From waterfront restaurateur to food truck favorite — JD Hollway joins us for S4E6 of the Pine Island Experience.

After owning the Waterfront Restaurant and Marina for nearly 25 years and supporting countless local charity fishing tournaments, JD reinvented himself with Horse Eyed Jake’s American Sliders Food Truck. Alongside his wife, Tricia, they’ve created more than a menu — they’ve created an experience.

In this episode, JD shares:

🍔 The story behind the now-famous “OMG BLT”

🧄 Why four gallons of roasted garlic means Tricia leaves the house

🌴 What it’s like going from brick-and-mortar to life on wheels

💛 And why feeding the community has always mattered

✨“My philosophy on restaurants is people come for the food, they come back for the service.”

— JD Hollway✨

Follow Horse Eyed Jake’s on social media, Facebook and Instagram to see where they’ll be next — then go find them hungry.

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

🎣 Being on the water has a way of bringing people together — friends, family, and even someone you’ve just met. Add a Pine Island sunset and dolphins 🐬 surfacing nearby, and it becomes something truly special.

In this episode, we talk with Debbie Hanson, award-winning outdoor writer, professional fishing guide, and Community Outreach Director for the Freedom Waters Foundation. Debbie shares her passion for introducing women to fishing and building confidence, connection, and community on the water.

🎣 Women’s Free Fishing Seminar

📅 Saturday, March 7, 9:00 – Noon at The Eagles Nest Restaurant Tiki Hut

👩‍🦰 Designed for ladies — beginners welcome

📍 Pine Island

It’s not just about fishing — it’s about shared moments, new friendships, and discovering the joy of being out on the water together.

✨“Patience, perseverance, peace, connection, community. Those would be my top answers. I know especially here on Pine Island, there’s such a tight-knit fishing community and one of the wonderful things that I think fishing has brought to my life is that feeling of community especially with my other women angling friends. When we get together we have so much fun and we share so many stories and have such a great time.”

— Capt. Debbie Hanson✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

🏝️ In this episode, we’re joined by Staci Stevens, local realtor and broker-owner of Castaways Island Realty & Rentals. Staci Stevens shares her journey, her love for the island, and the heart behind Castaways Island Realty & Rentals.🩵

This is a heartfelt conversation about island life, family, and building a business rooted in community. As the owner of Castaways Island Realty & Rentals, Staci shares what makes Pine Island living so special, how island real estate is truly one of a kind, and why helping people find their place here means so much to her. This episode is a warm look at home, resilience, and loving where you live.

🏝️ Island Knowledge 🌅

💛 Energy and Heart

⭐ Boutique Experience — Family Feel

🏡 Full Service — Buying, Selling and Rentals

✨“I have a degree in secondary education and biology. I have a masters in special ed that I got after the first two children were born, and I never intended on being in the position I’m in currently other than I do like real estate a lot. And so, getting into that was not natural based on my education degree but at the same time I just say I teach people about real estate now instead.”

— Staci Stevens✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

⚓ Alan and AJ Ferrera, a dynamic father and son team with a commitment 🩵

🚤 In this episode, we’re joined by Alan and AJ Ferrera, the father-and-son team behind A & A Boat and Equipment Services — a veteran-owned, licensed, and insured mobile service proudly serving Pine Island and Matlacha. 🌊

Alan and AJ share their Navy backgrounds, what it’s like working together as family, and how their mobile repair services help keep boats, trailers, generators, lawn equipment, and small engines running reliably. It’s a conversation about service, trust, and community — Pine Island style.

📍 Serving Pine Island & Matlacha 🛠

🚐 Mobile repair available

🇺🇸 Veteran Owned & Operated

✨“I’m not the type of person to look at a customer and be like well, I can’t fix it. You entrusted me to work on your equipment to begin with so I’m going to actually fix it.”

— AJ Ferrera✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

🎣 The 5th Annual PICC Free Fishing Seminar Series Returns for 2026!

Captain Chuck Downes is back, joined by expert presenter Dan Carns, to bring a refreshed and more focused approach to fishing education. This year’s free seminar series dives deeper into snook, redfish and spotted seatrout behavior — where to find them, how they live, and what to present throughout the seasons.

📍 Held at the Eagles Nest Restaurant’s new large tiki hut

🗓 Saturdays, February 7–29 | 9:00 AM – Noon

🎉 Bonus Women’s Angler Seminar: Saturday, March 7

💺 Free to attend — just bring a chair

In this Pine Island Experience Podcast episode, Chuck and Dan share what’s new and why anglers of all experience levels will benefit from this year’s series.

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

🎧 Listen to the podcasts on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8zuPKxsuzdusG0RbUHoQXijz0KSy0LUe

📧 We’d love to hear from you: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

🎙 Season 4 begins with laughter, reflection, and storytelling.

The delightful Tom Chase joined us on the Pine Island Experience Podcast for a conversation filled with humor, heart, and insight. Tom shares the moment he first discovered the power of making people laugh, stories from growing up in Plant City, Florida, and how those early experiences shaped a life that would include law, mediation, comedy, storytelling, and poetry.

Along the way, Tom also treats us to readings from his poetry — offering a thoughtful glimpse into another side of his creative life.

✨ “Even as a kid, I didn’t like seeing people get treated unfairly. If no one was going to say something about it, I was.” — Thomas C. Chase

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com
🎧 Listen to the podcasts on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8zuPKxsuzdusG0RbUHoQXijz0KSy0LUe

📧 We’d love to hear from you: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

📚✨Award-Winning author and Pine Islander, Robert N. Macomber joins us to share the heart behind his life as a maritime historian, novelist, and lecturer. From the inspiration behind his 17-book Honor Series to the moments that light up his audiences, Robert brings history to life with passion and purpose. This conversation offers a glimpse into the storyteller who has captivated readers around the world — and built a dedicated community of “Wakians” who follow his adventures across seas, stages, and pages.

🌴🎨 Meet Robert at the Potters’ Guild Holiday Show and Sale on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 10:00am – 2:00pm at Koucky Studios, 5971 Bay Point Rd, Bokeelia on Pine Island. Robert will have books for sale. Buy for yourself or give them as great gifts.

✨“Nobody ever covered the Civil War in Florida which bothered me because on this coast, we had lots of civil war action.” —Robert N. Macomber✨

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

🌐 Learn more at robertmacomber.com

📅 See the Calendar of Events at robertmacomber.com/calendar.html

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com

🥬✨In this episode, we sit down with Bill and Benet Kazokas of Flor-Da-Lee Farm in Bokeelia. In 2013, they stepped away from corporate life, purchased 2.5 acres of agricultural land, and began growing specialty artisan lettuce — now supplying hotels, country clubs, and restaurants across Naples and Fort Myers. Today, they nurture 60 varieties for seven months each year, while Benet has expanded the farm’s offerings with her growing passion for ornamentals, herbs and artistic planters.🌸🌿

🌱With agricultural experiences that span Mexico, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina, and a deep commitment to the Pine Island community through the Garden Gala, Island Market, Potters Guild and Friday Night Art Walk, their story blends global perspective with local purpose. Join us as they share the challenges, inspirations, and unexpected joys that shaped Flor-Da-Lee Farm — and the vision they carry into the island’s future.🌴

✨“It spoils you. Once you start to taste flavorful food, it’s hard to accept anything else.” —Bill Kazokas✨

💚”It’s nice to get feedback from other people and encouragement and to see that people really like what you’re doing.” —Benet Kazokas

🎧 Listen on any podcast app or at pineislandexperience.com

🌐 Learn more at flordaleefarm.com

📧 We’d love to hear your thoughts: pineislandexperience@gmail.com