When a QR Code Tells a Life Story

Life’s QR turns headstones and urns into portals for rich digital memorials, combining biographies, photos, videos, guest books, and family trees to preserve stories, support genealogy, and give mourners worldwide a lasting place to visit, remember, and connect. Learn more about Life's QR here. P…

The Role of Crematoriums in Metal Recycling and Conservation

What makes recycling metals from cremations crucial for both the environment and society? Mike McKenna, director of Recycling and Development with Core Scientific, discusses the importance of a circular economy for repurposing metals from cremations. This process not only conserves precious resour…

Gathering, Grief, and the Life Box: How to Have Hard Conversations at the Table

Ashley Gould shares how simple, intentional gatherings around the table can ease hard conversations about illness, death, and legacy, using ethical wills and “life boxes” so families stay connected, prepared, and better able to honor end-of-life wishes. Ashley's podcast On the Table with Ashleyher…

How Grief Transforms Us: Exploring Global Funeral Traditions

Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez explores universal themes in death rituals, examining how funerals, grief, and cultural customs intersect at the National Museum of Funeral History. Museum exhibits include gynecological coffins from Ghana, jazz funerals in Louisiana, and Victorian mourning practices, provi…

Unlocking the Secrets of Egyptian Mummification

Ancient Egyptian funeral practices revolved around the belief in preparing the body for burial to ensure a smooth journey in the afterlife. Preserving the physical body through embalming was crucial, as it allowed the soul to return and reunite with the spirit.  The embalming techniques employed b…

Beyond Fame: What Dead Celebrities Teach Us About Living Well

Michael Osborne, creator of the award-winning podcast Famous and Gravy, joins Genevieve to discuss how stories of the departed become mirrors for the living. The conversation explores how fame shifts across generations, the fleeting nature of memory, and the difference between celebrity and person…

Remembering the Dead: Family, Rituals, and the Importance of Talking About Death

Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez turned a childhood curiosity about death into a lifelong mission of education and advocacy. Her journey began with an early fascination with mortality at age seven and led to her role as president and CEO of the National Museum of Funeral History. Shaped by personal loss a…

A Tragic Loss That Sparked a Seatbelt Safety Movement: The Story of Kailee Mills

The tragic loss of Kailee Mills inspired her family to turn pain into purpose by founding the Kailee Mills Foundation. Through heartfelt education and assistance programs, they teach communities the life-saving importance of buckling up. Kailee's legacy continues to ripple outward, saving lives wit…

Beyond the Veil: Death, Grief, and Meaning

Discover why Victorian death rituals still fascinate us today as author Paul Gambino discusses his book, Beyond the Veil, with Genevieve Keeney Vazquez, now available at The National Museum of Funeral History. Dive into funeral customs, grief, and the compelling evolution of how we honor and remem…

Hearses, Heels, and Heart: Adventures of a Third-Generation Funeral Woman

Lisa Baue stepped into funeral service as a third-generation funeral director, challenging long-held beliefs about who belonged in the profession. Her story unfolds in the context of a family business—her grandfather’s legacy—where growth was fueled by tradition but also by change. From an early ag…