Best Poynter Institute Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 103: Stan LIberatore - No Limit Technology 36:04

3d ago36:04

36:04

Stan Liberatore, founder of No Limit Technology, discusses his journey from a corporate background in software development and recruitment to entrepreneurship and founding his own company. He shares the early struggles of No Limit, including financial instability and the importance of relationships. We also learn about the rise of Save the Kids, a …

1
Ep. 102: John Graydon Smith - MOSI 45:05

2M ago45:05

45:05

In this episode, Joe welcomes John Graydon Smith, the President and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa. John shares his fascinating journey as a turn around specialist in the museum world. They discuss the evolution of MOSI, its current challenges, and the innovative strategies being implemented to ensure its future success. …

1
Ep. 101: Lisa Speer Vickers - Realty ONE Group & Speer Dream Foundation 38:56

2M ago38:56

38:56

In this episode of the SPX, Joe Hamilton interviews Lisa Speer Vickers, daughter of the prolific entrepreneur Roy Speer. Lisa recounts her upbringing in a household driven by her father's diverse business ventures, which ranged from a utility company and real estate to oil and financial institutions. She shares her early memories of her father's en…

1
Ep. 100: Neil Brown - Poynter Institute 40:53

4M ago40:53

40:53

On this special 100th episode of SPx, Neil Brown, President of the Poynter Institute, joins Joe for an in depth conversation about the current state of journalism. Brown believes that journalism is thriving despite challenges and highlights the need to move away from a negative narrative. They discuss objectivity in journalism, the impact of the in…

1
Ep. 99: Eugenie Bondurant - Actor 52:25

4M ago52:25

52:25

In this episode of SPX, host Joe Hamilton chats with the multifaceted actress and teacher Eugenie Bondurant. Known for her roles in films like "Fear of Rain", "The Hunger Games" and her upcoming appearance in "Summer Camp," Bondurant takes us on a journey through her vibrant career. From her unique upbringing in New Orleans to her foray into the wo…

1
Ep 98.: Sean Schrader, MBA 43:30

4M ago43:30

43:30

In this epside of SPx, Joe welcomes Sean Schrader, a young, dynamic community leader who recently completed his MBA from the University of South Florida. Schrader shares his journey from local neighborhood meetings to working with U.S. Congressman Charlie Crist, emphasizing the importance of local advocacy, community involvement, and civil discours…

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Ep. 97: Peter Golenbock, Author 46:48

5M ago46:48

46:48

In this episode we welcome renowned author, sports historian and St Petersburg resident Peter Golenbock. With a seasoned eye on the game and a pen that has chronicled baseball's most pivotal moments, Peter brings a unique perspective on how the sport has evolved amidst today's fast-paced, technologically driven world. We also dig into the current d…

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Ep. 96: Mark Mahaffey - The Pathfinder 1:02:04

9M ago1:02:04

1:02:04

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a U.S. Naval officer veteran, Mark Mahaffey joined his father’s business in 1969. Today, he is Chairman of the Board of The Mahaffey Companies, one of the largest family-owned real estate companies in Florida. St. Petersburg’s Mahaffey Theater bears his family’s name. In this edition of SPx, Mahaffey d…

1
Ep. 95: Ken LaRoe - Climate First Bank 40:56

1y ago40:56

40:56

Ken LaRoe is the founder of Climate First Bank, which is his third bank. After the very successful sale of Florida Choice Bank, his first, LaRoe and his wife Cindy rented a small RV to travel the country. For that trip LaRoe's brother gave him a copy of Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard's book, Let My People Go Surfing. It proved to be a transformat…

1
Ep. 94: Andreas Calabrese 35:04

1y ago35:04

35:04

After looking for every reason not to open a fund in Tampa Bay, the founders of TampaBay.Ventures found the value to compelling to deny. They stood up a fund and the man who runs the day to day operations, Andreas Calabrease, is our guest on this episode.By St Petersburg Group

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Ep. 93: Karen DeYoung - Washington Post 51:47

