The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

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 the connection between music and storytelling, discussing how the melodies and lyrics of many of their songs serve as vessels for untold tales, even those rooted in the hist...

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 of the Republic, or simply G.A.R., it served as a social and political platform for Union veterans and their families. The GAR passionately advocated for veterans' rights, i...

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 create this organization and how it became the first fraternal organization in the United States to be chartered through an Act of Congress. Tune in to hear about the Ordinary Extraordinary hi...

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 have cemeteries of their own. In this episode they discover the secrets and history of one of the world's oldest fraternal organizations, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows...

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 impact on the field of medicine despite facing incredible challenges and obstacles. Seven of these Ordinary Extraordinary women are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs. T...

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 sprees in history. Learn about how they lured their victims to their deaths, how they sold the bodies to a prominent doctor for dissection, and how they were finally caught and brought to j...

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 himself, but its authenticity has been the subject of much debate and scientific analysis over the years. Jennie and Dianne explore the history, science, and faith behind the shroud, shedding light on one of the mos...

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 Collins and Sharon Pajka about soiled doves, marvelous madams, and women writers. They also revisit a conversation with Jennie's very good friend Laurilea McDaniel to delve into ...

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. She was a socialite and philanthropist known for her courage and tenacity, particularly during the sinking of the Titanic. Her story is one of resilience and determination in the face of adv...

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 the memorials and tombs in cemeteries dedicated to them. Reflect on the impact that this dark period in history had on the Ordinary Extraordinary community of Salem and the legacies that still linger tod...

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 the trials. This week, they explore the aftermath of her confession, including how it led to more accusations, the establishment of a new court system, and the execution of t...

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. The hysteria began in 1692 in the small Massachusetts town of Salem, when young girls started to exhibit strange behaviors that were attributed to the influence of witches. The accusations quickly spread, leadin...

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 their baby. The second story tells of a group of men who rediscover a forgotten cemetery belonging to the Dickson Orphanage, the only state-run home in Texas for black children from 1901 to 1943. Join us f...

"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 New Zealand's Karori Cemetery! The final story is one of love that has fascinated Jennie since she was a little girl - a story of love overcoming obstacles and proving that sometimes love r...

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 for centuries. And in this episode, they will be discussing one of the most Ordinary Extraordinary tales of human-horse relationship - the story of Sergeant Reckless, a small ma...

"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 and top hats gather round a chubby, brown-furred creature named Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary to ...

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 including death's heads, soul effigies, willow trees and more! Many Ordinary Extraordinary stories are buried beneath the stones, including the story of a man who...

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 their research for each episode, and share some of their favorite cemetery book recommendations. To round out the episode, they discuss Boston's Granary Burying Ground and how many so...

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 either the survival or removal of a burial ground. They delve in to what to do should you accidentally excavate a burial site, especially if that site belongs to Native Americans. And fi...