Undertaking: The Podcast

Brian walks the trade show floor to visit some friends including James Fletcher of Matthews Aurora, our friends at Pierce Chemical (with Formula 496) and Craig from ASD updates us on the news of the week.

Each day, over 10,000 funeral homes are supported by Answering Service for Directors and today we let them know, we've got their back when they need us.

Coming in hot from Las Vegas, Brian drops his nephew's show, Undertaking the Colts with Blake Waters.

Alexandra Jo of the Death Curious Podcast, joins Brian on Undertaking: The Podcast as they go down the rabbit hole to consider how we communicate and how death care professionals can listen with intention to understand.

You can hear their first conversaton over at Death Curious https://deathcurious.com/

Someone has been listening! Who could it be?

Finally, from the shadows, not seen in 40 years......

Maybe 30, but a long time. Just listen.

Right, after a bit of announcements by Brian, the show is returned to its previous host, Mr. Benjamin Whitworth CFSP, MBIE and best of all, a proper chap and embalmer.

Allow us the opportunity to be redirected by another undertaker who cares. This is a show worth sharing.

Learn more about the British Institute of Embalmers here: https://www.bioe.co.uk/ They're sorry for Brian, it's in the minutes.

Hear more TVB stories here: https://www.toddvanbeck.com/

Donate to the Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship here: https://www.ccms.edu/alumni-and-support/supporters/

Do you follow RavenPlume Consulting? Check them out and find more Undertaking: The Podcast content here: https://ravenplume.com/

Almost 30 years ago, back in 1983, Edward Calahan CFSP opened his own funeral service company. He started small – in fact, Calahan Funeral Service was based out of an existing funeral home in Chicago. When the owner of that firm suggested that Edward take his passion for excellence in service out into the wider world –he took the suggestion to heart.

Join Brian on the road in Springfield, Illinois where he meets Edward and Shirley Calahan. Brian trys to examine the differences between rural and metro funeral homes as well as the differences in ourselves and our communities.

This is an important show folks. As we all look to grow in our work and in our lives, we find ourselves so focused on one thing and often it's our differences.

Listen closely as the Calahan's give their attention to the light in the darkness of death, our similarities.

The isolation of funeral service highlights our differences. Some times we simply need another person or undertaker, to redirect us.

Learn more about the Calahan Family at: https://www.calahanfuneralhome.com/

Connect with Undertaking: The Podcast at: https://www.undertakingthepodcast.com/

Have you heard My Funeral Home Stories? Listen: HERE

Today's show is sponsored by:

The Kellerman Professional Vehicles: https://kellermanprofessionalvehicles.com/ Find us at NFDA next to these beautiful vehicles.

Butler Coach Company: https://www.butlercoach.com/

Everyone take a breath; the Undertakers are here, and football season kicks off in September.

Sport is intended to be fun and exciting but when our people are not seen, valued, or appreciated, things get rough. As we step away from the heaviness of death care for one little show, Brian introduces his nephew, Blake Waters, an Air Force Veteran, and fan of the Indianapolis Colts.

Together, the two Undertake what is going on with our home team.

Check it out!

Follow Undertaking: The Podcast on Twitter

Follow Blake: @blake_a_waters

or Brian @watersbc

and the show @UndertakingPC

Recording from the sandy beaches of Cancun, Mexico at this year's Frigid Embalm Better International Conference, Brian Waters meets Dominic and his brother Damien Jude, undertakers and embalmers from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Embalmers often feel isolated for their trade too. It's not that we love it, it's because people ask for it. Let's learn from our brothers from Malaysia.

This episode is sponsored by the Kellerman Family of Vehicles Group and Butler Coach Company.

Learn more about them here:

Kellerman Professional Vehicles

Butler Coach

And Pierce Chemical and the Wilbert Group: Learn more at: PierceDirect.com

In the first minutes after you die, your family is extremely vulnerable. First impressions matter and can set the tone for the next few days, two years down the road.

When people feel vulnerable, they are sensitive and resistant to pressure, influence, and sometimes even action. Often the bereaved simply need to be seen to be understood.

Undertakers talk amongst themselves about how to connect with our neighbors and most often we learn from our mentors that the best thing we can do is to answer the call, show up, and simply acknowledge another's' experience.

Connection is at the heart of funeral service and as we seek new ways to help our neighbors in our own communities, we are looking to improve funeral service from the inside as well. Join us as we unpack the nature of the Coroner in Indiana.

Connect with the show at https://www.undertakingthepodcast.com/

Do you know Pierce Chemicals? Check them out at PierceDirect.com

Today's show is also supported by Butler Coach Company: ButlerCoach.com

Kellerman Family of Vehicles

https://kellermanprofessionalvehicles.com/

Brian catches up with Ryan for the week and they revisit the voice of their mentor, Todd Van Beck. As they discuss the upcoming tributes to Todd in Vegas, both decide to re-air episde #377 for a second examination of Todd's "Funeral Chronicles" on "Visibility".

The topic of isolation, anxiety, and grief will gain much visibility itself, when undertakers gather at the big show in Vegas.

Allow us to bring in Mr. Van Beck to redirect our focus to visibility: why we discuss it, why we seek it, and finally what we do with it when one has this "visibility."

Today's show is dedicated to the memory of all mentors, known and unknown.

To support the Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship or to connect with one of our friends at the Cinncinnati College of Mortuary Science, click HERE

Mr. Van Beck will be highlighted in the next edition of Southern Calls Magazine. This magazine is available to anyone and solid piece to add to any library. To subscribe, click HERE.

Are you a funeral professional seeking others to share experiences with? Join Brian as he visits his friends at the Funeral Professionals Peer Support Group. If you're not doing anything, Tuesday night, August 15th, hop on up and bring a friend. For times and information click HERE.