Wards Way Podcast

We talk with Kern Mass, president of the International Yacht Restoration School, from the Newport International Boat Show about how hands-on marine trades education turns beginners into confident pros. We dig into what IYRS teaches, who it serves, and how industry partners help students move from the shop floor to real jobs fast. 
• what IYRS is and why hands-on learning stays essential 
• how the school grew from yacht restoration into marine systems, composites and advanced manufacturing 
• ABYC certifications and what they signal to employers 
• who can apply, from 17-year-olds to career changers and retirees 
• program lengths, paid externships and why placement stays strong 
• how industry partners shape curriculum and show up to hire 
• why soft skills, leadership and workplace fit matter as much as technical ability 
• how IYRS approaches new tech, data and AI without losing the craft 
• what’s next, including yacht design, advanced composites and public launch day 
please don't forget to like and subscribe, Wartsway. 

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

A signature cocktail can be a local legend for years and still hide a bigger business idea in plain sight. From a family bar on Fishers Island to the Newport waterfront, we sit down with Branya Stillot, president and founder of Fishers Island Lemonade, to unpack how a vodka, whiskey, lemon, and honey recipe becomes a real ready-to-drink brand you can buy in a can. Along the way, we talk about the unglamorous driver behind so many great products: making life easier when the bar is slammed and the night runs late.

We also get honest about what it actually takes to build a spirits-based canned cocktail company. Branya walks us through learning compliance and alcohol regulations, choosing distributors, and why she grows “little by little” instead of trying to land in 50 states overnight. We reflect on leadership in a male-dominated liquor industry, how credibility is earned through hard work and fluency in the details, and why relationships can make or break your route to market.

Then we zoom out to the bigger trend reshaping beverage alcohol: RTDs. We break down the traditional categories of beer, wine, and liquor, and why ready-to-drink cocktails sit in a confusing fourth lane where spirits-based vs malt-based products can affect labeling, taxes, and pricing. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re really drinking when you grab a “vodka soda” style can, this conversation makes it clearer fast.

If you enjoy founder stories, beverage business strategy, and smart talk about the RTD market, subscribe, share this with a friend who loves canned cocktails, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

We meet Larry Phillips of Midtown Racing at the Newport International Boat Show and trace how one spontaneous M32 ride turned into a full-on commitment to high-performance catamaran racing. We also dig into the new Newport waterfront hub he built to make launching, racing, and community access simpler and more welcoming. 

• spotting M32s from the Newport Bridge and taking a first ride 
• buying an M32 without prior sailing experience and learning with a pro crew 
• the intimidation and thrill of close-quarters racing and changing wind 
• creating a race-friendly base with better waterfront access in Newport 
• designing a flexible venue that looks like it has always belonged 
• what makes M32 catamaran sailing fast, physical, and approachable 
• the class culture, dockside vibe, and where the fleet travels 
• inviting new sailors aboard through casual Thursday night racing 
• distance racing highlights, nerves at the start, and why sailing clears the mind 
• how the facility, restaurants, and events work together as a waterfront hub 

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

Banking decisions shape entire towns, but most people only see the final “approved” or “declined” screen. From the floor of the Newport International Boat Show, we talk with Jack Murphy, President and CEO of Bank Newport, about what changes when your bank is a mutual community bank owned by the community instead of shareholders. Jack explains why that structure allows longer-term thinking, deeper accountability, and a relationship-driven approach that treats small business owners like people with real stories, not just data points.

We also get into the marine industry and Rhode Island’s blue economy. As title sponsor of the Newport International Boat Show, Bank Newport sees firsthand how boat sales ripple outward to marinas, boatyards, surveyors, refit crews, and marine electronics and service companies. Jack breaks down Ocean Point Funding and how their boat financing model works as a pass-through that connects borrowers with the right correspondent bank, helping buyers find a strong deal while supporting an industry that keeps coastal communities working.

Then we zoom out to community impact and practical business banking. Jack shares how the Bank Newport Foundation directs roughly $1.7M to $1.8M a year toward food insecurity, financial education, housing, and the arts across hundreds of nonprofits, backed by significant employee volunteer hours. We wrap with real-world cash management advice for entrepreneurs, including why paper checks fuel fraud and how the best “digital banking” still needs a real human on the other end when it matters. If you care about community banking, small business lending, marine lending, or Rhode Island economic development, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a business owner, and leave a review with your biggest banking pet peeve.

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

Newport looks calm from shore, but the docks tell a different story. From the Newport International Boat Show 2026, we sit down with Mike Millerick, General Manager of Newport Shipyard, to talk about what it takes to keep a high-traffic harbor running through peak charter season and straight into the fall service rush. You will hear how boats cycle from owner trips to charters to yard periods, and why the weeks before yachts head south to the Caribbean and Florida are some of the most intense of the year. 

We dig into the Nikor Charter Yacht Show and why Newport Shipyard puts the spotlight on the people who actually make charters work: the crew. Mike breaks down how crew-focused events and competitions build pride, sharpen standards, and give charter brokers a real window into what a yacht team can do under pressure. That crew-first mindset continues with Safe Harbor Race Weekend, including a growing superyacht class and social events that somehow feel like “neighbors” even at a 1,200-person clam bake. 

