A Brush with Death

We wish you a blessed and peaceful Memorial Day.  Never forget their sacrifice. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by Lanae Strovers, Iowa funeral director and Trainer with the NFDA. to learn about her organization, The Final Salute.  Since 2018, The Final Salute has worked to locate and identify the unclaimed cremated remains of Veterans, children and civilians and provide them the proper burial services and honors they deserve. Visit their Facebook page and learn more by clicking HERE.

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf explores the value of mentorship in the funeral profession. Joined by Lauren Budrow, a licensed funeral director and mortuary science educator, and Calvin Amato, a funeral trainee and soon-to-be graduate, the discussion addresses the true meaning of mentorship, its long-term effects on professionals and families, and how both seasoned and aspiring funeral directors can develop meaningful mentor-mentee relationships.    Also, check out the April issue of The Director for a deeper dive into mentorship and more contributions from Lauren and Calvin.   This episode is sponsored by Tribute Technology

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host Gabe Schauf, is joined by Sabena Nanji, founder of FIOH, to learn how funeral directors can use it to simplify the planning process and include the family every step of the way. Click here to visit FIOH About FIOH:  Forever In Our Hearts (FIOH), the revolutionary online funeral planner that's transforming how funeral directors and families navigate the planning process—from the first call to the final service. FIOH isn't just another digital tool; it's a comprehensive platform designed to reduce paperwork and give funeral directors more time to focus on what truly matters: supporting families during life's most delicate moments. The platform features a customized digital storefront where funeral directors showcase their complete range of services and packages, while our intuitive family portal brings everything together in one organized space. Families can effortlessly connect with funeral staff through secure messaging, upload and share documents and images, and keep all the details in one accessible place. FIOH also introduces a game-changing marketplace tailored to the unique challenges of the funeral industry—helping professionals seamlessly swap shifts, locate local licensed embalmers, arrange transportation, and find other essential service providers. FIOH is building a community where every member supports one another, ensuring that every funeral is handled with care, efficiency, and compassion.  

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf chats with Kelly Monroe, Funeral Instructor (and Gabe's co-worker) with the Milwaukee Area Technical College Funeral Service Program, and Dr. Damon de la Cruz, Director of Education with the Frigid Fluid Company, about funeral apprenticeships. Topics include the expectations and responsibilities of both the trainer and trainee, as well as how to make the most of the experience. They discuss common challenges, share valuable insights, and offer practical advice to help both mentors and apprentices succeed in the field. Whether you are new to the profession and navigating your apprenticeship or a funeral professional training apprentices, there is something here for you. Are you a funeral director's apprentice with some thoughts to share or suggestions on improvements?  Are you a funeral director with some best practices and success stories?  We would love to hear from you at abrushwithdeath@nfda.org. 

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Tony Miller to discuss how funeral homes are using AP Lazer's products in-house to provide families with more opportunities for personalization. Learn more about AP Lazer Here. About Tony:  Tony Miller is a seasoned sales executive with over seven years at AP Lazer, helping funeral professionals expand their services through personalized laser engraving. With a background in business management and a passion for fostering strong customer relationships, Tony excels at guiding businesses toward new revenue opportunities using AP Lazer's patented open-architecture technology. Beyond his work in sales, Tony is also the owner of Oak Lore Farm, where he applies his craftsmanship to woodworking and sustainable farming. His hands-on approach—whether in business or on the farm—reflects his dedication to innovation, quality, and meaningful connections. About AP Lazer:  AP Lazer is a leading provider of high-powered laser engraving and cutting machines, designed to help businesses unlock new revenue streams through personalized, high-value customization. With its patented open-architecture design, AP Lazer machines remove size and weight restrictions, allowing users to engrave everything from small keepsakes to large memorials with ease. Trusted by funeral professionals, AP Lazer empowers businesses to create deeply personal tributes, adding lasting value to headstones, urns, and commemorative items. Backed by 24/7 lifetime technical support and comprehensive training, AP Lazer ensures its customers have the tools and knowledge to succeed in the evolving funeral industry.

