Ships of the Sea

Dee Daniels Media Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (4)
  • History
  • Updated Biweekly

Step into the story of Savannah—through the lens of the water that built it. The Ships of the Sea Podcast, hosted by Executive Director Molly Carrott Taylor and produced by Dee Daniels Media, explores the people, ships, and industries that shaped one of America’s most historic port cities. From the groundbreaking voyage of the Steamship Savannah to the modern-day movement of massive cargo ships along the Savannah River, each episode uncovers the stories behind maritime history—past and present. You’ll hear from historians, industry experts, artists, and locals whose lives connect to the water in surprising ways. Along the way, we’ll also take you inside the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, where history, community, and creativity come together in the heart of Savannah. Whether you’re a history lover, a coastal explorer, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes of a global port city, this podcast opens the door. Discover the stories. Explore the past. See Savannah from a whole new perspective.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    John McEllen on Designing Savannah’s Scarbrough & North Gardens

    Host Molly Taylor sits down inside the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum to chat with landscape designer John McEllen about creating and maintaining the Scarbrough Garden and North Garden at Ships of the Sea in Savannah.   McEllen traces his path from studying history at the University of Georgia to nursery work, running a design business, and completing an early historic landscape program at the University of Connecticut under Rudy Fabrizi, with exposure to sites like Monticello. He describes being recruited by director Jeff Fulton and working with founder Mills Lane IV, who favored “green on green,” leading to a compromise using seasonal color in large pots.   McEllen explains the parlor-garden layout, historically appropriate plant choices, key surviving elements from a 1970s planting, and the later North Garden design with architect Dan Snyder, including roses tied to Godfrey Barnsley and plants introduced during Oglethorpe’s era. The episode also previews a Michael Gibson topiary “wave” installation opening May 14, 2027, and highlights the museum bylaws that protect the gardens as an equal partner with the house and collection.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media     FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:42 John’s Career Origins 01:53 Historic Landscape Studies 03:39 Moving to Savannah 05:34 Designer vs Architect 06:12 Joining Ships of the Sea 07:53 Mills and Garden Color 10:29 Was There an Original Garden 11:43 Scarborough Garden Layout 14:48 1819 Plant Palette 16:35 North Garden Expansion 18:39 Arbor and Wedding Space 20:28 Sisters Garden and Roses 21:37 Oglethorpe Era Plants 22:02 Tea and Camellias 22:44 People Behind the Project 23:24 Why the Gardens Matter 24:02 Ancient Fig Cutting 25:09 Dream Gardener Journey 26:19 Mills Live Oak Lesson 28:32 Natchez Crape Myrtle 30:00 Fruit Trees Corner 30:42 Camellias And History 34:10 Tours And Recognition 35:46 Protecting Gardens By Law 37:36 Topiary Waves Project 40:47 Letting Go And Growth 43:02 Topiary Tradition Worldwide 46:14 Support The Museum

  2. Aug 27

    Savannah Port Security and Seized Cargo: Inside U.S. Customs and Border Protection with Lynn Brennan

    Ships of the Sea Podcast host Molly Taylor interviews Lynn Brennan retired assistant port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Savannah, about her 33-year career and the port’s growth to nearly 6 million TEU.   Brennan explains CBP’s seaport responsibilities, working with importers, exporters, terminal operators, and enforcing rules for about 40 agencies, plus using technology and trusted-shipper programs to target high-risk cargo. She shares seizure stories involving counterfeit luxury goods and pharmaceuticals, dangerous consumer products (hoverboards, Aqua Dots), narcotics hidden in tuna cans, cement mixers, and wood, smuggled gold coins, endangered-species items like a tortoiseshell-inlaid piano, and a 1999 case of 132 smuggled Chinese immigrants.   Brennan outlines CBP career paths, CBP’s origins in 1789, the Savannah Custom House history, and her post-retirement volunteering and maritime networking through the Propeller Club and SERAC.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to Ships of the Sea 00:20 Meet Lynn Brennan 01:21 From Import Specialist Up 02:55 College and Career Pivot 05:06 What Port Directors Do 07:26 Inside Cargo Exams 08:10 Wild Seizure Stories 12:51 Stress and Mission Shift 13:44 Careers Across CBP 16:04 Tariffs and Classification 18:06 Customs History 1789 22:25 Tech and Trusted Trade 24:28 Supply Chain Trust 24:53 Human Smuggling Bust 26:53 Creative Drug Concealment 29:18 Endangered Piano Seizure 31:40 Savannah Customs House History 34:48 Tours and Modern CBP 36:51 Careers and Entry Paths 39:40 Life After Retirement 40:26 SERAC and Relationships 42:43 Museum Support Outro

