First Coast Connect is an hour-long call-in program that features local newsmakers, civic and community leaders, arts, activities across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, along with spot news features and a weekly roundtable of local journalists.
Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:
The state’s chief financial officer takes a granular interest in city finances, as a budget vote looms on Tuesday.
A controversial Duval County jail death is under the microscope of federal investigators, as the FBI takes the lead on the case.
The fallout over Charlie Kirk's death continues, as concerns about speech freedoms mount.
JEA’s old home gets a new lease on life with a purchase offer from Live Oak Contracting.
Guests:
Nate Monroe, executive editor at The Tributary.
Randy DeFoor, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council member.
Anthony Austin, anchor at First Coast News.
David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union.
Then, a local staging of a classic play adds a layer of creativity and compassion through the use of double-casting. Tennessee William’s groundbreaking 1944 script for The Glass Menagerie introduced audiences to the concept of a “memory play,” told through the narrator’s imperfect and emotional recollections. In its version, APEX Theatre employs actors with physical challenges and neurodiverse perspectives, sharing the lead roles with two other actors playing siblings Laura and Tom.
Guests:
Ian Mairs, managing director at APEX Theatre.
Jack Gallison, actor playing Tom.
Sophie Somaru, actor playing Laura.
Ailee Somaru, Sophie’s mom.
Local charity trains surgeons globally
Sep 18, 2025
A Mexican immigrant with his own remarkable story created a global nonprofit to foster equally unlikely transformations in health care. Now a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, “Dr. Q” as he is known, founded Mission:BRAIN with the goal of training neurosurgeons in far-flung places. The group recently celebrated success as Dr. Alieu Kamara became the first and only neurosurgeon in Sierra Leone, with training, equipment and support provided by the organization. Though he is just one doctor for 8 million people, he is already performing complex, lifesaving surgeries amid challenging conditions. We talk to Dr. Q about the organization’s evolution and his history of making the improbable real.
Guest:
Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, co-founder and president, Mission:BRAIN.
Then, changing the narrative of the city by changing who tells the story. We preview the Front Porch History: Mapping Undiscovered Stories of Black Jacksonville Artist Talk which features both a research project and an artistic undertaking staged at the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum at 2 p.m. Sunday. The stories shared are personal, but also political — a reaction, organizers say, to the "Stop WOKE Act," which alters how Black history is taught in Florida schools. The stories promise to evoke a lesser-known side of local history and its residents, as well as celebrating some city icons. The exhibit will be on display through January 2026.
Vic Alexander, artist and storyteller, Elevated Media.
Coach Alfred Austin, former Ribault High girls basketball coach and FHSAA Hall of Fame inductee.
And, showing your support for public media has never been more valued — and necessary. Despite new financial realities ushered in by state and federal budget cuts, WJCT Public Media remains committed to serving the community on air and online, from educational television to news programming. We kick off a brief pledge drive and give you an opportunity to show your support by calling (904) 353-9528 or going to wjct.org/sustain.
Guest:
David Luckin, WJCT station manager and Electro Lounge host.
Will health care cuts cause permanent injury?
Sep 17, 2025
A vote Tuesday could be enormously consequential for city health care providers, and potentially the health of many city residents. The Jacksonville City Council is poised to remove millions in spending on local health care programs, an effort to make budgetary space for a ⅛-mill property tax rollback. Although council members voted to restore some proposed cuts after a concerted campaign by local providers and advocates, the remaining cuts would stall one of the mayor’s signature issues and affect primarily poor and low-income residents.
Then, the 2026 election season officially gets underway as a local attorney and civic leader throws his hat into the ring. We introduce you to Democrat Michael Kirwan, the District 4 candidate who announced his run live on First Coast Connect. Kirwan spoke about what drove him to seek a position in Congress, amid what he calls "chaotic" times in Washington, D.C. District 4 includes Nassau and Clay counties and most of Duval’s Westside, and is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean.
Guest:
Michael Kirwan, candidate, U.S. Congress, Florida District 4.
