Stories in Our Roots with Heather Murphy

Linda Broenniman knew little about her Hungarian heritage until a surprising revelation at the age of 27 changed everything. Discovering her Jewish roots and the heroic actions of her family members during the holocaust became a turning point in her quest to delve deeper into her family's past.With warmth and authenticity, Linda reflects on the personal transformations that occurred as she delved into her family history, emphasizing the power of understanding one's roots and the blessings that can be derived from preserving and celebrating ancestral legacies. She encourages listeners to ask questions and pursue their family heritage with tenacity, as it reveals not only the stories of the past but also valuable insights into oneself.About Linda:Linda Ambrus Broenniman grew up in Buffalo, New York. She is the middle child of seven born to Hungarian physicians who survived World War II and started their new life in the US in 1949. Linda graduated from Swarthmore College with a BA in psychology. Several years after getting her MBA from Carnegie Mellon, she left mainstream corporate America to follow her path as an entrepreneur, building companies in technology and biotech. She let her passion for uncovering hidden potential in unexpected places guide her. And she allowed this passion to fuel her search for her hidden family. Linda lives in Great Falls, Virginia with her husband of 28 years and their dog, Juno.Connect with Linda:Website:  politzersaga.comFacebook: Linda Broenniman______________________________Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphy

As a public historian, Fayge had always been interested in history.  It wasn't until she moved to West Philadelphia, close to where her ancestors lived, that she began her search in earnest. Her exploration was also intertwined with her reconnection to Judaism, prompting a deeper desire to understand her family's story.Fayge shares how delving into her family's history has deepened her sense of belonging and connection to her Jewish identity and community. She also discusses the challenges and triumphs of piecing together her family's narrative, offering insights into the process of unraveling ancestral stories and the lasting impact it can have on personal identity.About Fayge:Fayge Horesh is a public historian, tour guide, and freelance writer. Since her days as a six-year-old eager to infodump Benjamin Franklin Facts on anyone who would stand still long enough to listen, she has wanted to share her passion for history with others.The creator and host of the podcast “D Listers of History,” Fayge brings her research skills, curiosity, and irreverence to discuss important but mostly forgotten historical figures. She joins her audience in exploring what these often colorful people can tell us about ourselves and our society today.Fayge also teaches private music lessons in the greater Philadelphia area and only sometimes sneaks history in between etudes.In all the work Fayge does, her primary goal is to make both historical stories and the study of history accessible to everyone. History is crucial to understanding where we are now and how we can build a better world in the future.Connect with Fayge:Website: www.dlistersofhistory.comFacebook: D Listers of HistoryInstagram: @dlistersofhistory________________________Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphy

Julie Pham, a Vietnamese boat person, shares her family's journey as refugees fleeing communism and establishing a new life in the United States. Through Julie's experiences and insights as a historian, listeners will explore the power of multiple truths, the push and pull factors of immigration, and the dynamics of being an insider and an outsider in different communities. We delve into the significance of understanding family history and its impact on shaping individual perspectives and resilience. Join us as we uncover the importance of curiosity in fostering human connection, empathy, and inner peace while embracing the diverse stories that make up our shared history.About Julie:Dr. Julie Pham is the founder and CEO of CuriosityBased, an organizational development firm based in Seattle. She is the author of the Amazon best-seller, 7 Forms of Respect: A Guide to Transforming Your Communication and Relationships at Work and a TEDx speaker. Dr. Pham has applied her award-winning community building approach to building strong, collaborative, and curious teams. Dr. Pham earned her Ph.D. in history at Cambridge University as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and she graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley as a Haas Scholar. She earned her real life MBA by running her family's Vietnamese language newspaper during the Great Recession. She has worked as a journalist, historian, university lecturer, marketer, nonprofit executive, and management consultant.Connect with Julie:Website: www.curiositybased.comFacebook@curiositybasedInstagram@juliephamphdLinkedIn Julie PhamTEDxTalk on "curiosity as a practice"Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Join Danielle and Galeet Dardashti as they share their journey of discovery  to learn why their father's family left Iran during the Golden Age for Jews. With limited access to records to answer their questions, the sisters relied on interviewing over 85 individuals, including family members, scholars, and unexpected acquaintances.  They have reconstructed an engaging story that transcends cultural boundaries and challenges preconceived notions.  What they learned sheds light not only on their familial roots, but also on universal themes of identity, belonging, and the intricate connections that tie us all together. About Danielle and Galeet:Danielle Dardashti is an Emmy award-winning documentary writer/producer, a former on-air TV news reporter, an author, and a Moth storySLAM champion who leads corporate storytelling workshops all over the world.Dr. Galeet Dardashti is a vocalist, composer, and anthropologist of Middle Eastern Jewish culture. In her new album, Monajat, she sings with samples of her grandfather who was called The Nightingale of Iran. She's currently a Fellow at University of Pennsylvania's Katz Center.Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn  Connect with Galeet on Instagram @galeet.dardashti or Facebook @galeetHead to nightingaleofiran.com to listen to their story and join their list for bonus materials.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

