Florida’s Fourth Estate

News anchors are not strippers but do they wear dead animals on their shoulders? This week News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden open up the hatemail bag and unpack a few gems from some people who just don’t like long hair. In this week’s edition of Florida’s Fourth Estate, we share some of the messages viewers send in when they just don’t like what they see. Often the comments we receive from people who watch the news have nothing to do with a story or the content of the show but rather what we look like or what we’re wearing. Some people send direct messages to our inbox but others are brazen enough to post it on the News 6 Facebook page for everyone to read. One person pointed out our long hair made us look like strippers. Another recent gem was to remind my co-anchor Lisa Bell and I that our long hair just isn't professional. "Please tell your female newscasters on the 6 pm news (Ginger and Lisa) that their long stringy hair is not attractive and is very distracting. Why does it have to hang over their shoulders like a dead animal? Just saying..." Ouch! People often ask if it hurts our feelings when people write mean things. Quite honestly the answer is no. We take it in stride but regret not asking our boss for hazard pay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Masks are dangerous to wear? Nope. Coronavirus case numbers inflated? Not true. Fake testing? False. It turns out it’s harder than most people realize to stop a fake news cycle once it has hit social media. How does it all start and who is responsible for calling it out? We all have a role to play to stop the proliferation of news that is not only fake but dangerous. A lot of false information about the coronavirus is parading around as fact and people are buying into it. This week Florida’s Fourth Estate podcast hosts Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin spoke with Dr. Chrysalis Wright, a fake news expert and professor at the University of Central Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we get the teachers' perspective on opening schools during a pandemic. Vanessa Skipper, Vice President of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, tells us how their teachers union is reacting to the government's mandate to open brick and mortar schools during the week. Skipper talks about the issues of busing, cafeterias and teachers who are in the vulnerable population. Some states have given staggered schedules as an option to students and parents. Skipper says her teachers would prefer that option, but leaders are not listening. Join us for another edition of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To mask or not to mask? It’s a debate happening across the country right now as coronavirus cases spike. Some counties have mandated wearing a mask while others are letting the people decide. This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate News 6 anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin speak with brain doctor Romie Mushtaq about what triggers people on both sides of this debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of George Floyd, who was killed while in police custody, has sparked a national conversation on race and what it means to be black in America. Some people are having frank conversations with family, friends and coworkers. But what happens when our kids start asking questions? How do we tell them the truth without igniting fear? Ginger and Matt speak with Psychotherapist Dr. Annette Nunez about how to talk to your kids about race and when that conversation should or should not happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The death of George Floyd has ignited protests and unrest around the world. Floyd was an unarmed black man in Minneapolis who was killed by a police officer who kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes as Floyd pleaded for his life. This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, Matt and Ginger speak with Dr. Jonathan Cox, an assistant professor in the department of sociology at UCF. Dr. Cox is a race scholar who explains why the protests happening now have a different feel this time. He also discusses how we can begin a meaningful dialogue about race without everyone leaving the discussion feeling defeated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been a long time coming but the United States is on the cusp of history once again as American astronauts prepare to launch from Florida’s Space Coast. News 6 anchors Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden talk with colleague and space expert, Erik von Ancken, about his years of covering the space program and having a front seat to this extraordinary moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people know local news anchors as the familiar faces they see on the air.  But it takes a lot of people to make a TV station run like a well oiled machine .  This week on Florida’s Fourth Estate, Matt and Ginger talk to the General Manager at WKMG-TV about what it’s like running a news station during a pandemic with hurricane season looming. Jeff Hoffman also shares how a phone call changed his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder the kinds of voice messages and emails news anchors receive? Well, wonder no more. This week anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin give us a delicious taste of the dreaded compliment sandwich. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that some non-essential businesses are open again, employees may be skeptical or scared to go back to work. How will companies handle mental health as employees head back to the office? News 6 anchors Ginger Gadsden and Matt Austin speak with Terran Peizer,the CEO of Catasy, Inc., about why now, more than ever, telehealth can be a vital tool in our new normal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Florida's Fourth Estate, Ginger and Matt show off their new home podcast set ups. They also discuss topical news and the "Floridiot of the Week". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know the coronavirus can be deadly but there are many people who recover from it. This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we speak with a man whose story of survival is nothing short of a miracle. Kevin Rathel was in a coma when he was treated with convalescent plasma therapy. Rathel was the first patient at Orlando Health to be infused with convalescent plasma from a man who had already recovered from the virus. We hear his first hand account of the harrowing toll COVID-19 took on him. From vivid nightmares to losing thirty pounds he speaks to us about what life is like now during the recovery phase. He also tells us even though he was in a coma, he was very clear about one thing that was happening in his hospital room on a regular basis. Join us for a candid conversation with Kevin and his wife Stacie on this weeks edition of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we get spiritual with the leader of one of the fastest growing churches in America. Pastor Justin Dailey from Action Church in Orlando talks about having Easter services without anyone in the audience. How he says the church is able to reach more people during these tough times. We also talk about the biggest issues facing his congregants during the coronavirus pandemic. He has counseled people who have lost jobs and worry about getting sick. It's one of the few podcasts in which you will see a pastor address Tiger King and tight pants all in the same conversation. All of this and more on this edition of Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Florida's Fourth Estate we dive into the stimulus efforts from the government. How can you save your business? When will you get your stimulus check? How does the government know how many kids you have? Our guest Joshua Jenson, A.K.A JJ the CPA, has the answers. Also, small businesses have faced many issues when it comes to applying for government assistance. JJ explains how one government program may have lost all of the applications. Also, he tells us which banks are dealing with the government programs. Let's do your taxes with a pro! It's all this week on Florida's Fourth Estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic we will continue to bring you Florida's Fourth Estate. It will look and sound a little different but our mission is the same, to keep you informed about what's happening in the Sunshine State.   This week most students began distance learning and we wanted to offer a little help to frustrated parents who may not know where to start or what to do so this can be a good experience for them and their kids. Who better than a teacher who has nearly 30 years under his belt. Orange County teacher, Chris Crisona, says this is a learning curve for them too. While nothing can take the place of one-on-one classroom time, he says teachers are learning meaningful ways to connect with their students on line.   The process is different depending on the grade level. Elementary kids love seeing their teachers in a video chat because it gives them some comfort.  Mr. Crisona also offers up some advice on how to structure the day for students so they stay on track. Bottom line, don't panic because most parents have not done this before and are feeling the same anxiety as you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices