Life and Times of Todd Van Beck

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Subscribe to Todd Van Beck's Life and Times podcast and listen to him as he takes you through the journey of his life and career. You will hear his first-hand account from his humble upbringing, his five decades in funeral service to meeting and writing a

Todd Van Beck


    • Mar 3, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 24m AVG DURATION
    • 26 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Life and Times of Todd Van Beck

    Bomb Threats to Peppermint Candies – Management In Memphis and then to John A. Gupton College in Nashville – 26

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 27:27


    In this episode, Todd remembers his move to - and challenges at - Forest Hill in Memphis, TN and fondly recalls the Community Memorial Service for Sandy Hook victims. From there he talks about the one phone that took him to Nashville to once again educate the next generation of funeral professionals.

    South to Houston’s Commonwealth Institute and then to A.S Turner in Decatur, GA and his friendship with Ralph – 25

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 25:49


    In this episode, Todd shares his travel to Texas to run the Commonwealth Institute and then speaks fondly about his time on Decatur at Turners and his friendship with Ralph Turner.

    Back To Boston, The New England Institute & Carol Wogrin – 24

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 24:51


    In this episode, after resigning from the Loewen Group, the opportunity came up for Todd to go back to Boston. Todd explains the story behind the New England Institute at Mount Ida College and fondly recalls his friendship with Carol Wogrin.

    The Loewen Lawsuit & The Real Cause of the Collapse of the Loewen Group – 23

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 23:20


    In this episode, Todd recalls the events leading up to the Loewen lawsuit, the lawsuit itself, and the aftermath. Plus Todd shares what he feels was the real cause of the collapse of the Loewen Group.

    Loewen Personalities: Loewen, Hogenkamp, Amato, Rollings and Welshons – 22

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 17:27


    In this episode, as Todd continues to fulfil his experiences at the Loewen Group, he offers some insight into some of the personalities that he interacted without for almost a decade: Ray L. Loewen, Tim Hogenkamp, George Amato, Greg Rollings and John Welshons

    Becoming An International Educator – 21

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 39:13


    In this episode, Todd recollects on the creation of the Funeral Home Management College in the ICCFA University (formerly the ACA - American Cemetery Association), his presentations nationally and throughout Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Europe plus getting articles published in major trade publications - probably all to the dismay of his teachers in Iowa.

    International Travel, Canada from Coast to Coast, & Harry C. B. Rath – 20

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 15:58


    In this episode, Todd details his introduction to Canadian funeral directors from coast to coast and in particular his special bond and friendship with Harry Rath.

    1992 – Starting with the Loewen Group – 19

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 30:00


    In this episode, Todd recalls his initial involvement with the Loewen Group as it grew its footprint in the US. This association gave Todd the opportunity to meet funeral directors across the country and the opportunity to share his knowledge throughout the funeral profession.

    Back to Cincinnati with Trust 100 – 18

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 23:56


    In this episode, Todd reflects on his time with Trust 100 and the marketing lessons that he learned. As the tide turned for Trust 100, being in Cincinnati, he was in the perfect location to be approached by the ever-expanding Loewen Group.

    From Cincinnati to Upstate New York and Back – 17

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 14:29


    In this episode, Todd explains his decision to leave Cincinnati and move to upstate New York, and Hudson Valley Community College. From there he shares another failed ownership opportunity with Simmons Institute of Funeral Service in Syracuse and why he eventually headed back to Cincinnati.

    How the Cincinnati Students Helped Me – 16

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 10:53


    In this episode, Todd tells how the Cincinnati students assisted with babysitting while Todd attended Seminary in the evenings - and the mutual benefits for both Todd and the students.

    Being a Single Parent and a New Educator in Cincinnati – 15

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 24:30


    In this episode, Todd shares his trials of being a single parent and being a new classroom educator. He also explains why he chose Seminary to earn his Masters and why the title "Reverend" doesn't appear in front of his name.

    Choosing Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science – Less Money & More Blessings – 14

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 18:22


    In this episode, Todd shares how the choice of moving to Cincinnati gave him and his son a solid foundation to establish their roots and how David FitzSimmons and Todd Milner assisted them greatly.

    John B. Turner & Son Mortuary, Cedar Rapids, Iowa – 13

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 22:13


    In this episode, Todd professes how "The System" allowed Turner's to serve 60% of the calls in Cedar Rapids and the benefits of funeral service being a "Ministry on Demand" (but a problem for a single father).

    The Foundation of Thanatology – 12

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 24:36


    In this episode, Todd shares Dr. Jackson's premise of being a Funeral Counsellor instead of a Funeral Director. Plus he talks about the Foundation of Thanatology, his first article to be published and meeting John B. Turner.

    How To Be An Unsuccessful Funeral Home Owner by TVB – 11

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 27:42


    In this episode, Todd explains how his arrogance got in the way of being a successful funeral home owner. If you own a funeral home, don't do what Todd did.

    From Graduation in Boston to Deputy Coroner in Wyoming to Funeral Home Owner in Iowa – 10

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 33:42


    In this episode, Todd takes us on the journey from his graduation, to attending his first NFDA Convention and meeting his next employers from a funeral home in Wyoming and finishes with the opportunity to purchase his own funeral home in Iowa.

    Unbelievable Stories from the Ambulance Service – 09

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 30:48


    In this episode, Todd eerily ponders the happenings of two ambulance calls that left him speechless.

    The Rev. Dr. Edgar N. Jackson – One Person Can Change Your Life – 08

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 27:58


    In this episode, Todd fondly remembers his introduction to, getting to know and his friendship with Dr. Jackson. Todd also recalls the confrontation with Jackson that forever changed the course of Todd's life.

    The Style & Kindness of Alfred B. Marsh – 07

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 18:38


    In this episode, Todd relives the friendship and mentorship of a competing funeral director, Alfred B. Marsh while in New England - from Todd's assistance being rejected by the church ladies to Mr. Marsh passing on one family's appreciation to Todd for his restorative artistry.

    Going to Mortuary College at the New England Institute – 06

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 22:57


    In this episode, Todd tells the story of how getting rejected from one mortuary college led him to the New England Institute of Mortuary Science which introduced him to one of the most important people in his life. Plus, hear about his dad's initial thoughts on receiving notification that Todd made the Dean's List.

    Ambulance Services operated by Funeral Homes – 05

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 29:20


    In this episode, Todd explains the commonplace of ambulance services operated by funeral homes. He debunks the myth of the "conflict of interest" skepticism held by the "funeral illiterate" plus as usual Todd shares some specific stories of this time of his career.

    Poor Grades, Science Fair Winner & Heafeys – 04

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 23:27


    In this episode, Todd remembers the dire outlook that his school counsellor had for his career, going to the state capitol as the winner of the school science fair about embalming and to the shock of his parents, landing a job at Heafey and Heafey in Omaha.

    The Funeral Home Pest – 03

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 27:25


    In this episode, Todd explains his motive for joining the glee club and explains the funeral home shuffle.

    A Funeral Home, a Firehall and a Casino – 02

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 17:00


    In this episode, Todd explains why he was the most popular kid in town and shares the lesson about the transaction for his grandfather's funeral.

    Beginnings in Iowa – 01

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 25:04


    In this episode, Todd recalls his memories of his mother, grandmother and Mrs. Norton's funeral.

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