A Brush with Death: Recent Episodes
National Funeral Directors Association
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has launched A Brush With Death, a podcast to help funeral professionals be more responsive to the evolving needs of families and better respond to the issues shaping their businesses.
We live in an era of peak accumulation, and families are inheriting more than just memories—they are inheriting mountains of unwanted belongings. This "clutter crisis" is adding unprecedented logistical stress to the grieving process, leaving families exhausted before they even reach the arrangement room. How can funeral professionals help bridge the gap between grief and garbage?
In this episode of A Brush with Death, host Gabe Schauf sits down with psychologist Katarina Blom and professional organizer Ella Engström, experts from The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. They explore the deep psychological anchors of our possessions, the cultural differences in how we handle estates, and the physical roadblocks families face when clearing out a home.
Gabe, Katarina, and Ella discuss how modern funeral homes can evolve from traditional service providers into "Legacy Curators." Listeners will learn how to identify clutter burnout during the arrangement conference, the practical value of the "Legacy Box" model, and how to build a trusted referral network to act as the "General Contractor of Grief." Whether you're looking for fresh preneed talking points or innovative at-need service opportunities, this episode provides actionable strategies to offer families the ultimate final gift: peace of mind.
Key Takeaways:
- The psychological impact of physical and digital clutter on the grieving process.
- Shifting the funeral director's role to include post-service transition support.
- How to implement the "Legacy Box" to help families curate memories for visitations.
- Strategies for vetting local clean-out partners and organizers.
Bonus from Ella: After recording, Ella reached out with some additional information... Here are some thoughts that can help families or individuals get started with the process. Whether you're sorting through your own belongings or going through a loved one's things, these questions can be a gentle way in. One of the key principles of death cleaning is that it's not just about things, it's about sharing meaning and memories while you still can. That's what makes it so much more than organizing. If you're sorting through your own belongings: 1. Start with one room, one category, not everything at once. 2. Do I use it? Do I love it? Does it make my heart sing? 3. Have I used this item in the last 12 months? 4. If I didn't have this — would I buy it again today? 5. When I hesitate about something, I ask myself: do I really want to deal with this again later or can I make the decision now? 6. If I'm still not sure, can I give myself 30 or 60 days before deciding? (The Dilemma Box method) 7. What do I actually want to pass on, and to whom? 8. Is there someone in the family who would truly treasure this? 9. What would make this home easier for the people I love, if they one day had to go through it? 10. What do I want my belongings to say about the life I lived? Key reminder: if the things you own start draining your energy instead of adding value, that's a sign it's time to take action. If you're helping a family member or going through a loved one's belongings: 1. What does this object mean to me — or what did it mean to them? 2. Am I keeping this out of love, or out of guilt? 3. What would feel like truly honoring this person — keeping everything, or keeping what really matters? 4. Is there someone in the family who would treasure this more? 5. Am I in charge here? (Yes you are. You have the right to make these decisions.) Remember: the memories of a loved one live in your heart, in the stories you share, and in the love they gave you — not in the objects they left behind. And letting go isn't about forgetting the past — it's about making space for the present and for what's ahead. Dare to have conversations with each other while you still can. It's actually a beautiful thing to discover what truly matters to the people you love. You might be surprised by what you find out. And remember: sorting through your own things is one of the greatest gifts you can give the people you love. Sparing them from that burden is an act of love and that's really what döstädning is all about.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this segment, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Darren Crouch, President of Passages International. Darren provides a concise overview of what Passages International is all about and their mission to lead the funeral profession in sustainable, eco-friendly death care options.
Gabe and Darren discuss the rapidly increasing consumer interest in green funeral services and how shifting values are directly impacting the decisions families make in the arrangement room. Darren also highlights the specific role Passages plays in meeting this demand, offering innovative solutions like biodegradable urns and meaningful, earth-friendly options for cremated remains.
If you're looking for a quick, insightful look into the future of sustainable funeral service and how your firm can adapt to modern consumer focus, this 5-minute spotlight is for you.
Listen to more episodes and find additional resources at nfda.org/abrushwithdeath. Learn more about Passages International
When a family walks through your doors, are they getting a five-star experience, or are they just another transaction? Consumer demands in death care are shifting rapidly—families don't just want products anymore; they want genuine hospitality, ethical options, and a truly meaningful experience.
In this episode of A Brush with Death, host Gabe Schauf sits down with Darren Crouch, President of Passages International and a 2025 TIME100 Climate leader, to discuss how to navigate this changing landscape, the green movement, the strategies to apply in the selection room, and why the profession must proactively offer green funeral options to avoid repeating the mistakes of the early cremation era. Whether you are looking to elevate your customer service or expand your eco-friendly offerings, this episode provides a practical blueprint for funeral directors ready to lead the market.
Is the funeral profession actually facing a labor shortage, or is it facing a reality check? Despite mortuary school enrollments increasing by over 22%, funeral homes nationwide are constantly struggling to keep staff.
On this episode of A Brush with Death, Gabe Schauf sits down with educator and funeral director Dr. Lucia Dickinson to explore the structural misalignments driving the retention crisis. Gabe and Lucia look past outdated assumptions about work ethic and tackle the uncomfortable truths behind the data: the gap between modern living expenses and entry-level compensation, the hesitation to invest in human capital, and why the outdated "Ideal Worker" model is failing a shifting demographic.
Discover actionable strategies for modernizing compensation, scheduling, and workplace culture to stop the revolving door at your firm.
Katey Houston is not your traditional funeral director, and that is a big part of why she was named the 2025 Inspiration Award Winner.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with the Director of Family Care at Return Home to hear her journey into the funeral profession, discuss her work in Natural Organic Reduction (Terramation), and explore why authenticity matters.
Katey explains how her unique background shaped her approach to serving families and why she believes the future of the profession belongs to the bold. This is an essential listen for anyone looking for advice on mentorship, legacy, and how to succeed as a woman in a non-traditional funeral service role.
The Inspiration Award is sponsored by NGL.
Click here to learn more about NGL
Click here to learn more about the Inspiration Award
40 years ago this month, Christine Pepper walked through the doors of the National Funeral Directors Association for the first time. The profession she entered then looked vastly different from the one we know today.
In this episode, Gabe Schauf sits down with the NFDA CEO to mark this significant milestone and look beyond the resume. Christine reflects on her four-decade journey, discussing how she navigated the shift from a male-dominated industry to a workforce increasingly led by women. She shares her perspective on the evolving relationship between funeral directors and the media, the weight of leading through complex times, and her vision for what lies ahead. It is a candid look at the past, present, and future of death care from the person who has had a front-row seat to it all.
🔗 Learn more: www.nfda.org/abrushwithdeath 🎙️ Host: Gabe Schauf 📍 Presented by the National Funeral Directors Association
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Derrick Husmann and Jake Johnson of Johnson Consulting Group, for part two of the "Funeral Rescue" series.
Together, they walk through the Four Pillars of Funeral Home Success — the framework Jake and Derrick use when helping firms regain stability and rebuild momentum. The discussion looks at each pillar through a practical lens, examining how leadership, culture, finances, and operations influence one another and shape long-term performance.
Rather than offering quick fixes, the conversation highlights realistic steps funeral homes can take to strengthen their foundation, support their staff, and better serve their communities.
This episode continues the thoughtful, candid look at what modern funeral home leadership requires, and how meaningful change often starts with clarity, consistency, and intentional action.
Connect with Derrick and Jake or learn more here: Johnson Consulting Group
🔗 Learn more: www.nfda.org/abrushwithdeath 🎙️ Host: Gabe Schauf 📍 Presented by the National Funeral Directors Association
funeral home management • funeral home success • funeral business consulting • Johnson Consulting Group • funeral home leadership • business turnaround • funeral service operations • A Brush with Death • Jake Johnson • Gabe Schauf • Derrick Husman • improving funeral homes • funeral home strategy
In this episode of A Brush with Death, host Gabe Schauf sits down with Derrick Husmann, Senior Business Consultant with Johnson Consulting Group, to talk about struggling funeral homes — and what it takes to turn them around.
From poor financial management and outdated facilities to toxic workplace cultures and weak leadership, Derrick and Gabe explore the common challenges that can cause funeral homes to fail — and the practical steps firms can take to rebuild. With the right strategy, mindset, and willingness to adapt, even the most challenged funeral homes can find renewed success.
Whether your funeral home is thriving or fighting to stay afloat, this episode offers real-world lessons in funeral home management, leadership, and growth that every funeral professional can use.
Connect with Derrick or learn more here: Johnson Consulting Group
🔗 Learn more: www.nfda.org/abrushwithdeath 🎙️ Host: Gabe Schauf 📍 Presented by the National Funeral Directors Association
funeral home management • funeral home success • funeral business consulting • Johnson Consulting Group • funeral home leadership • business turnaround • funeral service operations • A Brush with Death • funeral profession podcast • Gabe Schauf • Derrick Husman • improving funeral homes • funeral home strategy
The lights are dim, the air's a little colder, and A Brush with Death is back with Spooky Mortuary Stories: Part 2.
Host Gabe Schauf sits down with Amanda King, Faith Haug, Jennifer Heiselman, and Kari Northey to share real stories of strange encounters and things that can't quite be explained. From ghostly figures and children who see what others can't, to laughter and other sounds coming from empty rooms, and unexplained touches in the middle of the night—these tales might just have you turning on an extra light before bed. Tune in and enjoy another edition of Spooky Mortuary Stories.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with four funeral home owners from across the country to explore how they recruit and retain the right people. Each guest shares their unique approach to finding employees who fit their culture, developing them into long-term team members, and building a workplace where people want to stay.
Guests in this episode include:
- Chris Christian - Owner of Christian-Sells Funeral Home in Rogersville, Tennessee (1:38)
- Jeff Smith - Owner of Smith Family Funeral Homes in Little Rock, Arkansas (13:59)
- Dr. Camelia Clarke - Owner of Paradise Memorial Funeral Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (26:07)
- Randy Anderson - Retired owner of Radney Funeral Home in Alexander City, Alabama (39:42)
Whether you're looking for new hiring ideas or ways to strengthen your team, this conversation offers real-world strategies and insights from those who've made it work.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this segment, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by Kevin Czachor, Vice President of ASD. Kevin reflects on his own brush with death, the value of life, and the importance of what we do in the funeral profession. Then, Gabe and Kevin discuss the upcoming convention in Chicago and the NFDA Innovation award, which ASD sponsors. The importance of new ideas in this and any profession cannot be overstated. ASD celebrates the creation and fostering of innovations within the funeral profession that continue to help it grow, improve, and serve the public to the highest standards.
Kevin Czachor is Vice President of ASD – Answering Service for Directors, a family-run business dedicated exclusively to serving funeral homes nationwide. Since officially joining ASD in 1991 after earning his degree in marketing and sales from Widener University, Kevin has played a key role in shaping the company’s sales, marketing, and innovative solutions that support funeral directors. Under his leadership, ASD has earned multiple NFDA Innovation Awards and developed groundbreaking technologies that enhance communication and care within the funeral profession.
Guided by the values instilled by his parents—loyalty, respect, and putting family first—Kevin views himself as a family man with a business, not the other way around. He is passionate about supporting funeral service education, community initiatives, and staff wellness, while also leading ASD’s adaptation to modern challenges such as remote work. Outside of work, Kevin enjoys outdoor adventures with his wife and four children, staying active through athletic events, and tending to his family’s garden and fish pond.
Learn more about ASD here
The International Convention and Expo is taking place in Chicago, October 26–29. To help you get ready for the big event, we’ve prepared three convention preview episodes. In these episodes, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Innovation Award Finalists, Workshop Presenters, and, of course, the Keynote Speakers.
In this final preview episode, we hear from our keynote speakers. At every convention, attendees can expect to learn from some of the most respected and recognized voices in the world, and Chicago will be no exception. On Monday, Felipe Gomez will kick off the convention with his presentation, Virtuoso: Living the Virtuoso Life. On Wednesday, Crystal Washington will close the four-day event with her presentation, Futureproof Yourself: Innovate and Thrive in Times of Uncertainty. In this episode, Gabe Schauf is joined by Felipe and Crystal to share more about themselves and give a preview of their keynotes.
Join us for the International Convention and Expo this October in Chicago and start planning your itinerary today. Visit www.convention.nfda.org for more information.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Welton Hong, founder and CEO of Ring Ring Marketing. Welton and Gabe discuss AI’s effect on search engines as well as a few things you can do to keep your website SEO working for you.
Ring Ring Marketing specializes in helping funeral homes grow by making their phones ring. With a focus on generating quality leads, improving online presence, and building stronger connections with families in need, Ring Ring Marketing provides proven strategies tailored to the funeral profession. Their goal is simple: bring more at-need and pre-need families to your funeral home so you can focus on what matters most—serving them with care and compassion.
Welton is a leading expert in helping funeral homes convert leads from online directly to the phone line. He’s the author of the book Making Your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes and a regular contributor to NFDA’s The Director magazine and several other publications.
Welton has a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to starting Ring Ring Marketing, he was a senior technologist at R&D facilities for Intel, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle. He regularly speaks at conferences and other events for people in the death care industry.
Click here to learn more about Ring Ring Marketing.
The International Convention and Expo is taking place in Chicago October 26th to the 29th. To get ready for the big event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you. In those episodes, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the Innovation Award Finalists, some of the Workshop Presenters, and of course, the Keynote speakers.
In this second episode we will hear from some of our workshop speakers. There will be over 30 workshop presentations for attendees to choose from during the NFDA International Convention and Expo. Topics covered will include embalming, customer service, grief, human resources, marketing and more. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by four of the workshop presenters, Anna Nesbit, Jeff Smith, Sherrie Dunlevy and Amanda King to learn more about them and get a sneak peak into what they will be discussing in their presentations
Join us for the International Convention and Expo this October in Chicago and start planning your itinerary today. Check out www.convention.nfda.org for more information.
This episode is sponsored by Legacy.com.
The International Convention and Expo is taking place in Chicago October 26th to the 29th. To get ready for the big event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you. In those episodes, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the Innovation Award Finalists, some of the Workshop Presenters, and of course, the Keynote speakers.
In this first episode we will hear from the innovation award finalists. The NFDA Innovation Award is sponsored this year by ASD and gives companies and organizations the opportunity to showcase their new product and service ideas designed to enhance the funeral profession and its function. The finalists this year are Afterword, Healing Path Cemetery, and Passare.
