The Funeralcast

More people are blistering at the idea of AI usage, especially when it comes to memorializing someone they lost. The co-founders of Liminal Touch, offer what they believe is an ethical usage of AI for digital memorialization.   Rate and review the podcast, even if you don't like it! Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Check out Liminal Touch here. Follow Ben @thefuneralcast Follow Frigid Fluid...

Promession is a little known method of disposition developed in Sweden. Ben is joined by Peter Masak, husband of the founder of Promessa to explain the method. Be sure to rate and review the show! Email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow @thefuneralcast Promessa video links mentioned in the show Promessa- How it works https://www.facebook.com/teletrece/videos/1050440205037543/ https://www.face...

On this episode, I am joined by Frigid President and CEO to discuss current and upcoming episodes, say goodbye to two funeral service giants, and ask Brian an "Is it Real?" question.

Scattering cremated remains from an airplane is not new, but Patrick Kane and Andrew Czachor have created a new level of diginity and accountability for the process backed by the tech team at Answering Service for Directors, Be sure to rate and review the show! Email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow Ben @thefuneralcast Follow @cremationairofficial Learn more about the process of how Crematio...

This year marks 150 years since Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne cremated Baron De Palm in Washington, PA. It has come a long way since then to become the number one form of disposition. Barbara Kemmis, the executive director of The Cremation Association of North America joins Ben to talk about the four eras of cremation history and where it may be going. Be sure to rate and review the show. Watch for n...

Think I missed something? Email me at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com.

When Effie's dad died in 2018, she had no idea what to do other than Google "how to plan a funeral." Her journey led her to start Afterword a company that has now expanded into AI assisted funeral arrangements that earned them the 2025 National Funeral Directors Association Innovation Award. Schedule a demo of Grace AI Email me bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow @thefuneralcast Follow @...

Did you know there is an Uber-style app for headstone restornation and repair? Us either! Ben interviews Artem Manilov founder of the the Tending app that families can use to fix up their distant headstones, and others can pick up some gig work! Be sure to rate and review the show! Email me with your comments!  Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com   Register for The Fluid Forum Find the Tending app

On this episode; a preview of current and upcoming Funeralcast interviews, hot takes on celebrity death doulas and the future of mortuary schools plus find out where the Frigid Fleet will be in May. Email me your thoughts bschmidt@frigidfluid.com

Hearses are a signature symbol of funeral service. Ben is joined by the Mazzarella Family to discuss the birth and evolution of the hearse in Ohio, also known as "The Cradle of Coaches." Please rate and review the show! Email me with your comments!  Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com    Visit American Coach Sales Website Watch American Coach Sales on YouTube Shop our selection of embalming fluids...

In this first epidsode of The Funeralcast Fastcast, we spotlight a powerful conversation on the history of Black funeral directing with Professor Edwin Jackson, explore what Ohio’s “Cradle of Coaches” means with the Mazzarella family, and break down one of the biggest conversations in mortuary education right now — the transition of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science into Xavier University. Pl...

Edwin Jackson is a licensed funeral director and professor who has been working to better all of our understanding of the contribution that African American funeral directors have made to funeral service history. Listen to Edwin share their incredible stories. Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow @thefuneralcast Visit the Multicultural Death and Grief Care Academy Edwin's reccomended read...

Ever wonder how someone becomes Funeral Director of the Year? Us too! Ben sits down with Sam James, owner of James Funeral Home in Huntersville, NC who also happens to be American Funeral Director’s Funeral Director of the Year 2025.  Please rate and review the show! Email me with your questions bschmidt@frigidfluid.comFollow Ben @thefuneralcast   Visit James Funeral Home’s Website    Follow James...

Modern mummification is very rare but very possible. The members of the Summum religious philosophy have a plan and procedure in place for members of their group who have already signed up for it. Ben talks with two licensed funeral directors, Bernie Aua and Ron Temu who have been members of of Summum since its beginnings.  Please remember to rate and review the show! Email me with your questions...

You are probably familiar with the Five Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance (DABDA) because they are so incepted into our culture, but is it accurate? Ben is Joined by Dr. Jason Troyer, a counselor, professor, and well respected public speaker in funeral service joins Ben to dissect DABDA and offer alternatives.  Please rate and review the show! Email me with your co...

There are lots of strong opinions about mortuary school curriculums, many of which are based on misunderstanding or misinterpetations of what actually goes on in the creation of curriculums. Jzyk Ennis has served as the President of the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) and is the current Chair of the ABFSE Curriculum Committee.    Want to comment on curriculum! Go here to learn...

The fun continues with more Instagram funeral meme pages! In part two of the series we have @funeral.memes, @the_funeral_channel and @jerryspringerfuneralhome to give us some insight into how they use memes to entertain and cope with stress. Please rate and review this show! Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow Ben @thefuneralcast Follow Frigid @frigidfluid Follow @funeral.memes Follow @the_f...

Funeral service can be fun, and some of the best ways to have fun on the Internet is with memes! In part one of this two part series, I have two of Instagram’s favorite funeral meme pages; @thefunerallife and @opencasketculture! If you have ever wondered what these two were like in real life, here’s your chance to find out!   Please rate and review this show! Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Fol...

2025 was the best year for The Funeralcast so far. We tackled tough subjects like suicide and the mental health of funeral directors, got well informed on topics like alkaline hydrolysis, how to place unclaimed created remains, and the Dover Port Mortuary Affairs. We had the first podcast episode approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice for credit. Most importantly, we hear...

Walker Posey is a fourth-generation funeral director but as the owner of Posey Funeral Directors, he doesn’t take his long-standing relationship with the community for granted and is always looking for new ways to engage them. Pleas rate and review The Funeralcast wherever you listen! Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow Ben @thefuneralcast Visit Posey Funeral Directors Get your holiday gifts...

This year, Ben asked every at one at The National Funeral Directors Association's Convention and Expo "what would you do if NFDA gave you a free booth?" Enjoy their answers, and if you'd like to share what you would do with your booth, you can email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com.

Please rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts!  Lisa Baue is a former CEO and funeral home owner who through a series of lief events detailed in her book Wake Up Calls: A Journey of Learning to Lead and Succeed in the Funeral and Deathcare Profession has recognized the value of leadership in organizations. She seeks to move funeral service forward as the Founder/CEO of Funeral Wo...

The barber surgeons were an interesting chapter in medical and funeral history. The idea of surgeons who learned the job instead of going to school nowadays is unheard of in today's culture, but their legacy still lives on...   Todd Harra is an accomplished author, funeral director and calendar model. Find his books here  https://www.toddharra.com/new-page   Be sure to rate and review this show wh...

End- of –Life Doulas (aka Death Doulas) are a growing group in end-of-life care. Ashley Johnson is the President of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance and the founder of Loyal Hands an end-of –life doula consultancy. She joins Ben to explain the role of end-of-life doulas and how they can work to the funeral home’s advantage.   Please rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts F...

Prion diseases and how to handle people’s deceased loved ones who have them is a difficult and misunderstood topic in funeral service and in medicine in general. Aaron Koethe and Danielle Jordan are both part of the team at the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center (The Prion Center), who work with patients afflicted with prion diseases and their families as well as funeral homes na...