Shellcast

Welcome to Shellcast, the podcast that's a beach break for your ears, from Fort Myers - Islands Beaches and Neighborhoods located in Southwest Florida.

Episode 24: Island Hopper, vision boards and the magic of music 08/27/2025

Episode 24: Island Hopper, vision boards and the magic of music Shellcast kicks off Season 4 with a preview of Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, Sept. 19-28, on Captiva Island, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach. Guests include: Nancy McPhee, product development manager & Island Hopper Songwriter Fest lead organizer, Jacki Liszak, president & CEO, Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, Angie K., singer-songwriter performing at the Sept. 4 Island Hopper Preview Party and during the festival, With Shellcast host Jackie Parker, the guests talk about how Island Hopper boosts community spirit and tourism, while Angie K. reveals how a vision board helped turn her dreams — including opening for Jelly Roll — into reality. Angie K. performs her song Red Dirt on Mars. Recorded Aug. 26, 2025. /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/37983665

Episode 23: What is inside Sanibel’s time capsule? 11/26/2024

Episode 23: What is inside Sanibel’s time capsule? Sanibel Island’s time capsule was sealed on Nov. 19, 1983, with instructions for it to be opened on the city’s 50th anniversary on Nov. 5, 2024. Let’s find out what’s inside with Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson and Porter Goss, the island’s first mayor. Recorded Nov. 5, 2024 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/34163980

Episode 22: Fort Myers reality check, post-Hurricane Milton 10/18/2024

Episode 22: Fort Myers reality check, post-Hurricane Milton One week after Hurricane Milton, much of the Fort Myers area is open and ready for visitors. Shellcast guests include, in order of interviews, Pamela Johnson and Miriam Dotson of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau; Bill Waichulis, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina, Fort Myers Beach; John Lai, SanCap Chamber of Commerce; Matt Devitt, chief meteorologist, WINK News; and Jeff Mielke, Lee County Sports Development. Recorded on Oct. 17, 2024 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/33517897

Episode 21: Island Hopper preview with Claire Liparulo 09/13/2024

Episode 21: Island Hopper preview with Claire Liparulo Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is only a week away, so to get ready for the 10-year celebration, Shellcast invited singer-songwriter Claire Liparulo in for a conversation about why the 10-day music event - Sept. 20-29 - is so special to Southwest Florida. Claire performs "No Shade" and "God's Cathedral. Shellcast also welcomes Nancy MacPhee, product development director at the Lee County VCB, and de facto director of Island Hopper. Recorded on Sept. 12, 2024 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/33039937

Episode 20: Island Hopper preview with Essex County 09/05/2023

Episode 20: Island Hopper preview with Essex County Essex County, the band of brothers Nate, Mark and Kieran Bass, tell what they love about Island Hopper Songwriter Fest and why you should be there, plus they sing an a cappella song, just for Shellcast. Island Hopper is set for Sept. 22-Oct. 1, with shows on Captiva Island, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach. Video on Shellcast's YouTube channel. Recorded Aug. 18, 2023 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/27950190

Episode 19: 'Drink Happy Thoughts' with Kristian Bush 08/22/2023

Episode 19: 'Drink Happy Thoughts' with Kristian Bush This Island Hopper Songwriter Fest preview features an interview with Grammy-award winning performer Kristian Bush. He talks about why this year’s event is so special and why you should be there. Bush is the opening act for headliner Chris Janson on Oct. 1 at the Pink Shell Pool Party. Use the official Island Hopper app to purchase tickets. Island Hopper is set for Sept. 22-Oct. 1, with shows on Captiva Island, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach. Video on Shellcast's YouTube channel. Recorded Aug. 18, 2023 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/27823326

Episode 18: Spring training - Let the games begin 03/10/2023

Episode 18: Spring training - Let the games begin The Grapefruit League’s in full swing and this episode takes you to the Lee County Sports Complex for a spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. Jeff Mielke, executive director of Lee County Sports Development, tells how Hammond Stadium and JetBlue Park play into Lee County sports tourism. Recorded March 3, 2023 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/26193648

Episode 17: For the birds 02/21/2023

Episode 17: For the birds What’s the difference between bird watching and being a birder? Quite a lot, according to ardent birder Dr. Jose Padilla-Lopez. Spend some time with him at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers and you’ll learn more than a few things about the birds to be seen along the boardwalk. Jose breaks down birding with his easy-to-understand, five-point plan: Why birding is good for you What you need to start birding Birding hotspots in Lee County, Florida A few of the best birds to be found in Lee County How to meet other local birders and learn from them Recorded Jan. 25, 2023 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/26002980

