Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

In this episode, we look at SCI's new building strategy, Matthews International's memorialization beat, and Carriage's big acquisition plans. Also covered are the "secret" sale of Foundation Partners, a Reddit post about transgender funeral directors, and a political attack ad against a Texas Funeral Commission member. Click here for show notes.

In this episode, Scott Ginsberg and Josh Siegel share the origin story of Titan's direct-to-consumer model, and how a few listings on Amazon evolved into a national brand. From partnering with celebrities for the “Grave Conversations” web series to launching a casket mascot Ginsberg and Siegel explain how creativity and empathy go hand in hand when modernizing a historically change-resistant industry.

SCI earnings, SAFPA's first female president, a Texas scandal deepens, cemetery controversy, and more in this week's funeral industry news roundup. Click here for complete show notes.

This week's episode features a story about how a Montclair, NJ, a funeral home narrowly avoided being rezoned for future affordable housing, sparking community outcry and raising concerns about how cities value longstanding funeral businesses. In Texas, ongoing turmoil at the Funeral Service Commission including the dismissal of its executive director and a troubling case involving unclaimed remains highlights systemic regulatory failures. Commentary from a local mortuary school leader (minute 38 on the link) underscores staffing shortfalls and public trust issues. A Pennsylvania funeral home attempts to collect on a $3,200 unpaid funeral bill, prompting discussion around best practices for debt collection. The episode closes with details on newly expanded VA burial benefits available through Oct. 1, 2026, offering more support to veterans opting for end-of-life care at home. Host Tony Russo invites feedback from funeral professionals on collections, regulation, and community relations.   Click here for complete show notes.

Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez, President of the National Museum of Funeral History, shares her path from Army medic to museum leader. Through immersive exhibits and rare artifacts like the Shroud of Turin replica, she's transforming public understanding of death and the funeral profession.   Click here for complete show notes.

Funeral director Paddy Lynch shares how legacy, healing, and community drive his work, from Detroit restorations to grief care innovation. Click here for complete show notes.

In this week's episode we discuss peer support initiatives, outreach for professionals affected by Texas flooding (links and info below), a tariff surcharge, and drone scattering services. We also look at a crematory approval controversy in Maryland, and Tukios acquiring Batesville's funeral website services. Click here for complete show notes. 

Mel Bennett, founder of Life Forest, shares the emotional journey behind creating a conservation cemetery where burial records, legacy, and land preservation meet. Bennett discusses the importance of remembrance, accessibility, and community. 

This week on In Case You Missed It, we spotlight Nevada's first mortuary school, explore mental health in funeral service through a high-profile Idaho case, track leadership changes at NFDA, and examine the rise of terramation. Plus: Ghana's artistry in funerals, a young female trailblazer, and a cemetery sale saga in North Carolina. Click here for complete show notes.

This week we discuss green burial trends, funeral homes as real estate, and a $1 cemetery transformation. Plus, hear why now's the time for transparency in funeral service and say goodbye to Mongo, a beloved grief support cat who touched a Rhode Island community for 15 years. Click here for complete show notes.

Tiffaney Hill's journey from a small Jamaican town to a leadership role in Minnesota funeral service spans continents, cultures, and careers. Through persistence and passion, she overcame industry barriers, pursued formal education, and now advocates for innovation and inclusivity in funeral care. Click here for complete show notes.

This week, we cover NGL's restructuring, major acquisitions in the funeral tech space, shocking mishandling of remains, and the Chattanooga Death Collective. Get essential industry insights and stay informed on the evolving landscape. Click here for complete show notes.

Podcast Episode Description: In this week's episode we speak with Micah Truman, founder and CEO of Return Home, about the rise of terramation and what it means for the future of funeral service. Truman shares how the disposition has gone from a fringe concept to a legalized option in 13 states. He unpacks what it takes to build a terramation facility, how Return Home partners with funeral homes nationwide, and why families and funeral directors alike are embracing the process.  Truman also discusses the changing preneed demographic they've been seeing.

Click here for complete show notes.

In this episode we share some direct commentary about how one local funeral director feels about the corporate competition in his own town, and talk about some of the good things going on in our June editions, if you'd like to subscribe.  There's also a look at some futurist-type stuff including an impressive cemetery reimagining in Australia and a storefront death doula. We look at how some Vermont funeral homes are less ambivalent about water cremation than others and dig into an interesting funeral tech conversation on Reddit. Finally, we share some details on upcoming Kates-Boylston webinars and events. 

In this episode we speak with American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf about how cemeteries are embracing community engagement, creatively reusing space, and recycling transparency.  Click here for complete show notes.

Scholarships top $1 million, a Connecticut director faces discipline, and Oklahoma's funeral board may dissolve. Terramation expands to Georgia, and a cremation scandal documentary premieres June 1.

Brent Thorson of Terrybear Urns and Memorials discusses how cremation businesses can better position themselves in a competitive, evolving market. Thorson highlights a disconnect between a funeral home's reputation for service and their visibility as cremation providers. Emphasizing local relevance, Thorson aims to provide tools for firms to improve outreach, product presentation, and engagement. He underscores that cremation offers untapped potential for connection, service, and memorialization.

