On Deathcare

In this episode of On the Clock, Tony Russo sits down with Rehan Choudhry , founder of Chptr , to discuss the company’s growth and future. Chptr has expanded from a niche concept to a broad service provider. The conversation focuses on how the company is streamlining obituary distribution and helping funeral homes reclaim digital traffic from third-party aggregators. Key Discussion Points * Market...

Stories Covered in This Episode * Illinois Regulatory Changes : Representative Anthony DeLuca is working to give the Illinois Comptroller’s Office more oversight power. * Colorado Coroner Conflicts: The Wilson Funeral Home in Colorado faced scrutiny for storing bodies for the county coroner while its own license was expired. * Hearse Manufacturer Bankruptcy: UK-based Eagle Specialist Vehicles Limi...

In this episode, Tony Russo sits down with Erin Wilson to discuss her new role at Funeral Women Lead and the launch of the Women’s Leadership Academy. Erin shares her journey from high school educator to funeral service professional. Erin explains how the Women’s Leadership Academy aims to help professionals by providing 18-month curriculum pathways for management and ownership, focusing on the li...

This week we look at a shift in strategy from SCI, the “homogenization” of funeral service, “disruptor” startups, green tech in Detroit, and legislative wins for death care modernization in Michigan. Key Takeaways * SCI’s Shift in Focus: SCI is moving away from massive real estate acquisitions and toward aggressive preneed sales and “Celebration of Life” centers. * The “Chick-fil-A” Model : Tony d...

In this episode of The Rest , Tony Russo tackles the mental health and retention crisis facing funeral professionals, highlighting a new survey aimed at understanding the emotional costs of the industry. Tony also dives into a strange $1.3 million debt situation involving the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner and local funeral homes, discusses a new Connecticut bill targeting funeral fraud, and ex...

In this episode, Tony Russo sits down with Tanya Marsh to deconstruct the 2025 Consumer Preferences in Death Care report. They dive deep into the "Cremation Paradox," the surprising return of the casket among Gen Z, and why the "green" movement in death care is more complicated than it looks. Key Discussion Points: The 2025 Survey Design: Expanding the data pool to 1,500 respondents to mirror the...

In this week’s roundup, Tony Russo explores the disconnect between the death care industry and consumer media. From factually incorrect editorial cartoons in Ohio to “Boil-in-a-Bag” headlines in the UK, the episode dives into why funeral directors need to step up as educators to combat misinformation about green burials and alkaline hydrolysis. Tony also covers significant industry news, including...

This week’s review covers significant regulatory shifts in Maryland, ongoing controversies at the Texas Funeral Service Commission, and the weekly news roundup. Links to all of these stories (and more deathcare news) can be found here . Regulatory Updates: Maryland vs. Texas * Maryland’s Turnaround : Under new leadership, the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors has cleared a 3...

This week’s industry roundup examines the artificial intelligence platforms into the deathcare sector. Central to the discussion is Impart, an all-in-one, AI-enabled business solution launched by the parent company Manifest. Manifest, which operates similar platforms in other industries like veterinary care, has positioned TikTok personality and funeral director Melissa Jo Schmidt as the face of t...