Claim OwnershipBetween The Beaches Podcast
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Copyright © 2024 Brad Phares, All Rights Reserved.
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Preserving and promoting Florida's rural landscape and ranching heritage by sharing forgotten and little known history along with interviews, stories, and cowboy poetry capturing the lifestyle of both historical and contemporary cowboys in the Sunshine State.
228 Episodes
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Florida was the third state to secede from the Union and played a key role in supplying not only beef, but also other subsistence supplies, to the Confederate States Army. What turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles during the War Between The States occurred on February 20, 1864 in the pine flat woods near Ocean Pond east of Lake City. The Battle of Olustee was the largest battle fought in Florida and resulted in a Confederate victory when Union Forces under General Truman Seymour faced off against Confederate troops led by General Joseph Finegan. In this episode, we review a Florida Historical Society Quarterly article that considers what led General Seymour to proceed against orders with this ill-fated engagement.
Thanks to our daughter we've just discovered epic new theme music for the show. It's called "Watch Florida Grow (The Cracker Theme Song) and was recorded by the South Ocean String Band. This song speaks to the heart and soul of anyone who truly cares about Florida so we debut it in this episode and discuss the backstory behind it. We then go on a rambling discussion about conservation in general, the Great Florida Cattle Drive 2026, and some general cow culture history before diving into the 2026 Florida legislative session and some of the pending bills that are being misconstrued and highly misunderstood in an effort to help clear away some of that confusion. We bounce back and forth from lighthearted banter to serious discussions to keep things interesting. Be sure to listen for The Cracker Theme Song in its entirety at the end of the episode. You're gonna love it!
Leading up to the Great Florida Cattle Drive 2026, we're looking back at some of Florida's earliest settlers, the cattle drives they made, how they registered cattle ear marks and brands at the county courthouse, and some of the battles they fought for survival in Florida's unforgiving wild places. From the early 1800's through to the 1940's, we take you on a journey through time as seen through the eyes of those who lived it every day.
Welcome to Season 7 of Between The Beaches Podcast! To kick off the New Year, we're sharing some cowboy poetry focused on transitions of various types that we all face in our journey through this life. Our hope is that these sentiments bring you some reflections and clarity to propel you forward in a positive direction in 2026. Thanks to our sponsors and you, our dedicated listeners, for your continued support!
In this episode, we cover some fun history by taking a look at the name origins for Florida's 67 counties. The names come from many sources including famous public figures, historic languages, prominent landmarks, and more. There are surprises here even for the seasoned Florida native so be sure to tune in and share it with your friends and family. Note: We had multiple undiagnosed technical difficulties recording this episode. After a second recording attempt of the second half that partially failed again, we salvaged one audio line to complete the episode. With that said, please excuse the diminished audio quality of the second half as we had to settle for one mic recording both voices.
NOTE: This week in honor of Giving Tuesday we're re-airing our episode describing all the wonderful work done by our partners at the Florida Cattlemen's Foundation. If you're considerig year-end giving and want to know that your contribution will used wisely, please visit www.floridacattlemen.org and select the tab for the Foundation where you'll be able to donate. Alternatively, you can contact the FCA office to discuss alternative ways to give. Jim Handley has since retired and passed the torch to Dusty Holley as the FCA executive VP, and the same great work for Florida's cattle business continues. Please consider donating today and sharing with your friends and family. FCA executive vice president Jim Handley joins us to share a wealth of information about the Florida Cattlemen's Foundation, including it's history, an in-depth look at the many projects they've helped fund and bring to fruition, as well as some general history regarding FCA and his role there. We dig deep in our conversation for what amounts to a very informative discussion that you're sure to enjoy so don't miss it!
This week we're collaborating with the hosts from Herding Her Story. For those listeners who've never tuned into this podcast, their goal is to showcase women from across the agriculture industry to highlight their accomplishments, success stories, and unique perspectives. In this conversation, we dive into their individual background stories, how they came together to produce the podcast, and then we flip the script and have the hosts answering the questions rather than asking them. You'll learn a lot about these two vibrant ladies and how they're sharing the story of Florida agriculture in a new way.
NOTE: On the heels of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting and a lot of time on the road for numerous other obligations, we're taking a break to regroup this week. While we get reorganized, please enjoy this batch of cowboy poetry that originally published on the podcast a couple years ago. Episode 117 serves up some cowboy poetry focused on finding the underlying, essential value in the world around us from both the male and female perspective. You'll hear some of Brad's own poetry as well as some poems from Wallace McRae and Barney Nelson that all serve to shift focus to things of intrinsic worth.
This week we have a candid conversation about the current state of agriculture and its importance to our state and our nation. We discuss the Farmer of the Year program at the state level as well as its culmination at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. From there, we talk about the farmer's roundtable discussion that's part of the expo proceedings along with all the highs, lows, and in between of being an agricultural producer in America today.
