Tampa news, explained by the people involved.
Beyond the News WFLA Interviews gives WFLA room to ask direct, useful questions beyond the headline. Recent conversations move from airport construction and downtown redevelopment to festivals, disaster loans, theme parks, and Americans caught near overseas conflict.
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Beyond the News WFLA Interviews works like an extended news notebook for Tampa Bay and the wider stories touching it. It favors direct questions, named sources, and practical detail over long monologues or personality-driven banter. Recent episodes show a clear pattern: someone close to an event, project, agency, attraction, or emergency response effort sits down to explain what is happening. The pace is matter-of-fact. Gordon Byrd appears across many of the excerpts, steering conversations toward logistics, context, and public use. Reed Shepard also appears in an airport-focused episode, opening a discussion of Tampa International Airport’s first full ticketing-level redesign since the airport opened. That conversation is typical of the feed’s utility: it explains why old airline office layouts no longer fit modern travel, and how kiosks, self-bag tagging, passenger volume, and added counters shape the renovation. Other episodes keep the same practical lens on Tampa’s built environment. Rivergate Tower becomes a discussion about skyline identity, the Hillsborough River, Riverwalk positioning, downtown growth, and planned upgrades under new ownership. The show is equally comfortable with festivals and local culture. The Loquat Festival episode turns a small Florida fruit into a conversation about botany, East Asian domestication, fragrant blossoms, and a regional FarmNet event. The Sugar Sand Festival segment tracks Clearwater Beach crowds, international sand artists, augmented reality, projection mapping, sports themes, and the Declaration anniversary element in the exhibit. Legoland’s Galacticoaster episode shifts toward family travel and attraction design, focusing on an indoor roller coaster where riders customize part of the experience before launch. River O’Green brings in downtown event planning, kid entrepreneurs, dance performances, parade routes, parking, street closures, and the environmental handling of the river dye. The show also makes space for harder service journalism. An SBA interview explains disaster-loan eligibility, applications, interest rates, payment timing, and customer-service options for businesses and nonprofits affected by cold-weather damage. A Grey Bull Rescue conversation moves into conflict, evacuation risk, border uncertainty, misinformation, terrorism concerns, and requests for help or donations. Across these subjects, the show’s differentiator is its closeness to the people operating the machinery of local life. It is not glossy civic boosterism, though many guests are promoting events or projects. It is a steady interview feed for people who want names, timelines, locations, processes, and the reasoning behind decisions. The strongest episodes answer small but consequential questions: where to park, what changed, who qualifies, what is safe, and why a familiar place will look different next time.
Made for: Suited to Tampa Bay listeners who want concise, source-driven context on civic projects, local events, business issues, travel changes, and public-safety concerns. It also fits news followers who prefer interviews with officials and organizers over studio debate.
What sets it apart: The show’s edge is its access to people directly managing the subject at hand, from airport communications and downtown development to festival operations, SBA disaster lending, and rescue response. It turns local headlines into practical explanations with names, places, and next steps.
Interviews conducted by the WFLA Radio newsroom in Tampa Florida, with local and national newsmakers. Be sure to follow us!
Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A grounded look at Robles Park's mixed-income redevelopment in Tampa.
Beyond the News treats the Robles Park redevelopment as more than a site plan. Jerome Ryans and Dan Coakley lay out Robles Park Village as mixed income, mixed use, and commercial, while the episode keeps circling back to the property's history, its isolation, and the broad…
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The Tampa Housing Authority is demolishing the 1951 Robles Park housing complex to build Robles Park Village, a mixed-income development with 850 units and 100,000 square feet of commercial space.
Tampa International Airport is undertaking its first major redesign of the ticketing level since opening in 1971.
This episode discusses Tampa International Airport's first major redesign of its ticketing level since 1971, focusing on modernizing the space to accommodate more passengers and updated airline operations.
This episode discusses the Florida Loquat Festival in New Port Richey, featuring interviews with organizers who explain the loquat tree's history, characteristics, and the festival's purpose.
This episode discusses the acquisition of Tampa's iconic Rivergate Tower by Ally Capital Group and Banyan Street, exploring its investment potential and planned upgrades as part of downtown development.
This episode features an interview with Carissa Shatanoff, COO of the Sugar Sand Festival, discussing the upcoming spring event on Clearwater Beach, including its sports theme, augmented reality features, and celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration.
This episode features an interview with Legoland ambassador Julie Estrada and project director Tom Storer discussing the new Lego Galaxy indoor roller coaster and Galacticoaster at Legoland Florida.
This episode features an interview with Captain Willis Reese about the fifth annual Sunshine State Drone Expo at Azalea Middle School, focusing on its origins, growth, and educational impact in drone technology and safety.
This episode interviews Paul and Brandy Miller, leaders of the HOA Reform League in Florida, discussing their personal experiences with HOA issues and their activism for reform and state legislation.
This episode discusses Florida's $30 million state funding for pediatric cancer research grants, featuring an interview with Dr.
This episode discusses a free seven-week virtual course offered by USF in partnership with Jabil and the Tampa Bay Lightning to train business professionals on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
This episode discusses the demolition and redevelopment of Robles Park Village in Tampa, featuring interviews with Tampa Housing Authority CEO Jerome Ryans and developer Dan Coakley about the project's impact.