Best How To Research Your Family Tree Podcasts (2024)

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RLP 319: Uses of AI for Genealogy with Steve Little 1:07:35

3h ago1:07:35

1:07:35

In this episode of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast, Nicole and Diana interview Steve Little, the National Genealogical Society Artificial Intelligence Program Director. Steve explains what Large Language Models are and their strengths, including summarization, extraction, generation, and translation. He discusses how AI can be used in gen…

1
Episode #18: Solving a Military Mystery - Searching for WWII Servicemen 5:38

34m ago5:38

5:38

If you have ancestors who served in WWII, you might have found yourself at a loss due to a fire in the 1970's that destroyed 80% of records. But with creativity you may be able to discover more information than you thought possible. In this weeks episode we share a story that started with a photograph and ended with gathering enough information to …

1
RLP 318: AI Photo Analysis with Mark Thompson 51:59

1d ago51:59

51:59

In this episode of the Research Like a Pro podcast, Diana and Nicole interview Mark Thompson, a professional genealogist specializing in digitizing and archiving family memorabilia and genetic genealogy. Mark shares his expertise on using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to analyze family photographs. Here are some key points from the interview: …

1
Episode #17: Secrets of Murder: Uncovering a Family History Mystery 6:05

6d ago6:05

6:05

Have you ever found out something shocking about your family? Something that was kept secret for decades? In this weeks episode we share a story of murder and intrigue discovered in the history one of our own researchers family trees. And you won't believe the plot twist. Do you have your own family mysteries to discover and need some help? The exp…

1
[BITE SIZE] Angeline: Third-Great-Grandmother 36:30

7d ago36:30

36:30

In this episode, we dive into the enigmatic life of Angeline, my third-great-grandmother. Angeline's story, largely overshadowed by the men around her, begins in 1863 when her young husband, Elisha, leaves to fight in the Civil War. Left behind with their unborn child, Angeline's life unfolds in the margins of historical records, filled with gaps a…

1
RLP 317: Transcribing Images with ChatGPT and Claude 34:20

11d ago34:20

34:20

In this episode, Diana and Nicole discuss the advancements in AI tools for transcribing handwritten text. They highlight FamilySearch's new full-text search feature that uses AI to transcribe deed and probate images, and they demonstrate how ChatGPT and Claude can quickly transcribe uploaded images, significantly reducing the time needed for such t…

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Episode #16: How to Hire and Work with a Professional Genealogist 7:27

13d ago7:27

7:27

Have you ever needed a professional genealogist to help you with your family history research? Or do you wonder what it would be like to work with a professional? How do you choose a professional genealogist and what certifications and experience should they have? In this episode we discuss how to hire a genealogist as well as what to expect when w…

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RLP 316: DNA Confirms a Father for Clemsy Cline 29:45

15d ago29:45

29:45

In this episode, Diana and Nicole discuss Diana's research identifying Clemsy (Cline) Weatherford’s origins despite record loss in northeastern Arkansas. She began with extensive documentary research, identifying Clemsy's likely family: father John C. Cline, siblings Jacob, John, and Mahala, and half-siblings Jesse, Abner, Ann, and Amanda. She then…

1
Episode #15: Beginner's Guide to Tracing British Ancestry 9:58

21d ago9:58

9:58

Are you part of the large group of Americans who trace their ancestry across the pond? In this episode we help you understand the geography of the area and key records and sources to help search on your mission to discover your English ancestors. Resources: Free BMD FamilySearch MyHeritage FindMyPast Ancestry If you have English ancestors and need …

1
Bartley Corbin: Fifth-Great-Grandfather 46:48

21d ago46:48

46:48

In this episode, we dive into the challenging history of Bartley Corbin, whose story is deeply entwined with the darker chapters of America’s history of racism, genocide, and slavery. We’ll grapple with the harsh realities of American expansion and the removal of indigenous people and discuss the role that genealogy can play in confronting uncomfor…

1
RLP 315: 5 Tips for When the Courthouse Burned 36:52

24d ago36:52

36:52

Today's episode of Research Like a Pro, Diana and Nicole discuss the challenges of genealogical research in areas with severe record loss, using northeastern Arkansas counties as a case study. They offer five tips to help researchers make progress despite such setbacks. They advise starting by understanding the extent of the record loss, suggesting…

1
Episode #14: Genealogy Research for Irish Dual Citizenship 6:05

28d ago6:05

6:05

Are you wondering how or if you qualify for Irish dual citizenship? Have you received your DNA test ethnicity results and verified you have a little or quite a bit of Irish ancestry? Or perhaps you are one generation removed from gaining Irish citizenship through descent—in other words, through one of your ancestors? While Legacy Tree Genealogists …

