Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

Podcast Episode Description: In this week's episode we speak with Micah Truman, founder and CEO of Return Home, about the rise of terramation and what it means for the future of funeral service. Truman shares how the disposition has gone from a fringe concept to a legalized option in 13 states. He unpacks what it takes to build a terramation facility, how Return Home partners with funeral homes na...

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In this episode we share some direct commentary about how  one local funeral director  feels about the corporate competition in his own town, and talk about some of the good things going on in our June editions, if you'd  like to subscribe .  There's also a look at some futurist-type stuff including an impressive  cemetery reimagining  in Australia and a  storefront death doula . We look at how so...

In this episode we speak with American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf about how cemeteries are embracing community engagement, creatively reusing space, and recycling transparency.  Click here for complete show notes.

Scholarships top $1 million, a Connecticut director faces discipline, and Oklahoma's funeral board may dissolve. Terramation expands to Georgia, and a cremation scandal documentary premieres June 1.

Brent Thorson of Terrybear Urns and Memorials discusses how cremation businesses can better position themselves in a competitive, evolving market. Thorson highlights a disconnect between a funeral home's reputation for service and their visibility as cremation providers. Emphasizing local relevance, Thorson aims to provide tools for firms to improve outreach, product presentation, and engagement....

Writer and librarian Sharon Verbeten discusses her career covering funeral service and how her "Comfort Kids" project is helping children and families process grief. From grief libraries to story-driven writing, she champions open conversations about death and believes funeral homes play a key role in normalizing those discussions. Click here for complete show notes.

In this week's ICYMI: Matthews International has acquired The Dodge Company for $57 million, expanding its memorialization portfolio. SCI shares some interesting insights with Oppenheimer. In Texas, proposed changes to cremation regulations could slow services and raise costs. New digital obituary platforms are emerging, though concerns remain about pricing and long-term adoption. Finally, scrutin...

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, disconnected tech tools can slow down operations, create inefficiencies, and hinder collaboration. This session explores the power of integrated technology solutions and how they create efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance customer experience. Learn how seamless tech integration eliminates silos, improves data accuracy, and supports business growth...

In this episode, we preview Kates-Boylston's upcoming virtual preneed event , featuring expert insights from Greg Norris and Spencer Larkin. Tony also recaps earnings from SCI , Carriage , and Matthews International , highlighting steady growth in at-need and memorialization revenues despite economic uncertainty.  Matthews also is preparing to finalize a major asset sale while expanding its energy...

Funeral director Alexandra Mosca shares her journey into funeral service and her concurrent career as a writer. Learn how these two worlds intersect and inform her unique perspective.

This week's episode highlights the new Kates-Boylston Compensation Report, a  fire at one of New York's oldest funeral homes , an  interesting legislative update  on crematory temperatures in Oregon, and discuss the increasing trend of  partnerships  and  venture capital investment in funeral tech. 

For Greg Norris, regional director for Homesteaders Life Company, the foundation of a successful preneed sales strategy  isn't flashy marketing or an especially persuasive pitch; it's discipline.   Click here for complete show notes.        

This we we speak with Joél Maldonado, "The Grave Woman," and her path into multicultural death care. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds in death care. We also discuss  Maldonado's connection to her Gullah-Geechee heritage and its influence on her work promoting culturally relevant death practices.

This episode covers inclusive funeral care with Joelle Maldonado, a grief support initiative from Bob DiPasquale, new NOR offerings at Goes Funeral Care, a cremation pricing spotlight in Florida, and breaking stories from Texas and Virginia. Plus, details on Kates-Boylston's upcoming Technology Think Tank. Tune in for insights, innovations, and important industry updates in funeral service.

Kevon McKay of Mid-States Recycling and Refining discusses the evolution of cremation metal recycling and the importance of education for crematory owners. McKay will present "Keys to a Successful Recycling Program for your Crematory" at the Kates-Boylston Cremation Innovations virtual event, beginning 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 20. Click here to register.

This week, we talk changing stereotypes, a pet crematory stepping up, Australia's cultural shift toward cremation, and controversial AI memorialization in Malaysia among other stories.   

In this episode, we speak with Ryan Reyes about how making connections can be a natural part of interpersonal interaction. 

Notes from this week's show.  New legislation  making it easier for funeral directors to serve trans families regarding death certificates. Discussion of various awards relevant to the funeral service industry, including " Ones to Watch ," Green Burial Council awards, and  Funeral Service Foundation scholarships . Commentary on a  funeral director's appearance  on John Mulaney's talk show. Todd Bo...

Wendy Wiener of WRW Legal discusses the importance of double checking and shares some of her vision for the future of funeral service. 

Here's a quick rundown of the week's top stories. All should be well again soon as Poul Lemasters takes over the reins at Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science following Jack Lechner's resignation.  Bio-Response gets a boost from 3 Boomerang Capital's  cash infusion .  A  vertical cemetery in Australia  can be seen as a one-upmanship in green burials. Parting Stone got this  cool shoutout  in the...

Damon Wenig explains his view of funeral service as "high-stakes hospitality," highlighting the shift from traditional customer service to delivering an exceptional customer experience.

In this episode of  Funeral Service Insider , we talk with Calvin Amato about his path into the funeral profession. Starting out in hospitality management, Calvin shares how growing up in a small town and spending time living in a funeral home during college sparked his interest in the field. Now certified as a cremation operator, death doula, and funeral celebrant, Calvin brings a fresh and compa...

These are the stories we mention in this episode: Pet Cremation Experience LinkedIn Industry Listing Wake Forest Law Review NOR as a Service Cemetery Software Webinar Memorial Day Preparations Mother's Day and Pregnancy Loss Memorialization Kate-Boylston Resources and Events Click here for complete show notes.

Stephanie Castagnier Dunn chief SBA revenue officer for Phoenix SBA a Community Bankshare Company talks about the state of the American small business economy, business loans for refinancing, real estate, and buy-outs, and strategies for structuring deals that benefit all parties while preserving business legacies.