Explore every episode of the podcast Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

In this bonus episode of FSI: The Podcast, we learn a bit about how to take a good idea a step further towards making it a reality in your business. Courtney will share a few thoughts from her session, "Measuring Success: How You Can Demonstrate ROI on Investments for the Future," at the upcoming Momentum 2026 event.  

If the very thought of networking makes you tired, you'll want to listen to this bonus episode of FSI: The Podcast. Laurie Covington, the chief strategy officer at Homesteaders Life Company, shares a few tidbits that have enabled her to overcome wallflower tendencies and develop the career she deserves. This Momentum 2026 preview provides a glimpse of what attendees can expect. 

Momentum 2026 

Part 2 with Kevin Smith continues the conversation, explaining how the mobile embalming unit came to be and what "rapid embalming" actually is. Enjoy the unique insights shared by the Chief, Mortuary Affairs Division, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Port Mortuary. 

Military Mortuary Affairs Program Instruction (DoDI 1300.29)

In this bonus episode of FSI: The Podcast, we explore how to identify and capture new ways to enhance your firm's services and offerings. By taking a chance on adding pet care options, Quinn Haisley-Wheeler, the director of funeral service operations & pet services, broadened Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service's reach and now gives even more to their community. Check out this sample from a Momentum 2026 session leader!

Momentum 2026 

In this episode of FSI: The Podcast, Lisa Meehan and Erin Wilson (formerly with Pierce Colleges) share their journeys through funeral service and education, highlighting leadership challenges, organizational change, and the importance of staying true to themselves. They discuss the impact of organizational restructuring, advocating for students, and the power of authenticity. 

Funeral Women Lead 
American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) 

Guest Links:

Lisa Meehan 
Erin Wilson 

In this episode, I chatted with Edwin Jackson, Assistant Professor of Mortuary Science,  PhD Candidate,  Death Care Professional, Death Equity Advocate, and new arrival at the Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy. We discussed cultural competency and the importance of learning to care for the various races and ethnicities that you may be called upon to serve. Resources and ideas were exchanged in this honest conversation. 

Connect with Edwin on LinkedIn

Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy

CEO and Eternal Fan founder Matt Linn explains what exactly this progressive offering is and how it can extend a family's memorialization options into new territory. During our conversation, the value of creating experience and innovative positioning is described, and an explanation of this incredible new way for you to serve your client families is revealed. 

Learn more about Eternal Fan

Executive-level learning meets Florida-level fun! Meet Danielle and gain insights into what to expect from the upcoming Momentum 2026 event.  For more information, please visit: Momentum 2026

Homesteaders Event Announcement

On April 10, Dale Cameron took on the role of Business Development Manager with Doric Products. A seasoned funeral service professional, Dale brings a wealth of knowledge to his position with Doric. Join us as we discuss the future of outer burial containers, what options may be best for a greener approach, and how Doric intends to stay sustainable in a growing cremation market.

Doric Products

In the first of a two-part episode, we meet Kevin Smith, the chief of the Mortuary Affairs Division, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Port Mortuary. He shared his background and insight into how the Dover Port Mortuary operates as well as a few key processes (dignified transfers, wrap techniques based on viewability, and tailoring plastic garments for a fitted look). There are many steps that go into the care provided at Dover, and you can learn about them here. In part two, Kevin will share the evolution of their new mobile embalming unit and more. 

From being the face of Return Home to her new role with Parting Stone, Katey brings us up to speed on where she is now. From candid conversations about mental health to sharing her feelings about her presence in "The Life We Leave", we talked about it all. Curious about the Parting Stone process? We covered that too. This is a great interview, well worth your time. *Thank you to our episode sponsor, Starmark.*

About Parting Stone

Connect with Katey on LinkedIn

Starmark Offerings

Licensed funeral director Mandy Stafford discusses her shift from casketed ground burials to ecological options and her new role with Return Home.

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https://www.kates-boylston.com/beyond-the-casket-why-one-funeral-director-switched-to-human-composting/article_772882af-6649-4820-81da-03aa2af5aba9.html

Bathroom discrimination, NOR in Brooklyn, a pro-green disposition doc, and more in this week's episode. 

