Best Crevasse Podcasts (2024)

1
10 Online Marketing Mistakes You MUST Avoid | Albert Chang (Co-Founder, Parting Pro) #56 38:11

16m ago38:11

38:11

Online marketing might seem easy to set up, but getting it right is another story. In this episode, my co-founder Albert Chang walks you through the top 10 mistakes that could be draining your ad budget. It’s not just about following the basics or letting Google handle everything—there are seasoned competitors out there who will grab the attention …

1
157_Libertarians_on_ice 31:59

3d ago31:59

31:59

Coming back at yer, six months late and barely on topic, episode 157 addresses the increasingly loud and dunderheaded online chatter about escaping society and trying to establish society, only with more ice and surprise cannibalism. Libertarians probably don't listen to my output, but any that do can dig a well, actually, and throw themselves down…

1
Mount Hood Rescue 35:05

16d ago35:05

35:05

"I'm going to die," she thought. "There's nothing I can do." These were the thoughts going through Leah Brown's head as she was sliding down the icy slope of Mount Hood. We invited Leah and one of the rescuers, Erik Broms to talk about the November 25th 2023 accident and challenging rescue on Mount Hood, Oregon www.pmru.org…

1
From SCI to Successful Cremation Brand | Troy Kaltenberg (Grand Rapids Cremation Services) #55 48:55

24d ago48:55

48:55

From humble beginnings in the death care industry nearly 30 years ago, Troy Kaltenberg's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Starting at Service Corporation International, he cut his teeth in the world of pre-need sales. Fast forward to today, and Troy has built a thriving cremation brand, Grand Rapids Cremation Services, serving thousands of fa…

1
60.6% Cremation Rate: CANA Cremation Data Report Recap | Barbara Kemmis (Cremation Association) #54 45:17

2M ago45:17

45:17

Barbara is back, baby! 🎉 In this episode, we’re thrilled to have Barbara Kemmis, the executive director of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), joining us for the third time! Barbara is here to drop some serious knowledge bombs about the latest cremation trends. In this jam-packed episode, we dive into CANA's annual report, one of the…

1
Rescue in the backcountry: Eldorado Peak 31:11

3M ago31:11

31:11

Eldorado Peak, with its knife edge summit, is one of the most iconic peaks in the Pacific Northwest. Our very own PMR member, Marc "Milo" Milobinski is joining Amy Graham and Ania Wiktorowicz to talk about his climb of Eldorado Peak, the accident, rescue and emergency signaling. Sometimes accidents happen in the least expected places that are still…

1
Mt. Ellinor Rescue 42:39

3M ago42:39

42:39

Mt. Ellinor in the Olympic National Forest is a very popular peak. This strenuous hike offers spectacular views of he Olympics as the reward. In this episode Ania is joined by her fellow rescuers Amy and Milo to talk about the accident that took place on Mt. Ellinor in May of 2021. What went wrong? What went well? Could this be you? www.pmru.org…

1
Unlock Maximum Funeral Home Value: The Key Metric Revealed | Scott Newton (Graystone Associates) #53 55:44

3M ago55:44

55:44

With three decades of experience, Scott Newton is a seasoned veteran in the death care industry. As President and founding member of Graystone Associates, Scott and his team have been helping funeral homes thrive for over 20 years. After assisting hundreds of funeral homes, Scott reveals the key strategies and metrics essential for growing market s…

1
Built from Scratch: 4 Locations, 5-Star Reviews, 1000's of Families | Julie Bishop (Crevasse's) #52 35:52

3M ago35:52

35:52

Running four different locations is challenging. Maintaining a 5.0-star rating on Google for all of them? Almost impossible. But Julie Bishop of Crevasse’s Simple Cremation does it with finesse. In the latest episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, discover Julie’s journey from her beginnings to expanding her cremation business to serve thousands …