And, though microbreweries and craft beers dominate the modern First Coast landscape, the beer industry has deep roots in Jacksonville, dating to the 1800s. We talk to the author of a new pictorial history of beer in Jacksonville, from the early saloons, to the mid-20th century dominance of the Anheuser-Busch plant, to the arrival of the first microbrews at River City Brewing Co. in the 1990s. In addition to a loving look at a favorite city beverage, the book is full of period photos, including a bustling Bay Street bar scene, a historic shot of the old Two Spot on Moncrief Road and a picture of Pete’s Bar founder Peter Jensen, after he made the transaction from bootlegger to bar owner.
Political civility + algorithmic quicksand
Sep 16, 2025
The assassination of a political firebrand has exposed — and reinforced — the power of the algorithm, as partisans and the apolitical alike are drawn into heated, often hateful debates. We talk to a local campus leader about how his group is working to bring civility to campus conversations. We also discuss how to do hard conversations right in an age of hyperpartisanship and zero-sum political thinking.
Guests:
Gabriel James, Flagler College student, founder of Pathway America chapter at Flagler College.
Michael Binder, political science professor at the University of North Florida.
Elizabeth Andersen, CEO of OneJax.
Then, a 2023 report by the Florida Forest Service finds that trees are disappearing fast across the First Coast — and so are the benefits their canopies provide. In a discussion at WJCT Studios on Wednesday, “ADAPT: State of the Canopy” panelists will discuss the impacts that a depleted tree canopy has on the region and how to ensure the future of sufficient tree cover in Northeast Florida. If you want to see the tree canopy and planned projects where you live, you can search by neighborhood here.
Guests:
Jessica Palombo, editor, Jacksonville Today.
Lisa Grubba, executive director, Greenscape of Jacksonville.
Jonathan Colborn, urban forestry manager, city of Jacksonville.
Joe Anderson, arborist and vegetative specialist at JEA.
And, a percussionist regarded as one of the world’s greatest conga players is coming to the First Coast. Grammy Award-winning percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, aka “Mañenguito,” is revered in musical circles for his hand-drumming technique, blending Latin jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms, and his professional CV includes sharing the stage with Dizzie Gilespie, Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, Mickey Hart, Paul Simon, Phish and Art Blakey. We sit down with Hidalgo ahead of his performance at The Bier Hall at Intuition Ale Works at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Guest:
Giovanni Hildago, Grammy Award-winning percussionist.
A 'Cat 6' storm?
Sep 15, 2025
Is it time to add a Category 6 to the hurricane rating scale? A new study by researchers at the University of South Florida says yes. The existing storm classification system doesn’t include rainfall or storm surge risks, which can cause catastrophic damage and are responsible for more than 80% of hurricane-related deaths. We talk to two local, lifelong meteorologists about how adapting to a warming planet may mean expanding the hurricane scale and possibly even lengthening the season.
Guests:
Tim Deegan, former chief meteorologist at First Coast News.
Lewis Turner, chief meteorologist at First Coast News.
Then, Frisbee golf gives sober living a boost. We meet the organizer behind DISC Jax, a social, competitive and sober nonprofit that helps sustain the work of sober living houses on the First Coast. The group’s acronym stands for Dudes Impacting Sober Communities, and its stated mission is to create community in the world of recovery while “creating a space built on connection, wellness, and a shared sense of purpose.”
Guests:
Michael Fisher, co-founder and vice president of DISC Jax Inc.
And, it was a Week 2 proving ground for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. We get a Monday morning recap from WJXT Sportscaster Alessandra Pontbriand.
Guest:
Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at WJXT News4Jax.
First Coast Week in Review
Sep 12, 2025
Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:
A chaotic City Council meeting included multiple do-over votes, ad hominem attacks and a four-member walkout — and still, the future of the budget remains uncertain.
Law enforcement across the state stops enforcing a ban on the open carry of weapons.
Former Mayor Lenny Curry says he’s not running for reelection, but he’s sure being vocal about city business.
Guests:
Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today.
Robin Lumb, former Jacksonville City Council member.
Jim Piggott, former City Hall reporter at News4Jax.
Christina Burgess, reporter at First Coast News.
Then, local talent takes the stage at nearly two dozen locations around St. Augustine as part of the ninth annual Sing Out Loud festival. We talk to two local artists (including our own multitalented First Coast Connect producer) to preview the four-weekend Local Artist Showcase, in which regional artists perform free indie, hip hop, Americana and bluegrass concerts along with the festival’s national headliners.
