Wards Way Podcast

Sun, salt, and surge: that’s the surface. Underneath, a living engine of people and craft keeps Miami’s water culture roaring. We head straight into that engine room with Cigarette Racing’s Alex Thompson at the Miami International Boat Show, where heritage meets restless innovation and a legendary name proves why it still draws a crowd. From the aura of Miami to the hum of a tuned-outboard idle, t...

A sunny day at the Miami International Boat Show turns into a masterclass on how boaters and whales can safely share the same ocean. We sit down with Virgil Zetterlind, co‑founder of the Whale Alert app, to unpack the real‑world tools, data, and collaborations that help prevent vessel strikes and keep crews safe. If you’ve ever wondered how marine tech, policy, and industry initiatives come togeth...

Salt on the breeze, stories on deck, and a family who measures time by tides—join us at the Miami International Boat Show as we sit down with the Donnells, a Miami crew who live the boating life across offshore runs, bay days, and kid-powered fishing wins. We dive into what keeps a young angler hooked—hands-on fishing classes, clear tips that build confidence fast, and the small rituals that turn...

Miami’s water life doesn’t just happen; it’s built by people who obsess over hulls, hardware, and the moments that make families and friends fall in love with the ocean. At the Miami International Boat Show, we sit dockside with Mo Urbina of Deep Impact and Blackwater to explore how two “sibling” brands thrive under one roof while serving very different captains—those who chase speed, sound, and s...

Boats turn heads, but people power the wake. We sit down with the force behind Abordo Media Group to unpack how a scrappy fishing bulletin grew into a global marine media platform with magazines for anglers, families, and women in yachting—plus a film division capturing iconic shows from Miami to Palma de Mallorca. What comes through is a blueprint: show up everywhere that matters, invest in relat...

From the floor of the Miami International Boat Show, we sit down with Flux Marine CEO Ben Sorkin to unpack how electric outboards are moving from hype to daily use—without asking boat builders to reinvent their world. Ben shares his journey from Lake George tinkerer to Princeton-trained engineer, and how that path led to a purpose-built electric propulsion system that slots into boats people alrea...

At the Miami International Boat Show, we sit down with Ryan Donnell, in-house service manager at Eric’s Outboard, to explore how Yamaha outboards are reshaping the way Miami boats run, dock, and get home. If you’ve wondered why so many builders have moved from inboards to outboards, or what triple setups actually deliver beyond wow factor, this conversation pulls back the engine cover. We dig into...

Sunshine sells the dream, but the truth is in the dock lines. We sit down at the Miami International Boat Show with Erick Martinez, founder of LocMarine, to reveal how a smart, simple monitoring system turns boat ownership from anxious guesswork into calm, data-backed confidence. If you’ve ever shown up to a dead battery, a tripped shore power breaker, or a soggy fridge, this conversation shows ex...

Step onto the docks of the Miami International Boat Show and into the story of how Miami’s shimmering lifestyle is powered by the people who keep its engines turning. We sit down with Reuben Rhodes, president and owner of Reliable Marine, to trace his journey from a family freight business to leading the nation in Suzuki outboard sales—proof that a sharp eye for customer pain points and an obsessi...

Salt air and startup grit meet on the mouth of the Miami River, where a small outboard shop in 1926 became a century-long marine legacy. We sit down with fourth-generation leader Krissy Hewes Wiborg to trace the family’s journey from boat racing roots to game-changing flats boat innovation, revealing how a community of anglers and makers turned feedback into breakthroughs that shaped modern inshor...

Miami’s glow comes from more than sun and skyline—it comes from the ocean that shapes daily life here. We sit with Captain Manuel, founder of Universo Marino, to unpack how a bilingual magazine, radio, and TV effort turns casual anglers and new boat owners into thoughtful stewards. The conversation moves fast from shark myths to safety basics, weaving in stories that show how small choices change...

Time moves differently on the docks. At the Miami International Boat Show, we sat with Livio Helfer—founder and CEO of Helfer Watches Geneva—to unpack how a boutique Swiss brand became the show’s official timekeeper and why human connection still beats hype. From designing a turbine-inspired piece for Pope Francis to building 500m-capable dive watches that actually belong on the water, Livio shows...