1
Funeral Homes Will Struggle if They Don't Embrace this Trend | Robert Hunsaker (CANA President) #51 44:14

3M ago44:14

44:14

In this episode, we’re honored to welcome Robert Hunsaker, a true legend in the death care industry. From his childhood days living in a funeral home with his funeral director father, to working in cemetery groundskeeping, and climbing the ranks at Batesville, Great Western Insurance Company, and Sinosource, Robert's journey is nothing short of ext…

1
Arrangement Secrets Revealed: The Best Selling Urn in 2024 | Caroline Andree (Parting Pro) #50 36:13

4M ago36:13

36:13

Boost your contract totals! Caroline Andree, Head of Merchandising at Parting Pro, reveals the most popular merchandise chosen by families based on exclusive data from thousands of online arrangements at Parting Pro. Learn what's selling and how to tailor your recommendations to maximize your contract totals and provide the most value for families.…

1
"I'm Bullish on Cemeteries!" | Bryce Bunker (After.com, Bunker Family, Gilbert Memorial) #49 48:39

5M ago48:39

48:39

At the helm of a successful funeral home, a new cemetery, and a growing online cremation service, Bryce Bunker exemplifies a family-focused, service-centric approach that has propelled him to success in competitive corners of death care. In this episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, discover how Bryce's innovative methods have redefined service …

1
155_TAE_and_IGY_foreshadowing 59:01

6M ago59:01

59:01

You don't just throw a Trans-Antarctic Expedition or an International Geophysical Year together. These things take planning. Here's some background on the planners and introductions to some of the doers.

1
Jimmy Altmeyer (Altmeyer Funeral Homes): 53 Rooftops, 12,000 families: Perfect Service at Scale | #48 58:42

8M ago58:42

58:42

Jimmy Altmeyer is as impressive as they come. As a fourth-generation funeral director, he started with 3 funeral homes and has grown his empire into 53 rooftops and serves over 12,000 families each year. While that accomplishment alone is impressive, when you hear how Jimmy talks about the profession and the level of service that he strives to prov…

1
How to Build the Perfect Online Cremation Company | #47 1:11:01

8M ago1:11:01

1:11:01

In this episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, reveal the unexpected challenges behind creating the ideal online cremation service. While it seems straightforward with its streamlined offerings and minimal overhead, there's much more beneath the surface. Uncover the five crucial elements that are essential for success in this unique business. Wat…

1
154_Macquarie_Island_catch_up 39:17

9M ago39:17

39:17

Several years of Macquarie Island winters receive attention as I chill out under a Casuarina after several fraught months.

1
153_A_furtive_summiting_And_The_Frontier_Below 39:15

9M ago39:15

39:15

I give voice to another almost but not quite lost snippet from "Big Dead Place" and I give the microphone to Adam Fitzgerald who voices the introduction to Jeff Maynard's new book, "The Frontier Below."

1
Ashley Jones (Parting Pro): The Biggest Mistakes That Will Kill Your Cremation Brand | #46 41:47

9M ago41:47

41:47

From answering the phone wrong to nickel and diming your families all the way to the bank, in this episodes of the Direct Cremation Podcast, we discuss some of the biggest mistakes that will absolutely kill your cremation brand. After managing one of the largest cremation brands in the world (5,000+ cremations/year) to now training and consulting f…

1
152_Vodka_in_a_Vegemite_Jar 1:00:12

10M ago1:00:12

1:00:12

In 1983 Australian glaciologist Trevor Hamley joined a Soviet traverse from the Russian coastal station, Mirny, to Dome Charlie, high atop the Antarctic plateau. Bouncing about in the back of a T-55 tank converted into a living quarters/galley/dining space/lab, recording locations on audio cassette tape, wielding a hammer, and ignoring the ideologi…

1
151_Jeff_Wilson_interview 1:11:50

10M ago1:11:50

1:11:50

Australian Antarctic Division alumnus, Jeff Wilson, recounts his experiences at Australian stations and in the Ross Sea. Road trip with our eldest. Good company at Anglesea. Good food. Good audio. One of the best days 2023 offered up.

1
Stop Funeral Director Burnout: Breathwork and Meditation Techniques for Funeral Professionals | #45 8:14

10M ago8:14

8:14

The stressful environment of the death care professional can be non-stop. Burnout rates are high, and turnover seems to be an ever-present issue withing the funeral profession. In this episode, Will de Michaelis shares his insightful journey into the world of breathwork and meditation. While you might think that these are non-sense things for hippi…

1
150_Shepherds_of_Heard_Island 52:01

10M ago52:01

52:01

The ANARE presence at Heard Island runs to 1955 and switches focus to continental Antarctica. The Island taught Australians to work on glaciers and to run dog teams, saw John Bechervaise cut his Antarctic teeth and lead the first ascent of Big Ben, and claimed the lives of two winterers. "Ice Coffee" leaves Heard Island alone for a bit having docum…

1
Why You Can't Ignore This New Death Care Group | Erin Creger (Death Care Collective) #44 48:26

10M ago48:26

48:26

With over 80% of new graduates of mortuary school being female, the need for a death care group centered around empowering women is becoming increasingly vital. Founded by some of the more influential women in death care, the Death Care Collective is just getting started. Whether you're an owner, a manager, or even just a new graduate, understandin…

1
149_Heard_Island_Appendices 1:02:49

11M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

ANARE occupation at Heard Island ran short but intense, and sometimes in tents. In addition to large quantities of wind and sleet the island provided a training ground for Antarctic travelers and their dogs. Challenging maritime approaches led to innovative approaches by maritime challengers, and everyone got home safely, this episode.…

1
Get Ahead of the FTC's Upcoming Funeral Rule Amendments with Poul Lemasters | #43 57:32

11M ago57:32

57:32

In this exclusive webinar, co-hosts Tyler Yamasaki and Will de Michaelis sit down with Poul Lemasters, a renowned death care lawyer and key advisor to the FTC’s changes, to speak about the upcoming changes. In this talk, we discussed: Why the FTC is amending the Funeral Rule now. Which amendments are likely to change. What impacts this will have on…

1
Sandra Walker (Fairmount Memorial): From Temp to COO: An Unstoppable Force in Death Care | #42 1:00:01

11M ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Sandra Walker boasts an impressive career in the death care industry. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Fairmount Memorial Association, overseeing seven memorial parks and a few cremation brands. Additionally, she holds a position on the board of the Cremation Association of North America and is a founding member of the Death C…

1
Drew de Michaelis (Omega Society): 4,500 Cremations per Year. How We Did It. | #41 43:13

11M ago43:13

43:13

Scaling a funeral home to serve more than 1,000 families annually demands competent execution and a well-devised business strategy. But to ramp that up to over 4,500 families in a single year requires phenomenal execution, a stellar team, and near-flawless operational efficiency. Drew de Michaelis was the operational maestro behind Omega Society du…

1
The Dark Secret Behind Deathcare: Surge of Bankruptcies Coming? | #40 9:12

12M ago9:12

9:12

Funeral home competition is becoming increasingly intense due to a combination of factors, such as the lack of future generations wanting to continue the family business and increased investment in the field. An experienced death care professional had four clients call her in the week before a conference, expressing their intention to file for bank…

1
Maggie McMillan (Wiefels): Why raising prices, losing customers, can still make more money | #39 56:48

12M ago56:48

56:48

Maggie McMillan quietly runs the #1 funeral company in Southern California, one largest and busiest regions in the country. Serving thousands of families a year. Her expansive funeral empire covers everything from prestigious full-service funeral homes, an eco-conscious natural burial cemetery, a handful of online cremation services, and an essenti…

1
Let ChatGPT Help Write Emails to Your Funeral Customers | #38 7:25

12M ago7:25

7:25

I want to show you how to let AI help you write email correspondence with your customers. It’s no shock that we write a lot of emails back and forth to our customers everyday. Let’s experiment with ChatGPT to see how it can help respond to a normal customer email. For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. Find us at https://directcremation.…

1
How to use ChatGPT to respond to Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews on your funeral business | #37 7:56

