Episodes

March 14, 2024

Episode 175 - Part 1: Cemeteries of the Honorable, Forgotten and Unkn…

In this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Jennie and Dianne, along with special guest Avrohom Krauss, an educator, genealogist, and speaker specializing in Jewish resources and cemetery research, delve into the Ordinary Extraordinary Jewish immigrant cemeteries of New York. …

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March 6, 2024

Episode 174 - Echoes of History: Gettysburg Unveiled with Tim Smith

Jennie and Dianne dive into history with special guest Tim Smith, the Director of Education for the Adams County Historical Society and town historian at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This week, Tim unfolds captivating tales of the battlefield, revealing how the citizens …

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Feb. 29, 2024

Episode 173 - Crowning Glory Part 2: Maurice Breen in Dayton Ohio's C…

Jennie and Dianne return to Dayton Ohio's Calvary Cemetery, this time to visit the grave of Maurice Breen, an Irish immigrant who spent some of his early years in America helping those who were enslaved to escape to freedom on …

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Feb. 22, 2024

Episode 172 - Crowning Glory Part 1: Dayton Ohio's Calvary Cemetery

This episode is part one of at least two episodes covering one of Dayton, Ohio's largest green spaces, Calvary Cemetery. Founded in 1872 to accommodate three Catholic parishes that grew out of the German, Irish, Polish, Hungarian, Italian and Lithuanian …

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Feb. 15, 2024

Episode 171 - Madam with a Heart: Durango, Colorado's Bessie Rivers

Love is in the air this week as Jennie and Dianne share the story of a woman who led, shall we say, an alternative life as madam Bessie Rivers, and despite her unconventional path, found love and respect among many …

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Feb. 8, 2024

Episode 170 - Love Amidst the Wreckage: The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus …

Jennie and Dianne relate a gripping yet heart-wrenching chapter of circus history that led to the first burials at Showmen's Rest in Chicago's beautiful Woodlawn Memorial Park. Listen in as they spotlight the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train wreck of 1918 – …

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Feb. 1, 2024

Episode 169 - Love Triumphs: James and Olivia Tate's Extraordinary Lo…

Jennie and Dianne delve into the remarkable tale of James and Olivia Tate, enslaved in Georgia prior to the American civil war but united by love. This February, they kick off a month-long celebration of love and honor Black History …

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Jan. 25, 2024

Episode 168 - Witness to Time: Margaret Ann Harvey Neve's Three-Centu…

Join Jennie and Dianne as they unravel the remarkable life of Margaret Ann Harvey Neve in this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast! This latest episode delves into the story of the first recorded female supercentenarian, the second person …

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Jan. 18, 2024

Episode 167 - Rebel Girls of the Frontier: Cattle Annie and Little Br…

Jennie and Dianne ride into the Wild West in this latest podcast episode! Together they cover the unique story of Cattle Annie and Little Britches, two adventurous young girls who defied the norms of their time by becoming outlaws in …

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Jan. 4, 2024

Episode 166 - Sewn in Stardust: Irene Lentz's Impact on Hollywood Fas…

Jennie and Dianne uncover the remarkable legacy of Irene Lentz – a trailblazing fashion designer turned Hollywood costume innovator during the 1930s and 40s. Delve into the Ord nary Extraordinary story of how she not only took the reins as …

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Dec. 28, 2023

Episode 165 - A New Year's Ode to Friendship: Mark Twain and Helen Ke…

As we bid farewell to 2023, the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast team wishes you a Happy New Year! Don't miss this final episode of the year, weaving history, literature, and friendship into an Ordinary Extraordinary story. Jennie and Dianne are …

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Dec. 21, 2023

Episode 164 - From Newsboy to Santa's Helper: The Extraordinary Life …

Embark on a heartfelt yuletide journey with Jennie and Dianne as they uncover the remarkable story of James J. Brady at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. Despite humble beginnings, Brady's life is etched in the unadorned markers beside his …

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Dec. 14, 2023

Episode 163 - In the Face of Darkness: Hanukkah Celebrations and the …

Join Jennie and Dianne as they unravel a tale of light from darkness in Landsberg am Lech, Germany. From the city's historical significance to the Jüdischer Friedhof, a small Jewish cemetery containing about 600 victims of the Nazi terror that …

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Dec. 7, 2023

Episode 162 - Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A C…

Uncover the rich history of the second oldest rural cemetery in America on "The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery" podcast! Join Jennie and Dianne alongside Laurel Hill Cemetery's President & CEO Nancy Goldenberg, Arboretum Manager Aaron Greenberg, and Volunteer & Tour Guide …

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Nov. 30, 2023

Episode 161 - Beneath the Pines: Toledo Cemetery in Toledo, Oregon

On this episode of "The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery" join Jennie as she journeys to the picturesque Toledo Cemetery in Lincoln County, Oregon to discover the history of this charming seven-acre resting place, founded in the 1880s by the generous donation …

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Nov. 23, 2023

Episode 160 - Wit and Wings: A Thanksgiving Tribute to Will Rogers & …

Dive into a remarkable journey through time on the latest episode of "The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery" podcast with Jennie and Dianne. This Thanksgiving, we're especially thankful for the wit and humor of Will Rogers. Join us as we celebrate the …

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Nov. 16, 2023

Episode 159 - Gravestones Reclaimed: Stories of Restored Headstones

Jennie and Dianne share three captivating stories of headstones found in unusual places and how they were restored to the cemeteries where they belong. They begin with the story of a WWII veteran's headstone discovered in a backyard in St. …

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Nov. 9, 2023

Episode 158 - Unbreakable Code, Unforgettable Heroes: Navajo Code Tal…

In this episode Jennie and Dianne honor Veterans Day and celebrate National Native American Heritage Month along with guests Charlie Johnson and Connie Kellwood Pitt. Connie's father, Joe Hosteen Kellwood was one of the renowned Navajo Code Talkers of WWII. …

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Nov. 2, 2023

Episode 157 - Celebrating 3 Years of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemet…

Happy belated 3rd anniversary to the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast! In this episode Jennie and Dianne take a stroll down memory lane, celebrating three years of stories and inspiring discussions. They reminisce about how far the podcast has come, discuss …

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Oct. 26, 2023

Episode 156 - Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker

Join Jennie and Dianne for this very special Halloween edition of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast. Grab your favorite warm beverage, turn the lights down low, and curl up with a cozy blanket as we delve into the enigmatic world …

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Oct. 12, 2023

Episode 155 - Bram Stoker's Dracula: A Conversation with Professor St…

Just in time to help kick off the third annual Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker, Dianne and Jennie engage in a captivating conversation with Stanley Stepanic, an Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University …

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Oct. 5, 2023

Episode 154 - From the Grave: Omens, Taboos, and Beyond

It's officially October which means many of us are feeling a bit spookier than usual! In this episode Jennie and Dianne unravel some of the secrets of omens and taboos lurking in the shadows of our minds. They delve into …

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Sept. 28, 2023

Episode 153 - From History to Harmony Part 2: The Folk Songs of North…

"Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die." The murder ballad, 'Tom Dooley', made famous by the Kingston Trio in 1958, is the tale …

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Sept. 21, 2023

Episode 152 - From History to Harmony Part 1: The Folk Songs of North…

"Come all good people, I’d have you draw near, A sorrowful story you quickly shall hear; A story I’ll tell you about Omie Wise, How she was deluded by Lewis’s lies." From the ballad Omie Wise. This week Jennie and …

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