A Brush with Death

We live in an era of peak accumulation, and families are inheriting more than just memories—they are inheriting mountains of unwanted belongings. This "clutter crisis" is adding unprecedented logistical stress to the grieving process, leaving families exhausted before they even reach the arrangement room. How can funeral professionals help bridge the gap between grief and garbage? In this episode...

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 segment, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Darren Crouch, President of Passages International. Darren provides a concise overview of what Passages International is all about and their mission to lead the funeral profes...

When a family walks through your doors, are they getting a five-star experience, or are they just another transaction? Consumer demands in death care are shifting rapidly—families don't just want products anymore; they want genuine hospitality, ethical options, and a truly meaningful experience. In this episode of A Brush with Death , host Gabe Schauf sits down with Darren Crouch, President of Pas...

Is the funeral profession actually facing a labor shortage, or is it facing a reality check? Despite mortuary school enrollments increasing by over 22%, funeral homes nationwide are constantly struggling to keep staff. On this episode of A Brush with Death, Gabe Schauf sits down with educator and funeral director Dr. Lucia Dickinson to explore the structural misalignments driving the retention cri...

Katey Houston is not your traditional funeral director, and that is a big part of why she was named the 2025 Inspiration Award Winner. In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with the Director of Family Care at Return Home to hear her journey into the funeral profession, discuss her work in Natural Organic Reduction (Terramation), and explore why authenticity matters. Katey explains how her un...

40 years ago this month, Christine Pepper walked through the doors of the National Funeral Directors Association for the first time. The profession she entered then looked vastly different from the one we know today. In this episode, Gabe Schauf sits down with the NFDA CEO to mark this significant milestone and look beyond the resume. Christine reflects on her four-decade journey, discussing how s...

In this episode, host  Gabe Schauf is joined by Derrick Husmann and Jake Johnson of Johnson Consulting Group , for part two of the "Funeral Rescue" series. Together, they walk through the Four Pillars of Funeral Home Success — the framework Jake and Derrick use when helping firms regain stability and rebuild momentum. The discussion looks at each pillar through a practical lens, examining how lead...

In this episode of A Brush with Death , host Gabe Schauf sits down with Derrick Husmann, Senior Business Consultant with Johnson Consulting Group, to talk about struggling funeral homes — and what it takes to turn them around. From poor financial management and outdated facilities to toxic workplace cultures and weak leadership, Derrick and Gabe explore the common challenges that can cause funeral...

The lights are dim, the air's a little colder, and A Brush with Death is back with Spooky Mortuary Stories: Part 2. Host Gabe Schauf sits down with Amanda King, Faith Haug, Jennifer Heiselman, and Kari Northey to share real stories of strange encounters and things that can't quite be explained. From ghostly figures and children who see what others can't, to laughter and other sounds coming from em...

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf  sits down with four funeral home owners from across the country to explore how they recruit and retain the right people. Each guest shares their unique approach to finding employees who fit their culture, developing them into long-term team members, and building a workplace where people want to stay.  Guests in this episode include: Chris Christian - Owner of Chr...

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 segment, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by Kevin Czachor, Vice President of ASD.   Kevin reflects on his own brush with death, the value of life, and the importance of what we do in the funeral profession.   Then, Gab...

The International Convention and Expo is taking place in Chicago, October 26–29. To help you get ready for the big event, we've prepared three convention preview episodes. In these episodes, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Innovation Award Finalists, Workshop Presenters, and, of course, the Keynote Speakers. In this final preview episode, we hear from our keynote speakers. At every convention, atten...

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, sits down with Welton Hong, founder and CEO of Ring Ring Marketing.   Welton and Gabe discuss AI's effect on search engines as well as a few things you can do to keep your website SEO wo...

The International Convention and Expo is taking place in Chicago October 26th to the 29th. To get ready for the big event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you. 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 some of our workshop speakers. There...

The International Convention and Expo is taking place in Chicago October 26th to the 29th. To get ready for the big event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you. 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 N...

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 sits down with Venroy Joseph, CEO of veJov Brands Corporation. Venroy shares veJov Life's unique memorial packages designed for funeral homes and how their innovative approach helps famili...

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf chats with 5 funeral professionals from around the country to share practical tips and techniques for elevating how to care for families and improve customer service at your funeral home.   These are easy, cost-effective, things you can do to make a big difference right away Guests in this episode include: -               Preston McKee – President of Morris-Baker...

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with Eileen Hollis, a licensed funeral director at Hollis Funeral Home in Syracuse, New York, and a prominent social media influencer. Eileen shares her story and experiences behind building a successful online following by openly discussing the funeral profession and demystifying death. The two explore the unique responsibilities of a funeral director e...

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf speaks with Greg Grabowski, author of "Engaging in the Heart of Hospice" and President of Serviam Hospice.  Their conversation centers on the vital connection between funeral directors and hospice organizations and how a stronger partnership leads to more comprehensive care for grieving families. This episode is sponsored by Funeral Women Lead.  Learn more at http...

Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and welcome to the funeral service profession! In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with recent graduates Natasha Jules, William Trotman, Trinity Cornelius, and Cameron Smith. They share what inspired them to pursue funeral service, the lessons they've learned through their schooling and apprentice experiences, and what lies ahead as they begin their car...

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 prop...

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 director...

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 FI...

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 t...

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 Her...