From there, we get practical about yacht service and marina operations: how Newport Shipyard delivers full-service work with a strong subcontractor base, how the Safe Harbor network helps finish projects across multiple stops, and why Front Street Shipyard in Maine adds real value for cruising owners. We also cover Safe Harbor membership benefits like fuel at cost and free member transient nights, plus where to learn more. If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with a boater or crew member, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

Boat buying is supposed to feel exciting, not exhausting. From the floor of the Newport International Boat Show, we sit down with Chris Connolly, CEO and co-founder of Marine Source, to unpack what happens when the marine industry finally gets a modern AI native marketplace built around how people actually search, browse, and decide. Think less checkbox filtering and more “type what you mean,” whether that’s “Viking in Florida under $1M” or a stream-of-consciousness description of the perfect family boat.

We talk about the bigger shift behind the product: moving away from closed ecosystems and vendor lock-in toward an open ecosystem where listings, leads, and tools can travel. Chris explains why data federation matters for brokers, dealers, and manufacturers, and how pushing inventory to the places buyers already live (social media, shows, partner sites) changes lead generation and conversion. We also get into how boat shows can level up with smarter pre-planning, live map navigation, and better exhibitor ROI using real search data instead of guesswork.

Then we go even wider: SEO is changing into GEO (generative engine optimization), “zero-click” results are exploding, and the old rules of website traffic are getting rewritten by AI search. If UI becomes less visible and outcomes matter more than dashboards, marine businesses need to understand where discovery is going, not where it used to be. We wrap with what Marine Source is building next, including brand pages for builders, lifecycle support beyond the sale, and why the in-person experience still matters for big purchases.

Subscribe, share this with someone in the marine industry, and leave a review so more builders, brokers, dealers, and boat buyers can find the conversation.

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

Sailing has an image problem, and it’s not just about money. When we sat down with Chris Hammond, CEO of Henry Lloyd, at the Newport International Boat Show, we kept circling back to one uncomfortable idea: for a lot of people, the ocean still feels like a private members’ club. Chris shares what that felt like growing up on the south coast of England, why “how to start sailing” is the most common question online, and what the sport can do to feel more open without losing what makes it special.

We also get into what Henry Lloyd stands for when you strip away the logo and look at the history. From early round-the-world sailing to product breakthroughs like tape sealed seams, the brand’s credibility comes from ocean racing and harsh-weather reality. Chris tells the Ocean Pro story, including three years of development, 18,000 nautical miles of testing, and the moment the flagship jacket was literally stolen the night it launched, a pretty good signal that people were paying attention.

Then we go practical: Henry Lloyd’s “Sail Free” program is built to remove friction for beginners by covering an introduction to yachting course when you buy a jacket and discounting follow-on training. We also talk sailing gear innovation, four-way stretch, PFAS-free DWR, durability, and why sustainability has to be part of performance if you actually love the water.

If you care about sailing culture, offshore sailing, or finding the right waterproof sailing jacket, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a sailing friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

What happens when you combine big boats, big fish, friendly competition, and a community that lives for the water? You get the 2026 Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament! On this episode of The Wards Way Podcast, we’re right in the middle of it.

Host Kristina Hebert sits down with Lisa Howell and Captain Marty at Pirates Cove to talk about the first day of fishing, the strategy behind the tournament, the incredible competition, and what makes this event such a special part of the Outer Banks community. Whether you're a serious offshore fisherman, a boating enthusiast, or simply someone who loves the marine industry, this episode gives you an inside look at what makes the Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament more than just a fishing tournament.

 It's competition. It's tradition. It's community. It's life on the water.

#wardsway #piratescove #podcast #sportsfish

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

Seawater is everywhere, but fresh water determines how far a boat can truly go. Filmed at the 2026 Dare County Boat Builders Tournament, Host Kristina Hebert sits down with John Gabriel, Sales Director at FCI Watermakers, to explore how reverse osmosis systems transform seawater into clean, usable fresh water and give boaters greater independence from bottled water and dockside supplies. John explains how today’s systems support drinking, cooking, cleaning, spot-free washdowns, and everything from small recreational boats to large-scale marine operations, while offering varying levels of automation to meet each vessel’s needs. Host Kristina Hebert and John also discuss American boatbuilding, the Carolinas’ multigenerational craftsmanship, and how smarter system integration is expanding cruising range while reducing plastic waste.

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

Host Kristina Hebert sits down with Captain Kirk during the Dare County Boat Builders Tournament 2026 to explore what competitive offshore sportfishing really looks like beyond the weigh-in. From early mornings and meticulous preparation to the strategy, teamwork, and split-second decisions that define tournament fishing, Captain Kirk shares what it takes to compete at the highest level. Together, they discuss the Outer Banks' unique advantage, the economic impact of sportfishing tournaments, and the technology that helps today's teams perform offshore. The conversation offers an inside look at the dedication, resilience, and passion that continue to drive America's sportfishing community.

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75