Hunkering Down With Peter Schorsch
84 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsIt's Hunkering Down with Peter Schorsch.
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Episodes
State of Play: Midterms
October 13, 2022 21:30 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBPeter chats with political operatives from both parties — Anthony Pedicini, Steve Vancore, Michael Worley and Brad Herold — to give listeners a lay of the land leading up to Florida's Midterm Elections, both at the top and down ballot.
More Primary politics with Adam Smith
August 17, 2022 09:00 - 41 minutes - 33 MBWith less than a week to go before Florida's Primary Election, Peter Schorsch chats with someone who has pretty much seen it all in Florida politics: former Tampa Bay Times reporter Adam Smith.
Primary politics with Gary Fineout
August 13, 2022 11:00 - 53 minutes - 45.3 MBOn a new Hunkering Down, two big guys talk Florida primary politics a week out from the elections. Plus, what goes into writing a morning newsletter.
PWRV’ing with Matt Dixon, Primaries & secret bars
August 04, 2022 00:00 - 43 minutes - 35.2 MBPWRV’ing: Peter Schorsch pods while RV’ing as POLITICO’s Matt Dixon returns to the show to talk Primary elections and secret bars.
More Primary races to watch with Ashley Walker, Brad Herold, Ben Pollara and Beth Matuga
August 02, 2022 11:30 - 1 hour - 49 MBAs the Primaries quickly approach, Peter Schorsch chats with four more consultants from both sides of the aisle — Ashley Walker, Brad Herold, Ben Pollara and Beth Matuga — for an exclusive insider's look at races to watch.
Primary races to watch with Brett Doster, Christian Ulvert, Anthony Pedicini, and Max Goodman.
July 30, 2022 12:30 - 51 minutes - 41.1 MBWith the Aug. 23 Primaries only three weeks away, Peter Schorsch chats with four consultants from both sides of the aisle — Brett Doster, Christian Ulvert, Anthony Pedicini and Max Goodman — for an insider's look at races to watch.
Ryan Wiggins on Panhandle politics & the future of The Lincoln Project
July 13, 2022 21:00 - 48 minutes - 39 MBPeter Schorsch sits down with The Lincoln Project Chief of Staff Ryan Wiggins for a deep dive into Panhandle politics and races. They also touch on the Project's future in the upcoming campaign cycle.
Doug Kelly on American innovation and China
July 12, 2022 22:00 - 42 minutes - 34.4 MBOn a new 'Hunkering Down,' Peter Schorsch and Florida Politics reporter Jacob Ogles hunkered down with Doug Kelly, CEO of the American Edge Project, on how legislation at the state and federal levels could undermine America's advantages in innovation over China.
Matt Dixon talks campaign, conference seasons
July 12, 2022 11:00 - 42 minutes - 34.3 MBA new 'Hunkering Down' with Peter Schorsch looks at campaign season AND political conference season — so what better guest to have than Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida?
Hunkering Down with Brad Herold
July 08, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBTop GOP consultant Brad Herold sits down with Peter Schorsch for a wide-ranging ep of 'Hunkering Down.' Topics include Ron DeSantis, Marco Rubio, and the 2022 Midterms. Brad and Peter also geek out on Apple tech and movies.
Hunkering Down with Nate Monroe
June 25, 2022 15:45 - 57 minutes - 46.3 MBFlorida Times-Union columnist Nate Monroe reacts to the frightening revelation that he was monitored and targeted by consultants working for America’s largest power company. Plus, Nate and Peter discuss the 2022 elections in #JaxPol.
Qualifying week special: Anthony Pedicini and Reggie Cardozo
June 17, 2022 21:00 - 39 minutes - 31.7 MBQualifying week is over! Now that state races have firmed up, Hunkering Down examines Florida's electoral landscape for 2022. Joining Peter Schorsch on the show are veteran political consultants Anthony Pedicini (Republican) and Reggie Cardozo (Democrat). Who is in; who is out — and who brought some eleventh-hour surprises. Peter also talks about his London adventure — and his brush with COVID-19.
Ken Welch talks St. Petersburg
October 05, 2021 01:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBOn a brand-new Hunkering Down, Peter Schorsch chats with Ken Welch, the former Pinellas County Commissioner and current leading candidate for St. Petersburg Mayor. Topics include: — Getting things done for Pinellas County; no corruption, no fiscal issues. Making trains run on time. — The success of the county’s pandemic response; working together with business (in a non-partisan way) for a quicker, responsible economic recovery. — Emphasizing COVID-19 education and civil (not criminal) compli...
