Best Heather Murphy Genealogist Podcasts (2024)

1
Exploring Hungarian Roots | Linda Broenniman 25:52

2M ago25:52

25:52

Linda Broenniman knew little about her Hungarian heritage until a surprising revelation at the age of 27 changed everything. Discovering her Jewish roots and the heroic actions of her family members during the holocaust became a turning point in her quest to delve deeper into her family's past. With warmth and authenticity, Linda reflects on the pe…

1
Connecting to Jewish Identity By Exploring Her Family Tree | Fayge Horesh 20:21

2M ago20:21

20:21

As a public historian, Fayge had always been interested in history. It wasn't until she moved to West Philadelphia, close to where her ancestors lived, that she began her search in earnest. Her exploration was also intertwined with her reconnection to Judaism, prompting a deeper desire to understand her family's story. Fayge shares how delving into…

1
Exploring Multiple Truths Through Family History and Curiosity | Julie Pham 28:23

4M ago28:23

28:23

Julie Pham, a Vietnamese boat person, shares her family's journey as refugees fleeing communism and establishing a new life in the United States. Through Julie's experiences and insights as a historian, listeners will explore the power of multiple truths, the push and pull factors of immigration, and the dynamics of being an insider and an outsider…

1
Unraveling Their Family's Departure During Iran's Golden Age | Danielle and Galeet Dardashti 29:00

4M ago29:00

29:00

Join Danielle and Galeet Dardashti as they share their journey of discovery to learn why their father's family left Iran during the Golden Age for Jews. With limited access to records to answer their questions, the sisters relied on interviewing over 85 individuals, including family members, scholars, and unexpected acquaintances. They have reconst…

1
The Power of Anthropology in Unearthing Family History and Culture | Elizabeth Keating 29:38

6M ago29:38

29:38

In retrospect, Elizabeth Keating wishes she would have used her skills as an anthropologist when she interviewed her mother about family history. To help others avoid her mistakes, Elizabeth shares how we can use interviews with living family members to uncover the everyday experiences and cultural nuances of previous generations. Elizabeth encoura…

1
Vivien Sieber - How War Changed the Trajectory of Her Grandmother's Life 28:24

7M ago28:24

28:24

Our conversation delves into the remarkable life of Vivien Sieber's Czech-born grandmother, who faced adversity and triumphs during World War II. From owning a cinema in Vienna to finding refuge in England and caring for girls who fled their families as part of the Kinder Transport, Vivien uncovers the intricacies of her family's history and shares…

1
How to Face Your Ancestors' Choices Even When It's Hard 24:26

11M ago24:26

24:26

All of your ancestors were perfect, right? Unfortunately, everyone has ancestors who disappoint us with their choices. In this episode, I talk about four ways we respond when we discover an ancestor made choices that hurt others. As we learn to be more open to putting our ancestors' choices into the context of their lives we can see them as real pe…

1
Genetic Genealogy Leads to Discoveries and Connections | Stephanie Renée 30:58

11M ago30:58

30:58

In Stephanie Renée's story, there's an exploration of identity and belonging that resonates deeply. She began her journey seeking to fill in the gaps left by the early loss of her mother. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her mother was adopted, leading her into the world of genetic genealogy. Despite the hurdles she faced, Steph…

1
Using Genealogy to Tell the Truth About the People Her Ancestors Enslaved | Annie Hartnett 29:28

1y ago29:28

29:28

Annie Hartnett recently started exploring her family's connections to slave ownership, which took her on a transformative path of discovery. By doing so, Annie gained a deeper understanding of her roots, and as a result, developed an increasingly authentic relationship with herself, her country, and those around her. Fascinated by the forgotten sto…