For Bud Barnes, these two places share a lot more in common than the first two letters of their names. On this week's episode, Bud shares stories of growing up in south Florida, working cows, hunting, fishing, and generally enjoying the backwoods of our state whether from horseback or the seat of an airboat. We discuss how rodeo carried him west where he met his wife and built a ranch and thriving business in Oklahoma. That he genuinely cares about people and the land is abundantly clear which is why forming Cimarron Land Group was a natural fit for him. Bud is able to channel his passion for cattle, spending time in the outdoors, and his years of experience with both into assisting people with finding the right land on which to build their legacies. Hope you enjoy this week's conversation and learn a little something useful along the way!
On this week's episode, we're concluding our two part coverage of Chapter 7 from Joe A. Akerman's classic book, Florida Cowman. Last week's episode covered the first part of the chapter and we conclude it this week by looking at topics such as Florida cow dogs, cracker cow ponies, wild cattle, Indian cowmen, and more. Join us and learn about cow hunting in the old days of Florida's frontier.
Florida Cowman is one of those books that should be in every person's collection of books about Florida. Authored by Joe A. Akerman, Jr in collaboration with the Florida Cattlemen's Association to commemorate our nation's bicentennial, it's a painstakingly researched and very enlightening account of Florida's cattle history. Knowing that many of our listeners aren't in the cattle business and are likely unfamiliar with the book or its contents, we wanted to cover Chapter 7 with its vivid accounts of cow hunting turn of the century Florida. The chapter is lengthy so we've broken it in half. We hope you enjoy Part 1 in this episode and join us again next week for the conclusion in Part 2.
Payne's Prairie basin is a natural resource of not only state, but national importance and the lush grasses, flowering plants, and other vegetation that cover this basin act as a filter purifying water throughout the vast wetland which is a big reason why it has drawn humans and wildlife to it over the last 12,000 years. In this episode, we'll take a look at how various countries and cultures across the centuries impacted the area, but we'll especially focus on the Alachua Seminole, their Chief Cowkeeper, and their importance to not just the region but to Florida's cattle culture overall.
We're back from our summer break with a conversation you don't want to miss. True friends are worth their weight in gold and our guest this week is one such individual. Jim Johnston seldom meets a stranger and has plenty of stories to share in his own right, but in this conversation we cover some fantastic stories and memories passed down by his dad, the late Elmo Johnston, and you won't find a much better encapsulation of our Old Florida heritage. Our topics range from Elmo's early days cow hunting to his transition into the earliest days of the sod business in Florida. From there, we also talk some Chalo Nitka history and get a highly entertaining glimpse into the early days of the Gladesmen culture and more. Tune in and get comfortable for a ride into parts of Florida's past that are fading fast.
As we roll further into June and the mercury climbs higher, Sam and I banter about the current state of the cattle business, recap some recent events in our life and around the state, and discuss many of the things that make summer in Florida a special time. We also touch on the Florida Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention and Allied Trade Show that kicks off next week. Tune in as we venture from the fence line to the coast line out here between the beaches.
Sit back and relax for the next half hour or so as we share some cowboy poetry focused on the cycles and rhythms of change and how perseverance and resilience will carry you through those transitions. It's a bit of a follow up to our last episode on the same topic, but the message is delivered as only cowboy poetry can do it.
After dealing with some family business prompted a lot of deep thinking, we decided to switch up from our originally planned episode this week to share some of those thoughts in a brief monologue while also paying tribute to a family member. Sorry to be a little late getting it pushed out the door, but we hope y'all enjoy it and pass it along to others.
Seth Carswell has a passion for custom design, craftsmanship, and legacy. As Florida's only custom boot maker, Seth's artistry, traditional technique, and commitment to detail are evident in every stitch of his boots. As a 3rd generation Floridian, his family background lies in timber production and he spent much of his younger years involved in that business or on the water, before turning to his passion for blending form, function, and legacy in leather goods. Nothing demonstrates this concept more than his alligator boots. Managing alligator populations through hunting programs on both public and private lands is an integral part of conservation here in the Sunshine State and Seth indirectly plays a small role in all this by crafting the tanned gator skins into beautiful boots that reflect his love of Florida. Join us in this conversation as we learn more about Seth's family the origins and future plans for Florida Boot Company.
Tune in this week for a special rebroadcast in honor of Mr. Gordie Peer and prepare to be amazed at the incredible life he lived. Before settling down in Florida as a working cowboy, Gordie had been a rodeo specialty act performer, Hollywood stuntman, and so much more. Don't miss his amazing stories!
Since its inception in 1993, the Florida Cow Culture Preservation Committee has remained dedicated to preserving Florida's cow culture as well as its Cow Hunter and Cracker heritage. In addition to organizing and executing countless cattle drives and trail rides, the FCCPC works tirelessly to celebrate the unique and foundational role that cattle have played throughout Florida's history while actively promoting Florida's rich heritage as a cattle state to a global audience. Jim McAlister, secretary for the FCCPC, joins us on the podcast this week to discuss the history of the committee's work, the upcoming 2026 Great Florida Cattle Drive, and we close out with a little central Florida cracker history. Click here for more info on the 2026 Cattle Drive Email: greatfloridacattledrives@gmail.com
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