We Rock

“But that’s what the family wanted.” When is that a fair explanation—and when is it an excuse for bad design?

On Episode 58 of WE ROCK, Austin and Tony talk about balancing creative expertise with a family’s wishes, finding inspiration without copying someone else’s work, and why even award-winning memorialists have stones they leave off their highlight reel. They also dig into AI’s growing role in memorial design and advertising, including why an impressive image doesn’t always translate into something you can actually carve in granite.

Plus, a look ahead to the MBNA convention in Mobile, Tony’s trip to Cleveland for AICA, and the usual detours—from Gulf Coast seafood to Cybertruck-inspired headstones.

Apparently, being stupid wasn’t enough. Now everybody’s stupid and hot.

In this episode of WE ROCK, Austin and Tony catch up on the realities of running a business when employees, customers, delivery drivers, rising wages, and the economy all seem determined to test your patience.

They talk about cutting dead weight, finding good employees, why workplace morale can change overnight, the growing struggle to hire dependable people, and what massive new employers and data centers could mean for small businesses trying to compete for labor.

Along the way, there are Walmart delivery disasters, Amazon drivers in ditches, questionable HR policies, monument-industry stories, convention talk, and a trip through an old monument shop that serves as a reminder of just how much this industry continues to change.

It’s business ownership, monument building, workforce frustration, and completely unnecessary commentary—all rolled into one.

Welcome to Stupid and Hot.

In this episode of WE ROCK, Austin and Tony sit down with Melissa Schmidt, better known as Funeral Babe, for an honest conversation about funeral service, grief, social media, and the changing face of the death-care profession.

Melissa shares her journey into the funeral industry, the story behind Funeral Babe, and how she uses humor, personality, and authenticity to make difficult conversations about death feel more approachable. The discussion also explores public misconceptions about funeral professionals, the emotional demands of the work, and the importance of bringing humanity into an industry that is often misunderstood.

This episode offers a candid look at the person behind the Funeral Babe brand and the future of connecting with families in a more open, relatable way.

In this episode, we talk about the flood of AI-generated ads showing up across social media, websites, and business marketing. AI has made it easier than ever to create content, but there is a downside: a lot of it is starting to look and sound exactly the same.

We discuss why so many AI ads feel generic, why businesses are falling into the same visual and writing patterns, and how relying too much on AI can strip the personality out of a brand. The tools are powerful, but they are not a replacement for taste, story, experience, or a real point of view.

This conversation is not anti-AI. It is about using AI the right way. We talk about how businesses can use these tools without becoming another copy-and-paste version of everyone else, and why the companies that bring real stories, real people, and real originality into their marketing will be the ones that stand out.

In this special episode of the We Rock Podcast, we sit down with Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World Resort, to talk leadership, customer service, culture, and what it means to truly care for people.

Lee shares lessons from Disney, Marriott, and a lifetime of leadership, and we dig into how those principles apply inside a monument shop — where families are not just buying a product, they are walking through one of the hardest moments of their lives.

We talk about creating a culture where employees know their role, why customer problems are usually people problems, the importance of empathy, psychological safety, training, accountability, and why every business owner has to take responsibility for the experience their team creates.

It’s a conversation about more than customer service. It’s about leadership, discipline, humility, and making people feel cared for when it matters most. Lee summed up “magic” as being “so good, nobody knows how you do it,” which fits the heart of this episode perfectly. 

 In Episode 53, we cover everything from space nerds and flat-earthers to stolen bronze vases, Facebook forum advice, and the danger of bad rigging. The main focus is education in the monument industry — knowing your equipment, asking better questions, attending workshops, and understanding that experience matters when safety is on the line. Knowledge is power, and in this business, it might also keep a stone from falling where it shouldn’t. 

Tony discusses his experience at the Savanah Banana Baseball game. Talks about the impact of the hospitality industry and how it can improve how we take care of families. 

Running a business isn’t just about growth—it’s about navigating everything that comes with it.

In this episode, we talk about the reality behind the scenes: tax season frustrations, the true cost of expansion, and the ongoing challenge of finding and keeping good employees. From opening a second location to dealing with no-shows and tough hiring decisions, this is an honest look at what it really takes to keep moving forward.

It’s not always easy—but it’s always worth it.

In this episode, we break down our biggest takeaways from the recent monument industry convention—what stood out, what actually matters, and what we’re bringing back to our own shops.

We get into:

• The value of hands-on education and learning from other builders
• Practical ideas you can apply immediately in your business
• Where the industry is headed (and where it’s falling short)
• How AI is already being used in real monument shops—and why we’re only scratching the surface

We also talk about why getting outside your own bubble is one of the most important things you can do in this business—and how seeing how others work can completely change your perspective.

And toward the end of the episode… we had a conversation that most people wouldn’t.
 No drama—just a real discussion that needed to happen.

If you’re in the monument industry (or any business where craftsmanship and relationships matter), this is one worth listening to.

 Season 4, Episode 50 is a special one—we traveled to Texas A&M School of Law in Fort Worth to sit down with Professor Glynn Lunney for a plain-English conversation about copyright in the monument industry.  We cover where copyright came from (printing press → modern law), what “substantial similarity” really means (and why there’s no safe “10% rule”), how independent creation works, and why documentation is your best friend.  Professor Lunney also breaks down registration, statutory damages, attorney’s fees, and what to do first if you ever receive a cease-and-desist letter—or worse, a federal complaint.  We wrap with trademark vs. copyright in memorials (logos, characters, permissions) and what he’d change if he could rewrite the whole system today. 

We would also like to emphasize that the information in this recording is by no means legal advice.