Three Song Stories

Episode 22 – Thomas Allen Harris

Thomas Allen Harris is a many-media artist who explores family and identity in what he calls a “participatory model of filmmaking” that he’s been pioneering for nearly three decades now. He’s an accomplished filmmaker and public television producer. His documentary Through a Lens Darkly premiered on Independent Lens on PBS a few years ago, and was nominated for a National Emmy.

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Episode 21 – Kate Skales

My guest today is a relatively new voice on the southwest Florida music scene, but one that’s pretty much taken it by storm. Born and raised in a small town called Lititz, Pennsylvania, about and hour and a half outside of Philadelphia, Kate has a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from Kutztown University, which is in a tiny farming town about an hour down the road.

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Episode 20 – Amy Bennett Williams and Roger Williams

My guests today are TWO names well known to local readers and lovers of storytelling: Amy Bennett Williams AND Roger Williams. That’s right, we’re trying out our first twofer today on 3 Song Stories, so hang in there, here we go.

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Episode 19 – Ernesto Lasso de la Vega

My guest today is Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega. He’s a local biologist who was born in Panama, but is now a US citizen. He’s worked at the Lee County Hyacinth Control District for more than 25 years, where he works to minimize aquatic weeds in public waters, and educate the public to that effect as well.

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Episode 18 – Dave Dave Dave Cowan

My guest today is a name you might recognize if this is not your first time ‘round with us – Dave Dave Dave, otherwise known as Dave Cowan, is the co-creator of our totally awesome theme song. “Triple D” was born in Chicago, where he grew up in the burbs and started playing side drum for the Chicago Highlanders Bagpipe Band when he was 13.

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Episode 17 – Sanelli Popowicz

If you asked Sanelli what his job is, he’ll probably say he’s a jeweler out of Naples,FL. But if you ask him, “what do you do”, you’ll find out he’s a sound guy. A REALLY good one too. He’s worked and lived all over the east coast, and has run sound from small venues to recording studios, to mega-churches. Rare is person that can run a soundboard, craft a diamond bracelet, and build a chicken coop, but that’s Sanelli.

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Episode 16 – Valerie Alker

My guest today is Valerie Alker, a name local listeners to WGCU will remember, because she was a longtime reporter and host on our airwaves. Val got started in radio in 1983 as a DJ at WPAS AM 1600 in Zephyrhills. From there she moved onto WMNF Community Radio in Tampa where she often hosted the Women’s Show.

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Episode 15 – Jeff McCullers

Jeff McCullers (fifth generation Estero, Floridaian) grew up around citrus farming, fishing, construction, and well drilling. I love the fact that his three sentence bio includes his ten years as 4-H club member. He wrote two small books on local history while still in high school. A teacher and school administrator for 34 years, he’s taught English, drama, journalism, stagecraft, and humanities.

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Episode 14 – Justin Anderson

My guest today is Justin Anderson. He’s the son of the late and Honorable Judge Isaac Anderson Jr. and Audrea Anderson, who played a key role in the foundation and formation of Florida Gulf Coast University, where we record this show. Justin graduated Fort Myers High School in 1996, he then earned English Literature and Women & Gender Studies degrees at Princeton University.

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Episode 13 – Stephanie Davis

To call my guest today a woman about town would be an understatement. She is probably the very definition of that phrase in Fort Myers. Stephanie Davis – better known as the Downtown Diva – has been a fixture on the southwest Florida social scene since the 90s.

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Episode 12 – Tom DeMarchi

My guest today is Tom DeMarchi, he’s a writing professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and Director of the Sanibel Island Writers Conference, which marks its 13th year in November. We don’t normally use our guests official bio statements because they tend to be rather…drab. But not Tom’s!

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Episode 11 – Katie Haas

My guest this episode is Katie Haas. She’s Vice President and head of Florida Business Operations for the Boston Red Sox. That means she’s the big boss for all Red Sox business operations here in Southwest Florida. She’s also active in the local business and nonprofit communities. Katie lives in Fort Myers with her husband Danny, and their two young kids. And, while she’s one of my best friends’ best friends, and I’ve picked my kid up at her house more than once, we’ve never really talked.

Episode 10 – Tom Eberhardt

My guest this episode is Tom Eberhardt – Tommy to me. He’s a colonel with the Lee Country Sheriff’s Office, and has been serving there for 25 years. He lives here in Ft. Myers, FL with his wife, Lori. They have 2 Daughters, Rhyan and Taelor, and 2 grandkids – He LOVES his grandkids. I’ve known Tommy for about 15 years and it’s fair to say he’s forgotten more about playing guitar than I’ll ever learn, and I’ve been playing more than half my life.

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Episode 9 – Cole Peacock

My guest this episode is Cole Peacock. Cole’s lived in Ft. Myers since the early 80’s. His family is Fifth generation Floridians. His better half is Rachel, and they have three children: Sterling, Hannah, and Jackson, two of which are all grown up, and Jackson’s getting there fast. Over the years Cole’s worn lots of different hats.

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Episode 8 – Nathan Hill

My guest this episode is Nathan Hill. He’s a writer, and author of the 2016 bestselling novel The Nix. He’s moved to Naples in 2006 from New York City to take a job as a professor at FGCU, did that until 2012, moved away for a couple of years, then got his book deal so moved back to Naples to focus on his writing.

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Episode 7 – Amy Ware

My guest this episode is Amy Ware: it’s weird to say her name out loud with just two parts, because in my head she’s been Amy Wilkinson Ware since we reconnected via Facebook whenever it started becoming a thing. Amy grew up in Fort Myers with me so we’ve known each other since…back in the day.

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Episode 6 – David Brancaccio

My guest this episode is kind of a big deal in the world of public media…as a matter of fact he’s making us feel like we’re getting pretty darn fancy around here at Three Song Stories. David Brancaccio host of the Marketplace Morning report, heard on most public radio stations, including here on WGCU at 6:50 and 8:50 every weekday morning…he’s the former host of the PBS newsmagazine Now…and has worked in public media one way or another for nearly 30 years.

Episode 5 – Eric Raddatz

My guest today is Eric Raddatz. He’s a man of many…things, known by many people around southwest Florida. He’s probably most publicly known as the man behind the Fort Myers Film Festival, which he founded in 2010. He also founded the Naples International Film Festival the year before. But, when it comes to his work, Eric Raddatz is definitely best known, whether people know it or not, for his work as Presentation Editor at Florida Weekly.

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Episode 4 – Angela Page

My guest this episode is Angela Page: she’s frontwoman for the punk/post punk band, The Young Dead, and founder of the feminist arts collective “Love Your Rebellion” which works to empower marginalized populations through social education, community service and arts diversity. Angela is also the Marketing and Studio manager for the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers.

Episode 3 – Lynn Millner

My guest this episode is Lynn Millner. She’s the author of “The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet,” it’s a narrative nonfiction book about the Koreshans of Estero. And she’s an associate professor of journalism at Florida Gulf Coast University.