Journalist Jesse Scott: The Browardist, Hidden Florida Gems & Stories From Around the World

Travel writer, food journalist, and The Browardist co-founder Jesse Scott joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a wide-ranging conversation about journalism, travel, local culture, and why Broward County deserves a bigger spotlight.

The conversation dives into the launch of The Browardist, his mission to create a daily source for local news and culture, and the challenges of building independent media in an era dominated by social media, AI, and content scraping. Jesse opens up about plagiarism, the changing media landscape, and why real reporting and human storytelling still matter.

Of course, the travel stories get wild. From documenting life near the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia to participating in sauna rituals in Latvia, temple ceremonies in Japan, and exploring Colombia long before it became a trendy destination, Jesse has seen firsthand how travel challenges assumptions and changes perspectives.

The episode also turns hyper-local, covering Broward’s restaurant boom, hidden neighborhood gems, the best places worth driving to, and his case for why the 954 is better than the 305. Along the way, there are debates about Brightline, naked restaurants, Broward city slogans, dive bars, and what makes South Florida such a unique place to call home.

Hidden Florida & Beyond… where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.