Shows / Florida Matters
Florida Matters
Your spot for real, daily conversations. Where neighbors become storytellers, newsmakers explain why and how changes happen and where locals — natives to the area and newcomers — discover and delight in the community they share.
Episodes
- Florida Matters
Two Tampa-area women veterans talk about their experiences in the military
This week, we speak with two women veterans about their military experiences and opportunities and challenges for women veterans. The number of women in the…
- Florida Matters
Lawsuits likely for controversial social media bill
One of the most controversial bills to come out of this year’s legislative session restricts the use of social media sites for teenagers. The bill had…
- Florida Matters
Lawmakers send bills targeting social media, sleeping outdoors and homeowners insurance to DeSantis
Florida lawmakers wrapped up the 60-day legislative session last Friday, passing a $117.46 billion budget and a slate of new bills. Among them are new…
- Florida Matters
How a Tampa non-profit is working to support unhoused students
An increasing number of people in Florida are experiencing homelessness. The surge in homelessness comes as state lawmakers are considering legislation that…
- Florida Matters
Dalia Colón celebrates 'citrus, seafood, Spanish flavor, and Southern charm' in her new cookbook
Dalia Colón talks with Florida Matters about hosting The Zest podcast and releasing her new cookbook, "The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook." In the introduction to…
- Florida Matters
A conversation with former state senator Arthenia Joyner about her trailblazing career in politics
Arthenia Joyner was first elected to the Florida legislature in 2000, taking office amid the legal turmoil of the presidential election between George Bush and…
- Florida Matters
Gwen Henderson talks education, books and politics
As Florida changed its Black history curriculum and removed books from public schools… first-time Tampa city councilwoman Gwen Henderson pushed back and opened…
- Florida Matters
Tampa Bay leaders Gwen Henderson and Arthenia Joyner talk politics, education & civil rights
This week, we talk with two Black women who are leaders in the community and who have each taken a different approach to politics. Former State Senator…
- Florida Matters
What it means to be a Blerd - and why it's cool now
Black nerds, or Blerds, are mainstream these days. From comic book superheroes on the big screen, like Black Panther or Storm, to hip-hop artists celebrating…
- Florida Matters
Ignoring big legislative issues will allow them to 'fester,' warns former senator Jeff Brandes
Legislative priorities for lawmakers in Tallahassee this year include increasing the number of health care providers in Florida and clamping down on children's…
- Florida Matters
County Supervisors of Elections talk about everything voters need to know about voting in 2024
Supervisors of elections have a lot on their plate this year. Florida’s presidential preference primary will be held in March, but there’s also a slew of…
- Florida Matters
What DeSantis's exit from the presidential primary means for Florida
The choice of candidates for Republican voters in the presidential preference primary has dwindled to just two- former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and…
- Florida Matters
Florida's new financial disclosure rules get praise, even as city leaders resign in protest
A new financial disclosure law has resulted in some local government officials resigning. Senate Bill 774, ethics requirements for public officials, took…
- Florida Matters
How evictions affect the Tampa Bay region's most vulnerable residents
An eviction on your record can make it tough to find a place to live. But fighting the eviction in court can be costly. And it doesn’t always help. Evictions…
- Florida Matters
DeSantis focuses on national issues in State of State speech
DeSantis launched the 60 day session with a speech that touched on issues like immigration, education, and law enforcement, and appeared pitched to primary…
- Florida Matters
The best conversations of 2023 on Florida Matters
We've had some very interesting conversations on Florida Matters with newsmakers across the greater Tampa Bay region. Here's a sampling of some of our…
- Florida Matters
The best Florida Matters episodes of 2023
Florida Matters revisits some favorite episodes from 2023, including conversations about hurricanes and political storms, education, population growth and…
- Florida Matters
How presidential politics could shape Florida's legislative session
State lawmakers start the legislative session soon. They will be working alongside Ron DeSantis, the governor and presidential candidate, crafting new laws on…
- Florida Matters
Combating the surge in youth gun violence in Florida
A shooting in Ybor City the weekend before Halloween killed two people: 14-year-old Elijah Wilson and 20-year-old Harrison Boonstoppel, and injured 16 others…
- Florida Matters
Florida Humanities celebrates 50 years sharing stories of our state
