Undertaking: The Podcast
576 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 216 ratingsFuneral Directors, Ryan Ballard and Brian Waters discuss life, death and the story of funeral service.
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Episodes
#122 Married To A Funeral Director
March 10, 2020 10:00 - 52 minutes - 72.1 MBRyan and Brian's wives, Tracy and Paige join the show to talk about what it is like to be married to funeral directors.
#121 The Watermelon Oreo Test with Ben Schmidt
March 06, 2020 11:00 - 53 minutes - 73.9 MBThe Watermelon Oreo Test is here! Ben Schmidt of Worsham College of Mortuary Science joins the show to discuss products and services and how they are introduced into the market.
#120 Hospitality In Funeral Service with Tom Sproles
March 03, 2020 11:00 - 35 minutes - 49 MBRecording from the Statehouse, Tom Sproles, funeral director in Indiana, chats with the guys about Hospitality in funeral service.
#119 The Greening of Funeral Service with Melissa Unfred
February 28, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 91 MBMelissa Unfred, AKA the Modern Mortician, specializes in green funeral service. She joins the show to discuss ways funeral directors can help families reduce their carbon footprint of their death rituals. To learn more about Melissa, check out: http://themodernmortician.com/
#118 From the Indiana Statehouse with Jon Ballard
February 25, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 43 MBRecording from Indiana Funeral Directors Association Day at the Statehouse, the guys chat with Ryan's uncle, Jon Ballard, Vice President of IFDA.
#117 Hannah's Story - Working As A Crematory Technician
February 21, 2020 11:00 - 51 minutes - 71.7 MBAn aspiring funeral director and embalmer, Hannah, a certified crematory technician in Washington state, joins the show to share her journey in funeral service.
#116 Cremation and A Haircut
February 18, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 43 MBBuyer beware. Not all companies are created equal. Shopping for cremation on the internet can be a coin toss at best. The guys break it down in this episode.
#115 Coronavirus and Funeral Service
February 14, 2020 11:00 - 58 minutes - 80.1 MBCoronavirus is all over the news and people are asking questions. Embalmers and funeral directors have questions too. We talk it through in this episode. Plus a special visit by Andy Clayton, Executive Director of the Indiana Funeral Director Association.
#114 Alkaline Hydrolysis with Resomation America
February 11, 2020 11:00 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBIn our final episode from NFDA 2019, we chat with Sandy from Resomation America. Alkaline hydrolysis is now legal in 20 states. In this show, we get our questions answered. To learn more about Resomation America visit: https://resomation.com/
#113 Remembering Matt Luecking and The Choice of Forgiveness
February 07, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 137 MBOn October 24, 2016, Matt Luecking of Terre Haute, Indiana was murdered. His brother Eric joins the show to share Matt's story and to share a story of forgiveness, grief and honor. To learn more about this story visit: https://blessedforanotherday.com/
#112 Curtis Rostad
February 04, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBCurtis Rostad of the Foresight Companies stops by to talk consulting, OHSA, prep room safety and even Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
#111 The Professional Car Society with Tony Karsnia
January 31, 2020 11:00 - 46 minutes - 64.8 MBTony Karsnia of the Professional Car Society stops by the show to discuss hearses, ambulances and funeral service.
#110 Doric Burial Vault
January 28, 2020 11:00 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBAt NFDA 2019, David Priest of Doric Burial Vault stopped by to share their story.
#109 DNA Memorial
January 24, 2020 11:00 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MBHave you heard of collecting DNA after death? What can be done with it? Who collects it? We get our questions with Ryan Lehto of DNA Memorial - learn more here https://dnamemorial.com/
#108 Vital ICE
January 21, 2020 11:00 - 26 minutes - 37.4 MBListen and learn along with the guys as they speak with Frank Hastings Jr. of Vital ICE.
#107 Round Two with Monica Torres
January 17, 2020 11:00 - 38 minutes - 53.4 MBMonica Torres of NXT Generation Mortuary Support joins the show for a second time. Check out NXT Gen Mortuary Support at: https://www.nxtgenmortuarysupport.com/
#106 Larry Stuart Jr. of Cremation Strategies and Consulting
January 14, 2020 11:00 - 49 minutes - 68.2 MBLarry Stuart Jr. of Cremation Strategies and Consulting stops by the Kellerman Family of Vehicles booth at NFDA 2019 to chat about all kinds of issues facing funeral service. Learn more about Cremation Strategies and Consulting at: https://cremationstrategy.com/
#105 Monica Torres and NXT Generation Mortuary Support
January 10, 2020 11:00 - 33 minutes - 45.9 MBWe chat with Monica Torres who owns and operates NXT Generation Mortuary Support. Monica provides continuing education classes to funeral directors and embalmers but also attends events where consumers can learn about embalming. Check out her business at: https://www.nxtgenmortuarysupport.com/ Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ColdHandsHosts
#104 National Mortuary Shipping and Cremation with Sepio Guard
January 07, 2020 11:00 - 16 minutes - 23 MBNational Mortuary Shipping and Cremation stops by the show to chat about the services they offer plus a special introduction to Sepio Guard.
#103 Ben Schmidt of Worsham College of Mortuary Science
January 03, 2020 11:00 - 48 minutes - 67.3 MBMortuary school is challenging. We chat with educator Ben Schmidt of Worsham College of Mortuary Science and author of the new Restorative Art Textbook - Creating Natural Form.
#102 Networking With Andy Clayton
December 31, 2019 14:11 - 22 minutes - 31.8 MBAndy Clayton, Executive Director of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, stops by the Kellerman Family of Vehicles Booth to chat with Ryan and Brian about funeral service.
#101 Goodbye 2019 - Hello 2020
December 27, 2019 11:00 - 39 minutes - 54.1 MBRyan and Brian review their activities in 2019 plus a review of the new products they've tried. 2020 is right around the corner and the lads discuss what's in store for Undertaking: The Podcast.
#100 Lance Ray
December 24, 2019 11:00 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBAt NFDA in Chicago, Lance Ray of Pierce Chemical stops by the show, not to talk Pierce Chemical and embalming, but to share the story of the death of his father.
#99 Wallace Hooker
December 20, 2019 11:00 - 18 minutes - 25.2 MBWallace Hooker joins the show to discuss his presentations at NFDA as well as his thoughts on funeral directing and embalming in general.
#98 Funeral Directors Life with Todd Carlson
December 17, 2019 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21.7 MBTodd Carlson, Executive Vice President of Sales and Chief Sales Officer with Funeral Directors Life joins the podcast to chat about the current state of funeral service, the future and Funeral Directors Life.
#97 Jzyk Ennis PH.D
December 13, 2019 11:00 - 27 minutes - 38.6 MBDuring NFDA 2019 in Chicago, Ryan and Brian chat with author, educator and leader in funeral service, Jzyk Ennis PH.D. Pick up his books - Embalming Standards of Care and Embalming And Renal Failure - A Silent Danger for Embalmers, all on Amazon.
#96 Jzyk Ennis PH.D
December 13, 2019 11:00 - 27 minutes - 38.6 MBDuring NFDA 2019 in Chicago, Ryan and Brian chat with author, educator and leader in funeral service, Jzyk Ennis PH.D. Pick up his books - Embalming Standards of Care and Embalming And Renal Failure - A Silent Danger for Embalmers, all on Amazon.
#95 eFuneral with Luke Frieberg
December 10, 2019 11:00 - 15 minutes - 22.1 MBDuring NFDA 2019, host Brian Waters and special guest host, Henry Johnston, chat with Luke Frieberg about eFuneral and how they can help funeral homes help consumers make purchases online.
#96 eFuneral with Luke Frieberg
December 10, 2019 11:00 - 15 minutes - 22.1 MBDuring NFDA 2019, host Brian Waters and special guest host, Henry Johnston, chat with Luke Frieberg about eFuneral and how they can help funeral homes help consumers make purchases online.
#95 Passare with Josh McQueen
December 06, 2019 11:00 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MBAt NFDA in Chicago, Ryan and Brian chat with Josh McQueen about Passare and how Passare can help funeral directors be more efficient and how Passare can help families network with funeral homes.
#94 Federated Funeral Directors of America with Curt Dailey
December 03, 2019 11:00 - 12 minutes - 18 MBAt NFDA in Chicago, Ryan and Brian chat with Curt Dailey with Federated Funeral Directors of America.
