SoFlo Weird Show
SoFlo Weird Show is a podcast featuring weird Florida stories. Every one knows, Florida is famous for being infamous. From the days of Prohibition to just about anything that happened last week, we’ve got an endless supply of wild stories waiting to be tapped in to and shared with our equally quirky audience. We feature legend tripping, haunted sights, offbeat travels and true crimes so bizarre you’ll think we made it up. Plain and simple… It’s weird stories for weird people and you fit right in. www.sofloweird.com
Fri, November 08, 2024
A Writer's Killer Instincts
"Are serial killers born or made? Dive into the shadowy world of crime fiction with Preston L. Allen's riveting novel, "I Disappeared Them," and decide for yourself. This gripping psychological thriller follows a serial killer who blends in seamlessly with society. By day, he's a devoted family man and loving father; by night, he transforms into a vigilante stalking Miami's streets, seeking justice through twisted means. His eerie signature: a periwinkle flower left at each crime scene. As the tale unfolds, the killer's motivations reveal a dark past, sparking a haunting question: what drives an ordinary man to extraordinary evil?"
Fri, March 31, 2023
Freaky Fiction
Two fantastic, dark, and eerie stories are featured in Freaky Fiction. The first is Deb Rogers' debut novel, Florida Woman. It's the story of one woman's journey to redemption after going viral for committing an outrageous crime she never intended to commit. When she seizes the opportunity to redeem herself by volunteering at a monkey sanctuary, she soon realizes something far more sinister is going on and wonders if she is in more danger than she was before. We interviewed Deb at the Miami Book Fair to talk about the inspiration behind this intriguing tale. Then, we read Bob Carr's Conch Chowder, a deliciously good story about friends, fishing and tasty conch chowder with a mysterious secret ingredient. Sometimes you just don't want to know how it's made.
Fri, February 03, 2023
Tampa's History and Mysteries
One town in Florida has a rich history and unsolved mysteries. There are miles of tunnels beneath the city that may have been used for smuggling, cigars once held secret messages with instructions to launch the Cuban rebellion against Spain and there's a park belonging to Cuba with rogue chickens running wild. This is Ybor City, Tampa’s premier historic district. This gem of a city has a unique and twisted past. In our final episode from our Tampa trip, we speak with Gary Mormino, one of the foremost authorities on Florida history and culture, to get the inside scoop on the city's roots.
Fri, January 13, 2023
Conversations With Florida Literary Legend
The SoFlo Weird Street Team met up with award winning author and reporter Craig Pittman, at the Miami Book Fair. Pittman, a Florida native, worked for The Tampa Bay Times, where his environmental reporting garnered him multiple regional and national honors. He is the co-host of the Welcome to Florida podcast and the author of six books, including the New York Times bestseller Oh, Florida! How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country. The Florida Heritage Book Festival named him a Florida Literary Legend in 2020. We spoke with Craig about his work, what he enjoys about this strange and bizarre state and his book Manatee Insanity: Inside The War Over Florida's Most Famous Endangered Species.
Fri, December 23, 2022
Columbia: Gem of Spanish Restaurants
In another installment of our SoFlo Weird Street Team Tampa Trip we explore the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Taking up an entire city block at 52,000 square feet, which includes 6,000 just for the kitchen, and seating for up to 1,700 people, the Columbia holds the title for the largest Spanish Restaurant in the world. Over 100 years old and with 5 generations of family run ownership, we sat down with the current owner and operator Andrea Gonzmart Williams of the Columbia Restaurant Group to discuss the trials, tales and success of this Tampa gem.
Sun, October 16, 2022
Chasing Ghosts
The SoFlo team met Brian Kramer and Donna Lyman of Paranormal Adventures on a late-night ghost hunt at the St Augustine Lighthouse. They discuss their investigations and give tips on what they've learned on their paranormal journey as the busiest ghost chasers in Florida. What's strange is how their interest in ghost hunting began. Then we highlight a few of Florida's apparitions, Specters, and Spirits.
Sat, September 17, 2022
Tampa's Underworld
The SoFlo Weird Team hit the streets of Tampa to explore it's sordid past. Historic Ybor City was once a hotbed for criminal activity during prohibition, only second to New York City. From bolita and bootlegging to a turf war that led to the Era of Blood, we sought to get the real scoop on the seedier side of Tampa’s history with mob expert, author and historian, Scott Deitche. Then, we take a look at the women who had an active role in Tampa’s old bolita lotteries in Tales From The Vice Squad.
Fri, August 12, 2022
Jerky Neighbors
Neighbor disputes date back centuries to the time of early settlements. You can bet that in our colorful state of Florida, those disagreements can get downright absurd. We've got several stories about those jerks who will do just about anything to infuriate their neighbor. From famous cases of unsightly spite walls, to fighting off attack chickens and an assault with a bucket of pee, you'll quickly realize whatever you're fighting about with your neighbor isn't so bad. Historian Casey Piket joins us to discuss examples of spite wall brawls in Miami, and contributor Michelle McArdle shares stories of bad behavior from nasty neighbors. This is so bizarre, you'll think we made it up.
Mon, July 11, 2022
Battle For The Big Top
One of America's favorite pastimes has always been the circus. And dominating that entertainment spectacle were the larger than life circus kings PT Barnum, James Bailey and John Ringling. Independently they competed for control of the American Circus; together they created the Greatest Show On Earth and captivated the nation. Best selling author Les Standiford brings to life this remarkable story and shines a spotlight on Florida's circus scene is his book Battle For The Big Top.
Fri, June 24, 2022
Only In Your State: Florida Edition
Florida is famous for its magical theme parks and pristine beaches, but for those who seek adventure off the beaten path, there is a fantastic resource offering a daily look into the hidden gems you can find only in your state. Marisa Roman, a travel writer, will share some highlights from her Florida explorations as we delve deep into our state's urban legends and hauntings. Her work appears in the travel publication Only In Your State, which shines a spotlight on those roads less traveled and unique natural wonders in each of the country's 50 distinctive states. Then, we veer off onto those byways and side streets to talk about Florida's foreboding roadways where unexplained phenomena occur.
Fri, June 03, 2022
Key Largo's African Queen
Our adventures in Key Largo take us to Mile Marker 100, where a special piece of film history floats along the dock next to the Holiday Inn. It's the iconic African Queen, the real boat on which movie legends Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart navigated their way through the Congo River in 1951 when filming the movie of the same name. The SoFlo team jumped onboard for this immersive history lesson. We also feature the haunting tales from the Titanic Artifact Exhibition in Orlando where restless spirits reside.
Fri, March 18, 2022
Weird Underwater Adventures
The SoFlo Weird Street Team headed to Key Largo Florida in search of a one of a kind real treasure, an underwater hotel located 25 feet deep on the ocean floor in a mangrove lagoon. The Jules Undersea Lodge, a unique underwater sanctuary, is available for overnight stays. Imagine sleeping with the fishes and getting pizza delivered to your room! The Lodge, which first served as a marine research lab, is nearly 50 years old and has hosted some interesting visitors. We documented this adventure with a mother and her young son for 2 days to understand the experience.
Sun, January 23, 2022
The Thing About Florida
To find the true essence of Florida you must be willing to travel it’s backroads, coastal regions and swamps to immerse yourself deep within it’s communities. That's just what author Tyler Gillespie did. In his latest book "The Thing About Florida" – Gillespie journeys to unexpected places such as halfway houses, gator pits, rattlesnake rooms, and clothing-optional campgrounds, where he meets eclectic and unconventional Floridians. He talks about his interviews with storm chasers, Civil War re-enactors, cattle ranchers, drag queens, python hunters, and pet smugglers in his quest to explore our misunderstood state. And if that's not weird enough, we look into the story of a snake-handling preacher, who spread this venomous gospel throughout Florida to deadly results. Then from the pages of Weird Florida, we read about Cassadaga, The Psychic Capitol of the World.
