Katey Houston is not your traditional funeral director, and that is a big part of why she was named the 2025 Inspiration Award Winner.

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf sits down with the Director of Family Care at Return Home to hear her journey into the funeral profession, discuss her work in Natural Organic Reduction (Terramation), and explore why authenticity matters.

Katey explains how her unique background shaped her approach to serving families and why she believes the future of the profession belongs to the bold. This is an essential listen for anyone looking for advice on mentorship, legacy, and how to succeed as a woman in a non-traditional funeral service role.

The Inspiration Award is sponsored by NGL.

Click here to learn more about NGL

Click here to learn more about the Inspiration Award

40 years ago this month, Christine Pepper walked through the doors of the National Funeral Directors Association for the first time. The profession she entered then looked vastly different from the one we know today.

In this episode, Gabe Schauf sits down with the NFDA CEO to mark this significant milestone and look beyond the resume. Christine reflects on her four-decade journey, discussing how she navigated the shift from a male-dominated industry to a workforce increasingly led by women. She shares her perspective on the evolving relationship between funeral directors and the media, the weight of leading through complex times, and her vision for what lies ahead. It is a candid look at the past, present, and future of death care from the person who has had a front-row seat to it all.

🔗 Learn more: www.nfda.org/abrushwithdeath
🎙️ Host: Gabe Schauf
📍 Presented by the National Funeral Directors Association

In this episode, host Gabe Schauf is joined by Derrick Husmann and Jake Johnson of Johnson Consulting Group, for part two of the "Funeral Rescue" series.

Together, they walk through the Four Pillars of Funeral Home Success — the framework Jake and Derrick use when helping firms regain stability and rebuild momentum. The discussion looks at each pillar through a practical lens, examining how leadership, culture, finances, and operations influence one another and shape long-term performance.

Rather than offering quick fixes, the conversation highlights realistic steps funeral homes can take to strengthen their foundation, support their staff, and better serve their communities.

This episode continues the thoughtful, candid look at what modern funeral home leadership requires, and how meaningful change often starts with clarity, consistency, and intentional action.

Connect with Derrick and Jake or learn more here: Johnson Consulting Group

🔗 Learn more: www.nfda.org/abrushwithdeath
🎙️ Host: Gabe Schauf
📍 Presented by the National Funeral Directors Association

funeral home management • funeral home success • funeral business consulting • Johnson Consulting Group • funeral home leadership • business turnaround • funeral service operations • A Brush with Death • Jake Johnson • Gabe Schauf • Derrick Husman • improving funeral homes • funeral home strategy