Cemetery Row

Silver Linings - Dolls, Safety Standards and Protecting the Vulnerable

August 25th, 2025 | 1 hr 28 mins

This week's episode is all about the silver lining. Yes, there are tragedies in this episode - but look for the good that came out of these devastating events. Hannah covers Henry Bergh, who founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and how he helped Mary Ellen Wilson, a child abuse survivor whose case changed laws across the country. Sheena covers the devastating Natchez Rhythm Club fire and the resulting change in safety standards. Lori cheers us up by sharing the story of Rose O'Neill, who created Kewpie dolls.

Plot Twists - Dolls, Cows, Rattlesnakes and Mansions

August 11th, 2025 | 1 hr 38 mins

This episode is full of plot twists! Find out why the beautiful Natchez mansion Longwood was never completed in Sheena's story. Lori shares the story of artist, cartoonist and author Johnny Gruelle, and the adorable toy he created that is now synonymous with the paranormal. Hannah covers two Katherines - Katherine Slaughterback, who would go on to become Rattlesnake Kate, and Catherine O'Leary, whose cow may have started the Great Chicago Fire (and she might have an interesting connection to Hannah!).

Cemeteries and Caves of the 1800s

July 28th, 2025 | 1 hr 36 mins

Take a trip back to the 1800s in this episode of Cemetery Row! Hannah covers Montgomery C. Meigs, an engineer who was one of the main architects of Arlington Cemetery. Lori shares the story of Stephen Bishop, one of the first people to explore and map Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. And Sheena shares stories of the Natchez City Cemetery, including the grave of a little girl afraid of storms and those killed in the Natchez Drug Company explosion.

Awesome First Ladies

July 14th, 2025 | 1 hr 51 mins

We're celebrating awesome First Ladies in this episode of Cemetery Row! Lori covers Rose Cleveland, who served as the acting first lady during the presidency of her brother, Grover Cleveland. Sheena shares the story of activist and social worker Wilma Mankiller, the first lady to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Hannah shares the story of feminist and founder of the Betty Ford Center, Betty Ford, the First Lady of the US as the wife of President Gerald Ford.

Pride 2025 Part 2 - Philosophers, Drag Queens and Bandits

June 23rd, 2025 | 1 hr 16 mins

Happy Pride Month, again! Our Pride celebrations continue with more stories of LGBTQ+ folks. Lori covers socialist, poet, philosopher and early gay rights activist Edward Carpenter. Sheena covers William Dorsey Swann, America's first drag queen. Hannah shares the stories of two criminals - fraudster Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael and bank robber John Wojtowicz, whose story inspired the film "Dog Day Afternoon."

Pride 2025 - Revolutionaries, Robin Hoods and Ladies

June 11th, 2025 | 1 hr 29 mins

Happy Pride Month! This week's episode celebrates pioneering LGBTQ+ folks from around the world. Hannah shares the story of Revolutionary War hero Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, whose contributions to the war improved the performance of U.S. troops. Lori covers the "Ladies of Llangollen," Eleanor Charlotte Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, who lived together as a couple during the Georgian era. Sheena shares the story of Eddie Sandifer, a pioneering Mississippi gay rights advocate and the Robin Hood of the Civil Rights movement.

Men Behaving Badly: Bears, Murders and Punk Rock

May 26th, 2025 | 1 hr 24 mins

Calling all naughty boys! This week's episode is dedicated to men who never learned how to behave. Lori covers two men, Phillip Henry Vetter and Franklin Devereaux, who thought it was a good idea to fight bears. Sheena shares the story of murderous Mississippi man Ashley Cocke, and Hannah covers shock punk rocker GG Allin.

Badass Mothers

May 14th, 2025 | 1 hr 48 mins

Happy Mother's Day! This episode is for anyone who has a mom, is a mom, has lost a mom, wants to be a mom, or anything in between - so, yes, we talk about how hard this day can be for people in addition to celebrating it. Sheena covers mother Ann Jarvis and daughter Anna Jarvis, who inspired others to celebrate their mothers. Hannah covers the original goth queens, Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter, Mary Shelley. Lori shares the story of Mary Ann Bevan, a mother who endured humiliation as the "ugliest woman in the world" to provide for her family.

