As The Hearse Turns
As The Hearse Turns
Katharine Wagner-Elfner & Christopher Boggs
As The Hearse Turns isn’t your typical funeral service podcast — and we’re not here to play it safe. Hosted by funeral directors Katharine Wagner-Elfner and Chris Boggs, this show pulls back the curtain on life, death, and everything in between. We tackle the conversations most people were told not to have — embalming, cremation, restoration, preneed, transparency, pricing, ethics, and the realities of modern funeral service. We answer real questions. We challenge outdated thinking. We call out misinformation. And yes… we might rock the boat a little.
Thursday Morning Coffee Chats with Katharine & Chris
Join us and we have a pop up live and chat about our passion. Funeral Service!
Jul 9
56 min
Chris and Katharine chat with Ruthann Disotell
What happens when someone never planned on entering funeral service... and ends up dedicating their life to it?This week on As The Hearse Turns, Chris Boggs and Katharine Wagner-Elfner sit down with Ruthann Disotell for an honest conversation about an unexpected journey through funeral service, entrepreneurship, innovation, and finding purpose in one of the most misunderstood professions in the world.Ruthann shares how a career she never intended to pursue became a lifelong passion, the lessons she's learned along the way, and the inspiration behind her ventures, including Memorial Leaf. From serving families during difficult moments to creating new ways for people to honor and remember their loved ones, her story is one of resilience, creativity, and dedication.Join us as we discuss:• Finding purpose in unexpected places• The realities of working in funeral service• Innovation and entrepreneurship in a traditional profession• The importance of remembrance and legacy• Stories, lessons, and laughs from a lifetime of serviceWhether you're a funeral professional, a student considering the profession, or simply someone fascinated by the people who serve families during life's most difficult moments, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.As The Hearse Turns is dedicated to educating the public, supporting funeral service professionals, and creating meaningful conversations about life, death, grief, and everything in between.#AsTheHearseTurns #FuneralService #Podcast #Legacy #MemorialLeaf #FuneralDirector #DeathCare #EndOfLife #FuneralProfessionals #EducationThroughConversationHosted by Chris Boggs & Katharine Wagner-ElfnerBecause the conversations about life are often found in the stories surrounding death.
Jun 22
2 hr 13 min
Thursday Night Pop-Up Live with Katharine and Chris
Join us as we just chat on a Thursday night to catch up and talk about funeral stories on social media and some funeral nightmares.
Jun 17
2 hr 4 min
A Conversation with Carlton Maye, Jr.
As The Hearse Turns, hosts Chris Boggs and Katharine Wagner-Elfner sat down with funeral service leader, educator, and NFDA Secretary candidate Carlton Maye Jr. for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet.From the realities of mortuary school and apprenticeship burnout to leadership in funeral service, mentorship, pricing transparency, and the future of the profession, nothing was off limits. Carlton brought the perspective of an educator, funeral director, embalmer, business leader, and mentor — while Chris brought the unfiltered real-world side that funeral professionals across the country have been talking about behind closed doors for years.This episode dives into:• Why new licensees are leaving the profession• Where funeral service education succeeds — and where the profession fails apprentices• The pressure funeral home owners face behind the scenes• Transparency, burnout, and the “sink or swim” culture in funeral service• Why leadership and mentorship matter now more than ever• The future of NFDA and the next generation of funeral professionalsWhether you’re a funeral director, embalmer, mortuary student, apprentice, or simply curious about what really happens inside this profession, this conversation pulls the curtain back in a way few are willing to do publicly.🎙️ As The Hearse Turns — Two Funeral Directors. One Honest Conversation.
May 15
2 hr 8 min
Tri-State Crematory W/ Shaun Raviv
This conversation is one you won’t forget.We sat down with Shaun Raviv, the creator of the critically acclaimed podcast NOBLE, to take a hard look at one of the most disturbing chapters in modern funeral service history—the Tri-State Crematory scandal.This isn’t just a retelling of headlines.We go deeper—into the failures, the systems that broke down, the families who were impacted, and the lasting ripple effect this case had on regulation, trust, and accountability in death care. Shaun shares the behind-the-scenes reality of building NOBLE, the research that went into uncovering the truth, and why this story still matters today.We also tackle the uncomfortable questions:What went wrong?How did it go unnoticed for so long?And most importantly—what has changed since?This episode isn’t about sensationalism—it’s about transparency, education, and making sure history doesn’t repeat itself.If you think you know this story… you don’t know it like this.
Apr 24
2 hr 5 min
Wednesday Night Pop-Up Live with Katharine and Chris
Grab a drink and lets chat about the funeral profession with your two honest and open funeral directors. We are answering your questions and bringing you into our home. Listen and enjoy!
Apr 21
2 hr
Sunday Afternoon Chat with Katharine and Chris
Join us as we take a Sunday afternoon and chat and answer some of your questions. Two funeral directors! One Conversation! Answering questions that others will not!
Apr 21
1 hr 26 min
As The Hearse Turns With Brelan Holston
What really happens behind the scenes in funeral service—and what does the next generation of professionals want you to understand?In this powerful episode of As The Hearse Turns, hosts Chris Boggs and Katharine Wagner-Elfner sit down with Brelan Holston, a rising voice in the funeral profession, for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what it means to serve families today.From navigating the realities of grief to breaking down misconceptions about the funeral industry, Brelean brings a fresh perspective that challenges outdated narratives while reinforcing the core values that define this profession—compassion, integrity, and purpose.Together, we dive into:What led Brelean into funeral service and the passion behind the callingThe emotional and mental realities of caring for families at their most vulnerableMisconceptions about funeral directors—and the truth the public deserves to hearHow the next generation is shaping the future of death careWhy transparency matters now more than everThis episode is raw, real, and exactly the kind of conversation the public needs—not just the version they’re used to hearing.🎧 Whether you're in the profession, have experienced loss, or simply want to better understand what happens behind closed doors… this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Apr 8
2 hr 18 min
Friday Night Chats
Just a Friday night conversation with Katharine and Chris your friendly neighborhood funeral directors!
Apr 6
1 hr 40 min
As The Hearse Turns - 5 FD's From PA!
🎙️ As The Hearse Turns – March 12 EpisodeWhat really happens inside the funeral profession?In this episode of As The Hearse Turns, Chris Boggs and Katharine Wagner-Elfner sit down with three funeral directors from across Pennsylvania for a raw, honest conversation about death care.From behind-the-scenes realities of funeral service to the myths and misconceptions people have about the profession, nothing is off limits.No scripts. No filters. Just real talk from the people who serve families every single day.If you've ever wondered what funeral directors actually experience, this episode pulls back the curtain.
Mar 13
2 hr 2 min
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