The Orlando Shine Show

Episode 20 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Nauti Lobstah (Website) in Apopka, which is celebrating its 4-year anniversary with some killer specials, including a 4-pound lobster roll that you won't want to miss. A special thank you to guest co-hosts Ryan Lynch from Orlando Business Journal and Scottie Campbell for subbing in for Jon while he's up in Detroit.  Topics this week include an interview with Nauti Lobstah co-owner Chef Mike Rumplik (originally from Rhode Island), new luxury apartments by Aston Martin headed to Daytona Beach Shores, Jacksonville Jaguars' pending decision about moving to Camping World Stadium in 2027, EA Games and their presence in Creative Village, Orlando City getting the boot from the playoffs, and a later night service expansion for SunRail.  Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Orange County Library System and its upcoming Nicholas Sparks reading, and Orlando Magazine and its "Faces of Orlando" issue. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at Brendan@OrlandoShine.com!

Episode 20 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Still Lounge by Dre and Snoop (Website) at Live! at Pointe Orlando for their big opening.  Topics this week include the new CineDome renovation at the Orlando Science Center, the return of TED x Orlando, fancy new seating at Inter&Co Stadium, Banana Ball coming to ESPN Wide World of Sports in 2026, and a change in scop for the Holocaust Museum for Hope and Humanity in Ivanhoe Village.  Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Orange County Library System and its upcoming Nicholas Sparks reading, and Orlando Magazine and its "50 Most Powerful People" issue. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at Brendan@OrlandoShine.com!

Episode 19 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Corner Chophouse (Website) in Winter Park's Hannibal Square neighborhood.  Topics this week include the City of Orlando not banning Pride banners (despite rumors) - but FDOT is going after them on state roads, Orlando naming a new Poet Laureate despite Florida's Chief Financial dude Natalie Imbruglia saying its dumb, Orlando's new football team, Three Odd Guys Brewing closing its Apopka taproom, a pending Bob Ross art auction to raise funds for Public Broadcasting, and the calming of Corrine Drive.  Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Orange County Library System and its upcoming Trick or Treat Safe Zone on Sunday, October 12, and Orlando Magazine and its "50 Most Powerful People" issue. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at Brendan@OrlandoShine.com!

Episode 18 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar (Website) in Orlando's Milk District. Topics this week include Coastal Catch Restaurant Month in New Smyrna Beach, Enzian Theater trying to get fancy new equipment, Kissimmee's new Latin Culinary Trail, and a new Master Plan renovation coming to Leu Gardens.  Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Orange County Library System and its upcoming Trick or Treat Safe Zone on Sunday, October 12, and Orlando Magazine and its "50 Most Powerful People" issue. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at Brendan@OrlandoShine.com!

Episode 17 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Funny Bone Comedy Club (Website) with guest Krista Spanick, the General Manager of Funny Bone Comedy Club, ahead of the JustCallMoe Comedy Jam on October 2. Topics this week include Orlando's plans for an O-Line multi-use trail in SoDo, an update for Eatonville's Hungerford site, the opening of a 24-hour arcade venue on International Drive, more redlight cameras, and the temporary closure of Renaissance Theatre by Orlando code enforcement. Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Orange County Library System and its upcoming Melrose Film Fest on September 27, and Orlando Magazine and its "Peek Behind The Curtain" issue. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 16 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (Website) with guest Greg Higgerson, the Chief Development Officer, to chat about Hunger Action Month. Topics this week include a woman who bit an aggressive off-leash pit bull to save her dog, Orange County going after the holiday decorations of a Winter Garden family, an "eatertainment" chain closing an Orlando venue, Prato Restaurant taking a little refresh break in Winter Park, and what happens when the MCO tram breaksdown - spoiler, you walk.  Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Orange County Library System and its Yarn-fiti event, Orlando Magazine and its "Peek Behind The Curtain" issue, and the 4Roots Harvest Festival on October 11. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

On this episode of The Orlando Shine Show, host Brendan O’Connor sits down with Leah Nash, Executive Director of the Timucua Arts Foundation (Website), and Benoit Glazer, its Founder and Artistic Director, to mark the organization’s 25th anniversary.  Together they trace Timucua’s evolution from intimate house concerts with friends and neighbors to a nationally recognized hub for live performance and community arts, and discuss how its artist-first approach has reshaped Orlando’s music scene. Listen in for stories about Benoit's Canadian roots, his education, the foundation’s beginnings, its one-of-a-kind venue, and its plans for the next 25 years of boundary-pushing programming in this special bonus episode.

