Fun in Key West Podcast

Family-Friendly Florida Keys Road Trip: Key Largo to Key West (Summer Travel Tips) Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and shares family-travel tips for a Florida Keys road trip from Key Largo to Key West heading into Memorial Day weekend 2026. She argues the Keys are a great multi-generational destination if approached with a relaxed mindset: plan one major activity per day, build in pool/beach downtime, pack snacks and water, plan around morning weather and afternoon showers, and check age/height requirements and booking needs. Suggested stops include Key Largo's John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (snorkeling or glass-bottom boats); Islamorada's Rain Barrel Village (Betsy lobster), Robbie's tarpon feeding, and Theater of the Sea; Marathon/Middle Keys attractions like the Turtle Hospital, Dolphin Research Center, aquarium, Pigeon Key/Seven Mile Bridge history, and Sombrero Beach; Duck Key's Hawks Cay Resort; Bahia Honda State Park; Big Pine Key's Key Deer Refuge; and Key West activities such as the conch train/trolley, Fort Zachary Taylor, Eco-Discovery Center, splash park, Southernmost Point replica, Butterfly Conservatory, aquarium, Hemingway Home, Shipwreck Museum, Mallory Square sunset celebration, and Dry Tortugas. The episode is sponsored by Fury Water Adventures. 00:00 Welcome to Key West 01:26 Family Trip Overview 02:28 Travel Tips and Sponsor 06:22 Keys Trip Mindset 07:43 Key Largo Adventures 09:48 Islamorada Road Stops 14:17 Marathon and Middle Keys 19:35 Lower Keys Highlights 21:49 Key West With Kids 28:06 Key West Eats and Treats 29:42 Dry Tortugas Day Trip 30:25 Sample Road Trip Itinerary 31:18 Final Tips and Wrap Up 35:45 Closing Thanks and Goodbye www.funinkeywest.com/fury

David Sloan Returns: How Key West Killed JFK, Bum Farto, Beatles Tales, and Haunted History Host Michele O'Connor welcomes listeners to the Fun in Key West podcast and interviews returning guest David Sloan, a longtime Key West author and researcher known for haunted history, Robert the Doll, and key lime pie expertise. Sloan explains how he moved to Key West after seeing ghost tours abroad and describes his work as entertainment-driven historical storytelling, including a personal connection to the Civil War fort where Robert the Doll is housed. They discuss his book How Key West Killed JFK, prompted by FBI files from research into missing fire chief Bum Farto and by JFK-assassination documents tying figures like Jack Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald to the Keys; Sloan also details suspect Gilberto Lopez, newly found photos, and information from Lopez's daughter. He previews upcoming books on Bomfarto and The Beatles' 1964 Key West stay, addresses evolving ghost lore and misconceptions about Robert the Doll, shares local recommendations, and notes where to find him, his books, and tours, with sponsorship from iWitness Crime Tours. 00:00 Welcome to Key West 01:27 Meet David Sloan 02:20 Sponsor Crime Tour 05:57 David Origin Story 07:07 Mystorian Mindset 08:23 Guided to Key West 09:10 Why Write JFK Book 09:31 Bum Farto Files 10:47 Key West JFK Links 13:57 Cold War Power Players 17:25 Writing Without Conspiracies 18:40 Gilberto Lopez Breakthrough 24:42 Mafia Culture Revealed 27:22 Digging Unredacted Files 29:07 Hoffa and Teamsters Tales 31:54 Audience Q and Pivot 32:23 Prolific Books and Hits 33:48 Bucket List Lifestyle Brand 35:00 Tutu Hemingway Cat Story 36:36 Key Lime Passion Project 37:19 Key Lime Pie Debate 38:25 Best First Book Picks 40:17 Bonfardo Mystery Unpacked 45:58 Beatles Hurricane Detour 50:14 Haunted Research Origins 54:03 Robert the Doll Truths 58:04 Stories Still to Chase 58:55 Key West Food Favorites 01:01:51 Where to Find David 01:05:27 Final Thanks and Sponsor www.funinkeywest.com/crime-tour Grab a copy of the book over at Amazon (Click Here) As an Amazon Affiliate I will earn a commission on qualified purchases, at no extra charge to you. It helps support our little corner of the world.

Visiting Key West in May: Weather, Events, Packing Tips, and Travel Planning Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and shares an insider guide to visiting Key West in May, calling it a sweet spot with fewer crowds, mid-80s daytime highs, upper-70s evenings, less rain, and generally more forgiving hotel rates before hurricane season begins June 1. She covers what to pack (reef-safe sunscreen, hat, breathable clothes, comfortable shoes, lightweight jacket, reusable water bottle) and how to get there by driving the Overseas Highway, flying into the updated Key West International Airport, or taking the Key West Express ferry. Lodging choices depend on desired vibe and proximity to Duval. Recommended activities include Mallory Square Sunset Celebration, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, booking Dry Tortugas far in advance, museums, and water excursions. May highlights include Songwriters Festival, Walk on White, First Fridays on Fleming, markets, Monday night jazz jams, and the Schooner Wharf Minimal Regatta. Tips include skipping a rental car, not overpacking, not overplanning, and hydrating. 00:00 Welcome to Key West 01:26 Why Visit in May 04:49 May Weather Guide 06:35 What to Pack 08:48 Getting to Key West 11:44 Where to Stay 14:38 Must Do Highlights 18:23 May Events Calendar 23:46 Perfect May Day Plan 24:48 Common Travel Mistakes 27:32 Wrap Up and Resources 29:20 Final Farewell https://funinkeywest.com/key-west-in-may/

