Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update for Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. 2019 theme park expectations: Universal's Harry Potter ride, Disney's Star Wars and possible price hikes. Zillow will start buying Orlando homes directly this year. Things to do this weekend: Events honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Otronicon at the Orlando Science Center…

Florida’s Clemency Board granted pardons to the men known as the Groveland Four — Samuel Shepherd, Walter Irvin, Charles Greenlee and Ernest Thomas — on January 11, nearly 70 years after a young white housewife accused them of kidnapping and raping her. Reporter Hal Boedeker sat down with author Gilbert King whose Pulitzer Prize-winning book “D ...…

Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update for Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. Education reporter Leslie Postal on the Florida teacher shortage. More than 2,200 jobs open halfway into school year, union says Business reporter Chabeli Herrera discusses Orlando’s 2019 economic forecast Sports reporter J.C. Carnahan reports Kenny McEntyre is reviving Orlando ...…

It is almost impossible to escape the buzz surrounding 'Hamilton.' Theater writer Matt Palm sat down with three fans of the production ahead of its three week run in Orlando to find out why they won't miss their shot to see it again and again.

Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update for Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. 2018 Central Floridian of the Year finalists Lawmakers and cultural leaders challenged Florida Legislature on arts funding Columnist Scott Maxwell says once again, Florida legislators want guns on campus, but banned near them Chase Padgett’s ‘6 Guitars’…

Today — January 16 — is National Religious Freedom Day. To mark the day, Orlando Sentinel Community Conversation columnist Shannon Green sat down with David Williamson, co-founder of the Central Florida Free Thought Community, and Danny de Armas, the senior associate pastor at First Baptist Orlando, to talk about religion and government. They a ...…

Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update for Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. Orlando homes sales nose-dive in December, finish down for year Rejected Florida license plates often take the low road Orlando City/Pride beat writer discusses off-season changes. Backlash from Gillette’s new #MeToo commercial.

Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update for Monday, Jan. 14, 2019: Reporter Kate Santich on the miracle horse that escaped 'death sentence' now healing at Lake ranch. Columnist Shannon Green previews National Religious Freedom Day. City of Orlando reporter discusses the Parramore Farmers Market’s new location and how youths will be running it. Sh ...…

Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update for Friday, Jan. 11, 2019: Reporter Ryan Gillespie discusses breaking news: The Florida Clemency Board unanimously granted pardons to the Groveland Four Entertainment reporter Patrick Connolly on Crealde’s Night of Fire Business reporter Kyle Arnold discusses Rage Room trends: Axe throwing, shooting machine ...…

Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update: Space reporter Chabeli Herrera discusses how NASA contractors are struggling without pay during government shutdown — and may never see the money Columnist David Whitley says Girl Scout cookies are about to ruin everyone’s New Year’s resolutions. They arrive Saturday. Opinion editor Mike Lafferty explains ...…

Orlando Sentinel Now afternoon update: Columnist Scott Maxwell’s takeaways from DeSantis inauguration, Arts writer Matt Palm on Orlando Fringe Winter Mini-Fest, Orlando reporter Ryan Gillespie on the Groveland Four. Victim's family says they should not be pardoned, and columnist Scott Maxwell on a Florida law that would make lying a crime ... e ...…

Opera Orlando's Gabriel and Grant Preisser chat with Orlando Sentinel arts writer Matt Palm about working together, mentoring and competitive Christmas caroling. Their latest production – a family-friendly 'Hansel and Gretel' – plays Dec. 8-9 at the Dr. Phillips Center. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our Orlando Sentin ...…

Joe Saul-Sehy, host of the finance-oriented podcast Stacking Benjamins, talks about Orlando’s financial picture, cool fintech apps that “trick” users into saving money and lessons learned from his money mistakes. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our Orlando Sentinel Conversation podcasts go to OrlandoSentinel.com/Convers ...…

Bad ballot design. Votes by email. Under votes. Over votes. Orlando Sentinel politics editor Steven Lemongello, columnist Scott Maxwell and senior reporter Beth Kassab break down the 2018 election failings and offer some hope on what can be done to avoid these debacles in the future. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our ...…

Greenwood Cemetery sexton Don Price is retiring on Halloween. He shares some tales about Orlando’s past and tells Orlando Sentinel reporter Ryan Gillespie whether his plans for the future include his popular graveyard tours. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our Orlando Sentinel Conversation podcasts go to OrlandoSentinel ...…

A recent study found that 80 percent of Florida physicians have experienced burnout at some point in their career. Dr. Amaryllis Sanchez is one of those physicians. She sat down with Orlando Sentinel health reporter Naseem Miller to discuss how her experience with burnout motivated her to speak up about the realities of her profession. SHOW NOT ...…

Avid cyclist Mary Shanklin shares her experience biking 115 miles a day over more mountains than a Florida girl should climb. She talks with Orlando Sentinel reporter Kate Santich about the highs and lows of the trip and how she stayed motivated to finish – saddle sores and all. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our Orlan ...…