Sheenanigans: Murders, Queens and Clogging

April 28th, 2025 | 1 hr 41 mins

Happy (almost) birthday, Sheena! This episode celebrates Sheena with stories that cover her favorite topics. Hannah covers the 1909 Savannah axe murders and Bascom Lamar Lunsford, a folklorist and musician who helped popularize clogging in America. Sheena covers the 1932 Memphis tamale murders, and Lori shares the story of comic book hero "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle."

A Massacre, a Legendary Lady and a Hero Dog

April 14th, 2025 | 1 hr 6 mins

This grab bag episode of random stories is all over the place! Travel back to Early Medieval England to meet Sheena's ancestors who were killed in the bloody St. Brice's Day Massacre. Hannah shares the story of legendary Alabama woman Aunt Jenny. Lori introduces us to Judy, a ship's dog who was officially registered as a prisoner of war during World War II.

100th Episode Extravaganza - Diamonds, Crime and Scandals

March 31st, 2025 | 1 hr 40 mins

It's our 100th episode! Our theme is Diamonds and our stories cover a variety of topics, from criminals to movie stars. Lori covers the murder of legendary sex worker Diamond Bessie. Hannah shares the story of the seemingly unkillable gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond. Sheena covers movie star, humanitarian and jewelry collector Elizabeth Taylor.

Gremlin Extravaganza - Murder, Mayhem and Cryptids

March 17th, 2025 | 1 hr 37 mins

It's Hannah's birthday! This week we celebrate her with the most gremlin-like stories we could find. Hannah shares five stories: French executioner Charles-Henri Sanson; surgeon, psychiatric hospital patient and lexicographical researcher William Chester Minor; Beulah May Annan, the inspiration for "Chicago" character Roxie Hart; Washington, D.C. madam Mary Ann Hall; and prima donna and murderer Adele Ritchie. Lori covers two German cryptids, the Monster of Morbach and the vampire-ish creature Nachzehrer. Sheena covers Mississippi's Legs Murder Scandal.

Motown, Mountain Climbers and Jerry Springer

March 3rd, 2025 | 1 hr 44 mins

We go all over the place in this week’s grab bag episode! Sheena covers Motown singer Tammi Terrell, and Lori shares the story of British mountaineer Alison Hargreaves. Hannah covers controversial talk show host and politician Jerry Springer.

Black Excellence '25: Queens, Explorers and More

February 17th, 2025 | 2 hrs 9 mins

It's Black History Month! Black history is everyone's history! In this episode, Sheena covers Queen Louella Montgomery, who helped build a kingdom in Appalachia, and Motown bassist James Jamerson. Hannah covers Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling and Robert Foster, the subjects of Isabel Wilkerson's book "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration." Lori takes us on a journey to the North Pole with explorer Matthew Henson, the first Black man to reach the area.

Valentine's Day 2025: Love, Murder and Sex Symbols

February 3rd, 2025 | 1 hr 40 mins

Happy Valentine's Day! This week the girls share stories of love, sex and murder. Lori covers the love story of Jennie Wade (the only direct civilian casualty at the Battle of Gettysburg) and Jack Skelly. Sheena shares two stories: the eternal love monument in Brussels and the deadly love story of Memphians Ike Kahn and Maude Klein. Hannah covers actress, Playboy Playmate and sex symbol Jayne Mansfield.

Badass Ladies and a Gangster

January 20th, 2025 | 1 hr 43 mins

We’ve got a fun variety of stories in this episode of Cemetery Row! Hannah covers crime reporter Agness Underwood and Sheena shares the story of Memphis gangster Machine Gun Kelly. Lori shares Helen Kahn’s incredible survival story.

Episode Archive