1
Exploring Family Tragedies with Compassion and Understanding with Jacqueline Jannotta 27:00

1y ago27:00

27:00

Jacqueline Jannotta's genealogy research uncovers a family history of mob ties and tragedy, revealing the ripple effects of trauma and the importance of understanding our shared humanity. Through her genealogical research, Jacqueline gained a greater understanding and compassion for her ancestors, particularly her tough, outspoken grandmother. The …

1
The Power of Sibling Influence: Extraordinary Acts of a Family Hero 23:57

1y ago23:57

23:57

Amidst the shocking history of his family's escape from Austria during the Nazi invasion, Christopher Bock discovers the remarkable life of his great-uncle Paul Patek, a metal worker and artist who played a key role in their survival, inspiring Bock to write a book about him and uncovering hidden talents in his own family lineage. "[Researching] re…

1
Shannon Peel - Hero vs Victim Language in Storytelling 27:51

1+ y ago27:51

27:51

Shannon Peel is an expert at stories, and while her usual audience is made up of business owners looking to improve their marketing, her discussion of hero vs victim language in storytelling is so valuable to those learning about the stories in their family tree. We started off talking about her deep roots in western Canada, delved into the "why" q…

1
How a Disastrous Therapy Session Transformed My Use of Family History 23:25

1+ y ago23:25

23:25

In this episode, Heather shares how she took elements from therapy, even after having a very negative experience, and used them to transform the ways in which she approaches family history. She explains the connection between the 8 C's of Internal Family Systems and the framework she built to unlock the power of family history research. Join us for…

1
David Alston | Discovering Purpose Through Your Ancestors 25:11

1+ y ago25:11

25:11

Oftentimes when people research in their family history they're looking for inspiration. They're looking for ancestors who did hard things, who were successful, and who can inspire them in their own struggles and what they want to achieve in life. That is what David Alston found. David was adopted as an infant, though the story is complicated, as y…

1
Heather Smith | Family Conversations Using AI Technology 30:51

2y ago30:51

30:51

What if your grandchildren could have a video chat with your grandmother, even if they didn't live at the same time? That is the vision behind StoryFile, a way to preserve and share personal experiences and stories in an interactive platform. Heather Smith, co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of StoryFile, shares why it was important to her to c…

1
Dave Combs | Music in His Appalachian Roots 15:31

2y ago15:31

15:31

Dave Combs shares stories of music and perseverance that carry through his family tree. About Dave: Dave Combs is a songwriter, entrepreneur, successful business executive, and best-selling author. Over the 40+ years he has written over 120 songs and created fifteen albums of soothing, relaxing instrumental piano music, including the popular standa…

1
Lisann Valentin | Generations Living Vibrantly 25:51

2y ago25:51

25:51

Lisann Valentin began her family history journey by exploring why her Puerto Rican great-great-grandmother was called La Irlandésa, or “The Irish One.” Along the way she discovered the things her ancestors were known for “had nothing to do with their careers, it had everything to do with how they showed up vibrantly in their life.” She uses the ins…

1
Renee Harris | Entrepreneurship Across Generations 26:37

2y ago26:37

26:37

Renee Harris is the founder of an online skin care business selling soap and lotion for dry skin. Ironically, it was "soap-selling" that her grandfather used as a cover to hide dozens of Jews throughout World War 2 in his home in Holland. Having this special connection made Renee dig in deeper to uncover the stories of courage and hope left by her …

1
Ann Hince | Birth Family Commonalities 18:53

2y ago18:53

18:53

Ann Hince shares the stories of how she came to meet her birth mother, learned about her birth father, and made other family connections. We talk about the parts of herself she recognized as she learned about her birth family, that not everyone gets an adoption reunion story, and how her father’s writing helped her get a small feeling of what it me…

1
Anika Chabra | Embracing Heritage Through Conversations 30:34

2y ago30:34

30:34

Anika shares her experiences as a second-generation immigrant and how she realized she didn’t need to choose between the cultures that made her who she is. Through learning the stories of her parents’ and ancestors she gained a deeper understanding of herself and sees the opportunity we have to celebrate ancestral greatness built out of hard experi…

