Fun in Key West Podcast

Key West in April: Conch Republic Days, Markets, Music & Travel Tips Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Wandering Wednesday episode focused on visiting Key West in April, highlighting ideal weather, outdoor activities, and a packed events calendar. She points listeners to funinkeywest.com for the event calendar and notes schedules can change. Major April highlights include Conch Republic Independence Days with opening ceremonies, a street fair, the Cow Key 0K, a Mallory Square sea battle with stale Cuban bread, parades, and parties; plus art walks (Walk on White), farmers markets, Comedy Key West shows, jazz events, Glow Hour at the Studios rooftop, and Howard Livingston at the Tennessee Williams Theater. She advises booking Dry Tortugas (Yankee Freedom) well in advance, planning around the April 11 Seven Mile Bridge Run road closure, and booking lodging early for big events like Conch Republic Days and the late April/early May Songwriters Festival, with packing and transportation tips for crowds and parking. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 April Trip Preview 02:41 Wandering Wednesday Kickoff 04:09 Why April Works 07:15 Dry Tortugas Planning 08:22 April Weather Snapshot 09:16 Conch Republic Days 11:50 More April Events 14:17 Travel Styles and Tips 16:30 Packing and Getting Around 18:06 Wrap Up and Community www.funinkeywest.com

Key West Trip Recap: Coconut Beach Resort, Hidden Gem Cocktail & Cooking Classes, and Local Favorites Host Michele O'Connor and her husband Kevin from Out A Here Travel recap a quick Key West trip, sharing planning tips like booking direct flights into the new Key West airport and using Lyft over taxis. They review staying at the quiet, no-frills Coconut Beach Resort (a timeshare where third-party bookings may require switching rooms) and highlight meals and drinks at Flaming Buoy Filet Company, Conch Republic, Miso Happy, Sloppy Joe's, Green Parrot, Bali Bar, and the Tipsy Rooster. Key stops include Mallory Square sunset viewing tips amid seawall repairs, Key West Candle & Bath Company, Island Bookstore's Fun in Key West book club display, the San Carlos Institute, the Shipwreck Museum tower, and Doing Work Coffee. They praise the Key West Cooking Show's cocktail class and lunch cooking show featuring Cuban dishes and Italian-meringue key lime pie, plus note seasonal orchids, a temporary Southernmost Buoy replica, and rising airfare costs. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Trip Recap Kickoff 03:18 Flights and New Airport 05:07 Coconut Beach Resort Stay 09:38 Flaming Buoy Supper Club 12:13 Mallory Square Sunset Tips 15:01 Local Shops and Book Club 17:47 Conch Republic Fish Sandwich 18:58 Cocktail Class Hidden Gem 25:20 Miso Happy Outdoor Seating 26:09 San Carlos Cuban History 27:22 Cooking Show and Key Lime Pie 32:56 Rotating Menu Tips 33:18 Shipwreck Museum Tower 34:06 Wrecking History Gold 35:36 Cooking Show Swag 37:01 Wrecker Towers Explained 38:23 Favorite Bars Debate 42:03 Doing Work Coffee Stop 45:06 Duval Street Changes 46:05 Trip Recap Resources 47:37 Orchid Season Photos 52:20 Airport Rides Savings 54:03 Travel Prices Advice 56:52 Final Thanks Farewell www.outaheretravel.com www.funinkeywest.com

Preserving Key West's Soul: Nick Green on the Old Island Restoration Foundation, the Oldest House, and Iconic Home Tours Host Michele O'Connor welcomes listeners to the Fun in Key West podcast and interviews Nick Green, executive director of the Old Island Restoration Foundation (OIRF), a nonprofit founded in 1960 to preserve Key West's historic wooden district, architecture, culture, and history. Nick shares his background in international development and philanthropy, how he and his wife fell in love with Key West, and what drew him to preservation work, including an effort to pursue UNESCO Creative City recognition. He explains OIRF's role operating the Oldest House Museum & Gardens since 1974, its community programs for children, and events such as the Key West Home Tour and conch shell blowing contest rooted in the island's wrecking industry history. The episode also covers planned upgrades, accessibility, staffing and volunteers, funding through admissions, memberships, donations, and venue rentals, and Nick's favorite local spots. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:28 Meet Nick Green 04:21 Nick's Global Background 06:51 Falling for Key West History 09:15 UNESCO and Museum Realities 11:21 What OIRF Does 11:34 Origins in 1960 13:45 Oldest House Becomes Mission 16:10 Programs and Signature Events 17:22 Oldest House Visitor Tips 19:46 Captain's Family and House Move 20:55 Cookhouse and Climate Design 22:24 Upgrades and Restoration Plans 25:01 Accessibility and Small Team 26:46 Funding and Home Tours 27:32 How the Tours Work 29:24 Schedule Pricing and Upgrades 31:12 Choosing Homes and Volunteers 33:05 Conch Shell Contest Origins 36:28 Why Preservation Matters 38:27 Ways to Support OIRF 41:28 Local Favorites QandA 44:00 Events Rentals and Admissions 46:52 Final Thanks and Wrap Up 49:41 Host Closing Message https://oirf.org/ www.funinkeywest.com