  3. Aug 13

    Maritime Archaeology, Underwater Preservation, and Digital Public History with Kurt Knoerl

    Ships of the Seas podcast Host Molly Taylor interviews maritime archaeologist and Georgia Southern University history teacher Kurt Knoerl, who is moving to the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater to teach public, digital, maritime history.   Knoerl explains maritime archaeology as studying water-related sites—shipwrecks, wharves, shoreline and inundated sites—and describes student fieldwork in Savannah using mapping, GIS, and recording methods. He recounts entering the field after an archaeology elective, attending a Savannah conference, getting scuba certified, and studying at East Carolina University; he notes career paths via CRM firms and agencies like NOAA.   He emphasizes researching before diving, documenting sites before removal, and the high costs and risks of artifact conservation. Knoerl discusses his online Museum of Underwater Archaeology, salvage law and ethical concerns (including war graves and Titanic), permitting challenges, interest in Civil War wrecks like CSS Savannah, AI limitations in research, and sea-level rise threats to coastal heritage.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:51 What Maritime Archaeologists Do 01:37 Teaching In The Field 03:49 Finding The Career Path 04:55 Diving Requirements 06:46 Degrees And CRM Work 07:57 Favorite Finds And Sites 09:41 How Wrecks Are Documented 11:35 Conservation Costs And Risks 12:13 Museum Of Underwater Archaeology 14:33 Ownership Salvage And Laws 15:54 Shipwreck Ownership Battles 16:34 Titanic Museums Debate 17:51 Profit Versus Preservation 19:00 Wrecks as Gravesites 20:08 Why Context Matters 20:55 Maritime Archaeology Careers 22:03 Teaching Fieldwork Logistics 23:08 Sharing Finds With Public 24:31 Dream Savannah Wrecks 26:25 Advice for New Archaeologists 27:38 Technology and AI Challenges 30:54 Future Threat Sea Levels 31:38 Closing Thanks

  4. Jul 30

    Savannah River Pilots: Guiding the World’s Largest Ships Into the Port of Savannah

    Ships of the Sea Podcast host Molly Taylor interviews Trey Thompson, Master Pilot and President of the Savannah Pilots Association, about what harbor/river pilots do and how Savannah’s 20 pilots guide ships in and out of the Port of Savannah along a 35-mile channel using helm orders, buoys, and range markers.   Thompson describes training and licensing, the week-on/week-off schedule, dispatching and coordination with tugboats, docking pilots, and ship crews, and the growing use of larger container ships despite fewer ship calls. He emphasizes that the most dangerous part is boarding via Jacob’s ladder, recounting incidents including a ladder breaking and a serious injury from a heaving line, leading to helmet use.   They discuss simulations in Baltimore for larger ships and dredging studies, right whale regulations that reshaped pilot boats, the association’s 1864 formation, and plans to move the pilot base from Fort Pulaski to Lazaretto.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: Learn more about The Savannah Pilots Associations A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:52 What Harbor Pilots Do 01:48 Learning the Savannah River 03:04 Schedules and Pilot Boats 05:00 Boarding Dangers and Safety 07:23 Trey’s Path to Piloting 08:02 Training and Multitasking 09:33 Docking Pilots and Tug Coordination 10:59 Weather Traffic and Holiday Ops 12:25 Bigger Ships Simulators and Dredging 14:32 Leadership and Whale Regulations 15:24 Whale Encounters 15:53 Community Leadership Roles 16:25 Pilot Staffing Numbers 17:07 Apprentices and COVID 17:54 Captains and Conferences 18:47 Right Whale Boat Rules 19:28 Rough Runs to Ships 20:12 Savannah Pilots History 21:00 Master Pilot Selection 22:28 Moving to Lazaretto Base 23:49 Funding and Wake Concerns 25:25 Future Bigger Ships 26:46 Closing and Support

  5. Jul 16

    Sailing Through Legal Tides: Maritime Law Explored

    Host Molly Taylor interviews Savannah maritime attorneys David Sipple and Colin McRae of HunterMaclean about admiralty/maritime law, explaining that admiralty concerns ships, shipping, and navigable waters, while “maritime” is broader and laws seek international uniformity.   They discuss key doctrines including the Jones Act for injured seamen and the Limitation of Liability Act, plus collision vs. allision and the narrow channel rule. Case stories include the African Neptune allision with Brunswick’s old Sidney Lanier Bridge causing 10 deaths, the Golden Ray ro-ro capsizing near St. Simons with four crew rescued after 36 hours, the Archangel G collision that cut a shrimp boat in half, and the Sun Sapphire allision with an LNG dock.   They describe P&I Clubs, shipboard investigations, Coast Guard inquiries, “magic pipe” pollution cases, stowaways, and the practice’s 24/7 demands and collegial network.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: A look inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS: HunterMaclean   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome and Guests 01:15 What Is Maritime Law 02:22 Key Maritime Statutes 04:17 Allision vs Collision 04:57 Bridge Disaster Lessons 07:04 How They Got Started 09:52 Admiralty Schools and Training 11:27 African Neptune Case 12:53 P&I Clubs Explained 14:43 Life Aboard Cargo Ships 17:33 Golden Ray Capsize 22:21 Salvage and Environmental Claims 26:28 Advice for New Maritime Lawyers 27:45 Archangel G Collision Story 29:50 Wheel Tied Off Crash 30:50 Lawsuit And Channel Rules 32:18 Danger Signal And Evidence 34:10 Coast Guard Oil Spill Call 36:33 Magic Pipe Pollution Cases 39:32 Bunkering And Big Spills 41:30 NRDA And Wildlife Costs 42:53 Territory And Inland Barges 44:54 LNG Dock Allision 48:22 First Onboard Fire 50:32 Lost At Sea In Brazil 52:08 Shipboard Meals And Culture 54:45 Stowaways And Repatriation 59:49 Maritime Lawyer Network 01:00:47 Museum Support Outro

  6. Jul 2

    Customs Brokers, Freight Forwarding, and Port Efficiency: Inside John S. James Company in Savannah