Click here to learn more about Afterword
Click here to learn more about Healing Path Cemetery
Click here to learn more about Passare
Click here to register for the 2025 International Convention and Expo
This episode is sponsored by ASD
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with Venroy Joseph, CEO of veJov Brands Corporation. Venroy shares veJov Life's unique memorial packages designed for funeral homes and how their innovative approach helps families honor their loved ones.
About VeJov Life: VeJov Life is a dedicated design studio specializing in memorializing life’s moments, which prides itself on providing exceptional services that beautifully encapsulate the magic and emotions of every individual. Their work includes comprehensive services for funeral homes and personalized memorialization. They excel in offering heartfelt tribute packages and videos, aiming to honor and celebrate a loved one's legacy by transforming these significant events into timeless keepsakes.
VeJov Life also extends its design expertise to other pivotal life events such as rites of passage, birthdays, bundles of joy, graduations, and weddings, providing custom photo/video editing and collages to document the atmosphere and highlights. Their foundation in graphic design showcases their deep commitment to their work and service to their customers.
Learn more about veJovLife at their website: www.vejovlife.com
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf chats with 5 funeral professionals from around the country to share practical tips and techniques for elevating how to care for families and improve customer service at your funeral home. These are easy, cost-effective, things you can do to make a big difference right away
Guests in this episode include:
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Preston McKee – President of Morris-Baker Funeral Home & Cremation Services based in Johnson City, TN (2:44)
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Nic Stevenson – Funeral Director with Stevenson Funeral Home based in Dickinson, ND (11:18)
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Thomas Harty – Funeral Director with Day Funeral Home in Randolph, VT (15:05)
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Geraldine Oliverie – Owner of Oliverie Funeral Home in Manchester, NJ (22:51)
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Doug Gober – Owner and Partner of Foresight (31:44)
Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, this episode has something for everyone.
This episode is sponsored by Funeral Women Lead. Learn more at https://funeralwomenlead.org/
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with Eileen Hollis, a licensed funeral director at Hollis Funeral Home in Syracuse, New York, and a prominent social media influencer. Eileen shares her story and experiences behind building a successful online following by openly discussing the funeral profession and demystifying death.
The two explore the unique responsibilities of a funeral director engaging in the digital world, how her social media interactions are shaping the future of the profession, and the impact of public response on removing taboos surrounding death.
This episode is sponsored by Funeral Women Lead. Learn more at https://funeralwomenlead.org/
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf speaks with Greg Grabowski, author of "Engaging in the Heart of Hospice" and President of Serviam Hospice. Their conversation centers on the vital connection between funeral directors and hospice organizations and how a stronger partnership leads to more comprehensive care for grieving families.
This episode is sponsored by Funeral Women Lead. Learn more at https://funeralwomenlead.org/
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and welcome to the funeral service profession!
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with recent graduates Natasha Jules, William Trotman, Trinity Cornelius, and Cameron Smith. They share what inspired them to pursue funeral service, the lessons they’ve learned through their schooling and apprentice experiences, and what lies ahead as they begin their careers.
We wish you a blessed and peaceful Memorial Day. Never forget their sacrifice.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by Lanae Strovers, Iowa funeral director and Trainer with the NFDA. to learn about her organization, The Final Salute.
Since 2018, The Final Salute has worked to locate and identify the unclaimed cremated remains of Veterans, children and civilians and provide them the proper burial services and honors they deserve.
Visit their Facebook page and learn more by clicking HERE.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf explores the value of mentorship in the funeral profession. Joined by Lauren Budrow, a licensed funeral director and mortuary science educator, and Calvin Amato, a funeral trainee and soon-to-be graduate, the discussion addresses the true meaning of mentorship, its long-term effects on professionals and families, and how both seasoned and aspiring funeral directors can develop meaningful mentor-mentee relationships.
Also, check out the April issue of The Director for a deeper dive into mentorship and more contributions from Lauren and Calvin.
This episode is sponsored by Tribute Technology
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf, is joined by Sabena Nanji, founder of FIOH, to learn how funeral directors can use it to simplify the planning process and include the family every step of the way.
Click here to visit FIOH
About FIOH: Forever In Our Hearts (FIOH), the revolutionary online funeral planner that’s transforming how funeral directors and families navigate the planning process—from the first call to the final service. FIOH isn’t just another digital tool; it’s a comprehensive platform designed to reduce paperwork and give funeral directors more time to focus on what truly matters: supporting families during life’s most delicate moments.
The platform features a customized digital storefront where funeral directors showcase their complete range of services and packages, while our intuitive family portal brings everything together in one organized space. Families can effortlessly connect with funeral staff through secure messaging, upload and share documents and images, and keep all the details in one accessible place.
FIOH also introduces a game-changing marketplace tailored to the unique challenges of the funeral industry—helping professionals seamlessly swap shifts, locate local licensed embalmers, arrange transportation, and find other essential service providers. FIOH is building a community where every member supports one another, ensuring that every funeral is handled with care, efficiency, and compassion.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf chats with Kelly Monroe, Funeral Instructor (and Gabe's co-worker) with the Milwaukee Area Technical College Funeral Service Program, and Dr. Damon de la Cruz, Director of Education with the Frigid Fluid Company, about funeral apprenticeships. Topics include the expectations and responsibilities of both the trainer and trainee, as well as how to make the most of the experience. They discuss common challenges, share valuable insights, and offer practical advice to help both mentors and apprentices succeed in the field. Whether you are new to the profession and navigating your apprenticeship or a funeral professional training apprentices, there is something here for you.
Are you a funeral director's apprentice with some thoughts to share or suggestions on improvements? Are you a funeral director with some best practices and success stories? We would love to hear from you at abrushwithdeath@nfda.org.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Tony Miller to discuss how funeral homes are using AP Lazer's products in-house to provide families with more opportunities for personalization.
Learn more about AP Lazer Here.
About Tony: Tony Miller is a seasoned sales executive with over seven years at AP Lazer, helping funeral professionals expand their services through personalized laser engraving. With a background in business management and a passion for fostering strong customer relationships, Tony excels at guiding businesses toward new revenue opportunities using AP Lazer’s patented open-architecture technology.
Beyond his work in sales, Tony is also the owner of Oak Lore Farm, where he applies his craftsmanship to woodworking and sustainable farming. His hands-on approach—whether in business or on the farm—reflects his dedication to innovation, quality, and meaningful connections.
About AP Lazer: AP Lazer is a leading provider of high-powered laser engraving and cutting machines, designed to help businesses unlock new revenue streams through personalized, high-value customization. With its patented open-architecture design, AP Lazer machines remove size and weight restrictions, allowing users to engrave everything from small keepsakes to large memorials with ease.
Trusted by funeral professionals, AP Lazer empowers businesses to create deeply personal tributes, adding lasting value to headstones, urns, and commemorative items. Backed by 24/7 lifetime technical support and comprehensive training, AP Lazer ensures its customers have the tools and knowledge to succeed in the evolving funeral industry.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf chats with 10 funeral directors and embalmers from around the country to share practical tips and techniques for taking embalming room work to the next level. They’ll cover everything from improving preservation to fine-tuning restoration work, with advice you can use immediately.
