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Friday 28 April 2023

The Importance Of Family In Times Of Grief

When a loved one dies, life appears to come crashing down from the outside, but the warmth of our neighbors, friends and family comfort us from within. There is nothing more important than having a solid community and people we can count to in times of sadness and grief. The truth is, we cannot function by ourselves. We may not even know where to begin or what to do. Family is there to pick you up and carry you through the process. Whether that is as simple as making you a cup of tea and a sandwich when you forget to eat, to handling the heavy decisions that come with funeral arrangements.

We can’t do it alone. The hugs we get from the ones we love and just being close to them mean everything.

Jobs, money, success all fall away when someone dies. You attain a “drop everything and go” mentality. The things that matter most take precedence and your priorities change. You realize that none of us are escaping death. Our lives will come to an end too, and our family will not be around forever. Reality kicks in.

Unfortunately, not everyone has those special people to depend on or turn to for comfort and help. So if you do, don’t take them for granted. We often expect that our family will always be in our lives, so when a member of our family passes away all that’s left in their place is a void; a feeling of emptiness and sadness. Their spirit remains around us, but the physical presence that once was there is gone.

There’s nothing like the love you feel from a close member of your family, that hug of familiarity, the feeling of belonging when you thought you were lost. A warm supporting environment is what we all need when we are grieving, a warm bed and a warm meal. We, humans, are simple creatures. We crave the basics, yet we often neglect these in our everyday lives as we rush from here to there, trying to climb that ladder of success. But when death comes around and knocks you off your feet, you’re left with and crave for nothing else but the basics.

The rest of the world and all its ‘wants’ drift away. Family knows you better than you know yourself. They know what you need when you are not so sure yourself. They have watched you move on, move out and move up, but they also know the true essence of who you are deep down no matter how much you’ve grown or advanced. They remind you to come back home—to yourself and to those who love you.

When you have exciting news to share or something drastic happens, the first people you typically think of to tell the news is a family member. They are your go-to confidants, counselors and listening ears (sometimes with too much advice to share when you’re not even asking for any). They drive us crazy and make us mad but come to our rescue when we are sad.

What is home to you? Is it a place? Is it whenever your heart feels content and happy? Or is It where the people you love most are?

-Siobhán Regan

Thursday 20 April 2023

From Mourning to Trending: Funeral Innovation with Ryan Thogmartin of DISRUPT Media

  


Welcome to this week’s episode of The Glam Reaper Podcast, where we sit down with the Owner/CEO of DISRUPT Media, Ryan Thogmartin, to discuss the tremendous impact of social media on the funeral industry. Prepare to discover how social media has reshaped the way we perceive and engage with this traditionally solemn business, and learn how you can harness its power for your own growth.

We'll also delve into Kari the Mortician's journey to becoming a social media sensation as Ryan himself reveals the surprising connection between social media and her success. As we explore the unexpected ways social media has revolutionized the funeral industry, we'll also discuss the significant role it plays in the growth and expansion of the business. Ryan shares jaw-dropping success stories and introduces us to the new age of marketing, where tradition meets innovation.

Ryan explains how marketing is all about storytelling and that it is much different to advertising. Marketing is an important way to portray an idea or a person. People buy into people, not the company. Funeral homes are successful because of the people that represent them; therefore branding yourself as a business is very important.

Finally, we’ll get a sneak peek into DISRUPT Media, the expert solution that has helped countless funeral homes innovate and elevate their business to new heights. Tune in to this episode and don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the best in the business! 



“At the core, the thing that still matters the most is authenticity and relationship from an actual exchange of money.” - Ryan Thogmartin



LITTLE NUGGETS OF GOLD:

- How Ryan juggles being an entrepreneur, husband, dad and life coach

- How Kari the Mortician’s social media presence paved her way to the top

- The game-changing impact that social media has had on the funeral industry and how it works

- The significant role of social media in expanding the reach and influence of the funeral industry

- Exploring contemporary marketing: An innovative approach to traditional marketing methods in the current industry landscape

- Unlocking the potential of social media marketing with DISRUPT Media: The expert solution to elevate your business growth to new heights



Connect with Ryan Thogmartin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanthogmartin/

Website: https://social.disruptmedia.co/blog/author/ryan-thogmartin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanthogmartin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disruptmedia/

Connect with Jennifer/The Glam Reaper:


Monday 10 April 2023

Modern Mortician: Opening the First Not-for-Profit Funeral Home in the U.S.



They say everything is better the second time around, which is why Jennifer is back on the Glam Reaper podcast for another episode with the Modern Mortician, Melissa Meadow.  

This time, we’re in for another treat as Melissa lets us in on her current project: the very first not-for-profit funeral home and conservation burial park in the United States. 

Her goal? To ease the burden off the shoulders of those who could not afford to give their loved ones sustainable funeral care.  

But what exactly is the story behind Melissa’s newest venture? 

Tune in to this intriguing conversation between the Glam Reaper and the Modern Mortician as they discuss that question, their vision for the funeral industry, and more.



“For me, I just wanna have a place to live and die.” - Melissa Meadows 


LITTLE NUGGETS OF GOLD:

  • The story behind Melissa’s not-for-profit funeral home and conservation burial park 
  • How she plans to facilitate the funding of the project 
  • Her biggest WHY for the entire project 
  • A cool story about a place in Washington that has ties to Melissa’s maiden name, Unfred 



Connect with Melissa Unfred:

Instagram - @theend.green 

Connect with Jennifer/The Glam Reaper: