For thirty years, NASA's most iconic vehicle launched from Florida's shores. This week, we dive into the origin of the Space Shuttle with Central Florida Public Media's Brendan Byrne - and explore the complexities of this incredible era of space travel. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of…

Check to see if you are registered to vote, and read your ballot right here! Read about the Republican candidates for Senator here Read about the Democrat candidates for Senator here Florida has a primary on August 20th - let's go over what is on your ballot, and prepare for the major election in November! All of the music was originally composed.…

Miami is home to one of Florida's most confusing landmarks: a giant castle made entirely of limestone. If the castle itself is mysterious, its creator is even more so, a man of enigmas and obsession. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow Chelsea on Instagram here! Pl…

Learn more about your ballot at Vote.org in preparation for Florida's next primary on August 20th! All the way south of St. Pete Beach stands the last remnants of Fort De Soto, an unusual structure in the heart of a beach park. It's the key the unlock centuries of history, hidden on an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA!…

In the summer of 1961, the King of Rock and Roll filmed a movie in the small town of Inverness, Florida. To this day, the city still tells the tale of Elvis in the city - and celebrates the legacy he left behind. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Follow Chelsea on Insta…

In 1956, Orlando was home to the shopping center of the future, Colonial Plaza. Over the decades, it would expand in a wholly unusual way, as malls became the core of American comerce. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Thank you to Rachel Williams from the History Cente…

Training for D-Day was essential to the invasion's success. For a few pivotal teams preparing for June 6th, 1944, the shores of Florida were where they trained - where the victory in Europe began. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Thank you to Grant Mann and the Nationa…

During the end of segregation, Black tourists had to find other places to enjoy on vacation, separate from the white public. Paradise Park was different, a segregated version of Silver Springs, with a whole lot more to offer than a typical segregated theme park. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible …

The history flowing from the Silver Springs dates make centuries. Whether it's in the form of a mammoth bone, or a glass bottom boat, there's loads of stories to tell. This week we dive in and find surprising tales, of Black Lagoons and dugout canoes and truck driver scuba divers. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice …

The richest man on board the Titanic had a town bearing his family name in the heart of Florida. His death in the frozen waters of the Atlantic changed the future of the small town in the heart of the Ocala National Forest. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Thank you to…

Cattle roam the middle of our state, and for a hundred years, their ranchers took up rest at Yeehaw Junction. But what today appears to be just an intersection of the highway is loaded with history just below the surface. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Chelsea Rice for her incredible design of our summer logo! Read more abou…

NEW EPISODES JUNE 3RD! We spent a week at the Florida Film Festival back in April, and now it's time to recap the most exciting movies we saw! Plus, a preview of our next episode, coming this upcoming Monday! All of the music was originally composed.By waitfiveminutes

At the 1933 World's Fair, Florida presented its vision of a home of the future: pink, shiny, with a view of the water. Throughout our trip to these fairs, Florida sold many ideas, from tobacco to citrus - and everything in between. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about the Philippines exhibit at the 1904 fair. Read more about ab…

In 1893, Florida tried and nearly failed to bring an exhibit to the World's Fair in Chicago. It was our first major foray into an international event with decades of popularity - but not the last. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read the incredible article about Florida at the Chicago World's Fair here! Read more about the 1851 World's Fa…

Follow Betty Osceola, and learn more about what's going on with the Everglades right here Learn more about the Seminole Tribe of Florida here, and the Miccosukee Tribe right here Visit the Seminole museum, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum In 1836, the first full year of the Second Seminole War, the American troops were constantly on the losing end. Using natur…

Under the tiny town of Mount Dora, Florida, there is a massive bunker, built at the height of the Cold War, designed to house a hundred people in case the worst was to occur. It remains there to this very day. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about the bunker at Abandoned Florida and on the Mount Dora Buzz website! All of the mus…

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that environmental advocates have called dangerous for the future survival of our state's black bears. This week, we dive into the bill and the arguments against it. Thank you to Bear Warriors United for their help in this week's episode! Check out more at their website. Watch the full committee where …