1
RLP 314: Banyan DNA and Double Cousin Relationships 22:05

1M ago22:05

22:05

Diana and Nicole discuss BanyanDNA, a tool for analyzing complex family relationships in genetic genealogy. Leah Larkin introduced BanyanDNA in December 2023, highlighting its unique ability to identify unknown ancestors and alert users to discrepancies in family trees. Diana shares her experience with her own family tree, where her great-grandpare…

1
Episode 285 - Cemetery research, tombstones and stories 51:08

1M ago51:08

51:08

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Cemeteries have some of the most intriguing stories to tell us about our ancestors. In this episode, Joy Neighbors (The Tombstone Tourist), author of the book joins me to discuss: How to prepare for a successful cemetery research trip The meaning behind tombstone symbols The most surprising things she has discovered at cem…

1
Episode #13: How to Use AncestryDNA ThruLines® 4:57

1M ago4:57

4:57

ThruLines is an AncestryDNA technology that utilizes your DNA matches and the trees of those matches to identify your common ancestors. It will give you hints to help you connect to cousins and relatives in other trees through a common ancestor. In this episode we explore the best practices when using ThruLines and some things to be cautious about …

1
Auguste and Josephine Dhyne: Third-Great-Grandparents 55:40

1M ago55:40

55:40

In this episode, we delve into the riveting journey of the Dhyne family from Belgium to America. As the story unfolds, we explore not just a coming-to-America tale but also a tale of complicated family dynamics and the challenges they faced. Along the way, we will reveal some surprising twists and turns throughout their lives and find out how easy …

1
RLP 313: Immigration 1906 Forward 36:29

1M ago36:29

36:29

In this episode, Diana and Nicole discuss finding immigration records for ancestors arriving in the United States after 1906. They provide a timeline of important immigration laws and their impacts, such as the 1906 establishment of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, the 1917 Immigration Act, the 1921 Emergency Quota Act, the 1924 Nation…

1
Episode #12: Key Resources and Tips for Polish Genealogy Research 5:11

1M ago5:11

5:11

Genealogy research in Poland can be challenging and rewarding when you know where to search for Polish records. In this episode we share online record portals that can help to speed up your Polish genealogy efforts. We also discuss the 100 year privacy rule and share a few tips on finding Polish ancestors prior to the 1600s. Resources: Search the A…

1
RLP 312: Mitochondrial DNA and WikiTree 26:49

1M ago26:49

26:49

In this episode of Research Like a Pro, Diana and Nicole explore the use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and WikiTree in genealogical research. They explain that mtDNA is inherited from our mothers, with only females passing it on, and how it differs from autosomal DNA by coming from a distant maternal ancestor. They discuss how mtDNA testing reveals …

1
Episode 11: A Genealogy Guide to Dutch Surnames 7:08

2M ago7:08

7:08

Do you have family from the Netherlands? Have you ever been baffled by the surnames and tried to make sense of why some family members have different surnames? Or why there might be so many common surnames in a specific village or community? And how did Napolean impact the surnames for Dutch ancestors? In this weeks episode we cover all of this and…

1
[BITE SIZE] John Connis: Third-Great-Grandfather 29:12

2M ago29:12

29:12

This episode we delve into the challenges and uncertainties of the childhood of John Connis (my 3rd-great-grandfather). After being admitted to a 19th century New York City orphanage, John’s life becomes a story about resilience and new beginnings, and through John, we see how love passes down from generation to generation. The bibliography and add…

1
RLP 311: Giving Credit to AI Tools in Genealogy Writing 41:59

2M ago41:59

41:59

In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole discuss the use of Generative AI in scholarly and genealogical writing, emphasizing the importance of transparency in disclosing AI assistance. They talk about editorial guidelines from scholarly journals and the Association of Computational Linguistics, which suggest clear declarations of AI's involvement …

1
Episode 284 - 5 Steps to Finding Marriage Records 30:17

2M ago30:17

30:17

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Learn the 5 steps to successfully finding marriage records for genealogy research. This episode is also available in on the show notes page on our website. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Log into your and download the ad-free Show Notes handout that complements this episode: Downloadable ad-free for . B…

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Episode 10: All About Immigration and 4 Tips to Finding Immigrant Ancestors 9:27

2M ago9:27

9:27

Immigration has once again become a hot topic in the United States lately, but this isn’t the first time. In fact, it has been a common part of the historical and political discourse since the founding of the nation, largely because immigrants make up such an enormous part of our history and heritage as Americans. In this episode we share four tips…

1
RLP 310: Disclosing use of AI in Genealogy Writing 29:50

2M ago29:50

29:50

In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole discuss the evolving role of AI chatbots in various writing contexts, particularly in academia and genealogy. They highlight the changing policies around the use of large language models (LLMs) in academic writing, noting how organizations like the International Conference on Machine Learning have shifted f…

1
Episode 9: 3 Essential Website for German Family History Research 6:47

2M ago6:47

6:47

Finding family in Germany can be challenging, as you need to first find the specific town or city where your family lived, and also usually the parish they attended. To help you with this goal, in this episode we share the three essential websites you can access from home to help with your German research. 1. Meyers or Meyer's Gazetteer of the Germ…

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Who was David Verl Allen? with Ashlynn Allen Mitchell 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

BIRTHDAY SALE - Get my online course for $100 Off until June 12th at midnight MDT#29: I loved chatting with Ashlynn about her work and then sharing about her grandfather with her. Ashlynn's grandfather passed away when her father was 13, so she didn't know much about him. Watch to hear about Ashlynn and the amazing work she is doing with her commun…

1
Willem Hoffmeyer: Ninth-Great-Grandfather 55:39

2M ago55:39

55:39

The bibliography from the episode can be found at: www.lowancestry.com Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. You can also find us at …

1
Ernest Harding: Second-Great-Granduncle 49:15

2M ago49:15

49:15

The bibliography and additional resources from the episode can be found at: www.lowancestry.com Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts.…

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RLP 309: WikiTree Special Projects with Elaine Martzen and Emmaline MacBeath 41:13

2M ago41:13

41:13

In this episode of "Research Like a Pro," guests Elaine Martzen and Emmaline MacBeath join hosts Diana and Nicole to discuss various WikiTree projects. Projects on WikiTree are groups organized around topics or activities to facilitate collaboration among members. They include top-level projects with unique tags and badges, sub-projects using highe…

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Episode 8: What are the Best Family Tree Websites and How to Format Your Data 6:03

3M ago6:03

6:03

When you are new to genealogy, knowing which family tree website to use can be a challenge. In this episode we share tips on choosing your platform and what to watch out for. We also share how to properly format your data for sharing and ease of use. Finally, we answer the question, "When should you hire a professional genealogist?" Want to learn m…

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3 Questions to Ask to Discover Your Own Generational Trauma 23:26

3M ago23:26

23:26

#28: Knowing our genealogy and what happened in our ancestors' lives is key in understanding our own generational trauma. It becomes not just a theory or idea, but a real experience and powerful tool to explore. In this episode I talk a bit about epigenetics and how to apply that to our ancestral connections and how my online course helps to furthe…

1
RLP 308: DNA Features at WikiTree with Emma MacBeath 41:42

2M ago41:42

41:42

This episode of Research Like a Pro focuses on the DNA features available on Wikitree, with guest Emmaline MacBeath, a genetic genealogist, explaining them. Diana and Nicole, discuss with Emmaline the various DNA tools and functionalities on Wikitree. One key feature is the ability to mark relationships as "DNA confirmed" by providing evidence from…

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Episode 7: Tips for Researching Cherokee Ancestry 6:10

3M ago6:10

6:10

As genealogists, we’re often asked to research the likelihood and details of a client’s Native American heritage. In this episode we share 5 tips for researching your Cherokee ancestry, and a few pitfalls to watch out for along the way. Resources for your research: The Dawes Roll: https://accessgenealogy.com/native/final-rolls.htm Indian Census Rol…

1
Ancestral Hope for a Better World 9:32

3M ago9:32

9:32

#27: After recording a podcast meant for today, I looked at the news and saw what's happening in Gaza right now and felt I needed to record something different. So here it is. My hope for a better world. And how I believe that knowing the stories and experiences of our ancestors can help bring change. Consider the lives and experiences of your ance…

1
RLP 307: WikiTree with Betsy Ko 47:34

3M ago47:34

47:34

In the podcast episode of "Research Like Pro," Betsy Ko, a mentor and leader of the WikiTree Events Committee, discusses her background and role at WikiTree. Betsy began her genealogy journey influenced by a family belief related to historical ties and deepened her commitment by studying genealogical principles. She participates in projects focused…

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Episode 283 - Daughters of the American Revolution DAR and Genealogy 35:01

3M ago35:01

35:01

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Do you have a revolutionary war ancestor? Have you thought about joining the ? I’ve invited Barbara Jurs of the DAR to explain the process. In this video, you’ll learn the answers to the questions: What is the DAR? What do I need to do first? How much genealogical proof do I need? How do I apply for the DAR? How do I find …

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Episode 6: What is autosomal DNA? 2:59