Historic Marker Monday: Key West's Old Stone Church (Marker #55) Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and a Historic Marker Monday episode focused on historic marker #55, the Old Stone Church (United Methodist Church) at 600 Eaton Street at Simonton and Elizabeth in Old Town. She explains how Methodist missionaries began services in 1832 in Bahamian settler Samuel Kemp's home for 12 years before a series of wooden church buildings were damaged by fire and hurricanes. Commissioned around 1870, architect William Kerr built the current coral-rock church by quarrying stone on the grounds and constructing it around the existing wooden church, later dismantling the interior structure after the roof went on in 1884. The quarry became a rainwater cistern, and 1950s excavation revealed the church sits on a small cemetery. The church remains active, with some Kemp descendants still attending, and listeners are directed to FunInKeyWest.com for a free walking tour and newsletter trivia drawing. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Historic Marker Monday Begins 03:34 Finding the Old Stone Church 04:26 Key West in the 1800s 05:21 From Living Room to Churches 07:10 Building in Coral Rock 09:01 Cistern and Cemetery Surprise 10:07 Visit Today and Location Tips 11:06 Walking Tour and Newsletter 12:26 Final Wrap Up and Goodbye

Fun Fact Friday: Key West's Hidden WWII Submarine Base, Sonar School, and the Truman Annex Host Michele O'Connor introduces a "Fun Fact Friday" episode focused on Historic Marker #57 near the Outer Mole and the US Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Museum area, explaining how today's calm Truman Annex was once a major WWII submarine hub. She describes the site's evolution from the 1845 Fort Zachary Taylor Army installation to Navy control, the construction of five metal finger docks for submarines, and Key West's wartime role countering German U-boats that sank thousands of ships, including nearly 50 off Florida in 1942. Key West submarines escorted supply convoys and helped support the Pacific War, while the Fleet Sonar School relocated there in 1940, training thousands in sonar. The base was designated in 1946, became obsolete with nuclear submarines, and was decommissioned in 1974, later transforming into today's parks, amphitheater, cruise-ship pier, and tourist area. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Episode teaser WWII waters 02:50 Fun Fact Friday kickoff 03:51 Marker 57 location today 05:17 Base origins and docks 07:12 U-boats off Florida 08:42 Key West wartime missions 10:08 Sonar school revolution 11:22 Decommission to Truman Annex 13:09 Questions and reflections 14:29 Live comments and travel tips 17:25 Final recap and subscribe

Mile Marker Zero: William McKeen on Key West's Wild 1970s Creative Scene Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and welcomes William McKeen, Boston University journalism professor and author of Mile Marker Zero, to discuss 1970s Key West and the artists, writers, musicians, and actors drawn to its cheap, funky, under-the-radar culture. McKeen explains his drive as a lifelong storyteller, how Tom Corcoran (author of The Mango Opera) inspired and enabled the book after sharing a final Hunter S. Thompson message about documenting the "missing" Key West years, and why Corcoran became the narrative gateway linking figures like Thomas McGuane, Jim Harrison, Russell Chatham, Jimmy Buffett. They discuss balancing revelry with serious creative work, editing out some raunchier material (with extras on McKeen's website), Key West's sensory pull and rising costs, and the book's themes of friendship, survival, and tragedy, including Corcoran's missing wife. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Episode teaser and guest 02:12 Podcast theme and intro 03:10 Meet author William McKean 04:40 Addicted to storytelling 07:24 Hunter Thompson voicemail 10:45 Writing Mile Marker Zero 11:59 Keeping the art focus 14:57 Why Key West drew artists 17:49 Then vs now costs 22:29 Structuring the big cast 26:17 Cut scenes and bonus tales 28:23 Wild stories reaction 28:49 Wild Key West Tales 29:36 Why Editors Matter 32:04 Sex Drugs and Context 33:24 Keeping Key West Lit 35:34 Writing With Senses 38:25 Friendship and Survival 41:34 Paradise With a Price 45:39 Can Creativity Return 48:11 Coffee Dinner and Favorites 50:52 Key West State of Mind 53:27 Final Thanks and Signoff https://www.williammckeen.com/ https://funinkeywest.com/fun-in-key-west-book-club/

Mouth-Numbing Relaxation Without the Hangover (with Kalm with Kava CEO Morgan Smith) Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast as an insider guide to Key West food, drinks, events, and local guests, then interviews Morgan Smith, CEO of Kalm with Kava, about kava as a non-alcoholic alternative. Morgan shares how, after negative experiences with benzodiazepines and avoiding dependency, he found kava's relaxing, euphoric effects without hangovers or physical addiction and later took over his late friend Mike's kava company, expanding a Hawaii farm from 100 to about 15,000 plants. They explain kava's 3,000-year South Pacific cultural role, preparation as a root tea, expected mouth numbness and relaxation from key kavalactones, differences among noble vs "two-day" kavas, sourcing by region (Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga/Hawaii), bar ordering basics, ethical sourcing, market demand, and beginner advice to start with a sampler pack. 00:00 Welcome to Key West 01:26 Meet Morgan and Kava 05:19 Morgan's Origin Story 11:11 What Kava Actually Is 15:22 How It Feels 17:10 First Time Tips 19:37 Kava vs Alcohol 23:12 What Kava Is Not 26:40 Noble vs Two Day 29:24 Nighttime Kava Choices 30:40 Kava Cultures Compared 32:55 Farming Cycles and Shortages 34:14 Island Mindset on Money 36:53 Why Kava Demand Surged 38:58 Ethical Sourcing Matters 41:20 Beginner Kava Roadmap 43:38 Ordering at Kava Bars 45:33 Kava History and Migration 49:18 Botany and Plant Varieties 52:01 Personal Wind Down Ritual 52:59 Hawaiian Harvest Plans 54:38 Alternatives and Farewell 57:24 Final Wrap and Subscribe https://kalmwithkava.com/

Historic Marker Monday: The Forgotten Key West Salt Ponds Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and, for Historic Marker Monday, explores Key West's largely forgotten 1800s salt-pond industry, when salt was essential for preserving food and enabling trade before refrigeration. Wealthy businessman and shipwreck-auctioneer Richard Fitzpatrick bought about 100 acres of southeast-end wetlands in 1830, built coral-walled drying pans with floodgates, and produced salt through tidal seawater and sun-driven evaporation, yielding typically 15,000–25,000 bushels annually and once 75,000. The venture was highly weather-dependent; Fitzpatrick left after about four years, though others continued until the Civil War disrupted production, which later resumed. A devastating 1876 hurricane washed away 15,000 bushels and effectively ended the industry. The historic marker stands at 2100 Flagler Avenue by Key West High School. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Key West's Forgotten Gold 03:28 Historic Marker Monday Setup 04:45 Why Salt Mattered 06:27 Fitzpatrick Builds Salt Ponds 07:42 How Salt Was Made 09:42 Profit and Weather Risks 13:17 Civil War and Comeback 14:20 Hurricane Ends the Industry 15:08 Marker Location Today 16:07 Why This History Matters 17:29 Where to Learn More 18:47 Final Toast and Subscribe

Why Are There So Many Roosters in Key West? The Wild, Historic Story Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast as an insider guide to where to eat, drink, stay, and what to do in Key West, with updates on festivals and guests such as locals and business owners. This episode answers a frequent visitor question: why roosters and chickens roam Key West. She explains they're descended from birds kept by early settlers for eggs and meat, later added by Cuban immigrants, and tied in part to cockfighting; when cockfighting was outlawed and backyard chickens were less needed, many birds were released, creating today's feral population. The warm climate, few predators, and easy access to food help them thrive, though feeding is discouraged and can bring fines. She describes a local love-hate relationship and notes the city and the Key West Wildlife Center have humanely managed the issue by rescuing, trapping, and relocating over 15,000 birds to mainland free-range properties. 00:00 Welcome to Key West 01:28 Rooster Question Setup 01:56 Podcast Theme Song 02:45 Why So Many Roosters 04:39 Roosters Everywhere 06:22 Origins and History 08:12 Why They Thrive 09:18 Love Hate Reality 10:44 City Management Efforts 12:58 Wildlife Center Relocation 14:28 Why Locals Still Love Them 15:48 Myths vs Facts 17:33 Wrap Up and Subscribe 18:26 Final Outro www.funinkeywest.com

Cheapest Places to Live in the Florida Keys (and What "Cheap" Really Means) Host Michele O'Connor answers questions about what it really takes to live in the Florida Keys, emphasizing that "cheap" is relative and the Keys are expensive compared to national averages. She outlines factors beyond listing price—rent, property taxes, insurance (including flood), maintenance from salt air, storm prep, commute, home condition, and lifestyle goals—then compares areas often discussed for budget-conscious moves: Big Pine Key for a quieter, nature-focused lower-Keys lifestyle with fewer conveniences; Tavernier as an overlooked upper-Keys option with easier mainland access; Marathon as a centrally located middle-Keys choice with wide price variation by neighborhood and property type; Key Largo as convenient but usually pricier; Key West as iconic but typically among the most expensive; and Stock Island as a potentially more realistic alternative near Key West. She encourages realistic expectations, research, and choosing best value and fit. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Episode Topic Living in the Keys 03:53 Setting Realistic Cost Expectations 08:10 What Affordable Really Means 10:39 Big Pine Key Nature and Value 12:32 Tavernier Upper Keys Option 14:26 Key Largo Convenience Costs More 16:02 Marathon Middle Keys Balance 18:10 Key West and Stock Island Alternatives 22:31 Hidden Costs and Smart Planning 24:23 Quick Shortlist and Takeaways 26:58 Wrap Up Resources and Goodbye 28:33 Final Encouragement and Call to Action www.funinkeywest.com