Pit Bulls in Paradise: Tony Soika on Key West Mysteries, Rescue Dogs, and Second Acts Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West Podcast and its Book Club episode featuring author Tony Soika, a retired U.S. Army officer with 30 years of service and extensive animal-rescue volunteering. Soika discusses his deep pull toward the Florida Keys since first visiting in 1999, his transition challenges after leaving the military, and how becoming a late-in-life father shaped him and influenced his writing. He explains how his novel Pit Bulls in Paradise (first in the Conch House Chronicles) follows retired officer John Tuttle in the Keys as he uncovers a dogfighting ring after pit bulls with fighting injuries arrive at a shelter, reflecting Soca's real-life rescue of a pit bull and his advocacy that "there are no bad dogs, only bad owners." 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Meet Tony Soika 04:09 Tony's Life and Dogs 05:03 Why the Keys Call You 07:31 Fatherhood and Inspiration 10:04 From Coaching to Novels 12:14 Why Pit Bulls in Paradise 13:43 Rescuing Honey Bear 16:26 Building John Tuttle 19:28 Veteran to Civilian Shift 21:38 Finding Identity in Key West 23:21 Dogs Feel Our Pain 25:00 Why Animal Cruelty Matters 27:33 Setting the Story in Key West 29:08 Making Key West Feel Real 30:30 John the Reluctant Hero 31:50 Next Book Afghanistan Thread 33:55 Key West Signings and Support 35:58 Rescue Dogs and Local Favorites 40:25 Book Heart and Real Cameos 44:06 Where to Follow and Final Wrap

Historic Marker Monday: How Cayo Hueso Became Key West Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and this Historic Marker Monday episode focused on the origin of Key West's name, highlighted by a historic marker near Mallory Square. She explains how the Taíno word "cayo" (small island) passed through Spanish usage and into English as "key," and how "hueso" (bone) made the original Spanish name Cayo Hueso translate to "Bone Island." Michele shares theories for the island's bones, including Native American conflicts, shipwreck victims from the "graveyard of the Atlantic," and fishbone piles, noting settlers found large bone piles in the 1820s. She describes how American mapmakers misheard and simplified the name into "Key West," mentions Spanish speakers still use Cayo Hueso, and promotes self-guided walking tours, a Key West book club reading Pit Bulls in Paradise with an upcoming author interview, and a forthcoming map of historic marker locations. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:27 Historic Marker Monday Begins 01:46 Why Key West Has Its Name 03:39 Mallory Square Marker Hunt 06:10 Cayo to Key Language Shift 07:36 Bone Island Theories 10:05 How Cayo Hueso Became Key West 10:51 Cultural Blend and Fun Facts 13:34 Tours Book Club and Marker Map 16:45 Final Wrap and Next Time

Historic Marker Monday: Ponce de León's 1513 Voyage and Key West's Marker #50 Host Michele O'Connor introducses this Historic Marker Monday episode focused on a Duval Street historic marker (noted at 1405 Duval Street) honoring Spanish explorer Ponce de León and his 1513 voyage. She recounts his background sailing with Columbus, his roles in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and how he personally financed three ships to seek gold, expand Spain's territory, and strengthen his position. The episode traces the expedition as he named Florida, moved through the Florida Keys (Los Martires), reached the mainland, encountered conflict with Indigenous people and took captives, then traveled to the Dry Tortugas for food but no fresh water, and was pushed by the Gulf Stream to Cuba—an accidental discovery valuable to navigation. Michelle explains why this history connects to Key West and encourages listeners to visit marker #50 and use funinkeywest.com for tours, a marker map, and a virtual book club. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Historic Marker Monday Setup 03:07 March Check In and Marker Location 05:41 Who Was Ponce de Leon 06:54 Mission and Fleet Goals 08:21 Naming Florida La Florida 09:37 Fresh Water Stops and Survival 10:18 Reaching and Naming the Keys 12:27 West Coast Landfall and Conflict 13:42 Dry Tortugas and Provisioning 15:22 Gulf Stream Discovery and Return 16:52 Final Colonization Attempt 1521 18:39 Why It Matters to Key West 19:50 Wrap Up and Key Takeaways 22:00 Explore More Tours and Book Club 23:23 Final Outro and Next Time www.funinkeywest.com

