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Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast
Kates-Boylston Publications has been covering death care for more than a century. Funeral Service Insider brings that institutional knowledge to bear on current events with the aim of helping funeral service professionals better understand the present and plan for the future.
Episodes
July 18, 2025 • 15 mins
In this week's episode we discuss peer support initiatives, outreach for professionals affected by Texas flooding (links and info below), a tariff surcharge, and drone scattering services. We also look at a crematory approval controversy in Maryland, and Tukios acquiring Batesville’s funeral website services.
Click here for complete show notes.
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July 7, 2025 • 43 mins
Mel Bennett, founder of Life Forest, shares the emotional journey behind creating a conservation cemetery where burial records, legacy, and land preservation meet. Bennett discusses the importance of remembrance, accessibility, and community.
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July 4, 2025 • 21 mins
This week on In Case You Missed It, we spotlight Nevada’s first mortuary school, explore mental health in funeral service through a high-profile Idaho case, track leadership changes at NFDA, and examine the rise of terramation. Plus: Ghana’s artistry in funerals, a young female trailblazer, and a cemetery sale saga in North Carolina.
Click here for complete show notes.
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June 27, 2025 • 25 mins
This week we discuss green burial trends, funeral homes as real estate, and a $1 cemetery transformation. Plus, hear why now’s the time for transparency in funeral service and say goodbye to Mongo, a beloved grief support cat who touched a Rhode Island community for 15 years.
Click here for complete show notes.
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Tiffaney Hill’s journey from a small Jamaican town to a leadership role in Minnesota funeral service spans continents, cultures, and careers. Through persistence and passion, she overcame industry barriers, pursued formal education, and now advocates for innovation and inclusivity in funeral care. Click here for complete show notes.
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June 13, 2025 • 23 mins
This week, we cover NGL's restructuring, major acquisitions in the funeral tech space, shocking mishandling of remains, and the Chattanooga Death Collective. Get essential industry insights and stay informed on the evolving landscape.
Click here for complete show notes.
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June 9, 2025 • 40 mins
Podcast Episode Description:
In this week’s episode we speak with Micah Truman, founder and CEO of Return Home, about the rise of terramation and what it means for the future of funeral service.
Truman shares how the disposition has gone from a fringe concept to a legalized option in 13 states. He unpacks what it takes to build a terramation facility, how Return Home partners with funeral homes nationwide, and why families and fune...
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May 30, 2025 • 20 mins
In this episode we share some direct commentary about how one local funeral director feels about the corporate competition in his own town, and talk about some of the good things going on in our June editions, if you'd like to subscribe. There's also a look at some futurist-type stuff including an impressive cemetery reimagining in Australia and a storefront death doula. We look at how some Vermont funeral homes are less ambivalen...
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May 26, 2025 • 35 mins
Scholarships top $1 million, a Connecticut director faces discipline, and Oklahoma’s funeral board may dissolve. Terramation expands to Georgia, and a cremation scandal documentary premieres June 1.
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Brent Thorson of Terrybear Urns and Memorials discusses how cremation businesses can better position themselves in a competitive, evolving market. Thorson highlights a disconnect between a funeral home's reputation for service and their visibility as cremation providers.
Emphasizing local relevance, Thorson aims to provide tools for firms to improve outreach, product presentation, and engagement. He underscores that cremation offer...
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May 19, 2025 • 33 mins
Writer and librarian Sharon Verbeten discusses her career covering funeral service and how her “Comfort Kids” project is helping children and families process grief. From grief libraries to story-driven writing, she champions open conversations about death and believes funeral homes play a key role in normalizing those discussions.
Click here for complete show notes.
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May 16, 2025 • 19 mins
In this week’s ICYMI: Matthews International has acquired The Dodge Company for $57 million, expanding its memorialization portfolio. SCI shares some interesting insights with Oppenheimer. In Texas, proposed changes to cremation regulations could slow services and raise costs. New digital obituary platforms are emerging, though concerns remain about pricing and long-term adoption. Finally, scrutiny over funeral home price transpare...
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May 14, 2025 • 11 mins
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, disconnected tech tools can slow down operations, create inefficiencies, and hinder collaboration. This session explores the power of integrated technology solutions and how they create efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance customer experience. Learn how seamless tech integration eliminates silos, improves data accuracy, and supports business growth. Join us to di...
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May 9, 2025 • 20 mins
In this episode, we preview Kates-Boylston’s upcoming virtual preneed event, featuring expert insights from Greg Norris and Spencer Larkin. Tony also recaps earnings from SCI, Carriage, and Matthews International, highlighting steady growth in at-need and memorialization revenues despite economic uncertainty.
Matthews also is preparing to finalize a major asset sale while expanding its energy busines...
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May 5, 2025 • 32 mins
Funeral director Alexandra Mosca shares her journey into funeral service and her concurrent career as a writer. Learn how these two worlds intersect and inform her unique perspective.
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April 25, 2025 • 14 mins
This week's episode highlights the new Kates-Boylston Compensation Report, a fire at one of New York's oldest funeral homes, an interesting legislative update on crematory temperatures in Oregon, and discuss the increasing trend of partnerships and venture capital investment in funeral tech.
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April 22, 2025 • 10 mins
For Greg Norris, regional director for Homesteaders Life Company, the foundation of a successful preneed sales strate...
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April 21, 2025 • 34 mins
This we we speak with Joél Maldonado, "The Grave Woman," and her path into multicultural death care. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds in death care. We also discuss Read more
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