The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

Jennie Johnson & Dianne Hartshorn
  • 4.5 (58)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery is a podcast for cemetery lovers, preservationists, and even those who've never walked among the graves. Join hosts Jennie and Dianne as they explore old cemeteries and learn the stories of those buried within their walls. After all, every death had a life, and every life had a story.

  1. 5D AGO

    Episode 260 - Candlelight and Liberty

    Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. “Hanukkah is about the freedom to be true to what we believe without denying the freedom of those who believe otherwise. It’s about lighting our candle, while not being threatened by or threatening anyone else’s candle.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l -- This week Jennie and Dianne invite everyone to cozy up with a cup of latke-friendly brew and join them as they revisit their first ever Hanukkah episode (#10!), exploring the connections between Hanukkah and the American Revolution through the stories of war heroes buried in Chatham Square Jewish Cemetery in New York City. We hope this episode inspires all our listeners to find their light in the darkness.  Episode available on YouTube:https://youtu.be/X1NBLsOqIoY?si=eZSOGgFi4GBuDqQH Family Tales: A free printable, is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharing Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

    40 min

  2. DEC 11

    Episode 259 - The Santa Colonel: 70 Years of Christmas Magic

    Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. This week Dianne and Jennie are getting into the holiday spirit with the heartwarming story of Colonel Harry Shoup, the Air Force officer who answered a mistaken phone call from a little girl looking for Santa. His kindness sparked a tradition that's tracked Santa for 70 years! Ever wondered how NORAD got involved? Tune in to hear the Ordinary Extraordinary, magical Christmas tale! Episode available on YouTube:   https://youtu.be/7014a4Stt_0?si=RS2OobqhaCPFBxvC It may not be Christmas Eve yet, but read stories, play games and more, and of course, track Santa with NORAD on Christmas Eve at:https://www.noradsanta.org/en/ Resources used to research this episode include:                                                    DME Interns. "Harry Shoup: The Santa Colonel ." https://news.va.gov/. 24 Dec. 2021. news.va.gov/98635/harry-shoup-the-santa-colonel/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025. Young, Olivia. "Colorado woman recalls phone call that transformed father into NORAD's "Santa Colonel" ." https://www.cbsnews.com/. 24 Dec. 2024. www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-woman-recalls-phone-call-transformed-father-norads-santa-colonel/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025. Multiple Contributors . "NORAD Tracks Santa ." https://en.wikipedia.org/. 6 Nov. 2024. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NORAD_Tracks_Santa. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025. The Gazette . "Harry Wesley Shoup ." https://obits.gazette.com/. 18 Mar. 2009. obits.gazette.com/us/obituaries/gazette/name/harry-shoup-obituary?id=23024681. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025. Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

    45 min

  3. DEC 4

    Episode 258 - Around the Table: Preserving Family Stories

    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, Jennie and Dianne remind listeners the holidays are the perfect time to gather 'round the dinner table and record the tales of grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members. Whether you're a seasoned genealogist or just starting to explore your family's history, this episode includes tips and tricks for getting started with family history research and how to preserve those precious stories for generations to come.  Episode available on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/_HugPmVxgmI?si=fWZjTixivXBFrezQ Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

    40 min

  4. NOV 20

    Episode 257 - Cemeteries as Catalysts for Alternate Histories

    Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Get ready to dig into the fascinating world of alternate histories! On this week's Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast, Jennie and Dianne welcome back Research Historian Lynette Webber to explore how cemeteries can inspire and provoke our understanding of time and mortality. Just like George Bailey's poignant "what ifs" in It's a Wonderful Life or Marty McFly's wild rides through the Back to the Future timeline, cemeteries hold the whispers of real life what ifs, where families have stood before graves and pondered the roads not taken. We'll explore the butterfly effect of human decision making, and dive into the fascinating story of a mysterious mausoleum in England rumored to hold a time machine. Join the conversation and uncover the secrets of the roads not taken! Episode available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UE8wrPs7QMo Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

    57 min

  5. NOV 13

    Episode 256 - Death and Dying 101 with Ryan Seidemann Round 5

    Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. It's time for a new addition of Death and Dying 101. Join Jennie and Dianne, along with regular contributor Ryan Seidemann, as they dig into the dirt on some heavy hitters: the environmental impact of cremation vs. full body burial, the tricky business of handling cemeteries discovered during construction projects, Civil War burials, and the fascinating world of bone identification. Grab your shovels and join their grave talk! Episode available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZrpRVTL2Pl4?si=jSZnadm5eUpop8EU Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

    1h 10m

  6. NOV 6

    Episode 255 - The Stories of Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio

    Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Jennie and Dianne are thrilled to welcome Diana Kresnye, a passionate tour guide and historical interpreter at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio to the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast. Lake View Cemetery is a treasure trove of history, art, and nature, featuring a Level 2 Arboretum with thousands of trees, the final resting place of James A. Garfield (the 20th president of the United States), and the Wade Memorial Chapel, one of the few remaining interiors totally designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his studios.  This episode is perfectly timed to coincide with the November 6 release of the Netflix miniseries "Death by Lightning," which dramatizes the life of President James A. Garfield and his assassin Charles Guiteau. Diana believes that "cemeteries are among the best storytellers we have in our communities. They hold memory, mystery, and meaning—and invite us to listen."  To learn more about Lake View Cemetery or to take a tour, visit their website: https://www.lakeviewcemetery.com/ You can also follow them on social media:      https://www.facebook.com/share/1BGwscJxTa/ https://www.instagram.com/lakeviewcemetery?igsh=cHpnanJxZmRtajA2 *All images of Lake View Cemetery provided by Diana Kresney and shared with permission. Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

    1h 5m

  7. OCT 30

    Episode 254 - Beyond the Grave: The Phantom of the Opera

    Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Join Jennie and Dianne for the 2025 "Beyond the Grave" episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, just in time to put you in a spooky mood for Halloween! Dim the lights, get cozy, and immerse yourself in Gaston Leroux's timeless masterpiece. With a special introduction by legendary silent film actor Lon Chaney, you'll be transported to 1880s Paris and the majestic Palais Garnier. Settle in and let the Ordinary Extraordinary tale of the Phantom of the Opera bewitch you. As Christine Daaé's voice rises to stardom, she must make an impossible choice: surrender to the Phantom's dark obsession or risk everything for a chance at true love with Raoul. Gaston Leroux's classic novel was adapted and performed by phenomenally talented actors live at Evergreen Cemetery on October 3rd & 4th, 2025 in order to help raise funds for the preservation of  Colorado Springs' historic cemeteries, and now we bring it to you for your listening pleasure. Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/26o4BIJq5Ws Script adaptation written by Jennie Johnson Thank you so much to all the actors who lent their time and talent to bring this classic tale to life. The actors are, in order of appearance: 🎶Opera Singer (at event)... Quinn Malmstrom                                                                 🎶Opera Singer (at event)... Kass Allen                                                                     🎶 Lon Chaney (audio version)... Charles Johnson                                                            🎶 Lon Chaney (silent film at event)... Jeremy Moskowitz                                             🎶Carlotta... Ashley Arroyo 🎶Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny...Asha Hart 🎶Christine Daaé... Casper Johnson 🎶The Phantom... Solomon Abell 💀Beyond the Grave Spirits💀 💀Jair Garcia De la Cruz 💀Naomi Compo 💀Raine Mason 💀Zoe Guinto 💀Lark Tipton     Music: "Death and the Maiden" by Franz Schubert 🎶 Recorded, produced and published by: Gregor Quendel 🎶 The Arrangement is based on the notes by: H. Fesefeldt 🎶 Courtesy of CLASSICALS.DE EXCLUSIVE RECORDINGS https://www.classicals.de/schubert-d810 Sound effects provided by www.pixabay.com Photography by: Jeffery Heizer Produced by Evergreen Heritage & The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast

    51 min

  8. OCT 23

    Episode 253 - The Veiled Lady's Tale: Paranormal Perspectives with Nicole Beauchamp

    Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. Get ready for a ghostly good time on this week's Ordinary Extraordinary podcast! Jennie and Dianne are joined by Nicole Beauchamp, author and paranormal researcher, to discuss the power of remembrance and the importance of preserving the Ordinary Extraordinary stories of the past. From the 'Veiled Woman' of Elmwood Cemetery to the value of visiting historic sites, Nicole shares her expertise on how the past can shape our understanding of the world. Connect with Nicole on Facebook and Instagram @Authornicolebeauchamp. You can purchase Nicole's Books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nicole-Beauchamp/author/B08BV1QDND?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=e0c238e8-536e-49bc-9fda-8be9c15a5060 Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

    44 min
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4.5
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery is a podcast for cemetery lovers, preservationists, and even those who've never walked among the graves. Join hosts Jennie and Dianne as they explore old cemeteries and learn the stories of those buried within their walls. After all, every death had a life, and every life had a story.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennie Johnson & Dianne Hartshorn
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery
  • Show Website
    The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

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