A budget season like no other: We ask Jacksonville’s mayor about the dramatic standoff at Tuesday’s contentious City Council meeting over spending on DEI and immigration. We also discuss the groundswell of opposition to a tax rollback from civic leaders and public safety advocates, and the possibility of using city incentives for a Southside surf park.
Guest:
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.
Then, “piecemakers” of a different sort. We talk to the organizers of the upcoming Quiltfest Jacksonville about the artistry behind both traditional and modern versions of the craft. The event, which aims to inspire and showcase the art of local quilters, includes the work of seven sister quilting guilds from around the First Coast.
Guests:
Alison McConoughey, Quiltfest chair and president of the Jax Modern Quilt Guild.
Janis Turecky, Quiltfest chair.
Randy Powers, Quilts of Valor representative.
And, The Neighborhood with Mr. Al Pete moves from the airwaves to the stage in a special live performance of the popular Saturday night WJCT show. In addition to mixing classic R&B with modern soul, hip-hop and jazz, the live edition includes special guests, storytelling and great conversation with the master DJ, performer and podcaster.
Guest:
Mr. Al Pete, founder of the MPN Network and host of The Neighborhood with Mr. Al Pete.
Bun in the oven: Pregnancy and heat dangers
Sep 10, 2025
Among the effects of a changing climate are health risks — including to outdoor workers, unhoused people and the elderly. But one imperiled group that has received less attention is pregnant women. A new joint investigation by Jacksonville-based digital news outlet The Tributary and Climate Central explores the ways rising temperatures are already affecting pregnancies, putting undue stress on both fetus and mother, and in some cases leading to hospital visits and low birth weight. We talk to the reporter behind the story along with a local obstetrician about what moms-to-be need to know.
Guest:
Mary Beech, investigative reporting fellow at The Tributary.
Melba Newsome, reporter, Climate Central.
Dr. Lina Fouad, founder and medical director of OBGYN Specialists of North Florida.
Then, the No. 1 Airbnb in Florida grew out of a Hurricane Irma disaster story. After the storm sent a tree through a two-story house on Prince Road in St. Augustine, the owner began an odyssey of rebuilding — using nine shipping containers. The ambitious, meticulously designed home has since become a darling of the internet and a popular (though not inexpensive) short-term rental. Recently, it was selected Florida’s No. 1 favorite Airbnb and No. 9 in the country. It was also one of 50 destinations featured on YouTubers Ryan Trahan and Haley Pham’s Instagram tour to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We ask the owner about the ride from catastrophe to celebrity, as well as his extensive art collection.
And, from greeting card aisles to Off-Broadway theater, Dan Goggin transformed his skills writing short but emotive messages into a musical comedy tour de force. Nunsense is the story of quirky and quick-witted nuns, the Little Sisters of Hoboken, who stage a talent show to raise money to bury their recently departed sisters, victims of food poisoning. Hilarity ensues. Performances kick off Friday and run through Oct. 5 at Limelight Theatre.
Guests:
Charity Walton, actress playing Sister Mary Leo.
Kaylee Byers, actress playing Sister Mary Amnesia.
Reducing the vulnerability of 'micromobility'
Sep 09, 2025
Doctors at Wolfson Children’s Hospital reported a 222% increase in injuries between 2023 to 2024 related to so-called "micromobility devices,” including e-bikes and e-scooters. Based on data from the first five months of 2025, that number is expected to double again. And it’s not just kids getting hurt. To address the problem, a regional campaign is joining a statewide effort to tap the brakes on the troubling trend. Launched last week at the University of North Florida, the AAA-coordinated effort is urging drivers of micromobility devices to wear helmets, slow down and walk their e-machines through crosswalks. The campaign also urges motorists and pedestrians to prepare for interacting with the increasingly omnipresent devices. We talk to three campaign participants about the unique challenges posed by this latest form of transportation and how the rules of the road could be changing.
Guests:
Deputy Chief Adam Brown, University of North Florida Police Department.
Rebecca Melvin, trauma injury prevention and outreach coordinator, UF Health Jacksonville.
Thalia Fusté, transportation planner, North Florida Transportation Planning Organization.
