The Direct Cremation Podcast

Will de Michaelis, Tyler Yamasaki
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For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. Tyler and Will explore the innovation happening within death care. Come join us as we explore unique perspectives from all sides of the death care industry. Tyler Yamasaki is the CEO of Parting Pro, an online arrangement platform that has helped over 150,000 families arrange their services from the comfort of their own home. Will de Michaelis helped grow and manage the Omega Society, a cremation brand that at it's peak, helped over 4,500 families a year.

  1. Jun 24

    The Hospice Referral Factory (Will de Michaelis) #70

    Will calls it the “Referral Factory,” and the name fits. This approach does not rely on one lucky call, one cremation ad, or one direct mail campaign. Instead, it creates a repeatable system that helps a funeral home, cremation provider, or online cremation services brand become the trusted resource healthcare workers remember when families need guidance. Don't miss out—check the full episode now! 🎧 Timestamps (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:59) Welcome to The Direct Cremation Podcast (00:01:43) The Death and Dying Ecosystem (00:02:51) Who is Your Customer? (00:05:18) The Hospice Opportunity (The Math) (00:10:30) Step-by-Step Relationship Building Process (00:14:27) Education vs. Branding (00:16:36) Important Channels for Lead Generation (00:19:57) Action Plans for This Week For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know. Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PxOqMO Find us at https://directcremation.com Spotify: http://bit.ly/3yDEwj7 Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3lj2soT Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com Learn the playbook responsible for growing my family business to over 4500 calls a year without digital marketing: https://wdgroupconsulting.com

    25 min

  2. Jun 23

    GEO and the New Era of Funeral Home Visibility | Welton Hong (Ring Ring Marketing) #69

    Families no longer search for funeral homes the way they did ten years ago. They still use Google, of course, but they also ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and other AI tools for recommendations. That shift creates a new question for funeral professionals: when a family asks a robot which cremation provider to trust, will your firm show up? In this episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, host Tyler Yamasaki, CEO of Parting Pro, welcomes back Welton Hong, CEO of Ring Ring Marketing, gives funeral homes, cremation providers, and death care marketers a practical look at how AI search may affect local visibility, cremation advertising, and funeral website marketing. If your next case depends on how Google or ChatGPT summarizes your business, this episode is one you can’t miss! ☝🏽 Timestamps (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:03) Welcome to the Direct Cremation Podcast! (00:01:14) Welcome, Welton Hong! (00:02:14) What is Generative Engine Optimization? (00:03:44) What Has Changed with AI/Answer Engines Over the Last Year? (00:09:58) The Future of Google and AI Tools (00:15:57) Adapting to AI and Google's Dominance (00:17:15) The Importance of SEO Content and FAQ Style (00:18:46) The Role of Google Business Profile and Citations (00:22:55) The Impact of Schema Markup (00:26:31) The Future of AI and Local Search (00:30:00) Ranking the Importance of Free and Paid Marketing Strategies (00:31:18) Balancing Growth and Market Protection (00:33:55) Predictions for the Future of Search (00:38:46) The Importance of Quality Content For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know. Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PxOqMO Find us at https://directcremation.com Spotify: http://bit.ly/3yDEwj7 Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3lj2soT Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com Learn the playbook responsible for growing my family business to over 4500 calls a year without digital marketing: https://wdgroupconsulting.com

    41 min

  3. Jun 17

    The Top 3% | Will de Michaelis (PartingPro) #1

    In this solo episode, Will de Michaelis is back in the pod to dive into data collected from more than 500 funeral homes and uncovers the operational patterns shared by the industry's highest performers. These elite firms represent just 3.7% of the funeral homes studied, yet they consistently handle 1,000, 2,000, and even 3,000 cases annually. Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:51 The Top 3% of Funeral Homes 00:01:44 The data 00:02:25 The cultural belief in funeral service 00:03:11 Finding 1: They build teams, not empires 00:04:24 Finding 2: They're never done improving 00:05:55 Finding 3: They know their numbers 00:07:41 Finding 4: They commit fully 00:09:03 Finding 5: They own their core 00:10:51 Intentionality 00:12:18 Homework: Audit yourself this week For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know. Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PxOqMO Find us at https://directcremation.com Spotify: http://bit.ly/3yDEwj7 Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3lj2soT Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com Learn the playbook responsible for growing my family business to over 4500 calls a year without digital marketing: https://wdgroupconsulting.com

