Florida Specifier Podcast

In this episode of The Florida Specifier Podcast, co-hosts Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews are joined by Representative Toby Overdorf, an environmental consultant, engineer, and longtime legislator, as he enters his final year in the Florida House.

Recorded on-site at the 39th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, the conversation explores how Representative Overdorf’s background continues to shape his legislative prior...

In this episode of theFlorida Specifier Podcast, Brett Cyphers is joined by editor-in-chief Patrick Gillespie and editorial board member Jeff Littlejohn for a lively conversation that dives into Florida’s finalized state budget, line-item vetoes, and what it all means for environmental funding—particularly water quality grants and Everglades restoration.

Special guest Jamie Sheehan, Conference Director of the Environmental Permi...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast, hosts Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews are joined by editorial board members Jeff Littlejohn and Patrick Gillespie for a dynamic roundtable conversation that blends policy insight with candid storytelling. As Florida approaches a new fiscal year, the team tackles the looming uncertainty surrounding the state budget. With the House and Senate still at odds—particularly over proposed t...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast, hosts Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews are joined by fellow members of the Florida Specifier editorial board: Jeff Littlejohn and Patrick Gillespie. Together, they dive into the fast-moving first week of Florida’s legislative session, analyzing the impact of delayed committee meetings, the challenges of processing nearly 1,800 filed bills, and the likelihood of fewer than 225 bills m...

In this episode, Ryan and Brett get to catch up with 5th generation Floridian, former President of the Florida Senate, and Florida’s 13th Commissioner of Agriculture – Wilton Simpson.

They discuss the state of agriculture in Florida today; the massive reach of the Department’s responsibilities; the tremendous work of Department staff in helping hurricane preparedness and recovery, as well as wildfire prevention and firefighting;...

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast, Ryan and Brett speak with Brewster Bevis, CEO of AIF, from the AIF Water Forum. This event, held annually for the past six years, brings together legislators and environmental leaders to discuss Florida's most pressing water issues. Brewster shares the origins of the Water Forum and its evolution into a key platform for addressing water challenges faced by businesses, agriculture, a...

In this episode, Patrick, Ryan, and Brett get together to discuss the January/February issue of the Specifier.  They talk about the upcoming legislative session; their favorite articles; Upcoming environmental events around the state; and some upcoming Specifier and Water for Fighting podcast episodes, including one featuring a Ryan and Brett interview with Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, Wilton Simpson.  

To read ...

In this episode, Brett takes the show on the road without Ryan to moderate a discussion at the One Water Summit in Winter Haven.  His conversation partners included Lynn Spivey, the City of Plant City Utilities Director; David MacIntyre, the President of AquaSciTech Consulting; and Frank Bernardino, Partner Ameritus with Anfield Consulting. 

They discuss the definition of One Water; how the regulatory structure of water in Flori...

Ryan and Brett continue their look back at the Environmental Permitting Summer School through the eyes of its founders and supporters – both past and present – to provide a snapshot of who they are; what they do; why they’ve continued their support over the years; and what the conference means to them.  

This volume begins with Fred Aschauer and Robert Williams from Lewis, Longman, and Walker.  They talk about the diff...