1y ago51:47

51:47

Washington Post associate editor and senior national security correspondent Karen DeYoung is Joe’s guest on today’s SPX podcast. DeYoung, who has been with the Post for nearly 50 years, grew up in St. Petersburg, and wrote for the St. Petersburg Times in the early 1970s. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist discusses her many years as a foreign co…

1
Ep. 92: Marcus Brooks - Center for Health Equity 35:42

1+ y ago35:42

35:42

A fourth-generation St. Petersburg native, Marcus Brooks passionately believes in absolute equity on every level, and as the executive director of the Center for Health Equity, he is fully invested in what he calls the “collaboration and connectivity” needed to achieve both physical wellness, racial balance, empathy and understanding in the city (a…

1
Ep. 91: Jim Barnish - Orchid Black 34:34

1+ y ago34:34

34:34

Jim Barnish is the Founding Managing Partner of Orchid Black and the host of The Dirt podcast. Orchid Black is a consulting firm that focuses exclusively on revenue-positive start-ups looking to make an exit within three years. This conversation discusses the nuances of Orchid Black's unique business model, the hurdles and opportunities facing comp…

1
Ep. 90: Ray Roa - Creative Loafing 40:56

1+ y ago40:56

40:56

Ray Roa is the Editor-In-Chief at Creative Loafing Tampa, a weekly publication that focuses on city news, arts and culture, and more. Roa has held this position for nearly four years, building on a career writing for various publications in the Tampa Bay area. In this podcast, Hamilton and Roa cover the evolution of local news, and the alt-weekly i…

1
Ep. 89: Helen R Murray 37:26

1+ y ago37:26

37:26

Helen Murray is an award-winning playwright and director. Murray joined St. Pete’s American Stage as Producing Artistic Director in October 2022. Previous to her current role, Murray has notably worked as Executive Producer for the Aurora Fox Arts Center in Denver and as Artistic Director of the Hub Theatre in Virginia, which she also co-founded. S…

1
Ep. 88: Waveney Ann Moore - Journalist 41:56

2y ago41:56

41:56

Waveney Ann Moore’s first St. Pete Catalyst byline appeared just over two years ago, on Nov. 25, 2020, and her weekly columns have enriched and elevated our journalistic output a thousandfold. The Guyana-born Moore began writing for us following her retirement from the Tampa Bay Times, where she’d been a well-known reporter and columnist for 24 yea…

1
Ep. 87: Judy Genshaft - University of South Florida 59:03

2y ago59:03

59:03

Judy Genshaft was President of the University of South Florida for nearly two decades, from 2000 to 2019, overseeing the most transformative change in the university’s history. Enrollment grew by 40 percent; the four-year graduation rate tripled. USF’s endowment jumped from $254 million to $480 million. And most significantly, USF's research activi…

1
Ep. 86: Christian Hardigree - University of South Florida, St Petersburg 50:11

2y ago50:11

50:11

Regional chancellor Christian Hardigree joined the University of South Florida St. Petersburg administration in July, and she hit the ground running. In this wide-ranging conversation, Hardigree – who came to USF from Denver, Colorado, where she’d served as the Dean of Metropolitan State’s School of Hospitality – talks about the university’s forwar…

1
Ep. 85: Freddy Williams - Boys and Girls Club 43:12

2y ago43:12

43:12

There’s a line Freddy Williams, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, likes to drop into conversations: “We’re not your grandfather’s Boys and Girls Club.” Williams, a Florida native who’s been in the position since 2016 (after serving in the top spot for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter counties) emphasizes that tod…

1
Ep. 84: Peter Belmont - Preserve the Burg 38:16

2y ago38:16

38:16

Peter Belmont see cities through a special lens. It reveals to him the elements - the buildings, districts, and neighborhoods - that comprise the DNA of a place. From this DNA comes character, the character that shapes a community that in turn shapes our individual lives. Experience has shown Peter that not everyone can see the connection between t…

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Ep. 83: Katie Krimitsos - Creator - Women's Meditation Network 59:14