In retrospect, Elizabeth Keating wishes she would have used her skills as an anthropologist when she interviewed her mother about family history.  To help others avoid her mistakes, Elizabeth shares how we can use interviews with living family members to uncover the everyday experiences and cultural nuances of previous generations.  Elizabeth encourages listeners to embrace the value of family stories and their priceless insights to help us understand not only what happened to our ancestors, but to envision what life was like from their perspective and experience. About Elizabeth:Elizabeth Keating is a professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. She's just written a book "The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations" that helps people find out more about their own family's history. Her specialty in anthropology is Linguistic Anthropology, the study of language and culture.Connect with Elizabeth:Website: elizabeth-keating.comInstagram: @elizabethkeating44 LinkedIn: Elizabeth KeatingAre we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Our conversation delves into the remarkable life of Vivian Sieber's Czech-born grandmother, who faced adversity and triumphs during World War II. From owning a cinema in Vienna to finding refuge in England and caring for girls who fled their families as part of the Kinder Transport, Vivian uncovers the intricacies of her family's history and shares the lessons she learned along the way.About Vivian:Dr. Vivien Sieber worked in biosciences research, education development, learning technology and information literacy at a range of UK universities. She lives in Oxford with her husband and dogs. Since retiring she is learning to make pots and has written Kino and Kinder.Connect with Vivian:Facebook: Kino and KinderInstagram: siebervivianLinkedIn: Vivian SieberNew December 2023! Join the Stories in Our Roots Community and use your family history for self-discovery, joy, and connection.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

All of your ancestors were perfect, right? Unfortunately, everyone has ancestors who disappoint us with their choices.In this episode, I talk about four ways we respond when we discover an ancestor made choices that hurt others.As we learn to be more open to putting our ancestors' choices into the context of their lives we can see them as real people, living with the effects of their environment, the choices of their family members and others around them, as well as their own choices.An added bonus is that as we learn the skill of being observant of our ancestors, we can also use that skill in our interactions here and now.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

In Stephanie Renée's story, there's an exploration of identity and belonging that resonates deeply. She began her journey seeking to fill in the gaps left by the early loss of her mother. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her mother was adopted, leading her into the world of genetic genealogy. Despite the hurdles she faced, Stephanie was driven to understand her roots and expand her familial network, bringing her closer to understanding her lineage and establishing a sense of belonging.Connect with Stephanie on Instagram @TheDNAJourney or check out her website StephanieRenee.comWant to support her video series, The DNA Journey?  You can do that here.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

What do you do when you discover an ancestor who made choices that hurt others? Today I discuss four ways people typically respond to these negative discoveries: ignoring, justifying, judging, and observing. Each approach has pros and cons, but through personal stories and experiences, I explain why observing and seeking to understand our ancestors is the most powerful way to see them more clearly. The most fascinating part of the process is how the same technique can change your life and relationships in the present."When that thing keeps coming up in your mind, why not just face it?"Take-aways from today's episode:Learn 4 ways to approach negative stories within your family tree.Embrace the authenticity of your heritage and find value in the imperfections of your family tree.Transform negative family history discoveries into powerful personal growth opportunities.See the value of adding context by hearing the story of Edward Francis Murphy, a mid-19th-century Irish immigrant.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering the stories within your family tree? Take the first step to being a guest by filling out this short application.

Annie Hartnett recently started exploring her family's connections to slave ownership, which took her on a transformative path of discovery. By doing so, Annie gained a deeper understanding of her roots, and as a result, developed an increasingly authentic relationship with herself, her country, and those around her. Fascinated by the forgotten stories of those enslaved, she now dedicates her time to researching and writing about them and hopes to inspire others to do the same."I want to write about the stories of those people whose lives were stolen from them and whose stories have been buried and lost."We talk about:Developing skills for safeguarding historical knowledge and promoting awareness among others. Confronting the legacy of slave ownership and its enduring consequences in today's world. Revealing the previously untold lives of the enslaved and honoring their perseverance. Adopting a mindset of transparency and understanding to progress beyond historical injustices. Gaining insights on maintaining our shared history and educating future generations about the past. Annie Harnett began researching her family's involvement in chattel slavery in the U.S. in the spring of 2021. Until that time, she knew very little about American history and nothing about genealogy. In addition to the essays and interviews published on Medium, Annie has published essays and op-eds in Salon, the Austin American Statesman, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, among others. Annie has an MFA in Creative Writing from Texas State University and lives in Austin, Texas.Connect with Annie:Website: https://anniehnet.medium.com/Twitter: @AnnieHHartnett1Facebook: @annie.hartnett.5Instagram: @relationskinsfolkAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Jacqueline Jannotta's genealogy research uncovers a family history of mob ties and tragedy, revealing the ripple effects of trauma and the importance of understanding our shared humanity.Through her genealogical research, Jacqueline gained a greater understanding and compassion for her ancestors, particularly her tough, outspoken grandmother. The trauma experienced by her family shaped their personalities and relationships, and it made her realize the importance of understanding one's roots to better comprehend oneself and others. Jacqueline's belief that we are all interconnected through our stories encourages her to approach communities and cultures with empathy and curiosity. By exploring the complexities of her own lineage, Jacqueline encourages others to look beyond the surface of their family's history, in order to uncover hidden layers that may lead to greater self-awareness and connection with the world around them.About Jacqueline:Jacqueline Jannotta is the award-winning author of the book Let's Leave the Country! A Guide to Your Family Year Abroad, inspired by her family's extraordinary year in Genoa, Italy. She's a graduate of Northwestern University who spent the early part of her career working in television and sitcoms, followed by producing Internet content. After leaving the entertainment business and starting a family, Jacqueline continued writing and also devised a year abroad for her family. Her book was born out of that adventure, and she continues her work as a writer, avid genealogist, and forever optimist who is dedicated to building a better vision for the future.Website: becomingbetterpeople.usMedium: @JacquelineJannottaFacebook and Instagram: @becomingbetterpeople.usMastodon: @JacquelineJannottaYou can purchase her book, "Let's Leave the Country!: A Guide to Your Family Year Abroad" through Amazon (affiliate link)Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Amidst the shocking history of his family's escape from Austria during the Nazi invasion, Christopher Bock discovers the remarkable life of his great-uncle Paul Patek, a metal worker and artist who played a key role in their survival, inspiring Bock to write a book about him and uncovering hidden talents in his own family lineage."[Researching] really did make me understand my family a lot more in a lot of ways."Key Points:Traverse Christopher Bock's lineage, as we uncover the intricate details of his ancestry.Learn about the gripping escape from Nazi-occupied Austria and the challenges of starting anew.Comprehend the value of investigating family histories and the talents concealed within.Discover the profound influence of family tales in shaping our self-awareness and identity.About Christopher:Everything Christopher Bock does is with passion and thoroughness fueled by curiosity. The list is diverse—photography, collecting baseball cards, keeping bees, and his own hardwood flooring business, Geronimo Floors. But he never thought of writing a book until he was handed his grandfather's autobiography. That same curiosity and passion led him to the extraordinary story of his grandfather's escape from Austria in 1938—and the key role a mischievous uncle played in the family's survival.Christopher's book, "An Ordinary Man: from Vienna to Japan and Back During World War II" is available on Amazon. (affiliate link)Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Shannon Peel is an expert at stories, and while her usual audience is made up of business owners looking to improve their marketing, her discussion of hero vs victim language in storytelling is so valuable to those learning about the stories in their family tree.  We started off talking about her deep roots in western Canada, delved into the "why" questions around emigration, and then found ourselves looking at the way we talk about our ancestors, women in particular.Shannon Peel is the creative force behind the MarketAPeel Brand. She works from her home office overlooking life in Downtown Vancouver, BC Canada. She is passionate about stories and how to they connect people and exploring why people make the choices they make. People describe her as intelligent, quick witted, and creative, all things she takes pride in as she values intelligent thought and solution based productivity. MarketAPeel reflects her values and vision.https://www.marketapeel.agency/speakerLinkedIn: Shannon PeelFacebook: @marketapeelTwitter: @shannonpeel1Instagram: @market_apeel-------------This podcast is supported by Heather Murphy's TraceLine Success.  Get your free workbook, Success is Found in Your Roots, at heathercmurphy.com/successworkbookConnect with Heather on Instagram or Facebook @msheathermurphy

