Florida Uncut

Latest Episodes:

Joshua Daskin: The Florida Wildlife Corridor and Climate Change May 26, 2024

Show notes

How does the Florida Wildlife Corridor help provide resilience to climate change?

Florida is ground-zero for climate change impacts as our natural and human communities grapple with increasing heat, flooding, sea level rise, and wildfire risk.

In today's episode, we talk with Joshua Daskin, the Director of Conservation at Archbold Biological Station, about a recent assessment with Florida Atlantic University that identified the overlaps between land conservation in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the resilience of the state's nature and people to advancing climate change. Archbold's conservation program uses the report's results to credibly motivate the Corridor's protection.

At Archbold, Josh works to expand the use of science in conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. He leads Archbold's conservation strategy, connecting researchers with agencies, landowners, NGOs, and science collaborators to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation actions from Archbold's own 20,000 acres to the statewide Florida Wildlife Corridor and beyond.

Since 2021, he has been a leader of the scientific arm of the campaign to conserve the Corridor.

Josh earned a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Brandeis University, a M.Sc. in Zoology while a Fulbright Scholar at James Cook University in Australia, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University. Previously, Josh researched the impacts of war on African wildlife and helped reestablish scientific capacity in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique following the country's civil conflict. He was also a Donnelley Postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, a biologist in the US Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters office, and a research assistant at Archbold.

Articles and links mentioned in the episode:

Climate and Wildlife Corridors overview page: https://www.archbold-station.org/projects/climate-and-wildlife-corridors/
The Florida Wildlife Corridor and Climate Change Full Report: https://archbold-cms.payloadcms.app/media/ClimateReport_FINAL_04152024-1.pdf
Planning Future Landscapes report: https://www.archbold-station.org/projects/cfrpc/
Florida Wildlife Corridor Planning and Development Data (database of current building permit requests): https://archbold-cms.payloadcms.app/media/FLWC%20Statewide%20Study%20-%20Summary%20Report%20(2023-10-23).pdf
The full interactive ‘Bear Necessities’ Story Map of M34, the Black Bear that inspired the FWC: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0cdea7371c874357a9307ac8ea701568
FWC and Climate Change Water Report Executive Summary: https://archbold-cms.payloadcms.app/media/Climate%20Report%20-%20Executive%20Summary%20FINAL-2.pdf

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Craig Pittman: Welcome to Florida May 11, 2024

Show notes

Craig is a native Floridian and spent over 30 years as a journalist for the Tampa Bay Times. He has authored a half-dozen award-winning books about the wild ideas and quirkiness of our state. Among his publications are Oh Florida!, Cat Tale, The State You're In, and Manatee Insanity.

In 2022, Craig was given the Rachel Carson Award by the Sierra Club, which honors sustained achievement by professional journalists or authors and was also awarded a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Book Festival.

Craig is now a columnist for the Florida Phoenix and co-hosts the weekly Welcome to Florida podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/craigpittman78/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-florida

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/florida-uncut/donations

Andrew Otazo: Keeping Wild Florida Clean Apr 13, 2024

Show notes

Andrew loves exploring the mangroves down in Key Biscayne where he calls home. However, he got sick and tired of seeing trash each time he went out to enjoy wild Florida.

Like many of our guests, Andrew is action-oriented and decided to do something about it. His big plan? Start picking up all the trash. It was that simple.

His impact has grown into dozens of others doing similar work to him, making it their passion to clean south Florida.

Andrew drives awareness in other ways too. He carried a 35-pound bag of mangrove trash (currently in History Miami’s permanent collection) the length of the 2019 Miami Marathon and led a team that hauled a 130-pound trash cart throughout the 2020 Miami Marathon. These efforts raised over $30,500 to protect Miami’s coastal habitats. Andrew has a recurring guest lecture series at the University of Miami, Cornell, Clemson, and local middle and high schools about his adventures in litter.

Andrew has also worked as a research associate at the Harvard Business School, where his 17 academic publications sold over 10,000 copies. He implemented U.S. foreign policy at the State Department. As Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s assistant, he facilitated the decision-making process of one of the world’s highest-level policymakers.

Follow Andrew:

https://www.instagram.com/andrewotazo/?hl=en

Read his book, Miami Creation Myth here: https://miamicreationmyth.com/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/florida-uncut/donations

Traci Deen & Chad Crawford: Protect Our Paradise Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

Traci of Conservation Florida and Chad of Crawford Entertainment teamed up to produce the 6-part documentary, Protect Our Paradise, a riveting series that follows Chad around the state of Florida as he discovers some of Florida’s most pressing environmental issues.

Every episode showcases a distinctive facet of Florida's environment and highlights individuals dedicated to safeguarding its wildlife, untamed landscapes, and pristine waters.

As a 6th generation Floridian born in Homestead, Florida, Traci is passionate about

protecting Florida’s wild and working lands for the generations of Floridians to

come. She leads the Conservation Florida team as CEO, a statewide accredited land trust working to protect Florida's natural & agricultural landscapes for future generations.

As a 3rd generation Floridian, Chad Crawford has always loved his home state, and he's made it his mission to share it with the world. He’s a four-time Emmy award-winning producer and director for shows like How to Do Florida and Flip My Florida Yard.