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf chats with 10 funeral directors and embalmers from around the country to share practical tips and techniques for taking embalming room work to the next level. They'll cover everything from improving preservation to fine-tuning restoration work, with advice you can use immediately. Guests in this episode include: -              Dana Goodell – Iowa Licensed Funeral Director and Sales and Education Director for the Embalmer Supply Company (1:59) -              Regan Moreland – Funeral Director with Radney Funeral Home and Langley Funeral Home (6:03) -              Lauren Bowser – Funeral Director with Cusick Funeral Home (8:36) -              Manda King – Connecticut Licensed Funeral Director and Embalming Specialist with Frigid Fluid (12:37) -              Kelley Rowmanowski – Minnesota Licensed Funeral Director and University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science Instructor (17:07) -              Lincoln Plain – Minnesota Licensed Funeral Director and Sales Representative for Dodge Chemical Company (21:06) -              Danielle Wilk – Port Mortuary Branch Chief at Dover Air Force Base (25:25) -              Jennifer Heiselman – Retired US Navy Chief Mortician and Cemetery Director at State Veterans Cemetery (32:20) -              John Hill – Funeral Director and Embalmer with James Funeral Home, trade embalmer and Instructor with Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service (37:53) -              Mel Lyles – Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and Co-Owner of Afterlife Mortuary Services (43:13) Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, this episode has something for everyone. Disclaimer:  This episode contains discussions about embalming techniques used by licensed funeral professionals.  Some of the content may be sensitive or unsettling to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Leili McMurrough, a licensed funeral director and President of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, to share her experiences and insights from the profession. Leili is the recipient of the 2024 NFDA Inspiration Award, sponsored by NGL, which honors an exceptional woman who has made significant contributions to funeral service. This episode is sponsored by NGL.

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Regan Moreland, Funeral Director & Embalmer with Radney Funeral Home and Langley Funeral Home, to discuss her transformative journey into funeral service.  She shares how her personal experiences have shaped her career and passion for lifelong learning while inspiring those around her to always remember their "why."

Happy Veterans Day to all of our military personnel. We are deeply grateful for your service and sacrifice, and we will forever be thankful for your role in keeping our country free. In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Jennifer Heiselman, Navy Chief Mortician (Retired), who served our country as a Navy Embalmer and Funeral Director. Jennifer spent 24 years both at home and abroad, caring for soldiers killed while on active duty and in combat, and managing the logistics and processes to ensure these fallen heroes were returned home to their families. In this episode, she shares some of her experiences and insights, reflecting on her remarkable career. This episode is sponsored by Core Scientific

Have you ever heard something go bump in the night while working at the funeral home?  Did you ever have an eerie experience you just couldn't explain?  Do you sometimes wonder if you “not alone”?  Regardless of how you may feel about the paranormal, everyone loves a good ghost story.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf sits down with Duane Hills, Todd Harra, Ben Schmidt, and Jason Engler to hear a couple of spooky mortuary tales.

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Welton Hong, founder of Ring Ring Marketing, about what the future of the profession looks like in terms of overall call volume, and what funeral homes can do to prepare. Welton is a leading expert in helping funeral homes convert leads from online directly to the phone line. He's the author of the book Making Your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes and a regular contributor to NFDA's The Director magazine and several other publications. Welton has a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to starting Ring Ring Marketing, he was a senior technologist at R&D facilities for Intel, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle. He regularly speaks at conferences and other events for people in the death care industry. Click here to learn more about Ring Ring Marketing.

The International Convention and Expo is taking place in New Orleans October 20th to the 23rd.  To get ready for the event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you to check out.   In this final episode before convention, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the 2024 International Convention and Expo keynote speakers, Amy Herman and Jason Arday.  Amy and Jason will share a little about themselves and their experiences and give an idea of what to expect from their keynote addresses.  This episode is sponsored by NGL and Carriage. Learn more about the 2024 International Convention and Expo Learn more about our Keynote Speakers

The International Convention and Expo is taking place in New Orleans October 20th to the 23rd.  To get ready for the event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you to check out.  In those episodes, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the Innovation Award Finalists, some of the Workshop Presenters, and of course, the Keynote speakers.  In this second episode we will hear from 3 of our workshop presenters, Cate Collins, Cort Bluford, and Mandy Stafford. Cate Collins' presentation, “Ignite the Powerhouse in You”, will take place on Monday and Wednesday from 8am to 9am. Cort Bluford's presentation, “Embracing the Digital Frontier”, will take place on Sunday from 1:15pm to 2:15pm Mandy Stafford's presentation, “Nurture our Nature”, will take place on Monday from 8am to 9am. To learn more and register for the convention – Click Here

