Brad Shaw
- Writer, Coastal Breeze News
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Articles by Brad Shaw
The Rearview Mirror Effect
My wife and I love the Apple show Ted Lasso. We started watching it when many others did, with the first season in August 2020. Yes, it’s corny, hokey and Pollyannish, but that’s why we love it. And back when it launched, at the height of the pandemic, we needed it. Lasso’s unbridled but grounded optimism, humility, and humor were a salve for the weirdness, bitterness, and uncertainty of the time and it still is.
Slop
In my first column of this year, in early January, I focused on artificial intelligence. I noted that this year would likely prove an inflection point in the technology, where it could go either way, good or bad, depending on how we leverage its benefits while recognizing and mitigating the harm it can do.
The Enemy’s Vote
My grandfather Charles L. Shaw served in the U.S. Navy at the turn of the last century. He circumnavigated the globe on the USS Tennessee in 1907 in Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet. We have the certificate he received at the time, hanging in our office. What would seem on the surface like a cool piece of family lore that the Shaw clan should celebrate is actually a little more complicated, like most things these days.
Bucket List Complete
The original 1933 Ford. When I interviewed Marco Island resident and Vietnam veteran John Reichenberg three years ago this summer, he told me he had one last thing on his bucket list: restoring the 1933 Ford five-window coupe he bought in his teens in 1963. “That’s the end of my bucket list,” he said then. At the time, the car was still on blocks in the three-bay mechanic shop attached to his home. It was far from street ready.
All in the Family
Back in the early 2020s, I noticed a flag a neighbor was flying that had a silhouette of President Biden in a mafioso-style tux and red carnation with the slogan “Biden Crime Family.
Reliable Source
When I retired in 2015 after nearly 30 years in corporate communications, I unsubscribed from The Wall Street Journal. The reason had nothing to do with its editorial direction or the accuracy of its coverage and analysis. My “problem” with the Journal was that it largely controlled my work life for three decades and I needed to officially cut the cord as I rode off into retirement. I needed a break.
Let Freedom Ring
For the last ten years or so, I’ve made it a tradition to read the Declaration of Independence on July 4. I do the same with MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech on the holiday honoring him. To me, it’sa good way to bypass the commercial aspects of both and get to the gist of why these holidays should matter to us as Americans. Interestingly, both are easy, short reads, clocking in at around 1,500 words. The Declaration is just under, King’s speech just over, both about twice as long as this column.
Can Citizens Unite?
On paper, Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire in June with the blockbuster initial public offering of his SpaceX rocket and satellite company. I say, “on paper,” because SEC restrictions preclude him from selling any pre-IPO shares for a year, but it’s a significant milestone, nonetheless. There was much commentary about what Musk’s trillionaire status says about the widening wealth gap in our society.
Flies or Peace?
In mid-May, I had unexpected eye surgery that left me laid up and largely immobile for more than a week. On one hand, it was a major inconvenience. On the other, it was a rare gift, an opportunity to literally do nothing but read books and catch up on some streaming content with my good eye. Amid all that I consumed in my prone state, one mini-series and one book struck me as particularly relevant to our times, but in starkly opposite ways.
Just War?
The notion of a “just” war, meaning one fought on solid moral grounding, dates back thousands of years to Cicero and the ancient Greeks. It became woven into Christianity in the fourth century when Augustine of Hippo, the Christian philosopher and bishop who is a saint in the Catholic Church, brought religious reasoning to the decision-making around war and how to fight one on moral grounds.
Thomas Marshall’s Final Salute
This July, Naples resident Elysee Marshall will be marking two occasions in a special way. On July 14, her deceased husband’s cremains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with a military burial including a horse-drawn caisson, bugler, band, and presentation of the flag.
A Farmer’s Perspective
I ran into a friend of mine at a cocktail party a couple weeks ago. He’s a fifth-generation soybean and corn farmer from Humboldt, Iowa, and a seasonal resident here in Marco. I asked him how the President’s tariff regime is impacting his business and he gave me a quick earful. I had to leave for another engagement, so we agreed to meet up for a lengthier discussion. A few days later, we met on our lanai for about an hour.
Can You Get Abs Like Emily Ratajkowski?
Emily Ratajkowski can still make the internet behave like a panel of part-time physiologists. One appearance in a white bandeau top and low-slung skirt at the Vanity Fair Oscars party did more than turn heads; it reignited a familiar argument about visible abs, body fat, genetics and whether a sharply defined midsection is built in the gym, the kitchen, or quietly handed out in the DNA queue. The outfit drew the usual split verdict.
