grape Minds podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights How did Gina and Julie first meet? What is it about Gina and Julie's styles that complement each other in their work? What is a "ride with" in the wine industry? What was Gina's most memorable "ride with" experience? Which California-based faux pas left Julie mortified on a "ride with" with an important producer? What's Julie's approach to talking about wines she doesn't like? Which embarrassing lesson did Julie learn about Pinot Grigio while living in Italy? What makes the Naples Winter Wine Festival a unique and extraordinary experience? Who were some of Gina and Julie's favourite interviewees at the Naples Winter Wine Festival? What can you expect from a visit to the Alto Adige region in Italy? Which wines first tempted Julie and Gina to go deeper into the world of wine? What's the worst food and wine pairing that Gina has tried? Why did a seven-course Champagne dinner leave a lasting impression on Julie? What great, casual foods should you try pairing with Champagne? What brought Julie to her studies in Italy? Which chance encounter led to Julie meeting her husband in Italy? Why should you add Portugal to your must-visit list as a wine lover What was it like to attend the Expo 2020 World Expo in Dubai? Does Dubai have a big wine scene?   Key Takeaways I loved learning more about the Alto Adige region of Italy, and Julie's story about Pinot Grigio. I'm adding those wines to my shopping list. I'm fascinated with Dubai and what it would be like to visit that city. I'll put that one on my bucket list. I agree that wine is both subjective like art and at times embarrassing, and we can learn so much if we open ourselves up to those experiences.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Video Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wednesday at 7 pm eastern on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621   About Gina Birch and Julie Glenn Gina Birch grew up in Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and public relations from Troy University, in Alabama. Her first job was in radio news, which eventually led her to Fort Myers, Florida, where she hosted a top-rated morning show for almost 15 years. She also started writing about food, wine, spirits and travel for USA Today, the Napa Register and the Fort Myers News-Press. Julie Glenn earned her Master's degree in communication from the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences in Piedmont, Italy and is fluent in Italian. She also has an undergraduate degree in Mass Communication from the University of Missouri. She began her broadcasting career as a reporter/anchor/producer for both CBS and NBC affiliates. Before becoming the News Director at WGCU, the NPR affiliate for southwest Florida, Julie was the regular wine columnist for the Naples Daily News. Gina and Julie had been friends for years and together they created Grape Minds, a wine podcast that's also broadcasted on NPR. They talk about the people, culture, and history behind the wines, as well as wine travel and food pairings. They've also interviewed some of the best-known people in the wine world and as they note, have only destroyed one soundboard while tasting in the studio.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/156.

Passionate activist Valerie Vande Panne shares her journey covering the war on drugs to becoming an environmental reporter at WGCU Public Media in Southwest Florida. She has also contributed to Bloomberg, Reuters, and Politico. With a focus on covering marginalized communities, Valerie discusses how environmental racism has a direct impact on these areas. She notes that not only is our planet sick, but we are sick as well. Lasting change involves a level of action on a global scale. Every person, every family, and every community needs to do their part. Valerie implores us to do our research, and make our own determinations for how we can be a part of the solution. As communities, we must come together because when we collectively support something, we have more power. In closing, Valerie shares the importance of laughter. It's important to be aware of what is going on around us, it is imperative that we don't get caught in a negative feedback loop. Find the space to laugh! Craig Pittman - Environment, Growth, and Development Reporter The Story of Plastic Valerie Vande Panne

Jarrett Eady Jarrett is a 4th generation native of Fort Myers and an alumni of FSU where he majored in Political Science with minors in History, Urban and Regional Planning, and Black Studies. He also served as Student Body President, was a member of the Florida State University Board of Trustees, and a member of the Florida Board of Governors. Jarrett serves as Chairman of the City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, he’s on the Alliance for the Arts Board of Directors, WGCU’s Content Committee, the Omicron Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, immediate past Chair of the Lee County Black History Society Board of Directors, and immediate Past President of the National PanHellenic Council of SW Florida. 