12M ago7:56

7:56

Now, while AI has some limitations, it also provides tremendous opportunities to save time and outsource things we’re not good at. In today’s video, we will share how to use ChatGPT to respond to google reviews. For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. Find us at https://directcremation.com Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Want to start…

1
Jimmy Lucas (Lucas Family Funeral Homes): 16 funeral homes, 110 employees & making it look easy | #36 57:08

1y ago57:08

57:08

Today’s guest is Jimmy Lucas. Jimmy is a licensed funeral director, a certified crematory operator, a licensed advance funeral planner, licensed social worker, co-owner of a quaint funeral and cremation business which consists of over 15 funeral homes, 1 online cremation business, 2 crematories. He has over 110 employees and they serve over 3100 fa…

1
Alexandra Jo: Why Parting Stone isn’t for everyone and that’s ok | #35 52:36

1y ago52:36

52:36

Today’s guest is Alexandra Jo. Alexandra is the host of the death positive Podcast, Death Curious, is a platform for death exploration and a community of like-minded, death positive people. They are also the Director of Outreach and Education of Parting Stone, the company responsible for creating solidified cremated remains — most famously known fo…

1
Self-care in Death Care Part II: How to handle job burnout | #34 21:41

1y ago21:41

21:41

Hi and welcome to the Direct Cremation podcast. I’m your host, Will de Michaelis, death care consultant and former manager of the Omega Society, a large cremation brand that served over 4500 families per year. You’ll notice today, I’m by myself. I’m going to bring you a different kind of content than I usually do with Tyler. We'll be talking part 2…

1
Self-Care in Death Care | #33 26:56

1y ago26:56

26:56

Hi and welcome to the Direct Cremation podcast. I’m your host, Will de Michaelis, death care consultant and former manager of the Omega Society, a large cremation brand that served over 4500 families per year. You’ll notice today, I’m by myself. I’m going to bring you a different kind of content than I usually do with Tyler. We'll be talking about …

1
Chris Boggs (Cremation Society of Maryland): How this funeral home does 5,000 calls a year | #32 49:40

1y ago49:40

49:40

In this episode, we bring on Chris Boggs. Chris Boggs is the Chief Operating Officer of the Cremation Society of Maryland, McNabb Funeral Home, Metro Crematory, and Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home. Cremation Society of Maryland alone does 5,000 calls per year. Chris shares the insights in such a running a high volume and efficient deathcare operation. …

1
148_The_Hope_Bay_Hype 1:50:57

1y ago1:50:57

1:50:57

Argentina and Britain needle each other over what huts go where around the Antarctica Peninsula and notes of protest change hands at a fevered pace. Hot heads at low temperatures lead to a low ebb in high latitudes camaraderie ashore at Hope Bayhia Esperanza. And Chile was there, too.

1
Will's Masterclass: Relationship Marketing for Funeral Homes Success 28:16

1y ago28:16

28:16

Will de Michaelis is the former manager of the Omega Society, a cremation brand that serves over 4,500 families per year. After spending over a decade growing the Omega Society, Will was able to identify some of the most important elements that made the Omega Society such a huge success. Today, Will is going to share that insight with us and let us…

1
Welton Hong (Ring Ring Marketing): What successful funeral home marketing looks like in 2023 | #30 46:56

1y ago46:56

46:56

In this episode, we bring on Welton Hong. Welton is the founder of funeral home marketing agency Ring Ring Marketing. Welton shares what successful death care marketing looks like in 2023. He tells us the biggest things you need to be doing as a funeral home owner to win more cases today. Timestamps (00:00) Intro (00:48) Welcome to the Direct Crema…

1
Stuck in a Crevasse on Denali 28:19

1y ago28:19

28:19

Chris Erickson was a veteran mountain ranger in Denali when he was faced with a crevasse rescue that was deemed impossible: extricate a fallen climber from a 60 foot depth of a crevasse what was only 12 inches wide on the bottom. His story is a true example or heroism and perseverance that you may only find in rare rescue stories told by seasoned e…

