https://youtu.be/en3RlWxy6P0

June 11, 2025

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 cold cases. The graves are…

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June 5, 2025

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…

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May 21, 2025

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" during WWI. They defended freedom…

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May 15, 2025

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 that led to…

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May 8, 2025

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 story of a…

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May 1, 2025

Episode 231 - Springtime Reflections: Cemetery Etiquette for the Season

Join Jennie and Dianne of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they explore the dos and don'ts of cemetery etiquette and safety. With spring in full bloom, cemeteries are coming alive with visitors and furry friends - but what are the unwritten rules to follow? We dive into the importance…

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April 24, 2025

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 story of…

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April 17, 2025

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 featured on EWTN, Relevant Radio, and other platforms. Currently serving as a parish…

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April 10, 2025

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 and starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Annie…

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April 3, 2025

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 take precedence over considerations of the…

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March 27, 2025

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 dead are remembered with a smile. On this episode of The Ordinary…

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March 20, 2025

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, Civil War historian MJ Henion shares the human side of this celebrated war hero. Join…

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March 13, 2025

Episode 224 - More Than a Hero: 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 was marked by both triumph and tragedy. Often remembered as a hero…

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March 6, 2025

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 episode to chat about some of her serendipitous moments among the graves.…

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Feb. 27, 2025

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 mix of ornate mausoleums, obelisks, and headstones,…

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Feb. 13, 2025

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. From their early days of documenting gravestones (they’ve documented over 171,000…

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Feb. 6, 2025

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 outlaw the selling of gravestones in Massachusetts that have been…

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Jan. 30, 2025

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 cemetery preservation. From surprising discoveries to heartwarming encounters, Kurt's Ordinary Extraordinary stories have helped…

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Jan. 22, 2025

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 real-life counterparts that inspired the game creators. Sometimes Ordinary Extraordinary history…

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Jan. 16, 2025

Episode 217 - An Ordinary Extraordinary Announcement and a "Peak" in 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! You'll have to listen (or watch) to find out what's in store! Need an Ordinary Extraordinary…

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Jan. 9, 2025

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. Smalley was once a prominent figure at the University of Michigan and in the city…

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Jan. 2, 2025

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 writing talent emerged during her own school years. In 1894, she founded 'The West…

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Dec. 26, 2024

Episode 214 - 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 explored her pioneering experiences living with Custer in the West. Now, they're diving deeper into…

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Dec. 19, 2024

Episode 213 - Winter Wonderland on the Frontier: 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 Elizabeth "Libbie" Bacon Custer, wife of the legendary (and controversial) George…

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