Stone carver Jim Larson joins the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on craft, philosophy, and the practice of working in granite. From his unconventional entry into carving to large-scale public sculpture and granite work in the Northeast, Jim shares insights on tools, mentorship, and the idea of “embodied practice.” The discussion also explores the intersection of traditional techniques and modern machinery. 

Learn more about Jim at his website, www.stonestructures.net.

Check out details of the Nashua Sculpture Symposium at www.nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this episode of the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast, hosts Bethany Lee, Matthew Johnson, and Joel Penhorwood sit down with longtime letter carver and calligrapher Janey Westin.

Janey calls Minnesota home and began her career as a professional calligrapher in 1985. Her love of letters naturally led her into the world of stone carving. Over the years, she has expanded her work beyond lettering into sculptural projects in a wide range of stone.

Janey has also shared her knowledge by teaching letter carving at the Indiana Limestone Symposium.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this episode of the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast, we’re joined by Kierk Ashmore-Sorensen to discuss his work with The Alberene Foundation and its mission to preserve and advance traditional stone carving, specifically through the history of the The Alberene Soapstone Company.

Learn more about Kierk and his work at www.industrialstone.com and The Alberene Foundation at www.thealberenefoundation.org.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

This episode of the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast sits down with renowned architect Michael Imber. The trio of Bethany, Matthew, and Joel talk with Imber about his unique approach to architecture that often utilizes stone carving and traditional practices.

Learn more about Michael at his website here.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Matthew Nunn, known as @marginedmallet on Instagram, is a dry stone craftsman with a deep rooted passion for the craft, its history, and education within traditional stone masonry.

In this ongoing series regarding stone carving related fields, he joins hosts Bethany, Matthew, and Joel to talk about his unique line of work and shares lessons he has found along the way.

Learn more about Matthew at his website, www.rivervalleystonework.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this episode, Simeon Warren discusses his well-rounded stone carving education in England gained by working at Lincoln and Wells Cathedral. Theresa interview then diverges into thoughts about integrating new technologies into carving. We wrap up with Simeon’s story of how he and others founded the American College of Building Arts in Charleston, SC.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this special episode of the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast, Bethany, Matthew, and Joel sit down with architect Steve Mouzon of The Original Green to explore his unique philosophy on the role of stone in design. Known for his work in traditional architecture and sustainable building practices, Steve shares how stonework shapes his vision and why he believes it’s essential in creating spaces that endure. 

Learn more about Steve's work at his website, linked here.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this unique episode, Killian and Petra O’Flaherty join us from Ireland to discuss their lineage of stone carving, Ballyknockan (the “granite village”), and the importance of taking on apprentices. This is the Stone Carvers Guild's first internationally recorded podcast!

Learn more about Killian and Petra's business at www.oflahertystone.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Myles Schachter of 2Sculpt joins the podcast crew to discuss his unique perspectives as a sculptor, supplier, teacher, and more in this eclectic episode.

As a stone sculptor and a supplier of stone and stone carving tools, he operates a business called 2Sculpt based in Lawrence, Kansas, where he has a studio and offers workshops. Learn more at www.2sculpt.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this episode of the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast, Matthew and Joel mix things up by chatting with fellow stone enthusiasts from the Maine Stone Workers Guild. Guests Norman Casas and Sam Finkelstein share about their work, the mission of their guild, and give us a preview of the upcoming Rockland Stone Symposium happening July 14–26, 2025. It’s a great look at how the craft of stone carving is celebrated and promoted in another way.

Learn more about the Maine Stone Workers Guild at mainestoneworkersguild.org.

Plus, a link to the Trow and Holden guide discussed in this episode.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In which Robin Antar sits down with Bethany, Joel, and Matt to talk realism, pop‑culture and storytelling in stone carving.

Find out more about Robin's work at her website, www.robinantar.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this episode, Matt and Bethany interview Ron Clamp, a third generation carver from originally from stone industry hotspot Elberton, GA and now residing in South Carolina. Ron has passed through many phases in his carving career, from monument making to sandblasting, digital designing, gilding, and running a traveling workshop. He heads Cornerstone Dimensional where he and his team create large monuments, restore historic buildings, host workshops, and much more. He is passionate about assimilating new techniques and tools in order to get the job done in a way that optimizes quality and economy. 

This episode is a great one to listen to if you’re curious about the nitty-gritty of sandblasting and how to work in granite!

More about Ron's work at his website.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

The conversation continues! In this part two episode, carvers from the two major training grounds of stone carvers in the US in the last 50 years - the stone yards of St. John the Divine in New York City and the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. - sit down with Matt, Bethany, and Joel and discuss their teaching methods and more.

Nick Fairplay and Joseph Kincannon join us on behalf of St. John the Divine, and Walter Arnold and Patrick Plunkett join us on behalf of the National Cathedral.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this episode, carvers from the two major training grounds of stone carvers in the US in the last 50 years - the stone yards of St. John the Divine in New York City and the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. - sit down with Matt, Bethany, and Joel and discuss the ins and outs of working on such massive projects with far reaching impact. Nick Fairplay and Joseph Kincannon join us on behalf of St. John the Divine, and Walter Arnold and Patrick Plunkett join us on behalf of the National Cathedral.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this episode, Vermont stone carver Sean Hunter Williams explains how to work in granite, talks about getting diamond grinding tools in Italy, and tells how he returned to Vermont after art school to learn stone carving in his father’s studio (as well as how he stays warm there in the cold Vermont winters!). He also weighs in on the debate about hand tools vs. pneumatic tools and discussed the concept of fire-poked beer.