Then, bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront of the modern orchestral landscape. Philly native and musical virtuoso Na’Zir McFadden is known for pushing the boundaries of 21st century ensemble conducting, bringing fresh energy and inclusivity to the Jacksonville Symphony. We speak to the incoming 25-year-old assistant conductor as well as the organization’s longtime music director about their upcoming collaboration and what we can expect from the 2025-26 season.
Guests:
Courtney Lewis, music director, Jacksonville Symphony.
And, classical musicians reanimate the grandeur of early 20th-century England through the music of Downton Abbey, the award winning television series and the most popular drama in the history of PBS. Blending cinematic storytelling with live music, the Jacksonville-based Kinne Trio performs original themes, Strauss waltzes and World War I-era songs, transporting audience members to a world of ballroom dances, candlelit dinners and a nation at a time of social upheaval. Attendees are encouraged to wear a Victorian-era costume to celebrate Downton Abbey's new film, Grand Finale. The performance is Thursday at Friday Musicale.
Guest:
Scott Watkins, pianist, composer and Kinne Trio member.
The world and your oyster
Sep 08, 2025
Researchers are using underwater microphones to help better understand the extensive array of animals living in oyster reefs.(James Morrison/WUNC / NPR)
Can the decline of Florida’s oyster habitat serve as inspiration for jazz composers? We talk to an anthropologist harnessing the threat of climate change and student creativity to teach through music. Working with student composers at the University of South Florida, the project mastermind “uses the universal language of music” to convey the catastrophic impact of oyster habitat loss, overharvesting and pollution on the state’s fragile oyster reefs.
Guest:
Heather O’Leary, professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida.
Then, more than two years after the federal government launched a 24/7 crisis hotline, we talk to the local operators of 988 about how the First Coast community has received the service and whether the need has changed in that time. We also discuss how United Way is meeting funding demands in an increasingly difficult world for nonprofit organizations.
Guests:
Coretta Hill, chief operating officer for United Way of Northeast Florida.
Jason Kimmins, 988 training and operations supervisor.
And, how did the Jags fare against the Panthers on Sunday? We’ll talk about their first showing of the 2025 season and what it portends. The first regular season game came after a dismal 4-13 record last year, but with fresh starts including new Head Coach Liam Coen, new General Manager James Gladstone and the much anticipated performance of two-way player Travis Hunter.
Guest:
Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at WJXT News4Jax.
Plus, celebrating Indian culture through song, dance and nine days of religious observance. Garba & Dandiya are the two signature dances of the nine-day Navrati celebration, which begins in October. But the party gets rolling a little early at the Prime Osborn Convention Center with Bhoomi Trivedi, aka the “Queen of Garba," a popular Bollywood singer and runner-up on the Indian Idol program. The night will include performances of traditional Garba, folk, Bollywood, Sufi and Gujarati sugam sangeet music on Saturday.
Guests:
Vijay Patel, Jax Indian Events.
Hemant Patel, committee member with Jax Indian Events.
First Coast Week in Review
Sep 05, 2025
Nikesha Williams, producer of the <i>Black & Published</i> podcast author of <i>The Seven Daughters of Dupree</i>; Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today; David Bauerlein metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union; and Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant.(First Coast Connect)
Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:
Duval Schools keeps taxpayers in the dark, citing a public records exemption as grounds to withhold contract bids for its Downtown headquarters.
Florida’s surgeon general compares vaccine mandates to “slavery,” announcing the DeSantis administration's intent to eliminate compulsory immunizations.
Jacksonville City Council pushes ahead with budget-tightening tax cuts but may need to dip into reserves to pay for them.
Pub subs are coming to the urban core, as Publix inks a deal to become a Downtown grocer.
The governor’s race gains steam as former Florida House speaker (and First Coast lawmaker) Paul Renner throws his hat into the ring.
Guests:
Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today.
David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union.
Nikesha Williams, producer of the Black & Published podcast and most recently author of The Seven Daughters of Dupree.
Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant.
Then, a beloved event allowing folks to walk along the St. Johns River with a drink in hand is set to make its comeback this month. The Third Thursday Sip & Stroll returns on Jacksonville’s Southbank Riverwalk Sept. 18, putting a special spotlight on local businesses, musicians and diverse and authentic cuisines. We’ll talk about what makes this year's event stand out and how you can get involved.