How fast does one have to fly over a helicopter to not get sucked into its spinning blades? Daredevil Bello Nock knows. The stunt performer and his death-defying daughter, Anneliese, talk to Orlando Sentinel reporter Trevor Fraser about how close people will come to danger to put on a good show. The two perform at Super American Circus in Kissi ...…

Venom is all teeth and tongue in his return to the big screen. Tom Hardy takes over as the symbiote in “Venom” opening Oct. 5. Two superhero comic book fans discuss the complicated relationship between Sony and Marvel and question how Venom, a villain introduced in Spider-Man comic books, may have no ties to Spidey in this movie. SHOW NOTES: Fo ...…

Rick Van Warner, CEO of the locally based Tijuana Flats restaurant chain, knows all too well the human toll of the opioid epidemic in the country. He’s experienced it at a very personal level. In his book “On Pills and Needles,” Van Warner describes his fight to save his son Tommy from addiction. Van Warner talks to Orlando Sentinel health repo ...…

In the 1990s, Bruce and Cathy Brown left corporate America to start a native plant nursery in Lake County, where they soon discovered a rare Scrub-Jay pair nesting among abandoned orange groves. They talk to Orlando Sentinel reporter Kate Santich about devoting their lives to saving this threatening species. SHOW NOTES: For more information on ...…

Tiara Kelley is a transgender woman who used to be a sex worker but has since left the lifestyle and now ministers to other women who currently work as sex workers. Orlando Sentinel reporter Michael Williams talks with Tiara about her experiences and what she thinks can be done to stop the recent deaths of transgender women. SHOW NOTES: For mor ...…

The final hour of of the six-part “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story” picks up after George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the death of 17-year-old Martin, and is devoted to the development of the Black Lives Matter movement and the rise of the alt-right. Orlando Sentinel television critic Hal Boedeker and breaking news editor Jeff Weiner discu ...…

This year's Halloween Horror Nights lineup has a bit of a 1980s vibe for the 2018 edition of the event. Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil talks with Universal's Charles Gray, one of two show directors for the houses of HHN28, about the house based on the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” which is set solidly in the ’80s, and ot ...…

The fifth hour of “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story” focuses on how George Zimmerman’s defense crafted their case which ultimately leads to his acquittal and the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement. Orlando Sentinel television critic Hal Boedeker and breaking news editor Jeff Weiner discuss the episode. Natalie Jackson, a local civi ...…

Journalist and author April Ryan talks with Orlando Sentinel television writer Hal Boedeker about covering the White House in the time of President Trump. She discusses her new book “Under Fire,” her relationships with former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and ex-White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman and the chaos and retaliation t ...…

Orlando Sentinel television writer Hal Boedeker and breaking news editor Jeff Weiner discuss the fourth hour of "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story. This episode starts with opening statements in the George Zimmerman trial. The prosecution leans on emotion while the defense starts with a joke. The odd moments continue as testimony begins a ...…

Orlando Sentinel television writer Hal Boedeker and breaking news editor Jeff Weiner discuss the third hour of "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story. Mark NeJame, a local defense attorney and legal commentator who appears in the docuseries, joins the conversation. This episode focuses on George Zimmerman — his rise to alt-right hero and his ...…

Orlando firefighter Manny Washington just wrapped his run on the ‘Food Network Star’ competition. He talks with Orlando Sentinel food writer Lauren Delgado about his best and worst moments on the show, his culinary dreams, and who is a tougher critic of his food – the TV judges or his firefighter buddies. SHOW NOTES: For more information on thi ...…

Ocoee resident Bari Musawwir, brings monster truck Zombie to the Orlando debut of Monster Jam Triple Threat Series on Aug. 18 at Amway Center. He talks with Orlando Sentinel reporter Patrick Connolly about his path from RC cars to monster trucks, being a minority in the motorsport world and how it feels to be competing at home. SHOW NOTES: For ...…

Orlando Sentinel television writer Hal Boedeker and breaking news editor Jeff Weiner discuss the second hour of "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story. Julia Willoughby Nason, co-director of the docuseries, joins the conversation. The episode focused on Sanford’s history of racial divide, the surprise witness and the role social media and pol ...…

Orlando Sentinel television writer Hal Boedeker and breaking news editor Jeff Weiner discuss the first hour of "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented Trayvon’s parents, joins the conversation. The episode focuses on how Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin dealt with the loss of their son. It ...…

The documentary “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story” debuts Monday, July 30, on Paramount Network and BET, exploring race, the stand your ground law and media coverage. Orlando Sentinel television writer Hal Boedeker and breaking news editor Jeff Weiner will discuss each of the six parts of this documentary. Look for these podcasts each Mo ...…

Worlds collide on Discovery Channel: “Naked and Afraid” combines with Shark Week to create “Naked and Afraid of Sharks.” Orlando Sentinel television writer Hal Boedeker talks with Orlando artist Steven Hall about his third appearance on "Naked and Afraid." Steven shares why he’s drawn to these extreme adventures, how he adjusts to real life onc ...…

