Send us your Florida questions!

Mark Barrow grew up around gators — both the real one and a certain Florida college that pays homage to them. Now, he's written a book about alligators, and he joins Rick and Cathy to talk about why alligators deserve respect, not fear. The trio also talks about the gator's place in Florida's culture, roadside Florida gator attractions, and why gators are amazing creatures.

Links We Mentioned

Mini-Lights and Black children used as gator bait?

Mini Lights proof of concept trailer from Vitale Brothers

Nature's Ghosts (this is the one we mentioned with the dead Carolina Parakeet on the cover)

William Bartram's alligator

"Alligator Capital of the World": A post by Rick Kilby

The alligator engravings some call DeMoyne, but are not

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week Rick and Cathy talk about Punta Gorda

Links We Mentioned

Warm Mineral Springs

Things To Do in North Port

Myakka River State Park

Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors

Radioactive Fountain of Youth in Punta Gorda

Sunseeker Resort

DeSoto Veterans Memorial Park

Ponce-apalooza

Ponce-y Scheme

Revisiting Warm Mineral Springs

Old World Meets New Age at Warm Mineral Springs

(Image via Google Maps/Fair Use)

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

Florida icon Lars Andersen joins the podcast to talk about his passion: Florida waterways.

Links We Mentioned

Book a river tour with Lars at Adventure Outpost or email him.

Lost Springs in one minute with Margaret Tolbert

Wacissa Slave Canal

Big Blue Spring.

Haulover Canal.

Photo: Canon Springs during drawdown.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com.

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!