Guests in this episode include:
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Dana Goodell – Iowa Licensed Funeral Director and Sales and Education Director for the Embalmer Supply Company (1:59)
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Regan Moreland – Funeral Director with Radney Funeral Home and Langley Funeral Home (6:03)
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Lauren Bowser – Funeral Director with Cusick Funeral Home (8:36)
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Manda King – Connecticut Licensed Funeral Director and Embalming Specialist with Frigid Fluid (12:37)
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Kelley Rowmanowski – Minnesota Licensed Funeral Director and University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science Instructor (17:07)
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Lincoln Plain – Minnesota Licensed Funeral Director and Sales Representative for Dodge Chemical Company (21:06)
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Danielle Wilk – Port Mortuary Branch Chief at Dover Air Force Base (25:25)
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Jennifer Heiselman – Retired US Navy Chief Mortician and Cemetery Director at State Veterans Cemetery (32:20)
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John Hill – Funeral Director and Embalmer with James Funeral Home, trade embalmer and Instructor with Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service (37:53)
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Mel Lyles – Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and Co-Owner of Afterlife Mortuary Services (43:13)
Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, this episode has something for everyone.
Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions about embalming techniques used by licensed funeral professionals. Some of the content may be sensitive or unsettling to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Leili McMurrough, a licensed funeral director and President of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, to share her experiences and insights from the profession. Leili is the recipient of the 2024 NFDA Inspiration Award, sponsored by NGL, which honors an exceptional woman who has made significant contributions to funeral service.
This episode is sponsored by NGL.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Regan Moreland, Funeral Director & Embalmer with Radney Funeral Home and Langley Funeral Home, to discuss her transformative journey into funeral service. She shares how her personal experiences have shaped her career and passion for lifelong learning while inspiring those around her to always remember their "why."
Happy Veterans Day to all of our military personnel. We are deeply grateful for your service and sacrifice, and we will forever be thankful for your role in keeping our country free.
In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Jennifer Heiselman, Navy Chief Mortician (Retired), who served our country as a Navy Embalmer and Funeral Director. Jennifer spent 24 years both at home and abroad, caring for soldiers killed while on active duty and in combat, and managing the logistics and processes to ensure these fallen heroes were returned home to their families. In this episode, she shares some of her experiences and insights, reflecting on her remarkable career.
This episode is sponsored by Core Scientific
Have you ever heard something go bump in the night while working at the funeral home? Did you ever have an eerie experience you just couldn’t explain? Do you sometimes wonder if you “not alone”? Regardless of how you may feel about the paranormal, everyone loves a good ghost story.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf sits down with Duane Hills, Todd Harra, Ben Schmidt, and Jason Engler to hear a couple of spooky mortuary tales.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Welton Hong, founder of Ring Ring Marketing, about what the future of the profession looks like in terms of overall call volume, and what funeral homes can do to prepare.
Welton is a leading expert in helping funeral homes convert leads from online directly to the phone line. He’s the author of the book Making Your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes and a regular contributor to NFDA’s The Director magazine and several other publications.
Welton has a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to starting Ring Ring Marketing, he was a senior technologist at R&D facilities for Intel, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle. He regularly speaks at conferences and other events for people in the death care industry.
Click here to learn more about Ring Ring Marketing.
The International Convention and Expo is taking place in New Orleans October 20th to the 23rd. To get ready for the event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you to check out.
In this final episode before convention, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the 2024 International Convention and Expo keynote speakers, Amy Herman and Jason Arday. Amy and Jason will share a little about themselves and their experiences and give an idea of what to expect from their keynote addresses. This episode is sponsored by NGL and Carriage.
Learn more about the 2024 International Convention and Expo
Learn more about our Keynote Speakers
The International Convention and Expo is taking place in New Orleans October 20th to the 23rd. To get ready for the event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you to check out. In those episodes, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the Innovation Award Finalists, some of the Workshop Presenters, and of course, the Keynote speakers. In this second episode we will hear from 3 of our workshop presenters, Cate Collins, Cort Bluford, and Mandy Stafford.
Cate Collins’ presentation, “Ignite the Powerhouse in You”, will take place on Monday and Wednesday from 8am to 9am.
Cort Bluford’s presentation, “Embracing the Digital Frontier”, will take place on Sunday from 1:15pm to 2:15pm
Mandy Stafford’s presentation, “Nurture our Nature”, will take place on Monday from 8am to 9am.
To learn more and register for the convention – Click Here
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Kevin O’Connor, author of Two Floors Above Grief. Kevin shares his inspiration for the book he wrote about growing up in his family’s funeral home in Elgin, Illinois.
Kevin’s book Two Floors Above Grief has reached Amazon best-seller status in categories such as Teens/Young Adults, Parenting, Family Relationships, Death/Grief, and Biographies/Memoirs.
Through his social media presence at thegriefnavigator, Kevin provides invaluable resources to those navigating their grief journeys. Kevin has been a guest on numerous radio broadcasts, podcasts, and videos discussing his experiences with writing, publishing, grief, education, and his unique family time growing up in an apartment above a funeral home in the 1950s through 1970s.
Kevin has performed in over 30 theater productions since the 1970s. His educational career spanned from 1973 to 2020, during which he served as an elementary teacher, principal, professor, and curriculum coordinator in California, Illinois, and Florida.
Kevin resides in Ft. Lauderdale with his husband, Leon. Their family includes five sons and seven granddaughters.
For more insights into his book, ongoing stories, and interests, visit www.kevinoconnorauthor.com.
The International Convention and Expo is taking place in New Orleans October 20th to the 23rd. To get ready for the event we have 3 convention preview episodes for you to check out. In those episodes, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by the Innovation Award Finalists, some of the Workshop Presenters, and of course, the Keynote speakers.
In this first episode we will hear from the innovation award finalists. The NFDA Innovation Award is sponsored this year by ASD and gives companies and organizations the opportunity to showcase their new product and service ideas designed to enhance the funeral profession its function.
The finalists this year are Nemu, Clear View Caskets, and 1Director.
To learn more about Nemu – Click Here
To learn more about Clear View Caskets – Click Here
To learn more about 1Director – Click Here
To learn more and register for the convention – Click Here
This episode is sponsored by ASD
In September of 2022, the world watched as Queen Elizabeth was given a final farewell. The world watched as every news station and social media outlet broadcast footage and provided updates on the events of her passing and services as they happened. Meanwhile, funeral director, Tim Purves, and his staff worked on location to provide services and care fit for a monarch. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, speaks with Tim about those services and how the funeral profession operates on his "side of the pond".
Tim Purves is the 5th generation owner of William Purves Funeral Directors, the largest, independent funeral business in Scotland, with a team of more than 100 staff across 25 branches in Scotland and northeast England.
Sponsored by Johnson Consulting Group
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Mike McKenna about Core Scientific, an industry leader and the go-to choice for some of the largest corporations and funeral groups in North America in cremation metal recycling.
Mike McKenna is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the funeral and cremation profession. He is dedicated to educating funeral professionals on the latest industry trends and best practices in cremation metal retrieval. Mike ensures clients' interests are protected and their crematory operations are optimized. He also excels in handling total logistics, providing clients with regular updates on the shipping and receiving of materials to provide a seamless and efficient process.
Click here to learn more about Core Scientific
In 2023, the NFDA sent film crews to various cities to talk with consumers about their impressions of funeral directors. There were mixed reactions and a combination of positive and negative comments that gave an eye-opening perspective on the public’s views of the funeral profession.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf sits down with funeral directors, Lori Sheeler, Anna Zvirman-Nesbit, and Naomi Bradbury-Marchand to discuss those impressions and what we can do to develop the public’s positive perception of funeral service.