In this episode, Heather shares how she took elements from therapy, even after having a very negative experience, and used them to transform the ways in which she approaches family history.  She explains the connection between the 8 C's of Internal Family Systems and the framework she built to unlock the power of family history research.Join us for a new 12- week group program, Rooted Success, to learn how to use psychology and family history to help you live your version of a successful life.You can find the details at https://programs.heathercmurphy.com(You can get it for 40% off if you sign up by November 30, 2022!)Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Oftentimes when people research in their family history they're looking for inspiration. They're looking for ancestors who did hard things, who were successful, and who can inspire them in their own struggles and what they want to achieve in life. That is what David Alston found.David was adopted as an infant, though the story is complicated, as you will hear in this episode. But as he learned about his birth family he discovered he was related to Harriet Tubman.  Knowing how she lived her life, and that he had a blood connection to her, inspired David to what his purpose in life could be and how he could move forward in helping other people live their own.About David Alston:David Alston has over thirty-five years of experience as an educator, motivational speaker and public figure. David is the 3rd cousin of Harriet Tubman. He has dedicated his life to helping others to live a free and better life. David is the host of The Underground Subway, which is a podcast that focuses on discussing the issues and strategies that will lead to freedom and a better way of life. David is the author of "Blood, Sweat and Cheers... The roadmap to success" and "Son of Another Mother... The Struggle of Adoption." David has a strong passion for motivating others to survive and achieve their purpose.Connect with him on Facebook @BishopDavidAlston This podcast is supported by Heather Murphy's TraceLine Success.  Get your free workbook, Success is Found in Your Roots, at heathercmurphy.com/successworkbookAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What if your grandchildren could have a video chat with your grandmother, even if they didn't live at the same time?That is the vision behind StoryFile, a way to preserve and share personal experiences and stories in an interactive platform.Heather Smith, co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of StoryFile, shares why it was important to her to create a new way to have conversations and make connections across generations and experiences and how you can, and should, make a StoryFile for yourself and other family members.StoryFile is revolutionizing the way we connect with each other by introducing conversational video with Audio Visual technology at the forefront of this generation. Through the click of a button, StoryFile magically turns video into a conversation. This next generation of technology uses artificial intelligence to support video conversations on any device. StoryFile transforms traditional one-way video into a two-way conversation. This is the biggest audio-visual evolution since video was first created.Go to StoryFile.com to create an account and use the code STORIESINOURROOTS for 20% off (valid through November 26, 2022).You can also follow StoryFile at:Instagram @storyfileFacebook @StoryFileAppTwitter @storyfileLinkedIn  StoryFile

Dave Combs shares stories of music and perseverance that carry through his family tree.About Dave:Dave Combs is a songwriter, entrepreneur, successful business executive, and best-selling author. Over the 40+ years he has written over 120 songs and created fifteen albums of soothing, relaxing instrumental piano music, including the popular standard, Rachel's Song. He is the author of the bestselling book, Touched by the Music.Connect with DaveWebsite: CombsMusic.comFacebook: @TouchedByTheMusicLinkedIn: Dave CombsYouTube: combsmusicAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Lisann Valentin began her family history journey by exploring why her Puerto Rican great-great-grandmother was called La Irlandésa, or “The Irish One.”  Along the way she discovered the things her ancestors were known for “had nothing to do with their careers, it had everything to do with how they showed up vibrantly in their life.”    She uses the inspiration of their lives to support her own dreams and how she shows up in the world.About Lisann:Lisann Valentin is a professional actor, a best-selling author & 5th generation shaman.Through every career change, this multi-hyphenate has leaned on the legacy of belief her family inspired within her. From Wall Street to red-carpets, her lineage led her to intuitive coaching where she seamlessly helps empathic leaders within the corporate world and entertainment industry.You can see this film and television actor recurring on the Netflix series Manifest, or you can learn more about her coaching practice at LisannValentin.com Website: www.LisannValentin.com Instagram: @LisannValentin Get your free workbook, Success is Found in Your Roots, at heathercmurphy.com/successworkbookAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Renee Harris is the founder of an online skin care business selling soap and lotion for dry skin. Ironically, it was "soap-selling" that her grandfather used as a cover to hide dozens of Jews throughout World War 2 in his home in Holland. Having this special connection made Renee dig in deeper to uncover the stories of courage and hope left by her grandparents.Learn more about the experiences of Renee's grandparents at  https://hardlotion.com/soap-how-it-helped-my-grandparents-survive-during-ww2/Website parenttheirpassion.com Facebook @parenttheirpassion and @hardlotionInstagram @parenttheirpassion and @hardlotionAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Ann Hince shares the stories of how she came to meet her birth mother, learned about her birth father, and made other family connections.  We talk about the parts of herself she recognized as she learned about her birth family, that not everyone gets an adoption reunion story, and how her father's writing helped her get a small feeling of what it means to live during war.About Ann:When Ann was 19, she woke one morning to find her mother dead in her bathroom. Twenty years later the tears from that trauma were still just under the surface.  Ann has found that seeking out our truth, what we truly feel, and accepting those feelings, is the key to inner peace. She has written a book, A Pathway to Insight, available on Amazon.com. Website: annhince.com Facebook: @annhincewisdom LinkedIn: Ann Hince Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Anika shares her experiences as a second-generation immigrant and how she realized she didn't need to choose between the cultures that made her who she is.  Through learning the stories of her parents' and ancestors she gained a deeper understanding of herself and sees the opportunity we have to celebrate ancestral greatness built out of hard experiences.  Anika also adds some great tips about having conversations to preserve your own family heritage. About Anika:Anika Chabra is co-founder of the platform Root & Seed which helps others claim, honour, document and celebrate their unique family stories, traditions and culture and includes a mobile based web app that help inspire conversations with our elders. She is also the host of a podcast of the same name, The Root & Seed podcast.Website: rootandseed.comFacebook: @rootandseedcoInstagram: @rootandseedcoTwitter:  @rootandseedcoLinkedIn: @rootandseedcoConnect with Heather:heathercmurphy.com or Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook @msheathermurphyAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Two World Wars and famine affected  Andrea's ancestors in Romania, but Andrea herself also experienced the effects from those events.  One of the most apparent effects came through beliefs about wealth.  One family branch says buy land so you always have a way to provide for your family.  Another branch says saving is pointless, enjoy your money while you have it.  Andrea shares how awareness and curiosity helped her identify those beliefs and choose what beliefs she would make part of her future.

Mitch Lomazov is a first-generation American with Russian Jewish roots.  He shares how hearing his family stories gave him a different understanding of history than textbooks and how things that seem ordinary in our families in truth make us unique.  We also discussed how learning about his heritage helps him be more purposeful and grateful for his present and how he strives to consciously choose what he makes part of his, and his family's, future.More about Mitch:Mitch is the Executive Director of Finance at EXCELLence Performance, a world-class business coaching and leadership seminar company. He is certified through a two-year coaching program specializing in young adult coaching and a trained public speaker sought after for topics including communication, behavioral finance, and personal development. Mitch also provides Fractional CFO work where he excels in creating financial vision and develops strategies to make businesses more efficient and profitable factoring in people and behavior and not just the balance sheet.You can connect with him through LinkedIn or his website, epcoaching.com.

Jill Phillips is a family storyteller with a passion to inspire families to connect through the telling of their past. She started life on Lamlash Street in London, emigrated to Canada, where she obtained her master's degree, and spent 30 years working as an Occupational Therapist and Hospital Manager. Motivated by her family's experiences in 1960's London, Jill shares their stories to celebrate a time of close family connections in difficult life situations and a way of life which is fondly remembered. Learn more at www.jmphillipsauthor.com.

