Tagged: only in South Florida

A Lion Among Us

WLRN Miami Herald reporter and Under the Sun associate producer Kenny Malone recently interviewed Angel Pardo, the owner of a 16-year-old cougar named Kimba.  She’s one of just a few mountain lions licensed to live in residential areas in South Florida after new restrictions kicked in last August.

Malone’s piece helps us understand what it’s like having one as a pet, and as a neighbor.

Dave Barry brought Miami, in all of its glory, to the forefront of the country’s consciousness as a syndicated humor columnist for The Miami Herald.  Listen (above) as Under the Sun co-host, Dan Grech, speaks with Barry about his first impressions of the city after arriving from Philadelphia.  In a nutshell: “My God this is the weirdest place I’ve ever seen in my life…I’m not going to bring my family to this insane place.”

Perhaps more than anyone else, writers understand the need for a safe place to pursue their craft. Unfortunately, in some countries a poem or an essay can lead to persecution, arrest, or worse.  Find out how writers like Russell Banks, Salman Rushdie and

Russell Banks helped found Cities of Refuge for exiled writers. He is the best-selling author of Affliction and Continental Drift, among other novels. On a recent trip to South Florida, he sat down with Under the Sun’s Ruth Morris to discuss efforts to establish Miami as a city of refuge. She also asked him to describe the city in just one word. Click on the player (above) to hear his answer, and why Miami reminds him of Montreal.

In our regular segment, What’s Up With South Florida?, we invite you to tell us what you find confusing or unusual about South Florida.

We took a poll so you could decide what we should investigate.  Miami’s Trenton Daniel won the honors.  Here’s his query: “What’s up with the Miami Beach exit on I-95 that directs motorists onto I-195 but actually takes them back to I-95?”

Episode 2 of Under the Sun explores the theme of South Florida as the “End of the Line.”

We bring you an audio postcard from Alabama Jack’s, a legendary bar and restaurant at the tip of the U.S. mainland.  Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books talks with author Les Standiford about Henry Flagler’s unflagging desire to build a railroad to Key West.

In our recurring segment, we explore the ways people in South Florida make a living.  Meet Ryan Esdale, a 17-year-old announcer at Dania Jai A’lai.  He dreams of going pro.  Trina Sargalski produced this story.