The Florida History Podcast
By The Florida History Podcast
Cover art photo by Derek Reese. @DR928
The Florida History Podcast Oct 22, 2019
Episode 258: Horizons and the downfall of EPCOT
We conclude our season on Amusement Parks and Florida in discussing EPCOT Center in the late 1990's and all the changes that turned many enthusiasts off.
Episode 257: Michael Ovitz Disney tenure and cost-cutting
We discuss the disastrous tenure of Michael Ovitz at Disney and the subsequent cost-cutting and ride-closing at the Magic Kingdom.
Episode 256: The Greatest Floridian- Bob Graham
We pay tribute to the greatest Floridian of recent memory, Governor and Senator Bob Graham who passed away this week at the age of 87
Episode 255: Walt Disney World in the 1990's: The change begins to come
We begin describing how Disney's amusement park business changed in the 1990's. We cover the period until the appointment of Michael Ovitz.
Episode 254: Universal Studios Florida
We discuss the opening of Universal Studios Florida in 1990 and the seismic events it created for the landscape in Central Florida.
Episode 253: Sea World and Central Florida minor attractions
We discuss a few other Central Florida amusement parks this week.
Episode 252: The Country Bear Jamboree
We discuss one of the most beloved attractions at the Magic Kingdom, the Country Bear Jamboree.
Episode 251: Disney in the 1980's - The Dark Age and MGM
Disney is a media company and Florida wants more film and television in the state - so the simple solution is for Disney to be incentivized to build a film studio as a "third gate" on its property.
However things don't go to plan as Disney itself is in a rotten period as a company.
Episode 250: EPCOT center development problems and opening
EPCOT Center was a grand vision of Walt Disney. But the eventual park was not only not true to Walt's vision but dramatically scaled-down and over-budget from what had been planned in the 1970's.
We discuss the original plans, then the plan for 30 nations in the World Showcase and where it went wrong.
We also focus on Florida at the time, and how EPCOT became a grand project for the vision of 1970's and 1980's Florida - forward looking, progressive in terms of diversity and foreign commerce, futuristic and cutting-edge.
Episode 249: Disney World opens but it's not all positive
This week we discuss the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 including the popularity of some of its original attractions like its a Small World, Carousel of Progress and Country Bear Jamboree but also discuss the environmental and traffic impact of the park which angered local residents.
Episode 248: The Florida Project
Walt Disney's Florida Project is thrown into doubt with Walt's untimely December 1966 passing, but brother Roy Disney keep pushing toward a 1971 opening of the Magic Kingdom. But EPCOT will have to wait.
Episode 247: Walt Disney targets Florida
In the first episode of our new season on Florida amusement parks, we discuss the years between 1959 and 1965 when Walt Disney began looking for a site for a second Disney park, and the process to finally arrive at a Central Florida site.
TRAILER: New Podcast Season- Disney and Florida Amusement Parks
A new season of the Florida History Podcast begins next Tuesday as we take a deep dive into the history of Walt Disney World and other amusement parks in Florida.
Episode 246: Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Florida
We look at how the 3rd, 4th and 5th President interacted with Spanish Florida, from research Kartik Krishnaiyer conducted in writing his new book "The American Conquest of Florida."
Episode 245: Matanzas Massacre
We discuss the 1565 massacre of French protestants by the Spanish at the current site of Fort Matanzas.
Episode 244: Key West and the Civil War
Dr Angela Zombek joins us again to discuss and an area which she is working on a book related to - Key West in Civil War.
Key West was central to union war planning and the city went through many trials and tribulations during the war as most residents were confederate sympathizers in a union-held town.
Episode 243: Egmont Key
On this episode we discuss Egmont Key with Dr Angela Zombek.
Here is Dr Zombek's written work on Egmont Key's history:
https://www.journalofthecivilwarera.org/2016/08/paradise-lost-floridas-egmont-key-civil-war/
Episode 242: Fort Brickell
We conclude our fort series by discussing the Spanish-American War fort that stimulated Miami's growth.
Episode 241: Fort Myers and the Third Seminole War
We discuss Fort Myers, the Third Seminole War and the unconquered Seminoles that survived FIVE attempts by the United States to conquer them or drive them west.
Episode 240: Fort King and the Second Seminole War
We discuss Fort King in Marion County and its role in the Second Seminole War.
Episode 239: Fort Gadsden
Continuing our fort series we discuss Fort Gadsden" also know as the negro fort which was built by the British in 1812 and was the scene of the Americans slaughtering runaway African-Americans and Seminole during the First Seminole War.
Episode 238: Fort Jefferson and protecting the Florida Keys
Episode 237: Fort Taylor and the Civil War
Dr. Angela Zombek of UNC-Wilmington, who is one of the foremost experts on Florida and the Civil War joins us to discuss the pivotal role that Key West's Fort Taylor played in Union war planning at the very highest levels and in the Civil War in general.
