Podcast

Ryan and Jordan visit Dolphin Tiki, a beloved waterfront restaurant on Marco Island. Joined by Jackie, the general manager, they dive into the history of the restaurant, its hidden-gem status, their signature dishes like the famous Key Lime Pie, and fun behind-the-scenes stories. From chatting about dolphins and manatees to tasting delicious seafood and sushi, it’s a vibrant, heartwarming look at one of the island’s most loved local spots.

We sat down with Michael O’Regan, known to many as “Moose,” to hear the story behind Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub on Marco Island. Moose shared the journey from the pub’s original days in Naples to its new home on Marco, how they built an authentic Irish menu, and the challenges and successes they faced along the way. We talked about community roots, live music, trivia nights, and the deep Irish spirit that runs through everything they do — a conversation full of history, heart, and a few great laughs.

We sat down with Tamara Goehler and Stephen Gray, two Marco Island residents running a joint campaign for City Council, to talk about their vision for the community. They shared how they first connected, what inspired them to run, and the core issues they’re passionate about — from protecting Marco’s small-town character against overdevelopment to preserving its sense of community and managing tourism responsibly. Along the way, they also reflected on their personal journeys, love of local spots like Dolphin Tiki and Smith House, and even swapped concert stories from Jimi Hendrix to Pink Floyd.

We sat down with Deb Henry to hear about her journey from running a construction business in Pennsylvania to becoming deeply embedded in the Marco Island community. Deb shared her passion for clear communication, ideas for a community newsletter, her focus on water quality solutions, and how grant-writing could boost city projects without raising taxes. We also dove into her volunteer work, her vision for connecting city council members more personally with residents, and a fun look at her favorite island eats and hidden gems. It’s a conversation full of heart, leadership, and hometown love.

We caught up with Becky Irwin to talk about her deep roots on Marco Island, from arriving in the early ’80s as a kid to becoming a city council member and community fixture. Becky reflected on growing up during Marco’s early development, the dramatic changes she’s witnessed—especially since COVID—and how the island continues to evolve with a younger, more engaged full-time population. She shared stories of local history, family traditions, old-school burger stands, the value of preserving community character, and her love for the island’s unique mix of past and progress.

We sat down with John R. Johnson, founder of Down Goes Iguana, to hear the wild and surprisingly heartfelt story behind Marco Island’s iguana problem — and the man tackling it one shot at a time. John shared how protecting a pair of burrowing owls led him into wildlife removal, what it takes to humanely hunt invasive species with high-powered air rifles, and the surprising challenges iguanas pose to the environment, pets, and native wildlife. We also got into wild tales from the field, creative ways iguana meat is used in classrooms and tacos, and why John considers this work a form of environmental stewardship.

We sat down with Raines White — better known as DJ Raindrop — to talk about how a violin-playing, choir-singing kid from Florida turned into a rising EDM and house music producer with millions of streams. Raines shared how he got into music production during the pandemic, his journey through different genres and stage names, and the local scene that supports him now. From DJing Saturday nights at Paddy Murphy’s to dreaming of playing Red Rocks and Club Space, Raines talked goals, gear, small-town gigs, and big-time ambitions — all while showing love for Marco Island and its community spirit.