Inside the Building That Has Shaped Miami for Over a Century

Miami's historic courthouse has stood at the center of South Florida's most defining moments — and in this special episode we brought together some of Miami's most fascinating voices to tell its full story. Historian Seth Bramson, Judge Michael Chavies, Clerk of the Court Juan Fernandez Barquin, Commissioner Sally Heyman, developer Russell Galbut, and MJ Green join us for a conversation unlike anything we've done before.

We cover the courthouse's role in shaping Miami-Dade County, the truth about Julia Tuttle and Miami's founding, Al Capone's presence in South Florida, public hangings outside the courthouse walls, the mysterious 13th floor, the most impactful cases ever tried there, and the vision for what this building becomes next. Seth Bramson also shares rare photos and documents that bring it all to life.

This is Miami history at its most vivid — and most surprising.

Manny Alfonso:
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Kiko Suarez:
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Eduardo Moya:
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Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/20WEys6jxiliBCLoo9iSID
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Produced by: Ben Schwede
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benthecreatorrr/

0:00 Intro
2:01 About Seth
3:38 First Company Historian
4:22 Importance of Railways for Miami
4:46 About Sally Heyman and Her Work
8:56 Public-Private Partnerships and the Importance of Good Governance
12:12 Is Julia Tuttle NOT the Mother of Miami?
14:27 Who Built Biltmore Hotel?
17:10 About Michael Chavies and Becoming a Judge
20:30 Senator Bob Graham and Jury Duty
21:26 Can You Ignore Jury Duty?
22:55 Most Impactful Case
24:54 Al Capone in South Florida
26:30 How Miami-Dade County Land Area Has Changed
29:06 County Commission at the Courthouse
31:35 Public Hanging Outside the Courthouse
32:20 13th Floor at the Courthouse
33:05 Intro #2
33:44 Meaning of the Courthouse Building for Our Clerk of the Court
35:28 What Does the Courthouse Symbolize
39:28 Russell on Why the Courthouse is So Important
42:27 DDA and CRAs
43:28 The Work of the Clerk of the Court
45:42 Decision to Become the Clerk of the Court
49:44 How the Courthouse Has Reflected the Cultural Evolution
51:30 World-Class DJs Wanting to Play at the Courthouse Steps
53:41 Vision for the Courthouse in the Future
56:59 Pictures and Documents from Seth Bramson
59:32 Outro