Hunkering Down continues: Michele Rayner and Anna Eskamani
September 08, 2021 14:45 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBOn a new episode of Hunkering Down, Peter Schorsch explains how podcasting has become a major part of moving ahead during the continuing pandemic, and why the need still exists to “hunker down.” — Rep. Michele Rayner discusses her activist roots and entry into state politics. — The St. Petersburg Democrat talks about how being a gay, Black woman would not have been an easy path in politics 15 years ago. — How do we overcome political polarization? — Rep. Anna Eskamani also reflects on her ac...
Hamilton, Reopening Schools, and A Tough Primary: With Richard Reeves, Kirsten Borman Dougherty, and Michelle Salzman
July 13, 2020 18:30 - 1 hour - 78.1 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with lobbyists Richard Reeves, Republican consultant** Kirsten Borman** and Republican House District 1 candidate Michelle Salzman. The three discuss reopening schools, a tough primary coming up in August and, perhaps more important to everyone’s mental health, Hamilton on Disney+. Peter grapples with the disparity between families able to keep their kids home to distance learn in the fall and other families, largely those with limited resources, who don’t have a c...
Mike Binder, Nate Monroe, Steve Vancore
June 29, 2020 12:45 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down in an all-Jacksonville episode with University of North Florida Political Science and Public Administration Associate Professor Mike Binder, veteran Florida Times-Union reporter and columnist Nate Monroe and longtime political consultant and pollster Steve Vancore. Each guest offers their expert insight into COVID-19 and politics and the special twist in Jacksonville as the city prepares to welcome thousands of Republicans for President Donald Trump’s re-nomination...
On the Campaign Trail: Mike Binder, Nate Monroe, Steve Vancore
June 29, 2020 12:45 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down in an all-Jacksonville episode with University of North Florida Political Science and Public Administration Associate Professor Mike Binder, veteran Florida Times-Union reporter and columnist Nate Monroe and longtime political consultant and pollster Steve Vancore. Each guest offers their expert insight into COVID-19 and politics and the special twist in Jacksonville as the city prepares to welcome thousands of Republicans for President Donald Trump’s re-nomination...
On the Campaign Trail: Jason Brodeur, Scott Powers, Anthony Pedicini
June 22, 2020 22:15 - 1 hour - 50.7 MBIn the first episode from the campaign trail, Peter Schorsch hunkers down with GOP political consultant Anthony Pedicini, former Rep. and now Senate candidate Jason Brodeur and Florida Politics Orlando reporter Scott Powers. Brodeur kicks it off with a look at his campaign in Senate District 9, one of the hottest races in Florida politics this year. Powers picks it up with a reporter’s analysis of that race, as well as other intriguing match-ups, including a down-ballot contest for the Semino...
Ron Pierce
May 23, 2020 12:00 - 23 minutes - 19.6 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with lobbyist Ron Pierce, president and CEO of Tampa-based RSA Consulting Group. He began his legislative career in 1998 working in the Florida Legislature as a District Legislative Assistant in the House, later working with Sen. Tom Lee in the spring of 2000, becoming Lee’s Policy Adviser during his tenure as Senate President from 2004-2006. Pierce discusses work in the time of coronavirus, relegated to online correspondence. Peter speculates about the possibility...
Matt Dixon
May 22, 2020 14:00 - 33 minutes - 27.7 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Matt Dixon, senior reporter for POLITICO Florida since March 2014, joining the online news organization after five years covering state government and politics. Before that, Dixon spent four years as bureau chief at the Florida Times-Union. Dixon offers a comedic and dry analysis of the current climate, rife with people opting to stay at home rather than venture out into the coronavirus world. Dixon finds the silver lining in the coronavirus crisis despite it ...
Jeff Johnston
May 22, 2020 13:30 - 34 minutes - 28.1 MBPeter Schorsch and Jeff Johnston take a deep dive into the streaming sports-related content available now in lieu of actual season game play. They dig into The Last Dance and give their takes on the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate. Peter compares lobbying in Tallahassee to the NBA, with fierce competition to get major lobbying contracts. He and Jeff agree that from the top five and the top 20 firms, there are excellent lobbyists in every one. Johnston talks about the dynamic of his ...
Jennifer Green
May 14, 2020 18:15 - 50 minutes - 42.7 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with lobbyist Jennifer Green, president and owner of Liberty Partners of Tallahassee. Liberty Partners of Tallahassee represents Expedia Group, which owns Vrbo and Home Away, two major vacation rental companies. Peter and Jennifer discuss Phase One reopening, and why vacation rentals are treated differently than hotels by the state of Florida. Green expresses the frustration of her clients in interpreting the latest reopening orders, why vacation rentals should...
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
May 14, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with a whole delegation of Miami legislators for a virtual legislative wrap-up hosted by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. He poses questions to a panel of legislators, featuring: Rep. Vance Aloupis (District 115), Rep. Nicholas X. Duran (District 112), Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin (District 119) Sen. Anitere Flores (District 39), Rep. Dotie Joseph (District 108), and Sen. Jason W. B. Pizzo (District 38). Peter begins by posing his typical Hunkering Down que...
Jason Pizzo
May 13, 2020 04:00 - 26 minutes - 22.1 MBPeter Scorsch talks with Sen. Jason Pizzo, as the South Florida Senator spends his quarantine hunkered down in Tallahassee, waging a battle against the broken unemployment system. In this important episode, Pizzo says he's "a little tired and very angry" after weeks of emails, calls and Facebook messages from Floridians in need, whose frustration is turning to desperation. Thousands of applications have sat in limbo for months. It's not about the blame game at this point, Pizzo says, it's ab...
Kelly Mallette
May 12, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutes - 32.6 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Kelly Mallette, Director of Government Affairs at Ronald L. Book, P.A. Mallette, a native of Biscayne Park neighborhood between North Miami and Miami Shores, lives just three blocks from her childhood home today. She shares a recap of her Mother's Day and tells listeners about her family, including her two children ages 12 and 9. Mallette gets into the nitty gritty of why lobbyists were so busy at the beginning of the pandemic, reading and intepretating st...
Kaleo Partners
May 05, 2020 21:30 - 42 minutes - 35.1 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Glenn Kirkland, Jon Menendez and Heath Beach of Kaleo Partners, a Tampa and Tallahassee-based tech policy and government advocacy firm specializing in technology policy, budget and procurement. Kirkland, a Tallahassee native, served as Chief Legislative Aide to then-Rep. John Legg and later became special assistant to House Speaker Dean Cannon, before transitioning to Deputy Chief of Staff of the House Majority office under Cannon. Menendez worked as an ana...
Will Weatherford
May 02, 2020 16:00 - 33 minutes - 27.2 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with former House Speaker Will Weatherford who is now the managing partner of Weatherford Capital, a family-owned private investment firm based in Tampa. In a silver lining to the pandemic and related social distancing requirements, the two share their mutual gratitude for the chance to squeeze just a bit more time with their kids who, of a certain age, begin to drift away from their parents into independence. Weatherford discusses the Chamber of Commerce’s role...
Nick Iarossi
May 01, 2020 14:45 - 44 minutes - 36.4 MBPeter Scorsch hunkers down with Nick Iarossi, co-founder and owner of Capital City Consulting, as well as one of INFLUENCE Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Florida. Iarossi has represented clients in a vast range of issues including financial services, insurance, environmental, gaming, retail, education, alcohol, information technology, tobacco, and procurement. Iarossi talks about the economic recovery in a state still reeling from coronavirus, but finding new ways to do business....
Kelly Cohen
May 01, 2020 14:30 - 29 minutes - 24.6 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Kelly Cohen, lobbyist, strategist and fundraiser who serves as a partner and chief marketing officer for The Southern Group. Since opening TSG’s first regional office in Orlando in 2005, Cohen has used her skills at building partnerships to drive public policy and growth throughout Central Florida, making her a key asset to the region’s businesses and a boon to its development. Cohen describes how Orlando is doing as a region with the ongoing coronavirus cri...
Bill Carlson
May 01, 2020 13:15 - 24 minutes - 20.7 MBPeter Schorch hunkers down with Bill Carlson, Tampa City Council member and Tucker/Hall communications firm president. Carlson, a father of three boys, talks distance learning from the perspective of a parent, finding the silver lining in the lessons it affords kids. Technology is the future of business and kids are getting a front row seat to how that works. Carlson, a seasoned traveler, also talks about his experiences abroad pre-coronavirus and how different cultures can be applied to ...
Carol Dover
May 01, 2020 13:00 - 31 minutes - 26.2 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Carol Dover, president and CEO of Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. Before that, she served as assistant director of the Beer Industry of Florida and was Deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. Bob Martinez. Dover describes an industry that is broken and hurting, but recovering. There is some hope, she explains, for normalcy now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans for the economy to begin to start getting back to normal. Dover describes the new look...
Slater Bayliss
April 28, 2020 18:45 - 26 minutes - 22.3 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Slayter Bayliss, lobbyist and partner at The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners. The two take a deep dive into the docuseries “The Last Dance” and NBA legend Michael Jordan’s shocking-to-some comments calling Isiah Thomas an a-hole. The two jump back in time to reminisce about the glory days of basketball from the fierce competition to the seemingly different world void of social media and constant scrutiny under the 24-hour news cycle’s watchful eye. Pet...
James Grant Part 2
April 28, 2020 18:45 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with House District 64 Rep. Jamie Grant, which covers parts of north Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. The Tampa Republican is also a co-founder and Senior Solutions Architect of CareSync and a co-founder of LifeSync Technologies. First thing’s first, Grant clears up the name he prefers to go by. Is it James? Jamie? J.W.? The two, who have at times been at odds over various issues, also talk friendships, particularly in the era of divisive politics. Grant ackno...
Jared Moskowitz
April 21, 2020 23:30 - 29 minutes - 24.1 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Jared Moskowitz, Florida Division of Emergency Management director, for the first time after trying for weeks to get him on the show. Moskowitz has been busy dealing with what has become perhaps the most severe state emergency in Florida’s history. Moskowitz formerly served in the Florida House of Representatives. He discusses the ongoing statewide stay-at-home order and when the state might reopen for business. Moskowitz discusses the state’s response to t...
Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
April 21, 2020 23:30 - 37 minutes - 30.7 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, director of government relations for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and veteran Southeast Florida journalist who spent two years reporting for Florida Politics. Buzzacco-Foerster reflects on her career as a journalist and discusses the changes in journalism since her years covering various different local and state beats. Catch an inside glimpse of the Florida Politics newsroom as Peter and Buzzacco-Foerster chat inside joke...
Dean Cannon
April 21, 2020 23:00 - 31 minutes - 25.6 MBAs Floridians look forward to getting back to some sense of normalcy in the coming weeks, Peter Schorsch hunkers down with Dean Cannon, former House Speaker and now CEO of the GrayRobinson law firm, for a conversation about growth through adversity. Cannon takes an optimistic tone as he describes life at home with three teenage children. He describes the challenges so many Americans are facing with schools closed and non-essential activities almost entirely shut down, but praises the persona...
Ashley Walker
April 21, 2020 14:00 - 20 minutes - 17.4 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Ashley Walker, managing director of Mercury Public Affairs. Walker is one of the most influential consultants in Democratic politics in Florida. Previously, she worked as the Florida state director for former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Walker talks campaigning in the age of coronavirus. As Florida and the world continues to keep their eye on the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional campaigning has all but shut down. She discusses the challe...
Joe Clements
April 20, 2020 13:30 - 56 minutes - 46.2 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Joe Clements, co-founder and CEO of Tallahassee-based Strategic Digital Services, a data analysis and online marketing firm. Clements also formerly worked for the Republican Party of Florida as the digital director for the RPOF house majority. Clements finds the silver lining in coronavirus-caused social distancing keeping many Floridians confined mostly to their homes in a scenario he speculates one day might be looked upon fondly as the golden age of family ...
Steve Vancore
April 16, 2020 16:00 - 55 minutes - 45.3 MBIn what is Peter’s most emotional episode yet, he hunkers down with veteran political consultant and pollster Steve Vancore who recently lost the love of his life, Rep. Kristen Jacobs, after a long battle with cancer. In the extended interview, Vancore shares Jacobs’ inspiring story of rebuilding a life shattered by domestic violence, and fighting her way into the hearts of Floridians as an impassioned elected leader whose top priorities centered on clean water. Vancore shares the couple’s...
Adam Smith
April 16, 2020 15:45 - 28 minutes - 23.6 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with former Tampa Bay Times Political Editor Adam Smith. Smith now serves as senior Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs, a bipartisan public strategy firm. Smith talks about the current state of journalism as reporters faced increased workload yet shrinking newsrooms. The daily flow of news has turned into a flood amid the COVID-19 pandemic and journalists are on the frontlines keeping up. But with advertising revenue dropping as businesses and industries sh...