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Kevin O'Connor, author of Two Floors Above Grief.  Kevin shares his inspiration for the book he wrote about growing up in his family's funeral home in Elgin, Illinois.  Kevin's book Two Floors Above Grief has reached Amazon best-seller status in categories such as Teens/Young Adults, Parenting, Family Relationships, Death/Grief, and Biographies/Memoirs. Through his social media presence at thegriefnavigator, Kevin provides invaluable resources to those navigating their grief journeys. Kevin has been a guest on numerous radio broadcasts, podcasts, and videos discussing his experiences with writing, publishing, grief, education, and his unique family time growing up in an apartment above a funeral home in the 1950s through 1970s. Kevin has performed in over 30 theater productions since the 1970s. His educational career spanned from 1973 to 2020, during which he served as an elementary teacher, principal, professor, and curriculum coordinator in California, Illinois, and Florida. Kevin resides in Ft. Lauderdale with his husband, Leon. Their family includes five sons and seven granddaughters. For more insights into his book, ongoing stories, and interests, visit www.kevinoconnorauthor.com.

The International Convention and Expo is taking place in New Orleans October 20th to the 23rd.  To get ready for the event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you to check out.  In those episodes, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the Innovation Award Finalists, some of the Workshop Presenters, and of course, the Keynote speakers. In this first episode we will hear from the innovation award finalists.  The NFDA Innovation Award is sponsored this year by ASD and gives companies and organizations the opportunity to showcase their new product and service ideas designed to enhance the funeral profession its function. The finalists this year are Nemu, Clear View Caskets, and 1Director. To learn more about Nemu – Click Here To learn more about Clear View Caskets – Click Here To learn more about 1Director – Click Here To learn more and register for the convention – Click Here This episode is sponsored by ASD

In September of 2022, the world watched as Queen Elizabeth  was given a final farewell.  The world watched as every news station and social media outlet broadcast footage and provided updates on the events of her passing and services as they happened.  Meanwhile, funeral director, Tim Purves, and his staff worked on location to provide services and care fit for a monarch.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, speaks with Tim about those services and how the funeral profession operates on his "side of the pond". Tim Purves is the 5th generation owner of William Purves Funeral Directors, the largest, independent funeral business in Scotland, with a team of more than 100 staff across 25 branches in Scotland and northeast England. Sponsored by Johnson Consulting Group

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Mike McKenna about Core Scientific, an industry leader and the go-to choice for some of the largest corporations and funeral groups in North America in cremation metal recycling. Mike McKenna is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the funeral and cremation profession. He is dedicated to educating funeral professionals on the latest industry trends and best practices in cremation metal retrieval.  Mike ensures clients' interests are protected and their crematory operations are optimized. He also excels in handling total logistics, providing clients with regular updates on the shipping and receiving of materials to provide a seamless and efficient process. Click here to learn more about Core Scientific

In 2023, the NFDA sent film crews to various cities to talk with consumers about their impressions of funeral directors.  There were mixed reactions and a combination of positive and negative comments that gave an eye-opening perspective on the public's views of the funeral profession.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf sits down with funeral directors, Lori Sheeler, Anna Zvirman-Nesbit, and Naomi Bradbury-Marchand to discuss those impressions and what we can do to develop the public's positive perception of funeral service. To view the consumer video CLICK HERE Sponsered by Johnson Consulting Group

In May of 2023, the NFDA hosted its latest Future's Forum, a highly focused, forward-looking session held on an as-needed basis to tackle serious challenges impacting funeral service providers.  The goal of Future's Forum 2023 was to develop new growth and innovation strategies funeral providers could use to overcome current revenue challenges, increasing costs and staffing shortages.  In the spirit of that theme, host, Gabe Schauf is sitting down with Brie Smith, Erica Hill, and David Hernandez Jr to learn how they are looking to the future and modifying and innovating at their funeral homes for the better. Sponsered by Johnson Consulting Group

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Bill A Johnston, president of Post and Boost and author of the new book, "The Consumer's Journey to Purchasing Funeral Services."  Bill is a Facebook expert who invented a proprietary, scalable software platform that creates, posts, and boosts custom advertising for Funeral Homes on Facebook, and is dedicated to inspiring funeral home owners and operators to discover advertising can work for funeral homes. Bill can be reached at bill@postandboost.com Click here to learn more about Bill's new book!

