What do Jimmy Buffett, maritime history and memorialization have in common? Discover the connections as Monument Matters host Mike Johns welcomes Karen Poth, executive director of the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf in Mobile, Alabama.
Explore the museum's immersive exhibits, including Son of a Son of a Sailor, a permanent exhibition celebrating Buffett's remarkable life, adventures and Gulf Coast roots. Learn how the museum brings personal stories to life and discover the maritime history that shaped Mobile.
Get a preview of the museum that will host MBNA's closing reception during the 2027 Monument Industry Show, February 25-28.

• (00:00:05) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:01:22) - Overview of the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf
• (00:03:35) - Jimmy Buffett's Mobile Roots and Family Maritime History
• (00:05:45) - Jimmy Buffett's Adventures and Life
• (00:07:38) - Building the Son of a Son of a Sailor Exhibit
• (00:09:19) - Curating a Full Life: Challenges and Highlights
• (00:11:45) - Balancing Public Figure and Personal Story
• (00:13:26) - Permanent Exhibit and Future Growth
• (00:15:16) - Beyond Buffett: Other Museum Exhibits
• (00:17:47) - Personal Reflections and Closing Thoughts
• (00:18:53) - Sign-off and Podcast Wrap-up

Selling a memorial isn’t like selling almost anything else. Families may arrive grieving, uncertain and unfamiliar with the process, making empathy and careful listening essential. Joey Cashmore-Johnson of North Chicago Memorials joins Michael Johns to share her approach to creating meaningful retail experiences, reading customer signals, navigating difficult conversations and collaborating with families. The conversation also explores cemetery regulations, communication between sales and production teams, and the danger of becoming too comfortable with “the way we’ve always done it.” Joey explains why MBNA’s new Sales Module offers valuable perspective for newcomers, experienced professionals and even employees who never work directly in sales.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:01:18) - What Makes Monument Sales So Different?
• (00:02:40) - Retail Experience
• (00:04:26) - Adaptive Selling: Death and Family
• (00:09:57) - Grief Counselor: A Salesperson
• (00:10:45) - Sales Module: Cemetery Regulations
• (00:13:06) - The Importance of Compassion in Memorials
• (00:15:57) - When a monument is designed, does the family have a say?
• (00:20:35) - The Future of Monument Design: What Can This Course Still Challenge You
• (00:22:13) - How the Sales Training Module Benefits
• (00:25:07) - A Taste of the Veterinary Diploma
• (00:26:06) - Monument Matters: Sales Training Module

More than 22 million urns are estimated to remain in homes across the United States, often without a plan for permanent placement. In this episode of Monument Matters, Honnalora Hubbard and Garrett Wilson of Coldspring discuss the first National Cremation Placement Day on October 17 and what it could mean for monument professionals and the families they serve. They explore the emotional importance of permanent memorialization, the conversations families may be postponing and ways monument builders can become trusted educators in their communities. They also share practical resources businesses can use to participate and begin building a year-round conversation about cremation memorialization.

• (00:00:05) - Monument Matters
• (00:02:00) - October 17th: National Cremation Placement Day
• (00:05:57) - Cremated urns in funeral homes: Should they be
• (00:12:54) - Cremation as a means of honoring a loved one
• (00:14:02) - Cremation Placement Day
• (00:21:10) - Cremation and the Heroes
• (00:24:16) - National Cremation Placement Day
• (00:27:19) - National Cremation Placement Day
• (00:30:17) - Cremation Training and National Cremation Placement Day
• (00:36:20) - Honolulu Community Comes together to Save the Cemetery
• (00:37:11) - Monument Matters