The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery
The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery is a podcast for cemetery lovers, preservationists, and even those who've never walked among the graves. Join hosts Jennie and Dianne as they explore old cemeteries and learn the stories of those buried within their walls. After all, every death had a life, and every life had a story.
Episodes
245 episodes
Episode 246 - Around the World in 80 Graves: A Conversation with Tui Snider
What happens when you combine travel, history, and a dash of humor? You get 'Around the World in 80 Graves: Travel, Tombstones & Transformation', the new book from Tui Snider. Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery po...
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Episode 246
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53:54
Episode 245 - Beneath the Surface: A Surprising Cemetery Tale
Not every public park is as it seems, and not every cemetery is for that matter either! This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne are joined by fellow taphophile Randy Crane as he shares the story of the life, ...
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Episode 245
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50:01
Episode 244 - The Power of Storytelling: Preserving Our Histories with Stephanie Ford
What happens when we don't share our stories before we become inmates of the cemetery?? This week, The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast explores the importance of recording our histories with special guest Stephanie Ford. As a caregiver,...
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Episode 244
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56:53
Episode 243 - Haunted History: Exploring Virginia's Cemeteries with Sharon Pajka
Get ready for a chilling conversation! Join Jennie and Dianne as they chat with author Sharon Pajka, PhD, about her new book "Haunted Virginia Cemeteries". As we creep into spooky season, Sharon guides us through the Old Dominion's most haunted...
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Episode 243
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59:49
Episode 242 - Cracking the Code: The Dr. Samuel Bean Cryptogram
On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, uncover the mystery behind Dr. Samuel Bean's cryptic monument in Wellesley, Ontario, where two of his wives, Henrietta and Susanna, rest in peace. Jennie and Dianne explore the Ord...
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Episode 242
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31:54
Episode 241 - Death and Dying 101 with Ryan Seidemann - Round 3
Join the dynamic trio—Jennie, Dianne, and Ryan Seidemann—for the third chapter of the “Death and Dying 101” series! This episode dives into global memorials, uncovering cultural quirks and mysteries. Are catacombs serene sanctuaries or lively p...
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Episode 241
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1:02:07
Episode 240 - Preserving Stories: A Conversation with the Formidable Genealogist
"Every death had a life and every life had a story," but how is it that we uncover so many of the narratives we share on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast? Much of it comes from searching through genealogical archives and other record...
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Episode 240
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57:24
Episode 239 - Flowers for the Dead: A History of Mourning Blooms
Get ready to stop and smell the roses...in the cemetery! This week Jennie and Dianne explore the practical, symbolic, and cultural significance of flowers in death. From ancient Egypt and Greece to Victorian-era cemeteries, flowers have played ...
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Episode 239
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34:05
Episode 238 - Finding the Funny in the Fragile: A Chat with the Creators of Life: A Delightful Show About Fear and Grief
"Fear and grief are not just inevitable — they are sacred rites of passage. A catalyst for transformation and resilience. And they belong to all of us." On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Jennie and Dianne chat with the crea...
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Episode 238
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47:15
Episode 237 - Death and Dying 101 with Ryan Seidemann - Round 2
Join Jennie, Dianne and favorite guest Ryan Seidemann for the latest installment of Death and Dying 101: a new reoccurring feature on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast where they answer and discuss questions from Ryan's students at Ar...
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Episode 237
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1:04:42
Episode 236 - Ground- Penetrating Truth with Bone Finder Bob Perry
Join Jennie and Dianne for an Ordinary Extraordinary conversation as they dig up the truth with special guest Bob Perry, aka the Bone Finder! With his expertise in cemetery geophysics and ground-penetrating radar, Bob has uncovered secrets in h...
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Episode 236
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56:35
Episode 235 - The Weight of Loss: Navigating Grief and Finding Peace
"Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes a part of you, step for step, breath for breath - That's just how it is. Grief and love are conjoined, you don't get one without the other." - Jandy Nelson, The Sky is Everywhere -- Grief is a u...
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Episode 235
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1:09:34
Episode 234 - Freedom's Cost. A Memorial Day Tribute
Discover the untold stories of two Ordinary men who became Extraordinary unsung heroes. This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne share the stories of George Wasinger and John Wysowatcky Jr., two young soldiers...
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Episode 234
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31:05
Episode 233 - Dishes from the Dearly Departed with Rosie Grant
What's cooking in the cemetery? Jennie and Dianne are dishing up a treat with Rosie Grant, the creator behind the viral @GhostlyArchive, where gravestones become recipe cards! Rosie shares her journey of uncovering her first recipe on a tombsto...
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Episode 233
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1:10:37
Episode 232 - Consumption, Confinement, and Gold
May is Cemetery Appreciation Month, and Jennie and Dianne are celebrating by sharing three Ordinary Extraordinary stories buried beneath the soil of three Colorado cemeteries. Hear the tragic tale of a young woman who lost her life to 'consumpt...
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Episode 232
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40:11
Episode 231 - Springtime Reflections: Cemetery Etiquette for the Season
Join Jennie and Dianne of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they kick off Cemetery Appreciation Month (May) by exploring the dos and don'ts of cemetery etiquette and safety. With spring in full bloom, cemeteries are coming alive wi...
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Episode 231
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39:56
Episode 230 - Discarded Lives
"We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat." - John Steinbeck On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary C...
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Episode 230
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54:38
Episode 229 - A Cemetery's Champion! How Fr. Edward Looney Saved a Lost Burial Ground
This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne are joined by Father Edward Looney, a Marian theologian, author, and speaker. Father Edward has written several books, including "A Heart Like Mary's," and has been feat...
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Episode 229
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55:48
Episode 228 - Bullseye! The Legacy of Annie Oakley with Author Jan MacKell Collins
Join Jennie and Dianne on The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they sit down with author Jan MacKell Collins to explore the life and legacy of Phoebe Ann Mosey, famously known as Annie Oakley! Celebrated for her sharp shooting skills ...
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Episode 228
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1:01:16
Episode 227 - Death and Dying 101 with Ryan Seidemann
Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they tackle tough questions about death and dying with returning guest Ryan Seidemann. This week, they're answering questions from Ryan's students at Arizona State Univers...
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Episode 227
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55:46
Episode 226 - Death with a Dash of Humor: The Unique Tradition of the Merry Cemetery
Imagine visiting a cemetery where instead of sadness, you’re greeted with joy, wit, and art. In the heart of Romania, that’s exactly what you’ll find; “The graveyard that laughs at death” otherwise known as The Merry Cemetery—where the...
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Episode 226
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38:19
Episode 225 - More Than a Hero Part 2: The Complex Life of Winfield Scott Hancock
This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, we conclude our conversation on the fascinating story of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock. From his heroic actions at Gettysburg to his passionate pursuits and personal heartbreaks, ...
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Episode 225
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44:45
Episode 224 - More Than a Hero Part 1: The Complex Life of Winfield Scott Hancock
Step into the historic Montgomery Cemetery in Norristown, Pennsylvania, with Jennie and Dianne as they're joined by returning guest and U.S. Civil War historian MJ Henion to uncover the story of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, whose life ...
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Episode 224
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52:21
Episode 223 - For the Love of the Cemetery a Chat with Author Loren Rhoads
Known for her books 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die and 222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, Author Loren Rhodes has spent years visiting the dead around the globe and joins Jennie and Dianne on this episo...
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Episode 223
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53:11
Episode 222 - Echoes of Richmond's Past: Exploring Shockoe Hill Cemetery with Jeffry Burden
Situated on a hill overlooking the James River and the city of Richmond, Virginia is the iconic Shockoe Hill Cemetery founded in 1820. Over its rolling hills, along its winding paths and beneath the arches of its historic trees, you will find a...
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Episode 222
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1:12:48