Standards v. Trends: Faith Haug on the Future of Mortuary Education

Standards v. Trends: Faith Haug on the Future of Mortuary Education

In this episode, host Tony Russo sits down with Faith Haug, mortuary science program director for Arapahoe Community College and newly elected Secretary-Treasurer of the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Faith opens up about her unexpected floor nomination, what it actually means to govern the board, and breaks the news of an upcoming leadership transition within the organization. The conversation dives deep into the tension between academic standards and industry expectations, the unique challenges of regulating distance education, and the shifting landscape of state licensure requirements. Faith also addresses the ongoing industry “culture war,” challenging funeral service professionals to stop complaining from the sidelines and instead actively engage with and support local mortuary programs. Enjoying these insights into the deathcare industry? Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast to never miss an episode. Key Takeaways * An Unexpected Election: Faith discusses her recent election as ABFSE Secretary-Treasurer and why a “rogue nomination” from the floor shouldn’t necessarily be misconstrued as a mandate for dramatic upheaval. * Upcoming ABFSE Changes: Big shifts are on the horizon for the organization, including the rollout of a new strategic plan and the upcoming retirement of longtime Executive Director Robert Smith III. * The Licensure Dilemma: While the ABFSE maintains high voluntary accreditation standards, individual states are increasingly reducing education and examination requirements due to workforce concerns. * Education vs. Job Training: Faith addresses the unrealistic expectations practitioners often have for recent graduates, explaining the crucial difference between a college degree and practical on-the-job training. * A Call to Action for Practitioners: A challenge to the industry at large to move past negative narratives, bridge the gap between education and practice, and get involved with local advisory committees or mentorship. Related: Get full access to On Deathcare at ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

NFDA Election Silence, ASD Viral Videos, a Tornado Survival, and More

In this episode of The Rest, Tony Russo rounds up the latest major headlines shaking up and shaping the deathcare industry, from viral social media shifts to controversial leadership battles. Support independent deathcare journalism. Get industry news, deep-dive columns, and exclusive weekly updates directly by subscribing today at ondeathcare.com. Authentic Connection Over SEO Hacks Tony breaks down a recent blog post from ASD (Answering Service for Funeral Directors), highlighting a viral video by funeral director Katharine Wagner-Elfner. Her “day in the life” vertical videos demonstrate how genuine, human-centric storytelling can outperform SEO tactics. * Related Link: Check out the ASD Blog Post [https://www.myasd.com/blog/funeral-director-katharine-wagner-elfner-shares-experience-using-asd-in-viral-video/] Drama in the NFDA Secretary Race The upcoming election for the National Funeral Directors Association board secretary has taken an unusually turbulent turn [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/the-gloves-off-election-a-hostile]. Tony discusses the silence from leadership candidates, allegations moving behind the scenes, and what this tactical lack of transparency may say about the future face of deathcare leadership. Continuing Education for Everyone The ICCFA is launching its new 240 Workshops [https://iccfa.com/240workshops/], 240 minutes of targeted, accessible continuing education all around the country. * Related Link: Read the ICCFA Press Release [https://iccfa.com/240workshops/] Honor in the Face of Disaster A powerful profile out of Nebraska highlights funeral director Tracy Dietz of Jacobson Greenway Dietz Funeral Home. After surviving a destructive May 17th tornado with her family, her immediate instinct wasn’t just survival—it was the profound, industry-specific realization that she had to be ready to step out of her basement and immediately serve her neighbors through potential loss. * Related Link: Read the Full St. Paul, NE Article [https://www.centralnebraskatoday.com/2026/05/25/st-paul-funeral-director-who-lives-in-rural-howard-county-near-site-where-may-17-tornado-destroyed-four-homes-north-of-st-libory-describes-the-night/] Legislation Watch: Rhode Island Expands Deathcare Options The Rhode Island House of Representatives has passed legislation [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/ri-house-greenlights-human-composting] to simultaneously legalize natural organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation). Sponsored by Representative Michelle McCaw, this marks the third consecutive year of pushing for these eco-friendly dispositions. Tony tracks the bill’s prospects in the Senate and underscores the hope that it moves forward on its merits rather than political noise. * Have a news tip or a story from your neck of the woods? Drop Tony a line directly at bytonyrusso@gmail.com. Get full access to On Deathcare at ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

NFDA Election Drama and Earth Funeral Moves East

In this week’s episode, Tony Russo breaks down a highly unusual and contentious development in the National Funeral Directors Association election. We also look at a major expansion for Earth Funeral on the East Coast, a massive overhaul for crematory inspection laws in Illinois, and the looming financial struggles facing small and church-run cemeteries. Subscribe below to get independent deathcare news delivered straight to your inbox. Key Topics Covered * Drama in the NFDA Election (00:02:22) For the first time in years, the election for NFDA secretary has turned incredibly contentious. Tony discusses a controversial endorsement video released over Memorial Day weekend by Georgia funeral home owner Richard Robinson. Additionally, allegations of race-related social media attacks have surfaced, and the NFDA has seemingly taken down its election pages. Tony is continuing to investigate and will publish a full story later this week. * Earth Funeral Expands to Maryland (00:07:37) Natural organic reduction is making a major move East. Earth Funeral has opened a massive, 36,000-square-foot facility in a Baltimore suburb. Launching with 56 vessels, the facility aims to serve up to 2,000 families per year, providing East Coast residents with a more local option for human composting. * Illinois Passes Strict New Crematory Regulations (00:09:09) Illinois lawmakers have unanimously passed a sweeping regulatory overhaul for inspecting crematories. The new bill, now headed to the governor’s desk, brings back unannounced surprise inspections and grants inspectors the power to immediately shut down non-compliant operations. It also establishes a strict 60-day limit to complete cremations. * The Crisis of Underfunded Cemeteries (00:12:52) Drawing from a detailed report by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Tony explores why small and church-run cemeteries are struggling to survive. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode * Earth Funeral Feature: Read Tony’s full write-up on Earth Funeral’s new Maryland facility: Earth Funeral Comes to Maryland [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/earth-funeral-comes-to-maryland] * Illinois Legislation: Deep dive into the new crematory inspection laws: Unanimous Vote Grants Illinois Regulators Power to Conduct Surprise Crematory Audits [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/unanimous-vote-grants-illinois-regulators] * Minnesota Star Tribune Article: Read the full investigation into struggling local cemeteries and perpetual care funds: As caretakers age, some small Minnesota cemeteries struggle to survive [https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-small-cemeteries-city-ownership/601846821] Get full access to On Deathcare at ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Reimagining Deathcare Community Outreach with Beth King

In this episode, Tony Russo sits down with Beth King, general manager of her family’s multi-generational funeral firm. Beth talks about her firm’s partnership with local public libraries and their partnership on the Saving Family Stories project. Saving Family Stories provides free public access to media digitization equipment. She also talks about a book sponsorship program that helps people, particularly children, find ways of understanding death. Finally, Beth discusses some of the structural differences between American and Australian deathcare, including the complete absence of funeral director licensing down under. Get the weekly industry insights you won’t find anywhere else. Subscribe today for deep-dive analysis on the changing world of deathcare. Key Takeaways & Timestamps * [00:33] The Arts-to-Deathcare Pipeline Beth discusses stepping into her family’s 70-year-old firm after a decade-long career managing arts and culture festivals across Australia and the UK. * [03:13] “Saving Family Stories” at the Library How a simple conversation with a library CEO blossomed into a four-year community partnership. Beth explains how the program empowers families to preserve historical photos, slides, and old home videos for free. * [08:23] Massive Community Buy-In The jaw-dropping numbers behind the digitization program, including thousands of community hours logged, mobile scanner loans, and why this slow-burn tech is a natural fit for pre-planning memories. * [15:10] Beyond Euphemisms: The “Talking About Death” Initiative A look at how Beth’s firm curated a 50-book library donation specifically targeting death rather than just grief. Discover why children’s books topped the checkout charts and how they successfully hosted public panel discussions on the “admin of death.” * [19:40] Cultivating Earned Media & Authentic Tone Why the firm bypasses traditional gimmicky advertising in favor of monthly radio features, transparent education, and public mortuary tours during Australia’s “Dying to Know Day.” * [23:37] Deathcare Regulation in Australia Tony and Beth discuss the pros and cons of this flexibility versus the strict licensing choke points found in North America. Links & Resources Mentioned * Learn more about Beth’s local library system: Geelong Regional Library [https://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/] * Explore Australia’s national movement: Dying to Know Day [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.dyingtoknowday.org.au] * Featured Children’s Books: Why Do Things Die? and That Day A Note from Tony: If you enjoyed this conversation about how deathcare is shifting globally, make sure to subscribe to the podcast for weekly reporting and analysis on the business and culture of end-of-life care. Get full access to On Deathcare at ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Politicizing Funeral Service, the Case for Burial, and More