Tue, December 14, 2021
Weird Crimes
These crimes predate the Florida Man phenom, but back in the day, there were brazen thieves with catchy nicknames like Gentle Jim, The Kissing Bandit and Murph The Surf. We meet up with historian and fellow podcaster Casey Piket, who discusses some strange crimes that occurred in the Miami Brickell neighborhood over a three-decade period, one that includes a likeable thief named Gentle Jim. Then, there's my own personal account of being robbed by a petty thief who puckers up for his prize. And finally, the story of the man behind America's biggest jewel heist of the 20th Century. This is the stuff of movies!
Fri, October 29, 2021
Time Slips
Outta time brings on a whole meaning when we discuss the mystery of time slips, a phenomenon that happens when a moment from the past spontaneously intrudes on the present through seemly-unexplained means. There are numerous documented cases around the world where this has happened. We talk about this mystery with archaeologist Bob Carr who has experienced this firsthand. He talks about the time he and a coworker were inadvertently transported 60 years into the past.
Sat, September 18, 2021
Monkey Business & Other Strange Things
Florida is home to some pretty weird wildlife. Aside from our state's mascot, the gator, there are West African Monkeys residing in a mangrove swamp between Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale Airport. These playful primates have been living there since the 1950's and are actually the descendants of monkeys that escaped a local farm. To find out how they got here and why, we talk with Dr. Missy Williams of the Dania Beach Vervet Project. Then we feature a story about the Great Toad Invasion of 1982.
Fri, August 13, 2021
Florida's Botanical Wonders
The SoFlo Weird Street Team hit the road and headed to Lake Wales, home of the most beautiful and unique sanctuary you'll ever see, Bok Tower Gardens. This National Historic Landmark is a 250-acre contemplative garden and nature preserve with a Neo Gothic singing tower located on top of Iron Mountain. Join us as we talk with Erica Smith about Bok Tower’s history and the preservation efforts going on in these majestic gardens. Then, we share stories about two other Florida Botanical wonders; the mysterious Torreya tree that may have ties to the Garden of Eden and the Saw Palmetto plant, which natives and pioneers used as cure all and an aphrodisiac.
Fri, July 16, 2021
Orange Blossom 2.0 & The Birth of Miami
In this special episode we celebrate Miami's 125th Anniversary with historian Cesar A. Becerra as he reveals some very interesting facts about the birth of Miami. Cesar's book, Orange Blossom 2.0 tells the untold story of Miami's "other" Mother Mary Brickell, a woman who has been ghosted in the city's history. We dig deep to find out why Mary has been marginalized for so long and in true Miami fashion, there's politics, greed, jealousy and of course, slick marketing.
Sat, June 12, 2021
Without A Trace
The SoFlo Weird team dive into the murky history of the Bermuda Triangle, that infamous part of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico. A place riddled with mystery and intrigue, as it has been a place where many ships and planes have gone missing without a trace. Then we feature one of the spookiest urban legends in Florida, the Carnivorous Pink Clouds that hover in the woods along the Tamoka River. Legend has it that this strange fog eats human flesh and the only thing left is bones.
Fri, May 21, 2021
Jacksonville's Southern Rock Roots
We discuss the in-depth history of Jacksonville’s Southern Rock Music scene with media historian and author Dr. Michael Ray FitzGerald. In his book "Jacksonville and The Roots of Southern Rock" he shines a light on the artists and songs that powered a phenomenon. Despite differences in musical tastes, the success of homegrown bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, paved the way for Southern Rock.
Fri, May 07, 2021
Freaky Florida
The SoFlo Weird team looks into shock entertainment, those live circus side show attractions that featured human oddities and bizarre performances, Freak Shows as they were once called. This live entertainment drew crowds like a moth to a flame... But what happened after the curtain fell was most shocking of all. We will also dive into the amazing act of Harry Wise the Ghost Master of Horror Shows, who took his secrets to his grave.
Wed, April 21, 2021
Florida's Natural Elixir
Tourism and agriculture have always been the backbone of Florida's economy. Primarily people flocked to our shores to escape cold northern winters, but weather was not the only reason. It seems there is something in our natural spring water and there's plenty to go around as Florida has more springs than any other place on earth. In the Gilded Age, it was promoted heavily like some kind of magical elixir to heal almost any disease, from Typhoid to TB. We discuss this little known time in history with Rick Kilby author of Florida's Healing Waters. Then we look into the whereabouts of Florida's true Fountain of Youth.
