Hidden Florida and Beyond

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Welcome to Hidden Florida and Beyond. This is a show about the people, passions, and moments shaping culture, leadership, and influence. Each episode dives beneath the surface with athletes, entertainers, business leaders, and cultural figures to talk ambition, discipline, success, failure, reinvention, and the paths that get people where they are. Some conversations start around major moments or careers, others wander into unexpected territory, but all of them are candid, wide-ranging, and driven by curiosity. Big guests. Real access. No small talk.

  1. Sep 3

    The Good Greek Spero Georgedakis: From SWAT Officer to Building One of America's Fastest-Growing Moving Companies

    Spero Georgedakis, founder and CEO of Good Greek Moving & Storage, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, policing, customer service, and the unexpected path from SWAT team officer to one of South Florida's most recognizable business owners. Before building Good Greek into a nationally recognized moving and relocation company, Spero spent nearly a decade working in law enforcement, including as a member of a North Miami SWAT team. He shares how those experiences shaped his approach to business, leadership, hiring, and customer service, and why many of the lessons that apply to policing also apply to running a company with hundreds of employees. The conversation dives deep into an industry most people don't think about until they're forced to move. Spero explains how rogue movers and brokerage scams operate, why moving fraud remains a major problem, and the simple steps consumers can take to avoid becoming victims of companies that hold belongings hostage for extra money. He also reveals what it really takes to run a large moving operation, from training employees in Good Greek's in-house academy to handling everything from luxury homes and corporate relocations to specialty items most movers won't touch. The conversation also touches on technology, AI, self-driving vehicles, company culture, leadership, and how a former introvert reluctantly became the face of a brand known throughout Florida for its commercials, reputation, and memorable marketing.. Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. Aug 28

    Radio Personality Ashley O: From America's Next Top Model to South Florida Radio & Giving Back

    Ashley O, longtime South Florida radio personality and founder of Ashley O's Food Fight, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a funny, candid conversation about broadcasting, community impact, and the unexpected twists that shaped her career. What started as an accidental path into radio turned into a career connecting with listeners across South Florida and Central Florida. Ashley shares how she worked her way through the industry, learned from some of the biggest personalities in local radio, and discovered that authenticity, not perfection, is what audiences connect with most. The conversation dives into the changing state of radio, the rise of social media and AI, and why Ashley still believes local personalities and local storytelling matter. She talks about the unique connection radio creates with listeners, the responsibility that comes with having a platform, and why community-focused media still has a place in an increasingly digital world.  Ashley also shares the story behindn Ashley O's Food Fight, a charity initiative that has helped erase student lunch debt for schools across South Florida. What began with helping a single school eventually turned into a broader effort to make sure students aren't going hungry while trying to learn. And yes, the conversation eventually gets into one of the more surprising chapters of her life: her time on America's Next Top Model. Ashley reflects on the reality TV experience, what happened behind the scenes, and how different reality television really is compared to what audiences see on screen. Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Aug 20

    Visit Lauderdale's Camila Clark: Tourism, Storytelling & Why Greater Fort Lauderdale Keeps Winning Travelers Over

    Camila Clark, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications for Visit Lauderdale, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a fascinating conversation about tourism, destination marketing, and what makes Greater Fort Lauderdale one of the most dynamic places to live, visit, and explore.  With more than two decades in hospitality, tourism, and communications, Camila shares how a career built around creating memorable experiences led her from the hotel industry to helping tell the story of Broward County on a global stage. She explains why tourism isn’t just about hotel rooms and beaches. It’s about emotion, connection, and creating the kind of experiences that people remember long after they’ve gone home. The conversation dives into what separates Greater Fort Lauderdale from other Florida destinations, why the region’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and how campaigns like Everyone Under the Sun and Never Lose Your Splash evolved to better reflect what visitors are actually looking for today. Camila also pulls back the curtain on destination marketing, discussing everything from influencer partnerships and social media trends to the impact of major events like international soccer tournaments, concerts, conventions, and sporting events that continue to bring new visitors to South Florida. Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Aug 6

    Florida Panthers Host Gabby Allen: Life in Sports, Mental Health & What You Don’t See Behind the Microphone

    Gabby Allen, longtime in-arena host for the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, television personality, media host, and co-host of the I’m With Her Podcast, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for an honest conversation about sports, entertainment, mental health, and the reality of living life in the spotlight.  Known to Panthers fans as one of the most recognizable voices inside Amerant Bank Arena, Gabby shares the unlikely path that took her from growing up in South Florida to working in professional sports, television, live events, and digital media. She talks about getting her start with the Panthers, the setbacks that came before her big break, and why persistence often matters more than talent when building a career in entertainment.  The conversation goes far beyond sports. Gabby opens up about her struggles with depression, the pressures of constantly performing in public-facing roles, and the disconnect between how someone's life may appear on social media versus what they're actually experiencing behind the scenes. She explains why she and her co-host launched I’m With Her, a podcast centered on vulnerability, relationships, mental health, and the shared challenges people often feel they have to navigate alone. She also shares stories from her career, including nerve-racking live hosting moments, working major sporting events, navigating viral internet attention, and learning how to keep performing even when life is throwing challenges her way off camera. Along the way, the conversation touches on confidence, imposter syndrome, burnout, friendship, family, and the importance of creating space for honest conversations Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Jul 30

    Miami Police Chief Manny Morales: 32 Years of Service, Fighting Crime & The Future of Policing

    After more than three decades with the Miami Police Department, including serving as the city's 43rd Chief of Police, Manny Morales joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a candid conversation as he reflects on a career dedicated to public service. From his early days as a military police officer in the U.S. Army to leading one of America's most recognizable police departments, Manny shares the experiences, lessons, and relationships that shaped his journey. He explains why policing is ultimately about serving people, how officers can change lives for better or worse every single day, and why building trust within the community became one of his biggest priorities as chief. The conversation dives into the realities of modern law enforcement, including body cameras, accountability, internal affairs investigations, and how technology has transformed police work. Manny also discusses the dramatic drop in violent crime during his tenure, the challenges of policing a fast-growing international city like Miami, and how data, technology, and community engagement helped drive those results. Along the way, he shares stories from the job, including the truth behind Miami's infamous "Bayside aliens" rumors as well as some of the toughest moments of his career and the emotional toll law enforcement can take on officers. Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Hidden Florida and Beyond. This is a show about the people, passions, and moments shaping culture, leadership, and influence. Each episode dives beneath the surface with athletes, entertainers, business leaders, and cultural figures to talk ambition, discipline, success, failure, reinvention, and the paths that get people where they are. Some conversations start around major moments or careers, others wander into unexpected territory, but all of them are candid, wide-ranging, and driven by curiosity. Big guests. Real access. No small talk.