Funeral professionals are constantly searching for two things – new ideas to better serve families and a good laugh. Join Todd Carlson, EVP of Sales and Chief Sales Officer at Directors Investment Group, on a wild ride as he engages in genuine and off-the-cuff conversations with 3 accomplished funeral professionals – Matt Bailey, President and Funeral Director at Bailey Family Funeral Homes, Gary Freytag, President and CEO of Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, and Jimmy Lucas, Owner and Funeral Director at Lucas Funeral Home. Together, they share their takes and valuable insights into the evolving profession with plenty of laughs along the way.
Shift #41: Rituals, reclamation, and Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Families’ perceptions of funerals are changing, and not always in ways that make a funeral professional’s job easier.
In this episode, Dr. Alan Wolfelt joins the guys to discuss how funerals are losing their meaning in today's culture and calls for funeral professionals to reclaim their role as educators, not order-takers.
They explore why families might struggle to see the value of a ceremony and how funeral professionals can practice “supportive confrontation” by empathetically challenging assumptions while still honoring each family’s choices.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on helping today’s families navigate loss with knowledge, compassion, and confidence.
About Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., is recognized as one of North America’s leading death educators and grief counselors. His books on grief for both caregivers and grieving people, including Funeral Home Customer Service A-Z, have sold more than 1 million copies worldwide and been translated into many languages. He is the founder and director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition, as well as a longtime funeral service consultant. Learn more at CenterForLoss.com.
About the podcast:
The Graveyard Shift is a podcast by Passare and features:
Todd Carlson, Chief Sales Officer at Directors Investment Group
Matt Bailey from Bailey Family Funeral Homes in Connecticut
Gary Freytag from Spring Grove in Ohio
Jimmy Lucas from Lucas Funerals and Cremations in Texas
Have feedback? Share it with us at TheGraveyardShift@passare.com.
17 Sept 2026
Shift #40: Wine cellars, scuba tanks, and ideal funerals
Ever wonder what funeral professionals actually want for their own final send-off?
In this episode, the guys break down their own final wishes. They go through everything from Winston Churchill-inspired songs and open wine cellars to motorcycle hearses and scuba tanks. Tune in for a hilariously candid and unexpectedly thoughtful conversation that will get you thinking about how your own funeral can truly reflect who you are.
Side note: Gary’s epitaph alone is worth the listen.
About the podcast:
The Graveyard Shift is a podcast by Passare and features:
Todd Carlson, Chief Sales Officer at Directors Investment Group
Matt Bailey from Bailey Family Funeral Homes in Connecticut
Gary Freytag from Spring Grove in Ohio
Jimmy Lucas from Lucas Funerals and Cremations in Texas
Have feedback? Share it with us at TheGraveyardShift@passare.com.
3 Sept 2026
Shift #39: Professionalism, personality, and public image
How much of yourself should you bring to the job?
In this episode of The Graveyard Shift, the guys continue their conversation about authenticity, trust, and public image as a funeral professional. They explore how to navigate professional expectations, maintain healthy boundaries, and avoid burnout in a profession that’s “always on.”
Tune in for top-tier advice and an honest conversation about showing up as your full self, quirks and all.
See what the guys have been up to:
Jimmy just released TeamTangoAI, a tool that answers calls, helps website visitors, and offers family support. See more about this feature here: https://teamtangoai.com/
Matt is planning for his next celebrant training in New Haven, Connecticut. Get more details here: https://bailey.courses/celebrant-training
Gary recently finished teaching a few courses at ICCFA University. Learn more about this program here: https://iccfa.com/university/
About the podcast:
The Graveyard Shift is a podcast by Passare and features:
Todd Carlson, Chief Sales Officer at Directors Investment Group
Matt Bailey from Bailey Family Funeral Homes in Connecticut
Gary Freytag from Spring Grove in Ohio
Jimmy Lucas from Lucas Funerals and Cremations in Texas
Have feedback? Share it with us at TheGraveyardShift@passare.com.
Who has been a guest on The Graveyard Shift
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
John O’Leary
Glenda Stansbury
Wendy Wiener
Lisa Baue
Chris Cruger
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
19 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
16 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
22
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
Contact The Graveyard Shift
Guest appearances
Books guests
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