    15 min

  4. 2025-11-19

    Selling Caskets at Cost and Making More Money | Tom Anderson (Funeral Director Daily) #68

    Few in death care can match the experience and perspective of Thomas J. Anderson—fourth-generation funeral director, community leader, University of Minnesota Regent, and the voice behind the widely read Funeral Director Daily blog. In this episode of The Direct Cremation Podcast, host Tyler Yamasaki, CEO of Parting Pro, dives into Anderson’s story of legacy, innovation, and gratitude. From stepping up at 19 to keep the family business alive, to modernizing operations and navigating a successful sale, Anderson’s journey is a playbook for today’s funeral home owners facing an evolving market. - Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:54 Welcome to the Direct Cremation Podcast! 00:01:06 Welcome, Thomas J. Anderson! 00:02:34 The Anderson Family Legacy and Funeral Business 00:07:01 Expanding the Funeral Business 00:10:52 Innovation in Funeral Business 00:18:47 Selling the Business and Non-negotiables 00:20:41 Value of Brand Name and Pre-need 00:32:01 The Start of Funeral Director Daily 00:33:49 The Growth and Impact of Funeral Director Daily 00:37:51 The Role of "Experiences" in Funeral Services 00:39:32 The Goal of The Funeral Director Daily 00:46:49 Consolidation in Funeral Business: Pros and Cons 00:49:02 Advice for Funeral Home Owners Considering Selling 00:54:57 Speed Round: Future of Various Aspects of Funeral Industry 00:55:17 Alkaline Hydrolysis 00:56:27 Composting/Natural Organic Reduction 00:58:05 Online Cremation Brands 00:58:40 Online Memorialization Beyond Static Obituary 00:59:38 Cemeteries 01:02:55 Women in the Death Care Industry 01:07:31 Online Pricing Transparency and Regulation Changes 01:10:03 Consumer Trends and Traditional Funeral Services For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know. Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PxOqMO Find us at https://directcremation.com Spotify: http://bit.ly/3yDEwj7 Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3lj2soT Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com Learn the playbook responsible for growing my family business to over 4500 calls a year without digital marketing: https://wdgroupconsulting.com

    1h 21m

  5. 2025-10-29

    Avoid Losing Customers on the First Call | Ashley Jones (Parting Pro) #67

    When a family calls your funeral home, they are not shopping for a product. They are searching for peace of mind. If you lead sales, answer phones, or manage training for your team, this is a masterclass in turning a price inquiry into a real relationship! #FuneralHomeSoftware #CremationSoftware #FuneralManagementSystem #FuneralDirectorTips #OnlineCremations #FuneralArrangingSoftware #CremationBusiness #FuneralServiceSoftware #FuneralHomeMarketing #FuneralTech - Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:12 Welcome to the Direct Cremation Podcast! 00:01:26 Welcome Ashley Jones! 00:02:04 Importance of the First Phone Call 00:04:05 Building Trust on the First Call 00:05:36 Balancing Facts and Genuine Connection 00:09:01 Goals of the First Phone Call 00:12:03 Common Mistakes in the First Call 00:13:32 Avoiding a Robotic Approach 00:15:43 Understanding the Language of Care 00:17:12 Powerful Language Swaps in the Funeral Industry 00:22:57 Handling Different Types of Customers 00:24:51 Closing the Call and Next Steps 00:26:53 Dealing with Uncertain Customers 00:29:41 The Importance of the Second Phone Call 00:32:17 Maintaining Consistency Across Multiple Locations 00:33:48 Training Staff for Effective Phone Interactions 00:36:26 Learning from Negative and Positive Feedback 00:40:23 The #1 Thing You Should Remember Before Answering a Call 00:42:34 The Impact of Good Phone Etiquette on Business Growth For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know. Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PxOqMO Find us at https://directcremation.com Spotify: http://bit.ly/3yDEwj7 Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3lj2soT Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com Learn the playbook responsible for growing my family business to over 4500 calls a year without digital marketing: https://wdgroupconsulting.com

    48 min

  6. 2025-09-08

    NCAA Champion to Death Care CEO | Donnell Beverly, Jr. (Russel Westbrook Enterprises, Eazewell)

    What begins as a story about basketball evolves into a powerful conversation about grief, legacy, and the future of funeral service software. It’s personal, smart, and packed with fresh ideas! 💡 #FuneralWebsiteBestPractices #FuneralIndustry #DeathCareLeadership #OnlineFuneralArrangement #FuneralHomes #AfterDeathCare #Eazewell #DirectCremationPodcast - Timestamps 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:01 Welcome Donnell Beverly Jr! 00:01:59 Basketball Career and Its Influence 00:03:25 Impact of Losing High School 00:05:39 How Grief Shaped Donnell's Outlook About Death Care 00:07:49 Transition to Business and Russell Westbrook Enterprises 00:12:05 College Experience and Leadership 00:15:10 Investment Philosophy and Social Responsibility 00:17:00 Zero World Media 00:18:50 Intentionality in Business and Partnership 00:20:01 Introduction to EazeWell 00:20:47 EazeWell's AI and User Experience 00:23:42 Partnership with LegalZoom 00:25:04 Value Proposition for Funeral Homes 00:27:23 EazeWell's National Rollout 00:28:43 Price Transparency in Funeral Services 00:31:18 AI and Human Concierge Services 00:32:52 Revenue Model and Funeral Home Partnership 00:33:54 AI-Assisted Account Closure 00:37:15 Quote Generation and User Experience 00:38:33 Financing Options for Families 00:40:34 Encouraging AI Adoption in Funeral Homes 00:43:20 What's Next for Eazewell 00:44:30 EaseWell Company Overview 00:47:13 Predictions for Death Care in 10 Years 00:48:14 Where to Find Donnell - For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know. Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PxOqMO Find us at https://directcremation.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@directcremationpod Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com Learn the playbook responsible for growing my family business to over 4500 calls a year without digital marketing: https://wdgroupconsulting.com

    51 min

  7. 2025-05-15

    Why Funeral Hires Are Abandoning You | Martha Thayer (Mortuary Training) #65

    Get ready to dive deep on: 🎓 The truth about what mortuary school really teaches 🙅🏽‍♀️ The onboarding mistakes that push new hires out the door 📉 How micromanagement kills motivation ❤️‍🔥 What smart funeral homes are doing to keep their teams happy Whether you're a funeral home owner, manager, or just passionate about funeral service—this episode will change how you think about hiring and training. 💡 Don’t miss this must-watch conversation packed with real talk, bold insights, and practical solutions. Watch NOW and subscribe for more content funeral pro tips! 🎙 #FuneralHomeSoftware #CremationSoftware #FuneralDirector #MortuarySchool #FuneralProfessionals #DirectCremation #FuneralTech #FuneralTraining #OnlineCremations #FuneralIndustry Timestamps (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:47) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast (00:01:01) Welcome Martha Thayer! (00:02:06) Beginning of Martha's Journey (00:05:15) Martha's Early Experiences with Death (00:10:06) Martha's Path to Becoming an Instructor (00:14:39) Changes in Funeral Director Landscape (00:18:04) Challenges Faced by Funeral Service Students (00:22:57) Favorite Subjects to Teach in Funeral Service (00:25:33) Expectations for Recent Graduates in Funeral Service (00:28:51) Supporting New Funeral Directors (00:30:21) Misconceptions about Working in Funeral Homes (00:31:32) Reasons for Leaving the Funeral Service Industry (00:33:52) Importance of Trust (00:35:38) Lack of Onboarding and SOPs in Funeral Homes (00:44:11) Emerging Trends and Generational Differences in Funeral Care (00:47:30) Changes in Death Care and Impact on Training (00:51:15) Role as Interim Executive Director of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association (00:57:00) Reasons for Reintroduction of Individual Licensing in Colorado (01:04:08) Mortuary Training Company Overview (01:08:25) Importance of Consistency in Funeral Service (01:10:02) Predictions for Death Care in 10 years (01:13:11) How to Reach Martha