1
Andrea Petrut | Inherited Generational Effects of War and Famine 25:20

2+ y ago25:20

25:20

Two World Wars and famine affected Andrea’s ancestors in Romania, but Andrea herself also experienced the effects from those events. One of the most apparent effects came through beliefs about wealth. One family branch says buy land so you always have a way to provide for your family. Another branch says saving is pointless, enjoy your money while …

1
Mitch Lomazov | Knowing Family Heritage Provides Clarity and Purpose 25:55

2+ y ago25:55

25:55

Mitch Lomazov is a first-generation American with Russian Jewish roots. He shares how hearing his family stories gave him a different understanding of history than textbooks and how things that seem ordinary in our families in truth make us unique. We also discussed how learning about his heritage helps him be more purposeful and grateful for his p…

1
Jill Phillips | Life on Lamlash Street in 1960's Post-War London 26:44

2+ y ago26:44

26:44

Jill Phillips is a family storyteller with a passion to inspire families to connect through the telling of their past. She started life on Lamlash Street in London, emigrated to Canada, where she obtained her master’s degree, and spent 30 years working as an Occupational Therapist and Hospital Manager. Motivated by her family’s experiences in 1960’…

1
Gabrielle Robinson | Api's Berlin Diaries 28:55

2+ y ago28:55

28:55

Born in Berlin, Gabrielle grew up in Germany and Austria. After a PhD from the University of London, she taught Literature and Writing at US universities and abroad. She is the author of seven nonfiction books. Our discussion for this episode focuses on her most recent book, Api's Berlin Diaries: My Quest to Understand My Grandfather's Nazi Past. G…

1
Tova Levi | Memorializing the Lives of Her Ancestors 25:59

2+ y ago25:59

25:59

In this episode Tova shares: How a wedding seating chart helped uncover a family name change Why she feels it is time for her generation to start talking about her family’s past Why it is important to focus on the lives of ancestors instead of their deaths About Tova: Tova Levi is a family history researcher who specializes in Jewish genealogy. She…

1
Lucy Liu | Chinese Culture of Remembering Ancestors 14:49

2+ y ago14:49

14:49

In this episode Lucy shares: What burning paper money on Chinese New Year has to do with honoring ancestors Why she is grateful for her grandmother The tradition of praying to, or for, ancestors About Lucy: Lucy Liu is a business and life coach helping women in life transitions unstuck, kiss overwhelm bye, cultivate rockstar confidence, see clarity…

1
Andrea Watson | Three Generations Evolving with the Family Business 25:12

2+ y ago25:12

25:12

#53. In this episode Andrea shares: The challenge her grandfather faced within the first weeks, and years, of purchasing a home heating business The moments the business almost didn’t stay in the family How her son’s school project led her to ask deeper questions about the history of her family About Andrea: Andrea currently lives in Mercer Island,…

1
Victoria MacGregor | The Woman With the Cameo 27:19

2+ y ago27:19

27:19

#52. In this episode Victoria shares: How an inherited cameo piqued her interest in her great-grandmother Why moving across the world connected her to the women in her family How sharing pictures has drawn her extended family closer together About Victoria: From family research, to family tree presentation, to sharing with family, Victoria’s journe…

1
Gratitude For Our Ancestors 15:02

2+ y ago15:02

15:02

#51. Gratitude helps us acknowledge the good in our lives and often that good comes from sources outside of ourselves. Looking for the good that has come from the lives of our ancestors helps us see the good things in our own lives and recognize hardships that were overcome, generosity that was given, and so much more. In this episode you will hear…

1
Rob Cook | Inheriting Grandpa's Money Mindset (and What to Do if You Want to Change It) 26:32

2+ y ago26:32

26:32

#50. The way we view money and finances is one of the big beliefs we can inherit from the generations before us. Rob Cook’s view of money and wealth came from his Grandpa Schmidt, through both observation and moments of purposeful teaching. Not everyone has had such a positive money script to follow and Rob gives listeners ideas of what they can do…

1
Lisa Zawrotny | Choosing Family and How to Respond When It Changes 30:11

2+ y ago30:11

30:11

#49. In this episode Lisa shares: Why family relationships are more than genetics Her experience as an adult learning about her birth families How she chose to respond to new information about her family which shifted her identity About Lisa: Lisa Zawrotny is the founder of Positively Productive Systems, host of the Positively Living Podcast, and a…

1
Barbara Tien | The Stories Within Photographs 31:31

2+ y ago31:31

31:31

#48. In this episode Barbara shares: Her experience growing up overseas and in Hawaii and how that influenced her identity as an American How our perspective of events in our past and of the actions of others change as we get older Why the photo site Ponga is more like your living room and less like the town square of social media About Barbara: Ba…

1
Ron Seckinger | Putting Together the Stories of Poor Ancestors 28:34

3y ago28:34

28:34

# 47. In this episode Ron shares: Why he decided to document the lives of his grandmother and her siblings What sources were invaluable to his research How his family research turned into a social history of the time and place in which they lived About Ron: Ron Seckinger is a native of Emanuel County, Georgia. After attending Duke University, he ea…

1
Sheena Browning | Filling and Bridging Gaps in Her Family Tree 19:11

3y ago19:11

19:11

#46. In this episode Sheena shares: Why learning about her paternal ancestors is important to her even though she does not have a good relationship with her father How her family discovered they had indigenous roots How she honors the memory of her ancestors About Sheena: Sheena’s ancestry on both sides was a mystery until she became an adult. She …

1
Dana Humphrey | Connecting with Community and Herself by Knowing Her Roots 20:18

3y ago20:18

20:18

#45. Dana Humphrey shares how knowing her ancestry, both through the research her aunt has done and through DNA testing, has influenced how she feels in her neighborhood, helps her see where her love of freedom may have come from, and inspires her to pursue aspects that make her unique. In this episode Dana also shares: Why her grandparents chose t…

1
Cassandra Lane | The Story Behind "We Are Bridges: A Memoir" 27:15

3y ago27:15

27:15

#44. Cassandra Lane began writing the story of Mary McGee and Burt Bridges as part of her Masters in Fine Arts degree, but as her life changed, so did the meaning of this project in her life. She found that “even within pain and tragedy, there are lessons.” In this episode Cassandra shares: Why she felt compelled to research her family history Why …

1
Amanda Arthur | Family is Family, No Matter the Distance 22:05

3y ago22:05

22:05

#43. What started as a collection of stale facts turned into an exploration that connected Amanda Arthur to herself, cousins, and aspects of history that otherwise would seem cold and distant. In so many ways researching her family history has helped Amanda gain a deeper sense of her own identity and anchored her to the people and world around her.…

1
Peter Sewell | Gratitude For Knowing the Stories of Our Ancestors 27:49

3y ago27:49

27:49

# 42. Times of upheaval in our lives can create an opportunity to gain a better understand our identity and place in the world. Peter shares how family history helped during a time of transition in his life, helps him be more curious about the places he visits, and gives him reasons to be grateful. In this episode Peter shares: How seeking a new se…

1
Kael Sharman | His Place in the Greater Historical Narrative 30:31

3y ago30:31

30:31

#41. Researching and connecting with his ancestors affected Kael Sharman’s life in more ways than he expected. Knowing those stories helped him feel grounded and connected him to the greater historical narrative of Canada. In this episode Kael shares: How researching his ancestors grounded him in a time of change The impact of colonialism on people…

1
Angie Follensbee-Hall | Understanding Her Place Through Ancestry Work 23:59

3y ago23:59

23:59

#40. Researching her ancestry has helped Angie to feel like there is a purpose and a place for her story. Through her research she has been reminded of her part in our global story that spans oceans and continents. In this episode Angie shares: How she reconciled her connection to land taken from indigenous people generations ago Why she tries to k…