To view the consumer video CLICK HERE
Sponsered by Johnson Consulting Group
In May of 2023, the NFDA hosted its latest Future’s Forum, a highly focused, forward-looking session held on an as-needed basis to tackle serious challenges impacting funeral service providers. The goal of Future’s Forum 2023 was to develop new growth and innovation strategies funeral providers could use to overcome current revenue challenges, increasing costs and staffing shortages.
In the spirit of that theme, host, Gabe Schauf is sitting down with Brie Smith, Erica Hill, and David Hernandez Jr to learn how they are looking to the future and modifying and innovating at their funeral homes for the better.
Sponsered by Johnson Consulting Group
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with Bill A Johnston, president of Post and Boost and author of the new book, "The Consumer's Journey to Purchasing Funeral Services."
Bill is a Facebook expert who invented a proprietary, scalable software platform that creates, posts, and boosts custom advertising for Funeral Homes on Facebook, and is dedicated to inspiring funeral home owners and operators to discover advertising can work for funeral homes.
Bill can be reached at bill@postandboost.com
Click here to learn more about Bill's new book!
Summer is here and along with it comes a new crop of funeral service program graduates. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with 4 of them to hear about their experiences, challenges and goals moving forward.
A big congratulations to the funeral service program class of 2024 graduates and special thanks to Ashley Trent – graduate from Lake Washington Community College, Kate Marnul – graduate from the Milwaukee Area Technical College, Michelle Finnegan – graduate from Salt Lake Community College and Patrick Wheeler – graduate from Cape Cod Community College for their time.
Sponsored by Core-Scientific
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is talking about Tukios with founder, Curtis Funk. Tukios is a software company providing simple solutions to funeral homes, including a tribute video software, website development and hosting, and follow-up services to keep them in touch with their community.
Curtis is A lifelong entrepreneur, he has spent the last 18 years providing products and services exclusively to funeral homes. He is recognized in the funeral industry as a thought-leader and has built a company with an impeccable reputation.
Curtis can be reached at curtis@tukios.com
Click here to learn more about Tukios
Artificial intelligence has quickly become a part of our day to day and can be found almost everywhere. There are many who have been quick to embrace it and use it to enhance what they do. There are also many who have concerns with the capabilities of AI and what a future with artificial intelligence may look like. Is AI truly something to fear or are those negative misconceptions holding us back from a brighter future?
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, discusses that with Dennis Yu, the CEO of AreYouGoobleable.com. Gabe and Dennis talk through some of the concerns about AI, what is known and what is not. Dennis also gives some ideas on what may be possible through the use of AI and how to start learning and experiencing it for ourselves.
Sponsored by Tukios.com
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is talking about Legacy.com, the world's largest commercial provider of online memorials and obituaries, with John Heald, Legacy.com's Funeral Home Channel General Manager.
John is a fourth-generation funeral director and has been licensed in Massachusetts for 21 years. With his twin brother, Jim, he built a start-up funeral home in 2009 located in Shrewsbury, Mass and later sold it in 2017. John's roll with Legacy.com is to oversee funeral home development. He was one of the original members of the team that started Tributes.com in 2008, which was acquired by Legacy in May 2015.
John can be reached at jheald@legacy.com
Click here to learn more about Legacy.com
Succession planning preserves an organization’s legacy, ensures smooth leadership transitions, and nurtures internal talent. It is vital to the long-term success of any and every funeral home.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Chris Cruger, CEO of Foresight, and Jake Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Consulting Group to talk about the value of and steps to successful succession planning from the perspectives of both the owner and the seller.
Sponsored by Homesteaders Life Company.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by his brother, the founder and CEO of Uncharted Supply Co., Christian Schauf. Uncharted's mission is to provide high-quality, intuitive gear to help people navigate emergencies big and small.
Gabe and Chris talk about entrepreneurship, ownership, innovation, and how passion drives success in work and life.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Uncharted Supply Co.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is talking about @Need Marketing, a full-service marketing agency helping funeral homes connect with their communities through creative and strategic methods. Gabe is joined by Michael Anderson, President of @Need Marketing. Michael uses his personal background in the funeral profession and extensive experience in sales to provide partners with effective marketing strategies that are relevant for funeral homes. He can be reached at manderson@atneedmarketing.com.
Click here to learn more about @Need Marketing
Host, Gabe Schauf is joined by Victor Sweeney, "The Wired Mortician". Victor is a funeral director with DuBore Funeral Home in Warren, Minnesota who came into the national spotlight by just "doing the right thing" and has since been featured multiple times by Wired Magazine. In this episode, Victor shares his story and some thoughts on being a funeral influencer and educating the public.
Click Here to see Victor's first Wired Feature
Click Here to see Victor's most recent Wired Feature
The National Board Exam is a hot topic of discussion amongst funeral directors. As workforce needs grow across the country and the education system works to teach the future of the profession, many questions about the exam and it purpose continue to be asked.
To understand more about the National Board Exam, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Dalene Paull and Leili McMurrough. Dalene and Leili share a behind the scenes explanation as to how the exam is developed, its importance, and how funeral directors can play vital roles in supporting the process and the students who are working to become licensed. Click here for more information about the National Board Exam, including guides and statistics.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode we are talking about Chptr, a new mobile-first memorialization platform. Joining host, Gabe Schauf, is Rehan Choudhry, Founder and CEO of Chptr.
Learn more about Chptr and try it for free at https://www.chptr.com/.
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, events, organizations, and goings-on.
In this episode we are talking about NGL and the 2024 Inspiration Award with Jessica Grann, NGL's Chief Culture and Communications Officer.
If you have someone you'd like to nominate for the 2024 Inspiration Award, you can do so at https://nfda.org/inspiration.
In May of 2023, the NFDA hosted “Future’s Forum” where 70 attendees representing the death care space met to analyze, discuss, and strategize the future of our profession. This event was facilitated by Jim Austin and Paul Schoemaker, two gentlemen whose careers focus on strategic decision-making for businesses of all kinds.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Jim and Paul to discuss the Future’s Forum event and what the future of the funeral profession could look like. Is your firm only operating in the present or is it looking ahead? Do you know what you can do to innovate, where there are opportunities to grow, and how to begin moving forward? This episode is a good place to get started.
Funding in part for this event was provided by a grant from the Funeral Service Foundation.
While women working in the funeral profession is nothing new, the incredible job done by many of them to serve families to the highest standards is something that cannot be overstated. The tasks performed, the detail with which they are done, and the empathetic care behind them have provided us all with examples of what we should strive for in our own work.
In episode 66, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Ellen Wynn McBrayer, licensed funeral director and embalmer and President and CFO of Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes and Crematory in Georgia, to learn more about her experiences in the funeral profession. The 2023 Inspiration Award Winner discusses the leadership and mentorship roles she has found herself in throughout her career and shares the importance and results of leading by example. The NFDA Inspiration Award is generously sponsored by NGL.
What happens when you put 3 mortuary school instructors in a podcast booth? Find out in episode 65. Faith Haug and Joe Finocchiaro join host, Gabe Schauf, in a candid discussion about how funeral education is evolving. Both share some of their experiences and provide opinions on where it might be headed and what we can all do to help make it better for everyone. Whether you have been in the profession for some time or are just starting out - If you're curious about the state of funeral education, this episode is for you.
