S4E10: A Moment of Calm: Real Talk on Mental Health with Psychologist Michelle White

April 17, 2026Podcast#azulmindspace, #bokeelia, #communitymatters, #EmotionalWellness, #floridapodcast, #islandstories, #matlacha, #mentalhealth, #MentalHealthMatters, #pineisland, #PineIslandExperience, #pineland, #psychotherapy, #SouthwestFlorida, #stjamescitypiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:43 — 35.2MB)

Mental health touches every one of us—but knowing where to begin isn’t always easy.

In this episode of the Pine Island 🌴 Experience Podcast, we sit down with Michelle White of Azul Mindspace, a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience, to talk about what mental wellness really looks like in everyday life.

🩵 From simple ways to reset your mood—like stepping outside and reconnecting with nature—to deeper conversations about therapy, stress, relationships, and healing, Michelle shares practical insight with warmth, compassion, and understanding.

Whether you’ve considered therapy or are just looking for small ways to care for your well-being, this episode offers something meaningful for everyone.

Michelle explains why Telehealth can work well.

✨“The convenience of it I think is one of the pluses that makes up for not being in the same room together. They are getting more out of it because they actually go. It’s also really nice to get a peek into their home environment. What it looks there and how they are at home, relaxed, in a sweatshirt and ponytail versus how they would show up to an person therapy session. I think it’s a little more authentic.”

— Michelle White, Licensed Psychologist – Azul Mindspace

🌐 Check out the Azul Mindspace website at azulmindspace.com

🎧 Listen now and take a moment for yourself on your favorite podcast app or at: pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

S4E9 Elsie Stearns — Becoming an Island Girl

April 10, 2026Podcast#beaconofhope, #bokeelia, #matlacha, #pineisland, #PineIslandExperience, #pineland, #stjamescity, #useppaislandpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:45 — 48.9MB)

Some people move to Pine Island.

Others become part of its heart.

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Elsie Stearns, Vice President and Sr. Branch Manager of Centennial Bank on Pine Island, to hear the story of how a young woman from the city fell in love with island life — and spent decades giving back to the community she came to love.

Elsie shares memories of arriving on Useppa Island in 1977, building a life and family here with her husband Scott, and serving Pine Island through both her banking career and years of community leadership.

From Beacon of Hope to the Bobby Holloway Foundation to the Fire Commission, Elsie has quietly helped shape this island in ways that have touched countless lives.

Her story is heartfelt, inspiring, and full of the kind of island history and spirit we love to share.

✨ “Scott and I just fell in love with the island my first day there… I give Mel Meo credit for making me an island girl.”

— Elsie Stearns

🌐 Check out the Beacon of Hope and The Greater Pine Island Emergency Task Force at beaconofhopepineisland.com

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app or at: pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

S4E8: Chris Holzem & Nick Petty — Badger Boat Detail

April 3, 2026Podcast#boatdetail, #ceramiccoatingpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:04 — 31.0MB)

From faded and worn… to a deep, factory-fresh shine that even the owner couldn’t believe.

In this episode of the Pine Island Experience, we sit down with Chris Holzem of Badger Boat Detail to hear how he and his partner Nick Petty are helping boat owners across Pine Island and Lee County bring their boats back to life.

From mild oxidation to major restoration, Chris and Nick specialize in restoring old boats and protecting new ones with professional marine detailing and dual-layer ceramic coating built for Florida’s harsh sun and salt. ☀️🌊

But this conversation is about more than shiny boats…

It’s about the excitement of building a new business, doing work they truly enjoy, and helping people spend more time boating and less time working on their boats.

✨ “For the most part, it’s going to be people that want to do more boating and less work on their boats. They want to come in and wash it off and move on in life.”

— Chris Holzem

If you love boats, local business stories, or hearing from the people helping keep island life moving, you’ll enjoy this conversation. 🎧

🌐 Check out their website: badgerboatdetail.com

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at: pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

S4E7 Tristan Carter—The Proper Palm Cottage Bakery

March 27, 2026Podcast#CottageBakery, #IslandLife, #PineIslandExperience, #PineIslandFlorida, #SupportLocalBusinesspiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:57 — 33.1MB)

🌟 The Cottage Bakery Pine Island Fell in Love With

What happens when a chef moves to the island and asks one simple question: What can I create here that people will love?

In this episode, we sit down with Tristan Carter, founder of The Proper Palm Cottage Bakery. From his kitchen in Pine Island, Tristan releases online menus that islanders eagerly wait for—and when the menu drops, the orders come pouring in.

From artisan breads 🍞 to unforgettable cinnamon rolls, cookies 🍪 and celebration cakes 🎂, Tristan shares how his cottage bakery quickly became part of many islanders’ weekly routines.

As Tristan says, “Food brings us together.”

✨“This is for the people who live here. It’s just something beautiful. I wanted something that, …it is something you buy just to eat for breakfast but it still has a beautiful moment to it. It’s a pink box or a white box but it has time and something that has taken time to it with a bow over it. It just feels like you are enjoying something for yourself. It’s just a soft moment. That’s all I wanted for it.”

— Tristan Carter✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

🌐 Order online at theproperpalm.com 🎀🦩🍰

S4E6 JD Hollway— Horse Eyed Jake’s American Sliders

February 27, 2026Podcast#FoodTruckLiife, #SouthwestFlorida, #SupportLocalpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:36 — 36.2MB)

From waterfront restaurateur to food truck favorite — JD Hollway joins us for S4E6 of the Pine Island Experience.

After owning the Waterfront Restaurant and Marina for nearly 25 years and supporting countless local charity fishing tournaments, JD reinvented himself with Horse Eyed Jake’s American Sliders Food Truck. Alongside his wife, Tricia, they’ve created more than a menu — they’ve created an experience.

In this episode, JD shares:

🍔 The story behind the now-famous “OMG BLT”

🧄 Why four gallons of roasted garlic means Tricia leaves the house

🌴 What it’s like going from brick-and-mortar to life on wheels

💛 And why feeding the community has always mattered

✨“My philosophy on restaurants is people come for the food, they come back for the service.”

— JD Hollway✨

Follow Horse Eyed Jake’s on social media, Facebook and Instagram to see where they’ll be next — then go find them hungry.

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

S4E5 Capt Debbie Hanson — Freedom Waters Foundation Outreach Director

February 20, 2026Podcast#LadiesWhoFish, #piccfreefishingseminar, #SheFishes, #WomenInTheOutdoors, #WomenOnTheWater, #WomenWhoFishpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:37 — 32.7MB)

🎣 Being on the water has a way of bringing people together — friends, family, and even someone you’ve just met. Add a Pine Island sunset and dolphins 🐬 surfacing nearby, and it becomes something truly special.

In this episode, we talk with Debbie Hanson, award-winning outdoor writer, professional fishing guide, and Community Outreach Director for the Freedom Waters Foundation. Debbie shares her passion for introducing women to fishing and building confidence, connection, and community on the water.

🎣 Women’s Free Fishing Seminar

📅 Saturday, March 7, 9:00 – Noon at The Eagles Nest Restaurant Tiki Hut

👩‍🦰 Designed for ladies — beginners welcome

📍 Pine Island

It’s not just about fishing — it’s about shared moments, new friendships, and discovering the joy of being out on the water together.

✨“Patience, perseverance, peace, connection, community. Those would be my top answers. I know especially here on Pine Island, there’s such a tight-knit fishing community and one of the wonderful things that I think fishing has brought to my life is that feeling of community especially with my other women angling friends. When we get together we have so much fun and we share so many stories and have such a great time.”

— Capt. Debbie Hanson✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

S4E4 Staci Stevens — Castaways Island Realty & Rentals

February 13, 2026Podcastpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:20 — 45.0MB)

🏝️ In this episode, we’re joined by Staci Stevens, local realtor and broker-owner of Castaways Island Realty & Rentals. Staci Stevens shares her journey, her love for the island, and the heart behind Castaways Island Realty & Rentals.🩵

This is a heartfelt conversation about island life, family, and building a business rooted in community. As the owner of Castaways Island Realty & Rentals, Staci shares what makes Pine Island living so special, how island real estate is truly one of a kind, and why helping people find their place here means so much to her. This episode is a warm look at home, resilience, and loving where you live.

🏝️ Island Knowledge 🌅

💛 Energy and Heart

⭐ Boutique Experience — Family Feel

🏡 Full Service — Buying, Selling and Rentals

✨“I have a degree in secondary education and biology. I have a masters in special ed that I got after the first two children were born, and I never intended on being in the position I’m in currently other than I do like real estate a lot. And so, getting into that was not natural based on my education degree but at the same time I just say I teach people about real estate now instead.”

— Staci Stevens✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

S4E3 Alan and AJ Ferrera — A & A Boat and Equipment Services

February 6, 2026Podcastpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:08 — 37.9MB)

⚓ Alan and AJ Ferrera, a dynamic father and son team with a commitment 🩵

🚤 In this episode, we’re joined by Alan and AJ Ferrera, the father-and-son team behind A & A Boat and Equipment Services — a veteran-owned, licensed, and insured mobile service proudly serving Pine Island and Matlacha. 🌊

Alan and AJ share their Navy backgrounds, what it’s like working together as family, and how their mobile repair services help keep boats, trailers, generators, lawn equipment, and small engines running reliably. It’s a conversation about service, trust, and community — Pine Island style.

📍 Serving Pine Island & Matlacha 🛠

🚐 Mobile repair available

🇺🇸 Veteran Owned & Operated

✨“I’m not the type of person to look at a customer and be like well, I can’t fix it. You entrusted me to work on your equipment to begin with so I’m going to actually fix it.”

— AJ Ferrera✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

S4E2 — Captain Chuck Downes & Dan Carns – PICC 5th Annual Fishing Seminar Series

January 23, 2026Uncategorizedpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:06 — 23.0MB)

🎣 The 5th Annual PICC Free Fishing Seminar Series Returns for 2026!

Captain Chuck Downes is back, joined by expert presenter Dan Carns, to bring a refreshed and more focused approach to fishing education. This year’s free seminar series dives deeper into snook, redfish and spotted seatrout behavior — where to find them, how they live, and what to present throughout the seasons.

📍 Held at the Eagles Nest Restaurant’s new large tiki hut

🗓 Saturdays, February 7–29 | 9:00 AM – Noon

🎉 Bonus Women’s Angler Seminar: Saturday, March 7

💺 Free to attend — just bring a chair

In this Pine Island Experience Podcast episode, Chuck and Dan share what’s new and why anglers of all experience levels will benefit from this year’s series.

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

🎧 Listen to the podcasts on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8zuPKxsuzdusG0RbUHoQXijz0KSy0LUe

📧 We’d love to hear from you: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

S4E1 Tom Chase – Attorney, Mediator, Storyteller, Comedian and Poet

January 9, 2026Podcastpiexp

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

🎙 Season 4 begins with laughter, reflection, and storytelling.

The delightful Tom Chase joined us on the Pine Island Experience Podcast for a conversation filled with humor, heart, and insight. Tom shares the moment he first discovered the power of making people laugh, stories from growing up in Plant City, Florida, and how those early experiences shaped a life that would include law, mediation, comedy, storytelling, and poetry.

Along the way, Tom also treats us to readings from his poetry — offering a thoughtful glimpse into another side of his creative life.

✨ “Even as a kid, I didn’t like seeing people get treated unfairly. If no one was going to say something about it, I was.” — Thomas C. Chase

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com
🎧 Listen to the podcasts on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8zuPKxsuzdusG0RbUHoQXijz0KSy0LUe

📧 We’d love to hear from you: pineislandexperience@gmail.com