Follow along with Sean's work on his website, www.seanhunterwilliams.com, or his Instagram @seanhunterwilliams

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Oleg Lobykin, Russian-born stone carver and artist, shares his knowledge about public monumental sculpture, restoration, sculptures in wildly varying mediums, training in the former USSR, and his experience learning as a young carver at St. John the Divine.

His websites, referenced extensively in this episode, include www.lobykin.com and www.customstonecarving.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this Interview, Italian-trained, Vermont-based carver Fred X Brownstein gets into the nitty-gritty of replication using the pointing machine (machinetta) and the history of replication methods. He also discusses his own education in human figure sculpture at the studio of Nerina Simi in Florence as well as his current projects and contributions toward training the next generation of carvers.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In this interview with Minnesotan carver Scott Halverson, the business of architectural carving is front and center. Scott and his business partner run a studio in Northeast Minneapolis and travel around the country restoring monuments. Of course, Scott had a long journey that ran through Texas and Europe in order to get there. Matt, Joel and Bethany discuss this with Scott alongside a continuation of the hand tools vs. pneumatic tools controversy.

Check out more of Scott's carving at his website, www.northernstonecarving.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In which Cary Shafer sits down with Bethany, Joel, and Matt to discuss the path to discovering oneself.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Sebastian Martorana, carver, illustrator, sculptor, teacher, and social media personality, discusses being an artist in Baltimore, his own formation through apprenticeship with stone carving veterans in DC, the relationship between illustration and carving, working with different kinds of stone including salvaged stone, how to gild lettering, and using Instagram to connect with other artists.

More about Sebastian and his work at www.sebastianworks.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Texan carver Stuart Simpson shares about his journey from carving found stones   as a child to studying art at University to working with co-host Matthew Johnson at Texas Carved Stone (see Bob Ragan episode) to running his own studio. 

Also included - comments on running a stone carving business, a carving for Jeff Bezos, and the reading of a review!

Click here for more information about Stuart's stone carving

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Join the trio for their conversation with Stephen Michael Bouska of Old World Stone Design in which they explore his unique background, in-depth knowledge of stone, and wide range of carving experiences.

More about Stephen and the Stone Carvers Guild online at www.stonecarversguild.org.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Franco Minervini joins hosts Bethany, Matthew, and Joel to talk his storied history in stone carving and some of his favorite projects over the years.

Learn more about Franco and the Stone Carvers Guild online at www.stonecarversguild.org.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Join Bethany, Matt, and Joel as they head to the studio of Dale Johnson of Old World Stone Carving in Ohio.

For pictures of Dale's work and more about the Stone Carvers Guild, visit www.stonecarversguild.org.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Join Bethany, Matthew, and Joel as they talk with longtime Stone Carvers Guild member Michael Fannin. The Vermont-based carver talks technique, stone, history, and much more in this in-depth conversation.

More about Michael and the Stone Carvers Guild online at www.stonecarversguild.org.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In which Bethany, Matthew, and Joel discuss the age old problem of motivation in a solitary craft, before being motivated by the history, wisdom, and spirit of Chicago-based carver and Stone Carvers Guild founding member Walter S. Arnold.

More about Walter and his work: https://stonecarversguild.org/episode-7-walter-arnold/

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In which Bethany, Matthew, and Joel from the Stone Carvers Guild speak with Malcolm Harlow and his wife Gale as they discuss his experience in stone carving through the years.

More about Malcolm and the Stone Carvers Guild online at www.stonecarversguild.com.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Join Bethany, Matt, and Joel as they talk with Bob Ragan and Mary Condon of Texas Carved Stone, sharing the lessons they've learned through their many years of operation of a large shop with elite stone carving for art and architecture.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

Welcome back to the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast! In this episode, we are joined by the talented stone carver, Patrick Plunkett. Get ready to delve into the fascinating journey of this stone carver, from his English roots to iconic projects like the National Cathedral and the White House.

Click here to see Patrick's work.

Episode Highlights:

1. English Beginnings:
   • Explore Patrick's artistic roots in England and how his early experiences shaped his passion for stone carving.
2. Journey to America:
   • Discover the story of Patrick Plunkett's transition from England to America and the cultural influences that played a role in shaping his artistic vision.
3. National Cathedral Chronicles:
   • Gain insights into Patrick's significant contributions to the National Cathedral, unraveling tales of craftsmanship and dedication.
4. Darth Vader Grotesque:
   • Join us as Patrick shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes of carving the infamous Darth Vader grotesque at the National Cathedral, offering a unique perspective on the creative process.
5. Carving through History:
   • Reflect on Patrick's experiences working on the White House during the historic events of 9/11.
6. Advice for Aspiring Carvers:
   • Listen as Patrick imparts wisdom to aspiring stone carvers, sharing lessons learned throughout his illustrious career.

Connect with Stone Carvers Guild:

Explore the art of stone carving on our website. Subscribe to the Stone Carvers Guild Podcast for more captivating interviews.

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The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In which Amy Brier sits down with Bethany, Joel, and Matt to discuss how to not deny that you are a lover of limestone.

More information about her carving, and the Stone Carvers Guild, online: https://stonecarversguild.org/episode-3-amy-brier/

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In which Nick Fairplay sits down with Bethany, Joel, and Matt to discuss how to not be a professional pastry chef

More information about his carving, and the Stone Carvers Guild, visit the episode notes online at www.stonecarversguild.org.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.

In which Joseph Kincannon sits down with Bethany, Joel, and Matt to discuss how to not work in the gift shop.

Learn about Joseph's history, carving, as well as the Stone Carving Guild, here.

The Stone Carvers Guild Podcast is a production of the Stone Carvers Guild. Learn more about membership at www.stonecarversguild.org/get-involved/.

Learn more about the Stone Carvers Guild at www.stonecarversguild.org.