Initially, U.S. officials predicted that as many as 20 million Americans would be fully vaccinated before the end of 2020. And while that many vaccine doses were distributed, only a fraction of them have been administered. The federal government has given states control over distribution plans which has led to different systems with differing levels of success. In one Florida county, Julie Glenn of member station WGCU reports on the haphazard vaccine rollout that has led elderly residents to camp out in tents to get their first shot.As vaccinations lag behind schedule, a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus is spreading in many countries, including the U.S. The new variant isn't thought to be more deadly, and scientists believe the vaccines currently being administered will work against it. Additional good news is that masks and social distancing will still slow the spread of the new variant.Additional reporting this episode from NPR's Allison Aubrey, who's reported on the slow start to vaccinations, and from NPR's Michaeleen Doucleff, who's reported on the new coronavirus variant. Reporting on the vaccine rollout at the state level came from Will Stone in Seattle, Nashville Public Radio's Blake Farmer, and WBUR's Martha Bebinger.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Initially, U.S. officials predicted that as many as 20 million Americans would be fully vaccinated before the end of 2020. And while that many vaccine doses were distributed, only a fraction of them have been administered. The federal government has given states control over distribution plans which has led to different systems with differing levels of success. In one Florida county, Julie Glenn of member station WGCU reports on the haphazard vaccine rollout that has led elderly residents to camp out in tents to get their first shot.As vaccinations lag behind schedule, a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus is spreading in many countries, including the U.S. The new variant isn't thought to be more deadly, and scientists believe the vaccines currently being administered will work against it. Additional good news is that masks and social distancing will still slow the spread of the new variant.Additional reporting this episode from NPR's Allison Aubrey, who's reported on the slow start to vaccinations, and from NPR's Michaeleen Doucleff, who's reported on the new coronavirus variant. Reporting on the vaccine rollout at the state level came from Will Stone in Seattle, Nashville Public Radio's Blake Farmer, and WBUR's Martha Bebinger.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Les Stroud is a Canadian survival expert, filmmaker and musician. He’s best known as the one-man-band creator of the TV series Survivorman. He has also worked as a full-time wilderness guide, survival instructor, and he’s a musician. As a musician Stroud has shared the stage with many names and bands at the top in the business. He has written all the theme songs for his TV shows and scored several independent films. Les has recorded six albums, including Bittern Lake in 2018, and most recently Mother Earth in 2019.He’s also working on a new show for public television called Surviving Disasters with us here at WGCU.

What Makes Grumpy Goat Coffee a Good Neighbor...The quest for the perfect cup of coffee began in Minnesota where Brian Abernathy grew up and became accustomed to having access to great coffee. After relocating to Southwest Florida, Brian struggled to find that perfect cup of coffee and took it upon himself to solve that problem. “There wasn’t much of a coffee scene here, especially coming from the Minneapolis area. I really missed that.”Tired of subpar roasts, Abernathy took it upon himself in 2016 when he purchased a roaster and began to home in on producing the perfect cup of coffee.Brian’s mission is simple – make freshly roasted, single-origin and gourmet grade coffee both exciting and approachable for everyone. Brian is very selective about which coffee beans to import. He focuses on coffee that is high altitude, 100% Arabica and fully traceable.Similar to wines, coffee is graded on a 100 point system by professional cuppers. Brian is committed to only selecting coffee beans rated 86 points or higher.Brian is often asked where he came up with the Grumpy Goat name. As the story goes, coffee was discovered by a goat herder in Ethiopia. He noticed his herd of goats were highly energetic after eating little red berries off of the trees and were up all night dancing and frolicking. But why grumpy? Well, we all know how a lot of us feel first thing in the morning before we have our coffee. And so Grumpy Goat was born.As more and more coffee lovers discovered Brian’s roasts, the local media came calling. In November 2017 on National Espresso Day, Brian was invited to have a coffee conversation on National Public Radio local affiliate WGCU. Subsequently, print publications featured stories about Brian and Grumpy Goat including The News-Press, Naples Daily News and Revive magazine.Brian’s multiple collaborations with chefs, brewmasters and food industry partners have resulted in several Grumpy Goat coffee-inspired flavors and recipes. A collaboration with Momentum Brewery resulted in a coffee stout aptly named The Goat which won a silver medal at the 2019 Best Florida Beer competition, outranking more than 15 competitors. In 2018 Brian’s collaboration on a pig rub pulled pork recipe, featuring Grumpy Goat Coffee’s EthiopTo learn more about Grumpy Goat Coffee, go to: https://grumpygoat.com/Grumpy Goat Coffee28280 Old 41 Rd Suite M-11Bonita Springs, FL 34135Support the show (https://goodneighborpodcast.com)