Experience India and Pakistan with the help of Orlando scientist Dr. Siobhan Malany who recently wrote her first novel “Mehendi Tides.” The book is inspired by Malany’s travels in Asia as a teenager. Orlando Sentinel reporter Naseem Miller talks with the author about her book and what travel teaches us about ourselves. SHOW NOTES: For more info ...…

Orlando Sentinel reporter Marco Santana talks with Gatorland ambassador Savannah Boan about the Gatorland Global initiative, lessons learned from her pet crocodile monitor (don’t fall asleep with it in your bed), her game “Don’t Get Bit” (that she plays with 35 gators at a time) and how she’s working to rebrand alligators and crocodiles. SHOW N ...…

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, forcing many to flee the island. Orlando Sentinel reporter Bianca Padro Ocasio talks with UCF Sociology Professor Fernando Rivera about why it’s so difficult to track this migration. UCF student Jose Luis joins the conversation to discuss how UCF answered the call when Puerto Rican students were in need, ...…

The Orlando Sentinel’s combat sports reporter Jay Reddick talks with wrestler Mike Parrow about his journey becoming a professional wrestler and how he found the strength to come out as gay. He wears the number 49 on his wrestling gear to remember the victims of the Pulse tragedy. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our Orl ...…

Orlando Sentinel reporter Dewayne Bevil talks with the "buyer of stuff" for Ripley Entertainment. Edward Meyer is vice president of exhibits and archives for the Orlando-based company and after 40 years is set to retire next week. But before he goes, he's giving us an insider's look at his biggest purchase, the movie that changed Ripley's colle ...…

The murder of Christina Grimmie in Orlando, FL, shocked the world. In the coming weeks, the Orlando Sentinel will take you behind the police tape in one of Orlando’s most shocking killings, which happened during perhaps the darkest weekend in the history of the City Beautiful. The first episode of a five-part podcast series entitled Christina G ...…

Orlando Sentinel reporter Michael Williams talks with two trailblazers at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Michelle Sayers is the first female SWAT deputy and Chief Deputy Martha Gens is the highest ranked female in the history of the sheriff’s office. They discuss challenges they face in their male-dominated field, being role models ...…

Orlando Sentinel reporter Kate Santich talks with Steven Arauz, who decided to become a foster dad when he was 26 and single, and Glen Casel, CEO of the nonprofit Community Based Care of Central Florida, who is leading the effort to recruit single parents and same-sex couples to fill a critical need for foster homes. SHOW NOTES: For more inform ...…

Orlando Sentinel reporter Steve Hudak talks with Mike Orlando, of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, about efforts to ensure people and bears coexist safely. They discuss bears in SUVs, bluff charges, the impact of "bear-wise" communities and if there are plans for another bear hunt. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podc ...…

Orlando Sentinel health reporter Naseem Miller talks with Dr. Mark Socinski, the executive medical director of the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, about immunotherapy and what these groundbreaking drugs mean in the battle against cancer. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our Orlando Sentinel Conversation podcasts go to ...…

Orlando Sentinel TV writer Hal Boedeker talks with Maitland author James Ponti about winning big at 'murder prom' with Edgar Award, giving back to the Central Florida community, what’s next for character Florian Bates and other books on the horizon. SHOW NOTES: For more information on this podcast and all our Orlando Sentinel Conversation podca ...…

Stefano Steenbakkers Betancourt was 17 when he was murdered in an attempted carjacking in Dorado, Puerto Rico. For the past five years, his mother, Zorimar Betancourt, has been on a mission to reunite with the five people who received Stefano’s organs. That journey brought her to Central Florida to find the fifth, and final recipient, who recei ...…

Orlando Sentinel theater critic Matt Palm talks with comedian Rauce Padgett of "Swanlando" fame, who will be hosting one of the more than 100 shows featured at the Orlando Fringe Festival, and Fringe marketing guru Brian Sikorski about Central Florida’s biggest theater event of the year. By the end of this podcast you will be Fringing like a pr ...…

Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil talks about the making of Toy Story Land with Disney mastermind Kathy Mangum and Robb Alvey of Theme Park Review. This one goes to California and back and features Slinky Dog talk. Stay tuned to the end for pro tips on how to get the most out of your visit to all the Disney parks. SHOW NOTES: F ...…

The Parkland shooting in South Florida spurred many to act. Among them are two Central Floridians — a parent and an administrator — looking for solutions to keep students safe on school campuses. Orlando Sentinel education reporter Leslie Postal talks with Mike Armbruster, an associate superintendent with Orange County schools, and Stacie Arche ...…

Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil chats with Joe Rohde, mastermind of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The famed Imagineer with the iconic earring talks about how Disney made the jump from the Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom, why Pandora – The World of Avatar, a movie about an alien planet, fits into a park focused on the natural, his ...…