In this special host-only episode of Hidden Florida & Beyond, Frankie, Amelia, and John sit down to catch up, overshare, and accidentally learn way more about each other than anyone was expecting. 

Amelia explains why she found herself trying to sneak onto the set of a television show filmed in Fort Lauderdale, reveals her plan to become an extra just to recruit a guest for the podcast, and shares the details of her upcoming European honeymoon adventure which sparks a discussion about last names, future kids, and how every family seems to have a completely different set of rules about how all that is supposed to work.

The biggest surprise of the episode comes from John, who opens up about growing up in Gary, Indiana, surviving circumstances that could have taken his life in a very different direction, and why he's finally considering writing a book for his sons. 

We also discuss some childhood shoplifting stories, gambling in Malta, and why Frankie believes everyone is secretly calling him an idiot in professional emails. 

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

In this special host-only episode of Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond, Frankie, Amelia, and John sit down to catch up, overshare, and accidentally learn way more about each other than anyone was expecting.&nbsp;
Amelia explains why she found herself trying to sneak onto the set of a television show filmed in Fort Lauderdale, reveals her plan to become an extra just to recruit a guest for the podcast, and shares the details of her upcoming European honeymoon adventure which sparks a discussion about last names, future kids, and how every family seems to have a completely different set of rules about how all that is supposed to work.
The biggest surprise of the episode comes from John, who opens up about growing up in Gary, Indiana, surviving circumstances that could have taken his life in a very different direction, and why he's finally considering writing a book for his sons.&nbsp;
We also discuss some childhood shoplifting stories, gambling in Malta, and why Frankie believes everyone is secretly calling him an idiot in professional emails. <a href="https://fau-my.sharepoint.com/personal/hnelson5_fau_edu/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B201A3A66-B660-4146-82E1-FFA704130C35%7D&amp;file=Hostful02.docx&amp;action=default&amp;mobileredirect=true"></a>
Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

Welcome to Hidden Florida and Beyond.

This is a show about the people, passions, and moments shaping culture, leadership, and influence.

Each episode dives beneath the surface with athletes, entertainers, business leaders, and cultural figures to talk ambition, discipline, success, failure, reinvention, and the paths that get people where they are. Some conversations start around major moments or careers, others wander into unexpected territory, but all of them are candid, wide-ranging, and driven by curiosity. 

Big guests. Real access. No small talk.

<ul></ul>
Welcome to Hidden Florida and Beyond.
This is a show about the people, passions, and moments shaping culture, leadership, and influence.
Each episode dives beneath the surface with athletes, entertainers, business leaders, and cultural figures to talk ambition, discipline, success, failure, reinvention, and the paths that get people where they are. Some conversations start around major moments or careers, others wander into unexpected territory, but all of them are candid, wide-ranging, and driven by curiosity. 
Big guests. Real access. No small talk.
<ul></ul>

Hidden Florida and Beyond

Hostful: Sugar Friend

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/85715152-0fdc-447f-90ac-b4c1011f60f1/transcript

Dr. Jacob Silverstone, board-certified surgeon, author, former residency director at Mount Sinai Medical Center, and Medical Director of Rewired Ketamine, joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a powerful conversation about trauma, mental health, and the emerging role of ketamine therapy in treating PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. 

This episode is especially personal. For the past year, Dr. Silverstone has been working with Frankie's wife, Jessica, helping her process childhood trauma, abusive relationships, and years of treatment-resistant depression. Together, they share the story of how traditional therapy, medication, and other approaches only got them so far before ketamine therapy helped unlock breakthroughs they never expected.

Dr. Silverstone breaks down what ketamine actually is, why it's often misunderstood, and how it helps patients revisit painful memories without reliving the emotional weight attached to them. He explains the concept of neuroplasticity, how trauma gets "stuck" in the brain, and why healing isn't about erasing the past but finally processing it.

The conversation also dives into some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding ketamine treatment, including comparisons to recreational drug use, the impact of high-profile stories like Matthew Perry's death, and why medically supervised ketamine therapy is very different from the headlines many people associate with the drug.

Beyond mental health, Dr. Silverstone discusses his work with chronic pain patients, the connection between physical pain and emotional stress, and why many people suffering from anxiety, trauma, or depression may not even realize how much those experiences are affecting their daily lives. 

Along the way, Jessica shares her own journey through treatment, including the unexpected realization that she wanted to become a mother, memories she had buried for decades, and the work required after therapy sessions to turn breakthrough moments into lasting change. 

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

Dr. Jacob Silverstone, board-certified surgeon, author, former residency director at Mount Sinai Medical Center, and Medical Director of&nbsp;Rewired Ketamine, joins Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond for a powerful conversation about trauma, mental health, and the emerging role of ketamine therapy in treating PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.&nbsp;
This episode is especially personal. For the past year, Dr. Silverstone has been working with Frankie's wife, Jessica, helping her process childhood trauma, abusive relationships, and years of treatment-resistant depression. Together, they share the story of how traditional therapy, medication, and other approaches only got them so far before ketamine therapy helped unlock breakthroughs they never expected.
Dr. Silverstone breaks down what ketamine actually is, why it's often misunderstood, and how it helps patients revisit painful memories without reliving the emotional weight attached to them. He explains the concept of neuroplasticity, how trauma gets "stuck" in the brain, and why healing isn't about erasing the past but finally processing it.
The conversation also dives into some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding ketamine treatment, including comparisons to recreational drug use, the impact of high-profile stories like Matthew Perry's death, and why medically supervised ketamine therapy is very different from the headlines many people associate with the drug.
Beyond mental health, Dr. Silverstone discusses his work with chronic pain patients, the connection between physical pain and emotional stress, and why many people suffering from anxiety, trauma, or depression may not even realize how much those experiences are affecting their daily lives.&nbsp;
Along the way, Jessica shares her own journey through treatment, including the unexpected realization that she wanted to become a mother, memories she had buried for decades, and the work required after therapy sessions to turn breakthrough moments into lasting change.&nbsp;
Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

Dr. Jacob Silverstone: Ketamine Therapy, Trauma & Healing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2f4fce71-e7db-4bb6-ad1e-b4ed012510d2/transcript

Just months after his first appearance on Hidden Florida & Beyond, Rana Ghosh returns under very different circumstances.

