Episodes

Nov. 14, 2024

Episode 209 - Italy's Cemeteries with Tui Snider

Step into the enchanting world of Italian cemeteries with Jennie, Dianne, and special guest Tui Snider who shares her adventures as a tour guide in Italy's iconic Monumental Cemeteries, visiting Milan, Genoa, Bologna, and Florence. From 19th-century widow sculptures to …

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Nov. 7, 2024

Episode 208 - The Forgotten Crash: Uncovering the Story of St. Martin…

In the stillness of a dense Newfoundland forest, a hidden cemetery whispers a tale both tragic and triumphant. This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast Jennie and Dianne explore the St. Martin-in-the-Woods Cemetery, a plane crash site turned burial …

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Oct. 24, 2024

Episode 206 - Beyond the Grave: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Join Jennie and Dianne for the annual "Beyond the Grave" episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, just in time to put you in a spooky mood for Halloween! Wrap yourself cozy, dim the lights and let Mary Shelley's haunting masterpiece …

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Oct. 17, 2024

Episode 205 - The Art of Victorian Mourning

Beyond the ornate 19th century headstones and crumbling mausoleums lies a world of custom and superstition that dictated death and mourning for more than eighty years. This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast Jennie and Dianne explore the complex …

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Oct. 10, 2024

Episode 204 - From Stage to Spy the Story of Major Pauline Cushman

Step into history with Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast! This week, they uncover the fascinating story of Pauline Cushman, a Union spy and actress who risked it all during the American Civil War. Joining them is …

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Oct. 3, 2024

Episode 203 - Mary Shelley the Woman Behind the Monster Part 2

The story continues...Jennie, Dianne and Professor Jared Richman continue their discussion about the life and legacy of Mary Shelley. From the heartache of losing three of her four children in infancy, to the tragic drowning death of her husband Percy …

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Sept. 26, 2024

Episode 202 - Mary Shelley the Woman Behind the Monster Part 1

This year's Beyond the Grave event honors Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but who was the woman behind the iconic novel? Born to radical parents Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin, Mary Shelley navigated a life of intellectual fervor, passionate relationships – including …

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Sept. 19, 2024

Episode 201 - Hillside Cemetery, Middletown, New York

This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast; while Dianne is away, Jennie welcomes a new guest, JoEllen Hundeland, to share her passion project, "Hillside Cemetery: Middletown, New York: Beyond the Graves". From school bus curiosity to researching incredible local …

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Sept. 12, 2024

Episode 200 - Celebrating 200 Episodes with Kristen Allen of Bloombri…

Join The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery podcast for a milestone episode - our 200th! For this special episode Dianne and Jennie welcome back returning guest Kristen Allen of Bloombridge, the cemetery flower delivery service, to share exciting updates on the organization's …

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Sept. 5, 2024

Episode 199 - "Pleasure Grounds of Death" Part 2 with Joy Giguere

Jennie and Dianne are excited to share Part 2 of our discussion with author Joy Giguere on "Pleasure Grounds of Death: The Rural Cemetery in Nineteenth-century America". They explore how the rural cemetery movement transformed the funeral industry, especially following …

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Aug. 29, 2024

Episode 198 - "Pleasure Grounds of Death" Part 1 with Joy Giguere

This week on The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Jennie and Dianne welcome Joy Giguere back to discuss her new book "Pleasure Grounds of Death: The Rural Cemetery in Nineteenth-century America". They chat about the rise of rural cemeteries in the United …

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Aug. 22, 2024

Episode 197 - The Life & Legacy of Billy the Kid

Saddle up, partners as Jennie and Dianne 'shoot' the breeze with Josh Taylor of the Wild West Extravaganza Podcast (and YouTube channel) while they pay their respects at the graveside of infamous outlaw Billy the Kid and his Ordinary Extraordinary …

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Aug. 8, 2024

Episode 196 - The Great Eiffel Tower Swindle! Part 2

In part 1 of "The Great Eiffel Tower Swindle" Jennie and Dianne share the humble beginnings of a man who became known as one of the world's greatest swindlers, Victor "The Count" Lustig; and left listeners hanging after recounting his …

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Aug. 8, 2024

Episode 195 - The Great Eiffel Tower Swindle! Part 1

As the world's eyes are on Paris for the Olympics, we're looking back at a different kind of champion - the con artist who sold the Eiffel Tower not once, but twice! We're shining a light on the Ordinary Extraordinary …

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July 25, 2024

Episode 194 - Making a Splash: The John Michael Kohler Story

On this episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Jennie and Dianne pay a virtual visit to the graveside of a man who truly made a "splash" not only in America, but around the world. Join them as they relate the …

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July 18, 2024

Episode 193 - Preserving the Past: Lessons from the Annual 48 State T…

This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne review their recent "gravestone preservation workshop" after attending the "48 State Tour" hosted by Atlas Preservation at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They share what they learned and …

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July 11, 2024

Episode 192 - East Coast Escapades

This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne chat about Dianne's recent East Coast adventures in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Dianne shares about the many historical locations she visited including the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River …

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July 4, 2024

Episode 191 - An Independence Day Chat with Presidential Grave Hunter…

Happy Birthday America, or as Americans say, "Happy 4th of July!" Jennie and Dianne celebrate America's birthday with author and presidential historian Kurt Deion as he recounts his adventures in his book "Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid's Quest to Visit …

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June 27, 2024

Episode 190 - Life At The Cemetery: It's Not As Dead As You Think wit…

In this episode of the "Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery" podcast, Jennie chats with Sandra K. Doyle, a former deathcare industry professional turned author. Sandra's book, "MY LIFE AT THE CEMETERY: IT'S NOT AS DEAD AS YOU THINK", is a heartwarming and …

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June 20, 2024

Episode 189 "Cemeteries are for the Living": A Conversation with Auth…

“Cemeteries are for the living. They’re there for us, they’re there to comfort us, they’re there to educate us, they’re there to provide peaceful meditative places to contemplate our own mortality and our own life." This is what Tui Snider …

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June 13, 2024

Episode 188 - Charleston, South Carolina's Historic Churchyards with …

Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they delve into the hidden histories of Charleston, South Carolina's iconic graveyards. This week, they're joined by Patrick Harwood, a man who's spent his career uncovering the truth. From …

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June 6, 2024

Episode 187 - The Ordinary Extraordinary Breen Family

Ask and ye shall receive! This episode was made possible because several listeners reached out to this week's guest letting him know that Jennie and Dianne were eagerly hoping to speak with him. Get ready for a journey through history …

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May 30, 2024

Episode 186 - A Mother's Legacy and the Evolution of Life Forest Ceme…

Join Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast as they welcome Mel Bennett, founder of Life Forest cemetery, for a heartwarming and insightful conversation. Mel shares the personal story of how Life Forest was born out of her …

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May 23, 2024

Episode 185 - Bravery Unseen: WWII's Extraordinary Women with Major G…

Just in time for Memorial Day, Jennie and Dianne are honored to be joined in this episode by Major General Mari K. Eder (U.S. Army, Retired) to discuss her amazing book, 'The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line'. These Ordinary …

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