Fri, April 02, 2021
Paradise Found & Lost
If you've ever thought of just getting away from it all, there is a secluded island located off of Florida's Forgotten Coast. Dog Island is part nature preserve and part home for very resourceful residents. It is amenity deprived, hurricane prone and only accessible by plane or boat. This ancient paradise has a history dating back 8,000 years. We meet up with author Laura Valeri who talks about the island's wild beauty as well as its extremely fragile state. Then we go through Florida's back roads to the small town of Two Egg, to find out the origins of how it got its name.
Fri, March 12, 2021
Weird Eats
On the menu...creamed rattlesnake meat, possum stew and anti-aging pancakes. SoFlo Weird Contributor Michelle McArdle and I are dishing up the dirt on these Florida-centric foods and some weird dining experiences. Should you wish to feast with magical creatures or spirits of a different kind, we've got the goods on where to go that are out of this world.
Sat, February 20, 2021
Weird Journeys
Imagine walking through the entire state of Florida for four months. That's just what author Kent Russell did and documented in his book "In The Land of Good Living: A Journey To The Heart of Florida". Intent on making a film, he and two of his friends embarked on a thousand mile pedestrian journey pushing a shopping cart full of gear and camping along the roadside reducing themselves to filthy drifters. The mayhem that ensues had them loving and loathing Florida, but what they discovered was the true story of our state. Then we offer up places you can visit in 5 regions of Florida should you be searching for your own weird journey.
Thu, January 28, 2021
SoFlo Origins
Get to know the SoFlo Weird Show backstory. Find out the inspiration and reason why we are so compelled to bring you these unique Florida stories, how we became self-proclaimed weirdoes and what spiritually guided force is behind this podcast. You may be surprised to know it’s very personal.
Fri, January 15, 2021
Pioneer Life in Florida
Stories of history have a way of just getting repeated unless a person goes digging for a deeper truth. To get to the bottom of Miami's true history we speak with historian Cesar Becerra about the untold story of Miami's other Mother, Mary Brickell. Then we go on to feature a Cracker Cowboy who gives us a glimpse into what early life was like in Florida.
Wed, December 23, 2020
Florida's Pioneers
Well-known pioneers like Henry Flagler and Carl Fisher get plenty of credit for their contributions to Florida’s history, but there are those who are not given the same admiration for their accomplishments. In this episode, we shine a light William Calhoun “Bill” Baggs a very influential editor of the Miami News from 1957 to 1969. We speak with author Amy Paige Condon who's written the first ever biography on "The Life of Bill Baggs". From a World War II Bombardier to civil rights activist and a US Diplomat, Bill Baggs bore witness and reported on some of the twentieth century's most earth-shifting events.
Fri, December 11, 2020
Florida Castles
It's not the Great Estates of Scotland or the stately homes of the British Monarchy, but it is Florida in all it's weird glory. Yes, the Sunshine State does indeed have castles and just as you may suspect they do not classify as your typical palace. Instead they range from a fortress, to a grand parking garage, a metal mansion and even a limestone lodging. The SoFlo team once again joins Zach Zacharias, Senior Curator of Education and History at the Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences to get the story behind these magnificent structures.
Fri, November 13, 2020
Florida In Film
Move over Hollywood California, the historical roots of filmmaking in America run deep in the Sunshine State. At the end of the 19th Century when the film industry was looking to expand from New York and Chicago, production companies headed south to Florida. We discuss this history which includes the creation of gory slasher flicks with Caroline Breder-Watts whose work spans radio, theater and film. Then we talk with Academy Award winning filmmaker Andrew Hevia whose humble beginnings in the biz started in the Magic City that is Miami.