Alexandra Figares is a recent journalism graduate from FGCU, and once interned for the WGCU radio newsroom. She was also editor-in-chief for the university newspaper Eagle News. Originally born in Arica, Chile, but grew up in Naples her entire life, she came to the U.S. when she was just one year old.

Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bruno Halpern graduated from FGCU last year with a degree in journalism and is starting a master's in Educational Leadership at FGCU this Fall. During his time at the university he worked as Opinion Editor and Entertainment Editor at the student-run paper Eagle News. He's also been a citizen-board member at The News-Press, a radio newsroom intern at WGCU, and an editor for ABC/NBC TV. Bruno also recently won the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalism Award for Best Sound.

John Davis is a host, reporter, and producer for WGCU - where we make this show. He is the local host for NPR’s Morning Edition and he’s a producer and host for WGCU’s radio talk program Gulf Coast Life. Prior to joining WGCU, he reported at WDUQ-FM in Pittsburgh, PA. He studied journalism at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Florida Gulf Coast University. 

Andrea Perdomo is a reporter for WGCU (that's us!). She started her career in public radio as an intern for the Miami-based NPR station, WLRN. Andrea graduated from Florida International University, where she was a contributing writer for the student-run newspaper, The Panther Press, and was also a member of the university's Society of Professional Journalists chapter.  

In several parts of the United States, the number of people catching coronavirus is on the rise. Arizona, South Carolina and Florida are some of the states where cases have jumped over the past week, just as Florida governor Ron DeSantis announces schools will reopen. Julie Glenn is News Director at WGCU in Fort Myers, describes how Florida residents are reacting to easing of lockdown, and how they feel about a possible second wave. And Cary Leahy of Decision Economics talks about how the markets have reacted to those same worries.

In several parts of the United States, the number of people catching coronavirus is on the rise and that's sent the stock markets tumbling. Arizona, South Carolina and Florida are some of the states where cases have jumped over the past week, just as Florida governor Ron DeSantis announces schools will reopen. Julie Glenn is News Director at WGCU in Fort Myers, describes how Florida residents are reacting to easing of lockdown, and how they feel about a possible second wave. Also in the programme, after four rounds of negotiation, the Brexit trade deal talks between the UK and EU appear to have stalled. Christopher Giancarlo, former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, explains why the coronavirus pandemic could be good news for digital currencies. And we hear about a study into how coronavirus is affecting our sleep. All through the show we'll be joined by NPR's Paddy Hirsch in Los Angeles, and Bloomberg columnist Nisha Gopalan in Hong Kong.) (Picture: A couple wearing face masks in Miami, Florida. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

