Episode #71: Funeral Succession Success
A Brush with Death
Succession planning preserves an organization’s legacy, ensures smooth leadership transitions, and nurtures internal talent. It is vital to the long-term success of any and every funeral home. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Chris Cruger, CEO of Foresight, and Jake Johnson, president and CEO of Johnson Consulting Group to talk about the value of and steps to successful succession planning from the perspectives of both the owner and the seller. Sponsored by
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Episode #70: Burn the Boats and Don't Die
A Brush with Death
In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf is joined by his brother, the founder and CEO of Uncharted Supply Co., Christian Schauf. Uncharted's mission is to provide high-quality, intuitive gear to help people navigate emergencies big and small. Gabe and Chris talk about entrepreneurship, ownership, innovation, and how passion drives success in work and life. to learn more about Uncharted Supply Co.
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A Brush with Death: 5 Minutes on...@Need Marketing
A Brush with Death
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is talking about @Need Marketing, a full-service marketing agency helping funeral homes connect with their communities through creative and strategic methods. Gabe is joined by Michael Anderson, President of @Need Marketing. Michael uses his personal background in the funeral profession and extensive experience in sales to provide partners with effective marketing...
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Episode #69: The Wired Mortician
A Brush with Death
Host, Gabe Schauf is joined by Victor Sweeney, "The Wired Mortician". Victor is a funeral director with DuBore Funeral Home in Warren, Minnesota who came into the national spotlight by just "doing the right thing" and has since been featured multiple times by Wired Magazine. In this episode, Victor shares his story and some thoughts on being a funeral influencer and educating the public. to see Victor's first Wired Feature to see Victor's most recent Wired Feature
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Episode #68: How the Sausage is Made
A Brush with Death
The National Board Exam is a hot topic of discussion amongst funeral directors. As workforce needs grow across the country and the education system works to teach the future of the profession, many questions about the exam and it purpose continue to be asked. To understand more about the National Board Exam, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Dalene Paull and Leili McMurrough. Dalene and Leili share a behind the scenes explanation as to how the exam is developed, its importance, and how funeral directors can play vital roles in supporting the process and the students who are...
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A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...Chptr
A Brush with Death
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, products, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode we are talking about Chptr, a new mobile-first memorialization platform. Joining host, Gabe Schauf, is Rehan Choudhry, Founder and CEO of Chptr. Learn more about Chptr and try it for free at .
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A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...NGL
A Brush with Death
On "A Brush With Death: 5 Minutes On...," we spend 5 minutes providing listeners with quick insights into various funeral trends, events, organizations, and goings-on. In this episode we are talking about NGL and the 2024 Inspiration Award with Jessica Grann, NGL's Chief Culture and Communications Officer. If you have someone you'd like to nominate for the 2024 Inspiration Award, you can do so at .
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Episode #67: What Does the Future Hold?
A Brush with Death
In May of 2023, the NFDA hosted “Future’s Forum” where 70 attendees representing the death care space met to analyze, discuss, and strategize the future of our profession. This event was facilitated by Jim Austin and Paul Schoemaker, two gentlemen whose careers focus on strategic decision-making for businesses of all kinds. In this episode, host, Gabe Schauf, is joined by Jim and Paul to discuss the Future’s Forum event and what the future of the funeral profession could look like. Is your firm only operating in the present or is it looking ahead? Do you know what...
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Episode #66: Ellen Wynn McBrayer
A Brush with Death
While women working in the funeral profession is nothing new, the incredible job done by many of them to serve families to the highest standards is something that cannot be overstated. The tasks performed, the detail with which they are done, and the empathetic care behind them have provided us all with examples of what we should strive for in our own work. In episode 66, host, Gabe Schauf, sits down with Ellen Wynn McBrayer, licensed funeral director and embalmer and President and CFO of Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes and Crematory in Georgia, to learn more about her experiences in the...
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Episode #65: Mortuary School Midyear Insights
A Brush with Death
What happens when you put 3 mortuary school instructors in a podcast booth? Find out in episode 65. Faith Haug and Joe Finocchiaro join host, Gabe Schauf, in a candid discussion about how funeral education is evolving. Both share some of their experiences and provide opinions on where it might be headed and what we can all do to help make it better for everyone. Whether you have been in the profession for some time or are just starting out - If you're curious about the state of funeral education, this episode is for you.
info_outlineLacy Robinson, CFSP and NFDA’s Director of Member Development, talks with host Gabriel Schauf about how funeral homes can communicate the added value they can bring to the cremation discussion, whether the initial inquiry is via a phone call or during the arrangement conference. Robinson emphasizes that any meaningful cremation discussion should be a conversation about honoring the life of a loved one.