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The DeathCare Marketing Show

The DeathCare Marketing Show

By: Mary Barnett
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The Death Care Marketing Show is the only podcast dedicated to helping funeral home owners modernize their marketing with clarity, compassion, and confidence, without losing their soul. Our host, Mary Barnett brings you industry thought leaders who share their cutting edge insights and brilliant ideas to help funeral professionals become KNOWN before they are needed. Each episode helps you: * Understand how families actually find and choose funeral homes today * Ask better questions of your marketing vendors * Protect your data, your brand, and your legacy * How to use technology and AI with compassion, not cold automation * Build trust and visibility in your community before families need you You’ll hear a mix of solo teaching episodes and interviews with trusted experts across marketing, technology, pre-need, aftercare, and funeral service, because in the business of grief and legacy, compassion should never be optional, and neither should growth. Connect with Us: 🌐 Company website: https://anotherbrilliantidea.com 👉 Service: https://compassion-concierge.io 📩 Ask our AI Assistant, Compassion Connie anything: https://compassion-concierge.io 👉 Subscribe for more funeral home marketing and automation tips: https://www.youtube.com/@DeathcareMarketing https://www.youtube.com/@AnotherBrilliantIdea Follow our host: 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.barnett1 https://www.facebook.com/AnotherBrilliantIdea 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassion.concierge https://www.instagram.com/mobilemary 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybarnett1 https://www.linkedin.com/company/anotherbrilliantidea New episodes drop every Friday! Have brilliance to share and want to be a guest? Apply here: https://deathcaremarketingshow.com Inquiries/partnerships: https://anotherbrilliantidea.com/contact-us@2026 Another Brilliant Idea, Inc. Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Movie Night at the Mortuary: How Films Turn Funeral Homes into Community Hubs

    Movie Night at the Mortuary: How Films Turn Funeral Homes into Community Hubs
    Jun 26 2026
    Death Care Marketing Show — Episode 3 Host Mary Barnett sits down with Gail Rubin, CT — certified thanatologist and pioneer of the Death Cafe movement — on how funeral homes can use storytelling and cinema to lower people's emotional guard, build real community trust, and grow pre-need sales without ever running a hard pitch. A few lines that stuck with us "The mortality rate is holding steady at 100%." Funeral directors are "last responders" — catching people as they fall through their darkest days. Get people into the funeral home for non-funeral events and the whole building stops feeling intimidating. The "POPCORN" outreach model P — Pick the right film: start with a comedy so people relax. O — Open with purpose: say why you're hosting, introduce your staff. P — Prompt discussion: use the film's themes to ask about end-of-life wishes. C — Connect it to planning: tie the on-screen story to real preparation. O — Offer next steps: resources and follow-up, never a hard sell. R — Repeat consistently: monthly or quarterly normalizes it. N — Normalize the conversation: humor and shared experience do the heavy lifting. Licensing & logistics (don't skip this) Get a license. Never screen a film publicly without one — a one-time license for a named title, or a blanket MPLC license for ongoing, un-named screenings. Partner with local experts. Hospice workers, estate attorneys, and financial planners will co-host and market to their own lists. Pre-screen everything for profanity or themes that won't fit your community. Want a fast, low-risk first event? Host a one-time "Mortality Movie Night" or a small Death Cafe in your reception center. Short on time? Show a single TV episode (Mary Tyler Moore's "Chuckles Bites the Dust") and discuss. The "Before I Die" festival A community event that opens up mortality and end-of-life planning in a non-threatening way — often hosted at funeral homes or cemeteries to build trust. Mixed activities: speakers, screenings, panels, art — even live music. Resource fair ("Death Is Not a Dirty Word") with doulas, hospice, estate attorneys, and directors. Behind-the-scenes access that demystifies the industry. Proven results: one day at Green Lawn in Bakersfield drove $100,000+ in pre-need; a church event drew 300+ attendees. More at BeforeIDieFestivals.com . Featured books & offers 98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die — Gail's film guide with discussion questions. A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don't Plan to Die — her first book, creative planning with a light touch. Film-clip presentations — hire Gail to lead a film-clip session at your facility. "Talking about sex won't make you pregnant; talking about funerals won't make you dead." — Gail Rubin Guest & resources Guest: Gail Rubin, CT — AGoodGoodbye.com Festivals: BeforeIDieFestivals.com Recommended viewing: Departures (Japan, 2008) Be on the show / work with Mary Apply to guest or browse episodes: deathcaremarketingshow.com Free discovery call: deathcaremarketingshow.com/GuestDiscoveryCall
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    48 mins
  • The Funeral Homes That Teach… Win! How Community Education Builds Trust Before the Call Comes In

    The Funeral Homes That Teach… Win! How Community Education Builds Trust Before the Call Comes In
    May 28 2026
    Most funeral homes wait for the phone to ring. But the funeral homes that TEACH their communities? They win long before the call ever comes in. In this episode of The Deathcare Marketing Show, Mary Barnett sits down with Rick Craig, founder of the When It’s Time® program, to talk about why community education is one of the most underused marketing strategies in funeral service. They discuss: * How teaching builds trust before there’s a death * Why educational outreach converts better than ads * How to position your funeral home as a community resource * What most funeral homes get wrong about “community engagement” * How to start small without overwhelming your team If you want families to think of you before they need you, this episode is for you. My Guest Rick Craig, is the founder of the When It’s Time® program, a nationally recognized community outreach model designed to help funeral homes build trust through education before the need arises. Rick has spent years helping funeral professionals position themselves as trusted community resources — not just service providers. His approach focuses on visibility, relationship-building, and creating meaningful conversations that naturally lead to pre-need awareness and long-term loyalty. Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BNrt1PyeboMuJcarMI0B-hBJEIopn2TA7FPOzG_Buqs/edit?usp=sharing
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    19 mins
  • You Can’t Scale Burnout: The Real Reason Funeral Homes Struggle with Retention

    You Can’t Scale Burnout: The Real Reason Funeral Homes Struggle with Retention
    May 28 2026
    Recruiting and retention aren’t “HR problems,” they are marketing problems because your employer brand determines whether great people stay long enough to deliver the experience families count on. In this episode, Lisa Baue shares what works, what doesn’t, and practical leadership moves funeral home owners can implement immediately—especially as women comprise a growing majority of mortuary science graduates. My Guest is Lisa Baue, third-generation funeral director, in the profession since 1979, and former President and CEO of Baue Funeral Homes, Crematory & Cemetery for 38 years and the Founder of “Funeral Women Lead” We’re talking recruiting, retention, and why Employee Empowerment IS marketing—plus practical leadership moves you can use right now. Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YM9LOovyqIvNNAGGOCTpz12la6i80eMLkTxrH6c283E/edit?usp=sharing
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    1 hr and 3 mins
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