Icons of Naples
Claim This Podcastby Kristen Weardon
Podcast Overview
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Welcome to Icons of Naples, the podcast where we honor our community heroes of Naples, Florida. You'll hear o</span><span style="font-weight:400;">ur movers, shakers, and history-makers who helped make our community the place we love to call home. Hosted by Kristen Weardon. A huge thank you to our technology sponsor, Robert of Philadelphia, for making this podcast possible.</span></p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/8/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 4, 2026
The Truth About Naples Growth with Lauren Maxwell
In this episode of Icons of Naples, Kristen welcomes Lauren Maxwell, a longtime Naples resident, mortgage banker, and community supporter who has called Naples home since 1988. Lauren shares what first brought her from Massachusetts to Southwest Florida, the small-town charm she remembers, and her perspective on how Naples has grown from quiet roads and early neighborhoods into the thriving community it is today. Lauren offers an honest look at growth, housing affordability, real estate, and why she believes Naples still holds its charm despite change. The conversation also explores her heart for giving back, especially to children and families in Immokalee, as well as the resilience she developed through hurricanes, the 2007 market crash, and rebuilding her business stronger than before. “Growth equals opportunity… people want to come here. Who wouldn’t want to come here? To me, it’s the best place in the whole world.” — Lauren Maxwell. Thank you to our location sponsor, Gulfshore Playhouse, for allowing us to use their Founder's Lounge. Thank you to our technology sponsor, Robert of Philadelphia, for making this podcast possible.
May 7, 2026
Part 2: Resilience as a POW with Wayne Smith
In the conclusion of this special two-part conversation, Host Kristen Weardon continues her sit-down with decorated veteran and former POW Wayne Smith. After enduring 1,882 days in captivity, Wayne returned to U.S. soil during Operation Homecoming in 1973 and immediately set his sights on a new mission: the American corporate world. Wayne shares his transition from the cockpit to the boardroom, eventually serving as the Executive Vice President and COO of MidAmerican Energy. He discusses how the lessons of resilience and leadership learned in the Air Force translated to managing major corporations, and how a search for the perfect golf course eventually led him to find his permanent community in Naples, Florida. “I moved here for the love of the golf courses, but the people turned out to be the real reason I stayed.” — Wayne Smith. Thank you to our technology sponsor, Robert of Philadelphia, for making this podcast possible.
April 29, 2026
Part 1: Resilience as a POW with Wayne Smith
In this powerful episode of Icons of Naples, Host Kristen Wearden sits down with Wayne Smith, a decorated veteran, F-4 fighter pilot, and former prisoner of war whose story of resilience began long before he arrived in Naples, Florida. Wayne takes us back to his humble beginnings on a small farm in Kentucky and shares the journey that led him from the brand-new Air Force Academy to the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom over Vietnam. Wayne provides a rare, firsthand account of life as a POW, describing the ingenious ways prisoners used "tap codes" to maintain their sanity and community while in solitary confinement. From the moment of his ejection to his eventual release after over 5 years of captivity, Wayne’s story is a profound testament to the strength of the human spirit. “All of a sudden, the guy gets on the horn and he says, 'Gentlemen, feet wet.' And that meant the ocean was there. And then you should have heard us then. We were just cheering up. We were going to make it.” — Wayne Smith. Thank you to our technology sponsor, Robert of Philadelphia, for making this podcast possible.
17 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Icons of Naples?
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Welcome to Icons of Naples, the podcast where we honor our community heroes of Naples, Florida. You'll hear o</span><span style="font-weight:400;">ur movers, shakers, and history-makers who helped make our community the place we love to call home. Hosted by Kristen Weardon. A huge thank you to our technology sponsor, Robert of Philadelphia, for making this podcast possible.</span></p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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