Sunlight on the bay, a crowd at the dock, and a legacy brand acting like a startup—our sit-down with Zodiac Nautic's CEO at the Miami International Boat Show is a story about getting faster, smarter, and more human. Florent Battistella brings candor and spark as he maps out how a 130-year-old company keeps its edge: design for real life, iterate quickly, and let customers shape the details th...

Sunlight and saltwater sell the dream, but the real magic of boating often rides on two axles and a set of hubs. We sit down at the Miami International Boat Show with Javier Picon, founder of AAA Marine Trailers, to uncover how quiet engineering choices and real customer service can turn ramp chaos into road confidence. From the early days in marine electronics to launching a trailer brand in 2019...

Step onto the docks and into the control room of the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, where a three-venue campus, floating infrastructure, and a relentless team transform Miami into a global stage. We sit down with Larry Berryman, VP at Informa, to reveal how the Yacht Collection returned to Collins Avenue for the first time since 2018 without closing a single lane—and why that deci...

Sun, salt air, and a city that moves fast—Miami rewards people who show up ready. We sit down with Damiani’s creative director, Daniella Estrella, to trace how true Italian tailoring helps women lead with confidence, especially in a climate where breathable fabrics and sharp construction matter more than logos. From boardrooms to boat show mixers, Daniella explains why quality materials and the ri...

Sunlight, seawater, and a city that never stands still set the stage for a candid conversation with Dr. Humberto Hernandez, a Miami pulmonologist whose career runs from Spain to South Florida—and straight through the heart of a pandemic. We talk about what it means to keep the doors open when fear is high, why small tools like pulse oximeters can change outcomes, and how clear thresholds and anti-...

Miami’s shimmer looks effortless from the outside—yachts sliding past the skyline, crisp tailoring on a warm breeze, Coconut Grove buzzing with new money—but the real story lives behind the scenes. We sit down with master clothier Carmine Camera of Damiani and Tony Argiz of BDO to unpack the craft, capital, and community that power South Florida’s signature lifestyle. From how true hospitality bec...

The water may sparkle in Miami, but the real power comes from people, products, and policy working in sync. From the first minutes on the dock, we dive into how the National Marine Manufacturers Association fuels access, innovation, and the year’s biggest reveals at the Miami International Boat Show. With NMMA’s Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Newsome, we explore the engines behind the lifest...

Sun on your face, salt in the air, and a city moving at the speed of sport—Miami’s transformation is no headline stunt. Wards Marine Electric's general manager, Luis Lopez, sits down with Cuban journalist and author Omar Claro to trace how the Magic City evolved from a vacation stereotype to a global capital where soccer, Formula 1, boating, and bold style power real economic momentum. We div...

Miami’s shimmer is famous, but the real story lives below the surface: the people and standards that make boating safe, reliable, and thrilling without crossing the line into risk. From the floor of the Miami International Boat Show, we sit down with Brunswick’s Dave Marlow and ABYC’s Pete Chisholm to reveal how voluntary marine standards quietly shape every ride, repair, and upgrade on the water....

Step behind Miami’s glossy waters and meet the engine room that keeps it moving. From the dock at the Miami International Boat Show, we sit with Chuck Cashman, SVP of Global Yacht Sales at MarineMax, to map how a “boat dealer” grew into a full-stack marine partner: retail, deep service, marina ownership through IGY, finance, technology, charter, and superyacht management. If you’ve ever wondered h...

Step inside South Miami’s Damiani, where tailored craftsmanship meets the hum of a city built by water, and discover how industry—not just imagery—powers Miami’s lifestyle. We sit down with founder Carmine and veteran attorney Robert Burlington to trace the city’s growth from a boutique showroom floor to the docks, law offices, and construction cranes shaping the skyline. What emerges is a candid,...

In Season 5, Episode 10, Kristina Hebert explores Christine Battles’ journey of evolving her public relations expertise into a dedicated initiative to develop a sustainable marine workforce pipeline. The episode highlights Battles' efforts in establishing Junior Achievement's maritime storefront, along with her success in scaling pre-apprenticeship programs that facilitate job placements...

Host Kristina Hebert sits dockside at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show with Hooker Pumps founder Trista Evans to explore how a patented, serviceable livewell system changed uptime, service, and safety across boating. The conversation widens to boat show business, tech integration, rescue use cases, and a surprising move into agriculture. • Family legacy and industry resilience across ma...