Born in Berlin, Gabrielle grew up in Germany and Austria. After a PhD from the University of London, she taught Literature and Writing at US universities and abroad. She is the author of seven nonfiction books.  Our discussion for this episode focuses on her most recent book,  Api's Berlin Diaries: My Quest to Understand My Grandfather's Nazi Past.Gabrielle loves to tell stories about people in their social and historical context and loves to help others tell their stories.  She encourages you to reach out to her with any questions or comments you may have through her website, www.gabriellerobinson.com.Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode Tova shares:How a wedding seating chart helped uncover a family name changeWhy she feels it is time for her generation to start talking about her family's pastWhy it is important to focus on the lives of ancestors instead of their deathsAbout Tova:Tova Levi is a family history researcher who specializes in Jewish genealogy. She holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and is a member of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Her particular areas of interest are the former Austro-Hungarian Empire as well as German and Holocaust research. She is the owner of My Family Lines and creates customized family tree wall décor.Contact Tova and My Family Lines through Instagram to get started with your family tree wall decor.Instagram       @myfamilylinesTwitter            @myfamilylinesEpisode Sponsor:Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots.Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode Lucy shares:What burning paper money on Chinese New Year has to do with honoring ancestorsWhy she is grateful for her grandmotherThe tradition of praying to, or for, ancestorsAbout Lucy:Lucy Liu is a business and life coach helping women in life transitions unstuck, kiss overwhelm bye, cultivate rockstar confidence, see clarity, reach new goals, and live a joyful fulfilling life! She is an unshakable optimist, wife, mother, easy-going entrepreneur, women empowerment workshop facilitator, motivational speaker, author and inspires as the host of her weekly podcast The Lucy Liu Show, She has been featured in Medium, VoyageLA, Elephant Journal, ThriveGlobal, FOX, CBS, NBC and dozens of podcasts.Website          www.lucyliucoaching.com Facebook        @mslucyliuInstagram       @mslucyliuTwitter            @mslucyliu LinkedIn          @mslucyliu  Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

#53.  In this episode Andrea shares:The challenge her grandfather faced within the first weeks, and years, of purchasing a home heating businessThe moments the business almost didn't stay in the familyHow her son's school project led her to ask deeper questions about the history of her familyAbout Andrea:Andrea currently lives in Mercer Island, Washington—about a mile from the house she grew up in—with her husband, and youngest son (two older sons are in college out of state). She is the author of Twentieth Century Boys: How One Family Business Survived and Thrived, which published on October 26, 2021. The book is a narrative non-fiction which covers over 100 years and spans four generations. It's about a family business and how it was passed down through the generations given the cultural and economic trends and hardships that required the company to change in order to survive.Connect with Andrea:Website          andreawatson.net      Facebook        @andreaclarkwatsonInstagram       @nanwat93 LinkedIn         Andrea Watson  Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

#52. In this episode Victoria shares:How an inherited cameo piqued her interest in her great-grandmotherWhy moving across the world connected her to the women in her familyHow sharing pictures has drawn her extended family closer togetherAbout Victoria:From family research, to family tree presentation, to sharing with family, Victoria's journey with ancestry has been a creative outlet for a frustrated detective/artist. She dabbled with the idea of getting into family tree research for over 30 years. In the late 1980s her mother gave her a copy of a detailed family tree recording her father's side of the family.  Victoria was struck by the fact that no one had followed the women. So that is what she decided to do... follow the women.Connect with Victoria:Website          www.victoriaspress.com Facebook        @victoriaspressInstagram       @victoriaspress Also mentioned in this episode: Ponga, CanvaEpisode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

#51.  Gratitude helps us acknowledge the good in our lives and often that good comes from sources outside of ourselves.Looking for the good that has come from the lives of our ancestors helps us see the good things in our own lives and recognize hardships that were overcome, generosity that was given, and so much more.In this episode you will hear:How gratitude, optimism, and family are connectedTwo simple ways to show gratitude to your ancestorsWhy it is important to find the 1% positive that can be found in a situation that seems all negativeGet the free workbook, 30 Days of Gratitude for 30 Ancestors!About Heather:Heather Murphy is a mindset coach, genealogist, and host of the Stories in Our Roots podcast.  With an academic background in family history and twenty years experience helping people discover the stories of their ancestors, Heather knows the clarity and strength that comes from spending time in the branches of your family tree.Her mission is to help women become empowered to create more peace in their lives, because most are struggling with the weight of the past, the stress of the present, and the uncertainty of the future. So she helps them understand today's circumstances and struggles by learning the stories of their ancestors, empowering them to create an incredible future filled with clarity, connection and perspective.  When Heather is not exploring family trees, she's knitting lace shawls, taking care of her three Welch Harlequin ducks, or trying to understand her teenage son as he discusses quantum mechanics.Website: heathermurphygenealogy.com Facebook: @MsHeatherMurphy Instagram: @msheathermurphy LinkedIn: Heather MurphyAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

#50. The way we view money and finances is one of the big beliefs we can inherit from the generations before us.  Rob Cook's view of money and wealth came from his Grandpa Schmidt, through both observation and moments of purposeful teaching.  Not everyone has had such a positive money script to follow and Rob gives listeners ideas of what they can do to gently change that mindset.In this episode Rob shares:How his grandfather shifted away from the scarcity mindset of his immigrant fatherWhy a financial legacy is about more than moneyTwo things you can do to move from a scarcity mindset to one of abundanceAbout Rob:Rob Cook is a CPA and CFP whose mission in life is to help families build real, meaningful legacies. By day he serves his clients families as a wealth advisor helping his clients grow and protect their financial legacies. By night he is the host of the Contenders Wanted podcast. A show dedicated to showing the world that you can have meaningful success without sacrificing what is most important in life. Through Contenders Wanted Rob strives to help listeners go from Contender to Champion in their own lives, and, by doing so, begin creating their own meaningful legacies.  Rob is above all a husband and father. He loves to compete in obstacle course races, volunteer at his church, learn something new or interesting, and enjoy movie nights with his family.Connect with Rob:Website          contenderswanted.com Facebook        @ContendersWantedLinkedIn          Rob CookEpisode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

