Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

In this episode, I chatted with Edwin Jackson, Assistant Professor of Mortuary Science,  PhD Candidate,  Death Care Professional, Death Equity Advocate, and new arrival at the Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy. We discussed cultural competency and the importance of learning to care for the various races and ethnicities that you may be called upon to serve. Resources and ideas were exchanged...

In this Bonus episode, Momentum speaker Wanda Sizemore describes how having the right mentors fueled her success. She also explains how she kept her spread-out team connected, no matter where they each were. This conversation offers listeners words of wisdom and a preview of the upcoming Momentum: A Women's Leadership Accelerator event experience.  Momentum: A Women's Leadership Accelerator

CEO and Eternal Fan founder Matt Linn explains what exactly this progressive offering is and how it can extend a family's memorialization options into new territory. During our conversation, the value of creating experience and innovative positioning is described, and an explanation of this incredible new way for you to serve your client families is revealed.  Learn more about Eternal Fan

Executive-level learning meets Florida-level fun! Meet Danielle and gain insights into what to expect from the upcoming Momentum 2026 event.  For more information, please visit: Momentum 2026   Homesteaders Event Announcement

On April 10, Dale Cameron took on the role of Business Development Manager with Doric Products. A seasoned funeral service professional, Dale brings a wealth of knowledge to his position with Doric. Join us as we discuss the future of outer burial containers, what options may be best for a greener approach, and how Doric intends to stay sustainable in a growing cremation market. Doric Products    

In the first of a two-part episode, we meet Kevin Smith, the chief of the Mortuary Affairs Division, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Port Mortuary. He shared his background and insight into how the Dover Port Mortuary operates as well as a few key processes (dignified transfers, wrap techniques based on viewability, and tailoring plastic garments for a fitted look). There are many s...

From being the face of Return Home to her new role with Parting Stone, Katey brings us up to speed on where she is now. From candid conversations about mental health to sharing her feelings about her presence in "The Life We Leave", we talked about it all. Curious about the Parting Stone process? We covered that too. This is a great interview, well worth your time. *Thank you to our episode sponso...

In this episode, Kari and I discuss her content, her career, her crush, and her latest role with The Champion Company. I also reveal how to become known as an Expert Embalmer. Watch or listen- Enjoy! Kari (Northey) Ickes has been a licensed funeral director for two decades and has worked in the funeral business for over three decades. She has freelanced at multiple funeral home locations along wit...

Melissa Schmidt, managing funeral director of New York's Oyster Bay Funeral Home and established social media content creator, explains the new AI platform, Impart. She was instrumental in its creation and describes how Impart can be a much-needed tool for funeral service practitioners everywhere. Additionally, Melissa describes how she balances living life while being on call, her views on funera...

Licensed funeral director Mandy Stafford discusses her shift from casketed ground burials to ecological options and her new role with Return Home. Click here for complete show notes.  https://www.kates-boylston.com/beyond-the-casket-why-one-funeral-director-switched-to-human-composting/article_772882af-6649-4820-81da-03aa2af5aba9.html

Bathroom discrimination, NOR in Brooklyn, a pro-green disposition doc, and more in this week's episode.  Click here for complete show notes. 

This week we consider Ontario's unclaimed remains, Medicaid funeral spending, human composting in Maine/Utah, and Oklahoma's casket sales lawsuit. Click here for complete show notes.

Rick Dilts of Dakota Granite discusses the "Mausolarium," the 60% cremation rate, and how cemeteries can simplify the private mausoleum sales process. Click here for complete show notes: https://www.kates-boylston.com/engineering-eternity-rick-dilts-on-modern-design-in-stone-memorials/article_3f6822cc-6fa4-44ff-88a5-3a705a37c562.html

INELDA's Douglas Simpson explains how end-of-life doulas provide emotional support and fill gaps in the traditional hospice and funeral systems. Click here for complete show notes: https://www.kates-boylston.com/douglas-simpson-on-mentorship-and-the-future-of-death-doulas/article_5e9f7e9b-e46f-4cb4-a26e-135333c8ac85.html

In this episode of In Case You Missed It, we look at legal and regulatory shifts within the funeral and pet cremation industries. The program highlights the upcoming  fraud trial  of a pet memorial owner, the  closure of a Nova Scotia pet crematory , and a  bipartisan effort in Congress  to protect veterans' burial benefits. Additionally, the episode covers  New Hampshire's legislative push to bec...

Learn how low-maintenance grass with 8-foot roots can save cemeteries and homes up to 100% on mowing and water bills while remaining 100% organic . Click here for complete show notes.

Executive shifts at Carriage, funeral home heroism in Georgia, political drama in Tennessee, the struggle for new crematories, and more.    Click here for complete show notes. 

Explore how trees transform cemeteries into peaceful community assets with Marilyn Brandt, focusing on professional assessments and smart maintenance. Click here for complete show notes.   

Green Farewells owner Alexis McCurdy explains how her startup uses AI and water cremation to modernize the funeral industry while prioritizing empathy.      

This week we discuss the Matthews-Barrington settlement, a Virginia cemetery dispute, Delaware's religious burial ruling, and Indiana funeral home news. Click here for complete show notes. 

Tim Kolasa discusses navigating the "cremation reality" and explains how cemeteries can reduce risk through phased inventory and land evaluation. Click here for complete show notes.

Colorado's new licensing rules, Utah's NOR bill, Matthews International moves, green burial in Wisconsin, and more.   Click here for complete show notes.

The International Association of Pet Cemeteries Crematories reports record growth in pet aftercare. Discover trends in private cremation, the rise of alkaline hydrolysis, and new memorial technologies.

American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf joins Funeral Service Insider editor Tony Russo for part two of this annual review of the top trends from 2025.

Fresh off his American Funeral Director Funeral Director of the Year win, Sam James shares the extraordinary journey of his career.  Click here for complete show notes.