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.