Profiting from addiction and relapse. A new investigation by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Marshall Project investigative journalist Shoshana Walter dives into the $53 billion addiction treatment industry about how rehab profits from — and in some cases further imperils — the patients it promises to serve. Walter is also the co-producer of the award-winning, eight-part Reveal Podcast American Rehab. This segment was pre-recorded.
Then, the Emmy-nominated writer behind the coming-of-age '90s sitcom Boy Meets World and the Academy-Award nominated movie Quiz Show discusses the world premiere of his new dark comedy. We talk to the playwright of Harlan and Bronna Jump Out the Window about how he selected Jacksonville for the first performances and how the show balances humor with more serious themes of privilege, identity and social collapse.
Guests:
Michael Jacobs, producer, writer and director of Harlan and Bronna Jump Out the Window.
And, Jacksonville-based Americana outfit MoonStalker releases its fourth studio album. From intricate orchestral arrangements to gritty guitar solos to swing jazz progressions, Shadows in Blue blends a diverse array of musical genres with storytelling at the heart of each track. MoonStalker’s record release show is Saturday at Friday Musicale Concert Hall.
Guest:
Mark Williams, singer-songwriter, MoonStalker.
A 'House Call' from Dr. Joe
Sep 03, 2025
A sign stands at an entrance to the main campus of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)(Jeff Amy/AP / NPR)
Mass resignations and increasingly vocal warnings about the reliability of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have roiled the nation’s public health agency. Our monthly House Call with Dr. Joe Sirven discusses what former CDC chiefs are saying about the future of public health and why they are urging the community to speak out. We also discuss the latest medical headlines, from pregnancy robots to a more promising future for robotic limbs, and take your calls and questions on any health care topic. You can reach Dr. Joe at (904) 549-2937 or firstcoastconnect@wjct.org.
Then, a grassroots celebration of hometown pride, 904 Day showcases all things covered by the area code, from local businesses to civic groups to nonprofits (including 904Ward, which is urging donations of $9.04 to 94 First Coast agencies in honor of the observance). We talk to two local organizers about what’s planned, who’s offering deals this Thursday and how you can get involved.
Guests:
Liz McCoy, executive director of James Weldon Johnson Park.
Carissa Marques, 904 Day committee chair.
And, a musical celebrating a time when our relationship with Canada was less chilly. Come From Away tells the story of Gander, Newfoundland, the small town that stepped up to help stranded travelers after the Sept. 11 attacks. In the days after 9/11, town residents housed and fed nearly 7,000 stranded passengers from 38 planes diverted and grounded for days. The touching Broadway musical was a New York Times Critics' Pick and an audience favorite for years before it closed in 2022.
Guests:
Jennifer Medure, actor playing Beverly and others.
James Skiba, actor playing Claude and others.
Mercy for military veterans?
Sep 02, 2025
FILE - The gurney in Huntsville, Texas, where inmates are strapped down to receive a lethal dose of drugs, is shown May 27, 2008. Public support and use of the death penalty in 2022 continued its more than two-decade long decline in the U.S., and many of the executions that were carried out were “botched” or highly problematic, according to an annual report on capital punishment released Friday, Dec. 16. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)(Pat Sullivan/AP / AP)
Four of the 11 men executed in Florida so far this year were veterans. But a new statewide campaign is urging the governor to show mercy to former military members. We talk to advocates and a former military lawyer about what we are learning about the damage caused by deployments and why some believe defendants “broken” by their service should be spared the ultimate punishment.
Guests:
Patrick Korody, Navy JAG veteran and capital criminal defense attorney.
Art Cody, attorney, retired Navy captain and director, Center for Veteran Criminal Advocacy.
Then, a longtime educator and writer whose work centers on Jacksonville history releases her ninth book. The Chambermaid: A Novel set in Florida's French Colonial Fort Caroline tracks the rise and fall of the storied Huguenot colony at Fort Caroline, based on the journals of commander René Goulaine de Laudonnière and mapmaker Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues. Author Dorothy Fletcher, whose previous books include Remembering Jacksonville and Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville, joins us ahead of her lecture at the Florida Historical Society’s Library of Florida History at 2 p.m. Saturday.