Episode 15 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at City Beautiful Cafe (Website) with guest host Scottie Campbell.  Topics this week include a new ordinance in Clermont that does away with height restrictions for American flags (because, America), a 74-year old arrested for a real estate Ponzi scheme, a citrus wizard in DeLand, an expansion of the Maitland Art Center, Apopka pausing funding for its embatteld Main Street program (that was woefully underfunded anyway), and some big events happening this weekend, including a Tattoo Show at Osceola Heritage Park, a belly flop contest in Baldwin Park, the Booze and Bites Festival in The Milk District, and the Fall Plant Sale at Nehrling Gardens.  Holler at this week's sponsors, JustCallMoe.com, Orange County Library System, and Library Card Sign-up Month, Orlando Magazine an its "Peek Behind The Curtain" issue, and the 4Roots Harvest Festival on October 11. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 14 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at The Porch Winter Park(Website) with guest hosts Moses DeWitt of JustCallMoe (Website) and Don Almeida, That Mortgage Guy Don (Website).  Topics this week include an opening date for the long-awaited H Mart, the closing of multiple PDQ locations, Christina Hollerbach stepping away from Hollerbach's German Restaurant to start her own consulting firm and to run for mayor, the return of Nosferatu to the Renaissance Theatre Company, Enzian's lineup for this year's "13 Films of Halloween," an update to Apopka's Main Street mural hullabaloo, and the opening of a new secret pizza window in Audubon Park. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 13 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner (Website) in The Milk District, where they "make food that makes people happy," inspired by the people, culture, and flavors of Hawaii. Yes, they have spam. Topics this week include the first episode of a new Radio Play series called "The Adventures of Ada Quark" (be sure to listen during the break or you'll miss it), drama in Apopka over a mural commissioned by a Main Street based on a design they didn't have approval for, Red Bull's upcoming tandem rollercoaster obstacle course event in Altamonte Springs, the leaders of Critical Mass walking away from the event because of the "wheelie kids," and Shaq's music career. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 12 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Beefy King (Website) in The Milk Distrcit, a third-generation family-owned restaurant that serves up steamed hot sandwiches and crowd-favorite tater tots. Topics this week include a call for submissions for Orlando Magazine's 2026 Women of the Year awards, the recent removal of the Pulse Memorial Crosswalk by an overly zealous FDOT, police calls to Taco Bell Cantina, a call to fix the downtown movie theater space in The Plaza building, the upcoming Science Night Live, the ever-present, never-going-away construction fencing at City Hall that could be a great blank canvas for an art installation, and more. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 11 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Austin's Coffee (Website), a landmark alt coffee space in Winter Park that's been around for 22 years and has become known for hosting loal artists, live music, and more. They're facing eviction at the end of October 31, when their lease runs out and the City of Winter Park readies to knock down the building to expand Fairbanks Avenue. They're hosting a fundraising gala on September 7 at CityArts with tickets available by donation HERE.  Topics this week included an interview Brendan had with the Director of Nighttime Economy for the City of New Orleans about tips for how to handle downtown Orlando bar crowds, the return of an annual belly flop contest in Baldwin Park, a new Claw Machine Arcade, a brawl at Lake Winterset that's changing how people access the lake, the return of the Black Bear Hunt, and a makeover for Griffin Park.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 10 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Lobos Coffee Roasters (Website) with one of the co-owners, Pablo Sierra, who shared about the state of the current coffee market and their new location at A La Cart SoDo.  Topics this week included the latest Best of ORL results from Orlando Magazine, a $1 million state grant to help restore Indian River Lagoon, a price tag for weekend SunRail service, Disney buying the rights to WWE, an enrollment crisis at Florida Public Schools, a Golden Girls-themed pub crawl, a new MLK statue in Winter Park that's gotten some mixed reactions.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Topics this week included an update on that "wonky" tree being knocked down in College Park, an audit of Visit Orlando that raised some questions on spending, a sinkhole in Kissimmee that's led to the closure of an apartment complex, the percentage of downtown Orlando used for parking, construction issues at the Winter Park Library, threats against Mayor Demings, and a research grant for Winter Park stories.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 8 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at A La Cart SoDo (Website) with guest hosts, Misty Heath, the executive director of SoDo Main Street, and Kenneth Hughes, the executive director of Parramore Main Street.  Topics this week included lots of updates from the Parramore neighborhood, the launch of a new VR gaming venue at Pointe Orlando, the soon-to-open Korean grocer H Mart, College Park knocking down a wonky old oak tree on Edgewater Drive, and the launch of Sip and Savor Weeks: an initiative involving all 12 local Main Street Districts.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 7 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Hard Rock Cafe Orlando (Website) at Universal Orlando to try their local entry in the Hard Rock World Burger Tour. 150 Hard Rock Cafe locations are currently in an all-out brawl to see who could create the best burger and the Orlando cafe has a pretty amazing entry - the Tropical Storm Smash Burger - which consists of two smash burger patties, pulled pork, grilled pineapple, crispy shoestring onions, pepper jack cheese, tangy BBQ, shredded lettuce, and a slice of tomato. It was created by a local server too. Y'all have until August 3 to try it.  Topics this week included a new "Terrifier" haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights, a cool job at Wekiva Springs Park which comes with a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house, an update on the long-awaited projection park in downtown Orlando, the reinstatement of a problematic Groveland councilwoman with problematic Tweets, the rising death toll of Brightline, and a romantic evening with Chevy Chase.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week. Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 6 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Cups and Pups in College Park. Topics this week included a look back at Sanford having to cancel its fireworks show after a freak of nature dampened their July 4th party (it was lightning), the closure of a fancy French restaurant that wasn't around long enough, anniversary parties for Ten 10 Brewing and Windermere Brewing, less walking at Terminal C, new designs for Camping World Stadium, and the re-opening of Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge. Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week.  Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 5 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Brendan's house because he fell into a puddle and couldn't get up so he had to go to the ER. Life.  Topics this week included a new food hall in Apopka with giant chickun sandwiches, scrapped plans for a distillery in Clermont, the closing of Chicken Guy! in Winter Park, new rules for fireworks (and people stealing them), a stabbing incident at Mall at Millennia, and an update on BearWatch 2025.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week.  Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 4 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Palm Beach Meats, an restaurant and purveyor of all things Wagyu - which some say is the best-quality beef you can get. They've got Wagyu burritos, Wagyu cheesesteaks, and the only Michelin-rated Wagyu bologna in the country. And yes, we ate it (check our Instagram - @theorlandoshine).  Topics this week included the return of Pom Pom's to Central Florida (they reopened in Sanford), a sting that saved 60 abducted children in Tampa, the largest oddities market ever is coming to Kissimmee this weekend, a historic Winter Garden hotel is on the market, and Daybreak Diner in Curry Ford West has closed.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week.  Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!

Episode 3 of "The Orlando Shine Show" was recorded at Simply Cheese College Park,  a new in-house cheesemonger at The Good Pour. They have a fancy station with all the cheese and charcuterie things you need to let your friends know you have money, you're an adult, and that you're not lactose intolerant. Or at least you're not worried about it.  Topics this week include the closing of a diner in College Park, Florida students breaking all the truency records, Disney building affordable housing to offset park wages, Florida lawmakers doubling down on not letting us use tourist tax dollars for infrastructure, and the departure of a hot coach from the Orlando Solar Bear boy aquarium.  Tune in to "The Orlando Shine Show" every Friday at 8 p.m. on Real Radio 104.1 FM or catch the podcast to keep up with all of the top headlines in Central Florida each week.  Want to invite us to your restaurant or business for a future episode? Email us at brendan@orlandoshine.com!