Best Chadd Scott Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 261: White Trash Cooking 47:16

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2d ago47:16

47:16

Florida has a sewerage treatment problem. Our guest this week is Michael Adno who wrote a beautiful story about the life of north Florida native Ernie Mickler. Mickler became famous in the late 1980s for his offbeat Southern cookbook, "White Trash Cooking," which merged old country recipes with folklore, storytelling, and ethnography. "Welcome to F…

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Episode 260: Abandoned Florida 31:55

9d ago31:55

31:55

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the ghost orchid under the Endangered Species Act. Comment here in support of the proposal. David Bulit is an urban explorer who visits and documents Florida's abandoned places. He tells us how he got into this unusual hobby and what he's seen. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive ac…

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Episode 259: Biscayne Bay 51:37

16d ago51:37

51:37

The Trump administration's tax bill is gutting funding for clean energy, national parks, science, climate resiliency, emergency weather information, and more, but it's increasing support for BIG SUGAR through additional subsidies. Rachel Silverstein is the CEO for the Miami Waterkeeper and after listening to this episode, you may think she has the …

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Episode 258: Julian Dimock's Early 20th c. Photographs of Southwest Florida 47:35

23d ago47:35

47:35

Developers run Florida and the state legislature wants to keep it that way, even if municipalities would like less construction to safeguard themselves from hurricanes. Julian Dimock photographed Southwest Florida in the early 20th century. His photographs depict Seminole Indians, African American laborers on Marco Island, and the areas remarkable …

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Episode 257: Florida Crocodiles 44:33

1M ago44:33

44:33

The people of Florida once again united against their governor and state agencies to protect the environment. "Welcome to Florida" Episode 1 was about alligators. Episode 257 is about crocodiles. Joining us in Frank "The Croc Doc" Mazzotti. Show patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter." For only $5 per month,…

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Episode 256: Lake Wales Ridge 51:30

1M ago51:30

51:30

In Florida conservation, the old axiom holds true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Our topic for this episode is the Lake Wales Ridge. Our guest is Hillary Swain, Executive Director & CEO, and Senior Research Biologist at Archbold Biological Station. "Welcome to Florida" patrons receive exclusive access to our weekly "Florida Conse…

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Episode 255: Swallow-tailed kites 49:53

1M ago49:53

49:53

Anyone inspired by our previous episode with painter Christopher Still to go out and see some art can do so at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville where a fantastic show reassembling the first Modern art exhibition ever presented in Florida can be seen through November 23, 2025. Our guest is Ken Meyer, executive director at the Avian Res…

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Episode 254: Artist Christopher Still 43:00

2M ago43:00

43:00

The Florida legislature, the best legislature corporate money can buy, has done the bidding of phosphate giant Mosaic, endangering public safety and making the polluting company less accountable for the harm it creates. Florida artist Christopher Still is best known for his Florida history mural cycle at the State House in Tallahassee. An exhibitio…

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Episode 253: Ormond Beach and the Origins of Auto Racing 38:56

2M ago38:56

38:56

A federal judge ruled that the State of Florida and its Department of Environmental “Protection” violated the Endangered Species Act resulting in the mass manatee die-off of 2021. This occurred primarily in the Indian River Lagoon. Before Daytona Beach, auto racing's capital was one beach north, Ormond Beach. Ormond Beach Councilman Harold Briley i…

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Episode 252: Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center 45:02

2M ago45:02

45:02

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Rodney Barreto appears to have lied under oath during his senate confirmation hearing about a proposed development project he attempted. Our guest this episode is Kristina Agard from the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in Key West. Since opening in 2007, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Ec…

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Episode 251: Florida's Black Bears 50:06

2M ago50:06

50:06

The Florida legislature is spending valuable time this session attempting to enact a law preventing chemtrails and human manipulation of the weather, something that doesn't exist except in the mind of loony right-wingers. Something that does exist in Florida is black bears. Arix Zalace is a long-time Panhandle resident and Co-Founder, Director & Bo…

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Episode 250: The Suwannee River 43:11

3M ago43:11

43:11

A proposed home development in Alachua County threatens the Floridan Aquifer. John Quarterman is the Suwannee Riverkeeper working with a group of concerned citizens in north central Florida and south central Georgia to protect a vast, interconnected basin of waterways flowing into the Suwanee River and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico. Check out ou…

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Episode 249: 'Welcome to Florida' - the book! 41:21

3M ago41:21

41:21

A peanut farmer wants to swindle choice gopher tortoise land out of state conservation protection under the guise of a land swap, and Florida officials seem open to the idea. Voice your opposition. Craig's seventh book, "Welcome to Florida: True Tales from America's Most Interesting State" is now available. His former colleague at the "Tampa Bay Ti…

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Episode 248: Word of South 39:40

3M ago39:40

39:40

Craig highlights the WORST bill working its way through the legislature this session. It's a "Christmas wish list" for developers and polluting industries. Fernandina Beach vs. Rayonier. Find you state senator and call him/her to oppose SB 1118. Jason Garcia's GREAT newsletter and podcast about Florida politics. Our guest this episode is Mark Musti…

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Episode 247: Florida's Oldest Bar 29:24

3M ago29:24

29:24

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials are again pursuing a black bear hunt for the state. Citizens don't want it, and the last one was a disaster. Read Craig's column and send your comment to state officials in opposition. The Palace Saloon in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island is Florida's oldest bar. Thea Seagraves from the A…

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Episode 246: Longleaf Pine 39:47

4M ago39:47

39:47

Craig wants America's most hated man, unelected shadow president Elon Musk, to keep his hands off our National Parks. (Resistance Rangers) Longleaf pine once covered an area of over 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas along the Southeastern coast and well inland. Today, only about 5% of that original habitat remains. Karl Etters works at Tall T…

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Episode 245: The Montbrook Fossil Site 39:57

4M ago39:57

39:57

Alcoholic, womanizing, Islamophobe U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is also a climate denier. He has instructed the armed forces to ignore climate impacts and has demanded the Pentagon cut funding on military installations aimed at combating the effects of climate change, including at bases in Florida. The Montbrook Fossil Site roughly 45 minute…

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Episode 244: Mullet 40:51

4M ago40:51

40:51

A combination of increasing and increasingly devastating hurricanes along with skyrocketing property insurance prices have resulted in an amazing demographic event in Florida. Our guest this week is Michael Sipos from the Florida Sea Grant who joins us to talk about mullet. Make it a point one year to attend the Seminole Tribal Fair & Pow Wow held …

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Episode 243: Coalition of Immokalee Workers 57:42

4M ago57:42

57:42

Donald Trump's threatened tariffs would be another nail in the coffin for Florida's citrus industry. You can support the "Welcome to Florida" podcast by becoming a $5 a month "patron" at www.patreon.com/welcometoflorida. Greg Asbed from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers joins us on this episode to discuss the history of working conditions for agri…

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Episode 242: Operation Pedro Pan (Peter Pan) 33:53

4M ago33:53

33:53

Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to open the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil drilling, potentially endangering Florida's beaches and economy from the spills that inevitably follow drilling. In 1960, Cuban parents began sending their children, unaccompanied, to Miami on Pan-Am flights to get them out of the country and away from Fidel Ca…

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Episode 241: Marineland 41:07

5M ago41:07

41:07

The federal government in the closing days of the Biden Administration failed to secure a protection for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Stories like this can be found in our weekly "Florida Conservation Newsletter" exclusively available to "Welcome to Florida" patrons at www.patreon.com/welcometoflorida. Marineland opened south …

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Episode 240: Apalachicola River 42:10

5M ago42:10

42:10

Ron DeSantis wants the state to assume responsibility of Everglades restoration from the federal government. Terrible idea for the Everglades. Our guest this episode is Susan Anderson, outgoing executive director of the Apalachicola Riverkeeper. Susan grew up on the river and shares what makes it special and the numerous threats it faces. "Welcome …

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Episode 239: Tampa Civil Rights Sit-ins 49:59

5M ago49:59

49:59

The Cape Sable seaside sparrow is one of the most endangered birds in the continental United States, numbering only 2,000 or so individuals, all living in the Everglades. Conflicting water management aims in South Florida pitting Big Sugar against the environment is resulting in the state taking drastic measures to pursue survival of the species. I…

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Episode 238: Criteria Recording Studios in Miami 48:48

5M ago48:48

48:48

Buyer beware when it comes to a new organization promoting itself as a gopher tortoise conservation solution. Miami's Criteria Recording Studios has produced a staggering volume of hit music from James Brown's "I Feel Good" to Eric Clapton's "Layla," Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours," the Eagles' "Hotel California," Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville," and on…

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Episode 237: Mister Rogers at Rollins College 33:18

6M ago33:18

33:18

Craig takes a look back at the most amusing and unusual Florida news stories from 2024. Fred Rogers studied in the Music Department at Rollins College in Winter Park before going on to host "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" on PBS. Fred Rogers' nephew, Daniel Crozier, teaches in the Music Department at Rollins and shares stories of his uncle and how th…

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Episode 236: David Kirby and Florida Poets 41:00

