Calling Hours

Hosted by Homesteaders Life Company

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Mar 2026

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About the show

Join us each month as Danielle Burmeister, VP-Marketing Communications with Homesteaders Life Company, chats with leaders in the funeral space to discuss the latest topics in the profession.

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14 recent

March 12, 202645 min

Funeral home owner series — next generation leadership with Quinn Haisley-Wheeler.

Quinn Haisley-Wheeler joins Danielle Burmeister to share her journey from growing up in the family business to leading operations at Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service in Fort Pierce, Florida. As a second-generation funeral professional and 2024 NextGen Professional of the Year for Selected Independent Funeral Homes, Quinn shares real-world insight on leadership, innovation and how funeral homes can adapt to changing family expectations.In this episode, they discuss launching a pet cremation service, creating a separate online cremation brand for price-sensitive families, educating consumers about funeral options and preparing the next generation of funeral professionals. Packed with practical ideas, leadership perspective and honest conversation about work-life balance in a 24/7 profession, this is a must-listen for funeral professionals looking to grow and better serve their communities.

February 3, 202643 min

Funeral home owner series — finding a way forward with Brian Joseph.

Brian Joseph joins Danielle Burmeister in this conversation as part of the Calling Hours funeral home owner series. Brian is the owner and chairman of Verheyden Funeral Homes in Detroit, Mich. In their discussion, they explore Brian’s journey as a first-generation funeral director, the leadership lessons he learned along the way and how Verheyden has grown while staying deeply rooted in service and community. Brian also shares candid insights on navigating the unexpected and the resilience required to rebuild after extraordinary challenges. Learn more about Brian’s perspective on leading through crisis and the power of perseverance in this inspiring conversation.

December 4, 202537 min

Funeral home owner series — family in service with Dan and Emma Ford.

Dan and Emma Ford join Danielle Burmeister in our funeral home owner series where they share about family legacy, evolving expectations and modern challenges in funeral service. Dan is the president of Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Home and his daughter Emma serves as the administrative assistant and social media lead. In their chat, Dan and Emma cover what it was like growing up in a funeral home, navigating changing consumer needs, balancing affordability with rising overhead and finding meaningful ways to serve every family. They also talk about working together as father and daughter, adapting to digital communication and staying deeply rooted in service and giving back to the community and the profession. Learn more about their unique experiences and perspectives in this thoughtful, down-to-earth conversation.

October 6, 202529 min

Funeral home owner series — leading with legacy featuring Kim Hunter.

Kim Hunter joins Danielle Burmeister on Calling Hours in the first part in our new Funeral Home Owner series featuring real conversations with funeral home owners on the podcast. In this discussion, Kim and Danielle talk about leadership, legacy and his outlook on funeral services. Kim is the owner of Humphrey Funeral Home in Toronto, Canada, where he has served as president and owner since 2018 after many years with the firm. In their chat, Kim covers his journey into funeral service, the transition to ownership and the importance of succession planning. They also discuss maintaining work-life balance, the growing role of personalization in services and the value of professional development and association involvement. Learn more about Kim’s thoughtful approach to leadership and the evolving future of funeral service in this insightful and inspiring conversation.

July 21, 202537 min

Purpose, passion and the power of socks.

Chris Johnson joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about career paths, innovation and how their infamous socks became so popular among funeral professionals! Chris is Founder and CEO of Sepio Guard. In their chat, Chris covers what drew him to the funeral space, the catalyst for launching Sepio Guard and how his company is helping funeral professionals provide valuable (and oftentimes assumed) coverage for the families they serve. They also discuss the importance of workplace culture, the value of thinking outside the box and the agent experience. Learn more about Chris and Sepio Guard in this fun, inspiring conversation about purpose-driven innovation.

May 29, 202530 min

Lessons in leadership and the trends shaping tomorrow.

Cole Waybright joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about what drew him to the funeral profession, his advice for those just starting out and how his career has evolved into where he is now. Cole Waybright is Vice President of Sales Optimization with Homesteaders Life Company. In their chat, Cole talks about his early experiences in the family funeral home business and what he’s learned along the way. They also forecast trends in the profession like cremation, the importance of hiring good talent and the leadership lessons he’s learned and implemented within his team. Hear more about Cole and how his passion for service, continuous improvement, and mentorship have shaped his approach to leadership and innovation in the funeral profession.

April 10, 202537 min

Growth, guidance and the future of preneed.

Scott Morris joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about his career evolution, preneed strategy and trends in the funeral profession. Scott Morris is vice president of business development with Homesteaders Life Company. In their chat, Scott covers his path into the funeral profession, key lessons he learned over the years and strategies for funeral homes to grow their businesses. They also discuss emerging trends like online funeral planning, shifts in operational approaches to preneed and advice for growth-minded funeral professionals. Learn more about Scott’s journey in this insightful and forward-looking conversation.

October 21, 202441 min

Understanding cremation: trends, challenges and opportunities.

Barbara Kemmis joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about final disposition options and the overall end of life experience for families and how it is continually evolving. Barbara Kemmis is executive director of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). In their chat, Barbara covers her experience with CANA, the challenges and opportunities facing funeral professionals related to cremation and the many variations of disposition. They also explore the possibilities of how families are memorializing cremated remains of their loved ones as they are passed on to new generations. Discover all the creative approaches funeral professionals are taking to ensure their families have meaningful experiences in this heartfelt and lovely conversation.

August 6, 202433 min

Tradition, innovation and evolving family choices.

Mike Lake joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about casket and urn sales and the growth in disposition options over the years. Mike is director of partner growth with Matthews Aurora. In their chat, Mike covers everything from his time growing up in the funeral profession and what has shaped his career to how selling wine coolers differs from caskets! They also discuss the significance of funeral services and how the casket price protection plan can help minimize the impact of inflation on funeral home businesses.

July 2, 202431 min

Building workplace culture and the tech empowering funeral directors.

Zach Chatterton joins Danielle Burmeister in this discussion about the funeral home software platform Gather. Zach is the Founder and CEO of Gather, which recently partnered with Homesteaders, enabling an integration with their case management platform. In their chat, Zach covers how Gather originated, how technology has shifted over the years and what it takes to build a positive and productive workplace culture. They also discuss importance of understanding the funeral professional experience as a company immersed within the funeral space. Learn more about Zach’s inspiration behind Gather and key features of the platform in their conversation.