#93 Jack Adams
November 29, 2019 11:00 - 56 minutes - 78.5 MBRyan and Brian chat with long-time embalmer, educator and inspiration to many, Jack Adams.
#92 Thanksgiving Special 2019
November 28, 2019 03:51 - 35 minutes - 49.5 MBBrian and Ryan share their thankfulness in their second Thanksgiving Special.
#91 Speech Practice
November 26, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 109 MBThe lads practice a speech about funeral directors and their relationship with organ and tissue recovery.
#90 Grief Anonymous with Holly Barker
November 22, 2019 11:00 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBWhile at NFDA in Chicago, Ryan and Brian meet Holly Barker, the founder of Grief Anonymous. Holly has a powerful story and grief journey. Hear her story here.
#89 Questions From the Students of Miami Dade College
November 19, 2019 11:00 - 45 minutes - 62.7 MBRyan and Brian get together to answer questions collected from the mortuary science students of Miami Dade College.
#88 Platinum, MK and K2 Vehicles
November 15, 2019 11:00 - 45 minutes - 63.2 MBAt NFDA in Chicago, Ryan and Brian chat with their hosts, Mike, Joe and Steve Kellerman, the manufacturers of Platinum, MK and K2 vehicles.
#87 Burial At Sea with Maritime Burials
November 12, 2019 11:00 - 31 minutes - 44 MBWhile at NFDA in Chicago, Brian and Ryan met David from Maritime Burials. Tune in as the guys learn about burial at sea. For more information about burial at sea visit: MaritimeBurials.com
#86 Robert Falcon
November 08, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 125 MBFuneral director and embalmer from Austin, Texas, Robert Falcon stops by the show at NFDA in Chicago. We discuss everything from funeral directing to shoes to the death of his mother.
#85 Miami Dade College with Tanya Scotece
November 05, 2019 11:00 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBAre you a student enrolled in mortuary school? Are you considering a career in funeral service? This episode is for you. Tanya Scotece, Ph.D., from Miami Dade College stops by the show.
#84 Remembering Harry Lee Waterfield with Garth Waterfield
November 01, 2019 10:00 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MBHarry Lee Waterfield, President and CEO of Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company passed away in September. His son, Garth, stops by the show to tell us about his father's life, his death and how his family chose to honor him.
#83 NFDA Day 3
October 31, 2019 00:00 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBAs the lads travel back from Chicago and the NFDA convention, they discuss all the great people they met and all the exciting stories that will be coming soon.
#82 NFDA Day 2
October 30, 2019 05:34 - 12 minutes - 17.7 MBBrian gives an update on day two of the National Funeral Directors Association Conference.
#81 NFDA Day 1
October 29, 2019 03:56 - 11 minutes - 16.7 MBWe're at NFDA 2019 in Chicago. Hear a quick run down of day one of the convention.
#80 MKJ Marketing with Courtney Gould Miller
October 25, 2019 10:00 - 44 minutes - 61.8 MBCourtney Gould Miller from MKJ Marketing stops by the show to discuss marketing in funeral service.
#79 Civil War Embalming with Craig Malone
October 22, 2019 10:00 - 34 minutes - 48.2 MBBrian travels to a civil war reenactment to chat with Regimental Embalming Surgeon, Craig Malone about the history of embalming during the civil war.
#78 Prearranging Brian
October 18, 2019 10:00 - 41 minutes - 57.8 MBLast week, Ryan talked about his wishes for his funeral, today, Brian discusses what's in store for him after his death.
#77 Jess Wakefield
October 15, 2019 10:00 - 44 minutes - 61.9 MBWhile attending DeathCon 2019 in Leavenworth, Washington, Ryan and Brian sit down with fellow funeral director Jess Wakefield. Everyone's journey in funeral service is different and Jess was put to the test early. Check it out.
#76 Prearranging Ryan
October 11, 2019 10:00 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBIn today's episode, Ryan prearranges his funeral. His answers may surprise you.
#75 Round 2 with Henry Johnston
October 08, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 84.6 MBIn our second conversation with Henry Johnston, we chat about cemeteries, earning the CFSP designation, being a funeral director in Washington and lots of other topics.