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.

Ron Clyde, Director of Special Projects at Directors Investment Group, joins the crew to talk about conflict management and how it affects the day-to-day.

The group shares the everyday conflicts they run into, why dodging tough conversations can backfire, and how personality differences shape the way they handle conflict. You’ll also hear the crew open up about their struggles…and as a bonus, discover who said he got kicked out of community college. 😅

On this week’s shift, Martha Thayer, founder and president of Mortuary Training LLC, joins the crew to share her knowledge about the current state of funeral home training, the mad dash to keep up with new regulations, and more.

Matt spills the beans on celebrant training, Gary talks about "borrowing" ideas, and Jimmy discusses the importance of personalized training for staff. Plus, find out which crew member has firsthand experience working with Martha (and how it’s going). 👀

Learn more about Martha Thayer’s training programs at www.mortuarytraining.com.

In this episode, the guys welcome Dr. Melanie Carr, Director of Sales Development at Funeral Directors Life and published author of Emotional Intelligence for Funeral Directors.

Dr. Carr shares stress management strategies, which encourages the crew to share what they’ve tried to relieve stress. Who smokes meat? Who has slept at the funeral home? Who has absolutely no stress whatsoever? Find out in this honest and raw discussion.

The conversation about AI continues as Gary, Jimmy, Matt, and Todd discuss how to adapt to and use technology as it evolves while still maintaining a personal touch.

Tune in to hear about each member's experiences with AI and the ways they've successfully encouraged their staff to embrace new ideas, even when there's a risk of mistakes—or dead butterflies. If you're looking to push the creative boundaries of your business, this episode is for you.

Join our normal cast of characters as they welcome their first-ever guest, Tom Antram, President and CEO of French Funerals & Cremations and the current president of Selected Independent Funeral Homes!

The crew discusses technology in the profession and how families are responding. They also share their thoughts about AI and how funeral directors should be using it. Get ready for a technological shift…

Time to get personal…and a little uncomfortable. Join Gary, Jimmy, Matt, and Todd as they share stories about some of their most challenging services and the lessons they've learned from each experience. Tune in now to hear each story and discover how they successfully navigated girlfriends, gangs, and ghastly mistakes.

Buckle up as Gary, Jimmy, Matt, and Todd dive a little deeper this week and share some of their successes and flops that have come from taking risks. Did any pay off? Did anything go absolutely wrong? Listen now to hear their best stories and discover why releasing doves in Texas during September is a no-go.

This episode also pays tribute to the late Doug Manning, a transformative figure in funeral service, whose legacy continues to inspire us to elevate our profession. Tune in to discover how to make every funeral a powerful and healing experience.

Heard on this week's episode:

“We’re not just going to talk about funerals.” – Gary

“I found a blue M&M in the bowl here by the way, so if it happens again, we cancel the podcast.” – Matt

“It’s like the C team on the junior high basketball team. It feels like that’s what we are here.” – Jimmy

“You’re not a licensed funeral director, but you did go to Harvard.” – Todd