MIAMI — Carlton Gillespie has been named host of WLRN’s The Florida Roundup, succeeding Tom Hudson, who founded the weekly public affairs program and recently became permanent CEO of WLRN Public Media.
Gillespie, WLRN’s Broward County Bureau Reporter, has contributed to The Florida Roundup as a reporter, guest and fill-in host. He will take over as the program’s host as it enters its second decade, according to WLRN.
“Carlton has grown within WLRN from a talented young journalist into one of our newsroom’s most trusted and distinctive voices,” said Hudson, WLRN’s chief executive officer and longtime host of The Florida Roundup, in a press release. “Our listeners already know his curiosity, his command of the issues and his ability to connect with people. He brings intelligence, authenticity and a genuine love of Florida to every story he tells. I can’t think of a better journalist to lead The Florida Roundup into its next decade.”
Gillespie began his career at WLRN as a newsroom intern and later became the station’s Broward County Bureau Reporter, covering government, elections, education, housing, public safety, culture, sports and other issues.
“I’m a lifelong Floridian and lifelong public radio listener. I grew up here, I started my career at WLRN, and have worked alongside and learned from so many talented journalists. Now taking on this new role is so special for me,” Gillespie said in the press release. “Florida is complicated, diverse and constantly-changing. I want the show to be a place where people can have important conversations, ask hard questions and come away understanding our state — and one another — a little better.”
Gillespie received a 2026 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Feature Reporting for “Bending the Bars: Hip-hop album showcases the talent at Broward County jails,” about a music project featuring current and formerly incarcerated artists. The story also received a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
In 2025, Gillespie and WLRN reporter Veronica Zaragovia won first place in Feature Reporting at the Green Eyeshade Awards for their work on health risks facing South Florida outdoor workers during extreme heat.
Gillespie is a Broward County resident and graduate of Florida International University and Florida State University. His work also has appeared in The Miami Herald, The Miami Times, The Biscayne Times and Caplin News.
The Florida Roundup airs live Fridays at noon and covers Florida politics, the economy, housing, education, the environment, health care, culture and other issues. The program also streams live on YouTube.
Hudson will focus on leading WLRN after moving from interim CEO to the permanent CEO position.
