Last year, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved a draft permit for a company to drill an exploratory well near the Apalachicola River. Recently, a judge ruled the state should have rejected the permit and said the department did not adequately consider the sensitive nature of the area. 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 recent developments…

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.

Writers and musicians have long had a dynamic relationship, and Word of South Festival celebrates and explores the connection between music and literature. Gina Jordan is talking with authors Shonda Knight and Kristen Arnett, as well as Florida journalist Craig Pittman about this year’s Word of South fest. Also, Josh Johnson is sitting down with Earth’s Garden CEO Camille Lewis to discuss this year’s fourth annual Tallahassee Earth Day Festival. And… we meet a sweating robot that's trying to save firefighters from injury.

This week on Speaking Of… Homelessness is a consistent issue across the country, and the big bend region is not excluded. Margie Menzel is sitting down with retired FSU Women’s basketball coach Sue Semrau, Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch, Dr. Heather Flynn with the FSU College of Medicine, and more to discuss Tallahassee’s unhoused population and the new efforts to help them. Also, Josh Johnson is talking with Opening Nights at Florida State Executive Director Kevin Maynard. And… get ready to rinse, wash, and repeat because we’re learning all about textured and curly hair.

This week on Speaking Of… has your phone been buzzing with text messages regarding an unpaid toll balance, or perhaps you’ve been on the receiving end of repeated calls from unsaved phone numbers? Well, you’re not the only one, many Floridians are feeling frustrated by the constant annoyance of scam calls and texts. Gina Jordan is diving into the issue and sitting down with Attorney Jana McConnaughhay, WFSU reporter Margie Menzel, Lawyer Twyla Sketchley (whose law firm is an underwriter of WFSU Public Media), and a Tallahassee resident helping a friend who was scammed. All ages are at risk, and the elderly are especially vulnerable, but we discuss what is going on and what can be done about these out-of-control scams…

Leon Brunson’s restaurant, “Leon’s at Lake Ella”, has been a staple of the Tallahassee food scene since it’s opening and was featured on an episode of Food Networks “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” this year. Brunson discovered his love for cooking as a short-order cook at Waffle House and later attended and graduated from culinary school. Brunson also obtained a bachelor's in neuroscience from Florida State University. The venue for Brunson’s restaurant is a converted 1920’s cottage, located a stone’s throw from the lake. The Warehouse host Josh Johnson sat down with Chef Brunson at his restaurant to discuss the story of his restaurant, his experiences on culinary television, and his goals for the future…

Have you been receiving an onslaught of scam calls and texts? Many Floridians are feeling frustrated by the constant annoyance of unsolicited communications, and all ages are at risk. Gina Jordan is sitting down with several experts to discuss what is going on and what can be done about these out-of-control scams. And Josh Johnson sat down with Chef Brunson at his restaurant to discuss the history of his restaurant, his appearance Food Networks “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”, and his outlook on food. Also, grab your leash and treats, because we’re talking about dog training.