Kingpins and Catalysts
Kingpins and Catalysts
Kingpins & Catalysts tells the stories of First Coast legends—giants in their fields, people who have left an indelible mark on the city’s identity. In a series of revealing, long-form interviews, First Coast Connect Host Anne Schindler explores the connections between her guests’ personal experiences and their public impact, and how their stories also shaped the story of Jacksonville itself.Social links:
From Royalty to Revolution: Dr. Johnnetta Cole carries on a legacy of leadership
Dr. Johnnetta Cole’s legacy is nearly impossible to capture in a single conversation. As the first Black woman president of Spelman College, a civil rights activist, an anthropologist, and a leader in education and social justice, she has shaped institutions, movements and minds. But she is also de…
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You Can’t Unhear the Truth: The Work of 904Ward and Dr. Kimberly Allen
For years, Dr. Kimberly Allen has led tough conversations about race, equity, and the systems that shape Jacksonville. As CEO of 904Ward, she has worked to bridge racial divides, uncover hard truths, and ensure that Jacksonville’s history is told honestly. But this work is personal. From the lesson…
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Eastside Story: Former Officer Kim Varner on the Law, the Streets, and the Violence that Claimed His Own Son
Kim Varner spent nearly three decades as a Jacksonville police officer, following in the footsteps of his father and brothers. He worked some of the most dangerous assignments – narcotics, SWAT. He was involved in six police shootings. But nothing he did on the job could stem the violence that came…
56:15
Rebound: How Artis Gilmore Defeated The Odds and Helped Unify The City
Artis Gilmore’s journey is the definition of perseverance. Before he was a Hall of Famer, before he was an NBA star, he was a kid growing up in a segregated town in rural Florida, living amid poverty and racial terror. But basketball was his salvation. His size, drive and commitment led him to Jack…
25:05
A Former DEA Agent’s Toughest Case – His Own Son’s
Mark Baughman spent his career chasing criminals—with NCIS, DEA and running undercover vice and narcotics operations. But his belief in the justice system is tempered by personal experience, and a view that shifted when the war on drugs hit home. His own son, a former addict, is now serving a 20…
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‘Give them 5 minutes and listen’: Ken Amaro on what it means to be an advocate
For decades, Jacksonville knew Ken Amaro as the bow-tied crusader of consumer journalism—the man behind “I’m Telling Ken.” But his behind-the-scenes persona is more nuanced: passionate music fan, volunteer mediator, ordained pastor. Now, he’s taken his advocacy from the world of television into the…
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Second Life: Dana Miller’s Journey from Crack Kingpin to Corner Barber:
Dana Miller’s life story is a study in extremes. A notorious kingpin during the crack scourge on Jacksonville’s Eastside, he once embodied the drug trade’s fast money, mortal danger and, ultimately, devastating loss. Shot 10 times, imprisoned for a decade and grieving the violent deaths of his brot…
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Hip-Hop, Heartbreak, and the Science of Storytelling: Willie Evans Jr. on Remixing Loss
What happens when a band is on the cusp of global dominance—only to have it all taken away? As part of the Jacksonville-based hip-hop group Asamov, Willie Evans Jr. helped create a sound that was both distinctly Duval and poised to reshape the Southern rap landscape. But it never happened. I…
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The Trials of a Lifetime: Ann Finnell on Defending the Accused
Ann Finnell didn’t set out to become a criminal defense attorney—but once she started, there was no turning back. From the exoneration of Brenton Butler, a 15-year-old wrongfully accused of murder, to her role in the case of accused child-killer Casey Anthony, Finnell has spent decades vigorously d…
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