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Today, I am celebrating my 100th episode of The Beach Speaks, and for some of you, that might not seem like a lot; however, for those who know me, this is quite a momentous event, especially when I look back at episode 50 when I almost quit. It is progress, not perfection, and I am so enjoying the journey!!

Speaking into a microphone has always been easy for me, but the rest of the production process has been a challenge to master. I learned A LOT - not just the tech but what I am truly capable of when I listen to the beach and step out of my comfort zone.

Like the ocean, the gratitude in my heart for how the beach speaks to me is deep and expansive. It connects us in many ways, and it is a joy to share it with you!

Instead of making this episode one of those highlight reels or best of, I decided to go back to the last 50 episodes and listen to my guests' responses to the question I always ask: How is the beach speaking to you today?

Listen as my guests share the many ways the beach is speaking to them - at the moment. The themes vary, from how they feel at the beach to precious memories of time spent there to how it speaks to the soul. The responses may vary, but one thing connects us all: the beach does speak - we only have to listen!

My deep gratitude to my guests on this episode (in order of appearance):
Ramona Crabtree-Falkner
Austin Riggins
Michelle Cleveland
Leanne and Lyle, Beach Travel Wine
Jen Hardy
Oneiki Jackson
Amanda Esposito
Annora Lemieux
Jennifer Young and John Bailey
Nada Frazier
Alise Saunders
Cathi Taucher
Marc Cordon
Amanda Soler
Pam Uzzell
Jenny Paul
Jessie Regundberg
Jane Rosen
Mary Carroll Moore
Rabiah Coon
Sindia Rivera-Jimenez
Judi Dunlap
Emily Pasnak-Lapchick

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks

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Joining me today is my guest Erin, co-host of Three Kitchens Podcast. Listen as Erin takes us on a flavorful journey of foodie fun with stories of indulging in gourmet treats while on a kayak camping trip and her family's unforgettable beach cookout using an "earth oven." Plus, we dive into the connections between our plates and the planet and how we can cook, eat, and live more mindfully.

Be sure to listen to the end, where Erin shares her golden foodie rule and the truth behind cilantro - love it or hate it!

Listen to my episode on Three Kitchens here: S5, E19: Dreamy Italian Eggplant Parmesan with guest Paige Friend from The Beach Speaks Podcast

More about Three Kitchens Podcast: https://www.threekitchenspodcast.com/

My Octopus Teacher: My Octopus Teacher (YouTube trailer)

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks

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Have you ever felt the winter chill complicate your love for the beach?

In this episode of The Beach Speaks, I reflect on a cold December morning at the beach in North Florida, reminiscing about the tropical warmth of Costa Rica and my nostalgic trip to Puerto Rico in 1986.

From college swim team adventures on a semi-private beach in San Juan to savoring fresh pineapples and unforgettable connections, I recount my first tropical beach experience with vivid, sunlit nostalgia.

Special Announcement:
I’m thrilled to announce an upcoming project: a Beach Speaks room spray inspired by the serene scent of the shoreline!

Also, as we near the show's 100th episode milestone, I invite you to celebrate with me! Tell me, how is the beach speaking to you today? Send me an Email or Voicemail and I'll share it on the show.

Email: paige@thebeachspeaks.com
Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheBeachSpeaks

Let this episode be your escape from winter’s chill, bringing the warmth and beauty of the beach closer to home.

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks

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What do you say to a friend who is grieving a tragic loss? What do you do?

Michelle Cleveland answers these questions and more in her book Steps in the Sand, How to Help a Grieving Friend.

Drawing inspiration from her poem The Beach, Michelle weaves her painful, lived experience with grief and loss with practical advice for anyone who wants to support a grieving friend. Like, what do you say? - or NOT say? What do you do? - or NOT do? We want to be helpful, not hurtful.

In 2016, Michelle endured the heartbreaking loss of two out of her four children to suicide. Although our conversation is more about the beach and how it relates to the grieving process, there is mention of suicide, so please, if this topic is difficult or triggering for you, be mindful to stop and take a self-care break whenever you feel it’s necessary. The beach and I are here for you.

Guest links:
Project 24 Seven app GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/ddd56fb0

Website: https://project24seven.org/

Buy her book Steps in the Sand here: https://www.amazon.com/Steps-sand-help-grieving-friend/dp/B0DD47K772/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks

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Ever wonder why so many Florida beach lovers choose to stay put during hurricanes?

