Episodes
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 a significant role in mourning and remembrance around t…
Episode 238 - Finding the Funny in the Fragile: A Chat with the Creat…
"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 creators of a live performance that blends comedy, storytel…
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 Arizona State University. Some of the questions addressed…
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 historic cemeteries and helped law enforcement crack col…
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 universal experience, but it's unique to each individual…
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 who embodied the Army's motto: "This We'll Defend" dur…
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 tombstone at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, and how…
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 'consumption' in a rural community, the complex and incomplete s…
Episode 231 - Springtime Reflections: Cemetery Etiquette for the Seas…
New Podcast Episode 🪦 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, ceme…
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 Cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne share the tragic sto…
Episode 229 - A Cemetery's Champion! How Fr. Edward Looney Saved a Lo…
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 featured on EWTN, Relevant Radio, and other platforms. Curr…
Episode 228 - Bullseye! The Legacy of Annie Oakley with Author Jan Ma…
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 and starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Ann…
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 University, including: *When should the needs of the living…
Episode 226 - Death with a Dash of Humor: The Unique Tradition of the…
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 dead are remembered with a smile. On this episode of The Ordina…
Episode 225 - More Than a Hero Part 2: The Complex Life of Winfield S…
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, Civil War historian MJ Henion shares the human side of …
Episode 224 - More Than a Hero Part 1: The Complex Life of Winfield S…
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 was marked by both triumph and tragedy. Often remembere…
Episode 223 - For the Love of the Cemetery a Chat with Author Loren R…
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 episode to chat about some of her serendipitous moments among the graves. In 2017 the second …
Episode 222 - Echoes of Richmond's Past: Exploring Shockoe Hill Cemet…
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 mix of ornate mausoleums, obelisks, and headstones, re…
Episode 221 - A Conversation with David and Jenny Carr, Founders of G…
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. From their early days of documenting gravestones (they’ve …
Episode 220 - Of Grave Concern: Discussing Bill SD.2426 An Act Relati…
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Gravestones are more than just stones... They hold the stories of our past and are considered sacred objects by many includi...
Episode 219 - A Visit with the KC Cemetery Man, a.k.a Kurt Jordan
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast, Dianne and Jennie welcome Kurt Jordan, a.k.a KC Cemetery Man, a ch...
Episode 218 - Real-Life Inspirations: The History Behind Virtual Ceme…
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Don't miss the latest episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast, where Jennie and Dianne are joined by special ...
Episode 217 - An Ordinary Extraordinary Announcement and a "Peak" bac…
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Join Dianne and Jennie for a trip down memory lane! This week's episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast is a ...
Episode 216 - The Lost Story of Dr. Marianna Smalley
Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. On this episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery , Jennie and Dianne attempt to piece together the life story of Dr. M...