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This week we consider Ontario's unclaimed remains, Medicaid funeral spending, human composting in Maine/Utah, and Oklahoma's casket sales lawsuit.

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Rick Dilts of Dakota Granite discusses the "Mausolarium," the 60% cremation rate, and how cemeteries can simplify the private mausoleum sales process.

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https://www.kates-boylston.com/engineering-eternity-rick-dilts-on-modern-design-in-stone-memorials/article_3f6822cc-6fa4-44ff-88a5-3a705a37c562.html

INELDA's Douglas Simpson explains how end-of-life doulas provide emotional support and fill gaps in the traditional hospice and funeral systems.

Click here for complete show notes:

https://www.kates-boylston.com/douglas-simpson-on-mentorship-and-the-future-of-death-doulas/article_5e9f7e9b-e46f-4cb4-a26e-135333c8ac85.html

In this episode of In Case You Missed It, we look at legal and regulatory shifts within the funeral and pet cremation industries. The program highlights the upcoming fraud trial of a pet memorial owner, the closure of a Nova Scotia pet crematory, and a bipartisan effort in Congress to protect veterans' burial benefits. Additionally, the episode covers New Hampshire's legislative push to become the 14th state to legalize natural organic reduction.

Learn how low-maintenance grass with 8-foot roots can save cemeteries and homes up to 100% on mowing and water bills while remaining 100% organic .

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Executive shifts at Carriage, funeral home heroism in Georgia, political drama in Tennessee, the struggle for new crematories, and more. 

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Explore how trees transform cemeteries into peaceful community assets with Marilyn Brandt, focusing on professional assessments and smart maintenance.

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Green Farewells owner Alexis McCurdy explains how her startup uses AI and water cremation to modernize the funeral industry while prioritizing empathy.

This week we discuss the Matthews-Barrington settlement, a Virginia cemetery dispute, Delaware's religious burial ruling, and Indiana funeral home news.

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Tim Kolasa discusses navigating the "cremation reality" and explains how cemeteries can reduce risk through phased inventory and land evaluation.

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Colorado's new licensing rules, Utah's NOR bill, Matthews International moves, green burial in Wisconsin, and more. 

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The International Association of Pet Cemeteries Crematories reports record growth in pet aftercare. Discover trends in private cremation, the rise of alkaline hydrolysis, and new memorial technologies.

American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf joins Funeral Service Insider editor Tony Russo for part two of this annual review of the top trends from 2025.

Fresh off his American Funeral Director Funeral Director of the Year win, Sam James shares the extraordinary journey of his career. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Leadership news, green burial approval, industry donations, and environmental research highlight key developments this week.

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A look at expanding mortuary education, SCI updates, cemetery capacity issues, green burial projects, and a rezoning fight over a proposed crematory.

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

The Final Salute founder Lanae Stovers shares her unexpected journey into funeral service and how it ignited her mission to honor forgotten veterans.

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From preneed innovation to green burials and courtroom drama, this week's death-care roundup captures growth, recognition, and reform.

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

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A look at key funeral industry updates including lawsuits, earnings, cremation debates, and consolidation trends shaping the profession's future.

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

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For over a decade, Army veteran Desarey Wilson has fought the Texas Funeral Service Commission to get his professional license, arguing his extensive military experience is "substantially equivalent" to formal schooling. 

After a brief approval and subsequent revocation, his license was designated "null and void," forcing him into a costly, ongoing legal and bureaucratic battle against the very laws designed to help veterans.

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

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

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Discover how Garfield is helping crematories adopt eco-friendly recycling practices that protect the planet and fund community giving programs.

American Cemetery & Cremation editor, Tom Nondorf, brings us up to date on cemetery news and trends.

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

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

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Jess Wakefield shares her journey from working night shifts in a nursing home to becoming a funeral director, corporate leader, and innovator at Better Place Forests and EverIs.

In this candid conversation, she reflects on the pros and cons of corporate vs. family-owned funeral homes, the shift toward digital cremation planning, and her vision for a more seamless end-of-life experience that bridges hospice, doulas, funeral care, and grief support.

With insights from her manifesto on reimagining funeral service, Wakefield brings fresh perspective to an industry facing profound cultural and technological change. 

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