Writer and librarian Sharon Verbeten discusses her career covering funeral service and how her “Comfort Kids” project is helping children and families process grief. From grief libraries to story-driven writing, she champions open conversations about death and believes funeral homes play a key role in normalizing those discussions. Click here for complete show notes.

In this week's ICYMI: Matthews International has acquired The Dodge Company for $57 million, expanding its memorialization portfolio. SCI shares some interesting insights with Oppenheimer. In Texas, proposed changes to cremation regulations could slow services and raise costs. New digital obituary platforms are emerging, though concerns remain about pricing and long-term adoption. Finally, scrutiny over funeral home price transparency is growing, as local media spotlight those without online price disclosures. Click here for complete show notes.

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, disconnected tech tools can slow down operations, create inefficiencies, and hinder collaboration. This session explores the power of integrated technology solutions and how they create efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance customer experience. Learn how seamless tech integration eliminates silos, improves data accuracy, and supports business growth. Join us to discover the benefits of a connected tech ecosystem and how to implement it successfully. Click here to register and learn more. 

In this episode, we preview Kates-Boylston's upcoming virtual preneed event, featuring expert insights from Greg Norris and Spencer Larkin. Tony also recaps earnings from SCI, Carriage, and Matthews International, highlighting steady growth in at-need and memorialization revenues despite economic uncertainty.  Matthews also is preparing to finalize a major asset sale while expanding its energy business post-lawsuit.  Additional stories include the 100th anniversary of E.E. Pickle Funeral Home, neighborhood resistance to a Georgia crematory, and the launch of Eazewell, a tech platform backed by NBA stars to improve funeral planning access.  Click here for complete show notes.

Funeral director Alexandra Mosca shares her journey into funeral service and her concurrent career as a writer. Learn how these two worlds intersect and inform her unique perspective.

This week's episode highlights the new Kates-Boylston Compensation Report, a fire at one of New York's oldest funeral homes, an interesting legislative update on crematory temperatures in Oregon, and discuss the increasing trend of partnerships and venture capital investment in funeral tech. 

For Greg Norris, regional director for Homesteaders Life Company, the foundation of a successful preneed sales strategy isn't flashy marketing or an especially persuasive pitch; it's discipline.   Click here for complete show notes.        

This we we speak with Joél Maldonado, "The Grave Woman," and her path into multicultural death care. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds in death care. We also discuss Maldonado's connection to her Gullah-Geechee heritage and its influence on her work promoting culturally relevant death practices.

This episode covers inclusive funeral care with Joelle Maldonado, a grief support initiative from Bob DiPasquale, new NOR offerings at Goes Funeral Care, a cremation pricing spotlight in Florida, and breaking stories from Texas and Virginia. Plus, details on Kates-Boylston's upcoming Technology Think Tank. Tune in for insights, innovations, and important industry updates in funeral service.

Kevon McKay of Mid-States Recycling and Refining discusses the evolution of cremation metal recycling and the importance of education for crematory owners. McKay will present “Keys to a Successful Recycling Program for your Crematory” at the Kates-Boylston Cremation Innovations virtual event, beginning 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 20. Click here to register.

This week, we talk changing stereotypes, a pet crematory stepping up, Australia's cultural shift toward cremation, and controversial AI memorialization in Malaysia among other stories.   

In this episode, we speak with Ryan Reyes about how making connections can be a natural part of interpersonal interaction. 

Notes from this week's show.  New legislation making it easier for funeral directors to serve trans families regarding death certificates. Discussion of various awards relevant to the funeral service industry, including "Ones to Watch," Green Burial Council awards, and Funeral Service Foundation scholarships. Commentary on a funeral director's appearance on John Mulaney's talk show. Todd Bozell's appointment to the Selected Board and our 2024 feature on him.  NFDA Consumer Preference Study Wake Forest Law Podcast

QWendy Wiener of WRW Legal discusses the importance of double checking and shares some of her vision for the future of funeral service. 

Here's a quick rundown of the week's top stories. All should be well again soon as Poul Lemasters takes over the reins at Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science following Jack Lechner's resignation.  Bio-Response gets a boost from 3 Boomerang Capital's cash infusion.  A vertical cemetery in Australia can be seen as a one-upmanship in green burials. Parting Stone got this cool shoutout in the NY Post, but it also announced its 10,000th customer, which isn't quite a tipping point but still worth mentioning. Here's the (non)story about natural organic reduction not being legal in Louisiana on the heels of NOR passing the Georgia House. Click here for complete show notes.

Damon Wenig explains his view of funeral service as "high-stakes hospitality," highlighting the shift from traditional customer service to delivering an exceptional customer experience.

In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, we talk with Calvin Amato about his path into the funeral profession. Starting out in hospitality management, Calvin shares how growing up in a small town and spending time living in a funeral home during college sparked his interest in the field. Now certified as a cremation operator, death doula, and funeral celebrant, Calvin brings a fresh and compassionate approach to funeral service as he looks to complete his schooling. Click here for complete show notes.

