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
234 episodes
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
Episode 221 - A Conversation with David and Jenny Carr, Founders of Gravestone Guardians
Passion, dedication, and a love for history! Join Jennie and Dianne on this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they welcome David and Jenny Carr, a remarkable couple who have made it their mission to preserve history. Fro...
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Episode 221
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1:21:53
Episode 220 - Of Grave Concern: Discussing Bill SD.2426 An Act Relative to the Theft of Graves
Gravestones are more than just stones... They hold the stories of our past and are considered sacred objects by many including this week's guest, Rachel Meyer from Epoch Preservation. Join Jennie and Dianne as they learn of Rachel's mission to ...
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Episode 220
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1:12:39
Episode 219 - A Visit with the KC Cemetery Man, a.k.a Kurt Jordan
This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast, Dianne and Jennie welcome Kurt Jordan, a.k.a KC Cemetery Man, a champion of cemetery preservation. Kurt's chance discovery of his 2X Great Grandfather's marker sparked a passion for ceme...
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Episode 219
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55:00
Episode 218 - Real-Life Inspirations: The History Behind Virtual Cemeteries
Don't miss the latest episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast, where Jennie and Dianne are joined by special guest Charles Johnson to chat about fictional cemeteries and ghost towns in the virtual world of video games and the rea...
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Episode 218
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57:01
Episode 217 - An Ordinary Extraordinary Announcement and a "Peak" back into the Centennial State's "Roots"
Join Dianne and Jennie for a trip down memory lane! This week's episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast is a Colorado-themed throwback, featuring snippets from their favorite homestate episodes, PLUS, an exciting announcement! Yo...
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Episode 217
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1:19:30
Episode 216 - The Lost Story of Dr. Marianna Smalley
On this episode ofThe Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Jennie and Dianne attempt to piece together the life story of Dr. Marianna Smalley, a pioneering woman of her era. Celebrated for her research in tuberculosis treatment, Dr. Smalle...
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Episode 216
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41:58
Episode 215 - A Forgotten Storyteller: Ellen Robena Field Smalley
We begin 2025 with the Ordinary Extraordinary, but nearly unknown story of Ellen Robena Field, a talented writer and educator whose contributions to children's literature have mostly been overlooked. Born in 1869 in Bangor, Maine, Ellen's writi...
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Episode 215
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21:05
Episode 214 - Episode 213 - Winter Wonderland on the Frontier Part 2: Libbie Custer's Christmas Legacy
This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne continue their fascinating discussion with author Pamela McColl about Elizabeth "Libbie" Custer, the resilient wife of General George Armstrong Custer. In part one, they...
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Episode 214
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42:03
Episode 213 - Winter Wonderland on the Frontier Part 1: Libbie Custer's Christmas Legacy
Get ready for Part One of a holiday treat! Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they welcome Christmas aficionado and author Pamela McColl back to experience the "spirit of Christmas" through the memories of ...
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Episode 213
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45:08
Episode 212 - Crimes, Clues and Christmas Cheer!
Resting peacefully in graves across the United Kingdom are some of the 20th century's best mystery writers who set the standard for the detective stories we know and love today. Get ready for a whodunit of an episode! We're "investigating" the ...
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Episode 212
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55:45
Episode 211 - A Prophet of His Own Demise
What if you knew the exact date of your own death? For Samuel P. Golden, a series of prophetic dreams foretold his passing...or so he believed! Join Jennie and Dianne as they uncover the Ordinary Extraordinary life and death of Samuel P. Golden...
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Episode 211
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58:03