This week on Speaking Of… Fireflies are more than just dots of light in the night’s sky, and they aren’t even flies… they’re beetles. We borrowed an excerpt from our sister podcast, “Coast to Canopy”, where host Rob Diaz de Villegas talks with Dave Almquist, an Invertebrate Zoologist. They discuss fireflies’ life cycles, the diversity of the species, and how to observe them. You'll never look at a firefly flashing the same way again. Also, Josh Johnson sat down with Peyton Davis to discuss an upcoming art exhibit the Apalachee Center put together using pieces created by patients undergoing art and music therapy. And… we’re discussing a watermelon festival.

There have been numerous reports on immigration raids nationwide, and recently Tallahassee saw ICE sweep through local construction sites. There have been many changes to immigration policies, leaving some with questions. Gina Jordan hears from several local authorities, advocates, and experts to find out more about what’s going on with immigration. Also, Sue Dick has spent a quarter of a century as the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce President, Tom is About Town to talk to local business owners and Sue Dick on her tenure as president. And, we’re discussing Florida Panthers.

Hurricane season is descending upon us once again, and Regan McCarthy is sitting down with Leon County Public Information Officer Mathieu Cavell and the Emergency Management Director for Leon County Kevin Peters, to discuss how you can be best prepared this season. And, Josh Johnson is talking with Susan Stelzmann, the founder of Tallahassee Clay Arts, to see how the classic tradition of pottery and ceramics is practiced modernly. Also, we’re turning OFF our porch lights and discussing moths.

This week on Speaking Of… Have you ever wondered what deep-sea creatures eat way down there? And how do humans perform deep-sea research? We borrow an excerpt from our sister podcast, “Coast to Canopy”, and join Rob Diaz de Villegas as he talks with 3 deep-sea experts. Also, Josh Johnson is sitting down with Will Gandy, the assistant curator of the Tallahassee Museum and vice president of the Tallahassee Historical Society, to discuss Tallahassee’s history and all that goes into its preservation. And… despite the recommendation by Justin Bieber, Regan McCarthy gets her peaches out in Florida.

This week on Speaking Of… It’s been just over a year since tornadoes hit, causing damage to homes and parts of our community. We commemorated with a special LIVE EPISODE. Host Gina Jordan leads a discussion with stories from our listeners about their experiences during the storm and what it’s been like to recover. Tom Flanigan will take us to Railroad Square with his segment, Tom About Town. And, Rheannah Winter and Lynn Hatter will talk to experts, and ask some of your questions, about whether tornadoes are just a more common part of our lives now, and how we can be better prepared.

This week on Speaking Of… Refuge House has been providing emergency shelter services and attempting to aid victims of domestic and sexual violence for over 45 years. But recently, the center has been forced to turn away some of those seeking help. WFSU reporter Margie Menzel is discussing the situation with several guests. Also, Josh Johnson is sitting down with Linda Schulyer Ford, a storyteller and word artist, to discuss the modern practice of her art. And… we’re adding it all up and talking about the “new math” children are learning in schools today.

A judge recently ruled the Florida Department of Environmental Protection should have rejected a permit to allow drilling of an exploratory oil well near the Apalachicola River. Craig Diamond is a board member with Apalachicola Riverkeeper, the nonprofit advocacy group that successfully challenged the permit. He is sitting down with Gina Jordan to discuss these recent developments. Also, Josh Johnson is joined by local performance artist and dancer Maria White, to discuss the joys of teaching dance, Tallahassee’s dance scene, and more. And, we’re comparing TVs and home theater projectors.

A devastating tragedy struck Florida State University’s campus this past Thursday, April 17th. A gunman opened fire near the student union, killing two and injuring 6. This episode features a special extended look into the events that day and will provide viewpoints from students who were on campus, a roundtable of WFSU reporters who covered the events, and a conversation with FSU professor and mental health expert Sally Karioth. And, LeMoyne Arts has been holding the Chain of Parks Art Festival for 25 years, with the goal of amplifying local artists and bringing the community together. And, their work hasn’t gone unnoticed, Sunshine Artist Magazine has ranked the fest in the top 100 fine art festivals for 10 years running. Powell Kries is the Chain of Parks Art Festival Manager, and is sitting down with host Josh Johnson to discuss this weekend’s events.

This week on Speaking Of… longleaf pines thrive with regular fire, and humans attempt to aid that with prescribed burns. But fire predates our use of it, leaving humans to try to mimic how fires once burned naturally. Rob Diaz de Villegas talks with Dr. Jean Huffman, a dendrochronologist who is using tree stumps to extract some surprising information from the tree-ring record about fires. Also, Rachel Elspeth Gross joins host Josh Johnson for a wide-ranging conversation on her inspirations, thoughts on art, and future goals. And… we explore the intersection between fast fashion, trade, and tariffs.

This week on Speaking Of… The Eastern Indigo is the longest native snake in the United States, but since the late 1970’s the serpent has been federally designated as threatened. New efforts are underway to return the Eastern Indigo to Florida. Gina Jordan sits down with WFSU Ecology Reporter Rob Diaz de Villegas and Catherine Ricketts with The Nature Conservancy, to discuss the return of the Eastern Indigo. Also, the art of printmaking goes back hundreds of years, and many different cultures have their own version or take. Sangha Press is a Tallahassee workshop that is home to printmaker Mika Fowler, an artist working with wooden type and a vintage press to create one of a kind works of art. Fowler joins host Josh Johnson to discuss printmaking, collaboration, and more. And… we’re going for a spin and discussing the essentials of vinyl records. Jason Acuna sits down with Matt Sampson of Real Cool Time Records to talk about how to care for, clean, and shop for your vinyl.