In this first epidsode of The Funeralcast Fastcast, we spotlight a powerful conversation on the history of Black funeral directing with Professor Edwin Jackson, explore what Ohio’s “Cradle of Coaches” means with the Mazzarella family, and break down one of the biggest conversations in mortuary education right now — the transition of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science into Xavier University. Plus, we highlight where to find the Frigid Fleet this month and share an In Case You Missed It featuring Jennifer Lares’ new role with Funeral Service Insider and a must-read article on Colorado funeral regulations.

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Edwin Jackson is a licensed funeral director and professor who has been working to better all of our undestand the contribution that African American funeral directors have made to funeral service history. Listen to Edwin share their incredible stories.

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Edwin's reccomended reading list

To Serve the Living: Funeral Directors and the African American Way of Death by Suzanne E. Smith

Passed On: African American Mourning Stories, A Memorial by Karla F.C. Holloway

Black Titan: A. G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire by Carol Jenkins

Dissertation- Undertakings: The Politics of African-American Funeral Directing by Christopher Leevy Johnson

Ever wonder how someone becomes Funeral Director of the Year? Us too! Ben sits down with Sam James, owner of James Funeral Home in Huntersville, NC who also happens to be American Funeral Director’s Funeral Director of the Year 2025. Please rate and review the show!

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Modern mummification is very rare but very possible. The members of the Summum religious philosophy have a plan and procedure in place for members of their group who have already signed up for it. Ben talks with two licensed funeral directors, Bernie Aua and Ron Temu who have been members of of Summum since its beginnings. Please remember to rate and review the show!

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You are probably familiar with the Five Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance (DABDA) because they are so incepted into our culture, but is it accurate? Ben is Joined by Dr. Jason Troyer, a counselor, professor, and well respected public speaker in funeral service joins Ben to dissect DABDA and offer alternatives. Please rate and review the show!

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Learn more about Healing Path

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There are lots of strong opinions about mortuary school curriculums, many of which are based on misunderstanding or misinterpetations of what actually goes on in the creation of curriculums. Jzyk Ennis has served as the President of the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) and is the current Chair of the ABFSE Curriculum Committee.

Want to comment on curriculum! Go here to learn more!

Looking for employment? Service Corporation International is hiring Advance Planning Funeral Directors for their Far Cape, Boston, and North Shore locations in Massachusetts. Send your resume to Mark.Stiner@diginitymemorial.com!

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The fun continues with more Instagram funeral meme pages! In part two of the series we have @funeral.memes, @the_funeral_channel and @jerryspringerfuneralhome to give us some insight into how they use memes to entertain and cope with stress.

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Funeral service can be fun, and some of the best ways to have fun on the Internet is with memes! In part one of this two part series, I have two of Instagram’s favorite funeral meme pages; @thefunerallife and @opencasketculture! If you have ever wondered what these two were like in real life, here’s your chance to find out!

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Email Ben bschmidt@frigidfluid.com

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Follow @thefunerallife

Check out our wide variety of fluids and prep room supplies!