In this episode, I reflect on the experience of enduring storms, sharing personal stories from the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. We explore why we chose to ride out the storms rather than evacuate, driven by our unwavering connection to the beach.

I recount my own hurricane cleanup efforts with friends and how our sense of community keeps us anchored. Guest Jen Hardy offers her insights on why her family decided to hunker down, discussing the extensive preparations and safety measures they've taken. Her perspective provides a glimpse into the sense of security and community support that often outweighs the urge to leave.

Drawing from anecdotes and excerpts from a New Yorker article, I delve into the resilient spirit of Floridians who prepare, hunker down, and ride out the storms, showcasing our unyielding bond with our coastal homes.


Article from the New Yorker magazine: The Relentlessness of Florida Hurricane Season by Carolyn Kormann https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-relentlessness-of-florida-hurricane-season

The Jen Hardy Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejenhardy

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks

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In this episode, I share my eventful month, which included a fabulous trip to Italy, an unexpected bout with the flu, and the devastating and unprecedented impact of Hurricane Helene on our Florida Gulf Coast.

It all started with exploring Venice, Florence, Siena, Sorrento, Capri, and Rome, soaking in historic sites and delicious food, and even finding a few beaches.

Upon returning, I quickly fell ill, causing delays in my podcast schedule, making me fear losing my beach-loving audience. Then Hurricane Helene hit, bringing devastation to the Gulf Coast where many friends and family live, although Jacksonville Beach was relatively unscathed.

I reflect on the destruction of our beach communities, how we prepare for hurricanes, and how we maintain resilience in tough times.

Through it all, I find solace in the beach, which reminds us of its healing power. I hope this episode offers a bit of hope and connection for everyone facing their own storms.

To thank my loyal listeners, I’m offering a small beachy gift to those who message me at paige@thebeachspeaks.com

The beach is speaking.
Are you listening?

Mentioned in this episode:
Jamaican Beach Lifeguard Vibes: Stories of Heroic Rescues, Coconut Climbing, and Scuba Adventures with Oneike Jackson: https://www.buzzsprout.com/357242/episodes/13491902

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks

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In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Sindia M. Rivera-Jiménez, Ph.D., a native of Puerto Rico who was born and raised near the ocean. With a deep love for the beach, Sindia built a beautiful life in Puerto Rico, earning a degree in engineering, meeting her husband, and starting a family. The ocean was always a central part of her life.

However, a unique opportunity to advance her career took her away from her beloved beaches to the "swamps" of Central Florida, where she became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education and an Affiliate Faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Facing the challenge of teaching Chemistry in English—a language she learned later in life—Sindia's story is one of resilience, adaptation, and maintaining her beach-loving spirit.

In this episode, Sindia shares her experience of transitioning from the shores of Puerto Rico to landlocked Central Florida, coping with the distance from family and the ocean, and finding ways to stay connected to her roots.

For all the beach lovers out there who find themselves far from the coast, Sindia offers hope, inspiration, and practical tips for keeping the spirit of the sea alive, no matter where you are.

What do you do when you're landlocked and need to "reach the beach?"
Click the "Send Us a Text Message" at the top of the Summary and let me know!

About my Guest:
Sindia M. Rivera-Jiménez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Department of Engineering Education
Affiliate Faculty of Chemical Engineering Department
Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks

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This audio version of my podcast newsletter starts with a heartfelt story called "The Water" by Rachel LaPresti, touching on how the beach affects us all. I also dive into Waterlust, an innovative eco-apparel company with a fun facts newsletter —did you know sharks could be exposed to cocaine through pollution? I also talk about my recent paddleboarding adventures at sunrise, complete with coffee, dolphins, and a potential shark sighting!

If more beach is what you crave, sign up for my newsletter at thebeachspeaks.com

Learn more about Waterlust here: https://waterlust.com/
Sign up for my newsletter! https://thebeachspeaks.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

• Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=77845359
• Subscribe to the Podcast: https://thebeachspeaks.com/
• Listen and Subscribe on YouTube
• Follow on Apple and Spotify and share it with your friends!
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachspeaks/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheBeachSpeaks