Corey Cooper, a tinkerer by birth and an Engineer by education, has had a lifelong passion for understanding what makes things tick.  Corey attended Auburn University where he received his BS in Mechanical Engineering and met Magda; his wife, business partner and mother of their three crazy kids.  Motivated by the water, Corey and his wife relocated to Destin, FL shortly after college. Corey held various engineering jobs from the military to the private sector. One day Corey got a wild hair and decided to go into business for himself.  He created what he called BOTE, a lifestyle watersports brand, just because he wanted to torture himself.  Corey is extremely fulfilled because all his time is occupied with either BOTE or his lovely kids and he now truly understands what tinkering is all about. The End.

WIMTY

Corey Cooper

Destyn Patera is a freelance filmmaker based out of Jax, FL, but home to many areas through his work. Finding inspiration in an extended European journey, he turned down a promotion at a marketing firm, just a few weeks after graduating college, to pursue film. Almost 7 years later, he and his business partner, Austin Owens, spend most of their time writing, directing, and editing music videos all over the SouthEast. Occasionally, they turn to mini-doc style shooting for firms and personalities such as Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy. 

He's worked with prolific artists, such as The Revivalists, Galactic, Radical Face, Warren Haynes, Victor Wainwright, Nick Black and more. Check out his website destynpatera.com for more.

Destyn Patera

Colt Austin

*34 yr old male residing currently in Destin, FL. 

*Married to my wife Faith and we are expecting our first child in two weeks or less. 

*I work for Amavida Coffee and assume and hold the role of Operations Manager. 

*BA in Public Relations from the University of West Florida. 

*Veteran of the United States Air Force (ARMS) - Aviation Resource Management Systems

*Lead Singer of Thieves of the Side

*Likes: Music, Disc Golf, Football, Vinyl Records, Retro Video Games, Ready to be a father, Community, Challenges, Diversity, My two dogs

*Dislikes: Negativity, Complainers, Laziness, WhisperJet Shots, Mayonnaise

Colt Austin

Frank Gordon, ex-service industry "lifer" who's lived on the Emerald Coast for over a decade. Frank got out from behind the bar and got into beer as much as possible.  He went to work for a local brewery, got an expert certification and started his own consulting company.  Now he drinks beer for work and play.

Frank Gordon

Born and raised in the area, Lalie Williams has set herself apart amongst local creatives as a force to be reckoned with. Lalie is a hair color specialist and extension expert, known for her natural, beachy aesthetic and attention to detail, she has been trained by the top industry professionals across the country. But, most importantly, she is a wife to an artist and dog-mom.

Lalie Williams

Chatham Morgan is a lifelong Destin resident and managing partner of La Paz and The Local Market. He founded American Lunch, a 501c3 organization, while in school at The University of Alabama. It is a mobile soup kitchen (think food truck), that serves meals free of charge to those that need it most. They currently operates in six cities across the Southeast. He was elected to Destin City Council in 2016, and has held some controversial positions - most recently on Destin’s 30 year contract renewal with Gulf Power. In his free time he enjoys hugging trees, beagles, and not discussing city politics.

Chatham Morgan

TJ Hilton & Cole Huffer are the founders of Enlightened Studios, a multimedia studio located in downtown Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Featuring a recording studio, videography services, an event venue and a niche coffee and wine bar. The bar is called the Sound Cafe which includes pour over coffees, craft beer, sake and an extensive wine selection. Live music is performed in both the Sound Cafe and event venue. Other events include monthly Symposiums, “town-Hall” talks and private functions. Cole Huffer and TJ Hilton also teamed up with Russ Whitten to establish a nonprofit organization called the Downtown Church. It is a non denominational church led by Russ the Pastor and is hosted in the event venue on Sundays at 11:30am.

TJ Hilton & Cole Huffer

Blake Brock is a solo musician based out of Birmingham, AL. He has been playing guitar for 11 years, and he’s played music, professionally, for almost 5. After living in various places around the country, and playing shows from the deserts of Las Vegas to the beaches of the Emerald Coast, Blake has just released his first, self-produced, EP, “2012”. Blake’s musical stylings come from deep roots embedded in blues, soul, jazz, rock, pop, and indie rock. His musical efforts attempt to fuse modern sounds and textures with old school soul. Besides being a musician, Blake is a dad to three dogs, a waiter at a Chinese restaurant, and a husband of going on 5 years. He is currently working on new music to release and occasionally plays shows all around the southeast.

