First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross
Summary: Hosted by Melissa Ross, First Coast Connect is an hour-long call-in program that features local newsmakers, civic and community leaders, arts, activities across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, along with spot news features and a weekly roundtable of local journalists.
Podcasts:
Monday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with local attorney Mike Freed about the city of Jacksonville filing a lawsuit against major drug manufacturers over the opioid crisis (01:06). We were joined by Board President Chris Schwing to discuss this year’s Jacksonville Women’s Leadership Forum (29:21). Players by the Sea creative Marketing Manager Bradley Akers and Director Kris Jackson talked about their New Voices program (46:00).
Friday on First Coast Connect, our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union reporter Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons, WJCT business analyst John Burr and WJCT reporter Lindsey Kilbride (01:15). We spoke with Julie Watkins, Executive Director of The Girls Gone Green about Saturday’s annual Northeast Florida Veg Fest (38:57). Trading Spaces star Brett Taylor joined us to talk about the return of the show and his appearance this weekend at the
Thursday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Dr. Madeline Joseph, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at UF College of Medicine Jacksonville, who is looking at bullying as a public health issue (01:15). This month’s edition of First Coast Success featured Jacksonville University President Tim Cost (26:54). Our latest Art Attack roundtable featured (32:26): Lee Hamby of the 5 and Dime Theatre Shawana Brooks with the Jacksonville Public Library Robert Arleigh White, Vice President for
Wednesday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Mario Decunto, who is chairman of Mayor Lenny Curry’s Hispanic American Advisory Board, about the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on DACA students and this week’s Hispanic American Leadership Awards (01:06). Our premiere edition of #realtalk hosted by WJCT contributor and board member Charles Griggs featured public safety analyst Ken Jefferson, attorney Rhonda Peoples-Waters and meteorologist Steve Smith (25:20). WJCT News Director Jessica
Tuesday on First Coast Connect, ahead of his talk Tuesday evening at the University of North Florida, we spoke with General Michael Hayden, who is a former director of the NSA and CIA (01:24). The latest edition of Moveable Feast featured Chriss Brown from 927 Events (25:05). We heard about Friday’s Environmental Summit at the Florida Coastal School of Law with FCSL professor Eric Hull, Quinton White, Director of the Marine Science Research Institute at Jacksonville University and Kinsley Vassey
Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ken Jefferson on law enforcement’s role in the Parkland school shooting (01:14). We discussed America Saves Week with Jax Federal Credit Union Chief Operating Officer Mary Svoboda (30:56). We learned about the upcoming Jacksonville Science Festival with organizers Tia Unthank and Nadia Hionides and Eddie Whisler with the Museum of Science and History (38:54). Cole Pepper talked about the latest sports news
Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union reporter Andrew Pantazi, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth, Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton and WJCT contributor and board member Charles Griggs (01:51). Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Principal Melanie Hammer, Executive Director of the Douglas Anderson Foundation Jackie Cornelius and former student Tanner Lane talked Saturday’s annual Extravaganza (38:49). Author Amy Chua told us about
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Florida Times-Union reporter Tessa Duvall on her report looking into how children in Florida’s juvenile justice system fare once they are released from prison (01:19). Commentator Jay Solomon gave us his thoughts on the #NeverAgain movement (25:00). Mary Anne Jacobs with Girls Scouts of Gateway Council talked about this year’s Girl Scout cookie sales drive (30:50). Hendricks Baptist Church music director Tommy Shapard told us about a free concert
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Democratic 4th District Congressional candidate Monica DePaul who is looking to challenge incumbent Republican Congressman John Rutherford (01:18). WJCT News Director Jessica Palombo and reporter Ryan Benk talked about the Florida Constitution Revision Commission’s Tuesday afternoon meeting in Jacksonville (32:23). Local real estate entrepreneur Shankar Thayver told us about his new online portal Trintals (37:22). We heard about Saturday’s Riverside
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Ron Davis, father of slain Jacksonville teen Jordan Davis, on the recent rash of children shot in Jacksonville and the renewed call for more gun control (01:15). Angie Nixon with Party, Benefit & Jam (PB&J) told us about their upcoming Jam Sessions on major issues facing Jacksonville (27:20). PS 27 Ventures’ Christine Lee McFaul spoke about their upcoming Female Founders Forum (38:00). Director of Events and Programming with Friends of Hemming
Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Emmanuel Martinez, data reporter at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting on the center’s investigation into modern day redlining in northeast Florida (01:08). We spoke with Jocelyn and David Williamson who as part of a coalition sued Brevard County over its invocation rules at County Commission meetings and won (25:32). We heard about a new program to care for St. Johns County patients with advanced illness from Flagler Hospital President
Friday on First Coast Connect we held our annual Year in Review Media Roundtable with Florida Times-Union Reporter Andrew Pantazi, Charles Griggs from the Jacksonville Free Press, Folio Weekly Editor Claire Goforth and A.G. Gancarski from Florida Politics (01:01). We learned the identity of the popular Twitter account @SanMarcoTrain as we spoke with the “train” himself, Jack DeYoung, the Digital Director at Nuera Marketing (46:00).
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri on the issues that affected Jacksonville and City Hall this year (00:52). Terri Andrews, administrator for Baptist Behavioral Health, and registered nurse Carol Whitefield talked about a initiative to train over 10,000 residents in three years in mental health first aid (35:23). Local attorney John Phillips talked about how to avoid identity theft during the holidays (46:00).
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with WJCT’s business analyst John Burr about the future of CSX in the wake of the death of CEO Hunter Harrison (00:55). We discussed urban renewal in Jacksonville and the upcoming LISC awards with LISC Jacksonville CEO Janet Owens and City Councilman and LISC Community Development Awards Committee Chair Greg Anderson (12:49). The latest segment of Moveable Feast featured Kelly Mabry who owns a number of Tropical Smoothies in town (33:26). Sulzbacher Center
Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Danny Murphy, author of the book Fake News 101: How To Recognize Fake News and Avoid Being Fooled By It (01:09). WJCT’s Digital Content Editor Bill Bortzfield spoke with Kanine Social owner Dustin Fries and investor Daniel Moffatt (23:44). Duval Medical Society CEO Bryan Campbell and Foundation President Dr. Sunil Joshi talked about recent physician suicides and what they are doing to help prevent them (34:30). Cole Pepper talked about the Jaguars big