When Rana first joined the podcast, he was the Chief Commercial Officer of Spirit Airlines, helping lead one of America's most recognizable airlines through a challenging period. Before that episode even had time to make the rounds, Spirit's story took a dramatic turn. After years of financial struggles, a blocked merger, bankruptcy proceedings, and rising operating costs, the airline abruptly ceased operations in May 2026, bringing an end to more than three decades of service and impacting approximately 17,000 employees.

In this candid follow-up conversation, Rana pulls back the curtain on what the final days actually felt like inside the company. He shares the emotional reality of watching an organization he spent more than a decade helping build disappear, the shock employees experienced when the news broke, and why his immediate focus became helping former colleagues find their next opportunity. Along the way, he tells the story of hosting a "wake" for more than 100 Spirit employees at his home, where friends, coworkers, and families came together to process what happened and say goodbye to a company that many viewed as family.

Joined by his wife, former Miami City Ballet executive Chantell Ghosh, the conversation evolves into something much bigger than airlines. Together they discuss identity after career setbacks, the pressure of tying your self-worth to a job title, what happens when long-term plans suddenly disappear, and how they found themselves entering a completely unexpected new chapter at the same time.

The episode also dives into marriage, parenting, career pivots, travel adventures, airline perks, and the lessons they've learned from navigating major life changes together. 

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

Just months after his first appearance on Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond, Rana Ghosh returns under very different circumstances.
When Rana first joined the podcast, he was the Chief Commercial Officer of Spirit Airlines, helping lead one of America's most recognizable airlines through a challenging period. Before that episode even had time to make the rounds, Spirit's story took a dramatic turn. After years of financial struggles, a blocked merger, bankruptcy proceedings, and rising operating costs, the airline abruptly ceased operations in May 2026, bringing an end to more than three decades of service and impacting approximately 17,000 employees.
In this candid follow-up conversation, Rana pulls back the curtain on what the final days actually felt like inside the company. He shares the emotional reality of watching an organization he spent more than a decade helping build disappear, the shock employees experienced when the news broke, and why his immediate focus became helping former colleagues find their next opportunity. Along the way, he tells the story of hosting a "wake" for more than 100 Spirit employees at his home, where friends, coworkers, and families came together to process what happened and say goodbye to a company that many viewed as family.
Joined by his wife, former Miami City Ballet executive Chantell Ghosh, the conversation evolves into something much bigger than airlines. Together they discuss identity after career setbacks, the pressure of tying your self-worth to a job title, what happens when long-term plans suddenly disappear, and how they found themselves entering a completely unexpected new chapter at the same time.
The episode also dives into marriage, parenting, career pivots, travel adventures, airline perks, and the lessons they've learned from navigating major life changes together.&nbsp;
Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

Former Spirit Airlines CCO Rana Ghosh Returns: What Really Happened When Spirit Shut Down & What Comes Next with special guest Chantell Ghosh

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/be7b662b-c2bc-4cfc-a7d7-b4e500090f26/transcript

Travel writer, food journalist, and The Browardist co-founder Jesse Scott joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a wide-ranging conversation about journalism, travel, local culture, and why Broward County deserves a bigger spotlight.

The conversation dives into the launch of The Browardist, his mission to create a daily source for local news and culture, and the challenges of building independent media in an era dominated by social media, AI, and content scraping. Jesse opens up about plagiarism, the changing media landscape, and why real reporting and human storytelling still matter.

Of course, the travel stories get wild. From documenting life near the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia to participating in sauna rituals in Latvia, temple ceremonies in Japan, and exploring Colombia long before it became a trendy destination, Jesse has seen firsthand how travel challenges assumptions and changes perspectives.

The episode also turns hyper-local, covering Broward's restaurant boom, hidden neighborhood gems, the best places worth driving to, and his case for why the 954 is better than the 305. Along the way, there are debates about Brightline, naked restaurants, Broward city slogans, dive bars, and what makes South Florida such a unique place to call home.

Hidden Florida & Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

Travel writer, food journalist, and The Browardist co-founder Jesse Scott joins Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond for a wide-ranging conversation about journalism, travel, local culture, and why Broward County deserves a bigger spotlight.
The conversation dives into the launch of The Browardist, his mission to create a daily source for local news and culture, and the challenges of building independent media in an era dominated by social media, AI, and content scraping. Jesse opens up about plagiarism, the changing media landscape, and why real reporting and human storytelling still matter.
Of course, the travel stories get wild. From documenting life near the Dari&eacute;n Gap between Panama and Colombia to participating in sauna rituals in Latvia, temple ceremonies in Japan, and exploring Colombia long before it became a trendy destination, Jesse has seen firsthand how travel challenges assumptions and changes perspectives.
The episode also turns hyper-local, covering Broward's restaurant boom, hidden neighborhood gems, the best places worth driving to, and his case for why the 954 is better than the 305. Along the way, there are debates about Brightline, naked restaurants, Broward city slogans, dive bars, and what makes South Florida such a unique place to call home.
Hidden Florida &amp; Beyond...where the real stories live beneath the surface.

Journalist Jesse Scott: The Browardist, Hidden Florida Gems & Stories From Around the World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ae3a741b-8945-47db-8821-b4df018b0147/transcript

Hostful: Sugar Friend

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