“The times they are a-changin’.” As the new generation of funeral directors finds its way into the profession, a lot can be said about the challenges that can exist as far as workplace relations go. Debates about “the new way” vs “the old way” arise. Both the definition and style of communication take new meaning to different individuals - which can give way to miscommunication and misinterpretation. Struggles with technology, new ideas, and even levels of respect can also contribute to conflict and frustration.
So how do we bring harmony to the multigenerational workforce at our funeral home? In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with funeral director and author, Antonio Green to discuss just that. Antonio shares some of what he has learned from personal experience, presenting on and writing about professional collaboration, specifically with the millennial generation.
15 years ago, Janet McGee left the funeral profession due to burnout. In 2016, a very unexpected loss reignited Janet's passion to not only return but to take on the role of funeral educator. In this episode, Janet shares her story with host, Gabe Schauf, and brings attention to a cause that she has been a big part of since that loss.
Is staffing an issue for your funeral home? How are we as a profession addressing the needs and demands of our employees and ensuring that the workforce challenges of the funeral home are taken care of? Jzyk Ennis joins host, Gabe Schauf, to talk about his article, "My Manifesto", published in the October 2022 issue of NFDA's The Director.
Do you have tasks in your life that are very necessary for success but not always at the top of the list in terms of things you really want to do? In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf sits down with Tyler Anderson, Vice President of Business Development at Precoa, to talk about the importance of creating a preneed strategy for your funeral home. Why don’t we embrace it as much as we should? How do we approach it and help those we serve understand its value? Learn all of this and more in episode 61.
Do you have plans for September? They should include attending the NFDA International Convention and Expo the 10th through the 13th in Las Vegas.
- Exciting keynote speakers
- Thirty Workshops full of incredible content
- A huge expo floor
- 5 preconvention seminars
- And so much more
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by 3 of the workshop speakers, Dr. Tashel Bordere, Chris Costello and John T. Hill, to share a little about what you have to look forward to in Vegas.
Do you have plans for September? They should include attending the NFDA International Convention and Expo the 10th through the 13th in Las Vegas.
- Four days of workshops
- Thirty plus sessions
- A huge expo floor
- 5 preconvention seminars
And what about those keynote speakers? In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with two of them – musician, Mark Schulman and CEO, Dennis Yu to talk drumming, attitude, the future, and artificial intelligence. Hear what they are all about now and get ready to learn from them during their incredible presentations in Las Vegas.
What does it mean to be an influencer in the funeral profession? Should we as funeral directors add that responsibility to our day-to-day task list? In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks to funeral director and social media influencer, Kari the Mortician, about how she works to educate the public and the importance of transparency and communication with those who want to learn more about what we do and why we do it.
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by 3 members of the mortuary college class of 2023. Kyle Dunn, from Arapahoe Community College, Suzanne Wyckoff, from Northeast Texas Community College, and Sunshine Smith, from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service share their experiences of the past year and provide some great advice for new students just starting out.
In this episode, we say goodbye to Todd Van Beck, an individual who dedicated his life to this profession, and those who worked within it. Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Kenneth Howe, Brian Waters, Anthony Kaniuk, Steve Spann, Sharon Gee-Mascarello, David Hicks, Lisa Baue, Duane Hills, and Jack Lechner to share their stories, memories, and lessons learned from Todd.
Personalization has become a standard of funeral service. Many funeral directors embrace the challenge of coming through for families and finding unique ways to honor and tell the story of their loved ones. Often the casket or urn is the first place they look to go above and beyond. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Trey Ganem, owner of Soulshine Industries, who has taken custom urn and casket design to the next level.
How is your physical fitness? While there is a lot to say about funeral directors caring for their mental and emotional health, not a lot has been discussed in terms of the physical. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, talks with nutritionist and personal trainer, Jordan Syatt about the importance of maintaining physical health and some simple things that even the “on-the-go” funeral director can do to stay healthy and function at their best.
Looking for a glimpse into the history of funeral service? Look no further than the National Museum of Funeral History in Huston, Texas. Not able to travel anytime soon? Just make it a virtual visit. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Genevieve Keeny-Vazquez, the museum’s President and CEO to talk about the origin of the museum, some of the unique displays, and what guests can look forward to in the near future.
In recognition of Women’s History Month and to kick off preparation for the NFDA’s 2023 Professional Women’s Conference, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by three of the many incredible women working in the funeral profession. Bailey Wolf, Ginny Sanzo, and LaShonda Martin share about their journey to become funeral directors, as well as some of their experiences, challenges, and memorable moments.
How engaged is your funeral home with your surrounding community? It's no secret that getting involved can be beneficial both personally and professionally, but what are some best practices and how can you get started? In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Traci Macz, Joe E Pray, and Russ Weeks, three funeral directors who work hard to serve those in their communities beyond the visitations and funerals. Hear what they are participating in and how you, your staff, and your community can all benefit.
Are you aware of the current funeral consumer trends? Are you looking to modify how you serve your families in the new year? In this episode, Ed Defort and David Nixon join host, Gabe Schauf, to discuss the results of the latest NFDA consumer survey and where the families we serve are finding value in what we offer.
The Federal Trade Commission has started the process of updating the Funeral Rule, which regulates how our profession operates and provides specific rights to consumers seeking burial and cremation services. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by NFDA's General Counsel, Chris Farmer, to share what is being discussed, why it matters, and the importance of funeral professionals getting involved in the process.
Dean Lambert, Vice President-Corporate Communications with Homesteaders Life Company, joins Gabe to discuss "The Love Always Project". Its purpose is to encourage people to change their mindset and take a more positive and proactive approach to pre-planning and end-of-life discussions.
Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Dr. Jason Troyer to discuss the stresses that come from the seasonal combination of grief, serving families, and the holiday hustle. Finding effective ways to meet the needs of the families being served while minimizing burnout should be on every funeral director's holiday wishlist.
Embalmer, Karl Wenzel, joins Gabe Schauf to discuss his approach to the embalming process and how he honed his craft. If you are an embalmer or are interested in being one, this episode is for you.
Host, Gabe Schauf is joined by three of the workshop presenters you will hear at the International Convention and Expo. Vanessa Misoon, Dana Goodell, and Jeff Zealley share about themselves and what to expect from their presentations in Baltimore.
Meet the speakers headlining the NFDA's International Convention and Expo in Baltimore. Kindra Hall, Dakota Meyer and John O'Leary join host, Gabe Schauf to share about themselves and a little about what they will be discussing in Baltimore.
Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Jolena Grande, funeral director and board president of the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Jolena and Gabe talk about how mortuary school curriculum is developed, the National Board Exams, how funeral homes can help support funeral education and more!
Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Jolena Grande, funeral director and board president of the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Jolena and Gabe talk about how mortuary school curriculum is developed, the National Board Exams, how funeral homes can help support funeral education and more!
Funeral Director and author, Todd Harra, joins Gabe on the podcast to discuss his new book Last Rites: The Evolution of the American Funeral. This is a book for funeral directors and non-funeral directors, alike. Gabe and Todd talk about how understanding the history of our profession can make us better in the present and help us to plan for the future.