Last week, we spent the day at the Florida State Legislature, and today, we're breaking down the events with Rep. Anna V. Eskamani! We dive into the complicated relationship between Republicans and Democrats, how legislators plan out their debates, and the usefulness of a can of tomato juice. Listen to last week's episode before you dive in! Check …

I shadowed Rep. Anna V. Eskamani for an entire day in January of this year, winding the hallways of our legislature, meeting politicians, sitting in on their meetings, and witnessing their debates in committees. This week, we're talking about the inner workings of life in state government, and life as a legislator in 2024. Pick up your copy of FLOR…

In the 1930s, St. Petersburg, Florida, became a spot for filmmakers to attempt to relaunch their career. It was a short-lived and disastrous endeavor that produced only three movies - and a new chapter in the failing career of a Hollywood legend. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Check out the main source for this episode, Camera Man by Dan…

In 1956, Satchel Paige pitched in the biggest game in minor league baseball history. He was fifty years-old, the ageless wonder, making an appearance in Florida near the end of his long, storied and career. And somehow, that wasn't the end. All that, plus Miami baseball, a no-hitter record, and the surprising Cuban baseball rivalry in the 1940s. (C…

What White Publishers Won't Print by Zora Neale Hurston In 1957, The Fort Pierce Chronicle started publishing a newspaper aimed at the local Black community. Enter Zora Neale Hurston, near the end of her life, looking for a new opportunity. The rest is a history we are still looking to preserve. Thank you to Gregory Enns of the Indian River Magazin…

During Prohibition, rum running had a king. Based out of Florida, with a special brand of criminal dealing, Bill McCoy became known for his truth in advertising - and his ability to avoid capture. Until he couldn't any longer. That, plus the history of rum, more musical theater references, and an invitation to Nevada. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! …

During his farewell tour, the great showman of the West, Buffalo Bill Cody brought his show to Florida. What did the show look like, and how did it change over its four decades of existence? That, plus Annie Oakley, 1940s musicals, and one scathing review! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Jeremy Johnston from the Buffalo Bill …

Happy Holidays! Today we dive into a handful of stories: of rebuilt schoolhouses and holiday decor, of festive slashers and a Florida Christmas tree all our own. Thank you to the Sanibel Historic Museum and Village for having me! Thank you to Rachel Williams from the Orange County Regional History Center for her story, and for joining the show this…

In Sarasota, Florida, there is a historic home, an art museum, and two buildings dedicated to the circus all in one property. We dive into the Ringling, looking for clowns and trains and the incredible history of the Greatest Show on Earth. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Check out the Ringling and plan your visit here! All of the music w…

This week, we go searching through a stack of magazines for new faces and new stories that reveal bits of Florida's rich and complex past. Topics include Spaceship Earth, a diving fin, circus photography, Civil War veterans, Apollo 11, Florida Citrus Queens, and Henry Flagler. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about Walter Cronkit…

After the Second Seminole War, a man came to Florida to found a town that he would name after himself. His legacy would be one of violence, but his name lasts as the predecessor to Orlando. Plus, a mystery and a surprising connection. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Rachel Williams from the History Center! Plan your trip to t…

Happy Thanksgiving! For a special bonus episode, we're talking turkeys, bird lovers, and Florida natives. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! All of the music was originally composed.By waitfiveminutes

1977 was a bad year for citrus. It snowed in Miami, and by spring, a nationwide boycott equated Florida oranges with bigotry. How could the industry survive? And how did the Great Freeze lead them to this moment? Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Listen to our previous episodes about Anita Bryant right here! Orange Bird Florida's Don't Say …

This week, we talk postcards, cookbooks, and the joy of thrifting in Florida. We chat with our friend Gabrielle Calise of the Tampa Bay Times, who gives us recommendations, and shares her antique decor obsessions. Later, we uncover the fascinating history of postcard advertising style. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Gabriell…

Today is the first annual Wait Fright Minutes Halloween Special - stories of old ghosts, elaborate gravestones, and the residents of our many local cemeteries. Let's conjure the old Floridians between us as the veil is thin on this beautiful All Hallow's Eve. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about Elizabeth Budd-Graham in the Tal…

