Defiant, Loud, Generous, and Proud. This is Little Italy!

We’re baaacckkkk! Get ready to hear all about one of our favorite local businesses: The Fat Rabbit Pub We talked with Executive Chef, Cole McBride, about how business has been over the past 18 months, talked new wing sauces, alllll things peanut butter (have you tried their PB&J wings or the Peanut Butter Old Fashioned? )+ their holiday Toys for Tots drive (bring a toy, get free tots! ) going on NOW in support of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

Stop in on Weds, Dec 1 for their Ugly Sweater  Party from 4-11 PM to support this cause + sample TONS of goodies, including drinks and Christmas flavored wings  ! How lucky is #NewTampa to have such a, delicious + charitable small business like #TheFatRabbit !

EPISODE HERE! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the This is Tampa Podcast on the iTunes Podcast App, Stitcher, or on YouTube. 5  REVIEWS are greatly appreciated!

This is Tampa Podcast

Jen Wiggins + Rob OConnor

Kake, Krate, and Kovid, Oh my! In this episode of the This is Tampa Podcast we sit down with Kirby Lavallee outside of their Carrollwood location on Dale Mabry to talk about the past, present, and future of The Cake Girl. Topics include how they got started, how they have dealt with the pandemic, and what they have planned for the future. We also have our newest Non-Floridaman story and a "Lightning" round(hint, hint).

Rob orders a beer, sits down, and talks with Hillsborough County Court Judge Candidate, Monique Scott for Judge. We talk about what it takes to be a great judge and the path she has taken to get where she is now. Monique has had quite a journey, going from a police officer to teacher, then prosecutor to a defense attorney, and soon, with your vote, a judge. We talk a little fantasy football. I pose the question "who would you take between Tom Brady or Rob Gronkowski -Gronk this year for your fantasy football team?" Seeing as they are both Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
Also, what would Monique rather do, windsurf in shark-infested waters or shred it in the Swiss Alps? Find out in this episode of Let's Have a Beer!

Special thanks to Tim Harrell and 81Bay Brewing Company for making this interview possible. Make sure to check them out at the next Market On Gandy.

In season 2, episode 2 of This is Tampa with Rob and Jen, we speak to Beach about the Fat Rabbit Pub in Tampa Palms and his new role in crafting their house-made beer which is exclusively on tap at the restaurant.

In this episode of the This is Tampa Podcast, Curt from Shipshape Home Inspections llc joins Rob + Jen! Curt talks about his business, 🔎 offers some DIY homeowner maintenance and preventative tips 🏡 (WAIT until you hear about the AC system trick!)💡, and tells us about his home flipping experiences. We also talk about outdoor activities here in #Tampa 🌴, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 🏈, a Non-Florida Man story, and how Curt survived a near-death-experience with a shark! 🦈 😨

In this episode of This is Tampa with Rob an Jen, we visit Big Storm Brewery in Clearwater, FL to speak with company president LJ Govoni. Big Storm was started in 2012 and is one of the fastest growing craft breweries in Florida. LJ gives us a glimpse behind the scenes and shares his story, as well as the story of the brewery, with us. The road to success isn't paved with gold, but as LJ shows us, with some persevearance and strategic relationships, there is a prize in the end. Big Storm is already very successful in crafting great beer, but they are just getting started as they continue to add new flavors and products, such as ice cream, coffee, and much more. Also, don't miss LJ's response to the non-Florida man story, a lightning round, how he met his wife, and the future of Big Storm.

In this special edition of the This is Tampa Podcast we head out to #WesleyChapel to Bubba's 33 - Wesley Chapel, FL in honor of their Grand Opening! 🌟 The food, drinks, service, + atmosphere at this incredible restaurant, which is part of the Texas Roadhouse family, ALL far exceeded our expectations! 🏆 This one is a MUST try! We promise, you'll go back for more! 🍔🍹🍺

We sit down to talk with owners, Jeff & Crista Dean, about the new concept in Florida and how they ended up here in #Tampa! 🌴

Just WAIT until you find out how these two met! What a story! 💖

In this episode of the This Is Tampa Podcast, Rob and Jen are joined by Tim Harrell of TLC Marketing.  Tim is not only a marketer but is also a US Army veteran with two consecutive tours in Afghanistan.  Martial arts has always been and continues to be his passion and it has molded him into the person he is today, which includes teaching kids and adults alike at Wesley Chapel Jui Jitsu in conjunction with the Lesson Company.  
One of Tim's latest projects is heading the Saturday Marketplace in The Groves where they have over 60 vendors every week.  The Groves, which is under new ownership, has already been experiencing some major changes, but there is so much more to come and Tim gives us an inside look at some of what that is (HINT: it's exciting stuff).
In our main topic, we discuss veteran-owned businesses here in the Tampa Bay area.
Oh yeah, and there's also a call out for a rematch fight with Ami James of Miami Ink fame.

In episode 12 of the This is Tampa podcast, Rob and Jen welcome Eric Bunch from NTP2 photography to get the lowdown on his latest work and current projects.  Eric started out in the photography business from the retail side, working at their family-owned camera store at a young age.  He then went on to become an auto mechanical engineer before fate, and passion, eventually lead him to start his own professional photography business.  Non-Florida man takes us to New Jersey for a story about what happens when a $30,000 purse collides with a waiter at a golf club.  Lastly, we discuss some of the best places around town to take breathtaking photos.

In this episode of This Is Tampa with Rob and Jen, Maureen Famiano joins the podcast to discuss her life of over 25 years in the TV world.  Starting out as a reporter in New York, Maureen wanted more involvement in creating the stories that went deeper so she moved to Florida to become a producer of many local daytime shows.  
A cancer survivor, Maureen shares her journey through this time, how she overcame it and how it has changed her outlook on life and the future.
Our Non-Florida Man story this week takes us to Missouri.  We touch on some of the biggest news stories to ever come out of Tampa, and finally, we wrap with a game of Name That Anchor with Maureen.