Tasty Tuesday: The Best Oyster Spots in Key West (Happy Hours, Hidden Gems & Upscale Bites) Host Michele O'Connor delivers a Tasty Tuesday guide to why oysters in Key West "hit different," emphasizing freshness from local fishermen, the Historic Seaport, and markets like Eaton Street Seafood Market. She shares what to look for in a great oyster stop—freshness, variety, preparation styles, atmosphere, value (especially happy hour), and seafood focus—then highlights recommended spots including Half Shell Raw Bar, Alonzo's Oyster Bar, Conch Republic Seafood Company, Schooner Wharf, Thirsty Mermaid, Two Friends Patio, Island Dogs, Pepe's Cafe, and upscale options like A&B Lobster House, Little Pearl, Cafe Marquesa, and Prime Steakhouse, plus Stock Island stops like Matt's Stock Island and Hogfish Bar & Grill. She offers oyster-ordering tips, suggests building an "oyster crawl," notes honorable mentions, and directs listeners to funinkeywest.com for guides, tours, and a book club. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Tasty Tuesday Oyster Tease 03:50 Why Key West Oysters Shine 05:20 How to Pick a Spot 06:47 Seaport Oyster Classics 10:29 Old Town Hidden Gems 12:27 Upscale Oyster Nights 14:06 Stock Island and Markets 15:25 Ordering and Pairing Tips 17:11 Build Your Oyster Crawl 18:26 Honorable Mentions and Wrap 20:08 More Guides and Farewell 21:36 Final Recap Outro www.funinkeywest.com

Bottling the Spirit of Key West with Deejay Peak of Key West Candle & Bath Co. 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 events and local guests. She interviews Deejay Peak, owner of Key West Candle and Bath Company, who moved to Key West seven and a half years ago after family trips and an opportunity to run her parents' ice cream shop. Deejay describes starting her candle business with $500 by collecting top-shelf liquor bottles from local bar dumpsters, then rebranding into frosted jars and later redesigning packaging with hand-drawn Key West-inspired art. She discusses using premium soy wax and clean fragrances influenced by her daughter's asthma, expanding into soaps and other bath products, and opening a working studio retail shop at 1011 Whitehead Street. DJ shares bestsellers like the Blue Heaven scent, travel-friendly packaging options, where she likes to eat and drink, how to order online or wholesale, and a discovery kit for sampling scents. 00:00 Welcome to Key West 01:26 Meet Deejay Peak 03:39 WiFi Woes and Shop Local 05:06 From Ice Cream to Candles 06:27 Dumpster Bottle Origins 07:16 Rebrand for Key West Vibes 08:55 Island Life vs Mainland 10:41 The Broken Candle Story 12:19 Clean Soy Candle Quality 12:47 Getting Into Local Shops 15:41 Expanding Into Bath Products 17:11 Opening a Storefront 18:17 Getting the Studio Space 18:38 Inside the Working Shop 19:08 Must Buy Travel Picks 20:33 Blue Heaven Best Seller 22:01 Hours and Family Help 22:55 Family First Business 24:25 Creating Real Connection 26:09 Key West Food Favorites 28:25 Coffee and Porch Ritual 29:04 How to Order Online 31:02 Book the Trip Wrap Up 32:47 Final Thanks and Recap www.funinkeywest.com https://keywestcandleandbathco.com/

Thirsty Thursday: Best Frozen Drinks in Key West (Flying Monkeys, Fat Tuesday & Mary Ellen's) 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 on the island, with updates on events and occasional local guests. In this Thirsty Thursday episode, she spotlights Key West's frozen drink scene and encourages listeners to try new menu options beyond standard pina coladas, margaritas, and daiquiris. She recommends Flying Monkeys on Duval (near Bull and Whistle and Fogerty Mansion) for its mix-and-match frozen machines, to-go cups, and drinks like the Flying Monkey (spiked lemonade plus raspberry-bourbon) and a frozen White Russian, plus a non-alcoholic Monkey Slush. She also covers Fat Tuesday's New Orleans-style daiquiri wall, and Mary Ellen's off Duval for its dive-bar vibe and her favorite frozen Irish coffee topped with crushed cookies. She mentions other Key West cocktail history, Better Than Sex dessert-and-drinks, and directs listeners to funinkeywest.com for guides and the book club. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 Thirsty Thursday kickoff 03:02 Frozen drinks mindset 04:02 Flying Monkeys favorites 07:15 Fat Tuesday daiquiri wall 08:29 Mary Ellens Irish coffee 10:05 More bars and history 11:25 Better Than Sex detour 12:39 Guides and book club 13:54 Wrap up and sign off www.funinkeywest.com