    Host Molly Taylor, Executive Director of the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, speaks with Myra Reynolds and Len James of the John S. James Company about what customs brokers and freight forwarders do, clearing imports with government agencies and arranging exports onto vessels.   Len, the family-business CFO and co-owner, describes growing up in the industry and how Savannah’s port ecosystem has changed since the 1980s. Myra recounts joining the company in 1977, becoming a licensed customs broker in 1986, and explains licensing, corporate permits, and the shift to remote filing, electronic documentation, and “single window” systems involving 47 agencies.   They discuss Georgia Ports Authority-led efficiency innovations (including COAT), post‑9/11 security targeting, inspections, radiation monitoring, and IPR enforcement, plus notable cases involving marijuana shipments and stolen vehicle exports. They also cover tariff-driven complexity, AI tools, national association lobbying, expanded customs port limits, recruitment challenges, and the breadth of commodities handled in Savannah.   The Ships of the Sea podcast is recorded on location at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, housed in the historic William Scarbrough House, an elegant example of early Greek Revival architecture in the South. Built in 1819 for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company, the museum showcases a remarkable collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. In addition to its exquisite interior, the museum features the largest private gardens within Savannah’s historic district, designed to reflect a typical 19th-century parlor garden.   CONNECT WITH US: A looking inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome to Ships of the Sea 00:20 Customs Broker Basics 00:56 Len’s Family Business Story 02:36 Warehouse Work Lessons 03:40 Myra’s Path Into Shipping 05:06 Becoming a Licensed Broker 07:01 Savannah Brokerage Landscape 07:32 National Permits and Remote Filing 09:11 Tech Shifts and COAT System 12:30 GPA Efficiency and Early Innovations 16:24 Single Window and Customs Origins 19:07 Duties Tariffs and Counterfeits 22:33 Security Targeting and Inspections 25:41 Myra’s Marijuana Case Files 28:12 Post 9/11 Broker Partnership 29:59 Reporting Suspicious Imports 30:52 CFO Life and Tariff Stress 32:09 AI and Broken Systems 34:10 Lobbying for Tariff Delays 36:16 Tracking Rules and Proclamations 38:38 Expanding Port Limits Story 41:32 Careers and Skills in Brokerage 43:38 Youth Training Pipeline 48:11 Wildest Imports and Logistics 50:50 Partnerships and Final Takeaways 53:53 Support the Maritime Museum

  7. Jun 18

    Unforgettable Seas: Savannah's Captain Judy Talks Life, Lessons, and Legacy

    Host Molly Taylor interviews Captain Judy Helmey of Miss Judy Charters on the Ships of the Sea podcast recorded in the Ships of the Sea Maritime Musuem located in the historic William Scarbrough House and Gardens about becoming a charter captain through sea school, time on the water, and mastering safety, responsibility, and people skills.   Helmey reflects on 61 years fishing - starting on her father’s boat as a child - and describes how the job requires roles from counselor to nurse, plus pairing customers with the right captain now that she runs the company. She shares navigation and seamanship stories, Gulf Stream distances and her past pace of 250 trips a year, learning storms with modern equipment, and extraordinary encounters including waterspouts/tornadoes, a submarine snagging her gear, and Navy live-fire zones.   She discusses sexism, varied clientele, famous passengers, reading birds to find wahoo, and her father’s influence, Savannah charter history, and conducting burials at sea, including sinking caskets.   CONNECT WITH US: A looking inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:42 Becoming a Captain 01:47 Best Parts of Charter Life 04:05 Running the Business Today 05:58 Knowing the Waters 08:05 Family Roots on the Island 10:03 Learning to Drive Young 13:13 Seasickness and Customer Care 15:41 Weather and Water Spouts 19:54 Safety and Seasoning 20:38 Submarine Snags Gear 22:01 Live Fire Hot Zone 24:42 Sexism on the Dock 27:15 Handling Every Client 28:37 Famous Faces Aboard 30:12 Birds Lead to Wahoo 33:15 Glitter Chum Trick 35:04 Dad’s Hustle Origins 37:19 Burials at Sea Finale