    1h 15m

  8. 2025-04-14

    You Only Need a 2.5 Minute Call with Families | Courtney Gould Miller (President, Tribute Tech) #64

    Courtney spills real-world strategies that helped her: 📈 How tech + empathy create faster trust and fewer callbacks 🌟 Build a brand that families loved (55+ 5-star reviews) 💸 Keep ROAS in check while marketing cremations 💡 Real reason to sold Lumen Cremation (and what she’d do again) Whether you’re looking to streamline online cremation services, improve your funeral planning software, or explore innovative funeral home ideas, this one’s a must-watch. 👀 Learn how top-performing funeral homes are using cremation software to grow smarter—not just bigger! 💡 #funeralsoftware #cremationsoftware #onlinefuneralarrangements #funeraltech #funeralhome Timestamps (00:00) Intro (01:02) Welcome Courtney! (01:46) Courtney's Career Journey (05:21) Founding Lumen Cremation (10:26) Efficiency in Direct Cremation Business (13:27) Learnings from Serving the Public (17:48) Leveraging Referral Sources and Free Resources (19:27) Decision to Sell the Business (22:53) Considerations for Business Acquisition (27:46) Challenges in Starting a New Cremation Brand (30:57) Transition to Tribute and Expansion of Services (35:00) Transition from Family Business to Large Scale Operation (35:28) Importance of Understanding Customer Needs and Mindset (40:51) Partnership with Parting Pro (45:27) What Death Care Looks Like in 10 Years (48:28) Trends and Challenges in the Death Care Industry (52:42) Where to Find Courtney For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. A podcast for funeral home owners where we talk about trends & opportunities we see in the funeral home industry. We bring on death care professionals and cremation experts to share what they know. Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PxOqMO Find us at https://directcremation.com Spotify: http://bit.ly/3yDEwj7 Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3lj2soT Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com #FuneralHomeSoftware #CremationSoftware #FuneralTech #AIinFuneralHomes #CremationServices #FuneralMarketing #OnlineCremation #FuneralDirectors #ArtificialIntelligence AI #PartingPro #FuneralManagement #DigitalFuneralPlanning #FuneralDirectorSoftware #DeathCareTech #OnlineFuneralArrangements #FuneralAutomation #MortuaryManagement #CloudFuneralSoftware #FuneralCRM #DigitalDeathCare #FuneralServiceTech #CemeteryManagement #FuneralWorkflow #MemorialPlanning #EndOfLifeTech

    54 min
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About

For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. Tyler and Will explore the innovation happening within death care. Come join us as we explore unique perspectives from all sides of the death care industry. Tyler Yamasaki is the CEO of Parting Pro, an online arrangement platform that has helped over 150,000 families arrange their services from the comfort of their own home. Will de Michaelis helped grow and manage the Omega Society, a cremation brand that at it's peak, helped over 4,500 families a year.

Information

  • Creator
    Will de Michaelis, Tyler Yamasaki
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 - The Direct Cremation Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Direct Cremation Podcast

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