The mission of Florida Humanities is to help Floridians make sense of this complex, dynamic state by elevating stories about its culture, history and…
- Florida Matters
How journalists can rebuild trust in the media and fight misinformation
The public’s trust in the news media is slipping. It’s not just a problem for newsrooms: researchers say trust is also dropping for science, higher education…
- Florida Matters
How consumer confidence could affect holiday shopping
Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, is just days away. The National Retail Federation expects consumers to spend a record…
- Florida Matters
How Medicaid unwinding affects the health care of Floridians, and how to navigate Medicare enrollment
It’s open enrollment for Medicare. For people who are eligible for the federal health insurance program, picking a plan and making sure it’s affordable can be…
- Florida Matters
Southwest Florida's Babcock Ranch offers lessons in resilience and sustainability
Lawmakers are back in Tallahassee this week for a special session. Up for discussion among other bills are measures to provide relief for ranchers affected by…
- Florida Matters
A look at Ybor City's history in the midst of urban renewal
While a recent shooting in Ybor City may put the Tampa neighborhood in the spotlight, Ybor has a long and rich history and was instrumental in shaping the city…
- Florida Matters
Why Halloween has been scaring up some serious business
Halloween has become one of the biggest single-day holidays of the year. Amid other festive fall celebrations, Halloween is a chance to get spooky, scary, and…
- Florida Matters
Changes are swirling around Florida's public schools
There’s an upheaval in public education in Florida - from books being challenged and removed from classrooms to restrictions on what can be taught and rules…
- Florida Matters
Tampa Bay region's Hispanic-owned businesses face challenges - and opportunities
More than 600 thousand Hispanic-owned businesses contribute in excess of $90 billion to the state’s economy, according to the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of…
- Florida Matters
The race to protect Florida's Wildlife Corridor
The Florida Wildlife corridor allows animals freedom to roam between areas of protected conservation land. It’s also important for fishing, ranching…
- Florida Matters
Assessing the impact of Hurricane Ian, one year later; Hernando County recovers from Idalia
Florida Matters revisits parts of the greater Tampa Bay region that are still rebuilding one year after Hurricane Ian. WUSF journalists report on the lingering…
- Florida Matters
A closer look at pro sports in the Tampa Bay region as Rays seal the deal on a new stadium
As the Tampa Bay Rays finalize the deal on a new stadium and head to the MLB playoffs, and the Bucs start their season in winning form, could our region be…
- Florida Matters
Pinellas County's beaches continue to erode as renourishment plans remain at a standstill
When Hurricane Idalia slammed into the Big Bend last month, it brought with it record storm surge to a wide swath of the Gulf Coast. Pinellas County beaches —…
Florida MattersOur Changing State: Florida's shifting politics and the impact on its diverse residents
In the sixth part of our series, we’re talking about Florida's politics and diversity. Florida has long been seen as a ‘purple’ state- a place that can tip a…
Florida MattersOur Changing State: conserving our natural environment despite growth, climate change
Florida Matters is exploring how the state's population boom is affecting important issues in our lives. In the second part of our series "Our Changing State,"…
Florida MattersOur Changing State: how housing challenges are impacting local residents
This Florida Matters series explores how the state's population boom and politics are affecting essential issues in our lives. We wanted to find out what the…
Florida MattersOur Changing State: imagining a future for Florida's transportation needs
In the third part of our series, we’re talking about transportation. You can see the signs of our growing population just by taking a drive anywhere in…
Florida MattersOur Changing State: the economics of living in Florida now
In the fifth part of our series, we’re talking about the economy. Florida's economy has been labeled white hot, with a $1.4 trillion GDP and unemployment of…
Florida MattersOur Changing State: understanding Florida's cultural history then and now
In the fourth part of our Changing State series, we’re talking about Florida's cultural history. The discussion includes how we see ourselves, and how the rest…
- Florida Matters
Our Changing State: Florida's shifting politics and the impact on its diverse residents
In the sixth part of our series, we’re talking about Florida's politics and diversity. Florida has long been seen as a ‘purple’ state- a place that can tip a…
- Florida Matters
Our Changing State: the economics of living in Florida now
In the fifth part of our series, we’re talking about the economy. Florida's economy has been labeled white hot, with a $1.4 trillion GDP and unemployment of…
- Florida Matters
Our Changing State: understanding Florida's cultural history then and now
