Alev Ersoy — the charismatic managing partner of Eddie V’s Fort Lauderdale — joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a passionate, high‑energy conversation about hospitality, culture, leadership, and what it really takes to run one of South Florida’s busiest luxury dining destinations.

Born in France to Turkish parents and starting in the restaurant industry as a young busboy who barely spoke English, Alev shares his journey from Orlando’s fine‑dining scene to managing partner roles at The Capital Grille and now Eddie V’s. He talks about how his multicultural background shaped his approach to hospitality: the warmth and generosity of Turkish culture mixed with the sophistication and elegance of French dining.

Alev breaks down what makes Eddie V’s special — the “culture of indulgence,” the live nightly music, the award‑winning wine list, prime steaks, elite seafood sourcing, and the effortless glamor woven into every detail. He reveals the behind‑the‑scenes preparation that goes into delivering “the ultimate luxury guest experience,” from personalized menus for CEOs to custom runway‑themed table setups, roses at the table, and remembering guests by association, story, and instinct.

The conversation goes deeper into the heart of restaurant leadership: hiring with intention, building deep loyalty among staff, shaping culture, managing 87 employees, maintaining standards, handling mistakes with generosity (“you fix it fast, and then you plus‑one it”), and why people — not plates — are the soul of a successful restaurant.

Hidden Florida & Beyond… where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Criminal defense attorney Eric Schwartzreich joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a fast‑talking, unfiltered conversation that dives deep into the adrenaline, chaos, and strategy behind some of Florida’s wildest courtrooms.

From being wrongly accused at boarding school to defending judges, celebrities, cartel members, cops, and true Florida‑man characters, Eric shares how he built a 30‑year career on creativity, instinct, and the belief that any case can be won if you find the right angle. He opens up about early losses, hard lessons, and the moment he realized being a trial lawyer meant being part‑performer, part‑psychologist, and part‑magician.

Eric breaks down the real meaning of “not guilty,” the power of charm in front of a jury, and why authenticity matters more than theatrics. He talks about NDAs that don’t hold up, jurors who fall asleep mid‑trial, dangerous clients, mob and cartel cases, stand‑your‑ground battles that went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court, and how he once dismantled a prosecution by blowing up a photo of a late‑night sex shop called “Booby’s Love Trap.”

Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Fashion icon Zola Keller joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for one of the funniest, most unfiltered conversations we’ve ever had.

Known for her over‑the‑top gowns, bold colors, feathers, beads, and runway‑level drama, Zola breaks down what “special occasion wear” really means and why her designs stand out in a world of identical dresses. She talks about celebrity stylist secrets, brides making tragic gown mistakes, booby‑drawer miracles, red‑wine disasters, and the fearless honesty she’s known for.

She shares what trends she loves, which ones she can’t stand, why Europeans flock to her shop for glam they can’t get overseas, and why she refuses to let social media dictate her designs.

Hidden Florida & Beyond… where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Aventura Mayor Howard Weinberg joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a candid, high‑energy conversation that reveals what really goes into running one of South Florida’s most desirable cities.

From how Aventura became home to America’s favorite mall and one of the lowest tax rates in the region, to behind‑the‑scenes decisions on transportation, schools, development, and public safety, Mayor Weinberg breaks down city leadership in a way you rarely hear. He shares how Aventura built a top‑rated public charter school system, why families are flocking in, and the bold ideas — like free citywide Tesla transportation and “hero housing” for teachers and police — shaping the city’s future.

The episode also dives into traffic myths, ribbon‑cutting rituals, international mayor conferences, pickleball rivalries, and the real work that happens far beyond council meetings.

Hidden Florida & Beyond… where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Darren Wells, Vice President of Westway Towing, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for an eye‑opening conversation that reveals what really happens behind the flashing lights on Florida’s roads and waterways.

From running a massive 24/7 towing operation across South Florida to responding to floods, armed confrontations, and high‑risk recoveries, Darren shares the realities most people never see. The conversation goes deeper into his dive recovery work—pulling vehicles from canals, recovering lost property, assisting law enforcement, and helping uncover decades‑old cold cases involving missing persons.

Darren also breaks down towing myths, fees, regulations, celebrity vehicles, self‑driving car concerns, and the life‑saving steps everyone should know if a car goes into water. Along the way, he opens up about community outreach, DUI prevention, and why towing is often misunderstood—but essential.

Hidden Florida & Beyond… where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Celebrity defense attorney Bradford “Brad” Cohen joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a candid, behind‑the‑scenes conversation that pulls back the curtain on celebrity law, power, perception, and what really happens when the spotlight meets the justice system.

Known for representing high‑profile clients like Drake and Kodak Black — and for his time on The Apprentice — Brad breaks down the realities of defending famous names when public opinion, media narratives, and legal consequences collide. He opens up about his real relationship with Kodak Black, the mentorship behind the headlines, and why the media often gets it wrong.

The conversation goes far deeper than celebrity gossip. Brad explains how law enforcement tracks phone metadata, digital behavior, and minute‑by‑minute activity — details that can change lives in an instant. He answers the uncomfortable questions most lawyers dodge, including what happens when a lawyer knows their client is guilty, how cases are truly fought behind closed doors, and why being “famous” can help and hurt in court.

Along the way, Brad shares how he landed on reality television, what it takes to survive at the highest levels of the legal world, and how trust, loyalty, and strategy matter just as much as statutes and case law.

Hidden Florida & Beyond... where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Mark the Shark — the world’s most infamous shark hunter — joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a wild, unfiltered conversation that dives straight into the deep end of his 50‑year career on the water.

From catching sharks on Miami beaches before Jaws hit theaters, to becoming a legend in the sportfishing world, Mark shares how a nickname shouted across the sand turned into a global persona. He opens up about the realities of shark hunting, why he never steps foot in the water, Florida’s exploding shark population, and the misconceptions that swirl around these apex predators.

The stories get even crazier:1,500‑pound tiger sharks, celebrity clients like DeNiro and Will Smith, bizarre autopsies revealing everything from live turtles to cash‑filled Ziploc bags, even the day a human leg surfaced on his boat and shut down an entire neighborhood.

Mark is joined by Crockett — the 9‑year‑old shark‑catching prodigy currently starring in his own film — whose iguana‑catching, fish‑hauling fearlessness steals the show.

Hidden Florida & Beyond... where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Celebrity chef Ben Robinson, best known from Bravo’s Below Deck, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation that goes far beyond the galley.

From growing up between England, Cape Cod, and Australia to becoming head chef on some of the world’s largest yachts, Ben shares the unexpected path that led him to reality TV fame, including the late-night, slightly buzzed audition tape that changed his life forever. He opens up about what Below Deck doesn’t show: the grueling hours, behind-the-scenes production moments, celebrity guests, yacht life realities, and the pressure of cooking under constant scrutiny.

The conversation dives into global food culture, wild culinary experiences, South Florida’s dining scene, life at sea, storms, pirates, fame, and the truth about being a chef in high-stakes environments. Along the way, Ben’s humor, honesty, and storytelling shine. From cooking for Mariah Carey to dodging chaos on luxury yachts and navigating a career transformed by television.

It’s funny, insightful, and packed with stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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