The Best Home Exercise Challenges for Everyday Fitness
Home exercise has finally grown up. It is no longer the poor relation of “real” training, wheeled out only when the weather turns foul or life gets too busy to behave. Done properly, a home workout can build strength, sharpen endurance and lift the mood, all without queues for machines, booming playlists or somebody else’s sweat on the mat. That is the beauty of it. You do not need a garage full of kit, a wall of mirrors or the kind of motivation usually reserved for polar expeditions.
Things You Need To Know Before Joining The Gym
The gym is a curious place: half temple of self-improvement, half social experiment, with a dash of low-grade paranoia thrown in for good measure. For the beginner, it can feel like walking into a room where everyone already knows the script and you’ve somehow missed rehearsal. The mirrors are unforgiving, the machines look like they were designed by NASA, and somewhere nearby a person with the confidence of a nightclub owner is deadlifting a small family hatchback.
A Tribute to a Friend
A good friend of mine passed away unexpectedly at the end of February. His name was Eugene Johnson, but his friends called him Slim because of his six-five height and lanky frame. He was 72 when he passed. I met Slim when I retired in 2015 and started volunteering at Our Lady of Lourdes in downtown Atlanta, which holds a lunch twice a week to feed 200-300 homeless people in the neighborhood. Slim was a fellow volunteer but interestingly, was homeless himself.
Bella Florals Moves, Expands
Bella Florals, the Marco Island-based florist, has moved locations, selling its prior building on Front Street and opening its new location in the more centrally located shopping center at 1000 N. Collier Blvd., next to The Boulevard restaurant. “We’re already seeing an increase in foot traffic being so close to other shopping destinations,” said owner Denise Jefferies.
Noem No More
Lots to talk about this week. Rather than delving into our war with Iran, which is clearly in its infancy with much more to unfold, I’lltake a look at the other big story last week: the ouster of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. I could end this column by simply saying “it’s about time,” but there are other interesting threads here that could use some pulling, starting with her sheer incompetence.
The Dad Bod Myth: Six Men Rewriting the Script
Being a parent is a full-contact sport played in Lego minefields, with stoppage time added whenever someone can’t find a shoe. And yet—somewhere between nappies, the school run, and the nightly toy clear-up—there are dads to follow who’ve managed to squeeze in training without turning family life into a military operation. This isn’t about chasing a particular look, or pretending everyone’s got the same schedule, metabolism, or patience.
Exercise Addiction: When Fitness Turns Into Control
If your day begins with a HIIT class and ends with the saintly glow of “I’ve been good,” you’re not alone. Regular movement can lighten stress, settle anxiety, and generally make the world feel a little less like a group chat on deadline. But for a small group of gym-goers, exercise addiction isn’t a punchline or a humblebrag — it’s a real behavioural pattern that can quietly bulldoze daily life.
Guardrails
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling striking down President Trump’s prior approach to sweeping tariffs across the globe was interesting on a few levels. It’s an obvious setback to the trade approach that the president has advocated for most of his adult life, but he does have other tools at his disposal to continue the regime, specifically section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which no president has used prior to this. That likely means it, too, will end up in court.
On The Rocks
Naples-based On The Rocks sells handmade resin coasters and trays “made to look like beautiful, sparkly geodes,” according to owner Marcela, who has been exhibiting at the market for eight years. Marcela handcrafts each product in her home, often using local shells. She started the business as a practice during the pandemic “because I was bored and was looking for something to do,” she said.
Hold Steady
When talking to my Democrat friends these days, I get a general sense of helplessness and hopelessness about where the country is heading. (It’s the opposite reaction that I get from my friends who support President Trump, by the way, who think virtually everything is going swimmingly. Yes, I have those friends, too).
Pepper Street Studio
Pepper Street Studio, based in Naples, was created when owner Brandi Woolington couldn’t find candles she liked. “I’d bring a candle home, light it, and get a headache right away,” she said. “I did some research and figured out it was the toxins in them that bother many people.” So, she launched Pepper Street Studio to feature her organic, handmade, non-toxic diffusers and candles, a business that has recently expanded into Idaho and other western states. And her business has a heartfelt purpose.
La Table De Soleil
La Table De Soleil owners Denis and Lisa Meurgue have been Marco Island residents for 25 years and are well known on the island for their popular restaurants Bistro Soleil and Le Petit Soleil, which were based at The Olde Marco Inn but closed when the historic building was shuttered due to structural issues in late 2023.
