The Funeralcast
Join some of funeral service's favorite characters as they offer advice to the public, analyze funeral service in the news, and help other professionals navigate current issues.
96. Death’s Apprentice with Christa Ovenell
Christa Ovenell left a high-profile position as the Principal at Canada’s largest international college to become a funeral director at the age of 50. She is now a funeral director/embalmer, end of life doula, and a deathcare educator. Learn what inspired her life change and how she has combined her love of education and her deathcare calling to help meet the needs of her community. Be sure to rate and review the show, even if you don't like it!
Follow Christa on instagram @deathsapprentice.ca
Visit her website
Read her article- Embalming Isn't the E...
Funeralcast Fastcast 16JUL2026
On this episode:
Ethical AI Memorialization with Liminal Touch
Death's Apprentice
"What's your bold predicition for funeral service?"
Fluid Forum on August 18th
Embalming Chemicals in the Wild on YouTube Live
95. Ethical Digital Memorialization with Liminal Touch
More people are blistering at the idea of AI usage, especially when it comes to memorializing someone they lost. The co-founders of Liminal Touch, offer what they believe is an ethical usage of AI for digital memorialization.
Rate and review the podcast, even if you don't like it!
Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Check out Liminal Touch here.
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Follow Frigid Fluid @frigidfluid
Visit our newly revamped website
94. What is Promession? with Peter Mäsak
Promession is a little known method of disposition developed in Sweden. Ben is joined by Peter Masak, husband of the founder of Promessa to explain the method.
Be sure to rate and review the show!
Email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow @thefuneralcast
Promessa video links mentioned in the show
Promessa- How it works
https://www.facebook.com/teletrece/videos/1050440205037543/
https://www.facebook.com/DavidAvocadoWolfe/videos/10153717247856512/
https://work-60633547.facebook.com/kingdemic/videos/1067877743294822/?
Funeralcast Fastcast 17JUN2026
On this episode, I am joined by Frigid President and CEO to discuss current and upcoming episodes, say goodbye to two funeral service giants, and ask Brian an "Is it Real?" question.
93. Scattering the Friendly Skies with Cremation Air
Scattering cremated remains from an airplane is not new, but Patrick Kane and Andrew Czachor have created a new level of diginity and accountability for the process backed by the tech team at Answering Service for Directors,
Be sure to rate and review the show!
Email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Follow @cremationairofficial
Learn more about the process of how Cremation Air works here.
Email them at Pat.Kane@CremationAir.com
92. Cremation turns 150! with Barbara Kemmis
This year marks 150 years since Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne cremated Baron De Palm in Washington, PA. It has come a long way since then to become the number one form of disposition. Barbara Kemmis, the executive director of The Cremation Association of North America joins Ben to talk about the four eras of cremation history and where it may be going.
Be sure to rate and review the show. Watch for new episodes of the Funeralcast Fastcast!
Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Email Barbara barbara@cremationassociation.org
Follow @thefuneralcast
...
Funeralcast Fastcast 23MAY2026
Think I missed something? Email me at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com.
91. Graceful Arrangements with Effie Anolik
When Effie's dad died in 2018, she had no idea what to do other than Google "how to plan a funeral." Her journey led her to start Afterword a company that has now expanded into AI assisted funeral arrangements that earned them the 2025 National Funeral Directors Association Innovation Award.
Schedule a demo of Grace AI
Email me bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow @thefuneralcast
Follow @frigidfluid
Be sure to rate and review the show!
90. Tending to Your Headstone with Artem Manilov
Did you know there is an Uber-style app for headstone restornation and repair? Us either! Ben interviews Artem Manilov founder of the the Tending app that families can use to fix up their distant headstones, and others can pick up some gig work!
Be sure to rate and review the show!
Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Register for The Fluid Forum
Find the Tending app
Funeralcast Fastcast 22APR2026
On this episode; a preview of current and upcoming Funeralcast interviews, hot takes on celebrity death doulas and the future of mortuary schools plus find out where the Frigid Fleet will be in May.
Email me your thoughts bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
89. Cradle of Coaches with The Mazzarella Family
Hearses are a signature symbol of funeral service. Ben is joined by the Mazzarella Family to discuss the birth and evolution of the hearse in Ohio, also known as "The Cradle of Coaches."
Please rate and review the show! Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Visit American Coach Sales Website
Watch American Coach Sales on YouTube
Shop our selection of embalming fluids and prep room equipment
Funeralcast Fastcast 09APR2026
In this first epidsode of The Funeralcast Fastcast, we spotlight a powerful conversation on the history of Black funeral directing with Professor Edwin Jackson, explore what Ohio’s “Cradle of Coaches” means with the Mazzarella family, and break down one of the biggest conversations in mortuary education right now — the transition of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science into Xavier University. Plus, we highlight where to find the Frigid Fleet this month and share an In Case You Missed It featuring Jennifer Lares’ new role with Funeral Service Insider and a must-read article on Colorado funeral regulations.
Email me at bsch...
88. The History of Black Funeral Directors with Edwin Jackson
Edwin Jackson is a licensed funeral director and professor who has been working to better all of our understanding of the contribution that African American funeral directors have made to funeral service history. Listen to Edwin share their incredible stories.
Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow @thefuneralcast
Visit the Multicultural Death and Grief Care Academy
Edwin's reccomended reading list
To Serve the Living: Funeral Directors and the African American Way of Death by Suzanne E. Smith
Passed On: African American Mourning Stories, A Memorial by Karla F.C. Ho...
87. FDOTY 2025 with Sam James
Ever wonder how someone becomes Funeral Director of the Year? Us too! Ben sits down with Sam James, owner of James Funeral Home in Huntersville, NC who also happens to be American Funeral Director’s Funeral Director of the Year 2025. Please rate and review the show!
Email me with your questions bschmidt@frigidfluid.comFollow Ben @thefuneralcast
Visit James Funeral Home’s Website
Follow James Funeral Home on Facebook Shop our selection of embalming fluids and prep room equipment
86. Modern Mummification with Summum
Modern mummification is very rare but very possible. The members of the Summum religious philosophy have a plan and procedure in place for members of their group who have already signed up for it. Ben talks with two licensed funeral directors, Bernie Aua and Ron Temu who have been members of of Summum since its beginnings. Please remember to rate and review the show!
Email me with your questions bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Visit Summum's website
Follow Ben @TheFuneralcast
Shop our selection of embalming fluids and prep room equipment
85. Dissecting DABDA with Dr. Jason Troyer
You are probably familiar with the Five Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance (DABDA) because they are so incepted into our culture, but is it accurate? Ben is Joined by Dr. Jason Troyer, a counselor, professor, and well respected public speaker in funeral service joins Ben to dissect DABDA and offer alternatives. Please rate and review the show!
Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Visit Dr. Troyer's Website!
Learn more about Healing Path
Shop our selection of embalming fluids and prep ro...
84. Mortuary School Curriculum with Jzyk Ennis
There are lots of strong opinions about mortuary school curriculums, many of which are based on misunderstanding or misinterpetations of what actually goes on in the creation of curriculums. Jzyk Ennis has served as the President of the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) and is the current Chair of the ABFSE Curriculum Committee.
Want to comment on curriculum! Go here to learn more!
Looking for employment? Service Corporation International is hiring Advance Planning Funeral Directors for their Far Cape, Boston, and North Shore locations in Massachusetts. Send your resume to Mark.Stiner@digini...
83. The Funeral Meme Pages Part 2- @funeral.memes @the_funeral_channel @jerryspringerfuneralhome
The fun continues with more Instagram funeral meme pages! In part two of the series we have @funeral.memes, @the_funeral_channel and @jerryspringerfuneralhome to give us some insight into how they use memes to entertain and cope with stress.
Please rate and review this show!
Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Follow Frigid @frigidfluid
Follow @funeral.memes
Follow @the_funeral_channel
Follow @jerryspringerfuneralhome
Check out our wide variety of fluids and prep room supplies!
82. The Funeral Meme Pages Part 1- @thefunerallife and @opencasketculture
Funeral service can be fun, and some of the best ways to have fun on the Internet is with memes! In part one of this two part series, I have two of Instagram’s favorite funeral meme pages; @thefunerallife and @opencasketculture! If you have ever wondered what these two were like in real life, here’s your chance to find out!
Please rate and review this show!
Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Follow Frigid @frigidfluid
Follow @opencasketculture
Follow @thefunerallife
Check out our wide variety of flui...
81. Best of The Funeralcast 2025!
2025 was the best year for The Funeralcast so far. We tackled tough subjects like suicide and the mental health of funeral directors, got well informed on topics like alkaline hydrolysis, how to place unclaimed created remains, and the Dover Port Mortuary Affairs. We had the first podcast episode approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice for credit. Most importantly, we heard the opinions of funeral directors and other funeral service professionals from all over the world on a variety of topics. Please come and listen to parts of my favorite episodes from the last year.
Please rate...
80. Honoring and Evolving with Walker Posey
Walker Posey is a fourth-generation funeral director but as the owner of Posey Funeral Directors, he doesn’t take his long-standing relationship with the community for granted and is always looking for new ways to engage them. Pleas rate and review The Funeralcast wherever you listen!
Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Visit Posey Funeral Directors
Get your holiday gifts here!
79. What Would You Do With Your Free Booth?
This year, Ben asked every at one at The National Funeral Directors Association's Convention and Expo "what would you do if NFDA gave you a free booth?" Enjoy their answers, and if you'd like to share what you would do with your booth, you can email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com.
78. Funeral Women Lead with Lisa Baue
Please rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts! Lisa Baue is a former CEO and funeral home owner who through a series of lief events detailed in her book Wake Up Calls: A Journey of Learning to Lead and Succeed in the Funeral and Deathcare Profession has recognized the value of leadership in organizations. She seeks to move funeral service forward as the Founder/CEO of Funeral Women Lead an organization geared toward women in funeral service. Buy Lisa’s book
Connect with Funeral Women LeadEmail me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow Ben @thefunera...
77. The Barber Surgeons with Todd Hara
The barber surgeons were an interesting chapter in medical and funeral history. The idea of surgeons who learned the job instead of going to school nowadays is unheard of in today's culture, but their legacy still lives on...
Todd Harra is an accomplished author, funeral director and calendar model.
Find his books here https://www.toddharra.com/new-page
Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you are listening!
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Shop our selection of embalming fluids and prep room equip...
76. What is an End-of- Life Doula? with Ashley Johnson
End- of –Life Doulas (aka Death Doulas) are a growing group in end-of-life care. Ashley Johnson is the President of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance and the founder of Loyal Hands an end-of –life doula consultancy. She joins Ben to explain the role of end-of-life doulas and how they can work to the funeral home’s advantage.
Please rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts
Find Ashley at The National End of Life Doula Alliance
Follow The National End of Life Doula Alliance on Facebook Email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
...75. Prion Diseases and Funeral Service with The Prion Center
Prion diseases and how to handle people’s deceased loved ones who have them is a difficult and misunderstood topic in funeral service and in medicine in general. Aaron Koethe and Danielle Jordan are both part of the team at the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center (The Prion Center), who work with patients afflicted with prion diseases and their families as well as funeral homes nationwide to better understand the nature of their diagnosis. Please be sure to rate and review this show!
Email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Vis...
74. Suicide and Funeral Service with Dr. Sara Murphy
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and in an effort to raise awareness in how it affects both funeral service professionals and the families they serve, Ben speaks to Sara Murphy, a respected thanatologist and suicidologist about the topic.
Find Sara Murphy and read her articles at deathdoc.com
Email Ben at bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
73. Maintaining Your Mental Health in Funeral Service with Jade Dacus
Please be sure to rate and review the show! Mental health is such an important topic in funeral service, and everyone seems to be talking about it. Jade Dacus, one of this year’s Texas Emerging Leaders University Speakers, is both a licensed funeral director and licensed professional counselor joins the show to offer some guidance that will help us all. Email Jade jade@sametimenextweektherapy.com Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Free Expo passes here! We are booth 1231! Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Shop our selection of embalming fluids and prep room equipment
72. Funeral Service; What Does It Mean To You? with Dylan Stopher
It’s time again for Texas Emerging Leaders University! One of this year’s speakers is Dylan Stopher, who’s presentation “What Does It Mean To You?” is an examination of the motivation and drive within each funeral service professional.
Be sure to rate and review The Funeralcast!
Follow Dylan on LinkedIn
Email me with questions! bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Free Expo Passes! Booth 1231!
(Bonus) Online Mortuary School- Just the Students
In The Funeralcast Episode 69. Online Mortuary School with Rebecca Gardner, three students reflect on their experience with mortuary school online and share information they wish they knew. This is their standalone segement.
71. What is Alkaline Hydrolysis? with Ryan Cattoni
Alkaline Hydrolysis is a dispostion you may have heard of but are not familiar with. Ryan Cattoni at the age of 23 years old brought alkaline hydrolysis as a legal form of disposition to Illinois. A visionary at a young age, he has led funeral service in this type of disposition through funeral industry presentations and local media appearances.
Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts!
Visit AquaGreen Dispositions website
Follow @aqua_green dispositions on Instagram
Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com ...
70. One Positive Change in Funeral Service
Over the summer, Ben made the speaker circuit and along the way he asked funeral directors in Indiana, Texas, and West Virginia what one positive change they have seen in funeral service since they started. You might be surprised at what they said! Please rate and review this show!
Free NFDA Expo Passes, just use our company and booth 1231!
Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Find upcoming continuing education and take the test for Funeralcast Episode 58. Jewish Ceremonies for CFSP credit! Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
69. Online Mortuary School with Rebecca Gardner
There’s a debate about online mortuary schools and their ability to produce capable funeral directors. Ben speaks with Rebecca Gardner, the program director at Northeast Texas Community College, a fully online mortuary school and three recent graduates from the program. Learn how Ms. Gardner designed the program in order to allay the concerns of the greater funeral directing public and how it benefited the graduates. Please rate and review the show!
Free Expo passes here! We are booth 1231! Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Check out Northeast Texas Community College's Program
Follow Ben @t...
68. Researching Women and Funeral Service with Dr. Lucia Dickinson
In 2023, 74% mortuary school graduates were women, and that number holds steady today. Dr. Lucia Dickinson did her dissertation on the experiences of ten women who are mortuary school graduates in order to learn more about their experiences as they integrated into funeral service. Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts! Email Lucia ldickinson89@gmail.com
Find Lucia on LinkedIn
Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Follow Ben @thefuneralcast Find upcoming continuing education and take the test for Funeralcast Episode 58. Jewish Ceremonies for CFSP credit! Shop our selection of embalmi...
67. How to Place Unclaimed Cremated Remains with Lanae Strovers
Lanae Strovers is a funeral director and the trainer for the National Funeral Director’s Association. One of her most important professional missions is to locate families for people who have been cremated and remain unclaimed, which is a common funeral home problem. In this episode she offers her advice on how funeral homes can place their unclaimed cremated remains. She has been so recognized for her efforts in this capacity that they even made a movie about her, which you can check out here.
Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you get your podca...
66. Dover Port Mortuary Affairs with Danielle Wilk
Danielle Wilk is the Port Mortuary Branch Chief at Dover AFB base, place where fallen US service members go to be cared for. Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts! Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast
Find upcoming continuing education and take the test for Funeralcast Episode 58. Jewish Ceremonies for CFSP credit!
65. Checking In with the Moms
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in funeral service!!!
On Episodes 28 and 29 of The Funeralcast, Amanda King and Eileen Hollis share the challenges and joys of being pregnant in funeral service. Well guess what? The babies are here and are about 1 year old! Now they tell us the stories of how they have navigated their first year trying to balance life with a new child and funeral service. Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts! Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com Find upcoming continuing education and take the test...
64. Seth Learns About Funeral Service (Part 1)
Seth Holmes is new to funeral service! In December he took the role as the Midwest Territory and Sales Manager. He is no stranger to good customer service and will no doubt do well supporting funeral service professionals. He has lots of questions though, and Ben is here to help him learn more! In this episode, Ben is on the other side of the interview as he tries to help Seth get more information about his customers.
Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you get your podcasts! Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com...
63. The Resurrectionists with Todd Hara
Donating your body to science these days is a simple and legal process, and we applaud those who do it to advance science. But it wasn’t always that way... Last Rites author Todd Hara is back with Ben to share the shocking stories that led to invention of the burial vault.
Find Todd's books here
Be sure to rate and review this show wherever you are listening! Email me with your comments! Bschmidt@frigidfluid.com
Follow Ben @thefuneralcast Find upcoming continuing education and take the test for Funeralcast Episode 58. Jewish Ceremonies for CFSP cre...
