Best The Monuments Toolkit Podcasts (2025)

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AI for Monument Builders: Turning Everyday Tasks into Time-Saving Opportunities 18:04

Play Pause

1d ago18:04

18:04

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Mike Lannen, digital strategist and founder of Eternity, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping monument businesses. From sales and marketing to customer service and design, AI can streamline repetitive tasks and free up time for what matters most—serving families. Lannen share…

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Facing the Four Horsemen: How Monument Builders Can Respond to Changing Traditions in Memorialization 30:51

15d ago30:51

30:51

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns welcomes grief expert Dr. Jason Troyer to explore the cultural shifts reshaping memorialization. Troyer shares his concept of the “Four Horsemen of the Cemetery Apocalypse” — mobility, death denial, loss of religious ritual, and rising cremation — and how these trends impact monument builders. To…

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The Columbus Episode 49:38

27d ago49:38

49:38

Statues of Christopher Columbus have been at the forefront of the debate on monuments in both the United States and all over the world. In the city of Columbus, Ohio, they launched the Reimagining Columbus project in order to determine what ought to happen with their statue and their city's legacy moving forward. Today, we're joined by Shelly Corbi…

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Honoring Sacrifice: The Story of Ohio Veterans Memorial Park 42:03

29d ago42:03

42:03

This episode of Monument Matters offers monument builders a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Ohio Veterans Memorial Park. Beyond its role as a place of remembrance, the park provides powerful lessons in vision, community collaboration, and the lasting impact of memorialization. Listeners will gain insight into how large-scale memorial …

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Creating Connections: The MBNA PR Toolkit 27:15

1M ago27:15

27:15

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns speaks with Brad Myers and Cristine Bouwkamp about MBNA’s updated PR Toolkit—an essential resource for helping monument builders connect with their communities. This guide goes beyond marketing tips, offering strategies for meaningful engagement, reputation management, crisis communication, and u…

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Protecting Creativity: Copyright and Trademark Insights for Monument Builders 39:28

2M ago39:28

39:28

By Monument Builders of North America MBNA

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Advocacy in Action: Protecting Monument Builders and Families 29:18

2M ago29:18

29:18

In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns speaks with Ryan Worthington, CM, AICA, and attorney William Stalter about the MBNA Advocacy Council. They discuss common challenges monument builders face with cemeteries, landmark legal cases that shape the industry, and how advocacy helps protect families’ rights to memorialization choices…

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Lessons in Legacy: Navigating Business Acquisitions in the Monument Industry 1:03:02

3M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Episode 12: In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Anthony Minozzi of Travis Monument Group about lessons learned in acquiring and integrating family businesses. From valuing companies to honoring legacy, managing staff, and standardizing processes, Anthony shares candid insights into growth strategies that balance respect,…

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White Bronze Wonders: Preserving America's Zinc Memorials 42:13

3M ago42:13

42:13

Episode 11: In this episode of MBNA Monument Matters, host Mike Johns sits down with Jerry Mascola of Granite City Tool and retired conservator Tom Podnar of McKay Lodge Conservation Laboratory to explore the fascinating history, craftsmanship, and challenges surrounding white bronze—or zinc—memorials. Learn why these 19th-century monuments are con…

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Mastering the Mallet: Mentorship, Memorials, and Monumental Moments 33:38

4M ago33:38

33:38

In Episode 10: Go behind the scenes at the 2025 School of Hard Rocks with host Mike Johns and guests Bobby Mattos, Houston Gordon, and Aaron Faehnle. Discover how hands-on stone carving, mentorship, and creative freedom are shaping the next generation of memorialists in this unique, immersive experience like no other in the monument industry. Explo…

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Restoring Honor: How One Monument Company Revived a Forgotten Veterans' Circle 20:38

4M ago20:38

20:38

In this inspiring episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns, Jr. speaks with Eric Gunnoe and Eden Griesheimer-Smith of Chillicothe Monument & Hardy Memorials about their Aspire Award-winning project: restoring Soldiers’ Circle, a veterans’ cemetery that hadn’t seen a cleanup since 1928. What began as a local observation turned into a major commu…

