Thomas Martellone Genealogy Research Podcasts

Hey — if you’ve ever closed your laptop and forgotten which John Smith you’d already checked, this episode’s for you. I’ll walk you through easy ways to track where you’ve looked, what you found (or didn’t), and how a simple log turns scattered searches into real progress.

No fancy tools required — just pick a system you’ll actually use, write down a goal before you search, and let your future self thank you. Want a quick template? I’ve got a Google Sheets sample you can copy and edit.

Click on this LINK for a research log template you can edit from Google Sheets. 

In this episode, I walk you through a real-world, no-stress approach to record-keeping so your family history doesn’t become a mystery later. We talk paper vs. digital, a simple 3-step scan plan, and the naming trick that makes your files instantly findable.

Whether you’re a binder lover or a cloud convert, you’ll get practical tips to create a system you’ll actually use — and that future relatives will thank you for. Let’s tidy up that legacy together.

In this episode I share why AI is an amazing helper but still can't replace the human genealogist: from reading sloppy 19th‑century cursive to spotting phonetic name tricks, legal nuances, and the emotional connections that make family history matter.

Check out the companion blog post for this podast on my genealogy website!  You can view it HERE.

Before those irreplaceable memories fade, join me as I delve into the profound importance of interviewing your elderly relatives. These conversations are not just about collecting dates and names; they capture the vivid personal stories, family folklore, and emotional context that bring your dry genealogy charts to life. Learn practical tips and essential questions to ensure you preserve these unique, living pieces of your family history before they are lost forever.

Hey — if you love digging into family history, you’ve got to start hunting for Allegati (marriage attachments). They’re like backstage passes to your ancestor’s life, full of birth, death, military, and consent records that can finally answer those stubborn questions.

Next time you find a marriage record, don’t stop there — look for Allegati, Processetti, or Matrimoni Allegati online or at the town archives. You might find the very document that breaks your brick wall.

Trust me, it’s one of the best tricks in Italian genealogy — and totally worth a deep dive or calling a local researcher if you need help.

Have you ever seen information in a genealogical record that had you scratching your head? Did you know it had relevance, but you hit a wall and could not get any further with that particular piece of information or clue?  In this episode, I share an instance where I found a clue, continually searched it, and then finally made a breakthrough with the help of my sister!  Other tips are included in the podcast to help you in your search!

So, do you think you'd want to purchase a home in your family's ancestral village? Do you have the chance to buy back a family home?  Here is a short podcast that gives some information about my "hometown" purchase!  You can learn more about my Italian house hunting by clicking HERE. There's not only information about how I bought my family's house, Villa Forneris back, but you can also read about my experience buying my first property in Italy as well!

In this podcast episode from Thomas Martellone Genealogy Research, visiting your ancestral homeland is discussed.  The podcast shares things to consider when you want to make a genealogy trip to your family's ancestral home and what you may need to do to prepare for and what to expect.

This podcast talks about the amazing content of Italian birth, death and marriage records and how easy it is to get a LOT of information from these comprehensive records!

This episode talks about collecting photos, organizing them, and how photos can not only enhance your family history, but how they sometimes hold clues that can help with your research.  Tom Martellone shares a couple stories and talks about how you can use the photos in your family history research.