Florida Spectacular

Cathy Salustri & Rick Kilby
  • 4.7 (14)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Take a weekly trip across Florida with authors Cathy Salustri and Rick Kilby and discover a side of Florida you never knew existed. From the scallops in Panhandle bays to the Hemingway cats in Key West, every week's a Florida adventure.  Get more Florida goodness with greatfloridaroadtrip.com and rickkilby.com.

  1. Episode 246: Bithlo, Getting Chased by a Cobra, and a Springs Adventure

    1D AGO

    Episode 246: Bithlo, Getting Chased by a Cobra, and a Springs Adventure

    Send us your Florida questions! Buckle in for a wild ride... this episode starts in Bithlo, detours through Orlando Speed World, gets chased by a cobra, and then goes on an adventure through the springs.  Links We Mentioned Bithlo Bithlo real estate Orlando Speed World Swampy St. Cloud Serpentarium Barberville Yard Art Emporium DeLeon Springs State Park Queenie the Waterskiing Elephant Ginger Ale Springs Green Springs Sam Stoltz houses Orlando Shine Giant inflatable pigeons in Orlando Photo of Orlando inflatable pigeons by Rick Kilby. Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    49 min
  2. Episode 245: In the Shoes of Florida's Black History

    1D AGO

    Episode 245: In the Shoes of Florida's Black History

    Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about gentrification, the difficult relationship white people have with Black history, its place in Florida's history, and how Florida's Black history impacts modern-day Florida. Links We Mentioned Lincolnville Fort Mose Axe Handle Saturday The Zorg Eatonville's Zora Neale Hurston Museum Kingsley Plantation Carter Woodson Museum Lincolnville Museum Historic Hampton House American Beach A.L. Lewis Museum  Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    34 min
  3. Episode 244: Eliot Kleinberg, Nate Moran, and Hypocrite's Row

    FEB 18

    Episode 244: Eliot Kleinberg, Nate Moran, and Hypocrite's Row

    Send us your Florida questions! Eliot Kleinberg, a journalist whose career spans five decades, has turned his talents to fiction. His first book, Hypocrite's Row, is due out February 26. From Eliot: Hypocrite’s Row, the first book of my “Adventures of Nate Moran” novels about the Roaring 20s Miami police detective, comes out next month. The setting is the real battle between gangsters and law enforcement during the mostly failed effort to enforce Prohibition in South Florida. Florida native Eliot Kleinberg, creator of the Civil War historical novel "Peace River," the"Adventures of Nate Moran" novels, and the original "Weird Florida" books, spent nearly a half-century reporting on local news and writing about Florida and Florida history. He produced two history columns and wrote fourteen books -- and co-wrote or contributed to several more -- all of them about Florida. Son of longtime journalist Howard Kleinberg, he lectures regularly on Florida topics and runs a blog on better writing called "Something Went Horribly Wrong."  Links We Mentioned Eliot's website Eliot's newsletter Level Best books Planner or Pantser? Hypocrite's Row Bookshop.org Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    36 min
  4. Episode 243: Learning Not To Be Racist, Drinking Too Much, and a Beautiful Life: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

    FEB 11

    Episode 243: Learning Not To Be Racist, Drinking Too Much, and a Beautiful Life: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

    Send us your Florida questions! Ann McCutchan's book, The Life She Wished To Live: A Biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Author of The Yearling, focuses on Rawling's life. Ann, Cathy, and Rick talk about Rawlings' life, how she learned not to be a racist, her struggles with alcohol, and why The Yearling is not the best of her works. Links We Mentioned Ann McCutchan's website Here is Home: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Cross Creek The Life She Wished To Live: A Biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Author of The Yearling Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society annual conference  Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    50 min
  5. Episode 242: Naked Ed, Manatee Springs, and Fat Mermaids (That's a Good Thing!)

    FEB 4

    Episode 242: Naked Ed, Manatee Springs, and Fat Mermaids (That's a Good Thing!)

    Send us your Florida questions! Author Holly Sprinkle joins the podcast to talk about her book, Florida Natural Springs: A History. The trio talks about — among other things — Naked Ed, the historic marker at Manatee Springs, and why fat mermaids are the best mermaids. Links We Mentioned The William Bartram plaque at Manatee Springs Buy Holly's book! Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    44 min
  6. Episode 241: Pete Gallagher, Florida Journalism, and Bodies Under Tropicana Field

    JAN 28

    Episode 241: Pete Gallagher, Florida Journalism, and Bodies Under Tropicana Field

    Send us your Florida questions! While working as a journalist, Pete Gallagher investigated Florida stories that made a difference. He joins the podcast this week to talk about two of those stories, people buried under Tropicana Field, and his book (in progress) about his life in journalism. Links We Mentioned James Richardson Emateloye Estenletkvte: Polly Parker Got Away Florida Folk Show radiostpete.com Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    42 min
  7. Episode 240: Submerged Stories: Florida's Underground Railroad

    JAN 21

    Episode 240: Submerged Stories: Florida's Underground Railroad

    Send us your Florida questions! Florida has a significant history with enslaved people escaping their oppressors in the United States. If you want to see history, these are places you can visit to learn the real history of Florida's underground railroad. Links We Mentioned Fort Mose Bill Baggs State Park Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola  Podcast episode about Prospect Bluff Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park Kingsley Plantation Fitzpatrick Plantation Ruins Angola Settlement (more about Angola) The Fort at Prospect Bluff by Dale Cox   Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    24 min
  8. Episode 239: Little Wekiva, Florida Quicksand, and Wild Florida

    JAN 14

    Episode 239: Little Wekiva, Florida Quicksand, and Wild Florida

    Send us your Florida questions! Nichole Delafield-Bromme and Lief Bromme talk about their book, Little Wekiva Memories: Kayaking & Other Adventures. Links We Mentioned Little Wekiva Memories: Kayaking & Other Adventures NicholeDelafield.com Maffrey's at Ivanhoe Village Brick and Mortar Places Selling Little Wekiva Sunshine Book Co.  647 Lake Ave., Clermont, FL 34711  Maffrey’s  (see link above) Barnes and Noble B&N  Sand Lake, 7900 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando  B&N Colonial Plaza Market Center, 2418 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando B&N Altamonte Mall, Altamonte Springs B&N 331 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com. Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee). NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

    51 min
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Trailer

4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Take a weekly trip across Florida with authors Cathy Salustri and Rick Kilby and discover a side of Florida you never knew existed. From the scallops in Panhandle bays to the Hemingway cats in Key West, every week's a Florida adventure.  Get more Florida goodness with greatfloridaroadtrip.com and rickkilby.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Cathy Salustri & Rick Kilby
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    271
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dreams Float LLC
  • Show Website
    Florida Spectacular

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