2+ y ago59:14

59:14

Katie Krimitsos started walking the line that most women walk. On one side, cultural and societal norms, family and even biology. On the other, exploration, self actualization and going deep into a passion. All genders walk the line in their own ways, and all genders suffer cultural expectations. The numbers show, though, that when it comes to fami…

1
Ep. 82: Monica Eaton-Cardone - Entrepreneur, Founder, Trailblazer 1:07:23

3y ago1:07:23

1:07:23

Monica Eaton-Cardone has a rage to master. As a child she helped her father run his businesses until she was old enough to begin her own. Upon leaving high school she began the iterative process of creating her own business masterpiece with a DNA level drive to solve problems, work hard and grow her acumen. In this conversation Monica shares lesson…

1
Ep. 81: Charles B Dew - Author & Professor Emeritus, Williams College 43:44

3y ago43:44

43:44

Charles B Dew had an experience not everyone gets to have - he had the reality built during his upbringing challenged in an accessible way. While most have their belief systems challenged at some point in their life, those challenges often inspire defense and hardening of the system. There needs to be several variables that align to resolve the equ…

1
Ep. 80: Kane's Furniture CEO Irwin Novack 36:01

3y ago36:01

36:01

Irwin Novack has done what very few CEOs manage to do - last. That speaks to the qualities that drove Kane's Founder Maurice Rothman to pursue a young Novack years after spending only a couple days together. Rothman convinced Novak to move his family down from North Carolina to St. Petersburg, and took him under his wing. Once working for Kane's, N…

1
Ep. 79: Entrepreneur & Philanthropist Frank Morsani 40:37

3y ago40:37

40:37

It's the 1940s in Oklahoma. With his dad away for months on a welding job, 14 year old Frank Morsani is running a full bailing crew on his family's 400 acre farm. With no plumbing, electricity or even a tractor, the eldest son simply did what it took to get the job done. Though such a scene is unlikely in this century, it catalyzed a work ethic for…

1
Ep. 78: Journalist Margie Manning 33:14

3+ y ago33:14

33:14

Master journalist Margie Manning sits down for a special episode of SPx. After 3 years transforming the St Pete Catalyst from a startup with a dream, into a respected news outlet, Margie retired to take on a top leadership role with her church. In her many years covering Tampa Bay, she has told the stories that shaped the narrative of our lives, an…

1
Ep. 77: Helen Levine - USF Regional Vice Chancellor 50:15

3+ y ago50:15

50:15

Politics can be...political. And universities have their own unique kind of politics that can make government politics seem 101. It takes a deft touch to navigate either world successfully. Few have mastered both. Helen Levine is one of those few. Her recipe isn't complicated. Know who your client is. Be devoutly pragmatic. And listen. She leverage…

1
Ep. 76: Writer Dave Seminara 57:59

3+ y ago57:59

57:59

Dave Seminara usually writes about tennis or travel. When he does, he does so for the likes of The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Association of Tennis Professionals, British Broadcasting Corporation and more. And there are tennis and travel books too - two of which were released earlier this year: Mad Travelers and Footsteps of Federer. In t…

1
Ep. 75: Architect Yann Weymouth 45:42

3+ y ago45:42

45:42

Because he worked closely with the legendary I.M. Pei, and was Chief of Design on Pei's Grand Louvre Project in Paris, Yann Weymouth in the upper echelon of American architects. He was also Pei's associate on the East Wing of Washington's National Gallery of Art. There are many other famous creations in his portfolio. But Weymouth lives in St. Pete…

1
Ep. 74: Shilen Patel Founder & CEO of HealthAxis 31:18

3+ y ago31:18

31:18

Shilen Patel lives at the entrepreneurial crossroads of passion, talent and capital. It's a nice place for an entrepreneur to hang out and he gets to enjoy it on 'both sides of the transaction'. His startup HealthAxis is already successful and on the road to even bigger wins. His role with the Patel family office means he's seeing and investing in,…

1
Ep. 073: Joel Momberg - USF Foundation CEO, ACH Foundation VP, novelist 38:02

3+ y ago38:02

38:02

Joel Momberg is a people person, and it has served him well. Momberg spent 30 years with All Children’s Hospital, in a range of fundraising roles including Executive Vice President of the ACH Foundation, and 10 more as Chief Executive Officer for the University of South Florida Foundation, before retiring in 2019. “The key is," he explains, "if you…

1
Ep. 072: Ron Tarro, VP @ New World Angels 36:54

3+ y ago36:54

36:54

Veteran technology executive Ron Tarro, now a leading investor in early-stage businesses, has a good handle on what it takes for a startup to become a success and generate big returns for investors. As vice president of New World Angels, Tarro keeps an eye out for companies with unique products and founders who can execute on their ideas and who th…

1
Ep. 071: Lucy Morgan, Pulitzer Prize-winning Florida journalist 45:19

4y ago45:19

45:19

In 1985, longtime Tampa Bay Times journalist Lucy Morgan was awarded the Pulitzer Prize (with Jack Reed) for uncovering corruption in the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the first woman to be so honored for investigative reporting (she was a Pulitzer finalist, for another story three years earlier). In this interview, she discusses her feelings on t…

1
Ep. 070: Herb Snitzer, photographer, on images with impact 38:24

4y ago38:24

38:24

On this episode of SPX, Joe visits with legendary photographer Herb Snitzer, a longtime resident of St. Petersburg. In a non-stop career than spanned more than 50 years, Snitzer - as a professional on assignment for Life and Look magazines, the New York Times and other publications - created dozens of now-iconic images of the great jazz musicians o…

1
Ep. 069: Dr. Sandra Braham, CEO of Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services 58:09

4+ y ago58:09

58:09

On this episode of SPX, Joe is joined by Dr. Sandra Braham, CEO of Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services. Dr. Braham discusses her extensive career in higher education, before moving into the non-profit world. They talk about her transition to Florida, and about her deeply-held spiritual belief that God had a plan for her. She explores bala…

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Ep. 068: Serious business: Bill Edwards on success, soccer, St. Pete and the secrets to creating a brighter future 39:32

4+ y ago39:32

39:32

On this episode of SPx, Joe is joined by Bill Edwards, CEO of the Edwards Group and the Bill Edwards Foundation, and a well-known businessman and philanthropist. Edwards, who arrived in St. Petersburg in the early 1990s, discusses the run away success of his Mortgage Investors Corporation, his contributions to downtown including the renovations of …

1
Ep. 067: Miracle: Jim Craig tells the story of his success in business and on ice 59:41

4+ y ago59:41

59:41

On this episode of SPx, Joe is joined via Zoom by Jim Craig, founder of Gold Medal Strategies. Craig was the celebrated goalkeeper of the 1980 Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team, known as the Miracle team. Craig shares the story of his success in professional hockey, what it taught him about business and how he has shared those lessons with cli…

1
Ep. 066: On returning: Arnie Bellini talks building ConnectWise, the effort to create 77,000 jobs in Tampa Bay and his passion for saving wild Florida 42:35

4+ y ago42:35

42:35

On this episode of SPx, unicorn entrepreneur Arnie Bellini joins the podcast to tell the story of ConnectWise. He shares how the managed IT services provider went from its founding in 1982 in his parents' house to the area's first company with a billion dollar valuation. Then, he shares his efforts to give back, starting with connecting the dots of…

1
Ep. 065: St. Pete pioneer: Fred Bullard shares stories of entrepreneurship and talks about building some of St. Pete's most iconic places 32:23

4+ y ago32:23

32:23

On this episode of SPx, Joe is joined in the studio by Fred Bullard, veteran developer and entrepreneur. Bullard, the man behind some of St. Pete's most iconic places, including Feather Sound/Carillon and BayWalk, shares his storied history of entrepreneurial endeavors, lessons learned over the years and what gives him meaning now.…

1
Ep. 064: A life of service: Carol Bellamy talks battling terrorism and bureaucracy, saving children's lives at UNICEF 25:15

4+ y ago25:15

25:15

On this episode of SPx, former director of UNICEF (1995 to 2005) and the United States Peace Corps (1993 to 1995), Carol Bellamy joins Joe in the studio to preview her keynote at the Conference on World Affairs. Bellamy discusses the lessons learned from her rich professional history, which began in the private sector, moved to politics, and later …

