Meet The All American Pot Smugglers
Phillip Spencer aka “Petey”
Phillip Spencer was born into a prominent southern family. His grandfather known as “Pop” was in the turpentine business from 1910 to 1950. Pop met with Ed Ball at Wakulla Springs lodge to discuss business. Pop’s business connections included the opportunity to meet with Walt Disney, a meeting he turned down stating “I don’t work with carnival people”.
Clyde Spencer, Phillip’s father, was a positive influence teaching organizational skills. Clyde was an integral part of managing concessions at FSU for more than 22 years. Clyde had a vending business and built more than 240 apartments in the early ‘70’s for which he was also superintendent.
Phillip attended Leon High School. Not the most cooperative student, he was sent to military school in his senior year. That was followed by short stints at three “Junior Colleges” and Florida State University. He dropped out of FSU to pursue the romantic ideal of being a “hippie”. He and a friend bought a Volkswagen camper from a factory in Germany and traveled around Europe.
He met Nomads in the caves of Ibiza who told him they had heard of young spiritual person who was going to bring peace to the planet. These Nomads left for India in search of this enlightened young man. Phillip flew back to New York and hitch-hiked to California. He met up with some hippy band members who had recently left Haight-Ashbury and relocated to Sonoma County. This group were successful band members who played back up for The Grateful Dead at the Fillmore West.
Phillip was introduced to some spiritual books and drank so much carrot juice that his eyes turned yellow.
The group came back to Florida and bought 40 acres where they awaited the coming of the Lord. It wasn’t long before they were off to Charlotte, North Carolina. Like the Beatles, Steve Jobs and others, they were spiritual seekers, looking to reveal the light within. This led to time in India in 1971 and 1972.
Upon returning to Florida he found himself back in the construction business. He built hundreds of houses, FAMU entrance signs and a project in Railroad Square for his cousins. Eventually the construction business left him feeling “burnt out” so he packed up his family and moved to Miami. He had identified a new career, smuggling marijuana. He had early indoctrination as ground crew but became a skilled pilot who was able to fly thousand-pound loads for 14 hours over the Gulf of Mexico.
The All American Pot Smugglers were born! Three good ‘ol boys from the South and a Psychedelic Engineer from California, called “Gyro”. Their wild adventures allowed them to fund research for Gyro’s non-carbon emissions transportation system. Together they were rebels with a cause and forward thinkers. After many runs, most successful but some not, there was a miracle in a Pecan tree. They limped away from the tree and federal court, barely making it back to life as a “normal” citizen. Now they are here, telling their tales with many chuckles and grins.
Jerry Hartlein aka “J.J.”
Born in the Missouri “BootHeel” in 1948, J.J. spent his early life as the son of sharecroppers where he learned very quickly “If I wanted any money in my pocket, I had to figure out how to make it”. Although his folks never broke the law, there were relatives, friends and neighbors who gently pointed him towards the outlaw trail. J.J.’s first dalliance with the outlaw life was during his high school years when he became involved in different enterprises that were a little less than legal such as running moonshine and to a larger extent created his own successful liquor supply business to his fellow high school classmates.
Shortly after graduating high school in 1967, J.J. was drafted into the U.S. Army. While serving in a Riot Control Group at Ft. Hood, Texas; J.J. and his Company were sent to Chicago, Illinois to quell the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. While waiting at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center Barracks, J.J. and a friend decided to go A.W.O.L. and join the demonstrators. This landed J.J. and his friend in a Navy Brigg and was (for a short time) charged with treason. The magic happened and the rules and regulations of the U.C.M.J. were upheld and J.J. was sent to Vietnam for punishment.
J.J. was one of ten million teenage boys that were heavily armed and dropped into the middle of an opium and marijuana den where death and destruction was the only show in town. Needless to say, J.J. came back a different kind of dude.
After attending the University of Florida-College of Agriculture (G.I. Bill); J.J. became a “Guerilla Farmer” growing high grade marijuana (Purple Kush) in the swamps of North Central Florida. At this same time he began a unique spiritual journey that he continues to this day.