And, from the lectern to the gallery: Flagler College art faculty open their portfolios to students and the community. Featuring more than a dozen fine art and graphic design professors, the exhibition highlights a range of mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, installation and digital design. The show kicks off Friday at Flagler College’s Crisp-Ellert Art Museum.
Guest:
Julie Dickover, director, Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, and director of Exhibitions and College Collections at Flagler College.
First Coast Week in Review
Aug 29, 2025
(Stacey Bennett)
Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:
Cities react and residents protest as rainbow crosswalks across the state are obliterated — including outside the Pulse nightclub.
A chaotic confrontation becomes the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s 10th police shooting death this year — the most since 2008.
The mayor pushes back on a proposed tax cut by taking her budget to the streets in a series of town hall meetings.
A judge orders Alligator Alcatraz emptied, finding its construction likely violated federal environmental laws.
And Florida is home to the filthiest lake in America. What’s wrong with Lake Okeechobee?
Guests:
Frank Powers, former assignment manager at WJXT News4Jax.
Riley Phillips, investigative reporter at First Coast News.
Emily Turner, anchor and investigative reporter at Action News Jax.
Jack Webb, attorney and former City Council president.
Then, whether your thing is swing, flamenco or tap, belly dancing or line dancing, you can learn it all for free in upcoming workshops at the Amelia Island Dance Festival. The lineup also includes plenty of professional performances, from the prestigious Paul Taylor Dance Company, Broadway tap virtuoso John Manzari and Douglas Anderson alum (and America's Got Talent vet) James Boyd III. We talk to the founder and organizer about putting together this year’s dance moves.
Guests:
Susan Dodge, founder and executive artistic director of the Amelia Island Dance Festival.
Linda Loftis-Vrooman, president of the Amelia Island Dance Festival.
John and Julia Boyd, acroyoga performers.
The female gaze: Women and modern art in Jacksonville
Aug 28, 2025
Peggy Bacon, Promenade Deck, 1920(Lea Christiano Photographer/Smithsonian American Art Museum / Provided by the Museum Of Contemporary Art)
It was a groundbreaking exhibition and a key cultural moment in Jacksonville and the American South. We talk to the author of The Armory South: The 1924 Jacksonville Woman's Club Exhibition Rediscovered, a new book about the pivotal modern art showcase that planted the flag for art and culture on the First Coast. The show featured 200 works by more than 80 cutting edge artists, including Peggy Bacon, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, Joseph Stella and Isabel Whitney, and nearly a third of the featured artists were women. A retrospective exhibition bringing together many of the original works runs through the end of November at MOCA Jacksonville.
Guest:
P. Scott Brown, art historian and author of The Armory South: The 1924 Jacksonville Woman's Club Exhibition Rediscovered.
Then, recognizing the innovators who animate the arts community on the First Coast. The Cultural Council’s 48th Annual Arts Awards celebrates local artists, boosters and businesses that support and sustain the region’s creative economy. We talk to the group's leader and one of its 2025 honorees about the Sept. 5 gala.
Guests:
Diana Donovan, executive director, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.
Milt Russos, executive director of The Artist Series, Florida State College at Jacksonville and 2025 Helen Lane Founders Award winner.
And, a local nonprofit strives to connect neighbors to their neighborhoods through agriculture and conversation. “FunGardens” promises an agriculturally immersive playground in the city’s Urban Core. We sit down with members of First Coast Urban Ag to discuss the importance of reconnecting with the environment and how the group’s “Flock Party” seeks to focus attention on disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Guests:
Valerie Herrmann, executive director First Coast Urban Ag.
Is AI making IQ obsolete?
Aug 27, 2025
(<i>Sunny Wu for NPR</i>)
As artificial intelligence changes and disrupts the workplace, relationships and especially education, its use is also changing traditional metrics of human intelligence. Ahead of JPEF's fifth local EDTalk, we ask the event’s keynote speaker how educators are using AI and preparing for its rapid expansion, even as the technology redefines traditional conceptions of knowledge, understanding and academic achievement.