Why We Can’t Wait
Peggy Noonan, in my opinion, is one of the best opinion columnists among the mainstream media these days. The former Reagan and Bush speech writer has penned her column “Declarations” for the Wall Street Journal for more than 25 years, earning her a Pulitzer Prize for her commentary. She’s a self-described conservative who isn’t afraid to reflect on deficiencies in both parties but always does so in a measured and thoughtful way, always well-written.
Fire and Ice, The Alchemist
The inspiration for Fire and Ice Paella, a 15-year vendor at the Marco Island Farmers’ Market, came when owner Paul Schmidgall was serving in the military. “I was stationed in Europe, saw paella and just fell in love with it,” Schmidgall said. The secret to Naples-based Fire and Ice’s success is its homemade ingredients, many from Spain. “We import the rice they’ve been using in Spain for over 1,500 years, as well as the saffron,” he said.
Labors of Love
Bubbie’s Bakery may only be open for four and a half hours one day a year, but it’s a labor of love six months in the making by some of Marco Island’s best bakers and cooks, with some help from local businesses.
The Narrative
When an organization thinks it has a “public relations” problem, the chances are pretty good it has a real, fundamental problem. I felt this dynamic multiple times in my 25-year career in public and media relations and crisis communications.
Bubbie’s Bakery Returns
Bubbie’s Bakery returns to the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island (JCMI) on Sunday, February 1, for its annual bake sale of homemade Jewish baked items and soup. A perennial favorite at Bubbies Bakery is the babka bread.
A Touch of Glass
Naples-based A Touch of Glass has been in business for 50 years and is a founding vendor at the Marco Island Farmers’ Market, selling its wares here for more than 20 years. Owner JoAnne Tentschert designs and makes all of her stained and fused glass products herself, including wind chimes, jewelry boxes, tissue boxes, suncatchers, and window panel inserts, all made from stained and lead came fused glass using the Tiffany method, incorporating copper foil and solder.
Tap the Breaks
From Venezuela to Greenland to Iran and ICE on the streets of Minneapolis (and the possibility of a U.S. military presence there), President Trump’s actions only three weeks into the new year are certainly creating a target-rich environment for any opinion columnist, while creating a slew of distractions from the core issues facing most Americans. I’ll save those topics for another day and return for now to the topic of my last column, specifically artificial intelligence (AI).
Rorschach Arts
Marco-based Rorschach Arts showcases the beautiful paintings of local artist Matthew Fazio, who has lived on Marco since he was five and loves painting nature and interesting structures in Marco, Goodland, the Everglades, and Naples. Asked about his company’s name, Fazio said, “Rorschach tests are silhouettes, and the silhouette is the basis of creativity.
Olive Oil of the World
Palm Beach-based Olive Oil of the World has been attending the Marco Island Farmers’ Market for 18 years. According to owner Chef Rasheed Shihada, his mother was the inspiration for his business. “She’s been collecting olive oil since the 1980s, curating it as a hobby,” he said. “She speaks Arabic, Italian, French, Spanish, and English and she took me all over the world collecting olive oil.” Olive Oil of the World sells what Chef Rasheed calls farm-to-bottle olive oil.
Postcards from the Gulf of America
Most pundits say that 2025 was the year that artificial intelligence (AI) really hit its stride, and to expect 2026 to see even more impact and innovation from the rapidly evolving technology. It’s changing almost everything we do: how we work, learn, shop, create art, safeguard our communities, communicate, fight wars, and receive medical care. Its applications are virtually limitless and are weaving into our lives in ways that are often undetectable. This past year saw AI at its best and worst.
Angelic Desserts Bakery and Café
Naples-based Angelic Desserts Bakery and Café makes all its baked treats from scratch and bills itself as “a true artisan bakery with a European touch.” Their Marco Island Farmers’ Market stand features sourdough bread, blueberry muffins, almond croissants, three types of cinnamon rolls, cookies, cakes, key lime pie, and cupcakes.
A Boxing Day Boxercise Workout To Help You Burn Off Your Christmas Dinner
Succulent turkey, mountains of roasties, piles of veg and lashings of gravy over the lot of it… There’s no doubt about it, Christmas is our favourite time of year when it comes to food. The problem is, if you’re trying to stay in shape over the season, all that festive grub can easily make you feel bloated and sluggish – and it might take more than a Boxing Day walk to burn off the damage. If you want to truly crunch December’s calories away, boxing is a pretty brilliant workout to try.
