Best WUSF Public Media Podcasts (2025)

1
How Floridians feel about the state budget and what it means for Tampa Bay 28:00

Play Pause

1d ago28:00

28:00

Florida’s legislative session went way longer than planned, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis argued over proposed tax cuts. DeSantis signed the budget — more than $115 billion — and a slate of new laws took effect on July 1. State government reporters Meghan Bowman and Douglas Soule with the "Your Florida" team discuss what got vetoed, what survi…

1
How the Chitlin Circuit influenced American pop music 28:00

8d ago28:00

28:00

On this episode of "Florida Matters," you’ll learn about The Chitlin Circuit, how it shaped the sound of jazz, blues, and rock, and how it paved the way for the music industry we see today. We revisit a conversation brought to you last February about the network of clubs that Black performers toured in the segregated South. Coming up- you’ll hear h…

1
Finding the joy in Tampa Bay's arts and culture scene 28:00

15d ago28:00

28:00

Tampa Bay has a world renowned arts scene. Chances are you’ve caught an exhibition at the Dali museum in St. Petersburg- or taken in some of the dazzling, larger than life art at the SHINE mural festival. But did you know Tampa is also the birthplace of death metal? On this episode you’ll hear from WUSF reporters who’ve been spotlighting the arts a…

1
The steamy world of Romance Novels 28:00

22d ago28:00

28:00

When you hear the term ‘romance novel', does it conjure up images of Fabio’s flying hair- or maybe some bodice ripping? You can still find that between the covers of a romance novel, but there’s so much more. You’re just as likely to read about a baseball diamond as a bodice in the new universe of romance fiction. One thing these novels all have in…

1
Off the beaten path in Florida with Gabrielle Calise 28:00

29d ago28:00

28:00

There’s a lot more mystery and magic to this state than "Florida Man" headlines suggest. Take a drive around the Tampa Bay area and you may wonder about the story behind the UFO perched atop a strip club, Weeki Wachee’s mermaid show or Tampa’s obsession with pirates. Gabrielle Calise, a culture writer who reports on offbeat Florida, nostalgia and m…

1
Florida Matters Podcast Extra: remembering Gwen Henderson 29:55

30d ago29:55

29:55

The Tampa City Council announced Tuesday morning that Henderson died at her home of natural causes overnight. Henderson was an educator and bookstore owner. And in this episode, we’re revisiting Florida Matters host Matthew Peddie's conversation with Henderson last year at Black English, the store in Tampa Heights that she ran with her daughter, Ar…

1
Florida Matters podcast extra: highlights from our series on hurricane recovery and resilience 51:55

1M ago51:55

51:55

In the lead up to the start of hurricane season, Florida Matters took a closer look at stories of recovery- from homeowners, business leaders and community members. In this episode you’ll hear highlights from the series: how businesses are rebuilding and how local governments are trying to prevent the flooding that swamped neighborhoods across our …

1
Florida Matters Podcast Extra: Tampa Bay's David Jolly sets his sights on the governor's mansion 20:30

1M ago20:30

20:30

David Jolly represented Florida's 13th congressional district, in Pinellas County, from 2014 to 2017. He left the Republican party in 2018 and has spent the past few years advocating for more options for voters dissatisfied with the major political parties. In April, he registered as a Democrat. Jolly was born in Dunedin and grew up in Dade City. H…

1
Why some police departments have stopped using a particular model of handgun 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

There’s a certain model of handgun that’s popular with gun owners across the country. It’s popular with law enforcement too. But recently, some agencies- including right here in Tampa Bay- opted to remove the Sig Sauer P320 from their arsenals because of safety concerns. On this episode you'll hear from a journalist who's been covering this issue f…

1
How Tampa Bay businesses are recovering from 2024 hurricanes, preparing for this year 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

On "Florida Matters," we discuss hurricane recovery for Tampa Bay area businesses following the 2024 storms. We also look into how business owners can prepare and find relief this year. Building a business can be hard work. And for business owners across the Tampa Bay region, there’s been an added disruption — hurricanes. Hurricanes Milton and Hele…

1
Across Tampa Bay, homeowners and local government leaders grapple with hurricane flood risk 27:59

2M ago27:59

27:59

If your home flooded during hurricane season last year, you may still be recovering from the damage. A lot of neighborhoods flooded as a series of storms impacted the Tampa Bay region- Hurricane Debby, then Helene and soon after that- Milton. And it wasn’t just places on the coast. Inland neighborhoods flooded too. So- with hurricane season almost …

1
How community resilience can help with hurricane recovery 52:59

2M ago52:59

52:59

When a disaster strikes, you can expect help from local and state governments, and from FEMA. But it may not be long before you find out those agencies can’t do it all. And knowing who your neighbors are can make a big difference in how your community recovers. In this episode, you’ll hear from community leaders, and from some of your neighbors acr…

1
Hurricanes and mental health: dealing with the stress of hurricane season anxiety and storm recovery 42:13

2M ago42:13

42:13

Hurricane season is always stressful. And it may weigh even heavier as you continue to recover from last year’s storms. So how are you coping – and dealing with the unknowns as Hurricane Season arrives? We invited a couple of people who are experts in helping people get through crises. On this episode you'll hear from Clara Reynolds, the President …

1
Bridges, buses and ferries: getting around Tampa Bay 27:59

2M ago27:59

27:59

When Manatee County got rid of bus fares- ridership went up. And it’s not the only place in Tampa Bay where more people started taking the bus after fares went away. Hillsborough County made its most popular bus route, from downtown Tampa to the University of South Florida, free for this year, and ridership is way up. On this episode of Florida Mat…

1
Fixing the Trop's roof and figuring out the future of the Rays 27:59

3M ago27:59

27:59

You know the Tampa Bay Rays. If you’re a baseball fan, you follow the wins and losses. But if you’re a taxpayer in St Petersburg or Pinellas County, the ongoing stadium saga may grab your attention. The city of St Petersburg is fixing the damaged roof of Tropicana Field. Across the Bay in Tampa - the team plays its home games at Steinbrenner Field …

1
Uber and the Tampa Bay gig economy 27:59

3M ago27:59

27:59

When Uber arrived in Tampa Bay ten years ago, it was a gamechanger. The rideshare app disrupted the taxi industry and offered people a way to make extra money on their own schedule. It hasn’t all been smooth driving since then. Last year, Uber and Lyft drivers in Tampa joined a nationwide strike, calling for higher wages. Joining Florida Matters fo…

1
Uber and Tampa Bay: a conversation with Javi Correoso 24:00

3M ago24:00

24:00

When Uber arrived in Tampa Bay ten years ago, it was a game changer for transit, disrupting the taxi industry and opening up the gig economy. Uber says it has more than 8 million drivers and couriers worldwide using the app each month. And it’s been reported that Uber commands about three quarters of the ride share business in the US. Javi Correoso…

1
Taxes, school start times & the state bird: Florida's legislative session hits the halfway mark 19:59

3M ago19:59

19:59

At the start of the session, you heard from WUSF’s ‘Your Florida’ team. Reporters Meghan Bowman and Douglas Soule are keeping tabs on the legislature up in Tallahassee and talking with you and your neighbors across Tampa Bay about issues that you think are important. On this episode you'll hear from Douglas and Meghan about how the session is going…

1
Trackside or courtside- how sports fans help power Tampa Bay's economy 27:59

3M ago27:59

27:59

Tampa Bay is a pro sports town. You’ve got the Lightning for Hockey, Buccaneers for Football, and the Rays for baseball. That attracts folks for hundreds of games in the area this year. But there’s another huge presence: the numbers are in for the first IndyCar Series broadcast of the season for the audience that watched Alex Palou and Josef Newgar…

1
Watching like a hawk: A look at the lore of birdwatching 28:00

4M ago28:00

28:00

Birding- or bird watching- is booming. The US Fish and Wildlife service estimates there are 96 million birders in the United States. That’s one in three adults in this country. And even if you aren’t one of them- you may just be birdwatching by default. On this episode, Florida Matters executive producer Gracyn Doctor takes you on a bird walk at Le…

1
Some people in Tampa Bay are still dealing with flood impacts from Milton. Here's how they're coping 18:44

4M ago18:44

18:44

If you experienced Hurricane Milton- or Helene or Debby- it’s something you don’t want to relive. But for some people in Tampa Bay- they’re still dealing with flooding from last year’s storms. WUSF's Sky Lebron visited people in Pasco and Polk County who whose homes were flooded during last year's hurricane season. Some are living in RVs because fl…

1
Months after Milton, some Tampa Bay residents are still dealing with flooding; how oyster shells are helping a bird sanctuary in Hillsborough Bay 27:58

4M ago27:58

27:58

For many Floridians, getting ready for hurricane season means things like dusting off the emergency supply kit, checking flashlight batteries and making sure you know where your important documents are stashed. But for some Tampa Bay residents who lived through the 2024 hurricane season- they’re still dealing with flooding from Hurricane Milton- an…

1
Florida Noir and the makings of a shady crime story 28:00

4M ago28:00

28:00

People come to Florida in droves for the beaches and warm weather. But the sunshine state also attracts its fair share of shady characters, in real life and in fiction. There’s even a genre of crime fiction set in the Sunshine State – Florida Noir. And even if you haven’t read them, you’ve probably heard of homegrown practitioners of Florida Noir l…

1
Breaking down DeSantis' annual address on the 'free state of Florida' 27:59

4M ago27:59

27:59

On this episode of "Florida Matters," we discuss Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address to the Legislature. Topics he covered during the half-house speech included immigration, gun laws, education and property taxes. Florida’s 2025 legislative session is underway. Top issues Floridians can expect to hear lawmakers debate over the next two mo…

1
How Tampa became a Spring Training destination 28:00

4M ago28:00

28:00

It’s Spring Training time, and for the next two months, fans of the Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and other Grapefruit league teams get to experience a slightly more relaxed brand of baseball before the regular season starts. Florida Matters takes you on a tour of Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, the Spring Training base for the Baltimore Orioles. The t…