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Florida Matters Live & Local

Are you ready to rocket? Plus, a lawsuit for the birds, Zested interest, strange Florida fiction

By Matthew Peddie,

Gracyn Doctor, Quincy Walters, Amelie Horace

Published March 31, 2026 at 1:12 PM EDT

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Rocket and boosters attached to a gantry. — Artemis II, which will hold the four astronauts, is slated to launch Wednesday evening from the Kennedy Space Center.

By Wednesday night, astronauts may be trucking to the moon for the first time in 53 years. On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we get the latest on the Artemis II mission. Plus, the Florida scrub jay faces a legal challenge, and we chat with The Zest’s Dalia Colón.

Returning with interest

(0:00) How many moons has it been? Well, NASA tells us all systems are go for Wednesday's Artemis II launch, propelling astronauts on a lunar lap for the first time since 1972. The 10-day mission follows a long series of delays, but weather and technology now seem in alignment. Our space savant is back to catch us up on the mission’s risks and goals.

GUEST:

Brendan Byrne, Central Florida Public Media reporter

Foodie fun served fresh

(12:02) The Zest podcast has been marinating a bit, but the latest season is ready to curb your appetite. Host Dalia Colón joins us for a preview of the first episode, including a talk with celebrity chef Alton Brown ahead of his upcoming local tour.

GUEST:

Dalia Colón, host of WUSF’s The Zest podcast

Scrub jays vs. property rights

(21:02) The Florida scrub jay, a threatened species since 1987, is at the center of a legal battle in Punta Gorda after a developer sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over habitat protections tied to his land. Conservationists argue the bird’s survival depends on safeguards like Charlotte County’s habitat plan, which uses mitigation fees to preserve scrub jay territory. What’s at stake for the species and Florida’s environment.

GUESTS:

Julie Brashears-Wraithmell, Audubon Florida vice president and executive director
Jon Thaxton, Gulf Coast Community Foundation director of policy and advocacy

Florida stories that refuse to behave

(36:09) Shane Hinton discusses his award-winning short story collection, “Other Shane Hintons,” in which comedy, horror and Florida life collide in darkly imaginative ways. In it, Hinton explores doppelgangers, religion and uncanny edges of everyday life. What inspires him? And why has he built a career around giving his books away?

GUEST:

Shane Hinton, Tampa author

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Florida Matters Live & Local NASA Artemis Program Space Travel Scrub Jay The Zest Podcast Books

Matthew Peddie

I am the host of WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local, where I get to indulge my curiosity in people and explore the endlessly fascinating stories that connect this community.

See stories by Matthew Peddie

Gracyn Doctor

As the executive producer of WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local, I aim to create a show and podcast that makes all Floridians feel seen and heard. That's also my assignment as a producer for The Florida Roundup. In any role, my goal is always to amplify the voices often overlooked.

See stories by Gracyn Doctor

Quincy Walters

Quincy Walters is a producer for WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local,

See stories by Quincy Walters

Amelie Horace

As an engagement reporter and producer for WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local, my goal is to bring Floridians on our show and connect their stories with the greater community. I want our listeners to not just feel like the show is for them, but literally about them, and hope they feel inspired to reach out and tell us about their lives.

See stories by Amelie Horace

Meet The Staff

Matthew Peddie, Host — Matthew is originally from New Zealand, but has lived in Florida for more than a decade. Among his first assignments as a radio reporter in the Sunshine State were covering the retirement of the iconic space shuttles and the dawn of the new commercial space race. He's also reported on Central Florida’s booming economy and its flip side: the affordable housing and homelessness crisis, and covered hurricanes and closely watched presidential elections.
> Email Matthew

Gracyn Doctor, Executive Producer — Gracyn graduated with a sports management degree from Johnson C. Smith University in 2019, then studied journalism at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Her love of public radio led her to Charlotte NPR station, WFAE, after graduating in 2020, where she was the race and equity reporter before joining WUSF in 2024.
> Email Gracyn

Quincy Walters, Producer — Quincy interned at WUSF and graduated from USF in 2016. Before joining "Florida Matters Live & Local" in 2026, Quincy was a reporter at WGCU in Fort Myers and WBUR in Boston, where he also produced podcasts. He also was a speechwriter for the mayor of Boston.

Amelie Horace, Producer/Engagement Reporter and Report For America corps member — Amelie decided to seriously pursue journalism at Mercer University, where she focused on local news, travel journalism, and infrastructure issues in rural communities while studying abroad and reporting for The Macon Newsroom. She also covered economic success, breaking news, arts and culture, while interning at 13WMAZ, Macon’s CBS station, and as intern for Macon Magazine and Macon Arts Alliance before joining WUSF in 2025.
> Email Amelie

Jackson Harpe, Technical Director — Jackson went to college for music at Kennesaw State University before moving to Tampa in 2013 to pursue a Master’s degree at USF in jazz studies. After graduating, he took every gig that he could and every jazz jam that he could find. Eventually, he learned about an open position at WUSF as a host for All Night Jazz, hosting for several years before transitioning into a role that involved more work behind the scenes. He also plays the trumpet as often as he can and has found other ways to stretch his musical abilities here at WUSF as the composer for the theme music on "The Bay Blend" podcast and “Florida Matters: Live and Local."
> Email Jackson

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