The Craziness of Miami with Billy Corben

Episode Summary

Main Topics

This episode extensively explores Miami's unique identity as a "canary in the coal mine" for America's future, highlighting its vulnerability to climate change and the pervasive influence of corruption and dysfunction. It delves into the city's "Anything Goes Wild West" culture, which historically attracted individuals seeking reinvention and fostering a "sunny place for shady people." A significant portion uncovers Miami's unexpected golden age as a music recording hub in the 1970s and 80s, detailing how legendary artists converged there, often amidst a vibrant cocaine culture. The discussion weaves together environmental threats, political realities, and cultural quirks to paint a vivid picture of this paradoxical South Florida metropolis.

Key Discussion Points

• Miami as America's Future Bellwether: Billy Corben elaborates on TD Almond's theory that Miami is the "city of the future" and that "the Miami of today is the America of tomorrow." He posits that the challenges, calamities, corruption, dysfunction, and non-stop construction prevalent in South Florida serve as a preview for issues the entire nation will face, urging listeners to observe Miami for insights into upcoming national struggles.
• Climate Change and Miami's Vulnerability: The discussion highlights Miami's extreme susceptibility to rising sea levels, with estimates suggesting only two decades before significant submersion. Corben, a lifelong Miamian, openly states he rents, refusing to own property due to this threat. The episode details how Champlain Towers, which collapsed, was built on porous limestone over reclaimed wetlands, and explains "Sunny Day Flooding" – a phenomenon where King Tides cause up to 12 inches of flooding in low-lying areas during September-November, independent of rain.
• Corruption and Infrastructure Decisions: A stark example of Miami's dysfunction is given regarding the Army Corps of Engineers' proposal for a federally funded protective wall against rising waters. Miami rejected this crucial project as "unsightly" but simultaneously approved an unnecessary $800 million "signature bridge," underscoring how political and aesthetic priorities often overshadow critical environmental needs, likely fueled by contractor deals.
• The Unique "Anything Goes" Culture: Corben describes Miami as "America's Casablanca," a place where people "want to be somebody else" and where "no one cares where your money came from as long as the booze is flowing and everybody's dancing." This "Nouveau Riche" mentality and the "Florida Man" phenomenon are attributed to this "sunny place for shady people" ethos, where a Wild West atmosphere prevails, devoid of traditional New England-style scrutiny.
• Miami's Hidden Music History and Cocaine Culture: The episode reveals Criteria Studios as a major recording hub in the 1970s-80s, attracting legends like Eric Clapton, The Bee Gees, The Eagles, Aretha Franklin ("Respect"), and James Brown ("I Feel Good"). Artists sought Miami to escape label oversight, fostering a communal scene. A notorious anecdote is shared about "piano tuning" being a euphemism for cocaine on studio invoices, with a story of a baggie of coke spilling on a piano, leading studio staff to snort dust between the keys for months.

Notable Moments

• Interesting Story/Anecdote: A legend from Criteria Studios recalls a band’s baggie of cocaine falling open onto the upright piano keys, creating a puff of white dust. For months afterward, studio staff would reportedly stick straws between the keys, trying to salvage and snort the residual dust, making "piano tuning" a covert line item for drugs on recording invoices.
• Surprising Fact/Revelation: The iconic lyrics for The Eagles' "Hotel California" were written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley in a Miami Beach mansion. This same mansion had a colorful past, serving as a love nest for Howard Hughes and Eva Gardner, a winter home for Winston Churchill, and even a hideout for Watergate burglar Howard Hunt.
• Memorable Exchange: Recounting an 80s rock star's only clear memory of Miami being the overwhelming, unique smell when an entire kilo of cocaine was opened before him, the host and Billy Corben share a curious, almost scientific interest in experiencing that specific olfactory sensation, despite neither having ever used the drug.

Key Takeaways

Listeners will learn that Miami is far more than a party destination; it's a living laboratory for future national challenges, grappling with climate change, corruption, and uncontrolled development. The city's "Anything Goes" ethos has deep roots, attracting both innovative artists and those seeking anonymity or illicit opportunities, creating a unique cultural melting pot. The episode sheds light on Miami's underappreciated role in shaping music history during the 70s and 80s, revealing how its relaxed atmosphere and rampant drug culture fueled creativity. Ultimately, the discussion paints Miami as a complex, vibrant, and precarious city, offering a fascinating glimpse into America's potential future.