Host Gabe Schauf talks with death educator and grief counselor, Dr. Alan Wolfelt, and NFDA’s Morgan Schlender, Account Executive for Endorsed Programs & Membership. The three discuss the recognition and prevention of funeral director burnout, and some of the new initiatives that NFDA has created to help support funeral directors as they serve families.
In this episode, Gabe talks to funeral director, author, and speaker, Todd Van Beck about presidential funerals. They discuss how presidential funerals have evolved throughout history, how they have influenced how families care for their deceased, and what we can learn from our past as funeral professionals.
Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by members of the inaugural class of the National Emerging Leaders Program (NELP) to share their experiences. They discuss NELP, how the courses have helped them grow as funeral professionals, and what they feel funeral homes can do to better serve families.
This timely episode focuses on the new resource for funeral homes and families entitled, When a Child Dies: Planning Acts of Love and Legacy. This is a collaborative effort of the Funeral Service Foundation and the National Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition.
This month Gabe speaks with four promising new graduates from across the country to shed some light on the life of a mortuary school student. The students discuss National Board preparation, final exams, assignments, and venturing out into the funeral profession.
In this special Earth Day episode, Gabe and his guest, Micah Truman, CEO of Return Home, are talking about a very interesting and new form of disposition known formally as “Natural Organic Reduction”.
Take a deep dive into the World Wide Web with Gabe Schauf and his guests Ryan Ballard and Brian Waters, hosts of Undertaking the Podcast. These three podcasters talk about how funeral directors are utilizing the exchange of information on the internet.
Some future medical and scientific advancements sound like something out of a science fiction story, but we never know what role technology might play in the deathcare profession. Alexandra Jo, Culture and Content Manager at Parting Stone, discusses this fascinating topic.
In the new year, resolve to enhance your customers’ experience. Join host Gabe Schauf with his guest Mark Busch – a former funeral home owner and licensed CX coach. Mark and Gabe will discuss the basics of improving how your customers view your business and how to make them part of your “marketing team”.
This month host Gabe Schauf takes on a timely (and potentially costly) topic: OSHA compliance. Join Gabe as he speaks with Mark Harrison from CST (Certified Safety Training) about the importance of safety compliance in the funeral home.
Join our tribute to Veterans Day with host Gabe Schauf as he has a conversation with Douglas “Dutch” Nie: funeral director and business owner, treasurer to the NFDA Board of Directors and proud Air Force veteran.
Gabe interviews convention keynote speakers Duncan Wardle and Ben Nemtin. These two dynamic individuals will address the power of “thinking different” and resilience in the face of uncertainty. There’s so much to learn and be inspired by!
The NFDA Convention is only a few weeks away! Let’s get a glimpse into some of the amazing workshop sessions at this event.
Gabe interviews three of our presenters who each bring something valuable to the convention. You’ll meet Bill Johnston, David Hernandez, and Henry Johnson. Topics range from using technology, personal experiences and tips for success.
NFDA is commemorating the tragic 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a special episode of A Brush with Death.
Host, Gabe Schauf, speaks with Funeral Director Chuck Bowman who served as deputy commander of Region VIII Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT). Chuck supported the recovery efforts following the attacks, and he joins Gabe on this episode to share his experience. This episode will inspire you and touch your heart.
The Funeral Service Foundation is the philanthropic voice of the funeral profession and the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association. In this episode, host Gabe Schauf speaks with Kelly Manion, the Director of Community Engagement for the Funeral Service Foundation, and two scholarship recipients. The discussion focuses on how the Foundation invests in people and programs to strengthen funeral service and lift up grieving communities. Find out how the Funeral Service Foundation helps the helpers!
When a family chooses to donate a loved one’s body for education or research, they do so with the hope that they will help others. Regrettably, many are unknowingly contributing to a for-profit industry in which the body of their loved one could be traded as raw material in a largely unregulated national market. Congress is taking a significant step toward protecting the dignity of donors and offering peace of mind to families with the introduction of the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2021.
Host, Gabe Schauf, discusses this very important bill with Hillary Adair (an Arizona-based funeral director) and Lesley Witter, NFDA’s Senior Vice President of Advocacy.
It’s the month of June, and host Gabe Schauf speaks with four Mortuary Science School graduates from across the country to discuss why they entered funeral service and what they anticipate going into the future.
Meet Nicole Judge (FINE Mortuary College in Norwood, Massachusetts), Luke Martinez (Worsham College of Funeral Science in Wheeling, Illinois), Venice Harris (Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, Washington), and Cristina Cherubini (University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota).
The month of May brings Memorial Day – a time to honor the millions of people in uniform who gave their lives for this country. Journey to Serve is a unique campaign launched in 2021 by the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation. This collaborative effort between organizations aims to engage, recruit and hire more military veterans to careers in the funeral service profession – including meaningful work in funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, funeral vendors, and all levels of support roles. Join Gabe Schauf as he explores this amazing project with Bob Arrington, founder of Arrington Funeral Directors and Crematorium, and Navy Petty Officer and funeral honor coordinator, Jennifer Jones.
Earth Day is April 22, and host Gabe Schauf’s interview with Amy Cunningham touches on a timely topic. Amy is a licensed funeral director and celebrant in Brooklyn, New York who specializes in green burials. In this episode, she discusses earth-friendly options chosen by many families to say farewell to a loved one.
Host Gabe Schauf speaks with NFDA Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Lesley Witter. Lesley is based in Washington D.C. working for the funeral profession within the halls of the federal government. She provides insight into her role as an advocate, and how legislation that is advantageous to funeral service professionals is advanced.
Lesley has been with the NFDA for 14 years and is responsible for the association’s legislative, regulatory, and political activity. She is tasked with increasing NFDA’s visibility on Capitol Hill and with various federal agencies.
NFDA CEO Christine Pepper and NFDA Board President Bryant Hightower discuss what’s ahead in 2021 with our host, Gabe Schauf. Christine and Bryant share their thoughts on topics ranging from technology to advocacy to education in this episode of A Brush with Death. Tune in to hear their thoughts about what’s in store for funeral service professionals – and for those who support them. Serving our families and communities will remain the focus of the profession, but the methods and processes are forever changing.
We all know that serving families and communities is the primary focus of funeral service professionals but behind the scenes, there is a business to run. NFDA members can take advantage of our researched list of Endorsed Providers who can help guide you in many aspects of your business. Guests Tim Bridgers, Senior Vice President of the Funeral Home and Cemetery Lending team at Live Oak Bank, and Kathleen Ervin, Senior Account Manager with Heartland Payment Systems (formerly known as TSYS), join our host, Gabe Schauf to discuss funeral finance issues.
The holiday season is upon us – a time to connect with family and friends, although this year our gatherings are primarily virtual. In this episode of A Brush with Death, our host Gabe Schauf reminisces with his grandfather, Charles Nelson, using the Have the Talk of a Lifetime Conversation Cards. These amazing conversation starters are part of NFDA’s Remembering A Life community engagement initiative.
Sitting down with loved ones to talk about their lives can be a rich and satisfying experience! Learning about memorable events, people, places, values, and lessons they have learned can help bring you closer to the people you care about. We offer the Original Deck of 50 cards, the Kids Deck and the Celebrations Deck. The Original Deck is also available in Spanish!