Episode 16: A lazy river for manatees 01/23/2023

Episode 16: A lazy river for manatees Manatee Park in Fort Myers gives non-captive, Florida manatees a warm place to stay when the waters of the Gulf of Mexico dip below 68° F (20° C). It’s also a fun thing for visitors to do, especially January-March. The warm water in the park’s canal comes from the Florida Power and Light Power Plant across the street and is created as a byproduct of cooling off its equipment. Interviews include Laura Carr, Lee County Parks and Recreation, and visitors to Manatee Park. Recorded Jan. 16 and 18, 2023 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/25701177

Episode 15: Boca Grande welcomes holiday season 12/12/2022

Episode 15: Boca Grande welcomes holiday season Celebrate the holiday season with the Lighting of the Lighthouse at Port Boca Grande Lighthouse on Gasparilla Island and hear from the locals about how this island community is recovering from Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 hurricane that hit Southwest Florida on Sept. 28. Interviews with Sharon McKenzie, executive director, Barrier Island Parks Society; Gary Cross, president of Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce; Sue Herbert, resident of Fremont, Ohio, and Englewood, Florida; Andrew and Brittany Madison, residents of Englewood; Paul Townsend, lighthouse docent. Recorded Dec. 8 and 10, 2022. /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/25303074

Episode 14: Fort Myers Beach shows its resiliency 11/21/2022

Episode 14: Fort Myers Beach shows its resiliency Fort Myers Beach business owners and visitors talk about the recovery and cleanup efforts that continue weeks after Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 hurricane slammed into Southwest Florida on Sept. 28. Interviews with Peter Ennis, owner of Wahoo Willie's; Tom Fritz, resident of Fort Myers; Rebecca Henderson, general manager of Bayfront Bistro; Tom Houghton, owner of La Ola; Bill Ignatti, general manager of Wahoo Willie's; Jacki Liszak, president of Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce; Cameron Roper, host at Bayfront Bistro; and Diane and Jeff Stone, visitors from upstate New York. Recorded Nov. 16, 2022. /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/25090254

Episode 13: Sanibel Causeway reopens ahead of schedule 10/21/2022

Episode 13: Sanibel Causeway reopens ahead of schedule Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith and John Lai, president and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, talk about the Oct. 19 reopening of the Sanibel Causeway, restoring access to residents and construction crews just three weeks after Hurricane Ian. The Causeway’s reopening marks a significant milestone in Lee County’s recovery from the Category 4 hurricane that hit Southwest Florida on Sept. 28. Recorded Oct. 20, 2022 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/24761121

Episode 12: Island Hopper Songwriter Fest sampler 09/17/2022

Episode 12: Island Hopper Songwriter Fest sampler Sun, sand and songs. That's Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. Now in its eighth year, the event brings singer-songwriters to Captiva Island, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach for 10 days of music, Sept. 16-25. Performances by two-time Grammy winner Kristian Bush and Sheena Brook, along with interviews with Essex County, Dan Spears of BMI and music writer Cindy Watts. Recorded Sept. 17, 2022 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/24407067

Episode 11: Fly fishing with Norm Zeigler and his Schminnow 08/05/2021

Episode 11: Fly fishing with Norm Zeigler and his Schminnow Sanibel Island’s Blind Pass Beach is one of the best places in Southwest Florida for fly fishing, according to Norm Zeigler – and he should know. That’s where we chat with Zeigler, outdoor writer, author and creator of the Schminnow, an elegant fly – the name combines shrimp + minnow – known to catch 70 kinds of fresh and salt water fish. Recorded July 14, 2021. fortmyers-sanibel.com/shellcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/20047040

Episode 10: Good Dog Beach 06/16/2021

Episode 10: Good Dog Beach See Spot Splash at Dog Beach in Bonita Springs, where dog paddling is the preferred swimming stroke. Hot dogs of all sizes gather here for fun in the shallow inlet off the Gulf of Mexico and south of Lovers Key State Park. Off-leash or on, there’s no mistaking the fresh breeze off the gulf with a hint of wet dog. One of vacationpetfriendly.com’s pet friendly faves. Recorded June 3, 2021. Follow instagram.com/shellcastthepodcast/ /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/19499144

Episode 9: When I get older, I want to be a manatee 03/02/2021

Episode 9: When I get older, I want to be a manatee Manatees love warm water. So, when the waters in the Gulf of Mexico cool, the gentle, slow-moving mammals swim through several bodies of water to arrive here at Manatee Park in Fort Myers. Guest Laura Carr, Lee County Parks & Recreation specialist, tells us what she’s learned about these super-sized vegetarians who can’t say no (it’s a vertebrae thing) and how it might even be cool to be a manatee. Recorded Feb. 10, 2021. IG @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/18163262

Episode 8: Everglades Wonder Gardens, an original Florida roadside attraction 12/08/2020

Episode 8: Everglades Wonder Gardens, an original Florida roadside attraction Everglades Wonder Gardens, one of Florida's original roadside attractions, welcomes about 75,000 visitors annually to Bonita Springs. Its new executive director, David Rahahę•tih Webb, is eager to bring conservation and education to the forefront of the Wonder Gardens, while keeping its kitschy-cool vibe. Hear his plans and listen in on a flamingo-feeding frenzy at the 3-acre attraction, established in 1936. Recorded Nov. 5, 2020. /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/17109890

Episode 7: All about the WoW & when nature calls 09/08/2020

Episode 7: All about the WoW & when nature calls WoW, aka Wildlife on Wheels, is the newest addition to J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Ranger Toni Westland describes the mobile education facility and how it will be part of the refuge’s 75th anniversary. WoW will visit schools, libraries, senior facilities and festivals in the five-county area to teach about water quality, the ecosystem and wildlife. Finally, when you've gotta go, where better to go than an award-winning Learning Lavatory? Recorded July 30, 2020. /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/15925643

Episode 6: Talking scat on the Indigo Trail 09/08/2020

Episode 6: Talking scat on the Indigo Trail Hear the crunch, crunch, crunch of the shell-covered Indigo Trail on our hike with Ranger Toni Westland at Sanibel Island's J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The 6,400-acre refuge is home to endangered and threatened species as well as over 245 species of birds. Our visit to the four-mile, round-trip Indigo Trail includes a stop at the Wildlife Education Boardwalk for a lesson in scat. Recorded July 30, 2020 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/15925625

Episode 5: Pretty in pink birdwatching with Ranger Toni 09/08/2020

Episode 5: Pretty in pink birdwatching with Ranger Toni Be part of a successful morning visit in search of roseate spoonbills, Florida's other pink birds, at Sanibel Island's J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Ranger Toni Westland takes us on Wildlife Drive, a four-mile paved road within the 6,400-acre refuge that is home to endangered and threatened species as well as over 245 species of birds. Recorded July 30, 2020 /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/15925613

Episode 4: What would Thomas Edison think about podcasts? 07/21/2020

Episode 4: What would Thomas Edison think about podcasts? Enjoy a visit to Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida, with Mike Cosden, executive vice president of the 20-acre estate located along the scenic Caloosahatchee River. Cosden tells us how Thomas Edison’s passion for this Southwest Florida city made it a destination for snowbirds and visitors worldwide, and considers what the inventor might have thought about podcasts. Recorded June 25, 2020. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/15283526

Shellcast Extra: Cayo Costa's Pioneer Cemetery 06/25/2020

Shellcast Extra: Cayo Costa's Pioneer Cemetery Capt. Brian Holaway visits Pioneer Cemetery, the final resting place of many of Cayo Costa’s original settlers, known as fisherfolk. Danish mariner Capt. Peter Nelson is also buried there. In the late 1880s, Nelson founded Alva, Lee County, Florida's first incorporated town. Recorded Nov. 21, 2019. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/14968349

Episode 2: Cape Coral’s Burrowing Owl Festival 06/19/2020

Episode 2: Cape Coral’s Burrowing Owl Festival Shellcast visits the 2020 Burrowing Owl Festival in Cape Coral. Hear how Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife celebrates the only owl that lives underground. Interviews with volunteers Beverly Saltonstall and Bernadette MacNee. Take a ride on a school bus to see where you can find the owls on your own - just look for the PVC pipe. Recorded Feb. 29, 2020. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/14881604

Shellcast Extra: Tour Cayo Costa State Park 06/19/2020

Shellcast Extra: Tour Cayo Costa State Park “It’s the way Florida used to be,” said Dennis Romig, volunteer, Cayo Costa State Park. When it comes to what to bring for a day trip or an overnight camping adventure, he’s the expert. Recorded Nov. 21, 2019. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/14894708

Episode 3: On the water with Capt. Brian Holaway 06/19/2020

Episode 3: On the water with Capt. Brian Holaway Come aboard for a boat ride on Pine Island Sound and the Gulf of Mexico with one of Southwest Florida’s favorite outdoor guides. Recorded Nov. 21, 2019. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/14881952

Shellcast Extra: Sanibel memories 06/19/2020

Shellcast Extra: Sanibel memories “It’s a magical, magical place,” recalls Dorrie Hipschman, executive director, The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, on her first visit to Sanibel. Recorded May 19, 2020. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/14889740

Shellcast Extra: The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum’s furriest intern 06/19/2020

Shellcast Extra: The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum’s furriest intern Learn about goldendoodle Walter the intern and how he became Employee of the Month. Recorded May 19, 2020. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/14889686

Episode 1: Sanibel beach time 06/19/2020

Episode 1: Sanibel beach time Take a walk along a Sanibel Island beach with someone who really knows shells – Dorrie Hipschman, former executive director, The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel. Recorded May 19, 2020. Instagram @shellcastthepodcast /episode/index/show/shellcast/id/14881382

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