The Graveyard Shift

By PassareBusiness Entrepreneurship

The Graveyard Shift episodes

June 03 Shift #33: Man on the moon, robots, and funerals
Put on your tin foil hat - the crew has bold takes on what’s next in funeral service.
From robots in prep rooms and shifts in business models to changing regulations and the rise of new technology like holograms, the guys cover it all.
Some of it’s far out. Some of it is already happening. Either way, the future is coming fast.
Tune in for a fun, thought-provoking conversation and a few ideas on how to harness what’s next in funeral service.
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].
37 min
May 14 Shift #32: Hamburgers, blog writing, and Tom Anderson
What happens when one of the most trusted voices in funeral service joins the crew?
Tom Anderson shares his journey in the profession and the inspiration behind starting a daily publication.
The guys cover everything from economic realities and permanent memorialization options to changing family expectations.
Expect a few hard truths, some hot takes, and plenty of reasons to be excited about where funeral service is headed next.
About Tom Anderson:
Tom Anderson is the CEO and Editor of Funeral Director Daily, a widely read news source dedicated to straightforward reporting on the funeral care profession. Drawing on more than 35 years as a successful funeral director, Tom provides clear, practical insights into the business of death care. Read more at https://funeraldirectordaily.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
Have feedback? Share it with us at [email protected].
39 min
April 30 Shift #31: Flying cars, website ideas, and Curtis Funk
What actually drives website performance? And can AI really help you improve efficiency at work and at home?
Curtis Funk, CEO of Tukios and funeral home website guru, joins the newest episode of the podcast to answer all of these questions.
Plus, the guys share how they experiment with AI in their own operations and make a few bold predictions about the future of technology in funeral service.
Flying cars? Maybe closer than you think (or at least, self-driving cars).
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].
37 min
April 16 Shift #30: Change, crutches, and comfort zones
Change is constant, so why is it so difficult?
The guys cover everything under the sun when it comes to change management. They share real insights on leading teams through major shifts, navigating pushback, getting staff buy-in, and keeping the right mindset along the way.
Plus, they reveal the advice they'd give their younger selves when it comes to handling change.
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].
44 min
April 02 Shift #29: Do-overs, donuts, and dress codes
Everyone has that one thing they'd do over. This episode is pure “hindsight is 20/20” as the guys share what they’d change about funeral service if they could wave a magic wand.
What if the profession had embraced technology sooner? Could work-life balance have existed earlier? Are polos and khakis ever acceptable at the arrangement conference?
Tune in for honest thoughts, a few ideas to keep the profession moving forward, and maybe a little venting. 😆
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].
43 min
March 19 Shift #28: Inspiration, Hollywood, and John O’Leary
Inspirational speaker and best-selling author John O’Leary joins the podcast to talk about something we don’t say nearly enough in this profession: make time for yourself.
With humor and heart, John shares how micro‑moments of rest, intentional pauses, and even some well-intentioned “selfishness” can help you be more effective and present with the families who need you.
John’s message to funeral professionals is just as powerful as his own personal story. This is one episode you don’t want to miss.
About John O’Leary:
John is a two-time best-selling author of On Fire and In Awe, host of the award-winning Live Inspired Podcast, and subject of Soul On Fire, a full-length feature film about his life and story of survival. Learn more about John here: https://johnolearyinspires.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
Have feedback? Share it with us at [email protected].
34 min
March 05 Shift #27: The anniversary celebration
Over a year ago, four guys grabbed cocktails in New Orleans and thought, “What the heck, we’ll do a podcast.”
Their goal? Share honest, real conversations about hot topics in funeral service. The result? Glorious, insightful chaos.
To celebrate, the guys rewind the clock to look back at their favorite moments, wildest tangents, and jokes that sent the show off-the-rails (as if it was ever on them). Tune in to relive year one and all the mayhem that came with it.
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].
45 min
February 19 Shift #26: Burning questions and heavy machinery
“This may be the best episode we’ve ever done.”
The tables turn in this anything-goes episode. All 4 hosts fire off their most burning, bizarre, and unexpectedly heartfelt questions at each other.
From laugh-out-loud moments to emotional curveballs, this one has range. It’s funny, it’s honest, and it’s deeper than anyone expected.
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].
1 hr 4 min
February 17 Shift #25: Cremation, celebrants, and Glenda Stansbury
The guys are back discussing celebrants and cremation arrangements, but this time, with Glenda Stansbury’s perspective.
As Co-Founder and Dean of the InSight Institute Certified Celebrant Program, Glenda has heard every “we’ve always done it this way” argument. And she’s not buying it.
In this episode, Glenda joins the guys and shares how a celebrant, or even a cremation arranger, can elevate service to families. Tune in for insights and takeaways that might just make you rethink the word “tradition.”
About Glenda Stansbury:
Glenda serves as Marketing & Development Director at InSight Books and is the Co-Founder and Dean of the InSight Institute Certified Celebrant Program. Her career spans roles as an educator, teacher trainer, and seminar creator. Glenda teaches in the Funeral Service Department at the University of Central Oklahoma and is an Instructor at Worsham Mortuary College. She also holds licenses as both a funeral director and embalmer.
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].
42 min
January 22 Shift #24: Celebrants, microbiology, and Matt Bailey
So, what’s the big deal about being a Certified Celebrant?
The crew breaks down what makes a celebrant-led service stand out and why it might just be the antidote to the rise of direct disposition.
Hear from our very own Certified Celebrant, Matt Bailey, as he shares the ins and outs of celebrant training, personalized services, and where celebrant training is headed next (hint: no science lessons involved).
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].
42 min

About The Graveyard Shift

From the publisher's feed

Funeral professionals are constantly searching for two things – new ideas to better serve families and a good laugh. Join Todd Carlson, EVP of Sales and Chief Sales Officer at Directors Investment…