Each week we deliver news and commentary for end-of-life professionals. <br/><br/><a href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/s/podcast?utm_medium=podcast">ondeathcare.substack.com</a>
On Deathcare
Claim This Podcastby Tony Russo
34 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
Each week we deliver news and commentary for end-of-life professionals. <br/><br/><a href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/s/podcast?utm_medium=podcast">ondeathcare.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/20/2026
1 verified contact email on file for On Deathcare
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Recent Episodes
June 30, 2026
Earned Media, Permit Pitfalls, Body Prep, and More
<p><strong>Episode Overview</strong></p><p>In this week’s roundup, Tony Russo covers the practical power of earned media for local funeral homes, updates on an alarming financial scandal in Alabama, community pushback against green burials and pet water cremation, international insights into body preparation standards, and the growth of an independent buying group.</p><p><strong>Key Segments & Discussion Points</strong></p><p>* <strong>The Secret to Local Press</strong></p><p>* Tony shares an “earned media victory” from <a target="_blank" href="https://weigelstrategicmarketing.com"><strong>Joe Weigel of Weigel Strategic Marketing</strong></a> on behalf of his client, Oak Grove Funerals and Cremation.</p><p>* <strong>Pro-Tip:</strong> Small, independent local newspapers are desperate for content and photos. Sending a non-salesy press release with a high-quality photo dramatically boosts your chances of front-page placement.</p><p>* <strong>Financial Scandal at Pine Rest Funeral Home</strong></p><p>* Former manager <a target="_blank" href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/pine-rest-funeral-home-scandal-ex"><strong>Tim Street was arrested in Alabama</strong></a> and charged with first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly.</p><p>* Street allegedly pocketed thousands of dollars from grieving families for headstones and markers that were never delivered, with some families waiting over two years.</p><p>* The business is owned by Gamble Holding Company. Tony raises concerns about how lower-level corporate oversight allowed this to happen undetected for years.</p><p>* <strong>NIMBYism in Napa Valley & Marion County</strong></p><p>* <strong>Green Burial Pushback:</strong> Neighbors of the proposed Howell Mountain Cemetery in Napa Valley are <a target="_blank" href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/napa-county-green-burial-proposal"><strong>fighting the project</strong></a> over fears of traffic and groundwater contamination.</p><p>* <strong>Pet Water Cremation Tabled:</strong> The Marion County Board of County Commissioners in Florida voted to <a target="_blank" href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/florida-officials-push-back-on-pet"><strong>table a permit for a pet aquamation facility</strong></a> for 60 days. The delay emphasizes the critical need for applicants to have precise, immediate data on water usage and equipment specs when facing nervous planning councils.</p><p>* <strong>Body Preparation vs. Embalming Standards in Australia</strong></p><p>* Tony follows up on a botched restoration story involving a young woman named Jessica.</p><p>* Adrian Barrett stepped in to successfully <a target="_blank" href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/p/australian-case-re-ignites-global"><strong>restore the body without embalming</strong></a>, underscoring the vital importance of true craftsmanship in the trade.</p><p>* <strong>The Growth of the Independent Funeral Group</strong></p><p>* The group aims to <a target="_blank" href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/publish/posts/detail/202124723?referrer=%2Fpublish%2Fposts%2Fpublished"><strong>help independent operators</strong></a> band together to negotiate better pricing and withstand the influx of private equity money.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to On Deathcare at <a href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe</a>
June 23, 2026
Operating in the Gray Area: Tanya Marsh on the Indiana Death Doula Case
<p>In this special “Death Doula” edition of The Rest, host Tony Russo sits down with law professor and funeral law expert Tanya Marsh to break down the recent legal battle involving Indiana death doula Lauren Richwine. </p><p>They dive into the procedural history of the case, the overbroad state regulations that sparked the conflict, and the broader, shifting landscape of occupational licensing within the end-of-life care industry.</p><p><strong>Key Takeaways & Highlights</strong></p><p>* <strong>The Indiana Conflict: </strong>The state of Indiana historically maintained a broad definition of “the practice of funeral service,” prohibiting non-licensed individuals from counseling others on the methods and alternatives for the final disposition of human remains.</p><p>* <strong>The Case Against Lauren Richwine: </strong>The Indiana Attorney General’s office issued a sweeping cease-and-desist order against Richwine, claiming her work required a funeral director license.</p><p>* <strong>The “Atom Bomb” Ruling: </strong>Backed by the Institute for Justice, Richwine took the state to federal court. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately upheld a preliminary injunction against the state, famously noting that Indiana’s broad restriction on speech “furthers the state’s interests the way an atom bomb would further the eradication of a residential ant infestation.”</p><p>* <strong>The Settlement Context: </strong>On June 9, the parties entered into a consent decree. While the permanent injunction successfully protects Richwine and her business, the underlying broad statute remains on the books for everyone else in Indiana.</p><p>* <strong>The Future of Death Doulas: </strong>Tony and Tanya explore the ongoing tensions within the death doula community regarding whether to remain completely outside the traditional system or to pursue formalized state certification and licensing.</p><p><strong>About Our Guest: Tanya Marsh</strong></p><p><strong>Tanya Marsh</strong> is a professor of law at Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and an Indiana-licensed attorney with over 26 years of experience. She is a leading expert in funeral and cemetery law and hosts the <a target="_blank" href="https://deathetseq.com"><strong>podcast </strong></a><a target="_blank" href="https://deathetseq.com"><strong>Death et seq</strong></a>. She also serves on the board of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of North Carolina.</p><p><strong>Links & Resources Mentioned</strong></p><p>* <strong>Article: </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.talkdeath.com/are-death-doulas-subject-to-funeral-service-licensing-free-speech-and-the-richwine-decision/"><strong>Tanya’s breakdown of the case on Talk Death</strong></a> </p><p>* <strong>Book Mention:</strong> Jane Callahan’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Doulas-Guide-Meaningful-End/dp/1556528264"><strong>A Death Doula’s Guide to a Meaningful End</strong></a> Here’s </p><p>* <strong>Organization: </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://ij.org/"><strong>Institute for Justice</strong></a></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to On Deathcare at <a href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe</a>
June 19, 2026
Buried in the Past: Modernizing a Legacy Family Cemetery at Lincoln Memorial
<p>When a legacy family cemetery faces a sudden transition, the threat of receivership or a corporate fire sale looms large.</p><p>In this episode, host Tony Russo sits down with third-generation cemeterian Shayda Frost and her husband Timothy Amoui to discuss the reality of taking over six Atlanta cemeteries with no previous operational background.</p><p>This discussion digs into the tactical headaches of modernizing historical properties, standardizing grounds maintenance, managing multi-decade staff through a digital transition, and generating new revenue lines from forgotten land.</p><p>Key Operational Takeaways</p><p>* <strong>The “Stabilization Mission” First:</strong> When taking over a challenged or neglected acreage, resist the urge to change everything at once to gain a sense of control. Prioritize immediate operational stability over rapid expansion or aggressive software overhauls.</p><p>* <strong>Transitioning Legacy Crews Slower:</strong> Moving a multi-decade workforce away from paper memos, physical clipboards, and manual calculators requires one-on-one training and immense patience. Crew buy-in is earned by proving the digital tool makes their daily job easier, not just the administrative office’s tracking.</p><p>* <strong>Grounds as Your Primary Brand Asset:</strong> In the cemetery business, public reputation is explicitly driven by curb appeal and turf management. Tim and Shayda discuss why upfront capital investments in machinery and grounds keeping staff are non-negotiable for long-term health.</p><p>* <strong>Price vs. Value in Land Development:</strong> Opting for the lowest vendor bid on heavy earth-moving, landscaping, or infrastructure projects consistently backfires. Shoddy work requires secondary spending to fix, proving that long-term asset management requires paying for value upfront.</p><p>* <strong>Funding Perpetual Care with Natural Burials:</strong> Non-perpetual care historic sections or defunct acreage can be re-monetized safely. By clearing out invasive species and introducing green burials, operators can open an adaptive reuse revenue stream that funnels directly back into a perpetual care trust.</p><p>Resources & Links Mentioned</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://lincolnmemorialgroup.com"><strong>Lincoln Memorial Group</strong></a> (Atlanta, GA)</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://chattahoochee.org"><strong>The Chattahoochee Riverkeepers</strong></a> (Environmental cleanup coordination)</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://www.devinega.org"><strong>Devine Georgia</strong></a> (Invasive flora and wisteria management)</p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to On Deathcare at <a href="https://ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">ondeathcare.substack.com/subscribe</a>
34 total episodes available
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Faith Haug
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Katharine Wagner-Elfner
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Tracy Dietz
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Beth King
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