Fri, October 23, 2020
SoFlo UFOs
The SoFlo Team looks to the skies to ask the question "are we not alone?" We love Florida for it's weirdness, but it seems aliens may be attracted to it as well. There's all kinds of unexplainable traffic hovering above the Sunshine State. Curiosity seekers who have witnessed this phenomena are happy to speak about it. We dive deep into first hand accounts of three very different UFO sightings. Maybe the question should be - if there is extraterrestrial life from other galaxies, why wouldn't they come to Florida? Everybody else does.
Thu, October 01, 2020
Prehistoric Florida
Join us on our expedition as we unearth some of the wonders of Prehistoric Florida. In this episode we meet with the Museum of Arts and Sciences senior curator of education and history, and SoFlo Weird contributor Zach Zacharias to celebrate the 45th year of the discovery of the Daytona Beach bone bed where we dig up the dirt on Florida's past.
Wed, September 16, 2020
Ghostly Gunslingers
A family that slays together stays together even in the afterlife. Ghostly Gunslingers isn't about those infamous mob families, it's about the original gangsters who got organized crime organized. Before Al Capone became Public Enemy #1, there was Ma Barker and the Ashley Gang. These brazen bandits did their dirty deeds of robbery, kidnapping and murder all within the bonds of brotherhood and they would both meet their end in a hail of gunfire.
Mon, August 24, 2020
Cryptid Creatures
Find out what lurks in the Florida’s mysterious swamps, forests, rivers and lakes. We talk with Lyle Blackburn, musician, author, researcher, and multimedia producer who tells us about his fascination with cryptid creatures and notorious swamps. His latest book “Sinister Swamps: Monsters and Mysteries From the Mire” is an eerie exploration of America’s bubbling backwaters. Then, our favorite Legend Tripper Rob Robinson talks about eyewitness accounts of Florida’s Skunk Ape. He also gives advice on where to look for this 8ft hairy bipedal humanoid creature should you be up for an adventure of a lifetime.
Mon, July 13, 2020
Positively Possessed
"Positively Possessed" tells the haunting legend of Robert the Doll and the real-life misfortunes he causes from someone who has experienced them firsthand. We'll also feature the ill-fated curse surrounding Ethel Allen, a young woman who was murdered in 1934. Her case remains cold and she is said to haunt a restaurant in Rockledge, FL. While filming a movie loosely based on real events surrounding the crime, a series of unfortunate and disturbing incidents occurred.
Thu, June 04, 2020
A Novel Idea
Florida has long been a muse for artists of every medium. For writers, it sets the scene and provides an endless supply of story content. The SoFlo team caught up with renowned bestselling author Les Standiford who's written 24 books and Kristen Arnett who is new to the scene, but coming on strong with her breakout bestseller, "Mostly Dead Things". They both talk about their love of Florida and how it's influenced their craft.
Tue, May 19, 2020
Miami Motel Stories
The SoFlo Weird team heads to Miami's famed North Beach for the coolest immersive theater experience. Miami Motel Stories, produced by the Juggerknot Theatre Company, is a series of short plays performed inside historic remodel ready hotels and motels where every room becomes a different scene depicting the authentic stories of Florida's rich and diverse history. Follow along as we go inside for a unique behind the scenes tour of this shabby chic building that sets the stage for performers to push the boundaries of entertainment.
Fri, May 01, 2020
Weird Hauntings
Ever wonder about those things that go bump in the night? Is it your imagination gone wild or real paranormal activity? Florida is full of ghostly encounters. Why wouldn't it be? It turns out we have the most haunted city in the United States right here in our backyard, which makes the Sunshine State a widely sought after destination for ghost hunters. The SoFlo team joined up with Paranormal Coast as they conducted a live investigation at the Crime Tours Gallery in Hollywood, where a few scary things happened.
Thu, March 26, 2020
Lost Roadside Attractions
A historical look back at the weird sights along those roads less traveled. We discover a rattlesnake reveler who sells canned meat in a secret sauce; a self-taught dentist who practices out of his own curio shop with taxidermy animals. Then there's moonshine stills and parrots doing parlor tricks. These and hundreds of other lost Florida roadside attractions are discussed with Zach Zacharias Curator of History and Education at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. He’s a Florida native who has a personal passion for these lost gems that dotted the roadways of the Sunshine State.