Watch the six part Protect Our Paradise at DiscoverFloridaChannel.com

Be sure to check out the four part webinar about the Florida Wildlife Corridor from 1000 Friends of Florida here: 1000fof.org/upcoming-webinars

Conservationfla.org

Crawfordentertainment.tv

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Karlos Rodriguez Bernart: Helping Thousands Explore Wild Florida Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

Karlos’ passion for off-road bike route building came out of the necessity to learn the skills needed to complete the Tour Divide. Filled with the desire to create training routes in his local area of Florida, he discovered a talent for connecting green spaces and reviving old pathways and started inviting folks to join his crazy adventures…and they came willingly.

Over 15 years later, Karlos is known as the best bikepacking route builder in Florida and is responsible for getting hundreds of people per year to experience the Florida Wildlife Corridor, many for the first time. You can learn more about Karlos and his Florida-focused routes and guided trips at singletracksamurai.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram @singletracksamurai.

This interview was originally featured on Adventure Sports Podcast.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/florida-uncut/donations

Julie Morris: Florida Conservation Group Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Julie Morris has over 25 years of experience in Florida conservation—from working as a research wildlife biologist and land manager to implementing land protection and developing conservation policy at regional, state, and federal levels.

Julie founded Florida Conservation Group (FCG) in 2015 with fellow ranchers and scientists. Through FCG, she has represented private landowners in the conservation of over tens of thousands of acres of land and has represented government entities in the conservation of many thousands of additional acres.

She held leadership roles in the Southwest Florida Conservation Blueprint pilot project for FWC, the protection of the USFWS Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, the development of the Southwest Florida Landscape Conservation Design for the USFWS and the establishment of the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area.

She runs her own cow-calf operation in the Myakka Valley.

Learn more about Julie and the Florida Conservation Group:

https://floridaconserve.org/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/florida-uncut/donations

Paddling Across Lake Okeechobee Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Hey y’all! Today’s episode is a recap of a recent adventure I took on to raise awareness for Florida conservation. This conversation is originally from my other show, Adventure Sports Podcast, where I talk to guests about the various adventures they undertake.

However, because I did this adventure to shed light on the topics we discuss on this show, I wanted to also share it here. Also, the Lake Okeechobee discharges were just announced and it doesn’t look good. Hopefully we can continue to push more water south to the Everglades in the near future.

We’ll be back with a brand new episode in two weeks!

Some of the press:

Thank you to Bluefin SUP for helping sponsor the trip! Check out their very high-quality paddlebaords at a great price at: https://bluefinsupboards.us/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/florida-uncut/donations

Clay Henderson: A History of Florida’s Land Conservation Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Watch a presentation by Clay Henderson at the Corridor Connect here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABBTl8KOq5Q&t=3s

Clay Henderson has had a long career as an environmental lawyer, educator, and writer. He has served as president of Florida Audubon Society and Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as two terms as Volusia county commissioner. Until his retirement in 2019, he served as Executive Director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience at Stetson University.

As a writer, he has been published in both law reviews and scientific journals extensively. His new book Forces of Nature (University Press of Florida 2022) is an environmental history of Florida.

One thing I noticed when reading Forces of Nature is that the story of Florida’s conservation isn’t beginning, it has been happening for over 100 years. In fact, my perspective has shifted enough that I would say we are approaching the end of the story of Florida’s conservation, in the sense of the future of our land, versus the beginning.

Clay has been involved in the negotiation to acquire over 300,000 acres through

Learn more about Forces of Nature here https://www.clayhendersonauthor.com/books

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Rick Smith: A Land Remembered Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Rick Smith (Patrick Jr.) is the son of acclaimed author, Patrick D. Smith, who helped propel the focus of “old” Florida into the minds and hearts of an entire generation with the book, A Land Remembered, released in 1984. It is historical fiction set mostly in pioneer or "cracker" Florida that follows the fictional MacIvey family through three generations, covering over a century of Florida history from 1858 to 1968.

Although it’s historical fiction, the scenarios and settings within the book were common situations and struggles that early pioneers into Florida would have faced.

Rick has done over 300 presentations about his father and his masterpiece work. Rick also maintains the websites and social media pages related to his father's novels. All of Patrick Smith’s works are available in both hardcover and trade paperback editions. There is also a two-volume edition of A Land Remembered for children, which is used in many Florida schools.

Whether you’re a Florida native, a recent transplant to the state, a history enthusiast, or simply seeking an unforgettable literary experience, A Land Remembered awaits.

Find out more about Rick, and buying Patrick’s books:

https://alandremembered.com

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William Freund: fStop Foundation Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

William started out life in El Salvador, where he was inspired by his parent's dedication to restoring Lake Ilopango. They weren't trained environmentalists, just folks who understood that something needed to be done to protect the place they loved.

After moving to Florida, William carried these lessons and influence with him. One day, while hiking in a remote Florida wilderness, he looked down and saw a panther track between his feet and knew he needed to do something to bring attention to this disappearing animal.

fStop Foundation was born. Williams's idea was to capture the "hidden world" of Florida's wild through photography to influence change and protect these unique places.

The fStop Foundation is now a small, determined team mainly comprised of volunteers who believe in the power of photography and that the content we create can help save this wonderful planet we call home. They believe in the power of photography, creating powerful content and telling a powerful story.

Learn more about William and fStop:

www.fstopfoundation.org

Instagram: @fstopfoundation

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/fStopFoundation

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fstopfoundation.org

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/florida-uncut/donations