In this episode Lisa shares:Why family relationships are more than geneticsHer experience as an adult learning about her birth familiesHow she chose to respond to new information about her family which shifted her identityAbout Lisa:Lisa Zawrotny is the founder of Positively Productive Systems, host of the Positively Living Podcast, and a Productivity + Organizing Coach certified in time and stress management. She uses simplicity, self-awareness, and systems to help multi passionate creatives boost productivity, balance business and family, and avoid burnout. When she's not sharing the wonders of decluttering and habits, she's playing music, drinking iced coffee, and watching movies with her husband and kiddos, or reading while trapped under a cat.Connect with Lisa:Website          positivelyproductive.com Facebook        @positivelyproductive Instagram       @positively_lisa Twitter             @positively_lisaLinkedIn          Lisa ZawrotnyListen to Lisa's Positively Productive podcast at positivelyproductive.com/podcast/ Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

In this episode Barbara shares:Her experience growing up overseas and in Hawaii and how that influenced her identity as an AmericanHow our perspective of events in our past and of the actions of others change as we get olderWhy the photo site Ponga is more like your living room and less like the town square of social mediaAbout Barbara:Barbara is a startup founder, passionate about visual communications and family stories. She traveled extensively as a child but had few opportunities to connect with her own extended family or get to know her home country here in the US. She loves culture and languages, is an avid networker and public speaker. She pays it forward in any way she can, actively supporting other startups — taking special care to support other women founders.Connect with Barbara:Website          ponga.com Facebook        @pongapictures Instagram       @pongapictures Twitter             @pongaLinkedIn          Barbara Tien If you're already a Ponga member, guest of a member, or just Ponga-curious, we'd love to have you join us for our monthly Zoomin' sessions. For the next event, check out ponga.com/zoomin or explore our channel on Youtube at youtube.com/ponga. Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

In this episode Ron shares:Why he decided to document the lives of his grandmother and her siblingsWhat sources were invaluable to his researchHow his family research turned into a social history of the time and place in which they livedAbout Ron:Ron Seckinger is a native of Emanuel County, Georgia. After attending Duke University, he earned a doctorate in history from the University of Florida and a master's in public administration from Harvard University. After working as a university professor, a government analysis and senior executive, and a private-sector contractor, he retired in Arlington, Virginia, where he resides with his wife.You can find his book, Emanuel's Children: Stories of a Southern Family, for sale at Amazon.com Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

In this episode Sheena shares:Why learning about her paternal ancestors is important to her even though she does not have a good relationship with her fatherHow her family discovered they had indigenous rootsHow she honors the memory of her ancestorsAbout Sheena:Sheena's ancestry on both sides was a mystery until she became an adult. She always wondered where her ancestors came from and was frequently asked what nationality she was. As the journey to discover her ancestors' stories has progressed, their fascinating stories have come to life. Those stories have also given her a sense of her place in the world and has helped her have the courage to create her own destiny, in honor of them.Connect with Sheena:Facebook Page           @SacredLotusAwakeningFacebook Group        Goddess Soul Awakening Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

Dana Humphrey shares how knowing her ancestry, both through the research her aunt has done and through DNA testing, has influenced how she feels in her neighborhood, helps her see where her love of freedom may have come from, and inspires her to pursue aspects that make her unique.In this episode Dana also shares:Why her grandparents chose to move from Denmark to Canada after World War IIHow testing her DNA with 23andMe changed her perspectiveWays she feels a connection with different female ancestorsAbout Dana:Dana Humphrey is a Life Coach and Death Doula at www.danahumphrey.com. She is also an advisory beachhead for NZTE, owner of Whitegate PR, partner at the NYC Retails and Sales Pet Expo and she is "The Pet Lady." Humphrey is also a marketing course instructor for entrepreneurs and professor and enjoys life as a cat mama to Chance and Sassy and lives in Rockaway Park, on the beach in Queens, NY.Connect with Dana:Website          www.danahumphrey.com Facebook        @danahumphreylifecoachInstagram       @danakhumphrey Twitter             @danakhumphreyLinkedIn          Dana Humphrey Calm Your Mind Workshop, September 9th, 10:00-11:30 am PDTGet your ticket here!Recording access for those who sign up.Learn how to use family history research to slow down and calm your racing mind.  Don't use your research time to zone out and shut off your brain, use it to train your mind to feel clear in the middle of stressful times.Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots.

Cassandra Lane began writing the story of Mary McGee and Burt Bridges as part of her Masters in Fine Arts degree, but as her life changed, so did the meaning of this project in her life. She found that “even within pain and tragedy, there are lessons.”In this episode Cassandra shares:Why she felt compelled to research her family historyWhy you shouldn't feel reluctant to imagine the lives of your ancestorsHow this project helped her find her voiceAbout Cassandra:Cassandra Lane is the winner of the Louise Meriwether First Book Prize, author of "We Are Bridges: A Memoir," and Editor-in-Chief of L.A. Parent Magazine. She previously worked as a newspaper staff reporter and received an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University LA.Connect with Cassandra:Website          www.cassandralane.net Facebook        @CassandraLaneAuthorInstagram       @CassandraLane71 Twitter             @casslanewritesLinkedIn          Cassandra Lane Calm Your Mind Workshop, September 9th, 10:00-11:30 am PDTGet your ticket here! Recording access for those who sign up.Learn how to use family history research to slow down and calm your racing mind.  Don't use your research time to zone out and shut off your brain, use it to train your mind to feel clear in the middle of stressful times. Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots.