Tue, February 18, 2020
Sinners and Saints
The life and crimes involving Florida's infamous strippers like Kathy Willets and her deputy sheriff husband's extortion scheme; Zorita the snake dancer and the U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey's drunken binge when he bit a stripper after losing a case, just to name a few. To repent all your sins, we then feature Daytona Beach's drive thru church where you can wear your Sunday best or last night's nothing at all. And finally, in Bristol Florida we reveal the true Garden of Eden, yes that Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve where the first sin originated from.
Thu, January 02, 2020
Weird Writers
The SoFlo Weird team hits up The Miami Book Fair in search of weird writers. This event draws more than 300 national and international artists from around the world making it ground zero for eclectic storytellers. We discover a secret plot to kill George Washington with New York Times bestseller Brad Meltzer. Then we talk with the one and only snowman expert Bob Eckstein, an award winning illustrator, New York Times bestseller and cartoonist for the New Yorker. It's a classic case of weirdness fueling creativity resulting in success.
Fri, November 15, 2019
Legend Tripping
Florida ranks third in the nation for Skunk Ape sightings. How do we know that? We rely on reports of eye witness accounts and legend trippers who investigate such claims. The SoFlo Weird Show caught up with Florida's own Indiana Jones of legend tripping, Rob Robinson who's written a how to book on the subject. Still not sure what it is? Think about the 1980's movie "The Goonies" or today's "Stranger Things", legend tripping is all about adventure and searching for the truth. Be it a ghost story, Big Foot, UFO's or water monsters, these adventure seekers are always on the hunt.
Thu, October 03, 2019
The Nomadic Travelers
The SoFlo Weird Show meets up with The Nomadic Travelers, Jason Lawrence and Nicole Potter. This dynamic duo offers travel tips and personal experiences for people seeking adventures both in the U.S. and abroad. We met them in Florida and decided to talk about their journeys and find out if they’ve discovered anything weird. It turns out; they know the very small town that can lay claim to having the world’s biggest things. And there’s a spooky story behind the town of Story Indiana. What may be the weirdest though is how they met and became the Nomadic Travelers. Then we take a trip down memory lane and talk about some of Florida’s roadside oddities like the Possum Monument, Cement Alligators and the World’s Smallest Police Station.
Wed, September 11, 2019
Weird Crimes and Stupid People
In true Florida Man style a team of weirdos discuss real headlines of bizarre crimes and the stupid people who commit them. Like the Case of the Toxic Tush, where a fake doctor performs botched beauty procedures by injecting fix a flat and cement into the rear end of would be patients; or the man who robs an adult bookstore using a sex toy. It’s all true, it’s all weird and of course, it’s only in Florida.
Tue, August 20, 2019
A Peculiar Paradise
Turbulent times plagued South Florida in the 1980's. Cocaine cowboys ran wild in Miami, the drug trade was amassing billions of dollars and there was a rapid increase of immigrants arriving on our shores. In the midst of all this chaos, National Geographic photographer and native Floridian Nathan Benn was tasked with the assignment of returning to his hometown to feature Florida and all it's glory. A Peculiar Paradise is his book which contains a vast collection of his photographs taken while on assignment. We talk with Nathan about his experiences. www.sofloweird.com
Tue, August 20, 2019
The Book Wizard of Daytona Beach
Jim Sass is his name and he has a very unusual bookstore called Abraxas. With approximately 150,000 books it's a treasure trove for book lovers, avid learners and truth seekers. Jim has been a longtime resident of Daytona and has bore witness to it's transition from a seedy seaside town to a bustling tourist community. We sat down with Jim to talk about Daytona's more troubling times including witchcraft murders and serial killers. www.sofloweird.com
Tue, August 20, 2019
Creepy People
SoFlo Weird Show is a podcast featuring weird stories for weird people. In this episode we feature true crimes stories like the odd romance of a Key West physician and his corpse bride; Miami's own cannibal; and a man who was found dumping body parts out of a car window. Then we tell the tale of Weird Town USA, in Gibsonton Florida, a place where people from circus sideshow acts once lived. www.sofloweird.com
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