Trust the Signs: Mark Renson on How Will I Know, Whitney Houston as a Guardian Angel, and Finding Solace in the Florida Keys Host Michele O'Connor introduces chef, restaurant owner, and author Mark Renson about his novel How Will I Know, the Fun in Key West Book Club February pick. Renson shares his background as owner of Ambition Coffee and Eatery in upstate New York (nearly 26 years), his first book Is The Coffee Fresh? about daily life in his coffee house and how he was inspired in 2012 to write fiction using Whitney Houston as a guardian angel. He explains how he began the novel in 2016, wrote in small increments until COVID gave him time to finish, and realized he was pulling heavily from his own life experiences, including a breaking point during the recession when his restaurant carried $80,000 in debt. Renson recounts a pivotal moment at the Florida Bay in Key Largo where, after praying for help, he felt a wind and heard a message he interpreted as God being present; within 15 days his debts were resolved or put on manageable payment plans, and he later secured a publishing contract. He also describes finding a key in downtown Memphis in 2011 and, two weeks later, being asked by Bradley Cooper to feed him a paleo diet for seven weeks while filming The Place Beyond the Pines—an experience that changed his reputation and financial stability. Renson discusses his belief that there are no coincidences, his training in holistic classes and identification as a psychic medium (though he does not offer readings), and his practice of asking the universe for specific signs; he cites examples such as Whitney Houston songs appearing at meaningful moments and a COVID-era idea to create Baileys-infused 'boozy muffins' that went viral and helped sustain his business. The conversation covers Renson's love of the Keys—especially Key Largo for its quiet, reflection, and 'church' feeling—along with favorite local spots like Key's Bite (steak a Mexicana), his mixed feelings about busy Key West, and places he revisits like Blue Heaven (his husband's favorite), LaTe Da, Mallory Square sunsets, and occasional stops on Duval Street. Renson confirms several characters and details are based on his life (including Lucy, inspired by his longtime friend Tracy), explains the Dolly Parton inspiration behind the name 'Ambition,' and shares how he researched Whitney Houston's voice, mannerisms, and outfits over many years. He addresses the inclusion of other entertainers in a seance scene, his belief that Whitney 'picked' them, and notes his decision to keep the story feel-good. Renson lists where to buy the book (Amazon, Barnes & Noble by order, markrenson.com, and select Florida Keys locations including Shell World, the Marathon library, and Books & Brews at Florida Keys Brewing Co.), mentions upcoming Restaurant Week dates and plans to run a Disney 5K in April, and names Whitney Houston songs like 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' as spirit-resetting favorites. The episode closes by reinforcing the theme of trusting signs, self-trust, resilience, and the Florida Keys as a grounding backdrop. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West: What This Podcast Is All About 01:26 Today's Guest Tease: Mark Ranson, the Keys & a Whitney Houston Guardian Angel 02:10 Theme Song + Book Club Intro: Why "How Will I Know" Hits Different 04:16 Meet Mark: Chef, Restaurant Owner & Accidental Author 07:15 Writing Fiction During COVID: How Michael Monroe Became Mark's Story 09:33 The 2010 Breaking Point in the Keys: Florida Bay, Faith & the Wind 12:25 The Key That Opened Doors: Memphis Find to Feeding Bradley Cooper 14:05 Self-Doubt, Failure & Trusting the Message Behind the "Feel-Good" Book 16:46 Why Whitney Houston? Mediumship, Signs, Dreams & Listening to the Higher Voice 22:39 Ambition Coffee & Eatery: Dolly Parton Inspiration and the Restaurant's Soul 26:04 So Why Key Largo? Solace, Stillness, and Feeling Close to God 26:27 The Florida Keys as Church: Finding Solace & Spiritual Reset 27:13 Quieting the Mind: Raising Your Vibration & Noticing the Signs 27:58 Dockside Wildlife Moments (and the Dolphin TikTok Story) 29:03 Real-Life Lucy: Tracy, 50 Years of Friendship & Accents 30:04 Foodie Favorites in Key Largo: Key's Bite, Steak a Mexicana & Local Vibes 30:51 Key West Takes: Crowds, Duval Street, and Sunset at Mallory Square 34:34 No Coincidences: How to Ask for Signs (Songs, Keys, Dreams) 38:13 Sparkles, Endings & Sequel Talk: Where Whitney Could Return 39:19 Nailing Whitney on the Page: Outfit Research, Voice, and Concert Deep Dives 41:20 What's Next for Mark: Restaurant Week, Disney 5K, and the Séance Entertainers 45:07 Where to Buy the Book + The One Song That Resets Your Spirit (Final Wrap) 48:38 Closing Message: Trust the Universe & Keep Chasing the Signs www.funinkeywest.com https://marcrenson.com/