Trust the Signs: Mark Renson on How Will I Know, Whitney Houston as a Guardian Angel, and Finding Solace in the Florida Keys

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/