Bonita Bay Club's Podcast

What If The Best Flavor Is A Memory

Something big changes when a kitchen decides to go “back to basics” on purpose. That’s the mindset driving the new fall menus at Bonita Bay Club, and we’re taking you behind the scenes with Director of Culinary Operations Richard Brumm and Executive Sous Chef Kristofer Jubinville to show what that actually means on the plate. We talk about why classic technique and recognizable flavors can still feel fresh, how seasonality shapes everything from stews to root vegetables, and why the best meals don’t just taste good, they bring you back to a memory. We also get specific about the craft. You’ll hear how a menu is built like a short story, how the team brainstorms, tests, refines, and standardizes dishes, and what they look for in every bite: texture, acid, sweetness, balance, and that simple final test, “Is it delicious?” Along the way we share can’t-miss highlights, including a new pork chop with squash puree and pomegranates, a reimagined grouper hash with Italian sausage and sweet potatoes, plus scratch-made pretzel bites and beer cheese that might steal the spotlight. Then we dig into the values behind the food. Scratch cooking is less about a buzzword and more about integrity: knowing where ingredients come from, avoiding unnecessary preservatives, and being honest about claims like line-caught fish or gluten-free preparation. Richard and Kris also unpack a real-world lesson on member feedback, and we get delightfully nerdy on food science with the time-and-temperature truth that can keep chicken safe and juicy. We wrap with what the chefs eat at home, a surprising tinned fish obsession, and a preview of wine dinners including a France-themed sous chef event with a deconstructed bouillabaisse twist. If you care about seasonal menus, classic cooking techniques, scratch kitchens, and what makes a dining experience feel personal, hit play, then subscribe, share, and leave a review. What fall dish do you want to see on the menu next?

Behind The Scenes Of the Sports Facility Upgrades

You can see the big Sports Center projects from a mile away, but the upgrades that change how a place *feels* are often the ones most people never notice. We’re joined by Paula (Director of Sports) and Michael Stevenson (Sports Facility Maintenance Manager) for a clear, behind-the-scenes look at what’s been happening across tennis and the surrounding facilities at Bonita Bay Club, and what members can look forward to as the season ramps up. We get specific about clay tennis court maintenance: the annual tennis court resurfacing routine, why rolling matters, how lines get reset, and why fresh material keeps the surface comfortable instead of turning into a “hard court with clay on top.” Then we dig into laser grading, the precision process that restores proper slope so courts drain the way they’re supposed to after rain. If you’ve ever wondered why some courts dry faster or play more consistently, this is the part you’ll want to hear. We also walk through the highly visible upgrades members will love right away: renovated back bathrooms with air conditioning, improved storage conditions, and brand-new tennis gazebos designed to be taller and more functional with ceiling fans and electrical power for equipment like ball machines. Add in updated tennis windscreens with the refreshed club logo, plus the growing buzz around major events like the collegiate tournament, and it’s easy to see why the Sports Center is building momentum. If you’re excited about better courts, smarter drainage, and comfort upgrades that make long play days easier, hit play now, then subscribe, share this with a fellow member, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show.

How A Club IT Director Chooses Tech And Stops Threats

Someone can clone your voice from a short recording, drop it into a phone call, and pressure your family into an “urgent” decision. That is not science fiction anymore, and it is why we sat down with Mark Neneman, Director of IT at Bonita Bay Club, to talk about what modern cybersecurity looks like when real people and real operations are on the line. We start with Mark’s path from early communications work into full-time IT and why his CISSP training shapes how he builds secure, reliable systems. Then we get practical: how we decide which new technology is worth investing in, why “it should just work” takes documentation and process, and how backups, redundancies, and clear policies keep service running when things fail. Mark also explains the human side of security, including why awareness training matters and how tools like XDR and SIEM monitoring help us spot issues quickly and respond fast. From there, we cover the three habits that reduce risk for almost everyone: using a password manager (like Bitwarden), enabling multi-factor authentication while moving away from SMS codes, and slowing down when someone tries to trigger fear or urgency. We also unpack AI cybersecurity, including agentic AI risks, privacy concerns with free AI models, and the new wave of voice cloning and deepfake scams, plus a simple defense you can use today: a family code word. If you care about cybersecurity tips, AI safety, phishing prevention, and protecting personal data, listen now, share this with someone who needs it. What security habit are you committing to this week?

Unstoppable a Conversation with Kate Danaher Parks

This is Kate Danaher's first novel. She's been a member of Bonita Bay Club for over 18 years. She holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Delaware and is a former professor of English at Rosemont College, Pennsylvania. She is an Irish storyteller, fiddler, and a founder and emeritus board member of the Irish Heritage Theater in Philadelphia. She also performed with and served on the board of the Delaware Shakespeare Festival. Under the name Danaher and Cloud, she and her music partner, Amy Cloud Chambers, produced four Americana albums: Portraits, Late Bloomers, The Holiday Album , and the multi-award-winning album for kids, Just Kiddin' . All available on popular streaming services. Victoria Woodhull helped shape women’s rights in America, yet most of us never learn her name or we only hear the rumors. We talk with Bonita Bay Club member Kate Danaher Parks (pen name Kate Danaher), the debut author of Unstoppable: The Victoria Woodhull Story, a new historical fiction novel publishing in June that aims to put truth back where myth has taken over. Kate shares why Woodhull’s fight was bigger than “the vote” and how a falling out with better-known leaders helped push her out of the mainstream narrative. We get specific about what surprised Kate most during her research: how often sensational claims get repeated as fact, and how hard it can be to correct the record once a story becomes convenient. With support from longtime Woodhull researcher Mary L. Shearer (VictoriaWoodhull.com), Kate revisits the “free love” label, the misunderstandings around Woodhull’s personal life, and the real stakes of advocating for social freedom in the 1860s and 1870s. If you’re searching for women’s history, women’s suffrage, feminist pioneers, or the untold story of Victoria Woodhull, this conversation is a smart starting point. We also pull back the curtain on craft and process: why Kate wrote the screenplay first, what screenwriting forces you to cut, and how the novel finally gave her room to make Woodhull feel human and relatable. Kate shares the COVID-era routine that kept her drafting, what it took to deliver a full manuscript, and why “clear” beats “perfect” on the page. You’ll also hear about her community storytelling, from tournament articles to Irish music and live events, plus what’s next with the sequel volumes Shattered and Victorious. Subscribe for more member stories, share this with a friend who loves historical fiction and women’s rights history, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What part of Victoria Woodhull’s story do you think deserves the spotlight now?

The Real Cost Of Doing Nothing

Bonita Bay Real Estate Now

Understanding the West Clubhouse Refundable Assessment

Super Senior Explained

A New Clubhouse Plan

Wine 101 With Melissa Hemmingway

Great wine starts with a great story, and Melissa Hemmingway is here to show how history, place, and people turn a glass into an experience. We dig into the essentials that actually matter at the table: what “varietal” really means, how color comes from grape skins, and why a thin-skinned Pinot Noir looks and drinks differently than a dark, structured Cabernet. From there, we connect style to setting, pairing to place, and give you the shortcuts that help you buy smarter and enjoy more. Our members’ travel is reshaping the club’s palate. Napa Cab still shines, but curiosity now points to Burgundy, Sicily, Portugal, and especially the Loire Valley, where Sancerre’s crisp Sauvignon Blanc fits our fresh seafood and warm climate. Melissa lays out clear, practical ways to read labels without getting lost, including the key that red Burgundy means Pinot Noir, plus the importer names that function like quality stamps: Kermit Lynch, Eric Solomon, and Becky Wasserman. We also zoom out to a world tour of regions worth your time: France as the motherland (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Alsace, Provence), Italy and Spain as tireless powerhouses, and rising quality from Germany’s reds to New World stalwarts in California, Oregon, Washington, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and Australia. You will learn the difference between viticulture and vinification, how to protect your bottles from heat and light, and why storage sabotages more wines than flawed winemaking ever does. Curious about non-alcoholic wine? We talk about how producers are dialing in techniques to keep flavor while removing alcohol, and why zero-proof sparkling rosé, Chardonnay, and Cabernet are gaining fans at the club. Whether you are new to wine or leveling up, you will leave with confidence, context, and a list of next steps for your own tasting journey. If this conversation sparked ideas for your next bottle, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review telling us your current favorite region. Your feedback helps us bring more stories — and better pours — to the table.