St. Augustine Chronicles Podcast

St. Augustine Chronicles Podcast The who, the where and the how'd they get there... in St Augustine, FL. Welcome to the curious and c

What happens when a tough, no-nonsense Midwest athlete joins the Navy on a whim… and eventually becomes a history-making...
06/11/2026

What happens when a tough, no-nonsense Midwest athlete joins the Navy on a whim… and eventually becomes a history-making police chief in St. Augustine?

In this episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen talks with Jennifer Michaux about her journey from suburban Chicago to the Navy, from military service to SAPD, and what it was like to build a career in spaces where women were still breaking through. It’s a fascinating conversation with a woman who is funny, tough, grounded, and absolutely a trailblazer.

👉 Full episode link in the comments.

What does a city manager actually do — and who is the person behind that role in St. Augustine?In this episode of The St...
05/31/2026

What does a city manager actually do — and who is the person behind that role in St. Augustine?

In this episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen sits down with David Birchim, the current city manager for the City of St. Augustine, to talk about his path from urban planner to city manager, the transformation of downtown over the last few decades, and what it’s really like to help manage a historic city shaped by tourism, preservation, development, archaeology, and public pressure.

There’s also some fascinating behind-the-scenes discussion about major local projects and how City Hall has evolved over time.

👉 Full episode link in the comments.

What happens when a young woman moves to St. Augustine with a business degree, buys a 3-chair salon with no industry exp...
05/15/2026

What happens when a young woman moves to St. Augustine with a business degree, buys a 3-chair salon with no industry experience, and figures it out as she goes?

In this episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen talks with Kristy Weeks of Panache Salon and Spa about how she built Panache from a tiny downtown salon into the largest salon in St. Johns County — while raising kids, navigating the realities of being a woman in business, and creating real opportunities for the people who work with her. It’s a great conversation about business, leadership, old St. Augustine, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

👉 Full episode link in the comments.

What if one of the most effective ways to reduce crime is to help people before they end up back in jail?In this episode...
05/01/2026

What if one of the most effective ways to reduce crime is to help people before they end up back in jail?

In this episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen talks with Sergeant Michael Clark of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office about the SWORD program, homeless outreach, re-entry, and the real stories behind second chances in St. Johns County. This isn’t just a conversation about law enforcement — it’s about addiction, accountability, community support, and what happens when someone finally gets the help they need to turn their life around.

One of the stories he tells is incredible.
👉 Full episode link in the comments.

🎄 Ever wonder who actually creates Nights of Lights — and what it really takes to pull it off year after year?In this ep...
04/09/2026

🎄 Ever wonder who actually creates Nights of Lights — and what it really takes to pull it off year after year?

In this episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen talks with Chris Fitts of Angels in the Architecture, the man behind decades of Nights of Lights installations in St. Augustine. From the early days of the event to the massive year-round planning it takes now, this is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the city’s most iconic traditions. There’s also a lot of old St. Augustine, surf culture, downtown history, and local-business perspective woven in.

👉 Full episode link in the comments.

How does a 16-year-old kid delivering wine end up helping build St. Augustine’s iconic winery? 🍷In this episode of The S...
03/26/2026

How does a 16-year-old kid delivering wine end up helping build St. Augustine’s iconic winery? 🍷

In this episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen talks with Charles Cox of San Sebastian Winery about the very unlikely path that led from early Florida winery experiments to opening San Sebastian in St. Augustine — plus what it was like to build the business, grow Florida wine, and watch both the winery and the city evolve over the years. It’s a fascinating local business story with a lot of St. Augustine history woven in.

👉 Full episode link in the comments.

What does it look like to spend a lifetime quietly changing lives in St. Augustine?In this episode of The St. Augustine ...
03/13/2026

What does it look like to spend a lifetime quietly changing lives in St. Augustine?

In this episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen talks with Ellen Walden, Executive Director of Home Again St. Johns, about growing up in old St. Augustine, her decades of service in the community, and the real work being done every day to help people facing homelessness, housing instability, addiction, and hardship.

This is a powerful, heartfelt conversation about compassion, dignity, and the difference one person can make over time.

👉 Full episode link in the comments.

🎙️ New episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles is live — and this one is a must-watch.City Commissioner Cynthia Garris s...
03/05/2026

🎙️ New episode of The St. Augustine Chronicles is live — and this one is a must-watch.

City Commissioner Cynthia Garris sits down with Karen to share the real story behind her journey: growing up between St. Augustine and Rhode Island, becoming a young mom, working her way up through local government, and why she believes it’s time to change how City Hall listens to the public — plus what’s driving her run for Mayor.

If you care about the future of St. Augustine (and love hearing the stories behind the people shaping it), you’ll want to watch this one. 👇 link to full episode in comments…

St. Augustine isn’t just a place… it’s a feeling—and Rosamond Parish has been painting that feeling for decades. 🎨✨In Ep...
02/12/2026

St. Augustine isn’t just a place… it’s a feeling—and Rosamond Parish has been painting that feeling for decades. 🎨✨

In Episode 20, Karen sits down with one of our favorite local artists to talk watercolor “magic,” Lincolnville’s living history, why she only paints from her own photos, and the surprising ways art becomes part of a family’s story (including a proposal in the Lightner courtyard 🥹). If you love St. Augustine’s architecture, light, and soul—this one’s for you.

Want the whole conversation? Full episode in the comments 👇

🚨 Big local news (first time public): Kookaburra Coffee is building a BREWERY. 🍺☕️On this week’s St. Augustine Chronicle...
01/30/2026

🚨 Big local news (first time public): Kookaburra Coffee is building a BREWERY. 🍺☕️

On this week’s St. Augustine Chronicles, I sat down with Megan Vidal + Spencer Ho**er, the founders of Kookaburra Coffee, to hear the full story — from a handwritten “business for sale” sign at 24 Cathedral to growing into 9 locations, all while staying fiercely focused on customer experience and “St. Augustine local.”

And yes… they share early details about their new brewery project planned for SR-207 and the bigger “campus” vision behind it.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube (link in comments)
Tell me: What should they name the brewery? 👀

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