1
Ep. 063: Opportunity over fear: Paresh Patel shares his fascinating professional evolution, entrepreneurial philosophy and thoughts on diversity 40:40

4+ y ago40:40

40:40

By St. Petersburg Group

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Ep. 062: Behind the rise of Tech Data: Steve Raymund talks decision-making, acquisitions and customer-first mentality 25:20

4+ y ago25:20

25:20

By St. Petersburg Group

1
Ep. 061: Return on experience: Jonathan Daou talks experiential retail, district-building and diversity 1:04:31

4+ y ago1:04:31

1:04:31

By St. Petersburg Group

1
Ep. 060: Shipwreck Hunter: David Mearns talks process, finding the unfindable and stories of his most memorable discoveries 40:57

5y ago40:57

40:57

On this episode of SPx, Shipwreck Hunter and Aresty speaker David Mearns joins Joe in the studio to talk about uncovering some of the world's most famous shipwrecks and finding the "unfindable." Mearns shares the painstaking process of locating a shipwreck, the all-or-nothing stakes and the controversies attached to these discoveries. He shares the…

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Ep. 059: Thinking Big: Tony DiBenedetto talks founding Tribridge, pivots and evolutions, and life after 43:00

5y ago43:00

43:00

On this episode of SPx, Tony DiBenedetto joins our host Joe Hamilton in the studio. In this insightful episode, DiBenedetto walks listeners through the unlikely founding of Tribridge and the $300,000 check that brought it to fruition. He explains the tenets of Tribridge's culture, and the many acquisitions, pivots and evolutions before its eventual…

1
Ep. 058: Going viral: Blake Wilson talks becoming BatDad, monetizing content and managing the pressure of internet fame 32:36

5y ago32:36

32:36

On this episode of SPx, Blake Wilson, a.k.a. BatDad joins our host Joe Hamilton in the studio. BatDad, a viral internet sensation who became famous through the now-extinct platform Vine, has 8.1 million followers on Facebook and 722,000 subscribers on YouTube. Through the last six years as BatDad, Wilson has taken the internet by storm and monetize…

1
Ep. 057: The Times they are a'changing: Adam Smith talks the state of news, Florida politicians and hindsight 34:14

5y ago34:14

34:14

Former Tampa Bay Times Political Editor and Senior Vice President of Mercury, Adam Smith joins our host Joe Hamilton in the studio for a conversation on politics, media and the news business. Smith explains why regional newspapers are so important to the vitality of our republic and why he fears they may be on the way out. Joe and Adam cover everyt…

1
Ep. 056: Reflections on American Life: Pulitzer Prize winner Gilbert King talks criminal justice, long-forgotten history and the craft of non-fiction 48:05

5y ago48:05

48:05

On this episode of SPx, author Gilbert King joins Joe in the studio to share new insights from his book, Beneath A Ruthless Sun, and its connections to his Pulitzer Prize-winning second book, The Devil In The Grove. King shares the true story of the brutal man involved in both cases, Sheriff Willis McCall, and how King dug up long-forgotten/buried …

1
Ep. 055: The fascinating life of Iqbal Paroo: How an accident led to an epiphany - and a 45-year career 59:05

5y ago59:05

59:05

On this episode of SPx, our host Joe Hamilton is joined in studio by the unparalleled Iqbal Paroo. There are few people in this world with a life story as inspiring as Paroo's. From his childhood in colonial Kenya to his time in the Kenyan air force, to the traumatic injury that changed the course of his life, Paroo has packed three lifetimes into …

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Ep. 054: Through the looking glass: Placemaking and the business of art with St. Pete's own Duncan McClellan 46:02

5y ago46:02

46:02

On this episode of SPx, our host Joe Hamilton is joined in studio by local glass legend, Duncan McClellan. Nearly a decade ago, McClellan famously moved into what is now known as the Warehouse Arts District, creating the first live, work, and show gallery in St. Petersburg. At the time, people called McClellan crazy. Now, he has had a leading role …

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