Even in the Face of Injustice | Episode 61

What if your ancestors' darkest moment could teach you the most about resilience? While chasing down a DNA match with my dad, I uncovered a shocking story about two sets of my 8x great-grandparents that kept me awake all nigh...

The Ache Is Still There (with Tara Hall) | Episode 60

When Tara Hall discovered her great-uncle Norman had been shot down in WWII, his story became an enigma that haunted her family for generations. In this poignant episode, my Ancestry colleague Tara shares how Norman joined the Army Air Corps as...

I Can See All The Story (with Lisa Elzey) | Episode 59

When Lisa Elzey discovered her grandfather flew on a B-17 bomber during D-Day, she knew there was more to uncover…In this continuation of last week's DNA revelation, Lisa shares how researching her grandfather's war buddies unveiled an ...

I Can Live With the Truth (with Nidel Day) | Episode 58

When DNA results revealed a puzzling Quebec connection in Lisa Elzey's family tree — everything she thought she knew was called into question... Join me for an intimate conversation with my podcast producer Lisa and her mother Nide...

One Year Anniversary - I'm So Glad You're Here | Episode 57

For one year straight, I've shared stories that remind us we're all connected through the messy, beautiful threads of family history — and today, I'm celebrating YOU. Recorded live at RootsTech 2025, this anniversary episode is a reflection of ...

We Wear a Poppy (with Simon Pearce) | Episode 56

 When Simon Pearce discovered his great-great-uncle Howard's name on a casualty list from WWI, his heart skipped a beat — launching a 20-year quest to piece together the life of a man he never met but now feels deeply connected to... In th...

Marry a Genealogist (with Irene Hantman) | Episode 55

💕 When a stranger asked Irene Hantman about Arthur Kurzweil's lecture at a Jewish genealogy conference, she never imagined it would change her life forever...In this heartwarming episode, I talk with Irene, an accomplished genealogist an...

All I Need is a Warm Glass of Milk (with Brian Donnelly) | Episode 54

🍀 When Brian Donnelly's grandfather calmly announced he was having a heart attack, nine-year-old Brian's only instruction was to fetch a warm glass of milk…In this heartwarming episode, I chat with the Ancestry Chief Commercial Officer ...

Ancestors Are Complicated (with Anne Mitchell) | Episode 53

When Anne Mitchell discovered a tattered family Bible with a handwritten account of an ancestor eagerly joining the Confederate Army in 1861 it changed how she understood her family history. Now, it has also changed how millions might discover ...

Project Managing the Saga (with Nicka Sewell-Smith) | Episode 52

When Nicka Sewell-Smith set out to find her great-grandmother Easter's maiden name, she never imagined it would lead to uncovering 10,000 descendants from a single enslaved community...In this moving conversation, genealogist Nicka Sewel...

The Irish Experience (with Kyle Betit) | Episode 51

🍀 When I gathered around a traditional peat fire in Galway with a group of descendants of the Irish Diaspora, I experienced my ancestors' world in a way records alone could never reveal…In this episode, I chat with Kyle Betit, profes...

It's Like Genealogy 3.0 (with Jenn Utley) | Episode 50

For a Wise Purpose (with Steve Rockwood) | Episode 49

 When Steve Rockwood discovered his ancestor's journal as a child, he never imagined how family stories would shape his future as President of FamilySearch International. In our conversation, Steve reveals how a 7th-generation Bostonian's ...

Live Undaunted (with Lisa Valentine Clark) | Episode 48

Have you ever wondered what story you'd tell if you knew your time was limited? Lisa Valentine Clark's husband faced this exact question when diagnosed with ALS. In this powerful conversation, Lisa reveals how Christopher's decision to document...

Daddy Was an Outlaw (with Jackie Dorothy) | Episode 47

A childhood memory of two sisters arguing at a kitchen table leads historian Jackie Dorothy to uncover an astounding truth — her great-grandfather wasn't just any Wyoming cowboy, he was part of Butch Cassidy's infamous Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. As...

Their Love Stories | Episode 46

Do you know how your parents met? Research shows this simple story could be the key to building family resilience — and in this intimate solo episode, I open up about three generations of love stories that shaped my own family's legacy.F...

The Magic Part Is The Listening (with Natalie Zett) | Episode 45

When journalist Natalie Zett received a mysterious family manuscript, she had no idea it would lead her to her long-lost Aunt Martha – a 19-year-old victim of the tragic 1915 Eastland disaster in Chicago. What began as a deeply personal quest t...

Not A Secret Anymore (with Linda Goldman and Milly and Marty Mandel) | Episode 44

"There must be a mistake - I know all my first cousins." When Linda Goldman responded to an unexpected DNA match, she had no idea how wrong she was. Join me for a remarkable conversation with 100-year-old Millie Mandel, her son Marty, and cousi...

Mess in His Wake | Episode 43

When family relationships shatter, the ripples can span generations. In this deeply personal episode, I uncover the story of my great-great-grandfather Park Cowan, whose choices left a wake of heartbreak, bigamy charges, and newspaper headlines...

Bit by the Bug (with Emily Pulham) | Episode 42

When a 12-year-old girl watched her grandmother work at a microfilm reader, she couldn't have known she was witnessing the beginning of her own family history journey. Now a young mother of three, Emily Pulham has transformed her passion for ge...

Operation Pedro Pan (with Elisa Seeherman and Yda Okurliand-Pack) | Episode 41

When cousins Elisa and Yda finally met in person, they uncovered more than their shared DNA – they discovered how a desperate effort to save Cuban children from Castro's regime had shaped their family's destiny. Through meticulous research and ...

An Opportunity for Connection | Episode 40

When my mom was just 17, she lost her father – but 50 years later, DNA revealed an unexpected gift...In this deeply personal episode, I share how an ordinary AncestryDNA test revealed an extraordinary family secret. What began as a poten...

Thanks for the Memories (with George Ott) | Episode 39

What happens when you present Bob Hope with his family history, and he has no joke to crack? In this episode, professional genealogist George Ott shares moving stories from his decades-long career, including unforgettable moments with Hollywood...

It Doesn't Take A Lot (with Jason Terry) | Episode 38

When a 20-year-old WWII pilot makes fudge in a POW camp on Christmas Day, he teaches a lasting lesson...Jason Terry shares how his grandfather's small act of kindness in a German prison camp during WWII sparked a family legacy of service...

Finding Heroes (with Wayne Abbott and David O'Keefe) | Episode 37

Have you ever wondered if there are forgotten family heroes in your past? In this episode, documentarians Wayne Abbott and David O'Keefe reveal how combining historical records, artifacts, and family research can bridge generational gaps and un...