Episodes

Are you new to Ancestry.com? Do you like the FamilySearch interface better? Do hints just freak you out? Are all those possible document matches overwhelming you? If you answered "yes" to one or more of those questions, this episode is for you. "Keeping It Orderly, Or Hygienealogy" is all about prioritizing the hints that you get from Ancestry for any given ancestor, and creating a plan of attack that lets you add best evidence to your tree. It lets you minimize confusion and maximize the data y...

Findagrave.com is another great way to provide service to the world of genealogy and family history. It's maintained by a worldwide army of genie geeks with cameras, and who can resist that? Membership is free, people who request photos REALLY appreciate the service rendered, and lots of cemeteries out there are in desperate need of documentation. This week, I tell "The Cautionary Tale of Baldrick's Cemetery" to illustrate. You'll see what I mean. This week I also discuss how you can make a frie...

Findagrave.com is another great way to provide service to the world of genealogy and family history. It's maintained by a worldwide army of genie geeks with cameras, and who can resist that? Membership is free, people who request photos REALLY appreciate the service rendered, and lots of cemeteries out there are in desperate need of documentation. This week, I tell "The Cautionary Tale of Baldrick's Cemetery" to illustrate. You'll see what I mean. This week I also discuss how you can make a frie...

Findagrave.com is another great way to provide service to the world of genealogy and family history. It's maintained by a worldwide army of genie geeks with cameras, and who can resist that? Membership is free, people who request photos REALLY appreciate the service rendered, and lots of cemeteries out there are in desperate need of documentation. This week, I tell "The Cautionary Tale of Baldrick's Cemetery" to illustrate. You'll see what I mean. This week I also discuss how you can make a frie...

There are a lot of ways that we can serve one another in the world of family history. I like direct service the best. Researching for one another, teaching others, and giving back to those who deserve to have their family repaired or at least explained is very important to me. In this episode, I discuss lookups, the most basic building block of genealogical trading cards. I talk a lot about my favorite thing in the world, Reparational Genealogy (researching and teaching for African-American rese...

There are a lot of ways that we can serve one another in the world of family history. I like direct service the best. Researching for one another, teaching others, and giving back to those who deserve to have their family repaired or at least explained is very important to me. In this episode, I discuss lookups, the most basic building block of genealogical trading cards. I talk a lot about my favorite thing in the world, Reparational Genealogy (researching and teaching for African-American rese...

There are a lot of ways that we can serve one another in the world of family history. I like direct service the best. Researching for one another, teaching others, and giving back to those who deserve to have their family repaired or at least explained is very important to me. In this episode, I discuss lookups, the most basic building block of genealogical trading cards. I talk a lot about my favorite thing in the world, Reparational Genealogy (researching and teaching for African-American rese...

Sometimes, it's good to just stop and take a breath. This week, I'm discussing how to keep it simple in research by focusing all of your energies on one tree, where you provide for everyone in your family - biological parents, step parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents. You'll learn how to handle nervous relatives who might not want their secrets spilled, and why, regardless of your family situation, having one big picture is the best way to approach genealogy. Family history is fraught ...

Sometimes, it's good to just stop and take a breath. This week, I'm discussing how to keep it simple in research by focusing all of your energies on one tree, where you provide for everyone in your family - biological parents, step parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents. You'll learn how to handle nervous relatives who might not want their secrets spilled, and why, regardless of your family situation, having one big picture is the best way to approach genealogy. Family history is fraught ...

Sometimes, it's good to just stop and take a breath. This week, I'm discussing how to keep it simple in research by focusing all of your energies on one tree, where you provide for everyone in your family - biological parents, step parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents. You'll learn how to handle nervous relatives who might not want their secrets spilled, and why, regardless of your family situation, having one big picture is the best way to approach genealogy. Family history is fraught ...

Biography can be really dry and boring stuff, a string of facts without seasoning or flavor. In this episode, I'll teach you how to use genealogical research of your subject to add spice and life to a biographical book or project. I'll tell you how I'm using it to write a book of my own, and show you how much juicy deliciousness you can add to basic facts if you work to understand the entirety of your subject's life. If you want to stand out from other biographers or non-fiction writers and find...

Biography can be really dry and boring stuff, a string of facts without seasoning or flavor. In this episode, I'll teach you how to use genealogical research of your subject to add spice and life to a biographical book or project. I'll tell you how I'm using it to write a book of my own, and show you how much juicy deliciousness you can add to basic facts if you work to understand the entirety of your subject's life. If you want to stand out from other biographers or non-fiction writers and find...

Biography can be really dry and boring stuff, a string of facts without seasoning or flavor. In this episode, I'll teach you how to use genealogical research of your subject to add spice and life to a biographical book or project. I'll tell you how I'm using it to write a book of my own, and show you how much juicy deliciousness you can add to basic facts if you work to understand the entirety of your subject's life. If you want to stand out from other biographers or non-fiction writers and find...

I hate Valentine's Day, so this holiday episode is all about death records. They rock my world. The focus is on Social Security and county-level death records, featuring my favorite: DEATH CERTIFICATES! Learn about the 6 W's of assessing the purpose and value of a record before you ever use it, and then we'll talk specifics about the US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, the US Social Security Death Index, death certificates and death indexes. Even if you're from outside the US, the ...

I hate Valentine's Day, so this holiday episode is all about death records. They rock my world. The focus is on Social Security and county-level death records, featuring my favorite: DEATH CERTIFICATES! Learn about the 6 W's of assessing the purpose and value of a record before you ever use it, and then we'll talk specifics about the US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, the US Social Security Death Index, death certificates and death indexes. Even if you're from outside the US, the ...

I hate Valentine's Day, so this holiday episode is all about death records. They rock my world. The focus is on Social Security and county-level death records, featuring my favorite: DEATH CERTIFICATES! Learn about the 6 W's of assessing the purpose and value of a record before you ever use it, and then we'll talk specifics about the US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, the US Social Security Death Index, death certificates and death indexes. Even if you're from outside the US, the ...

Genealogy is populated with lots of groovy people, and just enough Jeffreys doing things the wrong way to thoroughly annoy the rest of us. Don't be a Jeffrey, be awesome! Follow the best practice and best evidence guidelines for Ancestry in this episode and you'll go far, Cousin. Happy Black History Month to all. And as the international strength of the podcast is growing, financial supporters are jumping on board. Join the crowd, and invite your friends! All are welcome here. Please rate and r...

Genealogy is populated with lots of groovy people, and just enough Jeffreys doing things the wrong way to thoroughly annoy the rest of us. Don't be a Jeffrey, be awesome! Follow the best practice and best evidence guidelines for Ancestry in this episode and you'll go far, Cousin. Happy Black History Month to all. And as the international strength of the podcast is growing, financial supporters are jumping on board. Join the crowd, and invite your friends! All are welcome here. Please rate and r...

Genealogy is populated with lots of groovy people, and just enough Jeffreys doing things the wrong way to thoroughly annoy the rest of us. Don't be a Jeffrey, be awesome! Follow the best practice and best evidence guidelines for Ancestry in this episode and you'll go far, Cousin. Happy Black History Month to all. And as the international strength of the podcast is growing, financial supporters are jumping on board. Join the crowd, and invite your friends! All are welcome here. Please rate and r...

"Cage Match! Ancestry vs FamilySearch" is about the pros and cons of using Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, the two main family tree sites used by the majority of researchers I know. Each has assets and drawbacks, but they're best used together. And get a load of my fan hot spots! All kinds of folks are tuning in. Add your friends and family to the list! Please rate and review the podcast on your podcast provider, at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H, at facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy, or at Thu...

"Cage Match! Ancestry vs FamilySearch" is about the pros and cons of using Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, the two main family tree sites used by the majority of researchers I know. Each has assets and drawbacks, but they're best used together. And get a load of my fan hot spots! All kinds of folks are tuning in. Add your friends and family to the list! Please rate and review the podcast on your podcast provider, at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H, at facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy, or at Thu...

"Cage Match! Ancestry vs FamilySearch" is about the pros and cons of using Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, the two main family tree sites used by the majority of researchers I know. Each has assets and drawbacks, but they're best used together. And get a load of my fan hot spots! All kinds of folks are tuning in. Add your friends and family to the list! Please rate and review the podcast on your podcast provider, at https://apple.co/2MLZW4H, at facebook.com/AncestorsAliveGenealogy, or at Thu...

Folklore is great for finding facts and hints to start a tree, but it's equally wonderful for entertainment and for preserving the memory of family elders for all generations, current and future, to enjoy. If your family tells stories, this is for you. If they don't but you like stories, this is for you. If you just want to hear one of MY family stories, this is for you. And above all, if you want to hear about a bit of felonious scandal from my family's past, this is for you. I hope you enjoy t...

Folklore is great for finding facts and hints to start a tree, but it's equally wonderful for entertainment and for preserving the memory of family elders for all generations, current and future, to enjoy. If your family tells stories, this is for you. If they don't but you like stories, this is for you. If you just want to hear one of MY family stories, this is for you. And above all, if you want to hear about a bit of felonious scandal from my family's past, this is for you. I hope you enjoy t...