For three years J.J. imported marijuana from South America, Central America, and Jamaica. Some of these “missions” were condoned and to some extent coordinated by more than one Three Letter Government Agency. In 1986 this part of J.J.’s life came to an abrupt halt culminating in the Federal Court System.
After the legal ramifications were settled, J.J. became one of the founding members of the Florida Organic Growers Association and went on to become a successful organic farmer.
Robert Boyd aka “Sugar Bear”
Robert Boyd was born in Columbus Ohio in 1951. He was just 4 years old when his parents split which resulted in him being placed in an orphanage and later, in a foster home.
His Mother regained custody and moved to St. Petersburgh, Fl when he was 6. His mom remarried and his stepfather worked for the City’s Police department. Robert attended Daytona Beach Jr. College. He was elected Student Government President in his first year.
He is most proud of promoting an Allman Brothers concert in 1970 and having his photo taken with them and printed on the inside of the album cover, “Duane Allman, An Anthology 2”.
Always a political activist, while campaigning for the 18-year old vote, he met Richard Nixon at a Republican party event at St. Petersburg’s Bayfront Center. The effort to pass the amendment for the 18-year old vote failed the first time but was passed into law two years later.
In 1970, Robert was arrested at the “May Day” anti-war demonstration in Washington DC. His protest antics included stopping traffic at the Francis Scott Key Bridge and removing valve stems of cars stuck in traffic.
He and fellow protesters ended up at a football training camp where people were clapping and cheering upon their arrival amid the chant HO HO HO Chi Min.
Eventually Robert moved to New Hampshire where he worked as a mechanic and state vehicle inspector for an international Harvester Dealer. It was there that he began dealing pot to smoke for free.
In 1974 Robert move to Micanopy Fl where he learned to make jewelry. It was a retreat for jewelers and potters. They traveled to shows and Robert kept the vehicles running.
1975 marked a move to Gainesville and and the start of his relationship with the All American Pot Smugglers. There was also a “regular” job in 1978 when he worked at automotive machine shop and was a mechanic at a lumber supply.
Robert earned a reputation as a “can fix anything” mechanic even if his only tools were a pocket knife and a bic pen.
Robert actually took two civil service exams and got high scores. He had hydraulic experience and was working on city buses at night.
He recalls that the All American Pot Smugglers made a lot of money but spent it as fast as they made it. When the team’s plane crashed into a pecan tree, they were put out of business. The crash was followed by a series of court cases. Ultimately, everyone was found not guilty and each began less risky, more traditional work.
Phil Fisher aka “Gyro”
Phil Fisher aka “Gyro” was born in southern California. His father was a German immigrant, his mother was Hispanic. His relationship with his father was a rocky one. Phil was one of two children, having a younges brother. Phil took after his mother’s Hispanic heritage, which caused his father to question whether Phil was his biological son. Phil’s younger brother looked like their father, so the father did not question that child’s parentage.
Phil’s parents split when he was young, and Phil did not maintain a relationship with his father. Young Phil was very handsome and a rebellious character, he didn’t like to conform to most social norms. During his teenage years, he dropped out of high school, as he didn’t believe he needed it.
His joined a Los Angeles motorcycle gang. Phil was a mechanic, as well as a self-taught engineer. He would take frequent trips to UCLA to research engineering in their library. There, he studied the written word of Nicolas Tesla.
There was a chapter in his life when he moved to Alaska to start his own bull dozing company and work in the oil fields. He then moved to Florida where he began studying the science of perpetual motion. His creative mind was fascinated with the concept of perpetual motion. He spent many hours studying the power of a Gyroscope. Sometimes he would take LSD and develop intricate engineering designs resulting in the nickname “psychedelic engineer”.
He developed a design for a high-speed train that would run from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, running on a bamboo track. The flexibility of the bamboo allowed for faster turns. He presented this idea to many different individuals. George Lucas was one who made him an offer to purchase the design outright. Phil wished to maintain ownership so he turned down the offer.
Phil also presented his idea to Washington State University but subsequently rejected their offer as well.
