Unsealed

di Joel Chandler

Come fare Governo

Stagione 1

How to Make a Public Records Request – A Citizen’s Guide

In this practical episode of Unsealed, Joel Chandler breaks down the essentials of Florida’s Public Records Act and gives listeners a clear, step-by-step guide to making their own public records requests. From identifying the right custodian to crafting an effective written request, Joel explains how everyday citizens can use the law to hold government accountable. Along the way, he shares real-world stories from his own experience—highlighting both the successes and the roadblocks that often come with seeking public records. Listeners will learn not only how to frame their requests, but also how to respond when agencies delay, deny, or ignore them. Whether you’re a journalist, activist, or just a curious citizen, this episode arms you with the tools to shine a light where others would rather keep things hidden.

The Dozier School for Boys – Florida’s Forgotten Horror

In this powerful episode of Unsealed, Joel Chandler unpacks the brutal history of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida. For over a century, the reform school operated under the guise of discipline and rehabilitation while hiding a legacy of abuse, forced labor, and systemic cover-ups. Drawing on public records, survivor accounts, and decades of official investigations that led nowhere, Joel reveals how political leaders knew early on about the horrors inside Dozier but chose inaction. The episode explores how the institution was originally designed as a pipeline for free child labor, how boys were leased out as agricultural workers, and how decades of physical abuse, sexual violence, and suspicious deaths were swept under the rug. This isn’t just history—it’s a story of power unchecked, of vulnerable children sacrificed to protect reputations, and of why open government remains essential to uncovering the truth.

The Public Housing Project – Predators, Power, and the Broken System

In this harrowing long-form episode of Unsealed, Joel Chandler takes listeners inside one of the darkest investigations of his career: Florida’s public housing authorities. What began in 2017 with a single phone call about a slap inside the Lakeland Housing Authority spiraled into a years-long battle uncovering systemic abuse, sexual harassment, exploitation, and secrecy. From whistleblowers and victims to commissioners, police detectives, and even predators themselves, Joel follows the threads through a maze of intimidation, cover-ups, and impunity. The investigation reveals not just individual misconduct, but a system designed to protect itself—where commissioners are stripped of power, phantom corporations hide in plain sight, and women are silenced through fear, eviction, and retaliation. Drawing on firsthand encounters, depositions, internal files, and stories from across Florida, this episode exposes the “predator’s playbook” used against some of the state’s most vulnerable women. It’s a story of corruption, cowardice, and cruelty—but also of those who dared to fight back.

The Charter School Project – Florida’s Hidden Charter School Crisis

Joel Chandler investigates Florida’s charter schools and uncovers systemic violations of Sunshine and Public Records laws. What began as a simple request reveals a culture of secrecy, ghosting, and unlawful board practices in publicly funded education.

Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals – What It Really Means for Power and Accountability

Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals has been called everything from the Devil’s playbook to a democracy saver. In this episode of Unsealed, Joel Chandler unpacks the myths, the infamous Lucifer epigraph, and the 13 rules for grassroots change—and explains why both activists and public officials should still be paying attention today.

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