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Florida Matters

WUSF Public Media
Florida
Tampa Bay
Tampa
Hurricane Milton
St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Rays
Everglades
Mental Health
University Of South Florida
Hurricane Season
Chitlin Circuit
Vaccination Rates
Gaza
Caregiving
Property Taxes
Tropicana Field
Polk County
Measles
Climate Change
Ybor City

Your spot for real, daily conversations. Where neighbors become storytellers, newsmakers explain why and how changes happen and where locals — natives to the area and newcomers — discover and delight in the community they share.

PublishesDailyEpisodes531Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Florida Matters

Latest Episodes

This week, “Florida Matters Live & Local” has been revisiting some of our best conversations from the year.

On this episode, we learn about the Coast-to-Coast Trail, an ambitious 250-mile path from St. Petersburg to Titusville that is near completio... more

This week, “Florida Matters Live & Local” is revisiting some of our best conversations from the year.

Are there really entrances below Ybor City? A Museum of Motherhood with an “Escape Womb” in St. Petersburg? Turns out, you can live in Tampa for de... more

This week, “Florida Matters Live & Local” is revisiting some of our best conversations from the year.

Adjusting to life out of prison can be challenging for people who’ve just completed their sentence. Could providing them with a basic income help t... more

Residents in Arcadia woke to reports that ICE agents were headed into their neighborhood. Our immigration reporter explains what happened, what authorities have confirmed and how the operation has affected the community.

Then, how Florida’s expanded... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Joshua Ginsburg
Author of Secret Tampa Bay Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure
Author/Entrepreneur
Episode: Encore: A guide to the weird, wild and obscure parts of Tampa
Janaki Mehta
Correspondent with NPR's Education Desk
NPR
Episode: Seeking Arcadia answers, making every splash safer, green burials, heads of the class
Laura Starkey
Executive Director of Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery
Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery
Episode: Seeking Arcadia answers, making every splash safer, green burials, heads of the class
Heather Grove
Executive Director of Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery
Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery
Episode: Seeking Arcadia answers, making every splash safer, green burials, heads of the class
Fawn Hendricks
Land Manager of Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve
Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve
Episode: Seeking Arcadia answers, making every splash safer, green burials, heads of the class
Joe Askren
Program Director, USF Brewing Arts Certificate Program
University of South Florida
Episode: Seeking Arcadia answers, making every splash safer, green burials, heads of the class
LeVaughn Bracey-Davis
Florida State Senator
Senator
Episode: Groveland Four restitution, Stop WOKE stalled, girls that wanna rock, the art of anonymity
Bill Gladson
Lake County State Attorney
State Attorney
Episode: Groveland Four restitution, Stop WOKE stalled, girls that wanna rock, the art of anonymity
Leroy Pernell
Florida A&M University Law Professor
Professor
Episode: Groveland Four restitution, Stop WOKE stalled, girls that wanna rock, the art of anonymity

Host

Matthew Petty
Host of the show; regional politics and public affairs journalist focused on Florida communities and policy.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 19 ratings
  • Great host!

    Amazing host who does a fantastic job with the interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Green in Orange
    United States9 months ago
  • Volume too low

    I enjoy the episodes but would listen to it a lot more if the volume was raised. I typically can only listen to this podcast with headphones in and my volume turned all the way up. In the car it’s almost impossible to hear the speakers clearly. Other than that, good content pertaining to FL politics.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    bettadenu1
    United Statesa year ago
  • Needs to take on issues at a higher level if it is going to stay a weekly

    Ok source of news and info particular to Florida. Unexceptional. I get why other reviewers comment on the podcast being behind the news, though I don’t think it is that bad. The podcast does get into the larger issues which are not really time sensitive.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    aihpcfl
    United States3 years ago
  • SLOW

    either the podcaster is 2-3 days behind the news or the podcaster is 2-3 days slow on posting the podcast to the public?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Oymcneil
    United States3 years ago
  • OK but the content is very Tampa heavy

    It says it’s about Florida in general but the content is very Tampa region heavy.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Biggest of the big Bobs
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some episodes feel Tampa-focused; broader statewide coverage could be stronger.
A few reviews note audio volume issues that affect accessibility.
Guest variety is strong, with experts across policy, health, and culture.
Listeners appreciate the host's solid interviews and practical take on Florida policy.

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CandaceCandace Owens
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PivotNew York Magazine

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Encore: A guide to the weird, wild and obscure parts of Tampa
Q: What is the significance of the tunnels under Ybor City?
They are likely remnants of a sewage system that may have seen use for prohibition or escape routes, illustrating how infrastructure can tie into criminal histories and urban legends alike.
Groveland Four restitution, Stop WOKE stalled, girls that wanna rock, the art of anonymity
Q: Does anyone know who Banksy is, and how does the exhibition present his work without his direct approval?
The exhibition relies on collaboration with Banksy associates, presents a curated and expanded narrative of his career, and emphasizes the mystery surrounding Banksy while offering authentic, near-authentic works and behind-the-scenes insights.
Groveland Four restitution, Stop WOKE stalled, girls that wanna rock, the art of anonymity
Q: What effects do you think Florida's StopWoke Act will have on learning?
The guest argued the Act could chill academic freedom, lead to brain drain, and suppress open discussion, which harms higher education and the development of students and future scholars.
Groveland Four restitution, Stop WOKE stalled, girls that wanna rock, the art of anonymity
Q: Can you walk us through that conversation with the governor about the compensation line item?
The senator described meeting with the governor, highlighting the priority, and pressing for funding in the budget, even though the governor did not initially commit; the result was bipartisan support and securing $4 million in compensation.
Inflation and foster care, earthquake update, new angle on property taxes, NIL hope and water
Q: Are you a renter in Florida? What are your initial thoughts on how this property tax proposal could affect renters and homeowners?
The expert explained that while the policy might reduce taxes for homeowners, the burden could shift to renters through higher rents or other taxes; overall, the effects are uncertain and may not be favorable for renters in the short term.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Matters

What is Florida Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Florida-focused news program delivers daily, conversation-driven coverage on politics, policy, culture, and local issues. Across recent episodes, discussions span international diplomacy, civil rights and policing tech, homelessness and public safety, hunger and social services, teen safety and education, coastal resilience, and arts/culture scenes. The show often blends expert analysis with human-interest anecdotes from community leaders, researchers, and journalists, producing a pragmatic, locally grounded take on how Florida's laws, budgets, and institutions touch everyday life. A standout trait is its breadth—mixing public policy, health, environment, and arts in a way that informs listeners while highlighting diverse voices from gove... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Florida Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Florida Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Florida Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Florida Matters get?

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What are the audience demographics for Florida Matters?

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How many subscribers and views does Florida Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Florida Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Florida Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Florida Matters:

1. The Florida Roundup
2. Start Here
3. The Bay Blend
4. The Daily
5. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of Florida Matters are there?

Florida Matters launched 5 years ago and published 531 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Florida Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Florida Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Florida Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Florida Matters?

Recent guests on Florida Matters include:

1. Joshua Ginsburg
2. Janaki Mehta
3. Laura Starkey
4. Heather Grove
5. Fawn Hendricks
6. Joe Askren
7. LeVaughn Bracey-Davis
8. Bill Gladson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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