10 Things You’ll Learn About Ryan Thogmartin from Curtis Funk’s Latest PodCasket Episode

As the founder and CEO of Tukios, Curtis Funk is one of deathcare’s best and brightest (as in both intellect and those bright green shirts). As someone who’s been in the business of serving deathcare professionals for more than two decades, Funk has met a lot of people — many of whom have earned “legendary” status within the industry. 

It’s those legends that Funk is featuring on his new podcast, PodCasket. In each in-depth episode, Funk reminisces with the folks who have shaped deathcare, learning their life stories, exploring their passions, debunking myths, and finding out all the things that make them extraordinary at what they do. 

Since Tukios launched PodCasket in April 2024, Funk has fellowshipped with seven such legends, including the father of funeral home websites, Michael Turkiewicz, Foresight founder Dan Isard, and Johnson Consulting’s own Jake Johnson. His latest episode, however, features someone who is near and dear to us here at Connecting Directors: our founder and DISRUPT Media CEO Ryan Thogmartin.

Funk and Thogmartin go way back (at least 17 years, in fact), and in Episode 7 of PodCasket, the two “dive into the fascinating, unexpected paths that led them into the world of deathcare.” As with all of his guests, Funk gets Thogmartin to open up about his journey, reflecting on the pivotal moments along the way. It’s an honest, entertaining, and insightful conversation from which any listener can learn a little (or a lot) about taking risks, making the most of every opportunity, embracing authenticity, and prioritizing what really matters.

In this PodCasket episode, Thogmartin finally reveals the answers to all those questions you’ve wondered about but never wanted to ask him, including:

• His “colorful” first words…
• How he made the single most important decision of his life at age four…
• What he really thinks about homeschool vs. public school…
• The true origin of his now-famous fascination with sneakers…
• How a gumball fish tank fostered his first foray into entrepreneurship…
• If he actually went to high school with LeBron…
• How a random visit with a sick classmate led to a career in sales…
• That time he thought his future father-in-law made bank vaults…
• Why CD Social was short-lived…and, last but not least …
• The origins of his unique wardrobe!

Most importantly, though, Thogmartin’s PodCasket episode illustrates how the themes of faith and family have run throughout his entire existence. Thogmartin explains how he looks back on his childhood with gratitude that his parents introduced him to Jesus as a child, and the significant impact his faith has had on his life and career.

You can find this and every episode of Curtis Funk’s PodCasket podcast at podcasket.co or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 

Back in April 2024 Tukios and its founder CEO Curtis Funk announced that they would be producing a podcast series titled “Podcasket”.  According to this press release on the series, it would feature “. . . . all things deathcare, feature special guests, and will be available on any streaming device. 

I was humbled when CEO Funk reached out to me and wanted to produce a podcast about my life in funeral service.  After answering some pre-interview questions for him and sending him a history of my work experiences, we got down to cutting the interview almost two weeks ago.

Last Thursday the episode dropped for the public and I present it here for you today just in case you want to know more about me and what I think of the future of funeral service . . .as well as more subjects.  You can also access five other Podcasket episodes of people in funeral service from this link.

You can follow this link to the episodes I mention and can easily find the episode that I’m featured on. . . . .If you navigate to the bottom (scroll it down) of the link you can access the episodes in YouTube format where it is not only sound but sound and video.

Here is the Podcasket link and following is the “teaser” put out by Podcasket for this episode:

“Tune into this PodCakset episode, where Curtis Funk interviews Thomas Anderson, a fourth-generation funeral director and entrepreneur with a remarkable background in both the funeral and sports industries. Thomas shares his journey from growing up in rural Minnesota, where he unexpectedly took over the family funeral home, to later founding a professional basketball league and sports business. His insights reflect a deep understanding of the funeral profession, and his experience in running Funeral Director Daily, a well-known industry publication, showcases his ongoing influence in the field.

Thomas discusses the evolution of funeral services, from traditional practices to modern consumer choices, including the rise of cremation and the need for funeral directors to adapt to new trends like natural organic reduction and the “cremation aftermarket.” He emphasizes the importance of offering families a variety of memorialization options, especially as more consumers seek personalized and environmentally conscious alternatives. His business acumen shines through as he explains how he leveraged creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset to navigate the challenges of funeral service and beyond.

Throughout the conversation, Thomas reflects on the lessons he’s learned from his diverse ventures, offering advice for current and future funeral professionals. He advocates for honesty, fairness, and a commitment to helping others, whether through providing quality funeral care or innovating new business opportunities. Tune in to hear about his unique path, how he successfully balanced multiple ventures, and the wisdom he imparts from his decades of experience.”

I truly enjoyed my discussion with Curtis Funk and hope you enjoy the discussion also.

Tom Anderson

Funeral Director Daily

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”