Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf joins Funeral Service Insider editor Tony Russo to discuss some of the top trends from 2025.

Oversight failures, storage disputes, cemetery backlash, and rising interest in green burial highlight a turbulent week in funeral service industry news.

Author and cemetery historian Tui Snider explores global burial grounds, grief, Decoration Day traditions, and the stories that make every cemetery unique.

Houston funeral home raid, Titan Casket promos, EPA formaldehyde updates, and declining Catholic funerals highlight this week's key death-care news. Click here for complete show notes.    

Brie Bingham shares insights on CANA's growth, cremation's evolution, and the profession's future as the 150th anniversary of modern cremation approaches. Click here for complete show notes.

Chptr founder Rehan Choudhry on transforming obituary distribution through AI-supported video, TV partnerships, and a more accessible model for funeral homes.

Educators from PIMS on preparing funeral directors for the digital era: ethics, applicant screening, restorative art training, and social media advocacy. Click here for complete show notes. 

Leadership news, green burial approval, industry donations, and environmental research highlight key developments this week. Click here for complete show notes.

A look at expanding mortuary education, SCI updates, cemetery capacity issues, green burial projects, and a rezoning fight over a proposed crematory. Click here for complete show notes. 

Evergreen Washelli's Scott Sheehan shares how long-term planning, history, and community engagement helped earn the cemetery national recognition.

The Final Salute founder Lanae Stovers shares her unexpected journey into funeral service and how it ignited her mission to honor forgotten veterans. Click here for complete show notes. 

From preneed innovation to green burials and courtroom drama, this week's death-care roundup captures growth, recognition, and reform. Click here for complete show notes.

Award-winning Green Springs Cemetery creates zones for grief, including the "Wind Phone." A new model for conservation and community solace.  Click here for complete show notes.

A look at key funeral industry updates including lawsuits, earnings, cremation debates, and consolidation trends shaping the profession's future. Click here for complete show notes.   

Expert Tim Cermak explains the vital role of refractory materials in cremation. Learn how thermal shock, throughput, and maintenance impact equipment life and safety. Click here for complete shownotes.  

For over a decade, Army veteran Desarey Wilson has fought the Texas Funeral Service Commission to get his professional license, arguing his extensive military experience is "substantially equivalent" to formal schooling.  After a brief approval and subsequent revocation, his license was designated "null and void," forcing him into a costly, ongoing legal and bureaucratic battle against the very la...

This week's show covers  Batesville  selling its MIS software business to  Plotbox  and a preview of upcoming Q3 earnings coverage of Carriage, SCI, and Matthews. We discuss a lawsuit against  Forest Lawn  over a $20,000 funeral and debate proper compensation for mistakes. Also: a story on a Texas funeral director's dispute, a mention of  Jon Lafrandt's  new newsletter, and a look at  Colorado's r...

Funeral Service Insider highlights outreach, recycling for good, and inclusive care—showing how funeral professionals are redefining their role in a changing industry. Click here for complete show notes.

Discover how Garfield is helping crematories adopt eco-friendly recycling practices that protect the planet and fund community giving programs. Click here for complete show notes.

American Cemetery & Cremation editor, Tom Nondorf, brings us up to date on cemetery news and trends. Click here for complete show notes.

Funeral industry updates include Texas legal rulings, a new Before I Die Festival, and growing collaboration in end-of-life care. Click here for complete show notes.  

From Tesla lawsuits to alkaline hydrolysis, this week's episode explores legal, financial, and educational shifts in the funeral service industry. Click here for complete show notes.

Jess Wakefield shares her journey from working night shifts in a nursing home to becoming a funeral director, corporate leader, and innovator at Better Place Forests and EverIs. In this candid conversation, she reflects on the pros and cons of corporate vs. family-owned funeral homes, the shift toward digital cremation planning, and her vision for a more seamless end-of-life experience that bridge...

South Carolina blocks a fraudster's funeral home sale. Industry debates: community cemeteries, service fees, and Amarillo's transport contract. Click here for complete show notes.

Green burials blocked, Texas scandal deepens, Carriage expands, NJ legalizes terramation, Vegas mishandling case, and social media tips for funeral pros. Click here for complete show notes.