Swampy's Florida
By Rob Smith, Jr.
Exploring Florida's kitsch, history and fun!
Join Swampy, the swamp ape, and his handler, Rob Smith, jr., explore the great state of Florida!
Join Swampy, the swamp ape, and his handler, Rob Smith, jr., explore the great state of Florida!
Swampy's FloridaFeb 10, 2023
00:00
19:18
Swampy’s Florida: Remembering the one who got Swampy’s Florida started. More inside.
The one who called about me starting a comic strip that became Swampy’s Florida has died. More of this famous cartoonist inside.
Feb 10, 202319:18
Swampy’s Florida podcast: DeLeon Springs losing Sugar Mill restaurant & response to comment. More….
Why is it going? What might takes it’s place? Also, about “privatization” and what’s really going on in our state parks. More inside!
Aug 09, 202216:26
Swampy’s Florida Man-In-the-Swamp Report: Florida Movie, Invasion USA starring Chuck Norris
Is this Florida’s greatest film? More inside.
May 15, 202228:42
Swampy’s Florida Man in the Swamp Podcast: Sears in Florida.
Reaction of a 12/01/2021 post of the old Sears in Tampa, prompted me to do this podcast of the Sears buildings across Florida and a bit more of the one on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. More inside.
Jan 12, 202221:09
Swampy’s #Florida Podcast: Plans for 2022 for Swampy and you! :)
Lots of plans for Swampy’s Florida during 2022! Let’s see what happens!
Jan 05, 202211:22
Swampy’s Florida Man-in-the-Swamp podcast: Coyotes in Florida. What to do.
With tens of thousands of coyotes on n Florida, the podcast has advice as to what to do about it.
Sep 28, 202113:52
Swampy’s Florida: Man in the Swamp Podcast: Beefy King in Orlando history and review.
A place I’ve gone to since it opened 53 years ago, Beefy King in Orlando is among a handful of fast food locations statewide to weather the franchise torrent.
Sep 15, 202126:50
Swampy’s Florida Man in the Swamp Report: The closing of the flagship Bubbalou’s Bodacious BarBQ.
September 11th, 2021 came the notice that Bubbalou’s in Winter Park was permanently closed. More inside as to why and some history of the Meiner family.
Sep 14, 202111:24
Swampy’s #Florida Podcast: Book Review- Outstanding Standiford book- ‘Battle for the Big Top’.
Les Standiford does it Again! ‘Battle for the Bog Top’ covers the lives of 3 circus legends and their circus success! More inside!
Apr 05, 202115:18
Swampy’s Florida Book Review: ‘The Perfect 10: A Palm Beach Murder Mystery’ by Eric O’Keefe.
My review of the December 2020 release of ‘The Perfect 10’, a novel by Eric O’Keefe.
Jan 29, 202119:06
Man in the Swamp Podcast #25 : Let’s visit Lake Morton in Lakeland!
For a peaceful, fun trip: Visit Lake Morton in Lakeland. Trek around the lake, say hello to the swans, see the historic structures, visit the library or art museum and nab a fish sandwich from Mr. Fish.
Nov 16, 202013:10
Man in the Swamp Report: A bit about Sulphur Springs, Florida!
A bit about today’s postcard and encouragement to visit Sulphur Springs, now a part of Tampa.
Nov 08, 202016:29
Man in the Swamp podcast: Book Is review - Ed McBain’s ‘The Sentries’ & his books set in Florida.
Ed McBain could churn out volumes. Including a series and more set in Florida. There’s a problem with the lot involving Florida. Here’s what I find.
Nov 01, 202015:31
Man in the Swamp Report: Jacksonville’s politics misreported by 2 news agencies. Here’s the history!
CNN & AP post stories within hours of each other claiming a falsehood of Jacksonville suddenly becoming more a Democrat area. Here’s the history going back to the 1800s!
Oct 29, 202018:01
Swampy’s Florida podcast: Movie Review: ‘The Cape Canaveral Monsters’, 1960.
What makes this movie about Florida? Find out inside!
Oct 25, 202017:48
Swampy’s Florida Podcast: Mount Dora : Visit Julianne’s Coastal Cottage!
What is Julianne’s Coastal Cottage? Let me tell ya about Julianne’s and more about Mount Dora! #SupportSmallBusiness
Sep 26, 202013:11
Swampy’s Florida Podcast: Book Review: ‘The Yearling’ by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
Bottom line: 10 out of ten points. This book must be read by all Floridians! Included here are my views of ‘The Yearling’.
Sep 02, 202010:16
Swampy’s #Florida Podcast: A view of Miami & Miami Beach via Mike Shayne!
The Brett Halliday series of books well diepicts the two areas from the 1930s through the 1950s. Though out of print, finding the series is worth reading a fun mystery and understanding Dade County at the time. But just who did write these books?
Aug 31, 202022:47
Swampy’s Florida Podcast: Orlando- Visit Beefy King!!!
Places to visit: Beefy King in Orlando. A place to go since 1968. An overview of the area, what to get and when to go!
Aug 24, 202016:06
Swampy’s Florida Podcast: Book Review: ‘ The Marjorie Rawlings Reader’ edited by Julia Brigham.
A review of ‘The Marjorie Rawlings Reader’ by Julia Scribner Bingham. Reviewing the selections, unpublished entries and layout!
Aug 24, 202009:36
Swampy’s Florida Podcast: Book Review: ‘South Moon Under’ by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
This book review looks over Rawlings offering before ‘Cross Creek’ was published. A review of her story, characters and , the real star, Florida’s natural areas.
Aug 24, 202010:08
Swampy’s #Florida Podcast: Book Review - ‘Invasion of Privacy’ by Patricia Acton
A review of the book ‘Invasion of Privacy - The Cross Creek Trial of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ by Patricia Acton.
Aug 17, 202007:56
Swampy’s Florida Man in the Swamp Podcast: Book Review: ‘Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' by Silverthorne.
Here’s Swampy’s Florida review of ‘Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings-Sojourner at Cross Creek’ by Elizabeth Silverthorne.
Aug 12, 202010:30
Swampy’s Florida Man in the Swamp Podcast: Great spots in Venice, Sarasota County, to visit!
Taking a look at some nifty locations to visit for free! You can spend some money at the locations if you want. Also a restaurant recommendation.
Aug 12, 202010:12
Swampy’s Florida podcast: Book Review - ‘Crossing the Creek’ by Anna Lillios.
Here Swampy’s Rob Smith, Jr. tears into a tragically bad book about two of Florida’s greatest authors.
Aug 09, 202022:52
Swampy’s Florida: Man in the Swamp Podcast - Book Review: ‘Idella’ by Idella Parker
My review of ‘Idella - Marjorie Rawlings’ Perfect Maid’ by Idella Parker and Mary Keating.
Jul 31, 202008:03
Swampy’s Florida Man in the Swamp Podcast: What is Lemon City?
A request came to focus on communities and cities in Florida. So here is a look at the community of Lemon City, north of Downtown Miami. A look at the area before settlement and after. Also how it got it’s name and list it.
Jul 30, 202021:44
Swampy’s Florida Man in the Swamp Book Review: ‘When the Whippoorwill’ by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
My review of ‘When the Whippoorwill’ and some background and about the setting of the stories included in the volume!
Jul 26, 202011:55
Swampy’s Florida: Man in the Swamp Podcast- What is “South West Florida”?
“South Florida” - Part 3: Coming across an exchange of friends on Facebook about “South Florida” had me still surprised at what people think the phrase means. Here, I speak about what South West Florida is!
Jul 22, 202014:30
Swampy’s Florida: Man in the Swamp Podcast- What is “South Central Florida”?
“South Florida” - Part 2: Coming across an exchange of friends on Facebook about “South Florida” had me still surprised at what people think the phrase means. Here, I speak about what South Central Florida is!
Jul 21, 202020:59
Swampy’s Florida: Man in the Swamp Podcast- What is “South Florida”?
Coming across an exchange of friends on Facebook about “South Florida” had me still surprised at what people think the phrase means. Here, I try to explain the terminology.
Jul 21, 202013:35
Swampy’s Florida Man in the Swamp Podcast #4 - Florida Outdoors!
A walk upside with a hearty recommendation to visit Florida’s outdoors!
Jul 14, 202015:24
Swampy’s Florida: Man in the Swamp Podcast: Bears, Teddy Roosevelt, Miami Beach and Larry King!
Celebrating Teddy Bear Picnic Day and Larry King becoming a star in Miami! (Mentioning Rickles, Gleason and Sinatra, too!)
Jul 10, 202016:14
Swampy’s Florida Podcast - The Wonders of Fort Walton Beach!
A call to get the Swampy website working again after it not doing so for a day, had the fellow in Texas of Host Gator telling me of his visit to Destin. This had me tell him of the far better place to visit: Fort Walton Beach. Here I pass a bit along of that recommendation and expand it with a bunch of history. Thank you for listening!
Jul 08, 202017:06
Swampy’s Florida - 1st Podcast! The Back Story!
Who, What, Where and How of Swampy’s Florida! How Swampy’s Florida started, continued and today!
Jul 06, 202016:53
Swampy’s Florida: Trial Episode!
Let’s see if this works!
Jul 05, 202001:34