Ryan sits down with author Kent Wascom to discuss his novel, “The Great State of West Florida.” The story is a beautiful tribute to what makes Florida unique and features a villainous far-right politician who leads a movement to turn the panhandle into a white Christian ethnostate. Too soon? Raised in Pensacola, Kent takes us through the plights and gripes of a mystical figure called simply the Governor and a fictitious West Florida that, much like real life, has always been up for grabs.

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Fresh off the heels of being published in The Paris Review, Alec Niedenthal returns to the show with a deep dive into the themes of “Schändung (Desecration)” and how the act of writing can help process memories and experiences.

Read Alec’s story, Schändung (Desecration) in The Paris Review: https://www.theparisreview.org/fiction/8363/schandung-desecration-alec-niedenthal

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This week, Ryan met with Kaitlynn Black & Dean Fraser of the newly-formed Florida Keepers, a nonpartisan group dedicated to ethics and environmental conservation. We talked about how the Keepers came to be, as developers and real estate interests destroy Florida’s wetlands and wild places.

We also delved into Florida’s newest law HB 1205 – the state government’s attack on the last way for everyday Floridians to have a say in the policies that govern our lives.

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Florida Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith breaks down the Legislature’s dysfunctional relationship with Gov. Ron DeSantis, as their political divorce takes an ugly turn through three Special Sessions in a fortnight and rhetoric hotter than a motel Jacuzzi.

The People’s Champ in the Florida Senate discusses his current work on expanding mass transit and the arts in the world’s largest tourist destination, plus the ultimate goal of politics: neighborly love.

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*About Tropical Depression*

Tropical Depression dives into the chaos and charm of Florida, where the politics are messier, the culture louder, and the stories stranger—because Florida is America, only more so.

From Tallahassee’s backrooms to the beaches and bayous, Tropical Depression and its host Ryan Ray, takes listeners on a journey to understand the forces that make Florida both fascinating and confounding. With a growing library of episodes and a reputation for sharp commentary and storytelling, we reveal why Florida is a microcosm of America’s weird, wild future.

Whether you’re a Floridian, a frequent visitor, or just someone wondering, “What the hell is going on down there?” we promise to keep you informed, amused, and occasionally outraged. Available on all major platforms, Tropical Depression brings a uniquely Floridian voice to the national conversation. Produced by Abdelilah Skhir.

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This week we sat down with Tampa Bay transit advocate Dayna Lazarus, founder of Transit Now Tampa Bay, about recent struggles and progress for public transportation in one of America’s fastest-growing cities.

DAYNA LAZARUS has over a decade of experience in community organizing and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from University of South Florida. At USF, she won several professional and academic fellowships and scholarships, earning graduate certificates in Sustainable Transportation and Community Development. She authored a thesis on achieving transportation equity through the urban planning process.

She co-founded the grassroots organization Transit Now Tampa Bay, sits on the board of the Sunshine Citizens, and has been a member of the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization’s citizens advisory committee since 2017.

About Tropical Depression

Tropical Depression dives into the chaos and charm of Florida, where the politics are messier, the culture louder, and the stories stranger—because Florida is America, only more so.

From Tallahassee’s backrooms to the beaches and bayous, Tropical Depression and its host, Ryan Ray, takes listeners on a journey to understand the forces that make Florida both fascinating and confounding. With a growing library of episodes and a reputation for sharp commentary and storytelling, — we reveal why Florida is a microcosm of America’s weird, wild future.

Whether you’re a Floridian, a frequent visitor, or just someone wondering, “What the hell is going on down there?” this podcast promises to keep you informed, amused, and occasionally outraged. Available on all major platforms, Tropical Depression brings a uniquely Floridian voice to the national conversation.

• *WATCH ON PATREON:*

https://www.patreon.com/TropicalDepression

• *WATCH ON SPOTIFY:*

https://open.spotify.com/show/3Sd6ldGOGesEcfFN9vHP9I

• *WATCH ON APPLE PODCASTS:*

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tropical-depression/id1684631733

• *WATCH ON YOUTUBE*

https://www.youtube.com/@TropicalDepresssionFL

*OTHER LINKS:*

• TikTok /@tropicaldepressionfl

• Twitter: /@td_Fla

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Facebook /@TropicalDepressionFL

This week Ryan sat down with returning guest Jason Garcia, who discussed his brand new reporting on just how much money the Free State of Florida may have spent politically opposing abortion rights — despite the 57% of voters who want the exact opposite.

Plus, reasons for optimism in Orlando & Orange county local elections with and more expert analysis from the author & publisher of Seeking Rents.

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In the first episode of Season 3 of Tropical Depression, we sit down with a friend of the show who just this week broke statewide news that the State of Florida has been funding advertisements supporting the Florida Pregnancy Center Network, an entirely state-funded anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy center.” Jason and Ryan talk about the growing politicization of the mechanisms of Florida state government and how it represents a more extensive cultural warfare on behalf of some parts of Florida’s Republican party.

*About Tropical Depression*

Tropical Depression dives into the chaos and charm of Florida, where the politics are messier, the culture louder, and the stories stranger—because Florida is America, only more so.

From Tallahassee’s backrooms to the beaches and swamps, Tropical Depression and its host, Ryan Ray, takes listeners on a journey to understand the forces that make Florida both fascinating and confounding. With a growing library of episodes and a reputation for sharp commentary and storytelling, — we reveal why Florida is a microcosm of America’s weird, wild future.

Whether you’re from Florida, a COVID transplant, or just someone wondering “What the hell is going on down there?” we keep you informed, amused, and occasionally outraged. Available on all major platforms, Tropical Depression brings a uniquely Floridian voice to the new American age of Florida.

WATCH ON PATREON:

https://www.patreon.com/TropicalDepression

WATCH ON SPOTIFY:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3Sd6ldGOGesEcfFN9vHP9I

WATCH ON APPLE PODCASTS:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tropical-depression/id1684631733

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/@TropicalDepresssionFL

OTHER LINKS:

TikTok /@tropicaldepressionfl

Twitter: /@td_Fla

YouTube /@TropicalDepressionFL

Instagram /@tropicaldepressionfla

Facebook /@TropicalDepressionFL

Our first year in review episode looks back at guests and highlights from the most Florida-pilled year in Florida history.

As Trump’s new administration lights a candle in broad Palm Beach daylight, Florida took on a new importance yet again. The villain of national politics and its new hometown saw federal intrigue, two major hurricanes, Matt Gaetz, and a sprinkling of taxpayer boondoggles — plus some successes and progress towards the Other Florida yet to come.
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Happy New Year!

Host Ryan Ray sits down with St. Petersburg City Council Member Richie Floyd the day after a dramatic reversal on City stadium funding — and possibly the Rays' entire $600 million+ subsidies proposal they claim to need stay in Tampa Bay.

We discussed whether in the era of climate catastrophes like Hurricanes Milton and Helene, that may be a good thing.

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