Strong opinions. Big questions. And a few jokes. The crew shares all of the above in this discussion around natural organic reduction (NOR).

Can funeral homes make it work financially? Will it rival cremation in popularity?

And do families really want Mom to end up in the garden?

Even if NOR isn't on your service list, tune in for insights that will leave you informed, entertained, and maybe a little surprised.

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

Have feedback? Share it with us at [email protected].

Real talk. Real tears. Real great episode.

Nadira Baddeliyanage, Executive Director at ICCFA, joins the crew to share her unexpected journey into the funeral profession, how personal loss shaped her purpose, and why she’s all in on the work ICCFA does.

Fair warning: Nadira’s impactful story might have you reaching for some tissues.

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

Have feedback? Share it with us at [email protected].

How do you take a funeral home from zero market share to being the go-to option for families?

In this week’s episode, Marlan Gary of Marlan Gary Funeral Home joins the guys to share how he used traditional and unique marketing ideas to become a household name in his community.

From old-school billboards to creating TikToks, tune in to learn ways you can push the limits with marketing to grow your business.

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

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!

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!

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.

What happens when a funeral home owner realizes it’s time to step away?

In this episode, John Horan, founder of The Funeral Excellence Group, joins The Graveyard Shift to talk about building a business, knowing when it’s time to sell, and tips to guarantee a smooth transition.

From emotional decisions to practical tips (and some laughs along the way), this one’s packed with insight.

Kris Seale, President & CEO of Directors Investment Group, drops in on The Graveyard Shift for a no-fluff, eye-opening conversation about what really makes or breaks workplace culture.

The group covers topics like how to build a culture people want to join, why keeping bad apples is risky, and how generational gaps are shaping the workplace.

Plus, get the inside scoop on Kris’s life-changing epiphany that might change how you think about leadership.

Whoever said new ideas are hard to come by hasn't watched this week's episode of The Graveyard Shift! Join the crew as they swap stories about study groups and how they’ve benefited from them.

Matt and Jimmy share how having support, learning from others, and building deep friendships have made a big difference for them and their businesses. Gary talks about how study groups have served as a lifeline during challenging times, such as COVID.

Tune in to discover the value of joining a study group, along with the typical banter that will keep you laughing the whole time.