Explore every episode of the podcast Michael Augustus, Funeral Director and Embalmer

As a practicing, licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the State of Texas of 43-years, I feel compelled to educate you on what to expect when making funeral arrangements with a "Licensed" funeral director in the State of Texas.  In doing so, ask them to show you their license which should be BLUE.  If it's a Provisional license, it is YELLOW.  In the State of Texas, a Provisional licensed can make funeral arrangements.  However, it MUST be in the presence of the licensed funeral director.  s/he must be in same the room with the person(s) making arrangements.

Feel free to visit the Texas Funeral Service Commission webpage and read the rules and regulations.  The answers are at your finger tips, literally!  Their site is: tfsc.texas.gov.  Click on the "Consumer Information."  If your questions are not answered to your full satisfaction, call them.  (512) 936-2474.  Don't assume.  Remember, education and knowledge is power!!!

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Would you vote for a two time, impeached,  past president who incited the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and was found guilty twice  who sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll and was ordered to pay an initial 5 million dollars but could not keep his mouth closed and another defamation suit was filed against him upon which he lost and was ordered to pay another 83.5 million dollars, and continues defaming her?  Would you vote for an ex-president who's vice president (Pence) said he would not support nor vote for him in the November 24, 2024 election?  Would you vote for an ex-president who's been charged for not handing over top secrete documents owned by the federal government when asked several times?  Would you vote for an ex-president how is staring at least four criminal charges in his face?  There is not enough space to write an encyclopedia on Trump negative criminal behavior.  How pathetic for an ex-president.

Trump made the following verbal threat as follows " If I don't get elected, it's going be a bloodbath."

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This episode is about how your child or children won't allow you to see or visit with your grandchild or grandchildren..  We need laws on the books to protect  grandparents.  Feel right to reach out to me via email: maugustus890@gmail.com

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Can you imagine everyday being Thanksgiving?  We spend billions exploring space and beyond.  Nothing wrong with space exploration.  However, why don't the millionaires and billionaires formulate a plan to support home base first.  Non-profit organizations and entities are great in raising money and supporting various community activities such as food drive, feeding many families, building homes, toy drives, etc...  What about helping homeless individuals and families with obtaining housing, paying rent, providing transportation, assistant in paying bills, etc...?

If I had the appropriate funds, I had thousands of dollars, for my community, I would actually pay the water or electric bill for a month for each household in need to hopefully help them save those funds to pay other bills.  As you know, they (bills) they will never stop coming.  Just a thought in my forever giving brain of helping mankind to relief a little stress.  If I had funds, I would provide the down payment to those needing an apartment up to $1,000 and returned to the foundation if the occupant moves.  Wouldn't that be a wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving?

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Ever considered becoming a Funeral Director and Embalmer?  It's not for the weak at heart.  A Funeral Director is usually highly respected in his or her community.  Why?  We bring closure to many families served.  That closure equates to hearing from family and friends "you did a great job on preparing our loved one and helping us through a difficult time".  When you hear those words, your job is done.  You bend over backwards to serve those in your communities.  You network with ministers, physicians, lawyers, insurance companies,  professional funeral directors and others.

As an embalmer, you have the opportunity to disinfect, restore, and preserve the deceased by presenting them in a "life like" state for public and private viewing.  Embalming is the art and science of restoration.  The science is very challenging.  The academics of learning anatomy, pathology, microbiology, restorative art, principles of embalming, and other challenging subjects is worth the effort.  If interested, make sure you are highly dedicated is learning all subjects presented because you will take and pass the required states examinations and the national board examinations.

Last, network with local funeral homes in your area and learn as much as possible.  Become a sponge for knowledge.  Enjoy the podcast!

Your questions and/or comments are highly welcome.  Reach out to me via email which is maugustus890@gmail.com.

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This episode discuss pre-need arrangements, cremation, organ donation.  Funeral homes are obligated to provide accurate public information regarding their services.  If you request prices for funerals, embalming, cremation, burial, and other related information, they are required by law to either that information over the phone or in person in the funeral home or mortuary establishment.  They cannot ask why you need it.  If they don't provide the "General Price List", "Casket Price List", "Outer Burial Container Price List",  you have the right to file a complaint with the regulating funeral board in your state about not receiving the requested information.

In Texas, Pre-Needs are regulated by the Texas Department of Banking but may differ by name in your state.  In other words, your pre-need money is monitored through that agency.  Check with the agency in your state by simply asking a funeral home in your area.

If you have questions regarding pre-needs, cremation, organ donation, or other funeral related items, please reach out to your local funeral home and funeral director for answers.  Always, price shop between funeral homes for the best fit for your needs.

Last, never show a funeral director your insurance policy prior to selecting a service.  You know what you can afford and what you want to spend, not the funeral home or funeral director.  I've been practicing funeral business for 41 years (as per the recording of this podcast; June 26, 2022).  There are great funeral directors that won't take advantage of you during your time of grief.  However, there are some who will.  Armed with the information provided, you have the ammunition to defend yourself from any deceptive practice.

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NOTE:  This episode contains verbal information that is verbally graphic in nature.  Please listen at your discretion.  

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As an embalmer, I treat every case as if it's the worse pathogenic case I've every encountered.  When your loved one is in my care, I make sure they are properly disinfected with special chemicals, given a bath before and after the embalming procedure, and presented for public viewing without compromising public safety.  There are numerous embalming steps I take to make sure everyone who comes in contact with your loved one is protected for public and/or private viewing.  After all, we are composed of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.  The entire system is highly disinfected to prevent the potential spread of disease(s).  Also, to disinfect, preserve and restore the human body for public and/or private viewing, if requested.

My podcast is unique.  Have you every heard a funeral director or embalmer explain an embalming procedure in a podcast?  As an academician, I taught medical school for years and wanted to create a podcast like this one.  Unique with respect of explaining what happens in the preparation room in the funeral home, without expounding on gross details.  Furthermore, the purpose is providing you, the public, safety details with professional care expected of a mortician.  That I am!

Embalming and Covid is seen and presented (to you) through my lens, the lens of a professional, licensed, skilled embalmer of 41 years.  Your feedback is highly appreciated.  

Your feedback is important.  Please email your thoughts or comments regarding this presentation at maugustus890@gmail.com.

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