Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

Licensed funeral director Mandy Stafford discusses her shift from casketed ground burials to ecological options and her new role with Return Home. Click here for complete show notes.  https://www.kates-boylston.com/beyond-the-casket-why-one-funeral-director-switched-to-human-composting/article_772882af-6649-4820-81da-03aa2af5aba9.html

Bathroom discrimination, NOR in Brooklyn, a pro-green disposition doc, and more in this week's episode.  Click here for complete show notes. 

This week we consider Ontario's unclaimed remains, Medicaid funeral spending, human composting in Maine/Utah, and Oklahoma's casket sales lawsuit. Click here for complete show notes.

Rick Dilts of Dakota Granite discusses the "Mausolarium," the 60% cremation rate, and how cemeteries can simplify the private mausoleum sales process. Click here for complete show notes: https://www.kates-boylston.com/engineering-eternity-rick-dilts-on-modern-design-in-stone-memorials/article_3f6822cc-6fa4-44ff-88a5-3a705a37c562.html

INELDA's Douglas Simpson explains how end-of-life doulas provide emotional support and fill gaps in the traditional hospice and funeral systems. Click here for complete show notes: https://www.kates-boylston.com/douglas-simpson-on-mentorship-and-the-future-of-death-doulas/article_5e9f7e9b-e46f-4cb4-a26e-135333c8ac85.html

In this episode of In Case You Missed It, we look at legal and regulatory shifts within the funeral and pet cremation industries. The program highlights the upcoming fraud trial of a pet memorial owner, the closure of a Nova Scotia pet crematory, and a bipartisan effort in Congress to protect veterans' burial benefits. Additionally, the episode covers New Hampshire's legislative push to become the 14th state to legalize natural organic reduction.

Learn how low-maintenance grass with 8-foot roots can save cemeteries and homes up to 100% on mowing and water bills while remaining 100% organic . Click here for complete show notes.

Executive shifts at Carriage, funeral home heroism in Georgia, political drama in Tennessee, the struggle for new crematories, and more.    Click here for complete show notes. 

Explore how trees transform cemeteries into peaceful community assets with Marilyn Brandt, focusing on professional assessments and smart maintenance. Click here for complete show notes.   

Green Farewells owner Alexis McCurdy explains how her startup uses AI and water cremation to modernize the funeral industry while prioritizing empathy.      

This week we discuss the Matthews-Barrington settlement, a Virginia cemetery dispute, Delaware's religious burial ruling, and Indiana funeral home news. Click here for complete show notes. 

Tim Kolasa discusses navigating the "cremation reality" and explains how cemeteries can reduce risk through phased inventory and land evaluation. Click here for complete show notes.

Colorado's new licensing rules, Utah's NOR bill, Matthews International moves, green burial in Wisconsin, and more.  Click here for complete show notes.

The International Association of Pet Cemeteries Crematories reports record growth in pet aftercare. Discover trends in private cremation, the rise of alkaline hydrolysis, and new memorial technologies.

American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf joins Funeral Service Insider editor Tony Russo for part two of this annual review of the top trends from 2025.

Fresh off his American Funeral Director Funeral Director of the Year win, Sam James shares the extraordinary journey of his career.  Click here for complete show notes.

American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf joins Funeral Service Insider editor Tony Russo to discuss some of the top trends from 2025.

Oversight failures, storage disputes, cemetery backlash, and rising interest in green burial highlight a turbulent week in funeral service industry news.

Author and cemetery historian Tui Snider explores global burial grounds, grief, Decoration Day traditions, and the stories that make every cemetery unique.

Houston funeral home raid, Titan Casket promos, EPA formaldehyde updates, and declining Catholic funerals highlight this week's key death-care news. Click here for complete show notes.    

Brie Bingham shares insights on CANA's growth, cremation's evolution, and the profession's future as the 150th anniversary of modern cremation approaches. Click here for complete show notes.

Chptr founder Rehan Choudhry on transforming obituary distribution through AI-supported video, TV partnerships, and a more accessible model for funeral homes.

Educators from PIMS on preparing funeral directors for the digital era: ethics, applicant screening, restorative art training, and social media advocacy. Click here for complete show notes. 

Leadership news, green burial approval, industry donations, and environmental research highlight key developments this week. Click here for complete show notes.

A look at expanding mortuary education, SCI updates, cemetery capacity issues, green burial projects, and a rezoning fight over a proposed crematory. Click here for complete show notes. 

Evergreen Washelli's Scott Sheehan shares how long-term planning, history, and community engagement helped earn the cemetery national recognition.

The Final Salute founder Lanae Stovers shares her unexpected journey into funeral service and how it ignited her mission to honor forgotten veterans. Click here for complete show notes. 

From preneed innovation to green burials and courtroom drama, this week's death-care roundup captures growth, recognition, and reform. Click here for complete show notes.

Award-winning Green Springs Cemetery creates zones for grief, including the "Wind Phone." A new model for conservation and community solace.  Click here for complete show notes.

A look at key funeral industry updates including lawsuits, earnings, cremation debates, and consolidation trends shaping the profession's future. Click here for complete show notes.   

Expert Tim Cermak explains the vital role of refractory materials in cremation. Learn how thermal shock, throughput, and maintenance impact equipment life and safety. Click here for complete shownotes.  

For over a decade, Army veteran Desarey Wilson has fought the Texas Funeral Service Commission to get his professional license, arguing his extensive military experience is "substantially equivalent" to formal schooling.  After a brief approval and subsequent revocation, his license was designated "null and void," forcing him into a costly, ongoing legal and bureaucratic battle against the very laws designed to help veterans.

This week's show covers Batesville selling its MIS software business to Plotbox and a preview of upcoming Q3 earnings coverage of Carriage, SCI, and Matthews. We discuss a lawsuit against Forest Lawn over a $20,000 funeral and debate proper compensation for mistakes. Also: a story on a Texas funeral director's dispute, a mention of Jon Lafrandt's new newsletter, and a look at Colorado's regulatory team.

Funeral Service Insider highlights outreach, recycling for good, and inclusive care—showing how funeral professionals are redefining their role in a changing industry. Click here for complete show notes.

Discover how Garfield is helping crematories adopt eco-friendly recycling practices that protect the planet and fund community giving programs. Click here for complete show notes.

American Cemetery & Cremation editor, Tom Nondorf, brings us up to date on cemetery news and trends. Click here for complete show notes.

Funeral industry updates include Texas legal rulings, a new Before I Die Festival, and growing collaboration in end-of-life care. Click here for complete show notes.  

From Tesla lawsuits to alkaline hydrolysis, this week's episode explores legal, financial, and educational shifts in the funeral service industry. Click here for complete show notes.

Jess Wakefield shares her journey from working night shifts in a nursing home to becoming a funeral director, corporate leader, and innovator at Better Place Forests and EverIs. In this candid conversation, she reflects on the pros and cons of corporate vs. family-owned funeral homes, the shift toward digital cremation planning, and her vision for a more seamless end-of-life experience that bridges hospice, doulas, funeral care, and grief support. With insights from her manifesto on reimagining funeral service, Wakefield brings fresh perspective to an industry facing profound cultural and technological change.  Click here for complete show notes.

South Carolina blocks a fraudster's funeral home sale. Industry debates: community cemeteries, service fees, and Amarillo's transport contract. Click here for complete show notes.

Green burials blocked, Texas scandal deepens, Carriage expands, NJ legalizes terramation, Vegas mishandling case, and social media tips for funeral pros. Click here for complete show notes.

A new innovation from Federal Eagle aims to help funeral homes grow revenue and better serve grieving families in the evolving cremation market. Click here for complete show notes.

Starmark plans a major national expansion under new CCO Michael Jewart, boosting service centers and hands-on support to transform funeral industry operations. Click here for complete show notes.

A week of shake-ups: canceled deals, new programs, shuttered services, legal battles, and scandal shaking the funeral service world. Click here for show notes.

Matt Van Drimmelen will present “Getting ROI Out of Aftercare at Your Funeral Home: Turning Compassion into Long-Term Value” at the Kates-Boylston Advances in Funeral Innovations Conference Nov. 12 in Detroit. Visit www.events.kates-boylston.com for more details.  Click here for complete show notes.

Click here for complete show notes.

Scott Jensen breaks down how funeral homes can harness AI and SEO shifts to boost visibility, streamline marketing, and better serve families. Click here for complete show notes.

Alanna Navin details her experience at ICCFA University, from cemetery management courses to lessons she applies in her role at Restland Funeral Home. Click here for complete show notes.

Click here for complete show notes.

In this week's episode, we have Tukios' acquisition of Batesville's website business, Tribute Tech's partnership with Chptr, a new mobile and desktop software platform from Inman, Matthews International announces a succession, and Illinois' passes a cemetery bill. Meanwhile, controversy continues in Texas, a strange, unfortunate lawsuit is filed in Vermont, and Tony Russo unboxes a care package from Life Forest. 

Vice President of Sales Optimization Homesteaders Life Company, Cole Waybright discusses the importance of a strategic approach to tech adoption. Discover his insights on avoiding common pitfalls, improving productivity by up to 25%, and reducing errors by 50% with an integrated system. Learn how to ask the right questions before your next technology purchase to ensure a seamless and efficient workflow. Click here for more information and to register.