Panhandle Pulse
“Real issues. Real people. No filters.” Welcome to Panhandle Pulse — the podcast that gives North Florida a voice. Hosted by Chuck Asbury, Panhandle Pulse dives into the real challenges and real conversations shaping our communities. From small business owners, farmers to veterans, healthcare workers, and defense professionals, we talk with the people who keep our region moving. Every week, we bring you candid interviews, frontline stories, and unfiltered insight on the issues that matter most — including agriculture, national defense, healthcare access, deregulation, and the fight to keep rural America strong.
Episodes
In this powerful episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with “The Dyslexia Professor” Russell Van Brocklen to unpack the real science behind dyslexia and why traditional school systems are failing bright students. From his own journey with a first-grade reading level to developing a results-driven method that helped students jump from the 4th percentile to the 65th percentile, Russell shares practical strategies pa...
In this episode of PanHandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with local anesthetist Corey Fernandez of Destin Surgical Center.
Corey shares his journey from growing up in Freeport to training at Florida State, the University of Florida, and Nova Southeastern, eventually returning home to serve the community. They discuss healthcare access challenges in Northwest Florida, physician turnover, population growth, and what it will tak...
Kevin O’Neill, Master Captain and owner of Destiny Water Adventures, joins Panhandle Pulse with host Chuck Asbury, to share his incredible journey from a laid-off Detroit plumber to one of the Emerald Coast’s most successful water sports entrepreneurs. In this episode, Kevin breaks down how he got his captain’s license, moved from Key West to North Florida, navigated strict water sports regulations, and scaled Destiny Water Adventu...
In this episode, host Chuck Asbury sits down with author and speaker Judson Stone to discuss his journey from Maine to Florida, his passion for history and writing, and the importance of preserving family stories. Judson reflects on his work as a substitute teacher, his involvement in local organizations, and building meaningful community connections in the Panhandle. The conversation also touches on healthcare challenges in the ar...
On this episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Kelly Todd, President of Forensic Strategy Solutions, to discuss real-world fraud risks facing small businesses. From forensic accounting insights to practical fraud prevention tips, this honest conversation covers trust, accountability, red flags, and how business owners can protect themselves in today’s digital and AI-driven world.
In this episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Owen Girard, Florida Panhandle Field Representative for Turning Point USA, to discuss faith, politics, and the future of Gen Z leadership in Northwest Florida.
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Owen shares his personal journey from growing up on the political left to finding purpose through faith, conservative values, and community engagement. The conversation dives ...
In this episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Dr. Marc McKinley, a nephrologist (kidney doctor)serving Panama City and Panama City Beach, Florida. Dr. McKinley shares his journey from private practice in Cleveland, Ohio to the Florida Panhandle—and why moving here in late 2020 became one of the best decisions for his family and career.
We cover practical, real-world kidney health topics including:
- What a ne...
In this episode of Pan Handle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Stephanie Sylvestre, co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Avatar Buddy, for a deep and honest conversation about the human side of artificial intelligence.
Stephanie shares her unexpected journey into tech—from economics and government work to building AI-powered digital mentors—and explains how Avatar Buddy creates “spiritual” digital twins that capture pers...
Chief Meteorologist Chris Smith, founder of PanhandleWeather.com, joins Panhandle Pulse to discuss the future of weather forecasting in Northwest Florida. Chris shares his journey from local TV news to launching an independent, digital-first weather platform focused on accurate, local forecasts without the noise.
The episode explores entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and why building a community-focused weather channel allows Ch...
In this episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Ed Gutentag, a veteran Hollywood cinematographer and storyteller now based in Panama City, Florida.
Ed shares an incredible journey spanning decades in film, from working on iconic productions like Titanic and War of the Worlds to interviewing legends such as Harrison Ford, Robin Williams, and even spending time with the Dalai Lama. But this conversation goes far b...
In this episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Matthew Fornaro, a seasoned Florida business law attorney with over 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs, startups, and small to mid-sized businesses succeed.
Matthew shares practical legal guidance for Florida small business owners, including how to choose the right business structure (LLC, S-Corp, partnership), why contracts are critical, and the most com...
In this episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Diane Freeman, Executive Director of A Bed 4 Me Foundation—a nonprofit providing beds, bedding, and hope to children across Okaloosa and Walton County.
Many families in our region don’t realize the crisis happening right next door: children sleeping on floors, couches, or air mattresses. Diane explains how A Bed 4 Me identifies children in need, conducts home visit...
In this episode of The Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Blaine Watts, owner of Pink’s Window Services – Emerald Coast, to explore his journey from a 30-year tech career with companies like Cisco and Google to becoming a local small-business owner serving the Florida Panhandle.
Blaine shares what inspired his move to the Emerald Coast, why he chose a window-cleaning and home-services franchise, and how he’s bringing ...
In this inspiring episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with leadership and life coach Kirk McCarley, widely known as The Seed Sower Coach in Florida’s Panhandle. With a rich background in HR, leadership development, ESPN sports broadcasting, authorship, and faith-based mentorship, Kirk shares his journey from the corporate world to coaching individuals to find purpose, clarity, and direction.
Kirk explains the ori...
In this powerful episode of The Panhandle Pulse, Chuck Asbury sits down with Jared Cartee, a leading advocate in the fight against human trafficking and the voice behind Safe in the Panhandle and Ruth Lake Farm.
Jared shares his deeply personal journey—from ministry, recovery, and fatherhood to becoming a major force for awareness, prevention, and victim support in Northwest Florida. He breaks down how human trafficking is impacting...
In this episode, Chuck sits down with Walton County conservative leader Gordon Porter for a wide–ranging conversation on faith, politics, and raising up the next generation of leaders in the Florida Panhandle. Gordon shares his deep roots in local politics, from tagging along with his grandparents to Tea Party meetings as a teenager, to leading the North Walton Republican Club, to nearly unseating an incumbent in a local school boa...
In this episode of Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Dr. George Dockendorf, better known around Miramar Beach as “Dr. Dryp.” A former Air Force flight surgeon, emergency room physician, and now entrepreneur, Dr. Dockendorf shares his journey from military medicine to launching Aqua Vitae IV Bar, a health and wellness venture bringing personalized IV hydration therapy to the Florida Panhandle.
Together, Chuck and Dr. ...
In this episode of The Panhandle Pulse, host Chuck Asbury sits down with Chance Johnmeyer, founder of Recall Florida, to discuss how citizens across the state are pushing to restore accountability in local government.
From county commissioner corruption to legislative roadblocks in Tallahassee, Chance explains the grassroots movement to give all Florida counties the power to recall corrupt officials — and what every citizen can do t...
In this episode, Keith Gross shares his journey from entrepreneur to 2024 Republican primary candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida. Drawing inspiration from Donald Trump’s outsider mentality, Gross discusses why he believes it's time to challenge career politicians and restore accountability in Washington.
He opens up about his transition from Democrat to Republican, driven by a shift in values and a desire for smaller governmen...
In this conversation, Kurt Tobias shares his journey from the corporate world to founding Choona Clothing, a brand that embodies the spirit of the Florida Panhandle. He discusses the challenges of starting a clothing line, including manufacturing in the U.S., the importance of community support, and the connection to the outdoors. Kurt emphasizes the significance of giving back and maintaining a strong local identity while navigati...
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