6M ago41:00

41:00

Craig Pittman has a wish list of gifts he hopes Santa brings Florida's environment. Our guest this episode is poet, essayist, and professor of English at Florida State University David Kirby. His latest anthology of poems is titled "The Winter Dance Party." In the episode, Craig quoted an Elizabeth Bishop poem you can read here. Thank you to all of…

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Episode 235: The St. Johns River 44:35

6M ago44:35

44:35

In Port St. Joe, a 62-year-old woman was handcuffed, arrested, and spent a night in jail as part of a politically motivated attack on local residents investigating damage done to a wetland by the city. The St. Johns River is Florida's longest, flowing south to north along the eastern half of the state. Lisa Rinaman is the St. Johns Riverkeeper, an …

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Episode 234: The Orange Blossom Trail 35:53

7M ago35:53

35:53

What should Florida and its residents be doing to prepare for the next hurricane season? The Orange Blossom Trail was a popular tourism promotion in mid-century Florida to bring newly middle-class Americans with their cars from the Midwest and Northeast to the middle part of the state traversing along U.S. Route 441 running 400-plus miles from the …

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Episode 233: Jack Kerouac in Florida 33:17

7M ago33:17

33:17

Add little Milton in the Panhandle as another Florida town that threw out its pro-development, pro-industry city council in what can now be called a statewide trend. Famous 20th century "Beat" author Jack Kerouac spent the final years of his life in Orlando and St. Pete. Bob Kealing shares this history in his book, "Jack Kerouac: Where the Road End…

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Episode 232: Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s 'Surrounded Islands' 39:10

7M ago39:10

39:10

Based on his first-term record as the most anti-nature president in American history, Craig sees the Florida environment as a big loser of Donald Trump's second term in office. In 1983, contemporary artists Christo and Jean-Claude created a massive installation of pink fabric in Biscayne Bay titled 'Surrounded Islands.' The couple's foundation rece…

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Episode 231: Airboating with Miccosukee Indian John Tigertail 38:54

7M ago38:54

38:54

Timber company Rayonier wants to develop a toxic bioethanol producing plant near downtown Fernandina Beach. Explosions at these plants are not uncommon. A local group, No Ethanol Fernandina, is fighting the effort. Miccosukee Indian John Tigertail leads airboat tours of the Everglades just like his father and grandfather did. Information on the 202…

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Episode 230: Ivan Tors Studios and the Florida Film Industry 56:40

8M ago56:40

56:40

Craig and I open this episode discussing a return to the White House of the worst environmental president in history. Our guest is David Morton, author of "Motion Picture Paradise: A History of Florida's Film and Television Industry." Florida was an epicenter of film and television production in the early 20th century, and again in the 50s and 60s,…

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Episode 229: Florida's Historic Hotels 35:31

8M ago35:31

35:31

Florida's politicians are bought and paid for by polluting industries: Big Sugar, Big Ag (agriculture), cattle ranchers, gas and oil, developers, phosphate mining. Kristen Hare traveled across the state researching her book "Hotels, Motels, and Inns of Florida." On this episode, she shares her favorite historic lodgings. If you'd like to receive an…

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Episode 228: Robert the Doll 36:56

8M ago36:56

36:56

Ron DeSantis thinks the Florida economy would suffer from fighting climate change; Craig Pittman knows the Florida economy won't exist if we don't. Cathy Salustri, host of the "Florida Spectacular" podcast and Florida author - and two-time former "Welcome to Florida" guest - fills in for Chadd Scott on this episode focusing on Robert the Doll. Auth…

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Episode 227: Stephen Crane's Shipwreck 35:35

8M ago35:35

35:35

Back-to-back hurricanes this October have Craig thinking about 2004 when four major hurricanes battered the state in a six week period. What was learned from those catastrophes 20 years ago? Nothing. Our guest this episode is Florida author Leslie Kemp Poole's whose recently published book, "Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Lands…

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Episode 226: Big Cypress National Preserve 45:41

8M ago45:41

45:41

VOTE "NO" ON AMENDMENT 2, the so-called "Right to Hunt and Fish." Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida celebrates its 50th anniversary as the nation's first National Preserve on October 11, 2024. The Preserve will be hosting a variety of events through the end of the year in recognition of the milestone. Lisa Andrews is the education and …

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Episode 225: Legendary Florida author Theodore Pratt 35:24

9M ago35:24

35:24

We start by explaining how climate change and increased development have made hurricanes in Florida stronger and more destructive. Theodore Pratt isn't a name most folks will know, but he was a highly acclaimed and prolific mid-century Florida author who is largely responsible for sustaining the legacy of the Barefoot Mailmen. Taylor Hagood is a pr…

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Episode 224: "The Yearling" (The Movie) 41:51

9M ago41:51

41:51

Florida's so-called "law and order" governor isn't concerned about law or order when it comes to the state's freshwater springs. The best way to stay informed on news related to our springs is via the Florida Springs Council. We've previously featured Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's "The Yearling" book in an episode, this episode will center on the movie…

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Episode 223: Truman's Little White House in Key West 39:13

9M ago39:13

39:13

Another secretive, shady deal attempted between a private developer and the state government on supposedly protected public land has been exposed by the media. Harry Truman spent a remarkable amount of time during his presidency at his Little White House in Key West. The home is open to the public for tours. Clinton Curry, Director of Operations in…

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Episode 222: The Dry Tortugas 37:07

9M ago37:07

37:07

A secret meeting about water policy convened by a Florida congressman allowed polluting industries and state officials to scheme behind closed doors without the public or press allowed in. This episode takes us to Florida's most remote location, the Dry Tortugas. Ian Wilson-Navarro spent a month there photographing and fishing, and recalls the expe…

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Episode 221: OMGitsWicks 32:04

10M ago32:04

32:04

Craig recently turned a story in to "Flamingo" magazine about Miami's Criteria Recording Studios, one of the 20th century's most influential hit makers. Our guest this episode is social media personality, humorist, and Florida Man OMGitsWicks. Follow him on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.…

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Episode 220: Polly Parker 44:33

10M ago44:33

44:33

Don't believe Ron DeSantis' lies when he says he had no advance knowledge of plans to bring golf courses and hotels into Florida's state parks. Our guest this week is Florida author Cathy Salustri. She joined us all the way back on Episode 5 to discuss her first Florida book, "Backroads of Paradise," and she's back to discuss her latest book, "Flor…

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Episode 219: Scalloping 31:42

10M ago31:42

31:42

Craig's column on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's plan to build golf courses and hotels in the state parks. Story update. Another episode, more politicians lining up with developers to destroy protected natural areas against the wishes of citizens. Our guest is Florida food, travel, and lifestyle writer Carrie Honaker who took …

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Episode 218: The Kissimmee River 34:32

10M ago34:32

34:32

Florida's estuaries are warming faster than the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. Doug Alderson kayaked down the Kissimmee River twice, once in 2007 and again in 2024. He wrote about those experiences as well as the river's historic importance to Florida, it's channelizing in the 1960s, and restoration efforts to renaturalize it beginning in the 19…

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Episode 217: A.E. "Bean" Backus 47:00

11M ago47:00

47:00

When is protected land not really protected? When it's in Florida. A.E. "Bean" Backus (1906-1990) is one of Florida's most esteemed artists. While best known today in connection to the Florida Highwaymen, Backus was an exceptional artist in his own right. J. Marshall Adams, executive director at the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Fort Pierce joi…

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Episode 216: Bok Tower Gardens 48:42

11M ago48:42

48:42

Encouraging news for the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, the most endangered bird species on mainland America. A pair of notorious Florida villains have died. Norma Padgett Upshaw who falsely accused "The Groveland Four" of rape, and William Calley, Jr. a U.S. Army officer convicted for his role in 1968's My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. Our guest today is…

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Episode 215: Chokoloskee Island's Smallwood Store 35:24

11M ago35:24

35:24

The right wing's gameplan for a second Trump administration is laid out in a 900-plus page document called "Project 2025." One of its aims is to privatize weather reports. Craig explains how this terrifying document would impact Floridians. Our guest this episode is Lynn Smallwood McMillin, owner and operator of the Smallwood Store in Chokoloskee s…

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Episode 214: The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail 35:42

11M ago35:42

35:42

This episode begins by discussing Craig's most recent "Flamingo" magazine article about the Florida State Park system. Our guest is Lauren Ali, Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail coordinator. The Trail is a project of the FWC - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.By Chadd Scott

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Episode 213: Worm Grunting 39:37

12M ago39:37

39:37

The New College of Florida has been purged of its academic integrity and set up as an incubator of right wing ideology by Ron DeSantis, now, the school's president has destroyed an environmental preserve to construct ball fields. Michael Adno is a freelance writer and photographer from Sarasota. He recently visited the Apalachicola State Forest in …

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Episode 212: Miami Beach Art Deco Architecture 36:40

12M ago36:40

36:40

What Donald Trump didn't say about climate change during the presidential debate spoke volumes. During the debate, Trump said, "During my four years, I had the best environmental numbers ever." The exact opposite is true. Trump was the most anti-environmental president in U.S. history, rolling back 100+ environmental protections. The built environm…