Journey Through the Generations

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What happens when you begin researching your family history and discover something that changes the story you thought you knew?

In this special episode, Trisha shares the personal story behind her new memoir, When DNA Tells a Different Story: The Journey Into My Non-Paternal Event Discovery.

Trisha opens up about the unexpected DNA discovery that began a six-year journey of questions, emotions, family, identity, and ultimately finding strength in the truth. She also talks about why she decided to put her experience into words, what it was like writing such a personal memoir, and what she hopes readers will take away from her story.

This isn't simply a story about DNA or genealogy. It's about what happens when new information changes something fundamental about the story of your life and how you move forward afterward.

Preorders for When DNA Tells a Different Story are now open. Order your copy at journeythroughthegenerations.com.

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Music provided by Third House Productions
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Recorded live at the RootsTech 2026 conference in Salt Lake City, this episode of Journey Through the Generations features a conversation with genealogist and entrepreneur André Kearns, founder and CEO of Black Ancestries.

Trisha sits down with André in the expo hall at the world’s largest genealogy conference to talk about how he got started in family history research, the evolution of genealogy over the past 20 years, and the powerful role that technology is playing in helping people uncover their stories.

André shares how a simple request from his father to create a family tree for a reunion led him into decades of research, eventually tracing his family lineage back to a named African ancestor. He also discusses the importance of records, DNA matches, and emerging tools like AI-powered document transcription that are helping researchers uncover ancestors who were previously hidden in historical records.

In addition, André talks about the mission behind Black Ancestries and his vision to help people of African descent uncover, celebrate, and preserve their family history across the global diaspora.

To learn more about André and the work he is doing, or you want some help with your own research visit, https://blackancestries.com/

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Music provided by Third House Productions
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Thinking about attending RootsTech this year but not sure if you should go in person or tune in virtually? In this episode, we break down what RootsTech is, what to expect from both options, and how to prepare so you actually get value from the experience. We share practical tips for planning your schedule, choosing sessions, networking with other family historians, and making the most of the expo hall, whether you are walking the floor in Salt Lake City or attending from home. If you want to avoid feeling overwhelmed and walk away with real progress in your family history research, this episode will help you go into RootsTech with a clear plan and realistic expectations.

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Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/familyhistory

🎵 Music
Music provided by Third House Productions
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For the final day of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re highlighting the RootsTech website—a powerful, year-round resource for family historians.

In this episode, we talk about what you can do on the RootsTech website beyond the annual conference. We discuss how to search the site, explore on-demand educational videos, discover content from genealogy experts, and use RootsTech as an ongoing learning hub no matter where you are in your research journey. From beginner topics to more advanced methodology, the RootsTech platform offers a wide range of sessions that can help you build skills, find inspiration, and stay connected to the genealogy community.

If you’ve ever attended RootsTech—or wondered how to take advantage of its resources outside the conference—this episode will help you understand why the website is worth bookmarking and revisiting often.

🎧 Listen in as we wrap up the series and share how RootsTech fits into your genealogy media toolbox.

Explore RootsTech:
https://www.rootstech.org/

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For Day 11 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re focusing on Google Books and why it’s an essential—but often overlooked—tool for genealogy research.

In this episode, we talk about how Google Books allows researchers to full-text search millions of digitized books, including rare and out-of-print family histories, local and county histories, city directories, and other published records that may not be indexed anywhere else. These materials often contain references to ancestors that don’t appear in traditional genealogy databases.

We discuss how using specific search terms, name variations, and advanced search operators can dramatically improve your results, especially when researching common surnames. We also cover how filters—such as publication date ranges, content type, and “full view” availability—can help you focus on materials published during your ancestor’s lifetime.

If you’ve ever struggled to find context, background, or written references to your family beyond census and vital records, this episode will help you think differently about how books can support your genealogy research.

🎧 Listen in for practical strategies, real examples, and tips you can start using right away.

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Get exclusive genealogy tips, research tools, behind-the-scenes updates, and early access to new resources delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up at:
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Blog: https://www.journeythroughthegenerations.com

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVodHWarer8oea90hmbG9Q

☕ Support the Show
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/familyhistory

🎵 Music
Music provided by Third House Productions
https://soundcloud.com/third-house

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For Day 10 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re talking about books and the critical role they play in genealogy and family history research. In this episode, we discuss what books can reveal that online records sometimes can’t, why preserving them matters, especially as books continue to be challenged and removed from libraries, and how written history helps protect our stories for future generations.

We also share personal experiences of finding our own families in books, highlighting how powerful and meaningful those discoveries can be.

🎧 Listen in for the books we discuss and why we believe every family historian should have them in their research toolbox.

Links

Blackville, Arkansas - Fashioned by a Former Slave: Stories from Individuals Who Remember Blackville - https://amzn.to/4p43LD0

Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree - https://amzn.to/4p1Zv6W

Somerset Homecoming - https://amzn.to/4pFNPIl

The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering Your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy - https://amzn.to/49iFRyW

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy - https://amzn.to/4qcD8N7

Some of the book links included in this episode’s show notes are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase through those links, at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support the work we do and allow us to continue creating genealogy and family history content. We only share resources we genuinely believe are valuable to researchers.

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Get exclusive genealogy tips, research tools, behind-the-scenes updates, and early access to new resources delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up at:
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Blog: https://www.journeythroughthegenerations.com

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVodHWarer8oea90hmbG9Q

☕ Support the Show
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/familyhistory

🎵 Music
Music provided by Third House Productions
https://soundcloud.com/third-house

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In this episode, we discuss how Google Alerts can be a helpful tool for genealogy and family history researchers. We explore how alerts can be used to stay informed about new information related to surnames, family locations, historical events, and research topics without constantly searching for updates. This episode highlights how Google Alerts can support ongoing research and help family historians keep track of new discoveries as they emerge.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVodHWarer8oea90hmbG9Q

☕ Support the Show
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/familyhistory

🎵 Music
Music provided by Third House Productions
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For Day 8 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re talking about genealogy podcasts and why they’ve become such a valuable tool for family historians.

In this episode, we discuss how podcasts can help you learn new research techniques, stay current on genealogy trends, and hear real-life family history stories from experts and fellow researchers. We also touch on the variety of genealogy podcasts available, from beginner-friendly shows to deeper, topic-focused conversations, and how listening can fit easily into your daily routine.

If you’re looking for a way to keep learning while on the go, this episode will help you think about how genealogy podcasts can support your research journey.

🎧 Listen in for the shows we mention and how we recommend using podcasts as part of your genealogy toolbox.

Links to podcasts mentioned in the episode:

🎙️ Genealogy Gems —https://genealogygemspodcast.com/

🎙️ Genealogy Cafe —  https://generationscafe.libsyn.com/2018/09

🎙️ Daughter Dialogues — Apple Podcasts
(Also searchable on most podcast apps like Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.)

🎙️ Speak On It! with Janice & Cherekana - https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/speak-on-it--6474164

🎙️ Ancestor’s Footprints with Bernice Alexander Bennett — Apple Podcasts

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Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/familyhistory

🎵 Music
Music provided by Third House Productions
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For Episode 7 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re talking about genealogy software and how it can help you organize, manage, and expand your family history research.

In this episode, we highlight two popular programs, RootsMagic and Family Tree Maker, and discuss why many researchers choose software to keep control of their family trees while still connecting to major online databases. We touch on key features, compatibility with Ancestry and FamilySearch, pricing considerations, and why these tools can be useful for both beginners and experienced genealogists.

If you’ve ever wondered whether genealogy software is right for you—or which option might fit your research style—this episode will help you start asking the right questions.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVodHWarer8oea90hmbG9Q

☕ Support the Show
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/familyhistory

🎵 Music
Music provided by Third House Productions
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Phillip and Trisha discuss how music applies to their genealogy research and how it could help you.

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Get exclusive genealogy tips, research tools, behind-the-scenes updates, and early access to new resources delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up at:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVodHWarer8oea90hmbG9Q

☕ Support the Show
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/familyhistory

🎵 Music
Music provided by Third House Productions
https://soundcloud.com/third-house

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your community!