Florida Spectacular
Take a weekly trip across Florida with authors Cathy Salustri and Rick Kilby and discover a side of Florida you never knew existed. From the scallops in Panhandle bays to the Hemingway cats in Key West, every week's a Florida adventure.
Get more Florida goodness with greatfloridaroadtrip.com and rickkilby.com.
Episodes
222 episodes
Episode 197: Tiki Culture, Clearwater, and Tiki-a-Go-Go
Jon Bortles joins Cathy and Rick to talk about Florida Tiki culture and all things Tiki. Bahi Hut Meetup with Rick, Cathy, and Jon — April 11, 7 p.m.Links We Men...
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Season 5
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Episode 197
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39:23
Episode 196: Florida Landscaping, Wildflowers, and Disney Plants
Spring has sprung, the pollen is here, and it's time once again to talk about plants and landscaping. Eric Schmidt, the Botanical Records Specialist for Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens, talks about a few of his favorite plant places in Florida, ...
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Season 5
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Episode 196
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54:51
Episode 195: Paw-Paws, Munyon Island, and a Made-in-Florida Liqueur
This week, Joe Colucci from Munyon's Paw Paw Liqueur joins the podcast to talk about his Florida-made papaya liqueur — and the fascinating Florida history behind it.Links We Mentioned
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Season 5
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Episode 195
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44:02
Episode 194: Botanical Gardens, Flamingos, and Florida Yard Lizards
Cathy and Rick give a whirlwind tour of botanical gardens they have loved, talk about Rick's proposal to his wife and where he hid her ring, how to pronounce anole, and where to find flamingos. Links We Mentioned...
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Season 5
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Episode 194
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42:50
Episode 193: Gulf of...?, John D. MacDonald, and Jack Davis' Gulf Coast Playlist
Jack Davis, the Pulitzer-winning author of The Gulf: Making of an American Sea, joins the podcast to talk about what he thinks of the Gulf of Mexico's nomenclature glow-up. The talk migrates to sea level rise, John D. MacDonald's books...
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Season 5
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Episode 193
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56:11
Episode 192: Spectacular Madcaps: Protect Florida Springs, Manatee Cavorting, and Other NSFW Environmental Fun Facts
At the Florida Springs Council, the Florida Madcaps podcast host Ryan Worthington and Florida Spectacular host Cathy Salustri taped a crossover podcast in front of a live audience. Their guests are Max Chesnes, the Tampa Bay Times envi...
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Season 5
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Episode 192
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57:03
Episode 191: Floridiana, Taxidermied Gators, and Florida Collectibles
Ken Breslauer joins the podcast to talk about collectible Florida ephemera, his annual Floridiana show, and his favorite roadside attractions.Links We MentionedFloridiana...
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Season 5
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Episode 191
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35:52
Episode 190: Rosewood, Shana Smith, and 'Islands of Cedars'
Shana Smith joins the podcast to talk about her book, Islands of Cedars. Shana based the book on actual events, but is a well-researched book of fiction. It's a beautifully written piece of history and Shana talks about what motivated ...
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Season 5
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Episode 190
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57:11
Episode 189: Insiders Guide to Ormond Beach
Looking for things to do that most people miss in Ormond Beach? Historian Randy Jaye has a lot for you to explore.Links We Mentioned
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Season 5
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Episode 189
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48:02
Episode 188: Orlando Murder Mystery, a Florida mystery writer, and Why Is It Snowing?
Joy Wallace Dickinson, author of the old Florida murder mystery, Secrets of the Flamingo Café, joins the podcast to talk about her book, the history in which she grounded it, and her writing process. There's a rare snowfall in North Fl...
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Season 5
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Episode 188
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46:54
Episode 187: Florida's Lost Springs
Ever heard of a zero-magnitude spring? It's a spring that has "historic flow" — meaning it doesn't have any water anymore (usually — some get water during times of heavy rain). Rick and Cathy talk about some of Florida's lost springs....
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Season 5
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Episode 187
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53:44
Episode 186: City and County Florida Parks You Need To Visit
Cathy and Rick talk about their favorite parks that aren't state parks.City and County Florida Parks You Need To VisitFort De Soto (St. Petersburg)
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Season 5
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Episode 186
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43:19
Episode 185: Florida Bucket List, a Kayak Tour, and Florida Plans for the New Year
Rick and Cathy talk about Florida adventures for the new year and talk about kayaking. They also look ahead to 2025 and some possible new benefits for podcast subscribers. Links We Mentioned
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Season 4
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Episode 185
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50:18
Episode 184: Marineland, Gators, and Top Three Places to Kayak near St. Johns
AyoLane Halusky talks about possible changes at Marineland, why you shouldn't be afraid of alligators, and favorite paddles in St. Johns area.
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Season 4
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Episode 184
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1:11:24
Episode 183: Florida Is Not For Sissies, Beautiful Danger, and Loving Florida
Kimball Love makes an appearance on the podcast to talk about her new book, Florida Is Not For Sissies. Links We MentionedFlorida is Not for Sissies
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Season 4
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Episode 183
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55:26
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Episode 182: Springs, Florida Studies, and Water Politics
Chris Meindl, associate professor or geography and the director of the Florida Studies Program at USF-St. Pete, joins the podcast to talk about his new book, Florida Springs: From Geograp...
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Season 4
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Episode 182
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45:28
Episode 181: Florida Gratitude, How To Kill Someone, and Florida Adventures
What started as an episode on gratitude for Florida things meandered as much as the Kissimmee River in the 1920s. Rick and Cathy talk about what they're grateful for in Florida, and — naturally — that turns to talk of finding dead bodies and ho...
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Season 4
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Episode 181
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55:57
Episode 180: Cryptids, Crazy, Florida!, and Skunk Ape Genitalia
Chris Beachum and Rich Robinson created a TV series, Crazy, Florida! — and the first episode is live now. Rich and Chris join Rick and Cathy to talk about the inspiration for Crazy, Florida!, what makes it special, and what's ...
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Season 4
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Episode 180
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41:40
Episode 179: How To Do Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs Run
Rick and Cathy talk about what to do at Wekiwa Springs, along the Wekiva River, at Rock Springs Run, and the surrounding waterways.Links We Mentioned
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Season 4
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Episode 179
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28:40
Episode 178: DeLeon Springs: Reclaiming Enslaved People's History, Waterskiing Elephants, and Pancakes
This week, Florida Spectacular takes a deep dive into DeLeon Springs. Rick and Cathy talk about the first people who lived in the area, EuroAmerican settlers, and the history of the sugar mill and plantation that formed around the spri...
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Season 4
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Episode 178
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34:08
Episode 177: The Insider's Guide to Orlando with The Bungalower
Brendan O'Connor, of Bungalower and Orlando Magazine, joins the podcast to talk about his intense knowledge of Orlando neighborhoods and hidden Orlando. He's the author of
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Season 4
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Episode 177
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1:04:48
Florida Keys Spectacular Episode 22: Ghost Stories of the Florida Keys
Robert the Doll isn't the only ghost in the Florida Keys. Hear a few more tales from Brad and Cathy.Links We MentionedHaunted Key West
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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36:39
Episode 176: Creepy Florida Road Trips
With scary season in full swing, Cathy and Rick talk about some of the creepiest — and most fun — places they've visited along the roadside.Potter's...
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Season 4
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Episode 176
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39:51