What started as a collection of stale facts turned into an exploration that connected Amanda Arthur to herself, cousins, and aspects of history that otherwise would seem cold and distant.  In so many ways researching her family history has helped Amanda gain a deeper sense of her own identity and anchored her to the people and world around her.In this episode Amanda shares:How she went to hating family history research to loving itHow her ancestors gave her a sense of belonging when she moved from Michigan to TennesseeThe ancestors who inspire her to be inventive in ways to improve life for herself and future generationsAbout Amanda:Amanda Arthur is the founder of The Cool Girl's Guide to Genealogy, a blog about the “cooler” side of genealogy. After starting her genealogy journey in high school, Amanda realized that she was younger than many of her colleagues and wanted to show others that history and research is not as stuffy as some might think. By using baking, traveling, and other interactive ideas, Amanda wants to show that researching is not just something to be done in libraries. Family history is a living, breathing adventure that can show we are all not that different and have much more in common than we might think.Connect with Amanda:Website          www.coolgirlgenealogy.com Facebook        @CoolGenealogy Instagram       @coolgirlgenealogy Twitter             @CoolGenealogy Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

Times of upheaval in our lives can create an opportunity to gain a better understand our identity and place in the world.  Peter shares how family history helped during a time of transition in his life, helps him be more curious about the places he visits, and gives him reasons to be grateful.In this episode Peter shares:How seeking a new sense of identity led him to his family historyThe difference it makes when you visit parts of the world where your ancestors livedHow gratitude and family history work togetherAbout Peter:Peter is a public speaker and life coach who has travelled to 53 countries, climbed Kilimanjaro and has a passion for photographing wildlife around the world. He is also the author of Hunting Susan, a fast paced thriller that's based on his travels. He has spent the last 6 years exploring his family tree, including meeting many relatives for the first time.Connect with Peter:Website          www.petersewell.com and www.huntingsusan.com Facebook        @peter.sewell.authorInstagram       @empower90_goals LinkedIn         Peter Sewell Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's personalized coaching service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward. 

Researching and connecting with his ancestors affected Kael Sharman's life in more ways than he expected. Knowing those stories helped him feel grounded and connected him to the greater historical narrative of Canada.In this episode Kael shares:How researching his ancestors grounded him in a time of changeThe impact of colonialism on people who wanted a better life for their familyWhy he thinks studying family history has the power to heal nationsAbout Kael:After 20 years of teaching, more than a decade of historical research, and several years of genealogical research, Kael Sharman has a message that is timely in the current context of growing social and political divisions: Know your family stories. Understand who you are, where you came from, and how you got here. in his Podcast Maple Family Treehouse, Kael shares his family stories, which include infidelity, heartbreak, love, violence, ethnic cleansing, religious miracles, and just plain survival. The driving force behind sharing his stories has been to understand how his family stories have changed how he walks around North America as an aging, white, working-class trans man. Understanding where he came from has brought a new complexity to his understanding of who he is, and his own privilege. Kael has also found pride and validation for those aspects of himself that have been traditionally aligned with marginalization or oppression. Kael claims, that kind of shift can happen if you frame your family stories in the larger narratives of settlement and colonization.Connect with Kael:Website          maplefamilytreehouse.squarespace.com Facebook        @maplefamilytreehouseInstagram       @maplefamilytreehouseTwitter            @KaelSharman Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

Researching her ancestry has helped Angie to feel like there is a purpose and a place for her story.  Through her research she has been reminded of her part in our global story that spans oceans and continents.In this episode Angie shares:How she reconciled her connection to land taken from indigenous people generations agoWhy she tries to keep her culture intact in spite of living in a “melting pot”How she incorporates the role of women in her mixed media artAbout Angie:Angie Follensbee-Hall is an artist and a teacher. Angie was born in Sicily, Italy, and has immersed herself in the study of myth and her-story as she reclaims her identity to women’s wisdom traditions. She creates mixed media and handmade paper tapestries inspired by nature, stories, and the deep mystery of the world. Angie has taught classes, workshops, and teacher training in art, yoga, and mindfulness for over 20 years. She holds a BFA degree in studio arts, a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration on creative practice.Connect with Angie:Website          angiefollensbeehall.com Facebook        @angiefollensbeehallcreativepurposementorInstagram       @angiefollhallTwitter            @AngieFollHall Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Your Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

Having common life experiences with an ancestor can draw you into learning more about what you have in common.  Annette Gendler shares some of the stories within her family history which she learned in her efforts to research one individual.In this episode Annette shares:How learning of an ancestor with a similar love story inspired her to research her family historyUnexpected discoveries that lent credibility of family storiesWhy she feels it is important to leave our own stories by writing them down About Annette:Annette Gendler is the author of the guide How to Write Compelling Stories from Family History as well as the memoir Jumping Over Shadows, the true story of a German-Jewish love that overcame the legacy of the Holocaust. Her writing and photography have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Family Tree Magazine, Tablet Magazine, Kveller, and Bella Grace, among others. In 2014-15, she served as the writer-in-residence at the Hemingway Birthplace Home in Oak Park, Illinois. She has been teaching memoir writing at StoryStudio Chicago since 2006 and has led workshops around the world on writing stories from family history. Born in New Jersey and raised in Germany, she lives in Chicago with her husband and three children.Annette’s story The Flying Dutchman is an excerpt from her memoir and is based on a letter her grandfather wrote about her grandparents' deportation from Czechoslovakia after WWII. Listeners can find it here.Connect with Annette:Website           annettegendler.com Facebook        @AnnetteGendlerAuthor Instagram        @annette.gendler Twitter             @AnnetteGendler Episode Sponsor:Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to choose your beliefs moving forward.