Cesar Fernandez
April 14, 2020 19:15 - 19 minutes - 16.4 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with public policy veteran Cesar Fernandez, current senior government affairs advisor at the Miami-based Converge Government Affairs firm and former public policy manager for Uber. Fernandez, whose wife is in medical school, hasn’t left his Miami condo since March 15, a precaution Peter jokes was because he’s one of those people who listens to doctors and scientists. The two discuss international travel and speculate on when it might resume as the nation continue...
Tony DeSisto
April 14, 2020 18:45 - 38 minutes - 33.3 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with attorney, entrepreneur and community activist Tony DeSisto who specializes in working with municipal governments. DeSisto also co-founded Citizinvestor, a crowdfunding and engagement platform that provides alternative funding for civic projects. The two spend time chatting about television viewing in the age of hunkering down, including a philosophical discussion of the revived hit The Wire. That series looks at Baltimore’s narcotics things through the lens ...
Michelle Dennard
April 12, 2020 15:15 - 17 minutes - 14.8 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Michelle Dennnard, CEO of CareerSource Florida and arguably one of the most important officials in the state right now as workers look ahead to getting back to work. The state agency and its local partners help out-of-work job seekers find meaningful employment. Hundreds of thousands of Floridians are out of work as the novel coronavirus has forced businesses to close or reduce operations. Encouraging employers to take advantage of resources to maintain the...
Jeff Brandes
April 12, 2020 15:00 - 23 minutes - 19.4 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Sen. Jeff Brandes. The St. Petersburg Republican is one of the most influential lawmakers in the state with an eye for criminal justice and prison reform, insurance reform and fiscal responsibility. The two chat about the problems facing newly unemployed Floridians reeling from the massive business shutdowns and reductions that have sent hundreds of thousands to the unemployment line, only to be met with massive failures in the state’s system. Brandes descri...
Skylar Zander
April 12, 2020 14:45 - 24 minutes - 20.6 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Americans for Prosperity Florida Director Skylar Zander for a discussion that centers on family, isolation and government response. Americans for Prosperity is a conservative group that advocates for limited government and business freedoms. Zander describes a program he launched to help businesses struggling in the coronavirus economy. The social media campaign encourages those who are able to purchase gift cards to local businesses, take a picture with it...
Kevin Cate
April 12, 2020 14:30 - 27 minutes - 22.8 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with political consultant Kevin Cate, founder of the public relations firm CATECOMM. Cate previously served as a senior advisor to former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign and former Barack Obama spokesperson. In this media-driven episode, Peter talks with Cate about the state of journalism both before and during the COVID-19 crisis. Cate showers praise for reporters who, particularly in Tallahassee, are managing the constant flow of news w...
Brad Swanson
April 10, 2020 00:00 - 30 minutes - 24.8 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Brad Swanson, president and CEO of Florida Internet & Television, an influential trade group that represents cable television and internet providers throughout the state. He also hosts FITv, a popular video podcast that features conversations with members of the Legislature, experts and others involved in The Process. The two address what is perhaps the question on everyone’s mind while they’re stuck indoors — is the internet OK? Good news, it is. Swanson ...
Christian Ulvert
April 10, 2020 00:00 - 24 minutes - 20.2 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with Christian Ulvert, a Democratic political strategist and public affairs professional who founded and owns EDGE Communications. Ulvert also served the Florida House as communications director and policy adviser to Democratic Leader Dan Gelber during his two-year leadership term. Ulvert shares advice for Democrats running for office this year as the novel coronavirus continues to fundamentally shift the way campaigns are run in all races. He describes the imp...
Ryan Gorman
April 06, 2020 14:30 - 30 minutes - 25.2 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with rising radio star Ryan Gorman for a conversation largely driven by the media’s role in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Gorman hosts PM Tampa Bay on WFLA as well as some occasional syndicated shows. The two dive into how Florida, even before coronavirus, shifted from the confines of its state to being a national news driver. Recently that’s been seen with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor who has been making the rounds on cable television and in interviews with national...
Mac Stipanovich
April 06, 2020 14:30 - 30 minutes - 25 MBPeter Schorsch hunkers down with former Republican activist and strategist Mac Stipanovich, who is also a fierce “never Trumper.” The two spend most of the episode discussing President Donald Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stipanovich pulls no punches, failing to find a single good thing to say about the President’s handling of the crisis. He blasts Trump for poor messaging and confusing press conferences. For example, Trump, in one sentence, told the nation it was now advisable...