Episode 236: Fort Taylor
Episode 235: Santa Rosa Island Fortifications
We discuss the batteries around Santa Rosa Island protecting Pensacola Bay
Episode 234: Fort Pickens
Pensacola's Fort Pickens was one of the key sites in the start of the Civil War.
Episode 233: Fort Barrancas
We discuss Pensacola's Civil War era Fort Barrancas.
Episode 232: The Panhandle and why it's different - a historical overview of West Florida
Before we move to West Florida in our ongoing series of Forts we discuss why West Florida developed differently than East Florida during colonial times and how that led to long-term the Panhandle being different than the entire peninsula as well as the big bend region.
Episode 231: La Florida -Part 2
On this week's Florida History Podcast we dive deep into discussions around Colonial Florida when we talk to Kevin Kokomoor about his new book La Florida.
This is part 2 of a two-part conversation about the book which puts Florida, and its founding as well as its development at the heart of the origin stories about the United States
Episode 230: A chat about La Florida with author Kevin Kokomoor - Part 1
On this week's Florida History Podcast we dive deep into discussions around Colonial Florida when we talk to Kevin Kokomoor about his new book La Florida.
This is part 1 of a two-part conversation about the book which puts Florida, and its founding as well as its development at the heart of the origin stories about the United States
Episode 229: Fort Clinch
This week we discuss Fort Clinch, a masonry fort in Fernandina Beach that was built in the mid 1800's.
Episode 228: Fort San Carlos
We discuss the history of Fort San Carlos which once protected Fernandina Beach.
Episode 227: Fort Matanzas
We discuss Fort Matanzas which is located about 18 miles south of St Augustine.
Episode 226: Fort Mose
We discuss Fort Mose, which beyond being a defensive fort around St Augustine was the first free African-American settlement in what is now the USA.
Episode 225: The Castillo de San Marcos and defending St Augustine
In our second episode of our series on Florida forts we discuss the Castillo de San Marcos and defending Spanish St Augustine of the colonial period.
Episode 224: Fort Caroline
We kick off our series on Florida forts with Fort Caroline which is now a National Monument in Duval County.
Kartik's new book: Florida and the American Revolution
Kartik's new book Florida and the American Revolution is now for sale at Amazon.com!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGZ87YN4
Trailer: Florida's Forts
Episode 223: Connecting Colonial Florida with today
Episode 222: Kartik on Beyond Politics discussing Florida
We take a week off from history to replay Kartik's recent appearance on the Beyond Politics podcast discussing Ron DeSantis reset and why Donald Trump is (at the time of this podcast) cruising to renomination by the GOP.
We'll return to history discussions next week.
Episode 221: Talking Climate Action with a former GOP Congressman
We divert from history this week to talk Climate Action and policy solutions with former Congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC) who runs an organization that is seeking to facilitate free market solutions to the Climate Change crisis. He's focusing heavily, as you would expect on Florida.
Episode 220: Robert Buccellato discusses his sequel to Rum Runners and Moonshiners of Old Florida
On August 4, Robert Buccellato's sequel to Rum Runners and Moonshiners of Old Florida will be released. We discuss why a second book which focuses more on south Florida and other issues related to prohibition and the depression era in Florida.
Episode 219: Kartik Krishnaiyer discusses his new book
In Episode 219 Kartik Krishnaiyer discusses his new book which dives into Florida's interactions with the British in the pre Revolutionary War period. Included in this discussion is the critical role runaway slaves played in Florida making the colony fundamentally different in the colonial period than the rest of North America. Krishnaiyer also discusses the cosmopolitan aspect of St Augustine when compared to other North American cities of the 1600's and 1700's.
Episode 218: The Battles of the Loxahatchee River
Josh Liller joins us once again this week, this time to discuss the 1838 Battles of the Loxahatchee River, the last traditional set piece battles of the Second Seminole War.
Episode 217: History of the Jupiter Lighthouse and Jupiter Inlet
We're joined by Josh Liller the Historian and Collections Manager for the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum to discuss the Jupiter Lighthouse and its unique history as well as the role General George Meade played in its construction, the history of World War II operations in the area and the historic museum and exhibits on the ground.
Kartik's New Book: Florida and the British before the American Revolution
Check out Kartik Krishnaiyer's new book which is available for Kindle or in Paperback on Amazon today!
Episode 216: Fort Jefferson
Ryan Ray joins us to discuss one of the most unique and important locations in Florida- Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park.
Episode 215: Jackson governs Florida and series loose ends
We discuss Florida's cession to the United States, Jackson as territorial governor and other loose ends.
Episode 214: Diplomacy and controversy around Jackson's Invasion
The Monroe Administration is split on Jackson's invasion of Florida. Some like John C. Calhoun despite being proponents of slavery are concerned about the reaction from the British and the Spanish. But an unlikely source comes to Jackson's rescue.
Episode 213: Andrew Jackson invades Florida
We get into the heart of the Jackson conquest of Florida. Illegal encroachment on Spanish-held territory and racially-motivated brutality against runaway slaves as well as Seminole people characterize this period. We also discuss the influence of Britain on the conflict and their relationship with the native people of Florida and Georgia.