She Lost Her Father — Then Reinvented the Funeral Industry | Ft. Resting Reef

The future of funerals might be underwater | Ft. Resting Reef

Most of us avoid thinking about what happens after we die. But what if end-of-life rituals could restore ecosystems, support grieving families, and leave behind a living legacy? Founders Luise Skajem and Aura Murillo join us to share how they’re turning personal loss into healing for the planet, and why the future of death care might just be underwater.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why the funeral industry is one of the most overlooked environmental threats
How Resting Reef transforms cremated ashes into structures that support marine life
How grief, sustainability, and legacy can coexist in a business model
The truth about funding an impact startup (and why they turned down quick capital)
What it means to center both human and environmental needs in service design

This isn’t your typical startup story. And it might just change how you think about death.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Resting Reef
03:00 Innovative Funeral Practices
05:28 Environmental Impact of Traditional Funerals
09:16 Changing Perceptions of Death
10:35 Personal Stories Behind the Business
13:20 From Concept to Viable Business
19:14 Media Attention and Public Response
21:39 Funding and Growth Strategies
24:32 Choosing Bali for the Pilot Project
26:31 Community Involvement and Cultural Sensitivity
29:05 Cultural Sensitivity in Memorial Practices
31:19 Holistic Approach to Death Care
32:28 Vision for Global Impact
34:07 Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship
36:01 Navigating Imposter Syndrome
38:47 Connecting Purpose with Profit
41:05 Building Trust and Partnerships
41:36 Redefining Profit in Purpose-Driven Business
45:27 Maintaining Ethical and Sustainability Standards
48:24 Future Plans and Expansion
50:26 Challenging Perceptions in Death Care
51:44 A Vision for the Future of Resting Reef

Connect with Aura and Luise:
uk.linkedin.com/company/resting-reef

www.linkedin.com/in/auramurillo/

www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lenborg-skajem-239b71a9…

www.instagram.com/restingreef/

Connect with Dorianeh:
www.purposeroom.com/link-in-bio

Visit purposeroom.com/ for support connecting your brands purpose to profits