The Glam Reaper Podcast

In this heartwarming episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, your host Jennifer Muldowney sits down with the amazing Dr. Kathryn Mannix, author of the insightful and thought-provoking book 'With The End In Mind.' Together, they delve into the profound wisdom of dying and death that the book captures. Dr. Mannix's contributions to the realm of palliative care extend far beyond authorship. She is recogn...

Welcome to another soul-stirring episode of The Glam Reaper podcast! This time, our host, Jennifer, invites us into a heart-to-heart conversation with Louise Griffey, the founder of Light After Loss. Louise isn't just your typical guest - she's an Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist specializing in helping individuals grieving the loss of a pet. With her journey marked by the end of a signif...

What if the final stage of your human journey could support the circle of life in the most natural and earth-friendly way? Welcome to an inspiring discussion that pushes the boundaries of tradition and catalyzes a much-needed conversation about eco-consciousness, even after life. In today's episode, Jennifer dives into that which is not just shaking the ground, but actually, returns us to it.&nbsp...

In this eye-opening episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, Jennifer delves into the unique journey and insightful experiences of Scott Ginsberg and Joshua Siegel—the brains behind the breakthrough brand, Titan Casket. We kick off with a captivating exploration of how Titan Casket began. Uncover how two people transformed an unorthodox idea into a thriving business that's changing industry norms! A hi...

Welcome to another episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, where we explore the fascinating world of funerals, death, and all things morbidly captivating. In this episode, we're thrilled to have Rosie Grant join our host Jennifer for an intriguing and delicious conversation. Rosie interestingly gained her internet fame all because of a homework assignment! We are delighted that she's here to share her...

Welcome to The Glam Reaper Podcast! In this informative episode, Jennifer is joined by the lovely Kari the Mortician. Prepare to be captivated as she shares her incredible journey to becoming a household name in the funeral industry. Get a glimpse into the surprising world of funeral directors as Kari reveals the unique ways they cope with their own grief and get to truly understand firsthand the...

Welcome to this week’s episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, where we sit down with the Owner/CEO of DISRUPT Media, Ryan Thogmartin, to discuss the tremendous impact of social media on the funeral industry. Prepare to discover how social media has reshaped the way we perceive and engage with this traditionally solemn business, and learn how you can harness its power for your own growth. We'll also d...

They say everything is better the second time around, which is why Jennifer is back on the Glam Reaper podcast for another episode with the Modern Mortician, Melissa Meadow.   This time, we’re in for another treat as Melissa lets us in on her current project: the very first not-for-profit funeral home and conservation burial park in the United States.    Her goal? To ease the b...

Losing someone and mourning that loss can take a toll on the mental health of the people who are left behind. This is especially true during the pandemic, when cremation disposal is on the rise.  Relatives gathering for the celebration of life gathering was very limited. Even now when the effects of the pandemic have waned, cremation is still on the rise, which could be understood as a result...

In this episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, Jennifer has an interesting conversation with the new President-elect of the NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association), Jack Mitchell. Jack is a sixth-generation funeral director with Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home in Baltimore, Maryland. Even at a young age and after being exposed to the family business, he already has an appreciation for what fune...

It might seem surprising, but racism remains an issue within the funeral industry despite all the talks on gender equality in this modern society. Today’s episode on the Glam Reaper Podcast with the “Grave Woman”, Joél Simone Maldonado unveils the struggles that take place behind the scenes, and how the issue of racism has been a pushback for women and women of color in the funeral industry. Joél...

The current national curriculum teaches children how life begins. Sadly, however, they are not taught how to comprehend and cope with the reality of how life ends.  In this conversation with John Adams, president of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) in the UK, he talks about a petition he has spearheaded, pushing for bereavement as a mandatory subject in schools. And while...

Have you thought of planning your funeral? Funeral preplanning is important because it guarantees that when your time comes, your family can have a fitting and personal farewell. This means giving yourself and your loved ones the best chance of moving forward in a healthy way from the loss of a loved one. In this episode of the Glam Reaper Podcast, Jennifer is joined by special guest, Suelin Chen,...

Part 1 of this podcast had these three fabulous hosts discussing the idea of a celebrant. If you missed the episode, catch it first before you tune into the more light-hearted part 2. It does get serious a little in this episode where we discuss how funeral directors get alot of backlash from every side. Is it a business, is it an industry? Should people be expected to work for free? Do families f...

Welcome to Part I of Jennifer’s chat with the hosts of Undertaking the Podcast! Brian Waters and Ryan Ballard join The Glam Reaper, Jennifer Muldowney in this epic two-part (and maybe more!) episode talking all things funeral. Being podcast hosts themselves, there’s been plenty of role reversals all throughout.  Join in for some fun as Jennifer asks the lads questions and Brian quizzes her ba...

Sometimes your grief is aggravated by people who, in spite of coming from a sincere place of wanting to support, are not really helping. They say things that are not supposed to be told to a grieving person, when really they are just trying to help in their wrong, awkward way. When we are supporting someone who is grieving, we just need to understand that they are clouded with emotions and can som...

Notice how many people are into renewable energy, protecting the environment, eco-friendly options, and so on? It is therefore not surprising that people can also embrace the green lifestyle even when handling the end-of-life phase through the so-called ‘green burial’ options. This is the episode where the Glam Reaper, Jennifer, meets the Green Reaper, Elizabeth Fournier. Elizabeth is the author o...

Have you ever struggled on what to say to people who are grieving the death of a loved one? Worried that what you plan to say can trigger more emotional stress instead of alleviating the hurt and unintentionally cause a loved one pain? Grieving is hard, but a strong support system in the form of family and friends can dramatically alter everything for the grieving person.  Thankfully, getting...

They say that you can't always get what we want in life. But sometimes, what’s even worse than that is we can’t always get what we want afterlife, as well.  How many funerals have you been at where you have questioned the lack of ‘personality of the deceased’ in the service? It is a serious thing. And a serious problem in the funeral business. So should you be spending time planning your fune...

During the final disposition of the deceased, there are a variety of legal considerations that arise from some interesting, outrageous or even very intimate stories that you won’t believe actually happens for families and relations. For this reason, to avoid any disputes among the family members, it is critical to have some instructions written clearly on how to handle the remains. Jennifer sits d...

Talking about death, memorials and urns shouldn’t be that somber. A touch of color and beautiful design can bring a sense of comfort and a feeling of light and warmth at a time when you are grieving and hurting.  In this episode of the Glam Reaper Podcast, Jennifer had the opportunity to converse with Max and Miles of Oaktree Memorials. Through their wonderful work, this duo always bring...

There is so much controversy over the options that are available for the end of life processes due to differences in legislation, corporate greed and inaccurate information being put out there to people. While there are a variety of end-of-life options that people can choose from, it ultimately all comes down to what choice you and the family make when planning for the final event. That choice wil...

After years of working with Nike in Portland as Creative Directors, Keith Crawford and David Odusanya co-founded Solace Cremation in 2019. The idea came about after their own personal experiences with the death of a loved one and this inspired them to integrate their design expertise and innovative consumer-driven approach to the funeral industry. The core concept of the service Solace Cremation p...

The impact of cancer in peoples’ lives is getting a lot more attention now than it has ever been before. The emotional toll that this takes for patients, survivors and those still battling it can be extremely draining for everyone around them, especially for their families. This conversation Jennifer had with David Richman on this new episode of the Glam Reaper Podcast was very insightful as he sh...

Cremation has gone a long way since the first known cremation in 1876. Who better can give us the history of cremation than the Historian of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), Jason Ryan Engler. He holds this position as well as that of Cremation Historian for the National Museum of Funeral History (NMFH). The museum was completed in 2018 with 80% of the exhibit being his personal...