Quizmasters Lee & Marc are joined by Seth who is fresh off of appearances of two other broadcast shows - WGCU’s Three Song Stories and PBS’s Family Pictures USA - to share some conversation and some trivia questions, with topics including BEARS, TIME ZONES, CLASSIC TV, GUITAR LEGENDS, COCKTAILS, CHEMISTRY, WORLD WAR II and more! Round One WHAT BEAR IS BEST? What type of brown bear is the largest land-based carnivore in the world and is named after the Alaskan archipelago on which it resides? TIME ZONES - In what time zone is El Paso, TX? ACRONYMS - What does RADAR stand for? NFL - Which Washington NFL team was named by fans, from a contest with over 20,000 entries? HURRICANES - What hurricane had the largest ever death toll in the United States? MEDICAL CONDITIONS - What is anosmia? Round Two CLASSIC TELEVISION - Who played Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island? CLASSIC TELEVISION - Name the only cast members from Gilligan’s Island that are still alive? HISTORY - On September 11, 1978, British medical photographer was the last known person to die of what illness? PEE WEE’S PLAYHOUSE - On Pee Wee's Playhouse, who was the beauty and fashion obsessed character that often visited and flirted with Pee Wee? CHEMISTRY - Can you name three noble gasses? COUNTRY MUSIC - Not counting Elvis, what actor is mentioned by name in the Shania Twain song “That Don’t Impress Me Much”? COCKTAILS - What classic cocktail is made of equal parts gin, campari, and sweet vermouth? Final Questions INVENTIONS - What company introduced the first radio with push button tuning in 1927? GUITAR LEGENDS - Which grammy award winning guitar legend released 62 albums during his lifetime, with an additional 50 albums posthumously released after his death in 1994? SCI-FI MOVIES - What android displays immense fine motor skills with a knife and Private Hudson's hand in an iconic scene in the 1986 sci-fi movie Aliens? WORLD WAR II - Who was the deputy fuhrer that parachuted in Scotland in 1941 to try and arrange peace talks with the UK, and was ultimately convicted of war crimes during the Nuremberg Trials before dying of suicide in prison? Weekly Wrap Up September 16th, 2019 @ Palace - Jet Fuel Can't Melt Moist Beams - 102 pts. September 17th, 2019 @ Gather - Williams Sonoma Gals - 92 pts. September 18th, 2019 @ Bury Me Brewing Co. - Four Horseman - 88 pts. September 19th, 2019 @ No. 3 Craft Beers Bar - As You Wish - 90 pts. Upcoming LIVE Know Nonsense Trivia Challenges September 23rd, 2019 – Cape Coral FL – 7:00 PM @ Palace Pub & Wine Bar. Categories for the quiz will include DOGS, PUNS, AUSTRALIA, INDIE ROCK, BARTENDING, WORLD WAR II, WWE & more. Final question category will be GODZILLA selected by last week’s biggest learners ‘Link & Friends.’ September 24th, 2019 – Cape Coral FL – 7:00 PM @ Gather. Categories for the quiz will include MUSIC & MOVIES OF THE 1980’S, OBSCURE HOLIDAYS, MLB, SPORTS CARS, U.S. CITIES, and more. Final wager question category will be JFK’S LOVERS selected by last week’s biggest learners ‘Unkown Nomads. September 25th, 2019 – Fort Myers, FL – 7:00 PM @ Bury Me Brewing Co. Categories for the quiz will ‘include HARRY POTTER , BEER , DISNEY , FOOD & COOKING , RETRO VIDEO GAMES , ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

We're taking Florida wines seriously! It might be one of the state's best kept secrets, but Florida wine-making is a billion dollar industry. There are dozens of wineries across the state, employing nearly a hundred thousand people, and Florida university research departments dedicated to viticulture. How can this hot, humid , fungus-friendly state support successful wine production? The Zest host Robin Sussingham talks to Vince Shook, president of Florida Orange Groves Winery, a tropical, berry and citrus winery; Chuck Hollweg, non-commercial hobbyist grape grower and wine maker; and Gina Birch, host of Grape Minds podcast from WGCU.

We're taking Florida wines seriously! It might be one of the state's best kept secrets, but Florida wine-making is a billion dollar industry. There are dozens of wineries across the state, employing nearly a hundred thousand people, and Florida university research departments dedicated to viticulture. How can this hot, humid , fungus-friendly state support successful wine production? The Zest host Robin Sussingham talks to Vince Shook, president of Florida Orange Groves Winery, a tropical, berry and citrus winery; Chuck Hollweg, non-commercial hobbyist grape grower and wine maker; and Gina Birch, host of Grape Minds podcast from WGCU.

It might be one of the state's best kept secrets, but Florida wine making is a billion dollar industry! There are dozens of wineries across the state, employing nearly a hundred thousand people, with university research departments dedicated to viticulture. How can this hot, humid , fungus-friendly state support successful wine production? Host Robin Sussingham talks to Vince Shook, president of Florida Orange Groves Winery;  Chuck Hollweg, non-commercial hobbyist grape grower and wine maker; and Gina Birch, host of Grape Minds podcast from WGCU in Fort Myers.