In the fourth part of our Changing State series, we’re talking about Florida's cultural history. The discussion includes how we see ourselves, and how the rest…
- Florida Matters
Our Changing State: imagining a future for Florida's transportation needs
In the third part of our series, we’re talking about transportation. You can see the signs of our growing population just by taking a drive anywhere in…
- Florida Matters
Our Changing State: conserving our natural environment despite growth, climate change
For six weeks, Florida Matters will explore how the state's population boom is affecting important issues in our lives. In the second part of our series "Our…
- Florida Matters
Our Changing State: how housing challenges are impacting local residents
Florida Matters is starting a series exploring how the state's population boom and politics are affecting important issues in our lives. We wanted to find out…
- Florida Matters
USF researcher shares what he learned from his 100-day stay underwater
We talk with Joseph Dituri, a University of South Florida researcher who spent 100 days living underwater. He says the purpose of living underwater for 100…
- Florida Matters
Florida Matters looks back on 25 years of the Tampa Bay Rays
We explore the rich history of baseball in the Tampa Bay region — from the early days of Spring Training to the Tampa Bay Rays, celebrating their 25th season…
- Florida Matters
Florida Matters explores popular summer reads with local bookstore Tombolo Books
We talk about summer reads with Kelsey Jagneaux of Tombolo Books. We discuss the latest bestsellers, local authors including Alicia Thompson and Tyler…
- Florida Matters
Florida Matters talks with former senator Jeff Brandes about his new Florida Policy Project
We’re talking with former state senator Jeff Brandes about his new venture, the Florida Policy Project. Jeff Brandes spent 12 years in the Florida Legislature…
- Florida Matters
Florida Matters explores the impact of new state immigration laws on migrants and Floridians
We’re talking about the state’s new immigration law and what it means for Floridians. Senate Bill 1718 is already having an impact, even though it doesn’t go…
- Florida Matters
Educating young people about Juneteenth amid restrictions from lawmakers
We highlight the upcoming Juneteenth holiday by taking a look at community programs that teach Black history. Juneteenth this year will be celebrated against…
- Florida Matters
Florida emergency managers say they're making sure residents are prepared for hurricane season
With the 2023 Hurricane season underway, we discuss what causes storms to spin up in the Atlantic and lessons learned from Hurricane Ian.
- Florida Matters
Many Floridians struggle to pay for necessities, especially as pandemic relief ends, experts say
We’re talking about the challenges facing Floridians on the edge of poverty in Tampa Bay. Two out of five Floridians are living on the edge of poverty. That’s…
- Florida Matters
Florida Matters explores how new laws are changing public schools for teachers, parents and students
We discuss the impact of Florida's culture war issues on teachers, students and parents. And we’ll talk about other big changes in education — like the school…
- Florida Matters
With a new set of laws aimed at transgender people, some LGBTQ Floridians fear the effects to their lives
We explore new legislation that affects the LGBTQ community in Florida, including a ban on gender affirming care for minors.
- Florida Matters
Florida Matters digs into the impact of the recent legislative session to Floridians
We look at the impact of the state legislative session that wrapped up last week. Lawmakers approved a $117 billion budget and passed laws on guns, housing…
- Florida Matters
Voter education and registration groups react to the elections bill that targets their efforts
We discuss an elections bill passed by the Florida Legislature that limits third party groups from registering voters. On Friday, lawmakers approved Senate…
- Florida Matters
After a series of recent columns on the Ruby Bridges movie debate, local writer speaks on parental rights and teaching black history
We talk with Goliath Davis III, a columnist for the Weekly Challenger, about the controversy over the film Ruby Bridges after a Pinellas County parent…
- Florida Matters
Professors say House Bill 999 would be horrific for academic freedom at Florida's state universities
State lawmakers are considering a piece of legislation that would limit academic freedom at public universities across the state. House Bill 999 also targets…
- Florida Matters
Progress on permitless carry, school vouchers and more mark the Florida Legislature's halfway point
We check in with two journalists who are paying close attention to Florida's 2023 legislative session: Lawrence Mower and John Kennedy. The 60-day legislative…
- Florida Matters
The complex causes of red tide make the toxic blooms a challenge to predict, local scientists say
We talk with two experts on marine biology and ocean circulation about where red tide comes from, how it’s affected by pollution and hurricanes and how…