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
#74 Talk of a Lifetime Card Game
October 04, 2019 23:00 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MBRyan and Brian use the "Talk of a Lifetime" card game to ask some personal question of each other with the hope of maybe learning a little more about their friendship.
#73 Kenya Update
September 27, 2019 23:00 - 35 minutes - 49 MBDominick Astorino stops by the show to give an update on Operation Kenya, the mission to bring embalming education to the country of Kenya in Africa. Check it out.
#72 My Funeral Home Stories with Grant
September 20, 2019 23:00 - 41 minutes - 56.9 MBGrant from the hit podcast, "My Funeral Home Stories" stops by the show to talk shop and how he decided to put together his podcast. Check it out on iHeartRadio, iTunes, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.
#71 Mortuary Magic Store with J. Mario Bernaudo
September 13, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 109 MBThe boys talk with J Mario Bernaudo, creator of the Mortuary Magic Store and many innovations to support his fellow embalmers. J Mario takes us down the path from his first invention to his latest offering. Check it out.
#70 Henry Johnston
September 06, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 85.7 MBWhile visiting the state of Washington, Ryan and Brian seek out fellow embalmer and funeral director, Henry Johnston to discuss his career.
#69 National Grief Awareness Day with Kayla Hall
August 30, 2019 22:50 - 30 minutes - 42.8 MBFor National Grief Awareness Day, Ryan and Brian chat with counselor Kayla Hall from Torchlight Counseling Services.
#68 Herland Forest with Walt Patrick
August 28, 2019 21:00 - 51 minutes - 71.3 MBWill your body serve a purpose after death? Does human composting have to happen in an industrial setting? Ryan and Brian chat with Walt Patrick from Herland Forest Cemetery about operating a cemetery in a sustainability education and research forest.
#67 Garfield Refining with Melissa Polis
August 23, 2019 23:00 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBEver wonder what happens with all the remaining metals after a cremation or alkaline hydrolysis? Melissa Polis from Garfield Refining talks about an environmentally friendly option.
#66 DeathCon2019: LifeNet Health with Cameron Axelson
August 21, 2019 11:59 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MBAt DeathCon2019 in Washington state, Ryan and Brian chat with Cameron Axelson from LifeNet Health about how they're saving lives with tissue recovery and transplantation.
#65 Near The Exit with Lori Erickson
August 16, 2019 23:00 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MBNew book alert! Westminster John Knox Press released this week the new book, Near The Exit: Travels With The Not-So-Grim Reaper by Lori Erickson. The author, Lori Erickson, stops by the show to chat about this exciting new book.
#64 DeathCon 2019 with Rob Goff, Executive Director of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association
August 14, 2019 23:06 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBKicking off DeathCon 2019 in Washington State, Ryan and Brian chat with Rob Goff, Executive Director of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association.
#63 Speaking of the Dead with Chelsea Tolman
August 09, 2019 23:00 - 48 minutes - 66.9 MBAuthor of Speaking of the Dead, Chelsea Tolman stops by the podcast to chat with Brian about writing her book, blog and starting a trade service. Join us as we go down the rabbit hole.
#62 Embalmers Supply Company with Dana Goodell
August 02, 2019 23:00 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBRyan and Brian chat with Dana Goodell from the Embalmers Supply Company about what is on the mind of today's embalmers. From time delays, to methylene blue to hexyethylphenoform, this is one conversation you don't want to miss.
#61 Viking Funerals with Mike Everest
July 26, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 91.4 MBWhat's a Viking funeral? Not the Minnesota Vikings - the real Vikings. In this episode Brian chats with Mike Everest from Portals to the Past.
#60 What's New With The Podcast
July 19, 2019 23:00 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBBrian and Ryan chat about what's in store for the podcast, from YouTube to speaking engagements, the boys discuss everything that's happening.
#59 Breaking News: Jedi Disposition Act & A Major Acquisition
July 13, 2019 00:23 - 23 minutes - 32 MBIn an unscheduled breaking news episode, Brian's discusses the fate of Missouri's Jedi Disposition Act and a corporate partner and friend of the podcast is purchased by a major company within funeral service.
#58 Jedi Disposal Act
July 12, 2019 23:00 - 20 minutes - 27.7 MBWant to be cremated like Darth Vader? Soon this may be possible in Missouri. How will this work? Will there be chaos? We discuss how this will probably work in practice and whether or not the sky will fall on funeral service.
#57 Remembering Gettysburg
July 05, 2019 23:00 - 30 minutes - 41.8 MBIn this episode of the podcast, Brian travels to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to visit the cemetery and battlefield. He chats with Greg Goodell, Curator of the Gettysburg Military Museum.
#56 Thomas Lynch & The Essentials of Funeral Service
June 28, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 93.6 MBIn our second chat with Thomas Lynch, we discuss the essential elements of funeral service and other topics. His books, The Undertaking, The Good Funeral, Bodies In Motion and At Rest and Whence and Whither are all available at Amazon.com.
#55 Pride Month & Funeral Service
June 21, 2019 23:47 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBRyan and Brian talk about Pride Month and the hurdles funeral directors face while serving our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community.
#54 Best Obituary Ever?
June 14, 2019 23:00 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MBBrian and Ryan discuss everything about obituaries.
#53 Kari Northey
June 07, 2019 23:00 - 57 minutes - 79.2 MBWe travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan to chat with Kari Northey. Kari has been educating consumers on YouTube for over two years. With over 200 videos, she has reached over 4.1 million views.
#52 Update: Operation Kenya
June 01, 2019 16:00 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBIn this episode we give an update on our fundraiser for Operation Kenya.
#51 Frank Downing & Funeral Directors Life
May 31, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 102 MBPreplanning, prefunding, prearranging - whatever you call it, that's what we are talking about in this episode with Frank Downing, funeral director and director for sales development in Indiana for Funeral Directors Life.
#50 John Henderson
May 24, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 113 MBIn episode number 50 we chat with John Henderson, fellow funeral director, embalmer and mentor to Ryan.
#49 Balancing Life as a Parent and Funeral Director
May 17, 2019 23:00 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBBrian and Ryan discuss the struggles of balancing work life and life as a parent.
#48 Wrapping Up 139th IFDA Convention
May 16, 2019 21:40 - 10 minutes - 13.8 MBBrian and Ryan grab a quick chat at the close of the 139th Indiana Funeral Directors Convention.
#47 IFDA 139th Convention and Whole Body Donation
May 15, 2019 18:09 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBWe chat with Kelsey from the Indiana University School of Medicine about whole body donation- how it works and how funeral directors can be involved.
#46 IFDA 139th Convention with Aftercare.com
May 14, 2019 22:16 - 10 minutes - 14.2 MBAftercare.com helps funeral directors keep in touch with their families months after services are complete. Listen how Aftercare.com can make this easier than you think.
#45 IFDA 139th Convention with CJ Boots
May 14, 2019 19:20 - 17 minutes - 23.8 MBBrian and Ryan talk caskets with Chris Boots, founder of CJ Boots Casket Company.
#44 IFDA 139th Convention with CRaKN
May 13, 2019 20:47 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MBWho loves paperwork? We chat with Barbie from CRaKN to learn how a software company can help funeral directors save hours of paperwork per family and entire work weeks per year - just in paperwork.
#43 IFDA 139th Convention with C&J Financial
May 13, 2019 15:36 - 9 minutes - 13.2 MBBrian and Ryan discuss how funeral directors can find help with processing insurance claims with James and Jackie from C&J Financial, plus an exciting announcement about Operation Kenya.
#42 IFDA 139th Convention with Tyler Tutterow and Operation Kenya
May 12, 2019 23:00 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBThinking of buying a funeral home? We talk with Tyler Tutterow who purchased his funeral home at age 25. Later in the episode we kickoff Operation Kenya-the fundraiser to bring embalming education to Kenya.
#41 IFDA 139th Convention and Bio-One
May 12, 2019 16:00 - 12 minutes - 17.3 MBWe talk with Bio-One Fort Wayne about biohazard clean-up services-how it works and who can help.
#40 IFDA 139th Convention and Memoriams by Ancestry
May 11, 2019 23:00 - 10 minutes - 14 MBFuneral directors, do you ever have problems placing obituaries in newspapers? In this episode Brian and Ryan are surprised to learn about an awesome new service from a company called Memoriams by Ancestry.
#39 IFDA 139th Convention with Investors Heritage
May 11, 2019 13:40 - 31 minutes - 42.8 MBRecording from the floor of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association 139th Convention, Ryan and Brian chat with Garth and Jay from Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company.
#38 IFDA 139th Convention with Mark J. Lindquist
May 10, 2019 14:20 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBRecording from the trade show floor, Brian and Ryan chat with actor, author, motivational speaker and seasoned National Anthem singer, Mark J. Lindquist. You can find his book: Passion! 8 Steps to Reignite Yours, on Amazon.
#37 Thomas Lynch: Whence and Whither
May 03, 2019 22:55 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MBWe travel to northern Michigan to meet Thomas Lynch author of The Undertaking to discuss his new book, Whence and Whither: On Lives and Living.
#36 Funeral Directors and Tissue Donation: We Can Do Better
April 28, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 89.2 MBRyan and Brian discuss many of the frustrations they hear from funeral directors about organ and tissue donation. Many times funeral directors express themselves in unprofessional ways. Although there are situations that can be frustrating to a funeral director, we can do better.
#35 Coasson and Ron Stoll
April 26, 2019 22:55 - 1 hour - 95.1 MBIs a hearse a station wagon? Is a coasson a trailer? In this episode of the show, Brian chats with Ron Stoll, creator and CEO of Coasson Inc.
#34 Speaking of the Dead by Chelsea Tolman
April 19, 2019 22:55 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBIn this episode of the podcast Brian goes solo to review the new book, Speaking of the Dead by Chelsea Tolman.
#33 Organ and Tissue Donation
April 16, 2019 22:55 - 24 minutes - 33.5 MBFor National Donate Life Month, Ryan and Brian discuss the differences between organ and tissue donation. To learn more or register as a donor visit: DonateLife.net.
#32 Exploring the Role of Clergy and Funeral Directors with Marty Ballard
April 12, 2019 22:55 - 1 hour - 105 MBThe guys sit down with Ryan's father, Marty Ballard, who is not only a funeral director but an ordained minister.
#31 Unscripted, Unedited, and Live.....
April 07, 2019 22:50 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBIn this special edition of the podcast, Ryan and Brian go on Facebook Live to discuss more of the positives of being a funeral director. Here is the audio from that live podcast.
#30 So You Want To Be A Funeral Director?
April 05, 2019 22:50 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBThe guys discuss their recommendations for those looking at or those starting a career in funeral service.
#29 Pierce Chemical with David Hicks
March 29, 2019 22:50 - 1 hour - 84.9 MBWe talk shop with David Hicks, national sales manager with Pierce Chemical.
#28 Thinking Differently with Aaron Scott
March 22, 2019 22:50 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MBMany funeral directors fail to change because they fear the public will reject their change. In reality, it is the funeral directors themselves that reject change. We chat with Aaron Scott, a funeral director that thinks differently and is brave enough to make tough decisions.
#27 Lacy Robinson
March 21, 2019 22:50 - 35 minutes - 49.3 MBIn this special edition of the podcast, Ryan and Brian chat with Lacy Robinson, director of member development at NFDA.
#26 Too Expensive To Die?
March 15, 2019 22:50 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBIs it too expensive to die? We hear that sometimes. Ryan and Brian go back down the rabbit hole to discuss a broad range of financial issues that all funeral directors talk about.
#25 What Funeral Directors Disagree About
March 08, 2019 23:50 - 35 minutes - 49.4 MBDo funeral directors agree about everything? Heck no. Ryan and Brian discuss some of the usual topics that can get heated between funeral directors..