Conversations with Kenyatta

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Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay.

Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com.

You can also connect with her on social media:
Instagram: @Kenyatta.Berry
Facebook: facebook.com/KenyattaDB

Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next time on Conversations with Kenyatta. 

We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world.

Disclaimer: All guest opinions expressed in Conversations with Kenyatta are their own and do not reflect the views of Kenyatta D. Berry.

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In episode three of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry answers one of the most common questions she receives: how she transitioned from a career in technology and software sales to becoming a full-time professional genealogist.

After writing The Family Tree Toolkit and appearing on PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow, Berry found herself at a crossroads. With encouragement from a fellow genealogist, she made the leap from a lucrative tech career to pursue genealogy full-time.

In this episode, Berry explains how her technology and sales background continues to shape her work today — from building partnerships and marketing her services to leveraging digital tools in genealogical research.

She also discusses the realities of entering the field as a young Black genealogist, and why researching enslaved ancestors can be especially challenging. The work often involves navigating fragmented records, generational trauma, and the lasting effects of family separation during slavery. Yet Berry emphasizes that the goal of this research is ultimately reconnection, resilience, and restoring lost family histories.

Berry also highlights several meaningful research collaborations, including projects connected to:

• Nicole Hannah-Jones and the 1619 Project
• The Universities Studying Slavery consortium and research at the University of Mississippi’s Roanoke site
• A University of Pennsylvania project on Biddy Mason, the formerly enslaved woman who became a philanthropist and community leader in Los Angeles

Throughout the episode, Berry reflects on the struggles and successes that come with building a new career and offers advice for aspiring genealogists — including the importance of networking, creating content, continuing to learn, and prioritizing self-care.

Note: This episode was recorded in 2021. While the Patreon community mentioned in the episode is no longer active, you can stay connected with Kenyatta and her work through her website, newsletter, and social channels. 

Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay.

Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com.

You can also connect with her on social media:
Instagram: @Kenyatta.Berry
Facebook: facebook.com/KenyattaDB

Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next time on Conversations with Kenyatta. 

We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world.

Disclaimer: All guest opinions expressed in Conversations with Kenyatta are their own and do not reflect the views of Kenyatta D. Berry.

. 

Send us Fan Mail

In episode two of Conversations with Kenyatta, host Kenyatta D. Berry (Genealogy Roadshow, The Family Tree Toolkit) welcomes author Gail Lukasik, whose memoir White Like Her explores race, identity, and long-hidden family history.

Lukasik shares the powerful story behind her discovery of her mother’s secret — and the 17-year vow of silence she kept before revealing the truth.

After the death of her mother, Alvera Frederick Kalina, Lukasik began investigating clues in historical records, including the 1900 Louisiana Census, which suggested that her mother may have had Black ancestry and may have been passing as white.

Her search eventually led her to appear on PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow, where research confirmed her mother’s racial identity in historical records and uncovered additional relatives she had never known.

Following the episode’s broadcast in 2015, Lukasik was contacted by newly discovered family members, leading to an emotional reunion with relatives in New Orleans.

In this conversation, Lukasik and Berry discuss:

• The emotional journey behind writing White Like Her
• Family secrets and the history of racial passing in America
• The moment genealogy confirmed her mother’s hidden past
• Reconnecting with newly discovered relatives
• Messages from readers around the world who share similar stories
• Advice for writing family history and memoir
• Her evolving understanding of mixed-race identity

Lukasik also reflects on the impact of the book, which has been featured in outlets such as The Washington Post and The Today Show, inspired a Tribeca Film Festival–winning documentary, and sparked conversations about race, family history, and identity across generations.

She also previews her next project, the gothic historical mystery The Darkness Surrounds Us.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction
 01:14 How Gail Found Genealogy Roadshow
02:49 A Family Secret and a 17-Year Vow
05:21 Writing White Like Her
06:29 Discoveries on Genealogy Roadshow
10:09 Emotional Moments During Filming
12:37 What I Would Tell My Mom Today
14:24 Messages From Readers Around the World
17:13 Advice for Writing Family History
20:15 Identity and Mixed-Race Heritage
26:23 Career Milestones and Recognition
29:07 Preview of the Next Book
31:11 Paperback Release and Events
32:48 Closing and Credits

Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay.

Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com.

You can also connect with her on social media:
Instagram: @Kenyatta.Berry
Facebook: facebook.com/KenyattaDB

Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next time on Conversations with Kenyatta. 

We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world.

Disclaimer: All guest opinions expressed in Conversations with Kenyatta are their own and do not reflect the views of Kenyatta D. Berry.

. 

Send us Fan Mail

In the very first episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, genealogist, attorney, and author Kenyatta D. Berry introduces the podcast and shares the path that led her into family history research.

Born in Detroit, Kenyatta traces her family roots back to Culpeper County, Virginia, and reflects on the experiences that shaped her curiosity about the past. Her professional journey began far from genealogy — she studied business at Michigan State University, attended law school, and built a career in early internet law and technology during the early days of the digital age.

Everything changed when she began researching the Dwelley surname for a partner. What started as a small project quickly became a passion. Kenyatta soon realized that genealogy could uncover not only family connections but also suppressed and difficult histories, particularly those involving enslaved ancestors.

She ultimately chose to focus much of her work on enslaved genealogy, a field that requires confronting painful historical records while restoring stories that were intentionally erased.

In this episode, Kenyatta also shares:

• How she transitioned from law and tech into genealogy
 • The moment she realized family history could be her full-time career
 • The surprising story behind “Grandma Dell,” who turned out to be Aunt Delilah Dale
• An 1880s migration story discovered in her own family line
• The emotional challenges of researching slavery and racial violence
• A powerful case from PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow that shaped her work

After filming Genealogy Roadshow and writing The Family Tree Toolkit, Kenyatta made the leap to becoming a full-time genealogist in 2017.

This conversation sets the stage for the podcast’s mission: exploring family history, confronting difficult truths, and using genealogy as a tool for understanding, healing, and historical accountability.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:44 Detroit Roots and Early Life
01:20 Studying Business at Michigan State
02:01 Law School and Internet Law Career
03:19 The Research Project That Sparked Genealogy
04:43 Choosing to Focus on Enslaved Ancestors
06:04 Becoming a Professional Genealogist (2017)
06:43 Discovering an 1880s Family Migration
08:15 The “Grandma Dell” Family Revelation
10:02 The Emotional Weight of Genealogy
10:48 A Memorable Genealogy Roadshow Case
12:42 History, Truth, and Healing
14:22 Closing

Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay.

Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com.

You can also connect with her on social media:
Instagram: @Kenyatta.Berry
Facebook: facebook.com/KenyattaDB

Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next time on Conversations with Kenyatta. 

We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world.

Disclaimer: All guest opinions expressed in Conversations with Kenyatta are their own and do not reflect the views of Kenyatta D. Berry.

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