In this week’s episode, host Tony Russo dives into the heavily politicized battle over Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) in Oklahoma, legislative updates on green burials in Minnesota, and Neil deGrasse Tyson’s take on non-religious disposition. Plus, we look at the inherent risks of leasing a funeral home facility, a massive pre-need scandal in Michigan, and the regulatory challenges facing a historic Japanese cemetery in California. 🎧 Episode Breakdown & Timestamps * (00:00:06) Introduction & Welcome Thank you to all subscribers! Subscribe and access the Sunday column, exclusive news roundups, and breaking stories. * (00:01:32) The Failure of the NOR Bill in Oklahoma Tony editorializes on funeral service being politicized. Despite passing with 60% of the vote, Oklahoma’s Natural Organic Reduction measure was killed on the governor’s desk after a single lawmaker labeled it a “Democrat thing.” * (00:06:51) Minnesota Shifts Rules on Green Burials A look at Bill SF 5305 in the Minnesota Legislature, which aims to prevent public cemeteries from restricting green burials based on religious or moral convictions. * (00:09:56) Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Science of Burial Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson recently discussed his personal choice for disposition on his podcast. Deathcare professionals can use this philosophy to connect with non-religious families. * (00:12:38) The Dangers of Leased Properties: Fields Funeral Home Fields Funeral Home in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, has been evicted over unpaid rent following a license suspension. However, updates reveal a backstory of alleged landlord neglect. * (00:16:18) Pre-Need Swindling & Public Education in Michigan A bad actor in Michigan, Terry Alvin Kaufman, was sentenced to 7-20 years after stealing $1.1 million in pre-need funds. We look at Connecticut funeral director Matthew Bailey’s response to a similar situation, where he tackled a nearby scandal head-on with TV ads. * (00:19:57) Historic Japanese Cemetery in California Faces Closure State regulators have revoked the license of a historic Japanese cemetery in Colma, California. Exacerbated by the pandemic, the elderly board struggled with digital transitions and fell behind on taxes. Pro-bono lawyer Donald Tamaki has stepped up to help keep the grounds maintained and clear the back taxes. 🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode * Tony’s Article: The Political Death of Oklahoma’s NOR Bill [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/the-final-culture-war-how-oklahoma] * Legislation Tracker: Minnesota SF 5305 Detail [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/minnesota-looks-to-lock-in-green] * Video Podcast: Neil deGrasse Tyson on StarTalk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSu6xLc6WGQ] * News Feature: Fields Funeral Home Eviction [https://www.katc.com/iberia-parish/fields-funeral-home-ordered-to-vacate-property-following-eviction-over-unpaid-rent] * Michigan Scandal: Kaufman Sentenced [https://www.abc12.com/news/crime/prepaid-funeral-funds-should-come-with-verification-association-says/article_ba571eb2-68db-4a1a-b421-1a334784fb44.html] Bailey’s Video [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7458539857779322880/] * Industry Spotlight: Japanese Cemetery Closure [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/japanese-cemetery-license-revoked] 📢 Support the Show This episode was written, edited, and produced entirely by Tony Russo. If you appreciate independent deathcare journalism and it’s within your means, please consider becoming a paid subscriber at OnDeathcare.com [https://ondeathcare.com/]. Thank you for watching, listening, and supporting the show! See you next time. Enjoyed this update? Drop a comment or share this episode with a colleague in the deathcare industry! Get full access to On Deathcare at ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe [https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]