Veterans Day episode. Our guest is Danielle Wilk, a mortuary specialist at Dover Air Force Base. Danielle discusses her team, what they do on a daily basis, and what it’s like providing funeral services as part of a military operation. She also provides insight into the process of caring for our fallen heroes from the battlefield to the final committal.
Get ready to be inspired! Convention keynote speakers Micah Solomon and Brett Culp join host Gabe Schauf to give you a peek behind the curtain of the NFDA 2020 Virtual International Convention & Expo! These highly rated presenters are igniting audiences through their books, films and speeches, and this is your opportunity to hear them for yourself. Both will be keynote speakers at this year’s convention delivering presentations on customer service and leadership – two of today’s most pressing topics in business! Keynote addresses are sponsored by Homesteaders and Batesville.
Micah Solomon
Author & Keynote Speaker
Micah Solomon is one of the world’s leading authorities on customer service, company culture, and the customer experience.
Brett Culp
Documentary film maker
Brett Culp is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and founder of The Rising Heroes Project, a not-for-profit that inspires people to overcome personal adversity.
Top-rated speakers Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender join host Gabe Schauf to discuss how to improve your business by seeing it through the eyes of the families you serve. They’ll also provide a preview of the topic they’ll present at the NFDA 2020 Virtual International Convention & Expo: Move Over Millennials – What it Takes to Connect with Generation Z. Join them at the Virtual International Convention & Expo on Wednesday, October 21 for this don’t-miss session!
Kizer and Bender are consumer anthropologists, speakers, authors and consultants whose client list reads like a "Who's Who" in business. Companies internationally depend upon them for timely advice on consumers and the changing retail marketplace. They are contributors to MSNBC’s television program Your Business, and they made Meetings & Conventions Magazine's list of Meeting Planners Favorite Keynote Speakers!
As we approach the 19th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania, host Gabe Schauf visits with New York funeral director Dominic Carella. Dominic was the first funeral director called on 9/11 – he and his team provided care for 79 families that lost loved ones that day.
With cremation rates hitting 55% nationwide, NFDA recognized the need to offer a Cremation Certification Program developed by funeral directors for funeral directors. Mike Nicodemus, Vice President of Cremation Services, joins Gabe Schauf to discuss how this program provides attendees with the framework to run an impeccable, successful operation. While this certification program has been a staple of NFDA’s outstanding education options, it is now offered virtually giving attendees access to critical information without the need to travel. Past attendees Francheskia Fenderson and Brandon Rogers-Plott join in to talk about their experience and the value it has brought to their firms.
Talking to a child about death and loss can be challenging and parents are often looking for resources to help. In this episode, Gabe Schauf sits down with Lacie Bruckner and Katherine Pendergast, co-authors of the “In Loving Memory” books, which teach children about funerals, cremation and the grief journey. Lacie and Kat share their inspiration for the books; provide ideas for talking to children about death; and suggest ways parents and funeral directors can involve children in the funeral.
In this episode of “A Brush with Death”, Gabe Schauf is joined by five members of the Class of 2020 who share their experiences in mortuary science school and the funeral service profession. If you are curious about what the life of a mortuary student is like, this is a great place to start.
A special congratulations to the class of 2020 Mortuary Science School graduates! We are proud of you and looking forward to working with you in this great profession.
In this episode of “A Brush With Death”, we pick up where we left off in the discussion featured in our last podcast. Host Gabe Schauf teams up once again with Sara Murphy, Ph.D., certified thanatologist and expert on death, dying and bereavement, to answer your questions regarding grief during these unprecedented times. Topics include self-care, managing the phenomenon of “COVID fatigue”, and reinforcing the importance of the funeral director in times of mass fatalities. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of this series, we highly recommend Episode #10 where Dr. Murphy discusses the impact Coronavirus is having on grief and loss.
She also introduces the new booklet entitled Grieving Alone & Together: Responding to the Loss of Your Loved One During the COVID-19 Pandemic, a free resource being offered by the Funeral Service Foundation and NFDA.
This episode of “A Brush With Death” discusses the impact Coronavirus is having on grief and loss. Host Gabe Schauf talks with Sara Murphy, Ph.D., certified thanatologist and expert on death, dying and bereavement, about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on both individual and cultural grieving. Sara also introduces a new booklet she authored called “Grieving Alone & Together: Responding to the Loss of Your Loved One During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a free resource being offered by the Funeral Service Foundation and NFDA. The first in a two-part series, listeners will be able to send questions regarding grief during these unprecedented times to abrushwithdeath@nfda.org.
Our guest on this episode of "A Brush With Death" is Justin Baxley, a licensed funeral director and Vice President of Business Development for Foundation Partners. A private funeral company based in Florida, Foundation Partners operates 140 funeral home locations across the country. Justin describes how their firm is embracing new ideas and new technologies to serve families and communities during these trying times.
Funeral director, embalmer, owner, and national speaker, Wally Hooker from Family and Friends Funeral Home in Wingate, Indiana, joins “A Brush With Death” to offer some practical advice regarding transfers and embalming during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Today, we are going to be talking about burnout and compassion fatigue. While many in the death care profession hate to admit it, both are very present.
Fortunately, there are people out there working to educate us about those topics and how to deal with them… People like our guest today, Jason Troyer.
As funeral directors we are what some would call the “subject matter experts” in the death care industry. We have learned to embalm, make arrangements, provide services and help those in need. We know how to serve those families come through our door. The question is, how do we get them through the door in the first place?
Increasingly, funeral homes are looking to their websites and social media to get in front of potential clients. “A Brush With Death” sits down with Welton Hong, the founder of Ring Ring Marketing and author of the book “Making your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes.”
Disenfranchised grief is the subject of this month’s NFDA podcast, A Brush with Death. Disenfranchised grief is grief not openly acknowledged, validated or publicly observed. Common when a relationship is not recognized, the loss is not recognized (suicide, homicide, substance abuse) or the griever is not recognized, grief is still very real. Host Gabe Schauf will dive into disenfranchised grief: its causes, effects and how funeral professionals can best serve clients struggling with it. Our guest is Sara E. Murphy, Ph.D., a faculty member at the University of Rhode Island in the Honors Program and Department of Gender and Women's Studies and an expert on death, dying and bereavement.
NFDA sits down with Ethan Morse to talk about his journey from tomb guard sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to filmmaker. He discusses his films “The Unknowns”, a documentary about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Sentinels who stand guard at our Nation’s most sacred shrine, and the soon-to-be-released “Honor Guard”, a four-part series that highlights the dedication members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment—The Old Guard—show in paying their respects to those who gave all.
Lacy Robinson, CFSP and NFDA’s Director of Member Development, talks with host Gabriel Schauf about how funeral homes can communicate the added value they can bring to the cremation discussion, whether the initial inquiry is via a phone call or during the arrangement conference. Robinson emphasizes that any meaningful cremation discussion should be a conversation about honoring the life of a loved one.
Host Gabriel Schauf and attorney Michael Sharkey, CFSP, CCO, explore legal issues confronting funeral directors and their businesses. Listen in to learn how to reduce the potential for lawsuits and to discover best practices that can help keep your funeral home out of court.
Host Gabriel Schauf talks with Sara Moss, NFDA’s education manager and a hospice volunteer, about the remarkable end-of-life care hospice professionals provide to patients and their families. Sara discusses how funeral directors can better interact with hospice workers and their families regarding the support they can provide after a loved one dies.