Episodes

June 29, 2023

Episode 140 - Spellbound in the Southwest: The Witch Trials of Abiqui…

Jennie and Dianne are joined by Rick Hendricks, PhD to learn about a series of fascinating witch trials that took place not in New England, but in the border town Abiquiu, New Mexico beginning in 1756 and spanning over the …

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June 22, 2023

Episode 139 - Beneath the Rockies Part 2: Visiting Colorado's Histori…

In this episode Jennie and Dianne continue their exploration of Colorado cemeteries that will be visited by members of the Association for Gravestone Studies during their week-long conference in Denver, Colorado. First they take members to the tranquil grounds of …

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June 15, 2023

Episode 138 - Beneath the Rockies Part 1: Visiting Colorado's Histori…

This week Jennie and Dianne prepare to welcome members of the Association for Gravestone Studies to colorful Colorado for the annual AGS summer conference. This will be the first time the conference has been hosted in the state of Colorado. …

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June 8, 2023

Episode 137 - The Life and Death of Illustrator Ellen Clapsaddle

Jennie and Dianne are joined this week by returning guest, author and historian Pamela McColl, as they unravel the life and death of Ellen Clapsaddle, the remarkable American illustrator and commercial artist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries …

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May 25, 2023

Episode 136 - The Man, the Myth, the Cowboy: John Wayne

"I want to play a real man in all my films, and I define manhood simply: men should be tough, fair and courageous, never petty, never looking for a fight, but never backing down from one either." - John Wayne …

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May 18, 2023

Episode 135 - Harmonizing History: A Chat with the Band Goodnight, Te…

In this episode Jennie and Dianne journey through the intertwining worlds of music, storytelling, history, and cemeteries. This week the ladies are joined by musicians Patrick Dyer Wolf and Avi Vinocur from folk rock band Goodnight, Texas. Together they explore …

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May 11, 2023

Episode 134 - The Legacy of the G.A.R.: Honoring Union Veterans and M…

Jennie and Dianne conclude their series on fraternal organizations in this episode, where they explore a distinctively American fraternity formed with the purpose of assisting veterans of the Union army after the American Civil War. Known as the Grand Army …

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May 4, 2023

Episode 133 - Brotherhood and Benevolence: Exploring the Knights of P…

Join Jennie and Dianne as they dive into the origins of the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization founded on the values of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence. Discover how the story of Damon and Pythias inspired Justus H. Rathbone to …

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April 27, 2023

Episode 132 - The Independent Order of Odd Fellows: From Its Origins …

Fraternal organizations have a long and rich history throughout the world and especially in America. This week Jennie and Dianne begin a new series of episodes dedicated to the many fraternal organizations whose symbols often grace headstones and who even …

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April 20, 2023

Episode 131 - Under the Stone: Early Women Doctors in Evergreen Cemet…

Jennie and Dianne are joined this week by special guest, author and historian Doris McCraw, who wrote the book "Under the Stone: Early Women Doctors in Evergreen Cemetery". They discuss the pioneering women doctors from the 1800s who made an …

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April 13, 2023

Episode 130 - "Corpse for Sale: The Burke and Hare Murders of 1828"

This week Jennie and Dianne stray from the cemetery to explore the gruesome and shocking details of the Burke and Hare murders that gripped Scotland in 1828. These two notorious murderers are responsible for one of the most infamous killing …

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April 6, 2023

Episode 129 - The Shroud of Turin: Legend, Science and Faith

With Easter just a few days away, Jennie and Dianne dive deep into the mysterious and controversial subject of the Shroud of Turin. This ancient piece of cloth is believed by many to be the burial shroud of Jesus Christ …

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March 30, 2023

Episode 128 - Ordinary Extraordinary Women: Uncovering the Hidden Sto…

Jennie and Dianne celebrate the last week of Women's History Month by revisiting some past interviews with women who have researched the Ordinary Extraordinary women of the past who fascinated them. Join them as they chat with authors Jan MacKell …

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March 23, 2023

Episode 127 - A Tale of Two Women: Molly Brown and Louise Sneed Hill

In this episode, Jennie and Dianne celebrate Women's History Month as they explore the lives and legacies of two women who helped to tame the Wild West. First we'll meet Margaret Tobin Brown, more famously known today as Molly Brown. …

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March 16, 2023

Episode 126 - Salem Witch Hysteria Part 3

Join Jennie and Dianne as they explore the aftermath of the Salem Witch Trials in part three of their series. Discover what happened to the victims and accusers after the trials, including the difficult lives many faced, as well as …

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March 9, 2023

Episode 125 - Salem Witch Hysteria Part 2

In this week's episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Jennie and Dianne continue their series on the infamous 1692 Salem witch trials. Last week, they talked about how Tituba's confession triggered a chain of events that shaped the course of …

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March 2, 2023

Episode 124 - Salem Witch Hysteria Part 1

Jennie and Dianne discuss the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 in part one of a two part series. The Salem witch trials were a dark moment in American history that resulted in the execution of 20 people accused of witchcraft. …

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Feb. 23, 2023

Episode 123 - For Love of the Little Ones

In this episode, Jennie and Dianne share heartwarming stories of love for children. The first story takes us back to the Great Depression era, where a family relies on the kindness of their neighbors to provide a burial place for …

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Feb. 16, 2023

Episode 122 - "How Do I Love Thee...Beyond the Grave?"

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." Happy belated Valentine's Day! In this episode Jennie and Dianne are continuing a month of love by featuring three Ordinary Extraordinary love stories, two of them all the way from …

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Feb. 9, 2023

Episode 121 - For Love of Mules and Horses

Jennie and Dianne kick off a month of love as they delve into the fascinating bond between humans and their beloved equine companions. From the majestic thoroughbred racehorses to the reliable mules, these creatures have captured our hearts and imaginations …

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Feb. 2, 2023

Episode 120 - The Men Who Created Groundhog Day

"This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.​" Phil Conners, "Groundhog Day" - For the past 136 years at 7:20am on February 2nd 15 men dressed in tuxes …

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Jan. 26, 2023

Episode 119 - Whitehall Cemetery (Burial Ground) in Mystic, Connectic…

Whitehall cemetery, also called Whitehall burial ground or Whitehall graveyard, is the oldest burial ground in Mystic, Connecticut being set aside for the purpose in 1644. This cemetery contains many excellent examples of 17th and 18th century stone carving tradition …

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Jan. 18, 2023

Episode 118 Say What? A Cemetery Q and A Part 2

Dianne and Jennie continue to answer your questions in this second Q and A installment of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast. They discuss an old-wives tale regarding burial of those who die by suicide, answer questions about how they do …

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Jan. 11, 2023

Episode 117 - Say What? A Cemetery Q & A Part 1

Jennie and Dianne kick off 2023 by answering many questions posed by their listeners over the course of the previous year. They begin this two-part episode by covering the legal definition of an abandoned cemetery and how this definition determines …

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