Fluent in Floridian

What does it really take to build hope, support and lasting change in the mental health space? Carali McLean, executive director of NAMI Florida, has some ideas.

In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway sits down with Carali, a lifelong advocate whose journey from Pinellas County to statewide leadership is rooted in a core belief: asking for help is a strength. They discuss her early work in clinical so...

Traci Deen has dedicated her career to advocating for Florida, first as a public defender and now as the CEO of Conservation Florida, a nonprofit focused on preserving the state’s water, land and wildlife. With over 34 million acres of land, Florida’s ecosystems are central to the state’s identity. But now, more than ever, they need our protection.

In this episode, Traci sits down with SMPR President Heidi...

In this episode, SMPR President and Partner Heidi Otway sits down with James Woolley, a lifelong film enthusiast and executive director of the Miami Film Festival. He shares his journey from studying film management to gaining global festival experience and now curating a lineup that celebrates Miami’s rich culture.

James shares that film festivals are more than just watching movies. They offer a behind-th...

In this inspiring episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway sits down with Tiffany Greene, a proud FAMU alumna and trailblazing ESPN play-by-play commentator. As a Tampa native, Tiffany shares how her father’s influence and her passion for storytelling led her from FAMU’s broadcast journalism program to making history as the first African American woman to call NCAA football on a major network.

From her early da...

One of Florida's most successful early learning models can be found where you may least expect it – a rural, multicultural community in South Florida with a population of 34,000 people.

Immokalee is home to Guadalupe Center, where educators are breaking the poverty cycle and shaping childrens’ futures through innovative educational programs. In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway chats with Guadalupe ...

Florida may be best known for its beaches and tourism, but it is also a manufacturing powerhouse. In this episode, seasoned manufacturing expert and FloridaMakes CEO Kevin Carr joins SMPR President Heidi Otway to chat about this growing industry.

The word "manufacturing" is often associated primarily with cars, but it encompasses everything around you, from chocolate and medical devices to cheesecakes and ...

In this special homecoming episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway is joined by Jennifer Conoley, former SMPR intern and now president and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest. 

Jennifer shares her journey from studying Public Relations at Florida State University to becoming a self-taught economic developer, driven by her passion for creating diverse, high-wage jobs. 

Tune in to learn about Jennifer’...

SMPR Founder and CEO April Salter sits down with legendary sports broadcaster Gene Deckerhoff. Deckerhoff shares highlights of his decades-long career, calling electrifying Florida State Seminoles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers games and memorable moments with icons such as Coach Bobby Bowden and Burt Reynolds.

Deckerhoff also shares insights into the evolving media landscape, the challenges of breaking into the broadcast in...

SMPR founder and CEO April Salter chats with Dick Batchelor, founder of Dick Batchelor Management Group. Dick shares his journey from citrus farming and activism during the Vietnam War to becoming one of the youngest members of the Florida House of Representatives. 

He also gives listeners a glimpse into his latest book, Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times: A Road Map for Community Leaders, offering practical str...

Children aren’t just our future – they’re also our present. That’s why SMPR President Heidi Otway sat down to talk with Children’s Forum President and CEO Erin Smeltzer, an advocate for quality early childhood education for young students across the country.

Inspired by her mother’s impact as the first female first responder in her county, Erin knew she wanted to make a life-long difference in her communit...

To mark Mental Health Awareness Month, SMPR CEO and Founder April Salter sat down with Florida Behavioral Health Association CEO and President Melanie Brown-Woofter to discuss her work in the mental health space. 

Growing up in the tight-knit community of Wakulla County, caring for others was a way of life that seamlessly translated into her early career as a nurse. It was not until she entered the world o...

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SMPR President Heidi Otway sat down with Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center’s Executive Director Robin Hassler Thompson to discuss her journey through politics and navigating her life as a human rights activist. 

Thompson’s political passion was ignited as a high school senior while volunteering for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. She shares how this ...

The 100th episode of the Fluent in Floridian podcast features none other than SalterMitchell PR CEO and Founder April Salter. From her idyllic upbringing in Key West to her dynamic career as an entrepreneur and PR professional, April's story is a testament to her love of the Sunshine State. 

Tune into this special 100th episode as April discusses her influential role in Governor Lawton Chiles' administrati...

Josie Tamayo has never been afraid to be “the first.” Inspired by her mother’s legal career in Cuba, Tamayo grew up in rural Georgia to become the only Hispanic woman to graduate from her law school class.

Tamayo’s passion for helping others drew her to a career in public service, where she charted a course from state attorneys' offices to the Second Circuit Court bench to serving as general counsel for si...

As social media emerged in the early 2000s, many top corporate executives and business leaders wrote it off as a passing trend. Frustrated by crisis management professionals’ hesitancy to embrace digital communications, Melissa Agnes saw an opportunity to serve a developing industry. Nearly 15 years later. Agnes is a leading voice on all things crisis management and communications. She joins SalterMitchell PR Founder a...

When Kamaiu Johnson was spotted swinging a tree branch at golf balls that rolled astray near his grandmother’s house, onlookers could see that the teen was a natural talent. Many masterful strokes later, Johnson is now one of the few black golfers at the professional level, and he’s committed to making golf look “more like America.”

Tune in as professional golfer Kamaiu Johnson joins SalterMitchell PR CEO + Founder April Salter to ...

Yolanda Cash Jackson may be Florida Trend’s latest Floridian of the Year, but the self-described “girl from Liberty City” has been making her mark as a lobbyist for over two decades.

In her compelling conversation with SalterMitchell PR President and Partner Heidi Otway, Jackson shares her story of growing up in South Florida and pivoting to a lobbying career in her late twenties. They also discuss Jackson...