  8. Jun 5

    What Does a Stevedore Do? Inside Container Ship Loading at the Port of Savannah

    On the Ships of the Sea podcast, host Molly Taylor interviews Savannah Stevedore and operations manager Carter Hubbard about what stevedores do: plan and manage the execution of loading and unloading ships in coordination with the International Longshoremen’s Association, steamship lines, and the Georgia Ports Authority.   Hubbard explains how longshoremen handle physical work (unlashing, twist locks, driving trucks), clerks and checkers track container movements, and stevedores plan vessel stowage and oversee safe execution on the dock. He describes the industry’s shift from paper to tablets, the many roles required to move a container, constant troubleshooting from equipment and network issues, and handling specialized cargo like racing yachts, military gear, and breakbulk. The conversation covers vessel classes, hazardous and refrigerated planning, training, ship turnaround pace, and maritime career paths.   CONNECT WITH US: A looking inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Meet the Stevedore 00:23 What Stevedores Do 01:03 Longshoremen and Port Roles 02:17 Planning vs Execution 03:09 Clerks Checkers Explained 04:19 Ops Manager Responsibilities 05:14 Tracking Containers Today 07:20 Career Path Into Stevedoring 09:20 Ships Schedule and Pace 10:07 Troubleshooting and Redundancy 12:10 Terminals Unions Specialties 13:27 Breakbulk Yachts and Military 16:51 Ship Types and COVID Impact 18:52 Avoiding Complacency 20:18 Training the Crew 22:06 Career Paths In Ports 24:21 Container Planning Physics 26:07 Managing Massive Teams 27:17 Crane Speed And Workflow 28:48 Boarding Ships And Diplomacy 32:12 Life Aboard International Crews 35:12 Why Savannah Port Matters

  9. May 21

    Anchors Aweigh: Charting Savannah's Maritime Legacy

    Welcome to the Ships of the Sea podcast, an audio voyage from Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. In this introductory episode, producer Dee Daniels introduces host Molly Carrott Taylor, Executive Director of Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, and previews the new podcast exploring Savannah’s maritime stories.   Molly shares her background as a collegiate sailor and longtime art museum leader, how she came to Ships of the Sea after consulting on membership and fundraising, and highlights recent growth, including bringing in over 6,000 children in two years and increasing the budget to $1.2 million from $800,000 in 2022.   She explains the museum’s home, the 1819 William Scarborough House, Scarborough’s role in the Steamship Savannah Company, and the Steamship Savannah’s May 22, 1819, transatlantic voyage—now honored as National Maritime Day.   The episode previews community-focused education and STEAM field trips, events like Celestial Seafarer and Supper at Sea, rotating exhibitions, upcoming sequential-art stories of key ships, and future podcast topics on modern maritime careers such as pilots, stevedores, longshoremen, attorneys, and archaeologists.   CONNECT WITH US: A looking inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome Aboard 01:02 Meet Molly Taylor 02:02 From Consultant to Director 05:31 Scarborough House Origins 05:59 Steamship Savannah Breakthrough 08:05 Schoolhouse Legacy 09:09 National Maritime Day Roots 11:04 Community Programs Vision 12:31 Signature Events and Exhibits 16:20 Hidden Maritime Careers 22:13 A Day in 1819 26:02 Hands On Learning Ahead 28:59 Closing and Support

  10. May 19

    Ships of the Sea Podcast | Official Trailer

    Welcome aboard. The Ships of the Sea Podcast takes you inside the stories that shaped Savannah ... from its earliest maritime history to the people and industries still moving through its waterways today. In this short trailer, you’ll get a preview of what’s ahead: powerful stories, behind-the-scenes perspectives, and a deeper look at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum and the history it brings to life. From groundbreaking voyages to modern-day maritime careers, this is where history, community, and the water all connect. Subscribe now and join us as we open the treasure chest of Savannah’s maritime past. CONNECT WITH US: A looking inside Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Museum EVENTS Education and Group Programs Meet the Production Team Dee Daniels Media

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Step into the story of Savannah—through the lens of the water that built it. The Ships of the Sea Podcast, hosted by Executive Director Molly Carrott Taylor and produced by Dee Daniels Media, explores the people, ships, and industries that shaped one of America’s most historic port cities. From the groundbreaking voyage of the Steamship Savannah to the modern-day movement of massive cargo ships along the Savannah River, each episode uncovers the stories behind maritime history—past and present. You’ll hear from historians, industry experts, artists, and locals whose lives connect to the water in surprising ways. Along the way, we’ll also take you inside the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, where history, community, and creativity come together in the heart of Savannah. Whether you’re a history lover, a coastal explorer, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes of a global port city, this podcast opens the door. Discover the stories. Explore the past. See Savannah from a whole new perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    Dee Daniels Media Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Ships of the Sea

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