Summer is here and along with it comes a new crop of funeral service program graduates.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with 4 of them to hear about their experiences, challenges and goals moving forward. A big congratulations to the funeral service program class of 2024 graduates and special thanks to Ashley Trent – graduate from Lake Washington Community College, Kate Marnul – graduate from the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Michelle Finnegan – graduate from Salt Lake Community College and Patrick Wheeler – graduate from Cape Cod Community College for their time. Sponsored by Core-Scientific

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is talking about Tukios with founder, Curtis Funk.  Tukios is a software company providing simple solutions to funeral homes, including a tribute video software, website development and hosting, and follow-up services to keep them in touch with their community.  Curtis is A lifelong entrepreneur, he has spent the last 18 years providing products and services exclusively to funeral homes.  He is recognized in the funeral industry as a thought-leader and has built a company with an impeccable reputation.  Curtis can be reached at curtis@tukios.com Click here to learn more about Tukios

Artificial intelligence has quickly become a part of our day to day and can be found almost everywhere.  There are many who have been quick to embrace it and use it to enhance what they do.  There are also many who have concerns with the capabilities of AI and what a future with artificial intelligence may look like.  Is AI truly something to fear or are those negative misconceptions holding us back from a brighter future?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, discusses that with Dennis Yu, the CEO of AreYouGoobleable.com.  Gabe and Dennis talk through some of the concerns about AI, what is known and what is not.  Dennis also gives some ideas on what may be possible through the use of AI and how to start learning and experiencing it for ourselves. Sponsored by Tukios.com

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is talking about Legacy.com, the world's largest commercial provider of online memorials and obituaries, with John Heald, Legacy.com's Funeral Home Channel General Manager. John is a fourth-generation funeral director and has been licensed in Massachusetts for 21 years. With his twin brother, Jim, he built a start-up funeral home in 2009 located in Shrewsbury, Mass and later sold it in 2017.  John's roll with Legacy.com is to oversee funeral home development. He was one of the original members of the team that started Tributes.com in 2008, which was acquired by Legacy in May 2015. John can be reached at jheald@legacy.com Click here to learn more about Legacy.com

Succession planning preserves an organization's legacy, ensures smooth leadership transitions, and nurtures internal talent.  It is vital to the long-term success of any and every funeral home.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Chris Cruger, CEO of Foresight, and Jake Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Consulting Group to talk about the value of and steps to successful succession planning from the perspectives of both the owner and the seller.  Sponsored by Homesteaders Life Company.

In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by his brother, the founder and CEO of Uncharted Supply Co., Christian Schauf.  Uncharted's mission is to provide high-quality, intuitive gear to help people navigate emergencies big and small.   Gabe and Chris talk about entrepreneurship, ownership, innovation, and how passion drives success in work and life. CLICK HERE to learn more about Uncharted Supply Co.

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is talking about @Need Marketing, a full-service marketing agency helping funeral homes connect with their communities through creative and strategic methods.  Gabe is joined by Michael Anderson, President of @Need Marketing.  Michael uses his personal background in the funeral profession and extensive experience in sales to provide partners with effective marketing strategies that are relevant for funeral homes. He can be reached at manderson@atneedmarketing.com. Click here to learn more about @Need Marketing

Host, Gabe Schauf is joined by Victor Sweeney, "The Wired Mortician".  Victor is a funeral director with DuBore Funeral Home in Warren, Minnesota who came into the national spotlight by just "doing the right thing" and has since been featured multiple times by Wired Magazine.  In this episode, Victor shares his story and some thoughts on being a funeral influencer and educating the public.  Click Here to see Victor's first Wired Feature Click Here to see Victor's most recent Wired Feature

The National Board Exam is a hot topic of discussion amongst funeral directors.  As workforce needs grow across the country and the education system works to teach the future of the profession, many questions about the exam and it purpose continue to be asked. To understand more about the National Board Exam, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Dalene Paull and Leili McMurrough.  Dalene and Leili share a behind the scenes explanation as to how the exam is developed, its importance, and how funeral directors can play vital roles in supporting the process and the students who are working to become licensed. Click here for more information about the National Board Exam, including guides and statistics.

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode we are talking about Chptr, a new mobile-first memorialization platform.  Joining host, Gabe Schauf, is Rehan Choudhry, Founder and CEO of Chptr.  Learn more about Chptr and try it for free at https://www.chptr.com/.

On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode we are talking about NGL and the 2024 Inspiration Award with Jessica Grann, NGL's Chief Culture and Communications Officer. If you have someone you'd like to nominate for the 2024 Inspiration Award, you can do so at https://nfda.org/inspiration. 

In May of 2023, the NFDA hosted “Future's Forum” where 70 attendees representing the death care space met to analyze, discuss, and strategize the future of our profession.  This event was facilitated by Jim Austin and Paul Schoemaker, two gentlemen whose careers focus on strategic decision-making for businesses of all kinds. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Jim and Paul to discuss the Future's Forum event and what the future of the funeral profession could look like.  Is your firm only operating in the present or is it looking ahead?  Do you know what you can do to innovate, where there are opportunities to grow, and how to begin moving forward?  This episode is a good place to get started. Funding in part for this event was provided by a grant from the Funeral Service Foundation.

While women working in the funeral profession is nothing new, the incredible job done by many of them to serve families to the highest standards is something that cannot be overstated.  The tasks performed, the detail with which they are done, and the empathetic care behind them have provided us all with examples of what we should strive for in our own work. In episode 66, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Ellen Wynn McBrayer, licensed funeral director and embalmer and President and CFO of Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes and Crematory in Georgia, to learn more about her experiences in the funeral profession.  The 2023 Inspiration Award Winner discusses the leadership and mentorship roles she has found herself in throughout her career and shares the importance and results of leading by example.  The NFDA Inspiration Award is generously sponsored by NGL.

What happens when you put 3 mortuary school instructors in a podcast booth?  Find out in episode 65.  Faith Haug and Joe Finocchiaro join host, Gabe Schauf, in a candid discussion about how funeral education is evolving.  Both share some of their experiences and provide opinions on where it might be headed and what we can all do to help make it better for everyone.  Whether you have been in the profession for some time or are just starting out - If you're curious about the state of funeral education, this episode is for you.

“The times they are a-changin'.”  As the new generation of funeral directors finds its way into the profession, a lot can be said about the challenges that can exist as far as workplace relations go.  Debates about “the new way” vs “the old way” arise.  Both the definition and style of communication take new meaning to different individuals - which can give way to miscommunication and misinterpretation.  Struggles with technology, new ideas, and even levels of respect can also contribute to conflict and frustration.  So how do we bring harmony to the multigenerational workforce at our funeral home?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with funeral director and author, Antonio Green to discuss just that.  Antonio shares some of what he has learned from personal experience, presenting on and writing about professional collaboration, specifically with the millennial generation.

15 years ago, Janet McGee left the funeral profession due to burnout.  In 2016, a very unexpected loss reignited Janet's passion to not only return but to take on the role of funeral educator.  In this episode, Janet shares her story with host, Gabe Schauf, and brings attention to a cause that she has been a big part of since that loss.

Is staffing an issue for your funeral home?  How are we as a profession addressing the needs and demands of our employees and ensuring that the workforce challenges of the funeral home are taken care of?  Jzyk Ennis joins host, Gabe Schauf, to talk about his article, "My Manifesto", published in the October 2022 issue of NFDA's The Director.

Do you have tasks in your life that are very necessary for success but not always at the top of the list in terms of things you really want to do?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf sits down with Tyler Anderson, Vice President of Business Development at Precoa, to talk about the importance of creating a preneed strategy for your funeral home.  Why don't we embrace it as much as we should?  How do we approach it and help those we serve understand its value?  Learn all of this and more in episode 61.

