Funeral Service Insider: The Podcast

In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, Ashlinn Goodman, Director of Cemetery Solutions at Security National, shares how she went from family service counselor to leading a national cemetery consulting program. She discusses the common challenges cemeteries face, what separates high-performing sales teams, and why small, consistent changes outperform sweeping overhauls.

This episode is brought to you by Arranger from Matthews Technology Solutions. To schedule your Arranger demo, contact Lisa Valdez at Landrews@auroracasket.com.

In this bonus episode of FSI: The Podcast, we learn a bit about how to take a good idea a step further towards making it a reality in your business. Courtney will share a few thoughts from her session, "Measuring Success: How You Can Demonstrate ROI on Investments for the Future," at the upcoming Momentum 2026 event.

If the very thought of networking makes you tired, you'll want to listen to this bonus episode of FSI: The Podcast. Laurie Covington, the chief strategy officer at Homesteaders Life Company, shares a few tidbits that have enabled her to overcome wallflower tendencies and develop the career she deserves. This Momentum 2026 preview provides a glimpse of what attendees can expect.

Momentum 2026

Part 2 with Kevin Smith continues the conversation, explaining how the mobile embalming unit came to be and what "rapid embalming" actually is. Enjoy the unique insights shared by the Chief, Mortuary Affairs Division, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Port Mortuary.

Military Mortuary Affairs Program Instruction (DoDI 1300.29)

In this bonus episode of FSI: The Podcast, we explore how to identify and capture new ways to enhance your firm's services and offerings. By taking a chance on adding pet care options, Quinn Haisley-Wheeler, the director of funeral service operations & pet services, broadened Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service's reach and now gives even more to their community. Check out this sample from a Momentum 2026 session leader!

Momentum 2026

In this episode of FSI: The Podcast, Lisa Meehan and Erin Wilson (formerly with Pierce Colleges) share their journeys through funeral service and education, highlighting leadership challenges, organizational change, and the importance of staying true to themselves. They discuss the impact of organizational restructuring, advocating for students, and the power of authenticity.

Funeral Women Lead American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE)

Guest Links:

Lisa Meehan Erin Wilson

In this episode, I chatted with Edwin Jackson, Assistant Professor of Mortuary Science, PhD Candidate, Death Care Professional, Death Equity Advocate, and new arrival at the Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy. We discussed cultural competency and the importance of learning to care for the various races and ethnicities that you may be called upon to serve. Resources and ideas were exchanged in this honest conversation.

Connect with Edwin on LinkedIn

Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy

CEO and Eternal Fan founder Matt Linn explains what exactly this progressive offering is and how it can extend a family's memorialization options into new territory. During our conversation, the value of creating experience and innovative positioning is described, and an explanation of this incredible new way for you to serve your client families is revealed.

Learn more about Eternal Fan

Executive-level learning meets Florida-level fun! Meet Danielle and gain insights into what to expect from the upcoming Momentum 2026 event. For more information, please visit: Momentum 2026

Homesteaders Event Announcement

On April 10, Dale Cameron took on the role of Business Development Manager with Doric Products. A seasoned funeral service professional, Dale brings a wealth of knowledge to his position with Doric. Join us as we discuss the future of outer burial containers, what options may be best for a greener approach, and how Doric intends to stay sustainable in a growing cremation market.

Doric Products

In the first of a two-part episode, we meet Kevin Smith, the chief of the Mortuary Affairs Division, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Port Mortuary. He shared his background and insight into how the Dover Port Mortuary operates as well as a few key processes (dignified transfers, wrap techniques based on viewability, and tailoring plastic garments for a fitted look). There are many steps that go into the care provided at Dover, and you can learn about them here. In part two, Kevin will share the evolution of their new mobile embalming unit and more.

From being the face of Return Home to her new role with Parting Stone, Katey brings us up to speed on where she is now. From candid conversations about mental health to sharing her feelings about her presence in "The Life We Leave", we talked about it all. Curious about the Parting Stone process? We covered that too. This is a great interview, well worth your time. *Thank you to our episode sponsor, Starmark.*

About Parting Stone

Connect with Katey on LinkedIn

Starmark Offerings

Licensed funeral director Mandy Stafford discusses her shift from casketed ground burials to ecological options and her new role with Return Home.

Click here for complete show notes.

https://www.kates-boylston.com/beyond-the-casket-why-one-funeral-director-switched-to-human-composting/article_772882af-6649-4820-81da-03aa2af5aba9.html

Bathroom discrimination, NOR in Brooklyn, a pro-green disposition doc, and more in this week's episode.

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This week we consider Ontario's unclaimed remains, Medicaid funeral spending, human composting in Maine/Utah, and Oklahoma's casket sales lawsuit.

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Rick Dilts of Dakota Granite discusses the "Mausolarium," the 60% cremation rate, and how cemeteries can simplify the private mausoleum sales process.

Click here for complete show notes:

https://www.kates-boylston.com/engineering-eternity-rick-dilts-on-modern-design-in-stone-memorials/article_3f6822cc-6fa4-44ff-88a5-3a705a37c562.html

INELDA's Douglas Simpson explains how end-of-life doulas provide emotional support and fill gaps in the traditional hospice and funeral systems.

Click here for complete show notes:

https://www.kates-boylston.com/douglas-simpson-on-mentorship-and-the-future-of-death-doulas/article_5e9f7e9b-e46f-4cb4-a26e-135333c8ac85.html

In this episode of In Case You Missed It, we look at legal and regulatory shifts within the funeral and pet cremation industries. The program highlights the upcoming fraud trial of a pet memorial owner, the closure of a Nova Scotia pet crematory, and a bipartisan effort in Congress to protect veterans' burial benefits. Additionally, the episode covers New Hampshire's legislative push to become the 14th state to legalize natural organic reduction.

Learn how low-maintenance grass with 8-foot roots can save cemeteries and homes up to 100% on mowing and water bills while remaining 100% organic .

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Executive shifts at Carriage, funeral home heroism in Georgia, political drama in Tennessee, the struggle for new crematories, and more.

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