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Shift #41: Rituals, reclamation, and Dr. Alan Wolfelt
October 01, 2026
Reclaiming the meaning of funerals with Dr. Alan Wofelt
Families’ perceptions of funerals are changing, and not always in ways that make a funeral professional’s job easier.
In this episode, Dr. Alan Wolfelt joins the guys to discuss how funerals are losing their meaning in today's culture and calls for funeral professionals to reclaim their role as educators, not order-takers.
They explore why families might struggle to see the value of a ceremony and how funeral professionals can practice “supportive confrontation” by empathetically challenging assumptions while still honoring each family’s choices.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on helping today’s families navigate loss with knowledge, compassion, and confidence.
About the podcast:
Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., is recognized as one of North America’s leading death educators and grief counselors. His books on grief for both caregivers and grieving people, including Funeral Home Customer Service A-Z, have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide and been translated into many languages. He is the founder and director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition, as well as a longtime funeral service consultant. Learn more at CenterForLoss.com.
About the podcast:
The Graveyard Shift is a podcast by Passare and features:
Todd Carlson, Chief Sales Officer at Directors Investment Group
Matt Bailey from Bailey Family Funeral Homes in Connecticut
Gary Freytag from Spring Grove in Ohio
Jimmy Lucas from Lucas Funerals and Cremations in Texas
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