Phil was a major asset when he got connected with the All American Pot Smugglers. He worked as ground crew, and as a co-pilot. He developed a new way to latch the plane door so that it could be opened from inside. He was always bringing new innovative ways to accomplish different tasks. Smuggling marijuana became a source of funding for his engineering projects. Thus he was seen as a rebel with a cause.
Unfortunately, Gyro passed away in 2020, and will not be a voice on the podcasts but his memory will remain alive as The All American Pot Smugglers relive their adventures and their times with Gyro.
Meet the Production Team
Alchemy Sound Studios
Alchemy Sound Studios began as a home studio, recording in a spare bedroom in the summer of 2001. Some of the early projects included work for Sight Unseen, Travis Sanders of Under Foriegn Skies, Defining Moment (later to become Mayday Parade,) and Seeking Sui. The studio was moved into a facility newly constructed and specifically built for recording in the summer of 2009, and through October of 2020 worked with hundreds of clients including Sinister Nasty, Upside Avenue, Oklahoma Stackhouse, The Naked Animals, Aaron O'Rourke, The Fried Turkeys, A Big Goodbye, King Cotton Blues Band and Proper Villains.
Alchemy Sound has since been moved and upgraded to a 2,000 sq ft multi-room professional facility in NE Tallahassee and is set to reopen to the public in early 2025. It’s founder and main engineer, Cory Johnson, has been working with and producing artists since 2005 in a plethora of genres. He is a 2006 graduate of the FSU School of Commercial Music and has since had a full time career as a performer, producer, music instructor and sound engineer.
Alchemy Sound Studio founder Cory Johnson states, “The idea behind Alchemy Sound Studios was to create a recording facility in Tallahassee where all types of artists and genres of music can enjoy a lower cost yet high quality facility in an easy laid back environment that fashions a vibe that both the artist and engineer can enjoy during the long and sometimes grueling process of cutting an album. So far we have had a lot of success with our goals.”
Chucha Barber, Producer
In 2021, the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences named Chucha Barber as a “Silver Circle” honoree, recognizing 25 years of excellence and industry leadership as a television producer. She is a member in good standing with The Producers Guild of America.
Chucha Barber is a 1975 graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in Mass Communications. She considers her selection by Ralph Renick for Alpha Epsilon Rho as her most significant educational achievement. Ralph Renick was a pioneer American television journalist for Miami's WTVJ, channel 4 (now channel 6), Florida's first television station. Alpha Epsilon Rho is a scholastic honor society recognizing academic achievement among students in the field of electronic media.
Chucha began her career as a television producer in an unlikely way. As Director of Institutional Advancement for the Miami Museum of Science, she became an independent television producer to support the nation’s first exhibition of giant robotic dinosaurs. She collaborated with Miami’s CBS affiliate to produce DIG THOSE DINOS, a children’s program that earned her first Suncoast Emmy, in 1995.
The Museum created additional exhibitions which led to more documentaries over the next three years. Most were produced in collaboration with WTVJ, which was Miami’s NBC owned and operated station. Chucha Barber has sometimes simultaneously produced programs in Spanish and English having also partnered with both Univision and Telemundo. At times, these productions required managing two separate scripts and different production crews while on location in a foreign country during a single trip for budgetary concerns.
A few documentaries produced by Chucha Barber to translate museum exhibitions into greater public understanding while she served as a Museum Director included:
CYBERSACE
TAPPED OUT: WHERE’S OUR WATER?
WHAT ABOUT AIDS?
TRIBAL SPIRITS: The Vanishing People of the Amazon
STOLEN IDENITIES
MUMMIES: Unwrapping the Secrets
DINOSAURS OF BRAZIL
DINOS DO BRAZIL (Brazilian title/Spanish production)
HURRICANE ANDREW 10 YEARS AFTER
CITY OF WONDERS
Chucha formed her production company, Tight Shots & Sounds, Inc., in 2003 after moving to Tallahassee. She changed the corporation’s name to Chucha Barber Productions in 2012. Her body of work has earned her eight Suncoast Emmys as a producer, and she has been honored as a “Documentary Producer” by the Alliance for Women in Media with two “Gracie Awards”.