Then, a sprawling multimedia production tackles the epic and emotional history of World War II through photos and personal accounts of famous people from the era, all set to a period soundtrack performed by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Featuring Broadway vocalists and starring Carnegie Hall lecturer and New York Historical Society historian John Monsky, it tells the story of America’s involvement in the war, from D-Day to VE Day.
Kymberly Wolfson, board member and event co-chair, Wolfson Family Foundation.
And, a summertime sight in the Northern Hemisphere raises its legendary tail in the night sky. We ask our resident spaceman about the history and magic of Scorpius and how best to view it, as well as why more than 70% of stars in the galaxy — the most common stars in the Milky Way — are essentially invisible to the naked eye.
Guest:
Eddie Whisler, planetarium director at the Museum of Science & History.
The reporter who solved a double murder
Aug 26, 2025
(Stacey Bennett)
The shocking murders of Harold and Thelma Swain at a 1985 Bible study in Camden County, Georgia, remained unsolved for years. The crime was then incorrectly “solved” in 2003, sending an innocent man to prison for more than two decades. It wasn’t until investigative reporter Joshua Sharpe got involved that investigators found the current suspect, a discovery that led to exoneration of Dennis Perry and the arrest last December of alleged white supremacist Erik Sparre. We talk to Sharpe about his work on wrongful convictions and the ongoing search for justice in the Swain case.
Then, after repeated reports about Jacksonville City Council members communicating with each other outside of public forums, a local attorney is asking the state attorney to investigate alleged Sunshine Law violations. We ask her why she’s concerned about the council’s communication patterns and what if anything she’s heard from officials in response to her request.
Guest:
Leslie Jean-Bart, government relations attorney, president of the Duval County Democratic Black Caucus.
Health insurance expected to spike
Aug 25, 2025
(<i>Subin Yang for NPR</i>)
Floridians could see health insurance premiums increase by double digits — and in at least one case, by more than 40%. Those forecasts come in response to the largest rollback of federal health programs in history — the Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed earlier this year. In addition to significant changes to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, the number of people covered by Affordable Care Act insurance is expected to plummet as enhanced premium tax credits expire, leaving millions with higher monthly costs. We talk about what the health care industry is forecasting and what you can expect to pay if Congress doesn’t act before the end of the year.
Guest:
Scott Darius, executive director, Florida Voices for Health.
Dr. Leonardo Alonso, emergency medicine physician.
Then, the archaeologist who literally helped unearth the history of the first free Black settlement in the United States celebrates the opening of the reconstructed Fort Mose with a 30th anniversary edition of her book, Fort Mose: Colonial America’s Black Fortress of Freedom, which she co-authored with Darcie MacMahon and Jane Landers. We ask the author about an archaeological career spanning 50 years and the revelations and rewards of digging into Northeast Florida’s Black history.
And, fighting hunger on the First Coast. We talk to the head of the region’s lead agency in the national Hunger Action month campaign, which is held each September to encourage food bank donations, advocate for nutrition program funding and invite volunteers to become more involved in local efforts to nourish children and families. The local head of Feeding Northeast Florida explains the local need and how you can help.
Jake Stofan, political reporter at Action News Jax; Robin Lumb, former Jacksonville City Councilmember; Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today; and Tricia Booker, author and journalism professor at the University of North Florida.(Stacey Bennett)
Each Friday, our media roundtable breaks down the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:
Health officials oppose proposed cuts to Meals on Wheels and other health care spending in the mayor’s budget.
Concerns about Sunshine Law violations grow after new comments hint at off-record conversations among council members.
The City Council’s finance chair pays $70K in back taxes after a news reporter raises questions.
Former city attorneys may face off against their current counterparts after lawmakers seek independent legal representation.
To talk about all that and more, we welcome:
Jake Stofan, political reporter at Action News Jax.
Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today.
Tricia Booker, author and journalism professor at the University of North Florida.
Then, fostering the next generation of cultivators, artists and entrepreneurs. From agriculture to artistic development to business basics, The Bloom Lab announces free after-school courses for middle and high school students. Friends of PHX JAX, the nonprofit arm of the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District, recently received a $350,000 state appropriation to launch the program, which kicks off in late 2025. Students will participate in eight-week sessions and then lead a community market showcasing their work.
Guests:
Emily Moody, executive director, Friends of PHX JAX.
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