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Marking a Legacy: Honoring Timothy Jellow’s Monumental Impact 29:13

5M ago29:13

29:13

In episode #8 of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns speaks with Brandon Billester of the Monument Lettering Center about a remarkable design initiative to honor industry pioneer Timothy Jellow—co-founder of the Spacerite Company and creator of the iconic Modified Roman font. Though Jellow revolutionized monument lettering, his own grave remains unma…

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The Hawaiian Monuments Landscape and the Captain James Cook Monument 49:30

5M ago49:30

49:30

The Hawaiian monuments landscape offers important differences to the rest of the monuments landscape known throughout the continental United States. One of their contentious monuments is the Captain James Cook Monument, an obelisk that exists at the site where Cook was killed. In this episode, we talk with Shane Akoni Palacat-Nelsen, the President …

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Preserving Heritage, Inspiring the Future: Inside the Vermont Granite Museum 33:41

5M ago33:41

33:41

In this special episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director of the Vermont Granite Museum, as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Discover how this community-founded museum is preserving Vermont’s granite heritage, reviving local pride, and inspiring a new generation of artists and artisans. Learn ab…

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Strength in Membership: Scott Neal on Industry Growth, Challenges, and MBNA Community 19:05

6M ago19:05

19:05

In episode #6 of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Scott Neal of Paradise Pictures about how MBNA membership has shaped his career and company success. They explore the value of conventions, peer connections, and industry trends, while reflecting on takeaways from the 2025 Monument Industry Show in Cleveland.…

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"Whose Heritage?": A Conversation with the Southern Poverty Law Center 45:02

6M ago45:02

45:02

Today, we’re joined by Rivka Maizlish, Senior Research Analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center to talk about the center’s most recent edition of the Whose Heritage? report. The Whose Heritage? report documents the progress in Confederate memorial removal over the last two years and provides an interactive map documenting where these monuments ex…

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Monument Builders in Action: Lessons from the Monument Industry Show Floor 24:36

6M ago24:36

24:36

Episode 5: In this episode of Monument Matters, host Mike Johns talks with Lauri Haines-Allen and Scott Allen of Haines Memorials Ltd in Jefferson, OH about their century-old family business, MBNA membership, and their hands-on experience setting up the 2025 Monument Industry Show. Hear how collaboration, innovation, and relationships continue to s…

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Stronger Together: Community, Growth, and the Future of MBNA 26:42

7M ago26:42

26:42

Episode 4: In this episode of Monument Matters, MBNA President Nathan Lange, CM, AICA, shares how deeper involvement in our association transformed his business and his leadership. From building lasting friendships to navigating challenges alongside fellow members, Nathan reflects on the power of connection and community within MBNA. He also looks …

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Kit Carson and Monuments of the West 48:32

7M ago48:32

48:32

Many of our past episodes have focused on the South as the region with the most monuments of the Confederacy. However, the West isn’t immune from having controversial monuments as well. In this episode, we’ll turn our attention to the western United States, looking at Kit Carson and the controversial monuments that exist of him all around the wild …

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Methods of Approach: Trends in Monument Removal, Relocation, and Reinterpretation 44:28

8M ago44:28

44:28

Monument removal, relocation, and reinterpretation is a process that has several means to its end. For some, this process involves work from activists in the community appealing to political leaders. In other cases, decisions to rectify an oppressive monument come from the top down with local and state governments working with their communities in …

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The Alex Odeh Memorial Statue: A Monument of Reconciliation 31:49

9M ago31:49

31:49

While the George Floyd Protests of 2020 brought monuments of oppression into light primarily for Black Americans, social justice issues related to Palestinians came into primary focus more recently with the extreme escalation of conflict in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. However, violence in the United States against Arab Americans, including P…

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Tooling and Carving “Transforming Raw Stone into Lasting Tributes” 1:03:17

11M ago1:03:17

1:03:17

Episode 3 Host: Mike Johns, Jr. CM, AICA, The Johns-Carabelli Co. Semerano Monuments & Flowers Guest 1: Sculptor AC Button II founded Carolina Sculpture Studio in 2003, extending his family's unbroken USA heritage in granite excellence since 1891. Button's work in stone sculpture began with family apprenticeship under his cousin as they worked unde…

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Unveiling the Future of Monument Design at the MBNA Convention 33:52

11M ago33:52

33:52

Episode 1: Mike Johns, Jr. CM, AICA, The Johns-Carabelli Co. Semerano Monuments & Flowers, talks with representatives from the Granite and Marble level sponsors supporting the MBNA Trade Show about what they are planning to exhibit. Episode guests: Paige Lamthi & Mark Gherardi, Buttura and Gherardi Granite Artisans Vaishnavi Ramasamy and Mr. Cannon…

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Cremation Trends and Challenges with Industry Experts 56:54

11M ago56:54

56:54

Episode 2: Welcome to the second episode of MBNA's Monument Matters with host Mike Johns, Jr. CM, AICA, The Johns-Carabelli Co. Semerano Monuments & Flowers Today, we are talking about cremation trends with Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America, and MBNA member Troy Caldwell, a Certified Memorialist and a …

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Reclaiming Place Through Ceremony and Pilgrimage 1:23:05

1y ago1:23:05

1:23:05

On September 29, 1526, 498 years ago, the first recorded shipment of captive Africans arrived with Spanish colonizers on the North American mainland in the Sapelo Bay region of Georgia. This is not well-known African America history specifically related to trans-Atlantic human trade. It is the start of a continuous pattern of exploitation, oppressi…

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The Monument in the Mountain 50:37

2+ y ago50:37

50:37

If you’ve tuned into the show before, then you know that most of our conversations are centered around public art, history and racial justice. The combination of these three things are the essence of what makes this topic so interesting: how does one tackle the artistic, historic and cultural meaning behind a public structure in the best way possib…

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Art and Activism in Alabama 1:13:02

2+ y ago1:13:02

1:13:02

When it comes to the conversation around Monuments of oppression, there are a few obstacles that usually come into play. To start, there's the Daughters of the Confederacy, the neo-Confederate association for female descendants of Confederate Civil War soldiers. They work all over the country to “preserve the legacy” of Confederate soldiers by acti…

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Protecting Legacies: Keeping LGBTQ+ Stories Alive with Victor Salvo 52:21

2+ y ago52:21

52:21

Welcome to another episode of The Monumental Project on behalf of the Monuments Toolkit! In honor of Pride Month, we decided to look at an incredible monument collection that does an amazing job championing the LGBTQ+ community. The monuments in question? None other than The Legacy Walk in Chicago, Illinois. The LGBTQ+ community has made great stri…

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Sculpted Stories: Philadelphia's Public Art and Monument History 1:01:49

2+ y ago1:01:49

1:01:49

In Philadelphia, monuments are more than just stone and bronze. They're time capsules that take us back to pivotal moments in American history. From William Penn, the Liberty Bell, to even the Rocky Balboa statue, Philadelphia boasts a wide range of public art that rivals the most famous cities around the world. In fact, Philadelphia holds the worl…

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Reimagining Monuments and Urban Spaces: A Vision for More Inclusive City Planning 50:06

2+ y ago50:06

50:06

Urban planning has been a hot topic in recent years, with the world's cities experiencing rapid growth and transformation. As populations surge and infrastructure struggles to keep up, urban planners face a myriad of challenges. One such challenge is how to reconcile the need for progress with the preservation of our cultural heritage. This issue i…

1
Women in Public Art 1:13:26

2+ y ago1:13:26

1:13:26

Women have been creating public art for centuries, but their contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued. For example, during the Renaissance period, female artists were often relegated to the role of assistants or copyists, and their work was rarely recognized as being equal in quality to that of their male peers. Despite these challen…

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The Law of the Land with James E Williams Jr. 39:39

3y ago39:39

39:39

As stated in our last episode, Controversial monuments and North Carolina unfortunately go hand in hand. The first Confederate memorial in North Carolina, an unnamed Confederate Soldiers Monument in Fayetteville, was built in 1868, only a few years after the south lost the war. Since then, Confederate memorials have been prominently displayed in th…

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Monuments of Upliftment with Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson 41:05

3y ago41:05

41:05

North Carolina, similar to Virginia, is a state that’s had their fair share of confederate monuments in the public eye. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are 173 Confederate symbols across the state, 42 of those monuments standing in front of state courthouses. This has created a fair amount of unrest in the state on many levels. …

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A Monumental Wrap-Up 7:15

3y ago7:15

7:15

As this year comes to a close, we would like to take the opportunity to reflect on some of the highlights of The Monumental Project. We have 8 exceptional episodes under our belt, speaking to people from all over the country on a variety of different topics inside the umbrella of cultural heritage and monuments of oppression. We can't wait to see w…

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Native American Narratives with Laura Harris 30:57

3y ago30:57

30:57

When it comes to cultural roots, the west coast is rich with relevance for so many groups of people. One group in particular is Native Americans. New Mexico is no different, with 23 Native American tribes that are federally recognized in the state. Native American history is celebrated today in museums, the arts, festivals and many other forms of c…

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How to Fix a City with Bonnie McDonald, Landmarks Illinois 37:15

3y ago37:15

37:15

US/ICOMOS prides itself on connecting with outstanding leaders in the field of historic preservation and racial justice. Collaboration is a central value to the Monuments Toolkit, and we believe that the more we learn, the better we can serve the American people and our listeners around the world! A prime example of this comes this month, as we spo…

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Conversations with LAXART 45:27

3y ago45:27

45:27

Up to this point, the Monuments Toolkit has sat down with leaders in the academic community, activism community and even politics to gather different approaches to the conversation around monuments of oppression. This month we’ll be speaking to an organization in the artistic community for a different point of view. To many, these monuments are not…

1
The Richmond Episode 33:21

3+ y ago33:21

33:21

While there are countless examples of controversial monuments around the country, very few have garnered the attention that Richmond has created with Monument Avenue, a fourteen-block-long, tree-lined residential boulevard cutting across central Richmond The reason for its controversy? Well for over 100 years, the street was riddled with Confederat…

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Conversations with Mayor Levar Stoney 29:13

3+ y ago29:13

29:13

After the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, citizens of Richmond, Virginia took to the streets to address their problematic statues of confederate figures. Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart, Matthew Fontaine and later Robert E. Lee all came down, some from the hands of protesters themselves. To many individuals in Richmond …

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Boots on The Ground 30:27

3+ y ago30:27

30:27

“We've all seen videos of citizens around the country taking matters into their own hands when it comes to monuments of oppression. However, rarely do we hear from these individuals and the communities or organizations they represent. Additionally, what is the history of altering monuments? Is this a new phenomenon, or is this just the latest itera…

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Conversations with Wells Todd, Take Em Down Jacksonville. 30:38

3+ y ago30:38

30:38

Here at US/ICOMOS we are intentional about highlighting the current events and statues that are filling the cultural preservation discourse of today. It is our role to provide listeners with stories and narratives that show them what is really happening with monuments of oppression. This won’t stop for as long as we’re around. However, we also unde…

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An Introduction with Cequyna Moore 16:26

3+ y ago16:26

16:26

What does US/ICOMOS even mean? What exactly are we saying when we say “monuments of oppression”? What is re-contextualization? Knowing these answers are crucial for joining us on this experience. Think of these questions as a compass rose, providing the cardinal directions for the journey ahead. To help answer these questions, I want to introduce t…

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Welcome to The Monumental Project {TEASER} 2:09

3+ y ago2:09

2:09

Welcome to the Monumental Project! As the official trailer for the podcast, take a sneak peek into who we are, the work we are doing this season and why this subject matter is so important. Enjoy!By The Monuments Toolkit