In this episode we speak with American Cemetery & Cremation editor Tom Nondorf about how cemeteries are embracing community engagement, creatively reusing space, and recycling transparency. 

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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.

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 offers untapped potential for connection, service, and memorialization.

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.

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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 transparency is growing, as local media spotlight those without online price disclosures.

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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 discover the benefits of a connected tech ecosystem and how to implement it successfully.

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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 business post-lawsuit. 

Additional stories include the 100th anniversary of E.E. Pickle Funeral Home, neighborhood resistance to a Georgia crematory, and the launch of Eazewell, a tech platform backed by NBA stars to improve funeral planning access. 

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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.

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. 

For Greg Norris, regional director for Homesteaders Life Company, the foundation of a successful preneed sales strategy isn’t flashy marketing or an especially persuasive pitch; it’s discipline.

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