In this episode of Water for Fighting, Brett Cyphers sits down with Cindy Littlejohn—communications strategist, government affairs professional, author, and lifelong conservation advocate. Cindy reflects on her upbringing in Monticello, Florida, the influence of her family’s agricultural roots, and how those early experiences led to a career spanning environmental policy, natural resource management, legislative affairs, and public relations. She also shares how her education at Florida State University shaped her approach to communications and public service.
Cindy discusses her work with organizations including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), where she helped strengthen relationships between agriculture, conservation, and government. She explains the role of research, Extension, and legislative advocacy in advancing Florida’s agricultural and environmental priorities while reflecting on several milestones from her decades of work in Tallahassee.
The conversation also explores Cindy’s award-winning Palmetto Pioneers historical fiction series, inspired by decades of genealogical research into her family’s role in Florida’s territorial days, the Seminole Wars, statehood, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. She discusses the importance of preserving Florida’s history through factual storytelling, previews several upcoming writing projects, and shares her perspective on the future of Florida’s environment, emphasizing the importance of innovation, education, collaboration, and remaining open to new opportunities throughout one’s career.
This episode is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline.
Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast’s leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.
This episode is also brought to by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)
RES is the nation’s leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida’s natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us
Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews, as part of a new venture where we’re striving to become Florida’s first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state’s natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier.
You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you’d like to know more about.
Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.
And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.
