Support Isn't Just Local. It's Personal.
Meet Chuck Merlis
Chuck Merlis is a Tampa-based journalist and host of the Tampa Stories podcast, a show spotlighting the people, businesses, and neighborhoods shaping the Tampa Bay Area. ​
With a background in journalism, media strategy, and values-driven storytelling, Chuck brings a deep understanding of how to tell the stories that matter — and why they matter now.
Tampa Stories host Chuck Merlis sitting down with the owners of one of Tampa’s best Italian restaurants to talk food, family, and what it takes to build a neighborhood favorite. Read the full story here.
Background & Experience
Chuck's reporting has appeared in on the following Tampa news platforms:
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Chuck also spent a year as Editor-in-Chief of The Minaret, the University of Tampa's student-led newspaper.
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Behind the scenes, he also held roles for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ communications team and at BoardroomPR, one of Florida’s top PR agencies.
Tampa Stories host Chuck Merlis interviewing the owner of Joy Bar, a Christmas-themed dive bar in Tampa Bay. Read the full story here.
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Chuck Merlis records Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles during a post-practice press conference at Tampa Bay’s training camp.
Why He Started Tampa Stories
Tampa is changing fast — but some of the best stories are still hidden behind storefronts, food counters, family businesses, and side hustles. Chuck started Tampa Stories to help surface them.
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As a journalist and Tampa resident, he saw a gap between the headlines and the real people driving the city’s growth. Tampa Stories was born out of that gap — a podcast focused on values, not virality; on human stories, not press releases.
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Each episode invites listeners behind the scenes with local business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs. The goal? To connect people with the voices behind the things they love — and to remind Tampa that every brand, block, and booth has a backstory.
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Still have questions about our mission? Check out our FAQ.​