Enjoy Our Podcasts!
2020 Podcasts.
October 18
Podcast available from October 19, 2020
We Shot the Sheriff …but we didn’t shoot the deputy, as Bob Marley sings. And we shot him with a DVC digital video camera.
Actually, we did shoot the deputy. Colonel Kurt Hoffman will be inaugurated and assume the duties of Sarasota County Sheriff come January. Until then, he is Chief Deputy and Sheriff-elect and second in command of the agency. He is also its General Counsel.
Col. Hoffman is as tough as they come. He has spent more than thirty years in the criminal justice system. He has a B.A. and an M.S. in Criminal Justice and a Juris Doctorate degree. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has worked as State Prosecutor and is a member of the Florida Bar. Not someone you want to mess with.
The Club got a rare chance to sit down with Col. Hoffman. He told us what the Sarasota Sheriff’s department does in general. But more interesting, we learned how the agency solved a recent homicide with the help of digital forensics. And who the inmates are in Sarasota’s 1,000-person jail. And what is being done to the homeless situation in our city. And child abductions. And much, much more.
It is all caught on tape, and you can see it by clicking on the link below.
November 17
The First Lady of the White House of Morocco
The Second World War was the backdrop of two b/w films starring 28-year-old Ingrid Bergman from Sweden. We have all probably seen “Casablanca,” released by Warner Brothers in 1943. (With the movie world’s most misquoted line: “Play it, Sam.” There is no “again” in it, but there is in the title of a Woody Allen comedy from 1972.) Now, what about her second film, “Swedes in America,” released the same year by the U.S. Office of War Information? Didn’t think so. But, here it is (click the link), 17 Bergman minutes for “educational, non-theatrical use within the United States.” Hey, who knew two of the fifty-six signatures on the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 were by Swedish hands? Enjoy!
December 6
The State of Real Estate in our State
You have heard it before: “The Best Investment on Earth is Earth.” “Buy beach, they don’t make it any more.” “Buy low, sell high, in the long run you can’t fail.”
All true. But what exactly is the real estate situation—right now—in our neck of the woods? What has happened in the Sarasota market during these "unprecedented times" (the cliché of the year)? And what does it look like in a crystal ball? Should we buy? Should we sell? Should we worry? Should we break out the Veuve Clicquot?
We took these questions and a video camera to Drayton Saunders, President of Michael Sunders and Company downtown Sarasota. With twenty-four offices up and down our coast, from Anna Maria Island to Punta Gorda, we figured he had answers. And he did. Click the link and watch. (We think you may consider bubbly with dinner tonight.)
December 13
Season’s Greetings
Okay, in these "unprecedented times" (there was that cliché again) let’s be politically correct. We won’t wish you a Merry Christmas, because everybody does not observe Christ’s Mass. And we won’t say Happy Holidays, because these are not everybody’s Holy Days. So, we’ll go with a simple, secular Season’s Greetings. (Snow or no snow.) Or how about just good old God Jul. Anyway, who better to help us close this year than the man who helped us open it. Enjoy!
Happy New Year 2021
January 15
Word of the week: inoculation
Happy New Year! Hope annus horribilis 2020 becomes annus mirabilis 2021. It is not fun to announce a spring without live Club events, but our podcasts and other virtual happenings will continue until it is safe to get together again. Which brings us over to Covid-19 vaccination. Questions abound. How much good does it do? And how safe is it? Is it true that people with shellfish allergies should avoid one of the vaccines? On and on. (Conspiracy theories don’t help.)
We went to Dr. Manuel Gordillo, infectious diseases specialist at Sarasota Memorial for some straight answers. Call him our local Dr. Fauci, if you like. And he generously shared his time and expertise with the Club. Click the link below and meet someone who actually knows what he is talking about in these unprecedented times (there was that cliché again; oh, well).
Stay safe. Stay tuned.
February 22
What you need to know if you own property in Florida
Planning is Everything.
The Plan is Nothing.
Said Dwight Eisenhower when contemplating the plan for the invasion of Normandie. It is in the process of planning where we consider opportunities and challenges and ways to meet them.
This is very much the case for tax planning. Perhaps not the most exciting topic but done right it can save you both money and headache. There is a reason seasoned lobbyists are swarming Washington. And there is a reason blue-chip companies take tax planning seriously. We as individuals should do the same.
If you own a house or condo in Sarasota or are planning to buy one you do not want to miss this podcast. It will address the importance of planning ahead. We can never be certain what tomorrow brings, but we can do our best to be prepared. Tax laws are complex and many times tricky to understand. And they change with every new administration in Washington. We are therefore grateful and proud that one of Florida’s most renowned international tax advisors is taking the time to sit down with us to guide us and to bring clearance in this important topic.
February 28
Honoring
"The Incomparable Fiddler"
Svend Asmussen’s105th Birthday
Listen to a recording from All Night Jazz celebrating the birth date of the late Danish-born jazz violin pioneer Svend Asmussen.
Svend lived for many years in Sarasota together with his wife Ellen Bick Asmussen. When they bought their Sarasota home in 2005, the Swedish Club was proud to welcome them as members. Ellen is still a beloved Benefactor of the Club.
Svend and Ellen was a well-known couple in the local Jazz circles and among other recognitions, he was honored the Satchmo Award at the 32nd Sarasota Jazz Festival.
Enjoy the program by clicking the button below.
April 6
There’s No Business Like Show Business...
...like no business I know. These famous lyrics by Irving Berlin are certainly valid also in today’s world. Covid has taken a major toll on our lives. Including the opportunity to be entertained. Life, however, is slowly but surely coming back to normalcy. Including to the world of show business.
So, what more fitting than being the lead into today’s podcast with Nate Jacobs, the ingenious person behind the rise and success of The West Coast Black Theater Troupe.
Not only will we learn about the person behind WBTT but also how the inner circle in show business works. Primarily in our local area.
Sarasota is a real gem for quality of life. Always on top of the awards list for best places to live. And the cultural life is often what sets Sarasota apart from other places.
Therefore, we’re proud to present a sit down with Nate Jacobs.
The story Nate is telling is fascinating. It’s a journey from his childhood to today. And it’s all based on a vision. We’re certain you will be as mesmerized by his story as we are.
Please enjoy!