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The Graveyard Shift
Funeral professionals are constantly searching for two things – new ideas to better serve families and a good laugh. Join Todd Carlson, EVP of Sales and Chief Sales Officer at Directors Investment Group, on a wild ride as he engages in genuine and off-the-cuff conversations with 3 accomplished funeral professionals – Matt Bailey, President and Funeral Director at Bailey Family Funeral Homes, Gary Freytag, President and CEO of Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, and Jimmy Lucas, Owner and Funeral Director at Lucas Funeral Home. Together, they share their takes and valuable insights into the evolving profession with plenty of laughs...Show more
All Episodes
Shift #15: Cremation trends, CANA, and Barbara Kemmis
Spoiler alert: Cremation rates are on the rise (surprising, we know face with tears of joy). But cremation families aren’t always who you think they are… Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of CANA, joins the crew to unpack the latest cremation stats and what they reveal about today’s families. From surprising misconceptions to smarter ways to serve, Barbara shares insights that might just change how you approach your next cremation call. eyes
Shift #14: Motorcycles, magnets, and marketing mishaps
Marketing a funeral home isn’t what it used to be. Forget fridge magnets and the Yellow Pages. Today, it’s all about websites, social media, and finding ways to stand out (yes, even if that means a motorcycle hearse). Join the crew as they share their biggest marketing mishaps, why a strong website matters, and how to show families exactly what makes your funeral home the right choice. If you’ve ever secretly judged a funeral home’s website, this one’s for you!
Shift #13: BBQ, event centers, and Jayme Toeppich
Jayme Toeppich, CEO at Broussard’s, knows a thing or two about serving families' hearts, souls, and appetites. After all, her family does run a funeral home and one of Texas’s top BBQ joints, 1701 Barbecue. Between the two businesses, Jayme has seen how powerful it is when people come together, especially during times of grief. That’s why her funeral home added an events center. And the impact? Pretty incredible. If you’ve ever thought about adding an event space where families can gather (and eat!) after a service, this one’s for you!
Shift #12: Control freaks, perspective, and Paul Beaty
What’s the real difference between working in your funeral home and working on it? This week, the crew is joined by Paul Beaty, Vice President of Beaty Funeral Home, with more than 30 years of experience. The group unpacks the daily tug-of-war funeral professionals face, the guilt of stepping back, why delegating is so hard, and the power of fresh eyes. If you’ve ever rearranged the flowers just because, this one’s for you.