The PodCasket

Steve has a new puppy joining the crew at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home to comfort families and eventually become a certified as a therapy dog. Deb asks Steve about the recent awards and honors that the funeral home has been a recipient of. 

A Dual Podcast! A Merger (not to be confused with 'murder' lol) with the 'Let's Talk About Death' podcast hosts Benny and Dr. Nick. Steve and Deb chat with these bearded identical twins.

Jane Tardo is an artist who owns a hearse that she has made into an entire art production. The funeral coach features a dynamic lighting design, a textile-based scene in it, and a cast of spooky monsters. Steve and Deb find out about the story behind Jane buying a hearse to begin with and her unique understanding of death.

The kind of obituary that jumps off the page and into your heart is what professional writer Petra Orlaff creates through her company Beloved. She has been writing personalized obituaries and eulogies for more than 25 years. Steve and Deb ask her all about the special art of obituary writing.

Starting Season 2 - as one of the only funeral home podcasts! Through a series of questions from a fanboy, Deb and Steve reveal their own final wishes in advance. Their prearrangements are deeply personal, but also highlighted in such a fun way! 

We find that families ask a lot of the same common questions when they meet with a funeral director. Steve and Deb debunk several common myths about photographs, death certificates, and cremation authorizations. 

A gift can be given even after a person passes away.  And that is the gift of life. Organ and tissue donation is explained by the Gift Of Life Senior Medical Examiner & Funeral Home Liaison Stephanie Sommer. 

Deb and Steve interview a mortician from the UK. Hayleigh is an embalmer who has one of the largest TikTok followings in the mortuary profession. She is best known on social media to debunk myths. Join us as we compare funerals in the US to that of the UK.

Deb's good friend from a previous job passed away. Deb took part in the Celebration of Life by shedding tears for her friend, singing the songs that they knew and remembering the good times with her pal, even some that she had nearly forgotten about. Steve helps shed some light on the grief that we all have to go through at times.

Steve and Deb are joined by Young Adult Author Helene Dunbar. Join them as they discuss the themes of grief, love, and ghosts in her books. Her book 'The Promise of Lost Things' is a recent novel that is out now!

Anthony Lamont is the owner of the world's only ice cream hearse. Join hosts Steve and Deb, along with The PodCasket voiceover guy Nik Havert, as they talk to the owner of Frozen Stiffs Ice Cream and hear about the preservation of old funeral coaches.

You know your life best; let's create a lasting legacy by planning your funeral in advance. Premier Preneed's Staci Blake joins Steve and Deb to talk about the benefits of early funeral planning. Plus, the three will be at a special event soon in-person and you're invited! 

The PodCasket TikTok page has something eerie and creepy on it! Find out what Deb discovered in the funeral home's nooks and crannies and Steve explains why they even have such a thing. 

It's time that we introduce you to Jim Meyer, CFSP MBIE CCO. Since 1986, Jim has worked in Niles and has served the community's funeral needs. Having been full-time in funeral service since 1976, Jim responds in the most capable and loving way to any grieving situation. He has a wealth of knowledge that this episode begins to unpack!

If death occurs 75 miles or more from your legal residence, what would you do? Sepio Guard's co-founder Bryce Beach and Regional Director Kevin Butler, explain how stress and burdens can be alleviated when a death happens at these unexpected places by including Sepio into your funeral prearrangements. It's assurance away from home.

Do you know somebody who has a tattoo in memory of a loved one who passed? Owner of the Body Art Gallery Haley Korpal shares about her experiences in the tattoo industry following the death of a loved one. Steve and Deb discuss the different image possibilities to be ink'd.

Markers, Headstones, Monuments, and Gravestones have been in cemeteries for centuries. They can be made of several types of rock, but granite is what Patten Monument Company's Alex Fortosis explains in terms of quarrying and engraving, as well the main types of markers that can be selected to memorialize a loved one.

The burial of Jesus as found in the Gospel of John 19:38-42 is a Jewish funeral passage. Lead Pastor of Redeemer Church and author of multiple Christian books, Brian Hedges expands on this scripture, the historical facts, and shares hopeful message of the Gospel.

It is Friday, the 13th. Deb and Steve talk to YouTube Horror Host Nik Havert about movies that have Mortuaries, Morticians and Monsters. He covers the history of horror movies throughout the decades and the portrayals of funerals in them.  Together, they talk about the elements surrounding death in creepy shows.

Steve has invited one of his best friends from high school to share about how we can handle grief in adolescents and how important mental health is of kids who have lost parents and loved ones.

Nobody is talking about the 2020 Quarantine anymore, so Steve and Deb reminisce about the days where Steve lived at the funeral home. Google darkened the doors of the funeral home and so should you. Come with your questions.

Deb had a near-death experience recently. She shares the horrendous story of how her life flashed before her eyes. Steve answers a question about death occurring away from home and explains the steps that it takes to have them back for a proper burial, funeral, or memorial.

The Michigan Funeral Directors Association is a private professional association representing approximately 85 percent of all funeral homes in Michigan. They seek to enhance the value of funeral service  - and it's been around since the 1800's. Executive Director Phil Douma shares the relevancy of MFDA to both the public and to its member funeral homes.

Actor and writer Daniel Roebuck gives the low down on his movie Getting Grace as well as other movies that he has written and starred in. Learn about how he portrayed a funeral director and what filming inside of a funeral home was like. Many jokes and quirky side tangents are featured during the chat as well. 

You can speak for yourself should an emergency occur, by designating a Patient Advocate, Power of Attorney. Julie Griffin, Advance Care Planning Coordinator with Spectrum Health Lakeland is the guest. This episode ends with a quick casket closing tutorial with Steve and Deb, as seen on TikTok!

Steve and Deb are celebrating National Funeral Directors Day by talking about things that have been invented by funeral directors. Jennifer Kedik from Brentwood at Niles drops in with information about Memory Care for our loved ones diagnosed with Dementia. 

Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home has a comfort dog named Osita. Steve shares about her sentimental start as his pet and as the dog of comfort to many.  Plus, learn about the licenses and that Deb, Steve, and Jim have to serve your family with a high standard of professional funeral service.

Losing a loved one is never easy.  Lory's Place exists to provide hope and guidance to adults and children during their time of grieving.  Director Stephanie Kohler Pagen explains the process of grief healing and what Lory's Place has to offer. 

As the flame of the Olympic torch fades, so does the nerdy knowledge in Steve's head. If you want to be cremated after you die, there are many ways in which your loved ones can honor your life before the cremation takes place. Explore a couple of those options in this episode. 

When meeting with families, Steve and Deb have noticed how people often get tripped up over a small but significant service item...the stationery! Find out what the standard stationery supplies for funerals are, how they have slowly changed throughout the years and stationery in the digital age. 

How did Steve find out that he wanted to be a funeral director? And what did Deb do before working at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home? Get to know your hosts, find out about the TikTok page, and how graves are warmed in frosty weather.