It might be one of the state's best kept secrets, but Florida wine making is a billion dollar industry! There are dozens of wineries across the state, employing nearly a hundred thousand people, with university research departments dedicated to viticulture. How can this hot, humid , fungus-friendly state support successful wine production? Host Robin Sussingham talks to Vince Shook, president of Florida Orange Groves Winery;  Chuck Hollweg, non-commercial hobbyist grape grower and wine maker; and Gina Birch, host of Grape Minds podcast from WGCU in Fort Myers.  

It might be one of the state's best kept secrets, but Florida wine making is a billion dollar industry! There are dozens of wineries across the state, employing nearly a hundred thousand people, with university research departments dedicated to viticulture. How can this hot, humid , fungus-friendly state support successful wine production? Host Robin Sussingham talks to Vince Shook, president of Florida Orange Groves Winery;  Chuck Hollweg, non-commercial hobbyist grape grower and wine maker; and Gina Birch, host of Grape Minds podcast from WGCU in Fort Myers.  

Rachel Iacovone is a reporter and the Morning Edition Host at Nashville Public Radio. She started off her career as an intern at WGCU and worked her way up to being the All Things Considered host. Rachel got started in journalism as a food writer, is a rare born-and-raised Southwest Floridian, originally from Naples, and one of the first graduates of the journalism program at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Dr. Maria Roca is in a way the main reason I am here today, getting to make this show. I was an FGCU student several times, and it was she who dragged me back in after being distracted by life...twice. AND she's who hooked me up with an internship at WGCU.  Maria is the Chair of the Department of Integrated Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. She got her Ph.D. in Media Ecology, and her M.A. in Performing Arts Management, she is a founding faculty member of FGCU. She's also the mother of one daughter, Alissa, who is a professional opera singer living in Dallas.  

  Tara Calligan is this show’s online content producer and primary in house cheerleader. Her day job at WGCU is social media and digital philanthropy manager - which basically translates to being the station’s Social & Digital Media Maven - she creates and curates all of our social and digital media content, of which there is much. Tara calls herself a self-proclaimed audiophile, supernerd, Bob Ross Chia Pet aficionado, and Halloween enthusiast...which I can attest to simply from spending time in her office. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and wound up at the station after doing an internship.

Quizmasters Lee and Marc are joined by Mike Kiniry, host and co-creator of WGCU's Thee Song Stories Podcast for an all music trivia episode. Round One WHAT ALBUM? - On what album would you find Queen's hit song "Bohemian Rhapsody"? MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS - What singer-songwriter wrote songs for the movies Walk Hard and Get Him to the Greek? Dan Bern MORE MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS - What indie rock songwriting legend contributed to the soundtrack of and appears several times in There’s Something About Mary? WGCU INTERSTITIAL MUSIC - Music from which anime series was used as interstitial music during the late night jazz program until the program was discontinued in 2018? FAMOUS BIRTHPLACES - In what country was singer Dave Matthews born? MUSIC & NASA - On August 14, 1997, what song by Moxy Fruvous was used by NASA to wake the crew of STS-85? FORT MYERS SCENE HISTORY - What was the name of the house band of The Liquid Café in Downtown Fort Myers? BAND MEMBERS - Richard Wright and Nick Mason are members of what famous band? THE POLICE - What are the names of all five albums by The Police released from 1978 to 1983, in order from earliest to most recent? CANADIAN SUPERSTARS - What Egyptian-canadian singer, author and anti-war activist has a net-worth of $10 million, mostly made by singing children's songs? Missed Corrections "FYI: Refueling was banned in Formula 1 in 2009 so no refueling during pit stops. I Don't think 1 second stops would be possible with refueling!" - submitted by Gary "Episode 8: Rumplesnailtskin, roughly around the 50 minute mark the question/challenge was to name all '7' of the historical figures that Bill and Ted bring from the past to the present. I immediately paused your podcast out of disgust, wrote down all -8- of those figures, and then pressed play. Rod Loomis' performance may have been forgettable, but Sigmund Freud hitting on girls in the mall was not!" - submitted by Aaron Round Two VIDEO GAME SOUNDTRACKS - Singer-Songwriter Jonathan Coulton wrote the song “Still Alive” for what video game? WHAT BAND IS IT? - What is the name of the band that had a popular song in the early 2010's and has a lesser known song called "All I Need" (which is Mike's favorite song to wake up to)? LYRICS - "We skipped the light fandango" is the first line to what song by what band? BAND NAME ORIGINS - The band name “Barenaked Ladies” was conceived by band members Steven Page and Ed Robertson while pretending to be snooty rock critics and inventing backstories and names for the backing band of what artist? CLASSICAL HITS - What famous and familar song by what composer was not published until 40 years after his death? CANADA - Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Rush and Moxy Fruvous all hail from the great white North. How Many provinces and territories are there in Canada? WORLD MUSIC ICONS - Described as ‘combination of blaring horn sections, antiphonal vocals, the singers quasi-rapping Pidgin English, and percolating guitars, all wrapped up in a smouldering groove’ afrobeat is a genre and sound developed by what Nigerian bandleader who was also known as “The Black President”? MIKE'S ROCK BESTIE - Which rock band did Mike's best friend almost end up the lead singer of as a result of a YouTube cover? ISLAND FOLK MUSIC - What was the name of Jacques Cousto's research vesell, which shares the name with an island folk music? Final Questions SONG IDENTIFICATION - What world famous country artist released a song in 1977 about a puppy who showed up on someone's doorstop on a stormy night and died because God didn't want the little girl to be alone in Heaven? ROCK STAR ORIGINS - What singer left the band Mudcrutch to go out on their own? MUSIC ON TV - Who plays Promotions Manager Zak Yankovich in HBO’s Vinyl? Weekly Wrap-up April 15, 2019 @ 3 Pepper Burrito Co. – The Wet Boiz (74 pts.) April 17, 2019 @ Bury Me Brewing Co. – The Moist Men (95 pts.) April 18, 2019 @ No. 3 Craft Brews & Beer Bar – Peanut the Dog & The Squeaky Chairs (88 pts.) Upcoming LIVE Know Nonsense Trivia Challenges April 22, 2019 - Downtown Fort Myers, FL – 7:30 PM @ 3 Pepper Burrito Co. April 24, 2019 – Fort Myers, FL – 7:00 PM @ Bury Me Brewing Co. April 25, 2019 – Cape Coral, FL – 7:30 PM @ No. 3 Craft Brews & Beer Bar Thank you Thanks to our supporters on Patreon. Thank you, Quizdaddies – Tommy (The Electric Mud) and Tim (Pat's Garden Service) Thank you, Team Captains – Kristen & Fletcher Thank you, Proverbial Lightkeepers – Sarah, Brina, Karly, Kristopher, Josh, Gil, Sheri, Shaun, Lucas and Max Thank you, Rumplesnailtskins – Nick, Mike J., Mike C. If you'd like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content, please visit http://theknowno.com and click "Support." Special Guest: Mike Kiniry.

John Siddons was born in Switzerland, but lived most of his early life in the UK. He got his degree in French Language and Literature from University of Grenoble in France and served in the Royal Marine Force Voluntary Service from 1958 to 1961. At one point his bio says he “Introduced the King of Saudi Arabia to the concept of high value thematic gifts” in the mid 1970s. He says he was later responsible for equipping a number of palaces in the Middle East with banqueting items of glass, china, silver, and gold. His business dealings in that part of the world came crashing down when the Gulf War began in 1990...and that’s pretty much where we’re going to begin. We came across John a while back when he was visiting the station - turns out he used to be All Things Considered host here at WGCU when the station was first built on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus - that’s when what used to be WSFP turned into WGCU. We got to talking and Richard and I gave each other a look that meant we knew John was eventually gonna join us in studio.  

Mike is creative services manager here at WGCU, where we make this show. That pretty much means he’s the station’s graphic designer – although I’m pretty sure he’s got more on his plate than just design. Formerly a newsroom graphics editor for Gannett newspapers in Florida and California, Mike also teaches visual storytelling in Florida Gulf Coast University’s journalism program. ----more----He’s a native of Southern California, is married to Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau Communications Director, Francesca Donlan, and has a son in college and a daughter in her senior year in high school. I’ve got to know Mike a bit around the station and like his laid back vibe (which resonates with mine) and I hear he does quite the robot German accent for the D&D game he’s in with Richard.