Do you have plans for September?  They should include attending the NFDA International Convention and Expo the 10th through the 13th in Las Vegas.   -       Exciting keynote speakers-       Thirty Workshops full of incredible content-       A huge expo floor-       5 preconvention seminars -       And so much more In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by 3 of the workshop speakers, Dr. Tashel Bordere, Chris Costello and John T. Hill, to share a little about what you have to look forward to in Vegas.

Do you have plans for September?  They should include attending the NFDA International Convention and Expo the 10th through the 13th in Las Vegas. -       Four days of workshops -       Thirty plus sessions-       A huge expo floor-       5 preconvention seminars   And what about those keynote speakers?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with two of them – musician, Mark Schulman and CEO, Dennis Yu to talk drumming, attitude, the future, and artificial intelligence.  Hear what they are all about now and get ready to learn from them during their incredible presentations in Las Vegas.

What does it mean to be an influencer in the funeral profession?  Should we as funeral directors add that responsibility to our day-to-day task list?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks to funeral director and social media influencer, Kari the Mortician, about how she works to educate the public and the importance of transparency and communication with those who want to learn more about what we do and why we do it.

In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by 3 members of the mortuary college class of 2023.  Kyle Dunn, from Arapahoe Community College, Suzanne Wyckoff, from Northeast Texas Community College, and Sunshine Smith, from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service share their experiences of the past year and provide some great advice for new students just starting out.

In this episode, we say goodbye to Todd Van Beck, an individual who dedicated his life to this profession, and those who worked within it.  Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Kenneth Howe, Brian Waters, Anthony Kaniuk, Steve Spann, Sharon Gee-Mascarello, David Hicks, Lisa Baue, Duane Hills, and Jack Lechner to share their stories, memories, and lessons learned from Todd.  

Personalization has become a standard of funeral service.  Many funeral directors embrace the challenge of coming through for families and finding unique ways to honor and tell the story of their loved ones.  Often the casket or urn is the first place they look to go above and beyond.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Trey Ganem, owner of Soulshine Industries, who has taken custom urn and casket design to the next level.

How is your physical fitness?  While there is a lot to say about funeral directors caring for their mental and emotional health, not a lot has been discussed in terms of the physical.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with nutritionist and personal trainer, Jordan Syatt about the importance of maintaining physical health and some simple things that even the “on-the-go” funeral director can do to stay healthy and function at their best.

Looking for a glimpse into the history of funeral service?  Look no further than the National Museum of Funeral History in Huston, Texas.  Not able to travel anytime soon?  Just make it a virtual visit.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Genevieve Keeny-Vazquez, the museum's President and CEO to talk about the origin of the museum, some of the unique displays, and what guests can look forward to in the near future.

In recognition of Women's History Month and to kick off preparation for the NFDA's 2023 Professional Women's Conference, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by three of the many incredible women working in the funeral profession.  Bailey Wolf, Ginny Sanzo, and LaShonda Martin share about their journey to become funeral directors, as well as some of their experiences, challenges, and memorable moments. 

How engaged is your funeral home with your surrounding community?  It's no secret that getting involved can be beneficial both personally and professionally, but what are some best practices and how can you get started?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Traci Macz, Joe E Pray, and Russ Weeks, three funeral directors who work hard to serve those in their communities beyond the visitations and funerals.  Hear what they are participating in and how you, your staff, and your community can all benefit. 

Are you aware of the current funeral consumer trends?  Are you looking to modify how you serve your families in the new year?  In this episode, Ed Defort and David Nixon join host, Gabe Schauf, to discuss the results of the latest NFDA consumer survey and where the families we serve are finding value in what we offer.

The Federal Trade Commission has started the process of updating the Funeral Rule, which regulates how our profession operates and provides specific rights to consumers seeking burial and cremation services.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by NFDA's General Counsel, Chris Farmer, to share what is being discussed, why it matters, and the importance of funeral professionals getting involved in the process.

Dean Lambert, Vice President-Corporate Communications with Homesteaders Life Company, joins Gabe to discuss "The Love Always Project". Its purpose is to encourage people to change their mindset and take a more positive and proactive approach to pre-planning and end-of-life discussions.