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A Brush with Death

53 Episodes

0 minutes | Mar 21, 2023
Episode #53: A Night at the (Funeral) Museum
Looking for a glimpse into the history of funeral service?  Look no further than the National Museum of Funeral History in Huston, Texas.  Not able to travel anytime soon?  Just make it a virtual visit.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Genevieve Keeny-Vazquez, the museum’s President and CEO to talk about the origin of the museum, some of the unique displays, and what guests can look forward to in the near future.
31 minutes | Mar 7, 2023
Episode #52: Women Behind the Wake
In recognition of Women’s History Month and to kick off preparation for the NFDA’s 2023 Professional Women’s Conference, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by three of the many incredible women working in the funeral profession.  Bailey Wolf, Ginny Sanzo, and LaShonda Martin share about their journey to become funeral directors, as well as some of their experiences, challenges, and memorable moments. 
30 minutes | Feb 14, 2023
Episode #51: The Impact of Community Engagement
How engaged is your funeral home with your surrounding community?  It's no secret that getting involved can be beneficial both personally and professionally, but what are some best practices and how can you get started?  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Traci Macz, Joe E Pray, and Russ Weeks, three funeral directors who work hard to serve those in their communities beyond the visitations and funerals.  Hear what they are participating in and how you, your staff, and your community can all benefit. 
33 minutes | Jan 10, 2023
Episode #50: And Now a Word From Our Consumer
Are you aware of the current funeral consumer trends?  Are you looking to modify how you serve your families in the new year?  In this episode, Ed Defort and David Nixon join host, Gabe Schauf, to discuss the results of the latest NFDA consumer survey and where the families we serve are finding value in what we offer.
32 minutes | Dec 15, 2022
Episode #49: Funeral Rule Facelift
The Federal Trade Commission has started the process of updating the Funeral Rule, which regulates how our profession operates and provides specific rights to consumers seeking burial and cremation services.  In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by NFDA's General Counsel, Chris Farmer, to share what is being discussed, why it matters, and the importance of funeral professionals getting involved in the process.
31 minutes | Dec 13, 2022
Episode #48: Love Always
Dean Lambert, Vice President-Corporate Communications with Homesteaders Life Company, joins Gabe to discuss "The Love Always Project". Its purpose is to encourage people to change their mindset and take a more positive and proactive approach to pre-planning and end-of-life discussions. 
32 minutes | Nov 8, 2022
Episode #47: Holiday Mental Health
Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Dr. Jason Troyer to discuss the stresses that come from the seasonal combination of grief, serving families, and the holiday hustle. Finding effective ways to meet the needs of the families being served while minimizing burnout should be on every funeral director's holiday wishlist.
29 minutes | Oct 11, 2022
Episode #46: What Do Embalmer's Think About All Day?
Embalmer, Karl Wenzel, joins Gabe Schauf to discuss his approach to the embalming process and how he honed his craft. If you are an embalmer or are interested in being one, this episode is for you.
31 minutes | Sep 20, 2022
Episode #45 - International Convention & Expo Part 2: Workshop Speakers
Host, Gabe Schauf is joined by three of the workshop presenters you will hear at the International Convention and Expo. Vanessa Misoon, Dana Goodell, and Jeff Zealley share about themselves and what to expect from their presentations in Baltimore.
44 minutes | Sep 13, 2022
Episode #44: International Convention & Expo Preview - Keynote Speakers
Meet the speakers headlining the NFDA's International Convention and Expo in Baltimore. Kindra Hall, Dakota Meyer and John O'Leary join host, Gabe Schauf to share about themselves and a little about what they will be discussing in Baltimore. 
30 minutes | Aug 30, 2022
Episode #43: Funeral School 101
Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Jolena Grande, funeral director and board president of the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Jolena and Gabe talk about how mortuary school curriculum is developed, the National Board Exams, how funeral homes can help support funeral education and more! 
27 minutes | Aug 9, 2022
Episode #42: A Brush with Death Book Club - Last Rites: The Evolution of the American Funeral
Funeral Director and author, Todd Harra, joins Gabe on the podcast to discuss his new book Last Rites: The Evolution of the American Funeral.  This is a book for funeral directors and non-funeral directors, alike.  Gabe and Todd talk about how understanding the history of our profession can make us better in the present and help us to plan for the future.
28 minutes | Jul 26, 2022
Episode #41: But How are You Doing ...?
Host Gabe Schauf talks with death educator and grief counselor, Dr. Alan Wolfelt, and NFDA’s Morgan Schlender, Account Executive for Endorsed Programs & Membership. The three discuss the recognition and prevention of funeral director burnout, and some of the new initiatives that NFDA has created to help support funeral directors as they serve families.
30 minutes | Jul 12, 2022
Episode #40: A Funeral Fit for a President
In this episode, Gabe talks to funeral director, author, and speaker, Todd Van Beck about presidential funerals.  They discuss how presidential funerals have evolved throughout history, how they have influenced how families care for their deceased, and what we can learn from our past as funeral professionals.
30 minutes | Jun 28, 2022
Episode #39: Calling All Leaders
Host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by members of the inaugural class of the National Emerging Leaders Program (NELP) to share their experiences.  They discuss NELP, how the courses have helped them grow as funeral professionals, and what they feel funeral homes can do to better serve families.
32 minutes | Jun 14, 2022
Episode #38: The Loss of a Child
This timely episode focuses on the new resource for funeral homes and families entitled, When a Child Dies: Planning Acts of Love and Legacy. This is a collaborative effort of the Funeral Service Foundation and the National Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition. 
33 minutes | May 10, 2022
Episode #37: Meet the Graduates
This month Gabe speaks with four promising new graduates from across the country to shed some light on the life of a mortuary school student. The students discuss National Board preparation, final exams, assignments, and venturing out into the funeral profession.
30 minutes | Apr 12, 2022
Episode #36: Man... Made Mulch
In this special Earth Day episode, Gabe and his guest, Micah Truman, CEO of Return Home, are talking about a very interesting and new form of disposition known formally as “Natural Organic Reduction”.
31 minutes | Mar 8, 2022
Episode #35: What I Learned on the Internet
Take a deep dive into the World Wide Web with Gabe Schauf and his guests Ryan Ballard and Brian Waters, hosts of Undertaking the Podcast. These three podcasters talk about how funeral directors are utilizing the exchange of information on the internet.
28 minutes | Feb 8, 2022
Episode #34: Funeral Service Meets Science Fiction
Some future medical and scientific advancements sound like something out of a science fiction story, but we never know what role technology might play in the deathcare profession. Alexandra Jo, Culture and Content Manager at Parting Stone, discusses this fascinating topic.
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