Blake Brock

Dewey “Parker” Destin is a 6th generation Floridian and life-long resident of Destin, Florida. Parker grew up commercial fishing and operating restaurants with his family before receiving a business degree from the University of Tampa in 2007. Parker graduated from law school in 2012 and practices law in Ft. Walton Beach. Parker currently serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority, member of the NWFL TPO, and is active in local environmental organizations as a member of the Emerald Coast Reef Association.

Parker Destin

Florida Panhandle-based I’MAGENE (ex-Continuum) is a 4-piece band utilizing the terms Retro Electro Soul to describe their own singular style.  Constantly focusing their craft, they’ve rapidly grown their fan base both regionally and nationally.  They’ve spent the majority of the last year bouncing across the US multiple times consistently releasing content that documents both their journey and growth as a band.  The passion and determination of these four 20-somethings is evident in everything they do and can absolutely be heard on any of their releases.  When you see them live, it is like stepping into another world.  Each song connects to some of the most powerful emotions a person can experience in their lives.  Their music envelopes you in memories of the past or perhaps a situation that may still be unfolding.  I’MAGENE is certain to radiate passion and create a connection of body and soul for all who have the desire to feel.

I'MAGENE

Tarra, a Destin resident operates the harbor’s newest and only craft cocktail
Bar, 1835 Porch Bar. A Colorado Native, Tarra graduated with a degree in anthropology.  Tarra has worked for the Bureau of Land Management as an archaeologist, in the private contract archaeology world, museums and teaching college level anthropology courses. She is currently completing a graduate degree in anthropology. In her free time she volunteers for Food For Thought and Impact 100. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and snuggling her dog.

Tarra Wixom

David Masters is a record producer and audio engineer based out of Auburn, Alabama. At 25, David came to a decision about what he wanted to do with his life: work in the music business as a record producer. After moving from Ohio to Fort Walton Beach in 2010, he decided to take a risk, and go after his dream. In the last 7 years, he’s gotten to meet and work with some of the immense talent the gulf coast has, and with middle age breathing down his neck, he’s ready to give one more push at his dream.

David Masters

Michael Flatau was born and raised in Tampa, FL.  He got his first bass guitar, a mismatched, rebuilt, home tampered, hand-me-down, at 12 years old.  By the age of 16 he and friends started an angst filled adolescent pop punk band Agent 23, which he played bass and fronted.  They played a handful of gigs at the Brass Mug in Tampa prior to Mike leaving for FSU in 2000.  Once in college, Flatau played music off and on while attending Engineering School, but his creative energy was refocused when he joined the FSU Flying High Circus in 2002.  He performed Double Trapeze, Adagio, Juggling and Teeter Board and doubled as a coach for various aerial and ground acts.  His leadership developed in the Flying High Circus when he took on the role of Ring Master once a vacancy opened. It wasn’t until the summer of his first year of graduate school that Mike returned to performing music on stage.  He joined the female fronted band Mujabica, who gigged throughout Florida and Georgia for the next four years.  After traveling between Tallahassee and Crestview for 2 years, he helped Chavis Hobbs and Rigel Forte form the band New Earth Army in 2011, bringing his singer from Mujabica, Carly Cermack, with him.  What started as a 4 piece fusion blues rock band with eccentric vocals and eclectic influences eventually blossomed into the horn and guitar driven blues funk band they are today.  With New Earth Army, Mike played several festivals, including the infamous Spirit of the Suwanee River Music Park, and opened for bands including the Revivalists, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, the Floozies, the Main Squeeze, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and the Fritz to name a few.  Flatau recorded and produced 3 albums with New Earth Army, building his love for the craft as a sound engineer.  This also opened the door for Flatau as a session musician.  In 2012 Flatau got his first taste of special event planning when he and bandmates arranged a charity event for common friend (and cancer survivor), Holly McEwan, thusly named Rock 4 Holly.  While in New Earth Army, Flatau saw a dire need for original music in the Northwest Florida Emerald Coast.  He and fellow bandmate Rigel formed and founded the local and regional music and arts festival Okaloosa RevFest in 2013.  After the first year, Flatau fully took over the reins for RevFest.  The event has steadily grown over the past 6 years as they entertain over 1,000 attendees annually and continue to raise thousands of dollars for the Special Forces Association: Chapter 7.



That was also the longest bio ever.

Michael Flatau

Sean Murphy and Corey Cooper tell us about their courageously stupid and 
ill-prepared  150 mile  paddle through the Everglades.

Sean Murphy / Corey Cooper

Clint Hill

Kimberly and Keagan have been part of the Red Bar family for over a combined 20 years.  When they say Red Bar is family, they mean it.  The beginning of shifts are greeted with handshakes, hugs and kisses and you can tell immediately, the Red Bar holds a special place for these two.  Given the recent devastation in the form of a large fire, The Red Bar and its employees are currently dealing with the loss of a job, a building and the physical form of the Red Bar, but its sprit and future are far from bleak.

Keagan and Kimberly

Attorney Seth Galloway discusses why protecting Customary Use of our beaches is so important.

Seth Galloway

T.J. shares how he's dealt with depression, anxiety and PTSD all while founding multiple local businesses (e.g. Green Door, Honest Restoration and Gento)

Terry Hilton (T.J.)

Alex Fogg gives us the low down on the dire Lion Fish situation, the massive gulf coast artificial reef project and the upcoming Lion Fish Festival & Restaurant Week coming up in May.

Alex Fogg

From DET to VPS, L.A. came by to discuss all things “Kingdom Over Castles.”

Andre Harell II (L.A.)

Travis recently returned home to the Gulf Coast from a 4 month stint traveling and exploring Southeast Asia - so we had him in the studio to tell us all about it.

Travis Riggs

Justin Gaffrey

A little something different: After a few weeks off Jared and Shayne sat down with Travis to  discuss Jailbirds, Red Rocks, mushroom laws, and what the hell is going on with people taking Kratom.

70.5 (Jared Shayne & Travis)

Jeff McDonald

Cayce drops in to talk about her new position as Director of the Destin Seafood Festival, her career as a fashion designer, adventures in Colorado and family feud aspirations.

Cayce Collins

Cross City Connector / Parking / Roadwork / Election Day Change / Parks and Rec. / "Fishing Fleet" / Time Shares / Housing

Parker not only discusses the current plans on dealing with these issues but delves deep into the history of why any of this happened in the first place.

Author Tyler Davis discusses all the ins and outs of DIY publishing.

Tyler Davis

Longtime gulf coast resident / local legend Gabby Bruce swings in to studio to chat about his vast career as a radio DJ, co-writing billboard charted songs, he's brief stint into flying planes and scouting a location for Jaws 2.

Gabby Bruce

Myles van Eaton drops by on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch to talk about the moon landing or lack lack thereof, how easy it is to make an Alt-j track, our dependency on self-spying technology, and being under the influence of Radiohead.

Also First installment of Cozy Chats with Corey Cooper - we let him rant. hard. we think he needed it.

Myles van Eaton

David Woodrow, Isham Hipsher and Caleb Burker, owners of the Ratchet Hatchet, swung by to give us the low down on how the Gulf Coast's premier axe throwing range began. We also discuss brand building, bear fighting, the recent boxing fatalities and the new generation of skateboarding.

The Ratchet Hatchet

Will Russo aka Willasauras discusses becoming a drummer with arthrogryposis and all the difficulties, hardships and judgments that came with that. Despite odds being stacked against him this dude became one of the most talented drummers on the gulf coast and that's all because he did let people tell him "no, you can't."

Will Russo

George Andreozzi & Chas Swanson talk skate boarding, big brother magazine, travel, beer drinking, beer making, mormons, and being rad fathers.

George & Chas

Jared Micheal Cramblet and Jarrod Micheal Moxley are hosts and creators of an 
in-development tv series called Micro Bros, a show about how craft beer breweries around the country impact the culture and community in their respective cities. We get an inside look at how this concept was created how they are executing it and how YOU can be a part of this project.

Micro Bros

Frasier & Chas from Idyll Hounds Brewing Co. tell us how two boys from Salt Lake City wound-up on the Gulf Coast of Florida and started one of the best breweries to come out of the panhandle.

Frasier Hansen & Chas Swanson (Idyll Hounds)

Storytelling. Comedy. Entrepreneurship. Gulf Coast Insight.

Popular tracks by Whatever it Means to You