Fun in Key West Podcast

Key West in July: Key Lime Festival, 4th of July, Hemingway Days & Lobster Mini Season Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and shares an insider guide to visiting Key West in July, emphasizing the heat, humidity, and typical afternoon showers during hurricane season, along with tips on packing breathable clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, and planning around the weather with ai...

Nick Shuck on The Green Flash at Sunset: Reinvention, Key West Grit, and Hope Host Michele O'Connor welcomes listeners to the Fun in Key West podcast and introduces the June 2026 book club pick, The Green Flash at Sunset by Nick Shuck, with Shuck joining to discuss the story behind the story, why Key West is a "world capital of reinvention," and how a book can feel dark yet hopeful. Shuck shares h...

Historic Marker Monday: Truman's Little White House (Marker #59) in Key West Host Michele O'Connor welcomes listeners to the Fun in Key West podcast and spotlights Historic Marker Monday episode #59: the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Truman Annex. She describes the house's origins (built in 1890 as Quarters A and B, becoming a single-family residence by 1911) and notable early stays, inclu...

Wreck Ashore: How Key West Wreckers Built a Fortune Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and explains Key West's historic wrecking industry, highlighted by Historic Marker #58 near Mallory Square and the Wrecker Memorial by the Memorial Sculpture Garden. She describes wrecking as licensed marine salvage under maritime law—rescuing crews first, salvaging cargo, and settling...

Key West in June: Weather, Packing Tips, Events, and a 3-Day Itinerary Host Michele O'Connor introduces the Fun in Key West podcast and shares a practical guide to visiting Key West in June, covering warm, humid upper-80s weather, comfortable water temps, and typical quick afternoon showers during the start of hurricane season. She recommends booking midweek for better hotel deals, packing breatha...

The Ultimate Couples Guide to Key West: Sunsets, Food Tours, and Quirky Date Ideas 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, then focuses on experiencing Key West as a couple with a laid-back, spontaneous vibe. She recommends balancing iconic activities—Mallory Square Sunset Celebration, sunset cruis...

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 d...

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 de...

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 (ree...

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 ho...

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...

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...

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 depend...

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 southeas...

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 descend...

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, c...

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 Indepen...

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...

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....

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 chal...

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 origin...

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 pe...

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, atmosphe...

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 an...

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 ne...