1
Kevin Waterston (Cremation Society of Minnesota): Selling a cremation business for millions | #29 52:40

1y ago52:40

52:40

Today's guest is Kevin Waterston. If you could dream up a list of professional death care accomplishments, Kevin has probably exceeded that list. From living above the funeral home until age 21, to then starting, growing, and eventually selling one of the largest cremation societies in the world, and somehow mixing in being a past president of the …

1
The entrepreneurial journey behind Parting Pro | #28 42:26

1+ y ago42:26

42:26

In today's episode, we're putting Tyler in the hot seat to explore the story behind Parting Pro. Timestamps (00:00) Intro (00:54) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast (02:38) The origin of Parting Pro (07:57) Getting into a program in silicon valley (11:04) What were the conversations like during the pivot (14:02) Parting Pro's first big sale (17:45…

1
Should your funeral home handle your own removals? | #27 36:57

1+ y ago36:57

36:57

In this episode, we discuss the important topic of removals in the death care industry. Whether you're a new funeral home or an established cremation brand, deciding whether to handle removals internally or outsource them is a critical consideration. We explore the pros and cons of both approaches and provide practical advice for making the best de…

1
147_Dr_Hillary_Sebeny 1:26:11

1+ y ago1:26:11

1:26:11

Yet another amazing interview through which to inform you and by which to relieve myself of the burden to write and record a chronological narrative episode this month. "Ice Coffee": where me goofing off and being lazy still results in audio gold.

1
Leili McMurrough (Worsham College): How to hire and retain Gen-Z funeral directors | #26 1:28:03

1+ y ago1:28:03

1:28:03

Today’s guest is Leili McMurrough. Leili is a licensed funeral director and licensed attorney in Illinois. She’s also the Program Director AND OWNER of Worsham College of Mortuary Science and an expert on the Gen-Z workforce in the industry. Leili sits on the American Board of Funeral Service Education as the Accreditation Chair, overseeing all the…

1
Chugach Mountain Rescue 40:35

1+ y ago40:35

40:35

Hosted by Ania Wiktorowicz, Created by Mari Feher Andrew Holman is a Portland, Or transplant living and climbing around Anchorage, Alaska. In the process of climbing all the peaks of the Chugach Mountain range near Anchorage, one night he found himself tumbling 500 ft on the South side of Avalanche Mountain (5,050 feet) . What do you do with one mi…

1
Pierce Dempsey (Leaf Cremation): How this cremation business gained 800+ 5 star reviews | #25 50:19

1+ y ago50:19

50:19

Today's guest is Pierce Dempsey. As the VP of Operations and Marketing of Leaf Cremation, Pierce has helped the business gather over 900 Google reviews with a 4.9-star rating. Pierce is a 4th generation funeral service provider. And his family business has created quite the funeral service empire in the North Georgia and Central Ohio areas. Pierce …

1
So,You Want to Be a Helicopter Rescuer? 30:17

1+ y ago30:17

30:17

Hosted by Ania Wiktorowicz, Created by Mari Feher Eric Gagnon has been in Search and Rescue for 25 years. He has been in helicopter rescues for 10 years with King County Sheriff's office in the state of Washington after a start at the Coast Guard. Not only is he a rescue specialist, a hoist operator but currently he is training incoming new members…

1
146 An interview with Professor Nash, another with Marsh, and an important update about the series 1:43:03

1+ y ago1:43:03

1:43:03

Professor Meredith Nash spent two years studying and reporting on the culture within the Australian Antarctic Division. Their findings, released late in 2022, may prove a turning point in the history of Australia's presence in Antarctica. Professor Nash spoke to me about their research and their experiences in Antarctica as part of the inaugural Ho…

1
Poul Lemasters: How FTC's Funeral Rule overhaul will affect your business | #24 46:34

1+ y ago46:34

46:34

Besides cremation, nothing lasts forever. The funeral rule is no exception, every 10 years the FTC has to re-evaluate every rule they have. In the past few years the FTC is looking to make a major overhaul to the funeral rule. In today’s episode, we have Poul Lemasters, death care lawyer to the stars, to update us on all the changes up for evaluati…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Crevasse Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide