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Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas heard the news that slavery was effectively over. Today’s it’s recognized as Emancipation Day and in 2021 it became a federal holiday. But for years Tallahassee has been celebrating emancipation on May 20th. Why does Tallahassee have its own emancipation holiday? And how has our local celebration of these events evolved over time? Gina Jordan is looking into these questions with some help from local experts.

The summer solstice has officially passed, and the following weeks are usually some of the hottest of the year. This can not only bring discomfort, but also danger to some of the most vulnerable in our community as they will struggle to stay cool. Regan McCarthy spoke with some Floridians trying to escape the heat and sat down with Florida Public Radio Meteorologist, Tim Miller to discuss how you can stay cool and safe throughout these summer heatwaves.

This week we’re talking about Independence Day, and we get into the results of our listener survey regarding freedom and "what does it mean to be an American?". We’ll discuss these topics with Mayor John Dailey and Ethel Dam, a longtime resident who recently got her citizenship.

Florida is moving toward a bear hunt in December, following a vote from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The plans have been controversial to say the least. We hear from a slate of voices including FWC Chief Conservation Officer George Warthen; Franklin County Sheriff Tony Smith; Katrina Shadix with Bear Warriors United; and WFSU’s Margie Menzel, who’s done extensive reporting on the issue...

This year, the Florida Department of State rolled out new procedures for distributing arts funding. Today, we are discussing the impact on local organizations that saw their funding cut. Tom Flanigan sits down with Kathleen Spehar of COCA, Tallahassee Ballet CEO, Lauren Hernandez, and Young Actors Theatre CEO, Sarah Roy.

Tallahassee was recently included in a list of America’s most boring cities in a study performed by a finance and lifestyle website, Finance Buzz. The survey has caused many reactions locally, with some quietly agreeing and others are arguing Tallahassee has plenty to do. Gina Jordan is looking into the response to this survey, we’ll hear from several local voices to get their thoughts on whether Tallahassee should have been on the list...

This week is the one-year anniversary of Speaking Of, and we are celebrating our birthday by listening back to some of our audience’s favorite segments. Also, Gina Jordan sits down with our Director of Content, Lynn Hatter, to chat about the beginnings and evolution of the radio hour. We will also hear snippets of some of our most popular episodes including Hurricane Preparedness, Immigration Raids, and Juneteenth...

Leon Country schools begin their new school year next week. And, with the new school year comes renewed issues of teacher shortages and budget difficulties. Gina Jordan is talking with Leon County School Superintendent, Rocky Hanna, to learn more about what administrators have been preparing for this upcoming school year.

Snakes are an incredibly important part of the Floridian ecosystem, and there are 66 native species that call Florida home. Host Rob Diaz de Villegas sits down with Kim Sash, the Biological Monitoring Coordinator at Tall Timbers Research Station, and Pierson Hill, Research Associate with the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to learn more about our state’s native snake species....

Writers and musicians have always had a dynamic relationship. Some authors write with a melodic rhythm, and some musicians are considered lyricists. Word of South Festival celebrates and explores the relationship between music and literature. Their first festival was in 2015, and ever since attendees have been presented a variety of talented authors and musicians (sometimes appearing together in what they call a “mu-aushups”). Gina Jordan is talking with authors Shonda Knight and Kristen Arnett, as well as Florida journalist Craig Pittman about this year’s festival…