Florida Uncut

In this episode of Florida Uncut, we’re joined by avian ecologist Mary Marine, who is part of a team leading recovery efforts for one of North America’s most endangered birds, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, in the Everglades Headwaters. 
Mary shares how she codified her passion for this “little brown bird” and went from seasonal technician to an instrumental part of the recovery efforts with Archbold Biological Station. We’ll also discuss what endangered species recovery actually looks like on the ground, and why working lands and ranchers are essential partners in conservation (and why you should buy Florida beef!). We talk about translocation work, collaboration across divides, and why the Everglades Headwaters is one of the most important landscapes in Florida’s future.
Despite the challenges the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow faces, Mary’s hope for the future is relentlessly grounded in science, people, and the long game of conservation.
And just to keep things interesting, when Mary isn’t matchmaking between endangered birds, she’s doing it for humans too as a certified wedding planner.
Topics include:
Florida Grasshopper Sparrow recovery and fieldwork realities
Translocation and reintroduction of endangered birds
Ranching, working lands, and conservation collaboration
Storytelling as a tool for long-term conservation success

Follow Mary on Instagram @_marymarine_
You can watch the award-winning documentary of the FGS The Little Brown Bird for free here: http://thelittlebrownbird.film/
Check out Jeff Corwin’s episode of Wildlife Nation featuring Mary and the FGS here.

Last month I had the incredible pleasure of not only attending the inaugural Lake Wales Ridge Fire Festival, but sitting down on stage with three leaders in local, state, and regional fire management efforts to learn more about what they do and why the role of fire is important to the story of protecting and connecting wild Florida.
It was a great day of learning, engaging, great food, and being with the conservation community in central Florida. I ended up bringing my whole family, who all had a wonderful time. 
The panel included:
Adam Peterson - Florida's Fire Manager for The Nature Conservancy
Elysia Dytrych - Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team for Archbold Biological Station
Joe Bruner - Wildland Fire Program Manager, Avon Park Air Force Range

I hope you enjoy this conversation! The audio quality will sound different as we recorded outside and in front of a live audience. 
Thanks again, Zach Franco, and the Archbold Biological Station crew for the opportunity!
Check out the new film from Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Patchwork Wild.

In this episode of Florida Uncut, Mason sits down with Ryan Young, founder and Lead Explorer of Rising Tide Explorers, an ecotourism company based in Naples, FL.
Back in 2016 Ryan and his group of biologist friends (including his future wife, Jeannine) realized that there were no certification, education, training, or experience requirements needed to conduct ecotours in the entire state of Florida. This left eager travelers with no way of knowing if the guide they were following into the wilderness had any training, safety certifications, or real knowledge of this unique and complex ecosystem. Having dedicated their lives to exploring the outdoors and studying the ecology of the area, the group decided to leverage their unique backgrounds, connection to the local science community, and passion for science to raise the bar of the ecotourism industry in Southwest Florida. 
In 2019, Friends of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve partnered with Rising Tide Explorers to continue providing memorable and educational adventures in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Proceeds support education, research and conservation.
In this chat we dig into the magic of where they guide tours in Rookery Bay, the importance of science-led tourism, and how RTE’s partnership with Friends of Rookery Bay helps fund real conservation research. It’s a conversation about curiosity, stewardship, and why getting people on the water might be one of the most powerful ways to protect the places we love.
In addition to founding RTE, and now owning Naples Outfitters, Ryan also served as the trekker guide for the 2024 Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation expedition and is the narration voice of the upcoming documentary Patchwork Wild, which will be screened at Rookery Bay Learning Center on December 2nd. Registration is limited!
Register for the December 2nd screening here.
Learn more about Ryan and team:
Go on a Rising Tide adventure here: https://risingtidefl.com
Learn more about Naples Outfitters: https://naplesoutfitters.com

Few names are as synonymous with wild Florida as Clyde Butcher. Known for his striking black and white large-format photography, Clyde has spent decades capturing the soul of Florida’s landscapes, from the ghostly cypress swamps of Big Cypress National Preserve to the vast wetlands of the Everglades. In this episode, I sit down with Clyde in Venice to talk about his story, beginning to end, and what it truly means to see Florida, not just look at it. 
We spend quite a bit of time reflecting on his early years, his shift from architectural focus and sailing to Florida’s swamps, and how personal tragedy and rediscovery changed his relationship with the land and lens.
This conversation also explores how Clyde’s photography became a tool for conservation and education, the quiet stillness of the swamp, the changing face of Florida’s wild places, and the role of art in helping people reconnect with nature. 
Whether you’ve stood in front of one of Clyde’s mural-sized prints or are just discovering his work, this episode is not only inspiration, but a reminder of why wild Florida is worth protecting and what we stand to lose if we don’t. 
Links:
Clyde Butcher Official Website
Big Cypress Gallery
Clyde Butcher’s Florida Gallery in Venice
Follow Clyde Butcher on Instagram
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

Join Us at the Lake Wales Ridge Fire Fest
If you’d like to learn more about prescribed fire and the experts that make them happen, join us at the Lake Wales Ridge Fire Fest on November 8th, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida. We’ll be hosting a live podcast recording and expert panel featuring Elysia and other leaders in fire ecology.
Learn more here: https://www.archbold-station.org/events/fire-fest-2025/

Elysia wears many hats, but in short she’s an all-around badass. She recently stepped into the role of Team Leader for the Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team, Archbold Biological Station’s in-house prescribed fire strike team. In this position, she leads regional fire management efforts to restore and maintain critical ecosystems while reducing wildfire risk across the Everglades Headwaters and the Lake Wales Ridge.
Before joining Archbold, Elysia served as the Area Biologist for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Lake Wales Ridge sites, where she worked to conserve large habitat corridors and restore some of Florida’s most endangered plant communities.
As you might expect, Elysia has incredible fire stories and she brought that same energy, passion, and deep knowledge to our conversation on the show.
Join Us at the Lake Wales Ridge Fire Fest
Also, if you’d like to hear more from Elysia and other fire experts, join us at the Lake Wales Ridge Fire Fest on November 8th, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida. We’ll be hosting a live podcast recording and expert panel featuring Elysia and other leaders in fire ecology.
About Fire Fest
Explore the essential role of fire in Florida’s ecosystems at a day-long festival filled with learning, demonstrations, and community engagement. Admission is free with the park’s $6 entrance fee.
10:00 AM — Gates Open
Grab a map, visit interactive exhibits, and explore booths and food trucks. See fire equipment up close, from helicopters to fire trucks, and chat with crews protecting Florida’s landscapes.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM — Presentations
Hear from fire scientists, land managers, and conservation experts during a morning of talks and discussions.
1:00 PM — Main Stage: Live Panel & Podcast Recording
Join our panel of experts as they share real-world fire stories and insights, including a special live podcast taping.
1:00 PM — Burn Crew Gears Up
Watch the team prepare for ignition and learn what goes into a safe prescribed burn.
2:00 PM — Public Briefing & Walk to Burn Site
Get an overview of the upcoming demonstration and its ecological benefits.
2:30 PM — Prescribed Burn Demonstration
See fire in action! Live commentary and Q&A will accompany the burn.
~5:00 PM — Mop-Up & Wrap-Up
Watch how the crew ensures the site is safe before closing out the day.
Learn more here: https://www.archbold-station.org/events/fire-fest-2025/