3M ago2:59

2:59

Do you know how far back you can go in your family tree and still use Autosomal DNA to find matches? In this episode we explain what Autosomal DNA is, and then how to best use it to find matches in your family tree. Want to hire a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting http…

1
Introducing Low Ancestry 0:56

3M ago0:56

0:56

Join us on June 11th for the premiere of Low Ancestry. Subscribe now and never miss an episode. Support the show! Connect with us on Instagram and TikTok and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get podcasts. You can also find us at our website www.lowancestry.com. If you like what you hear, please vote for us as 2024 Women in P…

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Who was Isaac S. Freeze? And how to map your ancestor's life. 21:00

3M ago21:00

21:00

#26: Isaac Freeze is my 2x great grandfather. In 1883, he came to Calgary from NB and started one of the first general stores in the city. Last week I mapped out some of his residences and store lots and tried to visit them. Everything has been torn down, and with the addresses being a little different, it was a bit of a struggle. Watch or listen t…

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RLP 306: Genealogy Institutes with Cyndi Ingle 41:16

3M ago41:16

41:16

In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole introduce Cyndi Ingle, the creator of CyndisList.com, a renowned resource for genealogical research. Cyndi, with over 44 years of experience in genealogy, is currently serving as the Executive Director for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR). They discuss the distinctiveness of genealo…

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Episode 5: How Are We Related? Navigating the Terminology. 4:15

3M ago4:15

4:15

How are we related? That’s a question that we have been asked quite a bit lately, and sometimes determining that exact familial connection with someone else can be confusing. What is the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin, once removed? What does the “removed” mean, anyway? If my mom has a cousin, how is he related to me? Is my g…

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Who was Mary Jane Jackson? with Cheryl Cardall 37:42

3M ago37:42

37:42

#25: Cheryl Cardall is a mental health advocate, educator, and parenting coach. I loved chatting with about her work and perspective as a mother of 5. Parenting and mental health definitely tie into the conversation of generational patterns and the effects our ancestors lives have on us. After chatting a bit, I shared the story of Cheryl's great gr…

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RLP 305: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mikkelson part 3 - Land, Mining and Agricultural Records 37:10

3M ago37:10

37:10

In this podcast episode, Diana and Nicole talk with guest Michelle Mickelson, AG, about the significance of the Homestead Act of 1862 in spurring westward expansion and its implications for genealogy. They explore how this act allowed people to claim and cultivate land in states like Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and …

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Episode 4: Common DNA Test Result Misunderstandings and What is a Centimorgan? 5:15

3M ago5:15

5:15

If you’re confused with or made mistakes interpreting your DNA test results, you’re not alone! There are lots of things to learn when it comes to DNA and family history research. Today, we’ll review some of the most common misunderstandings people have about their DNA test results, and help you know how to avoid them! We'll also answer a DNA basic:…

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How Much Can You Learn About YOUR Ancestors from Census Records? 31:42

3M ago31:42

31:42

#24: Census are the best records for beginners to find who want to start learning how to research their ancestors. I love them because they are relatively easy to find, are available for free online, and provide so much information about your ancestor. You just need to actually look at the record and get all the clues. Watch to see how to find cens…

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RLP 304: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mickelson Part 2 - Church, Cemetery, Native American, and Spanish Records 36:47

3M ago36:47

36:47

In this podcast episode, hosts Diana, Nicole, talk with Michelle Mickelson, AG, and discuss the crucial role of church, cemetery, Native American, and Spanish language records in Southwestern genealogy. They emphasize that these records, often predating government documentation, are indispensable for exploring family relationships, migration patter…

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Episode 3: How to Build an Accurate Family Tree 2:42

4M ago2:42

2:42

This week we answer the question, "How and where do I start my family history research if I have a lot of blank spots in my family tree?" Getting started is simpler than you think. In this week's episode we share the strategies to get started and find ancestors with accuracy, so your blank spots in you family tree can be filled with ancestors. Want…

1
How YOU can Know Your Ancestor 22:24

4M ago22:24

22:24

#23: What if you could actually know who your ancestors were? Not just their names and when/where they were born, but what trauma they may have experienced, what trials they went through, and what joys they felt. You can! My new online course: Know Your Ancestor is here and you can get instant access to work through all 10 video modules at your own…

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RLP 303: Southwestern Research with Michelle Mickelson - Part 1 - Jurisdictions and Manuscripts 43:05

4M ago43:05

43:05

In this episode, Diana and Nicole welcome guest Michelle Mickelson, AG, to discuss key records and repositories for researching ancestors in the Southwestern United States. They explore the differences between federal, state, and local records, highlighting the importance of each for uncovering vital information. Michelle guide listeners through na…

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How To Research Your Family Tree Podcasts

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