ABOUT THE EPISODE: When a family walks through your doors, are they getting a five-star experience, or are they just another transaction? Consumer demands in death care are shifting rapidly—families don’t just want products anymore; they want genuine hospitality, ethical options, and a truly meaningful experience.
In this episode of A Brush with Death, host Gabe Schauf sits down with Darren Crouch, President of Passages International and a 2025 TIME100 Climate leader, to discuss how to navigate this changing landscape, the green movement, the strategies to apply in the selection room, and why the profession must proactively offer green funeral options to avoid repeating the mistakes of the early cremation era. Whether you are looking to elevate your customer service or expand your eco-friendly offerings, this episode provides a practical blueprint for funeral directors ready to lead the market.
ABOUT DARREN: Darren Crouch is the Co-Founder and CEO of Passages International, Inc., a global leader in eco-friendly funeral products and innovative memorial solutions. A recognized thought leader in the funeral profession, Darren has spent more than two decades advancing sustainable practices and helping funeral providers adapt to evolving consumer values. His insights on funeral service, sustainability, and changing memorial traditions have been published in The Director, The American Funeral Director, Funeral Business Adviser, The Cremationist, and ICCFA Magazine. He has also been quoted by major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
Darren is a frequent speaker at national and international industry events, including the NFDA International Convention & Expo, ICCFA Convention, and the CANA Symposium. His leadership has helped position Passages International at the forefront of environmentally responsible funeral innovation. In 2022, Passages International was named a finalist in Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards in the Enduring Impact category. In 2025, Darren was recognized as a TIME100 Climate Leader, an honor highlighting influential individuals driving meaningful global progress on climate solutions.
Continuing his commitment to innovation in memorialization, Darren also launched Etern.life, a digital platform designed to help families permanently mark and share meaningful locations where a loved one’s ashes have been scattered.
Darren holds a BSc (Hons) from Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester, England. He is a member of Vistage and currently serves as President of the Green Burial Council.