Stropharia Mushroom Farm
Stropharia Mushroom Farm, or SMF, was founded by brothers Jor’el and Sheth Schustrin to help their stepfather address a serious health issue. “Our stepfather has Parkinson’s, and he was diagnosed about 14 years ago,” Jor’el said. “We reduced his pill intake with lion’s mane mushroom, giving him tinctures and powders.
Hope for Empathy
Conservative columnist and former Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan wrote a column in the Wall Street Journal in mid-December highlighting the president’s slipping poll numbers and cited the administration’s immigration practices as one of several factors. “Immigration remains in the news only because of the brutal deportation practices,” she wrote.
Countries Coffee
Naples-based Countries Coffee owner Ashlee Mungo said the inspiration for her business came from her extensive world travel. “I’ve been to 61 countries, either by myself, with friends, and with family,” Mungo said. “Whenever I’m in a country, I like to really dive deep, try their food, and experience life through their eyes.
Bring Mister Crab Cakes Home
Marco Island’s Mister Crab Cakes has been selling its homemade Tillman Islands, Maryland crab cakes at the Marco Island and Naples Farmers’ markets and from their storefront on Chalmer Dr. for nearly ten years, to rave reviews from customers.
LeeBe Steaks
Having conquered the seas with their fresh fish and seafood offerings, Marco-based LeeBe Fish has taken to land with the launch of LeeBe Steaks about a month ago. “We saw a need on the island for all grass-fed beef,” said owner Paul Bartell. Describing their meat offerings, Bartell said, “So we have grass-fed beef, higher end and closer to prime.
What Would Ben Do?
As we wrap up 2025 and head into 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I’ve read two things recently that give me hope that our democracy and the principles it was founded on remain strong, despite what media and algorithms are trying to tell us. The first is a book by Walter Isaacson that was just published called The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. Isaacson writes big books.
Still Running Through Winter? Read This Before You Hit The Pavements
If you’re stubborn enough to love winter running when the pavements resemble a Christmas card gone rogue, you’re not alone. Plenty of runners refuse to trade fresh air for the treadmill, and that grit deserves better guidance than: “Just be careful out there.” So here’s the straight truth—winter running can be glorious, but it bites if you don’t respect the conditions.
Basketball Stars Give Their Fitness Tips For Helping You Maintain Your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions
New Year fitness tips are everywhere in January – most of them written by people who’ve clearly never met a leftover roast potato. But when it comes to getting moving again after weeks of gravy, Quality Street and festive slouching, the basketball elite might just have the most grounded advice going. For players who live on speed, power and stamina, there’s no “I’ll start Monday”.
Turkeys Are Served
Turkeys have been everywhere this Thanksgiving season, as they are every year. The freezer bin in the back of Publix has been overflowing with frozen versions, and fresh ones in the refrigerated aisle.Holiday displays in stores and restaurants have featured them in all shapes and sizes, helping build anticipation and excitement for what many of us call “turkey day.” This Thanksgiving season, however, another poultry is making a run at overturning turkeys as the reigning bird, and that’s chickens.
Deciding to Win
Before their intra-party fracture over ending the government shutdown, Democrats seem to have regained a little spring in their step following the off-cycle elections in multiple states earlier this month, as they should. Most pollsters predicted wins for the Democrats, but their margins of victory in Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and California took most by surprise, particularly in the down-ballot races that didn’t get as much attention.
Best Fitness Resolutions: Goals, Rest, Nutrition
Every year, about a third of us swear that this will be the year we finally sort ourselves out. The gym fills up, the Lycra comes out of hibernation, and fitness resolutions start flying faster than mince pies at Christmas. But by mid-February, enthusiasm often drops off quicker than your battery at 3%. So if you want to make 2026 the year your good intentions survive past Valentine’s Day, here are six fitness resolutions that might just stick.
Results Over Rhetoric | Opinion | coastalbreezenews.com
Milton Friedman, the late well-known American economist and statistician, advanced many economic and market theories is his life, winning him the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1976. One of his more controversial theories was known as the Friedman doctrine or the “shareholder theory.” The gist of this theory is that corporations don’t have any sort of social responsibility to the public, only to its shareholders.
Home Depot Foundation “Doers” Get it Done
A wave of orange swept over Marco Island this week as more than 700 volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation, its vendor partners, and local store associates fanned out across Winterberry and Veterans Community parks for a more than $500,000 volunteer refurbishment project that is part of a grant from The Home Depot Foundation.
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