Chasing Ghosts

"Are serial killers born or made? Dive into the shadowy world of crime fiction with Preston L. Allen's riveting novel, "I Disappeared Them," and decide for yourself. This gripping psychological thriller follows a serial killer who blends in seamlessly with society. By day, he's a devoted family man and loving father; by night, he transforms into a vigilante stalking Miami's streets, seeking justice through twisted means. His eerie signature: a periwinkle flower left at each crime scene. As the tale unfolds, the killer's motivations reveal a dark past, sparking a haunting question: what drives an ordinary man to extraordinary evil?"

Two fantastic, dark, and eerie stories are featured in Freaky Fiction. The first is Deb Rogers' debut novel, Florida Woman. It's the story of one woman's journey to redemption after going viral for committing an outrageous crime she never intended to commit. When she seizes the opportunity to redeem herself by volunteering at a monkey sanctuary, she soon realizes something far more sinister is going on and wonders if she is in more danger than she was before. We interviewed Deb at the Miami Book Fair to talk about the inspiration behind this intriguing tale. Then, we read Bob Carr's Conch Chowder, a deliciously good story about friends, fishing and tasty conch chowder with a mysterious secret ingredient. Sometimes you just don't want to know how it's made.

One town in Florida has a rich history and unsolved mysteries. There are miles of tunnels beneath the city that may have been used for smuggling, cigars once held secret messages with instructions to launch the Cuban rebellion against Spain and there's a park belonging to Cuba with rogue chickens running wild. This is Ybor City, Tampa's premier historic district. This gem of a city has a unique and twisted past. In our final episode from our Tampa trip, we speak with Gary Mormino, one of the foremost authorities on Florida history and culture, to get the inside scoop on the city's roots.

The SoFlo Weird Street Team met up with award winning author and reporter Craig Pittman, at the Miami Book Fair. Pittman, a Florida native, worked for The Tampa Bay Times, where his environmental reporting garnered him multiple regional and national honors. He is the co-host of the Welcome to Florida podcast and the author of six books, including the New York Times bestseller Oh, Florida! How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country. The Florida Heritage Book Festival named him a Florida Literary Legend in 2020. We spoke with Craig about his work, what he enjoys about this strange and bizarre state and his book Manatee Insanity: Inside The War Over Florida's Most Famous Endangered Species.

In another installment of our SoFlo Weird Street Team Tampa Trip we explore the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Taking up an entire city block at 52,000 square feet, which includes 6,000 just for the kitchen, and seating for up to 1,700 people, the Columbia holds the title for the largest Spanish Restaurant in the world. Over 100 years old and with 5 generations of family run ownership, we sat down with the current owner and operator Andrea Gonzmart Williams of the Columbia Restaurant Group to discuss the trials, tales and success of this Tampa gem.

The SoFlo Weird Team hit the streets of Tampa to explore it's sordid past. Historic Ybor City was once a hotbed for criminal activity during prohibition, only second to New York City. From bolita and bootlegging to a turf war that led to the Era of Blood, we sought to get the real scoop on the seedier side of Tampa's history with mob expert, author and historian, Scott Deitche. Then, we take a look at the women who had an active role in Tampa's old bolita lotteries in Tales From The Vice Squad.

Neighbor disputes date back centuries to the time of early settlements. You can bet that in our colorful state of Florida, those disagreements can get downright absurd. We've got several stories about those jerks who will do just about anything to infuriate their neighbor. From famous cases of unsightly spite walls, to fighting off attack chickens and an assault with a bucket of pee, you'll quickly realize whatever you're fighting about with your neighbor isn't so bad. Historian Casey Piket joins us to discuss examples of spite wall brawls in Miami, and contributor Michelle McArdle shares stories of bad behavior from nasty neighbors. This is so bizarre, you'll think we made it up.

One of America's favorite pastimes has always been the circus. And dominating that entertainment spectacle were the larger than life circus kings PT Barnum, James Bailey and John Ringling. Independently they competed for control of the American Circus; together they created the Greatest Show On Earth and captivated the nation. Best selling author Les Standiford brings to life this remarkable story and shines a spotlight on Florida's circus scene is his book Battle For The Big Top.

Florida is famous for its magical theme parks and pristine beaches, but for those who seek adventure off the beaten path, there is a fantastic resource offering a daily look into the hidden gems you can find only in your state. Marisa Roman, a travel writer, will share some highlights from her Florida explorations as we delve deep into our state's urban legends and hauntings. Her work appears in the travel publication Only In Your State, which shines a spotlight on those roads less traveled and unique natural wonders in each of the country's 50 distinctive states. Then, we veer off onto those byways and side streets to talk about Florida's foreboding roadways where unexplained phenomena occur.

Our adventures in Key Largo take us to Mile Marker 100, where a special piece of film history floats along the dock next to the Holiday Inn. It's the iconic African Queen, the real boat on which movie legends Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart navigated their way through the Congo River in 1951 when filming the movie of the same name. The SoFlo team jumped onboard for this immersive history lesson. We also feature the haunting tales from the Titanic Artifact Exhibition in Orlando where restless spirits reside.