4 Women and a Funeral

The Next Generation Is Here. Are We Ready? with Leili McMurrough

They’re entering the profession but not always staying. So what’s missing? Hosts Lisa Baue, Melissa Posey Loose, Alicia Carr, and Ellen Winn McBrayer sit down with Leili McMurrough, President of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, to talk about the realities facing today’s workforce. From her unexpected path into funeral service to the challenges of retention, mentorship, and leadership, this conversation explores what it will take to truly support the next generation. Have a topic or question for the show? Email us at info@funeralwomenlead.org!

A Legacy of Leadership with Christine Pepper

In this Women’s History Month episode of 4 Women and a Funeral, the hosts sit down with Christine Pepper, CEO of the National Funeral Directors Association, to reflect on an extraordinary 40-year career in funeral service leadership. Christine shares what it was like stepping into the profession when women’s leadership was nearly invisible, how she navigated early challenges, and why confidence, mentorship, and resilience still matter so much for the next generation of women entering funeral service today. The conversation explores how the profession has changed, where progress still needs to happen, and why women must stop waiting until they feel “ready” to step into leadership. It is an honest and insightful discussion about growth, legacy, and the responsibility all funeral professionals carry in shaping the future of this profession. Have a topic or question for the show? Email us at info@funeralwomenlead.org!

The Stress We’ve Normalized + What It’s Doing to Our Hearts

February is Heart Month, and this new episode of 4 Women and a Funeral takes an honest look at the stress we have normalized in funeral service and what it is doing to our hearts, our health, and our lives. Lisa Baue is joined by Alicia Carr, Ellen Wynn McBrayer, and Melissa Posey Loose for a real conversation about long hours, emotional labor, and the pressure to do it all. Together, they explore how burnout is often treated as a personal issue when it is really a leadership, staffing, or systems challenge. You will also hear practical tools and language you can use right away, including ways to set healthier expectations, simple stress check ins, and reminders that rest, boundaries, and support are not optional. This episode is a powerful reminder that caring for others should never mean sacrificing your own wellbeing. Listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts. Have a topic or question for the show? Email us at info@funeralwomenlead.org!

Leading with Intention in Deathcare with Dr. Jennifer Lares

Welcome back to 4 Women and a Funeral. In this episode, we sit down for an honest conversation about leadership, boundaries, and what it means to lead with intention in a profession that never truly slows down. Joining Lisa Baue, Alicia Carr, Ellen Wynn McBrayer, and Melissa Posey Loose is Dr. Jennifer Lares, founder of Mulling Mortician. Jennifer brings perspective shaped by service, education, and hands on experience in funeral care. Together, the group reflects on fatigue, responsibility, and leadership in modern deathcare. Jennifer also shares a glimpse into what she is building next for funeral service, pointing toward what funeral service needs next. Have a topic or question for the show? Email us at info@funeralwomenlead.org!

No Is a Full Sentence: Leading With Intention in Funeral Service with Kristen Ernst MA, LPC

Leadership in funeral service begins within. In this episode of 4 Women and a Funeral, the hosts Lisa Baue, Alicia Carr, Ellen Wynn McBrayer, and Melissa Posey Loose were joined by special guest Kristen Ernst, MA, LPC, grief counselor and Dean of the Funeral Women Lead Women’s Leadership Academy. Kristen shares the personal loss that shaped her life’s work and her belief that sometimes the most powerful form of leadership is simply being present and “sitting in the dark” with them. Together, the group explores mindfulness, boundaries, and self-leadership, including a reminder many women in funeral service need to hear: no is a full sentence. This conversation invites listeners to slow down, lead with intention, and embrace small, meaningful shifts that support long term growth, confidence, and well being. Each host also shares one intentional commitment, offering a grounded starting point for the year ahead. Have a topic or question for the show? Email us at info@funeralwomenlead.org!