These are the stories we mention in this episode: Pet Cremation Experience LinkedIn Industry Listing Wake Forest Law Review NOR as a Service Cemetery Software Webinar Memorial Day Preparations Mother's Day and Pregnancy Loss Memorialization Kate-Boylston Resources and Events Click here for complete show notes.

Stephanie Castagnier Dunn chief SBA revenue officer for Phoenix SBA a Community Bankshare Company talks about the state of the American small business economy, business loans for refinancing, real estate, and buy-outs, and strategies for structuring deals that benefit all parties while preserving business legacies.

Here are the stories we mention in this episode: Unclaimed Remains Catholic Church on Alkaline Hydrolysis Georgia NOR COVID Story Shepherd Memorial Auction Stephanie Peterson: Painful personal experience shaped ability to help with grief journey After a bad funeral, this Iowa woman became a funeral director to do better for others Covid quadrupled the number of bodies coming into my funeral home   Click here for the full show notes.

Mitch Smith explores the future of preneed funeral planning through the lens of shifting consumer expectations and digital transformation. Click here for complete show notes. 

Tanya Marsh talks about the findings in a recent academic survey into the transformation of funerary and disposition practices in the U.S. Discover insights from Marsh's survey on consumer interest in alternative burial methods and the implications of these trends for the future of funeral service. Click here for full show notes.

In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, we discuss the Succession Planning Roundtable, a preview of the next column from Steve Lang, and get updates on the continued push to legalize alkaline hydrolysis in Indiana. Mishandled remains in Illinois, and unclaimed remains sorted. A creative columbarium initiative in Nebraska and a Liberty Bell lost and found.   

88% of executives say consumers are changing faster than their businesses can keep up, making it more important than ever for funeral homes to stay relevant. In this session, you'll discover why reimagining the preneed journey will help you address two of the biggest challenges facing the profession today. Click here for more information.

 A.J. Orlikoff, Interim President of Historic Congressional Cemetery, discusses his role in promting cemeteries beyond burial spaces into community gathering and even leadning centers.

Greg Grabowski of Hospice Insights joins us to discuss new ways to engage with hospice and to work toward having funeral directors move further up the continuum of care chain.  Building a Comprehensive Hospice CRM: "We do lots of engagements throughout the course of the day. We download every little single idea that we have that have worked.”  The Role of Social Workers in Hospice Care: "One of the elements of a social worker is that you listen to what patients and families need, and you never put your own personal viewpoint on it."  Bridging the Gap in End-of-Life Care: "There's no reason why eventually funeral directors can't say, now that I've proved value, when you talk to families ... you might want to say, "This is a really great funeral home. They partner with us. They do great care." Click here for complete show notes.

Matthews International shareholders voted to keep the current board of directors, defeating Barrington Capital's attempt to change the company's direction. The U.S. Postal Service is updating its mailing requirements for cremated remains, mandating the use of USPS-provided shipping supplies for domestic and international shipments starting March 1. In Michigan, the Quakenushes won their lawsuit against Brooks Township, but new ordinances now block them from opening a conservation cemetery. Meanwhile, Washington State's Jefferson Land Trust is exploring the possibility of establishing a conservation burial ground to support its conservation efforts.   Click here for complete show notes.

Funeral director Kim Zavrotny, Funeral Professionals Peer Support Program Director (USA), discusses her work with that organization and looks to the future. 

In this episode we discuss takeaways from the latest earnings report from SCI and their strategies for pre-need sales growth, kick off what it likely to be a long conversation about outdated state funeral laws, highlight an iconic Black funeral director, and celebrate a heroic act by a Rhode Island funeral director.    Click here for complete show notes.

Madeline Lyles of After Life Mortuary Services talks about her program encouraging teend to go into mortuary science and her hope for funeral directors struggling with the stresses of the job. 

Tom Nondorf, editor of American Cemetery & Cremation joined us on “Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast” this week to discuss some of the stories and the magazine's continuing coverage of what cemeteries can be and how they can continue to thrive. The Future of Cemeteries: "Cemeteries are not anathema to cremation and there's a way in which they walk hand in hand through memorialization and that's a big part of the puzzle." Revitalizing Cemeteries through Creative Engagement: "You have to start with the visual, start with the visceral, start reaching out to people and letting them know you want to be something else." On Monument Maker Charles Minozzi: "He started when he was 13 years old. His dad … sent him to his uncle who was in the shop and said, “Your uncle's gonna find something for you to do." The Evolution of Memorialization: "The vessels, the different buildings you can build now to house cremated remains, aka ashes at, cemeteries. There's so much that can be built now, and there's a company called Global Bronze."

In this episode we explore the ongoing arbitration saga between Matthews and Tesla over the dry cell technology, alongside the intricate proxy fight involving Barington Capital. In addition, we shed light on a burgeoning scandal at Heaven Bound Cremation Service and discuss pivotal industry updates, including new roles on the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors. From the contrasting hearse stories in Cuba to a cemetery auction in North Carolina, we bring you the news shaping the future of the funeral service industry. Join us as we explore these stories and more, right here on Funeral Service Insider.

In this bonus episode, Manager of Funeral Revenue and Merchandising at Service Corporation International Lacyn Barton talks about how she found her place in fuenral service and ways she lives her passions.