This week, we dive deep in search of ships allegedly lost in the infamous Bermuda Triangle, in the waters just east of Florida. Michael Barnette finds ships like this - and debunks the myths that surround the ghost ships off our coast. Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Michael Barnette for his time! Check out more of his work o…

This week, we dive deep into regional filmmaking in Florida's history, celebrating the weird and wonderful genre pictures made in the mid-20th century - and we pay a visit to Orlando's favorite arthouse theater. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Tim Anderson from Enzian for guesting…

Across the bridges in our state, spectral lights float from the waters below, leaving locals terrified and attributing ghost stories to the phenomena. But where do the lights come from - and can science help us understand these strange lights in our forests? Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Lea…

WELCOME, once again, to Wait Fright Minutes, our exploration of horror-themed episodes as we prepare for the spookiest season of all! This week, we take a deep dive into the wonderful film MATINEE, the iconic director William Castle and his horror gimmicks, and the complicated history of the Cuban Missile Crisis in Florida. Go to the Wait Five Minu…

This week, we head out on a boat into the waters of Tampa Bay, searching for answers about red tide, pollution, seagrass, sea turtles, politicians, fish, and so much more. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Learn more about Tampa Bay Waterkeeper right here! Read more from Jack Prator right here! …

Donate to the people of Maui effected by wildfires here The past few years have put Florida's education in the spotlight, as educators, parents and politicians clash. What authors are banned, and why? What happens when a book is banned, and how does that, in the long term, affect students? Learn more about the fires in Maui here Read about the situ…

Have you visited your local library lately? This week, we pay a visit to the library in the heart of downtown Orlando to explore its surprising offerings, specific design and unique history - and we make some new friends. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Check out more from the Orlando Public L…

Over the last year, the governor of Florida has found himself in a very public debate with the largest single-sight employer in the state. The company is now suing Governor Ron DeSantis as the governor enters into a fraught presidential race. What happens next? Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! …

Andrew Jackson is the only governor of Florida to ever become President of the United States - though he was never elected governor. His run for president was unique, and the fallout changed the shape of American politics for the ensuing two-hundred years. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read …

The title of this show was originally written by Mark Twain. Except it wasn't. Mark Twain was born in Florida. Except he wasn't. In this week's FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, we explore Mark Twain, the mystery of his quotes, and unpredictability of Florida weather. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read…

In Miami, in 1995, a surprise intruder of the Florida Panthers arena before a hockey game left a mark - literally - on the franchise. When the Panthers made a run to the playoffs in 2023, a different animal was a part of their celebration: rats. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about …

If you have questions about how, exactly, the state legislature works, this episode is for you. This week, we have a wide-ranging chat Florida House Representative Anna V. Eskamani! We talk voting on bills, arguing with colleagues, performative politics, and snacks on the House floor. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy …

In the 1960s, a chain of motels opened its first location in Orlando. Over the ensuing decades, it would become a hub of art, culture and community that brought many international fame. How? It begins in 1962... Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Rachel Williams from the History Cent…

Francis P. Fleming was only governor of Florida for four years, but his impact during his lifetime lasts to this very day. You may not know his name, but he perpetuated an untruth of Florida history that has changed the narrative of Florida and our relationship to the Civil War for the l ast century. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pi…

This week, we continue our exploration of Sanibel Island after Hurricane Ian by going to their national wildlife refuge. We chat with Toni Westland about the birds, the tortoises, the flowers, and the surprising discovery they made a mile island. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to To…

It's been a little over nine months since Category 5 Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sanibel Island. We paid the village, and its museum, a visit, and found what was lost - and what was evolving on the little old island. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Thank you to Celina Kersh for her help on …

Throughout the 1970s, a train ran from Chicago to Miami that was noted for its "tortured existence". One of many trains that ran from the North to Florida, the Floridian was fraught with troubles and nostalgia. Get your WFM Merch at Cast & Clay Co. on Etsy! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Read more about Route 66 here! Read more about the…

This week, we go back and catch up with some stories from this season, stories about protestors turned senators, a home run rivalry, moving a house of a river, and more stories from this past season! Get your WFM Merch at Cast & Clay Co. on Etsy! Pick up your copy of FLORIDA! right here! Listen to the episodes mentioned in this episode! The Gainesv…