My guest today is Valerie Alker, a name local listeners to WGCU will remember, because she was a longtime reporter and host on our airwaves. Val got started in radio in 1983 as a DJ at WPAS AM 1600 in Zephyrhills. From there she moved onto WMNF Community Radio in Tampa where she often hosted the Women's Show. ----more----She then moved over to WUSF, where she was a reporter and newsreader, before moving down this way to work at WSFP after spending a year or so as a boat bum. Then, once Florida Gulf Coast University was built in the late 90s WSFP became WGCU and Val was part of the team that launched it. I had the pleasure of working with her starting in 2003 when I started as an intern, all the way through when I left radio for a while in 2011. She lives in Punta Gorda with her super cool husband Coop. From what I can tell via Facebook they pretty much spend their time birding and paddling and traveling to neat places…living the pleasantly retired life. It's quite surreal to be sitting down in the studio with Val again.

My guest this episode is kind of a big deal in the world of public media…as a matter of fact he's making us feel like we're getting pretty darn fancy around here at Three Song Stories. David Brancaccio host of the Marketplace Morning report, heard on most public radio stations, including here on WGCU at 6:50 and 8:50 every weekday morning…he's the former host of the PBS newsmagazine Now…and has worked in public media one way or another for nearly 30 years.

Grape Minds is produced at WGCU studios in Southwest Florida, which is one of the most active wine markets in the United States. Because of that, we have an almost endless parade of winemakers, importers, sommeliers, and wine journalists coming through town. In this episode of Grape Minds, we get to talk with Juelle Fisher of Fisher Vineyards. She talks about the unique business of selling wine, the changes she’s seen since planting (and replanting) vines in the Mayacamas Mountains in the early 1970’s, and tells her harrowing tale of how last year’s wildfires threatened her family and her property.

A Fort Myers local, Richard Chin Quee has been working in audio for most of his life. While finishing a Computer Science degree at FGCU in 2006, he leveraged his music and sound experience to get a job at WGCU, and has been working in news radio ever since. He's currently the director of programming at the station, the director of WGCU's daily talk show Gulf Coast Live, and the producer/director/co-creator of the show.

This week on Decision Florida we talk about the sun, the sand and the water. Yes, really. Florida’s environment is one of our biggest assets -- and biggest political issues. From rising seas to water quality, septic tanks to solar power, John Davis from WGCU and Tom Hudson from WLRN host this week's discussion on how the 2016 elections can shape our environment.

This week on Decision Florida we talk about the sun, the sand and the water. Yes, really. Florida’s environment is one of our biggest assets -- and biggest political issues. From rising seas to water quality, septic tanks to solar power, John Davis from WGCU and Tom Hudson from WLRN host this week's discussion on how the 2016 elections can shape our environment. Jennifer Granholm, former Michigan governor and Hillary Clinton campaign surrogate, weighs in on how the Democratic candidate sees the threat of climate change and how it can be an economic opportunity for communities in Florida. Ed Russo, president of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition and Donald Trump campaign surrogate, explains why he has called the Republican presidential candidate "a highly respected environmentalist" and how, in his eyes, the solution to environmental challenges lies in local action instead of more governmental intervention. Reporters Amy Green, from WMFE-Orlando; Topher Forhecz, from WGCU-Fort

In 2012, Florida’s election results were decided by less than one percent. In 2000, fewer than 600 votes separated the candidates. Today, Florida remains a swing state, with an especially high number of registered independents. One in four registered voters in the state don’t declare any political party, making it the fastest growing political class in Florida. So, who exactly are Florida's swing voters? Decision Florida hosts Tom Hudson and John Davis from WGCU speak with WMFE News Director Catherine Welch, Washington Post National Correspondent James Hohmann and Asma Khalid, Campaign Reporter for NPR. While the top of the ticket this election year gets plenty of attention, the entire Florida legislature in Florida is up for election. Lawmakers elected in November will inherit a $77 billion state budget. Highlights of the discussion: "I'm more interested in people than their parties." -Chris in Miami on why he donates to candidates from different parties. #DecisionFlorida — WLRN