Florida Spectacular

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Florida Spectacular

Cathy Salustri & Rick Kilby

263 episodes

4 days ago

Send us your Florida questions! Mary McLeod Bethune founded the school that became Bethune-Cookman University, but why — and how? Ryan and Cathy take a look. Find Submerged Stories on Facebook. Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram. Links We Mentioned Bethune-Cookman University The Zorg Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick a...

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Places & Travel

Society & Culture,

All content for Florida Spectacular is the property of Cathy Salustri & Rick Kilby and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send us your Florida questions! Mary McLeod Bethune founded the school that became Bethune-Cookman University, but why — and how? Ryan and Cathy take a look. Find Submerged Stories on Facebook. Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram. Links We Mentioned Bethune-Cookman University The Zorg Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick a...

Show more...

Places & Travel

Society & Culture,

Episodes (20/263)

Florida Spectacular

Episode 238: Submerged Stories: Mary McLeod Bethune

Send us your Florida questions! Mary McLeod Bethune founded the school that became Bethune-Cookman University, but why — and how? Ryan and Cathy take a look. Find Submerged Stories on Facebook. Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram. Links We Mentioned Bethune-Cookman University The Zorg Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick a...

4 days ago

35 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 237: Florida Spectacular Origin Story, Marj the Influencer, and Social Media

Send us your Florida questions! As Rick and Cathy look to the new year, they talk about the podcast's origin story, what Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings would have sounded like as an influencer, and the ways social media can help Florida research. Links We Mentioned Ann McCutchan Desperately seeking information on: Mary Mae Campbell (Most likely: South Florida/Homestead, ca. 1967) Donald W. Sill (Winter Park artist /Altamonte Springs) Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridasp...

4 days ago

53 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 236: Did Key West kill JFK?

Send us your Florida questions! A search for legendary Key West fire chef Bum Farto led historian David L. Sloan down a path that led to how Key West played a large part in the assassination of JFK in Dallas. His detailed research helps prove a conspiracy that has long plagued Americans. Links We Mentioned David's website telling the story of JFK, the CIA, and the mafia in Key West Bum Farto Buy the book Cover image courtesy of David L. Sloan. Support the show Question or comment? Email...

2 weeks ago

18 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 235: Clown Is Not a Bad Word, Florida Circus History, and Showmen

Send us your Florida questions! Tibbals Curator of Circus, Jennifer Lemmer Posey, talks about the history of the circus in Florida, where it's going, and the state of things today. Links We Mentioned The Ringling Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life International Independent Showmen's Association Showmen's Club The Ringling collection at FSU Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and k...

3 weeks ago

48 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 234: Growing Up at Silver Springs, Ross Allen, and How To Make a Gator Take a Nap

Send us your Florida questions! Ross Allen's daughter, Betty Allen Bashaw, talks about growing up around her father's menagerie, some of her most interesting tasks at the Ross Allen Institute, and how to get a gator to take a nap. Pictured: A young Betty Allen holds an indigo snake (now threatened) at Ross Allen's Reptile Institute. Photo courtesy of Betty Allen Bashaw. Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsle...

1 month ago

40 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 233: An Insider's Guide to Quincy and Havana, Shade Tobacco, and Florida News

Send us your Florida questions! Have you been to Havana? No, not that one — the one near Quincy, in North Central Florida. Mark Pettus, co-owner of 16 newspapers in North Florida, gives insider tips for visiting Havana and Quincy. Things To Do in Gadsden County Visit Quincy Havana Main Street Antiques in Havana Havana Main Street Sist3r Chicks Oscar's in Havana Heroes and Villains El Jalisco Weezy's Cottage Red Door Wine Bar Planters Exchange Havana History and Heritage Society Coon Bottom Fa...

1 month ago

46 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 232: (Bonus Episode) Submerged Stories, Prospect Bluff, and Hidden Florida History

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Ryan Worthington and Cathy Salustri talk about their forthcoming podcast, Submerged Stories: Florida's Other History. Find Submerged Stories on Facebook. Find Ryan and Cathy on Instagram. Links We Mentioned Prospect Bluff: Part of the Underground Network to Freedom Dale Cox YouTube Episode Fort Gadsden and the Underground Railroad Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectac...

1 month ago

27 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 231: Reunite the River, the Ocklawaha River, and a Conservation Hero

Send us your Florida questions! The Florida Wildlife Federation calls Karen Chadwick a conservation hero. She's spent her life on and around the waters of Central Florida, and she talks about her passion for the Ocklawaha, the impacts of keeping the dam, and the splendor of the regular drawdowns. Links We Mentioned Ocklawaha River Rodman Reservoir and Dam Cross-Florida Barge Canal Kenwood boat ramp Buckman Lock North Star Charters Karen's YouTube channel about the Ocklawaha A Cruising D...

1 month ago

43 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 230: Aids, Arcadia, and Accusations

Send us your Florida questions! Jason Vuic (rhymes with Buick!) talks about his latest book, A Town Without Pity: Aids, Race, & Resistance in Florida's Deep South. In it, he delves into two notorious cases from Arcadia: the Ray brothers, and the James Richardson case. Links We Mentioned A Town Without Pity Swamp Peddlers Wheeler's Cafe Florida's Peace River Frontier by Canter Brown, Jr. PHOTO: In 1987, Arcadia brothers Ricky (left), Robert (center), and Randy (right) Ray...

2 months ago

51 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 229: Florida Men Who Erased Women, Peonage, and Henry Flagler

Send us your Florida questions! Robin Mimna talks about the darker side of Henry Flagler, Stetson, and other "founding fathers" in Florida. We also talk about the women behind the men, and how the men controlled the narratives about them. Links We Mentioned Lake Helen Flagler's Law Arthur Hamlin Mary Grace Quackenbos Annie Laurie's Triumph Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Ca...

2 months ago

48 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 228: The Florida Spooktacular, Robert the Doll, and Haunted Florida History

Send us your Florida questions! Elizabeth Randall, author of Florida haunted history books, joins the podcast — this week only, we've changed the name — to tell us some fantastic Florida ghost stories. Links We Mentioned Elizabeth Randall website Bosque Bello Cemetery in Fernandina Amelia Island Museum of History (the old jailhouse) Robert the Doll by David Sloan David Sloan ghost tour and VIP Robert the Doll Experience Robert the Doll Florida Spectacular episode Books from Elizabeth ...

2 months ago

41 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 227: Saw Palm, Fearsome Creatures, and Visiting Ybor City

Send us your Florida questions! To celebrate the 25th annual issue of Saw Palm, the editors came on the podcast to talk about what sorts of things to expect in the anniversary issue, a book from the man who started Saw Palm, and things to do in Ybor City. Links We Mentioned Saw Palm Fearsome Creatures of Florida Columbia Restaurant The Castle Kress Contemporary Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newslette...

2 months ago

47 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 226: Sex Robots and AI, UF Cheerleaders and Serial Killers, and a Real-Life Treasure Hunt

Send us your Florida questions! Can AI make Florida better? Bess Auer joins the podcast to talk about AI, being a UF cheerleader during the Danny Rollins serial killings, and her Orlando treasure hunt. Links We Mentioned Cherry 2000 "How Ted Bundy Ended Our Innocence" by Diane Roberts Second Harvest Food Bank Fenn's treasure HoundsHouse Orlando The Secret: A Treasure Hunt (Byron Preiss) HaveIBeenTrained.com Bess' SubStack Can AI plan a decent Florida road trip? Here's what happened when Ric...

2 months ago

1 hour

Florida Spectacular

Episode 225: Florida Springs Heritage Area, Reverse Springs, and What You Can Do

Send us your Florida questions! Haley Moody, the director of the Florida Springs Institute, joins the podcast to talk about the idea of creating a National Springs Heritage Area in Florida. About Haley Haley’s passion for the springs began during her first visit to the Ichetucknee River. Her love of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was born during her time at the University of Florida, where she graduated with honors in Landscape Architecture. After a GIS Internship at the Florida Springs...

3 months ago

42 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 224: Echoes of the Wild, Matt Keene, and Florida Photography Not Often Seen

Send us your Florida questions! Florida nature photographer Matt Keene talks about how he uses large-format film cameras to create his portraits. Matt has an exhibit at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine (through Jan. 18, 2026), and this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how much work, forethought, and effort goes into this extraordinary body of work. Links We Mentioned More about Matt Keene River Be Dammed Lost Springs Echoes of the Wild at the Light...

3 months ago

56 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 223: An Unusual Florida Hero, the Fountain of Youth, and St. Augustine Bordellos

Send us your Florida questions! Brandy Carlisle, a tour guide at St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth Park, is fascinated with the woman who bought the land that is now the park. So much so she's published a book about her: Luella. The trio talks about Luella, prostitution, and the Fountain of Youth. Links We Mentioned Luella Fountain of Youth Park in St. Augustine Find out more about Brandy — and her fascinating hobbies — on her website. Unearthing St. Augustine: America's Oldest City, by...

3 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 222: Things To Do in St. Augustine, and Should You Move to Florida?

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about Rick's trip to St. Augustine, then answer a letter from a listener about whether or not moving to Florida is a good idea. Things To Do in St. Augustine St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth (visit with a critical eye!) The San Marco shops in St. Augustine, including Duddington's Columbia Restaurant in the St. Augustine Historic District Don't forget to check out Spinster Abbott's. Support the show Question or comme...

3 months ago

51 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 221: A Deadly Tallahassee Affair, Guilty Creatures, and Binge-able show

Send us your Florida questions! Mikita Brottman, author of Guilty Creatures, joins the podcast to talk about the Tallahassee murder that scandalized the town when Denise Williams and Brian Winchester plotted and executed the murder of Denise's husband, Mike. Mikita Brottman is a writer and psychoanalyst. Her latest book Guilty Creatures was published by Simon and Schuster in 2024. She has a D. Phil from Oxford University and is a professor of literature at the Maryland Institute College of Ar...

4 months ago

38 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 220: Florida's Folk History, Rosewood, and Florida's Indians

Send us your Florida questions! The face behind the super-popular Florida's Folk History Instagram account joins the podcast this week. Aubrey Naulin talks about her art, her hopes for Florida's future, and Florida's Indians. Links We Mentioned Florida Folk History on Instagram Rosewood Remembered Islands of Cedars by Shana Smith Submerged Stories: Florida's Other Histories on Facebook Lake Hourglass Studio Texas Together: with HondoOrdinary Texans with Extrodinary StoriesListen o...

4 months ago

57 minutes

Florida Spectacular

Episode 219: Alligators: Florida's Swamp Puppies

Send us your Florida questions! Mark Barrow grew up around gators — both the real one and a certain Florida college that pays homage to them. Now, he's written a book about alligators, and he joins Rick and Cathy to talk about why alligators deserve respect, not fear. The trio also talks about the gator's place in Florida's culture, roadside Florida gator attractions, and why gators are amazing creatures. Links We Mentioned Mini-Lights and Black children used as gator bait? Mini Lights p...

4 months ago

57 minutes