Want weird, wacky Florida news? Tune in to 'Florida Freakshow' podcast – News-Press
When Kirsten and Cory O’Donnell rebranded “Florida Freakshow” and made it a podcast about two months ago, they had one main goal – To crack each other up.
“If I can make my partner laugh and it’s funny, that’s all you can do,” Cory said.
Seems like more and more folks are laughing with Kirsten and Cory. Their first six episodes had 500 downloads and now is averaging 70-80 a week. It’s growing. More than family and friends are tuning in.
“Florida Freakshow” can be accessed by just about every podcast platform. Fans also can subscribe or listen at FloridaFreakShow.com.
Like many couples, Kirsten and Cory can use a good chuckle.
Within 22 days this year, both lost their jobs. Cory had been engagement editor at The News-Press while Kirsten worked as a public relations professional at the local area agency on aging. Before that, she worked in television as a reporter and anchor.
“2020 has been a rough year,” Kirsten said. “I don’t have words for 2020. It’s a great time to have started this. We all need a reason to laugh. It’s been a stressful time so anything we can do for a chuckle is good. The world is a weird, serious, uncomfortable place right now. This helps us bring some levity.”
The genesis of “Florida Freakshow” began more than 10 years ago when they’d read oddball Florida news stories and then tweet about them.
“It was things that only happened in Florida,” Cory said. “Funny blurbs where we’d post a link to the story. We’d poke fun at it or write lesson learned. People would then send us suggestions. But it ran its course and we got busy.”
When they stopped being busy in March, they thought of a different way of presenting Florida’s characters.
“Anybody who has spent this much time together can only take so many walks, can only make so many dinners, watch so much Netflix,” Cory said. “This always was something that entertained us so this was the time to do a podcast. The buy in is not too terrible.”
“We had the equipment,” Kirsten said.
“Let’s just take the plunge,” Cory added. “I’m so glad we did it.”
Kirsten added, “We have a similar sense of humor but it’s not the same. When we see a strange Florida news story, it’s what direction will his mind and my mind go in? It’s funny.”
One of the biggest concerns the two had was if they’d have enough material in a pandemic. But as Kirsten soon discovered, “Florida never disappoints.”
It didn’t take two people with backgrounds in journalism much time to find plenty of material. Over the seven episodes, they’ve talked about do-it-yourself doctors, pandemic poop, liquor-store etiquette, COVID-19 psychics and even Florida’s many nude criminals.
“When we talk about a fella naked from the waist down, we call it Donald Duck-ing or Porky Pig-ing,” Cory said. “Sometimes, we need to explain.”
Having this podcast has turned the pair from fact-based journalists to opinion-spurred comics.
“Obviously, we’re not trained comedians,” Cory said. “It’s a skill we’re building. We’re building this glossary of shared experiences. Sometimes, we’re telepathic. One or two words can do it. We just have to make sure what we say is relatable to the audience.
“We were worried we’d sound stilted or unnatural, but we found out quickly we’re pretty good together. We can riff off one another.”
Kirsten says Florida has to be the national leader in weird news and Cory said Floridians should wear it like a badge of honor.
Tune in
