PodCasket

In this episode of PodCasket, we sit down with John Heald, a veteran of the death care profession whose career spans from running a startup funeral home with his twin brother to leading corporate development at Parklawn. John shares his fascinating journey into the profession, highlighting his early transition from the finance world, his pivotal role in founding Tributes.com, and his decade-long tenure navigating the intersection of technology and funeral service at legacy.com. The conv...

In this episode of PodCasket, host Curtis Funk sits down with Chris Johnson, co-founder of Sepio Guard. From playing Division 1 collegiate baseball at BYU and facing future Major League stars to unexpectedly discovering the funeral profession, Chris shares his unique journey and the core principles that shaped his career. Chris talks about his baseball days, navigating adversity, and how sports taught him resilience that carries into his business today. He shares how an unexpected caree...

Curtis sits down with Nadira Baddeliyanage, Executive Director of the ICCFA, to explore her journey from Sri Lanka to leading the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association. She shares how a temporary role grew into a 30-year career, along with insight into ICCFA’s work in advocacy, education, and supporting funeral professionals. Alongside her professional journey, Nadira opens up about her personal experiences with grief and loss, offering a powerful perspective on why the wo...

Curtis sits down with Cameron Black, Chief Preneed Distribution Officer at NGL, to talk about the path that led him into the funeral profession and the experiences that shaped his career. Cameron shares stories from growing up in a family that moved frequently, his love for sports and golf—including a stint competing in long-drive competitions—and how an unexpected connection eventually introduced him to the preneed side of funeral service. From driving 90 miles a day to meet with families ea...

In this episode, Curtis Funk sits down with Welton Hong, the founder of Ring Ring Marketing, to dive into his fascinating career path, from his early days in tech with Intel, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle to becoming a leading expert in digital marketing for funeral homes. Welton shares insights into the evolution of online marketing, the growing role of AI, and how funeral homes can adapt to new technologies to stay ahead. Learn about his experiences at NFDA, his passion for helping sma...