The Graveyard Shift

By PassareBusiness Entrepreneurship

The Graveyard Shift episodes

January 08 Shift #23: Pews, tradition, and the “un-funeral” crowd
Families today want options. And funeral homes feel the pressure to deliver.
So, how do you make sure your funeral home can help families who are “team traditional” and others who are “team un-funeral”? Are pews in or out? What about mariachi bands?
The crew tackles these questions and offers advice on how to meet families where they are and prepare your staff for anything.
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].
35 min
December 25, 2025 Shift #22: Lawyers, liability, and Wendy Wiener
No one likes to think about their funeral home facing a legal nightmare, but avoiding a huge fallout might be easier than you think.
Tune in as Wendy Wiener, Founder and Managing Attorney of WRW Legal, joins the group to give some sound and practical advice specifically for funeral professionals.
From what to do if you’ve made a mistake to best practices for staying out of legal trouble, Wendy shares tips that every funeral professional should know!
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].
48 min
December 04, 2025 Shift #21: Breadcrumbs, women in leadership, and Lisa Baue
Did you know that 75-80% of mortuary science graduates are women?
In the next decade, the funeral profession will see more women funeral directors, funeral home owners, and leaders than ever before. And we’ve got the perfect expert for this topic!
Lisa Baue is the founder and CEO of Funeral Women Lead, podcast host for 4 Women and a Funeral, and the best-selling author of Wake-Up Calls: A Journey of Learning to Lead and Succeed in the Funeral and Deathcare Profession.
Her conversation with the crew is packed with wisdom and practical leadership tips. From lessons learned to empowering women, Lisa shares insights that will make you rethink what it means to lead. clapping hands
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].
40 min
November 20, 2025 Shift #20: Two CEOs and big, hairy, audacious goals
Every great succession plan starts with a goal. Sometimes that goal isn’t just big; it’s downright hairy and audacious.
In this episode, Chris Cruger, CEO of The Foresight Companies, and Jake Johnson, President and CEO of Johnson Consulting Group, join the guys to talk about succession planning and why, as Jake likes to say, having “big and hairy” goals is the secret to long-term success.
Tune in to see why you need an end-game plan, whether you’re fresh out of the gate or counting down the days to retirement.
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].
36 min
November 11, 2025 Shift #19: Glass eyes, magic wands, and misconceptions
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever heard about funeral directors?
Chances are, these guys have heard it, too. And they are here to set the record straight!
In this episode, the crew busts common misconceptions and stereotypes and shares what they wish every family knew before walking into a funeral home.
It’s honest, hilarious, and guaranteed to shift your perspective.
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].
41 min
October 23, 2025 Shift #18: Alfalfa, woodchips, and natural organic reduction
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].
31 min
October 09, 2025 Shift #17: Mentors, ICCFA, and Nadira Baddeliyanage
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].
35 min
September 25, 2025 Shift #16: Billboards, TikToks, and Marlan Gary
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.
37 min
September 11, 2025 Shift #15: Cremation trends, CANA, and Barbara Kemmis
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
53 min
August 28, 2025 Shift #14: Motorcycles, magnets, and marketing mishaps
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!
49 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…