1
Annette Gendler | Connecting Parallel Stories in Family History 29:59

3y ago29:59

29:59

Having common life experiences with an ancestor can draw you into learning more about what you have in common. Annette Gendler shares some of the stories within her family history which she learned in her efforts to research one individual. In this episode Annette shares: How learning of an ancestor with a similar love story inspired her to researc…

1
Laura Roselle | The Power in Storytelling 26:58

3y ago26:58

26:58

Family stories are not passive, they shape us into who we are. Laura Roselle is an expert in storytelling and the psychology behind the stories we share. We have the power to choose how we interpret the stories of our ancestors and what we choose to convey to others, and even ourselves, through the stories we tell and the way we choose to tell them…

1
You Don't Need to Keep All the Beliefs You Inherited | Heather Murphy 22:53

3y ago22:53

22:53

Beliefs that limit what you achieve in life are created by your experiences or passed down to you through your parents and the generations before you. Learn how to identify those beliefs and give yourself permission to let go of the ones that do not make your life better. Many of your beliefs were established as a young child, as an adult it is tim…

1
Carly Morgan | Choosing to Fully Embrace Her Chinese Heritage 25:20

3y ago25:20

25:20

Carly Morgan’s family has lived in the United States for generations, but the two sides of her family are not equally represented in the records. Despite the difficulty, Carly has dug into her Chinese roots and pulls her ancestors, and the traditions of their culture, to the present. In this episode Carly shares: What she did when she thought her i…

1
Jessica Loayza | Improving the Present by Understanding the Past in Bolivia 37:57

3y ago37:57

37:57

With a Bolivian husband and biracial children, Jessica envisioned a trip to Bolivia as the perfect opportunity to visit churches and cemeteries to research her family’s history. While there she had to redefine what success meant. Because of her curiosity and persistence, she came home with stories and photos that will be treasured for generations. …

1
Randy Freese | Looking to His Past Helped Him See His Future 30:22

3y ago30:22

30:22

Randy knew since childhood he was adopted and in his late teens his parents helped him start the journey of finding his birth family. On the cusp of the internet as we know it and well before DNA testing was popular, Randy found who he was looking for. In this episode Randy shares: The point in his life when his parents thought he needed to know hi…

1
How to Be More Self-Aware Using Family History Research | Heather Murphy 29:36

3y ago29:36

29:36

What does it mean to be self-aware and how can being self-aware improve your life? Learn the answers to these questions and three ways you can use your family history research to increase your self-awareness. Better understand your thoughts and feelings and the reasons behind them, whether they began with you or have their roots in generations past…

1
Know Your Mental Health Family History with Christy Walton 25:16

3+ y ago25:16

25:16

What do you know about your family’s mental health history? Christy Walton and I discuss the importance of knowing about mental health conditions within our families to help us better understand ourselves and those we love. In this episode we talk about: Christy’s relative who disappeared from family memory The way our ancestors faced their challen…

1
Christy Walton | Making History Personal and Family History Real 21:25

3+ y ago21:25

21:25

Christy, a former secondary school history teacher, looked for ways to make history personal for her students so they could connect with events of the past. She knows family history can not only help us understand the past, but also help us with our identities. In this episode Christy shares: The experiences she’s had through connecting with DNA co…

1
Rachel Décoste | Connecting With Place and Culture in Africa 30:54

3+ y ago30:54

30:54

Born in Canada to parents from Haiti, all Rachel Décoste knew of her family history was the names of her grandparents. Thanks to the gift of time, Rachel had the opportunity to spend six months in Africa visiting countries listed in the ethnicity results of a DNA test. In this episode Rachel shares: The stories of strength she learned about her gra…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Heather Murphy Genealogist Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide