AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Native American genealogy research follows the same path that all good genealogy research does, but it also includes some unique records along the way. It’s a fascinating journey, and in this episode professional genealogist Judy Nimer Muhn () joins Lisa Louise Cooke to pave the way. Judy covers: Tribal and personal naming conventions Tribal-specific resources How geography impacts research Native American genealogical records and more… Genealogy Gems Premium Members Ex...
Jun 24, 2025•55 min•Ep. 296
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Get started climbing your family tree with these 10 steps to genealogy success. Whether you're looking for Beginner Genealogy 101, or you are coming back to genealogy after a break, these steps will get you on track. And if you're a seasoned researcher, it's a good time to review the basics and make sure you haven't missed anything along the way. Get the full show notes on the . Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this ...
May 19, 2025•31 min•Ep. 295
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: This episode shines a spotlight on 15 under-the-radar websites that serious genealogists should know about. Lisa Louise Cooke reveals powerful resources like AI tools capable of deciphering old handwriting in unindexed records, clever ways to hunt for unique family artifacts and ephemera online, specialized digital libraries perfect for finding memoirs, how obscure fashion archives can help date your mystery photos, and cutting-edge map sites that let you search text wi...
Apr 21, 2025•37 min•Ep. 294
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In episode 291 of the Genealogy Gems podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke interviews genealogy author Sunny Morton about her article "Three's Company" from the . They dive into a detailed comparison of the top three genealogy websites—Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and MyHeritage.com—focusing on historical records, DNA tools, family tree features, and more. Sunny shares insights on how these platforms differ, their strengths, and practical tips for genealogists to maximize ...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 17Ep. 293
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Lisa Louise Cooke discusses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on genealogy research, exploring its evolution, ethical considerations, and the importance of data privacy. Genealogists need to understand AI's capabilities and limitations and develop a balanced approach to its use in research. She also covers the significance of being aware of data privacy when using AI tools. This video comes from our full-length "Elevenses with Lisa" live show exclusively availa...
Feb 18, 2025•43 min•Ep. 292
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In episode 291 of the Genealogy Gems podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke discusses the launch of the . Crista Cowan, Ancestry's corporate genealogist, discusses the census that covers 38 million people and it's significance due to its 100-year privacy law. Cowan highlights the importance of understanding the context, including the delay in census day due to a potential worker strike, the impact of World War I on marital status, and new employment details. The conversation a...
Jan 10, 2025•53 min•Ep. 291
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke shares 5 genealogy gems from 2024 that you can use to boost your family history. Get the show notes for Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 290. Check out Lisa's LiveMemory™ video on the Genealogy Gems Facebook page: Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the show notes page for this episode. (Premium Member subscription required.) Not a Premium Member? .) Become a Genealogy ...
Dec 23, 2024•27 min•Ep. 290
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke covers the groundbreaking LiveMemory™ tool from MyHeritage, a revolutionary advancement that harnesses the power of AI to transform still photos into mesmerizing short videos. Check out Lisa's LiveMemory™ video on the Genealogy Gems Facebook page: Then she shares a story of the curious publication of a 19th century photo by a news organization. Hear how she spotted the case of mistaken identity, and quickly uncovered how the error may ...
Nov 26, 2024•48 min•Ep. 289
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Finding the maiden names of your ancestors can be challenging, but with the right research strategies they can be found. Author Shelley Bishop joins me in this episode to discuss 12 strategies for finding elusive maiden names of female ancestors. Then I'll cover additional resources to help you track down the records. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the for this episode. (Premium Member subscriptio...
Oct 22, 2024•39 min•Ep. 288
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Food has always been at the center of family life, so if you want to know more about your family’s history, a logical and tasty place to start is with your family’s culinary heritage. The food they ate and the recipes they cooked can actually tell you a lot about them, and my guests today can help you uncover those stories. Ashley Covelli is the food photographer, recipe developer, and culinary instructor behind the website Lisa Lisson is the genealogy researcher behind...
Sep 24, 2024•37 min•Ep. 287
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: When you find family history information online it's important to make every effort to find the original genealogy record. There are 5 reasons to find original records. I’ll explain what they are, and what to look for so that you get the most information possible for your family tree. Then I'll help you get the most out of those genealogy websites that you pay for. Avoid randomly searching in hopes of finding something about our family. Instead, follow these steps that ...
Aug 20, 2024•35 min•Ep. 286
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 cemeteries This episode is also available in on the show notes page on our website. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the for t...
Jul 11, 2024•51 min•Ep. 285
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 . Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member Premium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts The Genealogy Gems Premium Pod...
Jun 21, 2024•30 min•Ep. 284
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 local DAR chapters near me? These interviews are also available in video form on the show notes page. And if you’re a Genealogy Gems Premium Member, y...
May 23, 2024•35 min•Ep. 283
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In our first segment, Lisa Louise Cooke and her guest Jenny Ashcraft from Newspapers.com discuss how to use newspapers to fill in the missing stories in your ancestors’ lives. Jenny shares strategic tips on finding unique information many researchers miss. In the second segment of this episode, Shannon Combs-Bennett, the author of the article A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Using Historical Obituaries published in Family Tree Magazine, covers everything you need to...
Apr 20, 2024•46 min•Ep. 282
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Discover more than 100,000 old family photos on . Founder Joe Bott explains how to find photos of your relatives on this free website, as well as how to post your unidentified photos. Who knows, someone else may spot your photo and have the answers. This interview is also available in video form on the show notes page. And if you’re a Genealogy Gems Premium Member, you’ll be able to download those show notes as a PDF cheat sheet in the Resources section at the bottom of...
Mar 13, 2024•28 min•Season 17Ep. 281
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Whether you want to visit the village where your ancestor was born on your next vacation, or you just want to find their records, you’ll need to know the exact place name and location. Professional genealogist Rich Venezia of joins me in this video to help us pin down those ancestral places. This interview is also available in video form on the show notes page. And if you’re a Genealogy Gems Premium Member, you’ll be able to download those show notes as a PDF cheat shee...
Feb 14, 2024•45 min•Season 17Ep. 280
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: I've got two great genealogy topics and interviews for you in this audio podcast episode. First up we’re going to tackle the problem of conflicting birthdates. When you find different dates in a variety of genealogical records, how do you decide which one to record in your family tree database? Well, you have to do more digging and analysis! So, we’re going to talk about: Reasons for Birthdate Discrepancies in Genealogy 5 Questions You Should Ask About Conflicting Birth...
Jan 15, 2024•37 min•Season 17Ep. 279
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Get the very latest on the major update Google has made to Bard, and the answer to the question "Should I use Bard, ChatGPT, or any of the other chatbots for genealogy research?" I've got some surprising answers for you! Visit the show notes page for this episode. Watch the Video You can watch the video version: Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Log into your and download the ad-free that complements this episode. Our Sponsors: MyHeritage Learn more: wa...
Jul 15, 2023•36 min•Ep. 278
Show Notes: Professional Genealogist J Mark Lowe joins Lisa Louise Cooke on the show to share a marriage research case study that highlights the importance of understanding Gretna Greens. Then Professional Genealogist and blogger Robyn Smith shares her 3 step process for researching witnesses found on records from her new Family Tree Magazine article Witness Testimony. Visit the Watch the Videos Watch Lisa Louise Cooke's on Marriage Research. Watch Lisa Louise Cooke's on researching witnesses fo...
Jun 16, 2023•46 min•Ep. 277
Google Books is known for having millions of free digitized books. But did you know that it’s also packed with hidden old newspapers? Since newspapers don’t typically appear in your initial search results in Google Books, I’ll show you two ways to filter down to only newspapers. Plus I’ll also show you some of the most effective ways to quickly find the right ancestor and the right article. Get the . (This page includes affiliate links from which we are compensated. Thank you for supporting this...
May 15, 2023•27 min•Ep. 276
Has it been a while since you worked on your genealogy research? As passionate as we may be about genealogy, the reality is that a little thing called “Life” can get in the way! Getting back into genealogy can actually be a bit daunting. Where did you leave off? Where should you start back up? If it’s been months or even years since you had your hands in genealogy, you’re in the right place. In this episode, we’re going to talk about how to pick up your genealogy after a hands-off spell so that ...
Apr 15, 2023•29 min•Season 2023Ep. 275
Gretna Green is a term you need to know if you are searching for marriage records. In this video professional genealogist J. Mark Lowe joins me to discuss Gretna Green: what it means, why it matters, and how Gretna Greens may have affected your ability to find your ancestors’ marriage records. Get the . MyHeritage Get your Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code genealogygems Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and...
Mar 12, 2023•52 min•Season 17Ep. 274
The GEDCOM digital file format is essential to genealogy. My expert guest from FamilySearch explains what a GEDCOM is, how to use it, and the most recent changes. He’ll also answer some of the most common GEDCOM questions. Get the MyHeritage Get your Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code genealogygems Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts Monthly Elevenses with Lisa show The Genealogy Gems...
Feb 07, 2023•31 min•Ep. 273
A ton of genealogy and family history research can be done for free. In this episode I’ll share 15 fabulous free websites and what I love about them. These are essential for everyone serious about saving money while climbing their family tree. Get the . MyHeritage Get your Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code genealogygems Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts Monthly Elevenses with Lisa ...
Jan 13, 2023•53 min•Season 16Ep. 272
Finding great sources of information is part of what makes genealogy so fun! But citing those sources may not be so much. In this episode professional genealogist, Gail Schaefer Blankenau makes the case why source citation is a vital part of great genealogy research and she’s going to give us the resources to help get the job done right. Get the . MyHeritage Get your Get 20% off. and use coupon code genealogygems Visit Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana is the home of the second largest free genealo...
Dec 14, 2022•54 min•Ep. 271
In this episode, we’re going to be visiting two of the most pivotal states in the U.S. for genealogy research. These states played key roles in the development and expansion of the United States of America, and we’re going to explore a top online resource for each. First up is the state of Pennsylvania, officially known as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1681 through a royal land grant to William Penn, and established as a haven for religious and political tolerance. And sinc...
Nov 14, 2022•48 min•Ep. 270
In this episode, we’re focusing on early Virginia genealogy. In our first segment, I’ve invited a professional genealogist to join us to help pave the way for tracing our ancestors back to Virginia just prior to the Revolutionary War. Jeri Satterwhite-Dearing specializes in early Virginia research in her work as a professional genealogist with In this video, she explains some of the biggest challenges you’ll face when researching early Virginian ancestors, the records you should be looking for, ...
Oct 17, 2022•46 min•Season 17Ep. 269
In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke and Jenny Ashcraft from Newspapers.com discuss how to use newspapers to fill in the missing stories in your ancestors’ lives. Jenny shares strategic tips on finding unique information many researchers miss. Get the full . From Lisa: “I use MyHeritage for my own genealogy research. It makes all the difference!" Get your . Get 20% off. and use coupon code genealogygems Visit Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana is the home of the second largest free genealogy library i...
Sep 18, 2022•39 min•Ep. 268
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a Forensic Genetic Genealogist. Dr. Claire Glynn joins me to talk about the field of investigative genetic genealogy, criminal cold cases solved, and the new F she has developed at the Henry C. Lee (notable for his work on the OJ Simpson case and many others) College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven. . MyHeritage Get your Get 20% off. and use coupon code genealogygems Visit Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana is the ho...
Aug 10, 2022•45 min•Season 2022Ep. 267
