Episodes

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris sits down with Alexandria Ayala Long, CEO of the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, to discuss the growing housing crisis, the changing face of homelessness, and the collaborative efforts working to make a difference across the community. Alexandria shares how the organization's annual Mayor's Ball brought together nearly 500 community leaders and raised approximately $500,000 to support housing assistance, emergency rental funding, an...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris Moody sits down with Doug Barrow, independent candidate for Florida House District 94, to discuss his campaign, his priorities for Palm Beach County, and his vision for a more community-focused approach to government. A business owner with a background in the hospitality industry, Barrow shares what inspired him to run for office and why he believes local politics should prioritize people over party lines. He discusses his positions on res...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris Moody sits down with Elizabeth Holmes, candidate for Florida House District 94 and a Palm Beach County educator with 16 years of teaching experience, to discuss her journey into politics and the issues she believes are most important to local families. Holmes shares how her experiences in the classroom inspired her to run for office, from witnessing the challenges students face to confronting low teacher pay and the growing cost of living....

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with Amy Kight, CEO of Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, to explore the vital work being done to protect and rehabilitate Palm Beach County's wildlife. Amy shares her lifelong passion for animals and the more than 20 years she has spent at Bush Wildlife, from animal care and education to executive leadership. She takes us behind the scenes of what happens when an injured wild animal arrives at the sanctuary—from the initial examination and diagnos...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, I sit down with Travis Conway, Executive Director of the Edna Runner Education Center, to learn how a longtime Jupiter community institution is expanding its mission and changing the lives of local children. Named after Travis's aunt, Edna Runner—known as the "unofficial Black mayor of Jupiter"—the center has spent nearly 40 years providing education, support, mentorship, and a safe haven for children and families in the Limestone Creek community. Tr...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with West Palm Beach community advocate and Flagler Drive Preservation Initiative founder Linda Grosz for an in-depth conversation about the rapid growth and development reshaping the city. Linda shares her perspective from the North End, where new high-rise developments and construction are transforming the waterfront. She discusses the challenges residents are experiencing, from traffic and parking to road conditions, construction impac...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with local author Susannah Marren to discuss her latest novel, Palm Beach Confidential—a story of family, secrets, loyalty, betrayal, and the pressures of maintaining appearances in the glamorous world of Palm Beach. Susannah takes us inside the Barrows family, a powerful matriarch and her three adult daughters whose lives begin to unravel when secrets from the past threaten everything they've built. We explore the inspiration behind the ...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, we sit down with Dre Baldwin, founder and CEO of Work On Your Game, for a wide-ranging conversation about professional sports, entrepreneurship, leadership, discipline, and the power of execution. Dre shares how he went from barely making his high school basketball team to building a nine-year professional basketball career—not simply through talent, but through sales, marketing, preparation, consistency, and the willingness to create his own opportu...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Heather Needelman, Senior Litigation Counsel at Radar Law Group, to break down the proposed amendment in plain English. Heather explains how the proposed changes would increase the homestead exemption, what that could mean for taxable property values, and why the impact could look very different from one city or county to another. We also explore some of the biggest questions surrounding the proposal, including how municipalities...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with the newly crowned Miss America, Regan Hutsell, for an inspiring conversation about her journey from professional dancer and Rockette to the national stage. Regan takes us behind the scenes of her Miss America experience in West Palm Beach, sharing what it was like competing alongside 51 other women, the genuine friendships and support that developed throughout the week, and the emotional moments leading up to her crowning. She al...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with multifaceted Palm Beach County artist Craig McInnis for a fascinating conversation about creativity, murals, music, storytelling, and the business of being an artist. Craig shares the journey that took him from discovering his passion for art at a young age to building a career spanning painting, illustration, large-scale murals, music, and his longtime role as creative director for Fright Nights at the South Florida Fairgrounds....

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris Moody sits down with A.J. Titus, president of Signarama and executive director of United Franchise Group, for a conversation about family business, entrepreneurship, franchising, leadership, and the rapid evolution of Palm Beach County. A.J. shares what it was like growing up in a family deeply rooted in franchising, from debates around the dinner table to working in the West Palm Beach Signarama location and eventually becoming president ...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris sits down with Joe Radich, founder of Renewing Our Heroes and a leader at R3 Health and MedHouse, to explore a different approach to healthcare—and a deeply personal mission to give back to those who serve others. Joe shares his journey from growing up in a New York City firefighter family to working in healthcare and ultimately embracing a more preventative, integrative approach to medicine. He discusses the philosophy behind MedHouse, th...

What makes Palm Beach County such a powerhouse for high school sports? On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Alex Peterman, longtime sports writer for the Palm Beach Post, for an inside look at the athletes, coaches, rivalries, and stories shaping the local sports landscape. Alex shares his unexpected journey from theater and teaching into sports journalism, how his background in education has influenced the way he interviews and connects with teenage athletes, and w...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Tareq Salahi, Chairman of the International Polo Tour, to discuss the ambitious plans for a new state-of-the-art indoor polo stadium and cultural center coming to Palm Beach County, with a proposed opening in 2030. Tareq shares the vision behind the project, why Wellington is the perfect home for the International Polo Tour, and how arena polo could introduce the sport to entirely new audiences. The planned venue will feature cli...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Christine Frederick, CEO of The Lord's Place, to take an honest look at homelessness in Palm Beach County and what it really takes to help people rebuild their lives. Christine shares how her career led her to working with people facing extraordinary challenges and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the work happening every day at The Lord's Place—from outreach and basic needs to employment training, mental health support, life...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with local author James Patrick Rooney, whose new book, For the Love of Money, chronicles an extraordinary life and a remarkable four-decade career in wealth management. James takes us from his early days growing up in New York and playing hockey at Providence College to a life-changing spinal cord injury that left him paraplegic—and the unexpected opportunity that led him from a questionable penny-stock boiler room to Merrill Lynch. ...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Kelley Whiter, CEO of Philanthropy Tank, to explore how young people can turn their ideas for making a difference into real, sustainable change in their communities. Kelley shares her own journey from a 16-year career in law to philanthropy, and how personal experiences and a lifelong commitment to service ultimately led her to Philanthropy Tank. The organization, often described as a real-life "Shark Tank" for middle and high sc...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Wendell Maxey, a Sports Illustrated reporter, author, basketball coach, scout, and longtime sports writer who recently made Palm Beach his new home. Wendell discusses his new book, Called for Traveling: 20 Years of Sports Writing from the NBA to Europe and Back Again, a collection of stories from two decades covering basketball, international sports, and some of the biggest names in athletics. He shares how he broke into sports j...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Kelly Smallridge, President and CEO of the Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches, to explore how Palm Beach County has transformed from an economy centered around tourism, real estate, agriculture, and construction into one of the country's emerging hubs for finance, technology, innovation, life sciences, and aviation. Kelly shares her own journey growing up in Palm Beach County and spending nearly four decades with the ...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Michael Simms, Managing Partner of Veracity Advisors, for a wide-ranging conversation about financial planning, tax strategy, entrepreneurship, business valuations, and what it really takes to build a business that can thrive without its owner. Michael shares the personal journey that brought him to Palm Beach County, from his military service and years in corporate healthcare to a major life transition that ultimately led him in...

On this special election edition of The Palm Beach Current, Chris Moody sits down with Jacob Noble, candidate for Palm Beach County Court Judge, Group 12, ahead of the upcoming election. With more than 20 years of experience as an attorney, over 50 jury trials, appellate experience, and a career spanning criminal and civil law, Noble shares what inspired him to pursue a seat on the bench and why he believes his experience in both the public defender's office and private practice has prepared ...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, host Chris Moody sits down with Renee Layman, CEO of the Center for Child Counseling, for an important conversation about the growing youth mental health crisis—and why prevention, not just treatment, is the key to healthier families and communities. Renee explains how adverse childhood experiences, social media, screen time, and increasing levels of anxiety are affecting today's children, while offering practical strategies parents can implement imm...

On this episode of The Palm Beach Current, Chris sits down with Greg Ross-Smith, General Manager of PMI Palm Properties, to unpack the realities of property management in Palm Beach County. Greg shares his unique journey from South Africa to England, Australia, New York, and ultimately Jupiter, Florida, where he now helps property owners protect their investments and achieve true peace of mind. The conversation dives into the growing rental market, why more homeowners are choosing to rent ins...