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.

  1. 18. Juni

    The meaning of Juneteenth celebrations across the Tampa Bay area

    Friday is Juneteenth. It marks the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. It became a federal holiday in 2021. On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we talk with people from across Tampa Bay’s Black community about the legacy of celebration — and what freedom means to them. We start with Florida’s emancipation story and how it fits into the broader history of emancipation. You’ll also hear from a local pastor about how Tampa celebrates Juneteenth and how that history is being taught to the next generation. And later, how one community member is using Juneteenth to shine a light on the talents of local businesses. Then, meet a man who fought for exoneration after he was convicted and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Florida freedom arrived earlier(0:00) Historian Fred Hearns explains how enslaved people in Florida learned of emancipation on May 20, 1865, weeks before Juneteenth in Texas. He details the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in Tallahassee and how news spread across the state. Hearns also discusses early Black settlements, churches, and education in Tampa Bay. GUEST: Fred Hearns, curator of Black history at the Tampa Bay History CenterYouth engagement drives efforts(12:00) Tampa Bay’s Juneteenth celebrations increasingly focus on education and youth involvement. We talk about the significance of the Juneteenth flag and why connecting students to its creator mattered this year. The discussion also looks at progress and unity in the community. GUEST: Pastor Philetha Tucker-Johnson, president of the Tampa Bay Juneteenth Coalition Ben Haith, Juneteenth flag creator Wrongfully convicted and now an advocate(21:00) Walter Dunn recounts his wrongful conviction and time spent learning the law behind bars. He explains how inmates often become self-taught legal advocates in a complex post-conviction system. He connects his experience to larger debates about justice, punishment and constitutional freedom. GUEST: Walter Dunn, coordinator for Florida Coalition for Higher Education in PrisonReconditioning Our Communities(36:00) Balaji Ajike traces his journey from Nigeria to New Jersey and eventually Tampa, shaping his approach to community building. He explains how his ROC the Block festival emerged from efforts to spotlight Black businesses and address local disparities. It has grown into a full week of events focused on culture, health, and education. GUEST: Bolaji Ajike, president of ROC the Block

    48 Min.
  2. 17. Juni

    What comes with Iran-U.S. peace? Dad's day grief. Knowing sickle cell. Good day, Sunshine City

    The U.S. and Iran are set to formally sign a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But there are questions about details and what comes next. "Let the oil flow." With that, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. and Iran are set to formally sign a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But there are questions about details and what comes next. Our expert has answers. Also, Father’s Day is a celebration for lots of families, but it can also be a time of grief for some. We talk about navigating loss during holidays. Afterward, with World Sickle Cell Day coming up, a doctor discusses awareness and treatment innovations. Finally, meet the lads keeping the spirit of Beatlemania alive in Tampa Bay. Peace deal questions remain(0:00) The U.S. and Iran are moving toward an agreement after months of conflict. The deal could change the future of the Middle East — if it lasts. We unpack the risks and the road ahead with a USF foreign policy expert. GUEST: Arman Mahmoudian, USF Global and National Security InstituteWhen Father’s Day hurts(12:02) Father’s Day can be a celebration, but like all holidays, it can also bring painful reminders of loss. A grief expert joins the show to talk about navigating complicated emotions. We also learn about a new support resource. GUEST: Jason Cooper, national spiritual services lead for Vitas HealthcareSickle cell awareness matters(20:49) Sickle cell anemia, a genetic hemoglobin disease, affects thousands of families and can bring pain and challenges that aren’t always visible. A specialist helps us explore misconceptions patients face and treatment advances. GUEST: Dr. Ali Sanati-Mehrezi, USF Health pediatric hematologist-oncologistA long and winding road(35:56) The Penny Lane Beatles Museum is moving from its Dunedin home into a bigger space in downtown St. Petersburg. Exhibits include instruments, clothing and other artifacts tied to the Fab Four. We explore why the Liverpool lads still strike a chord all these years later. GUESTS: Craig Bachner, Penny Lane Beatles Museum executive director Harlan Brown, Penny Lane Beatles Museum senior docent

    48 Min.
  3. 16. Juni

    When AI gets it wrong, a new ID debate, the Latino vote equation, politics of a ‘Wimpy Kid’

    He was at his Fort Myers home when a fast-food security camera in Jacksonville Beach snapped a picture of a criminal suspect. An artificial intelligence tool used by police agencies somehow identified him as the perpetrator, and he was arrested. Technology got it wrong, but it wasn't alone. Afterward, Latino voters are seen as the key to winning elections in Florida, but are candidates really paying attention to their concerns? Then, how will an important change in driver’s licenses affect you? And a well-known children’s author is helping a local candidate for office. Rage against the machine(0:00) A Fort Myers man was hundreds of miles away from where a crime was committed, but an AI facial recognition match sent him to jail anyway. Now, he’s suing. His ACLU attorney discusses the lawsuit, which challenges a Pinellas County-operated system used by law enforcement statewide. GUEST: Nathan Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy and Technology ProjectThese face cards are marked(11:38) A new Florida law will add citizenship and immigration information to driver’s licenses and state IDs. Lawmakers say the change is about election confidence, but opponents question the necessity and impact. A local tax collector and an immigrant rights advocate discuss what residents might expect. GUESTS: Thomas Kennedy, policy adviser with the Florida Immigrant Coalition Mike Fasano, Pasco County tax collector A powerful political force(20:40) Latino voters helped reshape Florida politics in 2024, but experts say campaigns still struggle to understand the community’s diversity. We discuss the issues driving Latino voters and how their influence could shape future elections. GUESTS: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, academic executive and former U.S. representative Eduardo Gamarra, Florida International University political science professor Jeff Kinney/Brandt Robinson for Congress Not flying under the radar(35:44) The creator of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” is stepping into the political arena. (Wait, isn’t this a form of the dreaded “cheese touch”?) Seriously, Jeff Kinney has teamed up with a Pinellas County history teacher running for Congress for an event focused on civic engagement. The goal: get younger voters involved in democracy before it feels like middle school math. GUESTS: Brandt Robinson, educator and congressional candidate Jeff Kinney, children’s book author

    48 Min.

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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.

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