Family stories are not passive, they shape us into who we are.  Laura Roselle is an expert in storytelling and the psychology behind the stories we share.  We have the power to choose how we interpret the stories of our ancestors and what we choose to convey to others, and even ourselves, through the stories we tell and the way we choose to tell them. In this episode Laura shares:How we can change the way we tell the story to give it a different meaningLooking for generosity within our family stories can help us be more generousEvery story told passes on a meaning from the teller to the listenerAbout Laura:After more than 20 years as a university professor and scholar studying narratives, Laura Roselle, PhD co-founded the Family Narrative Project, LLC with 3 family members. The Family Narrative Project offers online courses, books, and workshops to help people save and save their stories. Laura is particularly interested in how family storytelling can strengthen families and individuals, and in how stories shape the way we see the world. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, and is a mom to two daughters and Nana to a year-old grandson.Connect with Laura: Website           www.familynarrativeproject.com Facebook        @FamilyNarrativeProjectInstagram        @FamilyNarrativeTwitter             Dr. Laura Roselle LinkedIn          Laura Roselle  Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free workbook, "Release Limiting Beliefs by Understanding Family History " to help identify your beliefs, where they come from, and how to chose your beliefs moving forward.

Beliefs that limit what you achieve in life are created by your experiences or passed down to you through your parents and the generations before you.  Learn how to identify those beliefs and give yourself permission to let go of the ones that do not make your life better.  Many of your beliefs were established as a young child, as an adult it is time you understand the sources of those beliefs and choose for yourself what to carry with you into your future.Download the free workbook, Release Limiting Beliefs, which follows the content of this episode. Start today to understand yourself better and gain power to live life the way you want. About Heather:Heather Murphy is a resilience coach, genealogist, and host of the Stories in Our Roots podcast.  Heather teaches people how to strengthen their resilience as they research and connect with the stories of their ancestors.  As a teenager one of Heather’s role models was a 3rd-great-grandmother who exemplified service and perseverance.  Heather’s love of family and history led to a bachelor’s degree in Family History - Genealogy.  After twenty years teaching people how to research their family history or completing research on their behalf, Heather saw in the lives of her clients the strength and understanding that comes from researching their own family history, and the missed opportunities when they paid her to research instead.  Her signature program, Resilience in Your Roots teaches people how to use the process of researching their family trees to strengthen their resilience and improve how they adapt to the big and small challenges of life.Heather lives in Washington State (the dry side) with her husband, son, three ducks and a rabbit. Connect with Heather:Website: heathermurphygenealogy.com Facebook: @MsHeatherMurphy Instagram: @msheathermurphy LinkedIn: Heather Murphy  Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. 

Carly Morgan’s family has lived in the United States for generations, but the two sides of her family are not equally represented in the records.  Despite the difficulty, Carly has dug into her Chinese roots and pulls her ancestors, and the traditions of their culture, to the present.In this episode Carly shares:What she did when she thought her inadequacies were the reason she couldn’t find records for her maternal ancestorsThe story of a Chinese ancestor who was not Chinese biologicallyWhy she insists on claiming her Chinese heritageAbout Carly:Carly Morgan is the writer and designer behind Family Tree Notebooks, a genealogy worksheet system designed to help you organize your family history page by page. She became interested in genealogy at an early age but, as a bi-racial person, was surprised at how difficult it was to research one side of her family versus the other. As a result, she is passionate about encouraging people to find and own their family stories, even if the research journey is challenging.Connect with Carly:Website           familytreenotebooks.com Facebook        @familytreenotebooksInstagram        @familytreenotebooks Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free guide, "7 Ways You (Unintentionally) Sabotage Your Family Tree" and have more success as you research your family history.

With a Bolivian husband and biracial children, Jessica envisioned a trip to Bolivia as the perfect opportunity to visit churches and cemeteries to research her family’s history.  While there she had to redefine what success meant. Because of her curiosity and persistence, she came home with stories and photos that will be treasured for generations.In this episode Jessica shares:The contrast between her research expectations and what was actually possibleHow visiting Bolivia allowed her to feel her family history rather than only know itThat traveling thousands of miles, getting sick, driving in harrowing conditions was all worth it because of the stories and experiences she gets to pass to future generations About Jessica:Living in the space between, Jessica divides her time and attention between the rigors of motherhood, finishing a PhD program in Political Science, running a small business that assists small businesses and non-profits, and pretending her world still has time for 1950s homesteading values.Connect with Jessica:Website           www.townopinions.comInstagram        @thatswhatshedidblog LinkedIn          Jessica (Pilling) Loayza Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free guide, "7 Ways You (Unintentionally) Sabotage Your Family Tree" and have more success as you research your family history.

Randy knew since childhood he was adopted and in his late teens his parents helped him start the journey of finding his birth family.  On the cusp of the internet as we know it and well before DNA testing was popular, Randy found who he was looking for.In this episode Randy shares:The point in his life when his parents thought he needed to know his birth familyWhat it meant to him to connect with family and cultureHow knowing his past gave him an anchor and sense of belonging that gave him a sense of direction About Randy:Randy was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and was raised in and around Toronto, Ontario. Adopted at a young age, Randy started trying to discover where he came from fairly young, not very successfully. It wasn't until after finishing high school things started coming together and in 2000 Randy found his birth mother and her family. Ever since then Randy has been discovering bits and pieces of the family tree, and most recently completing a DNA Ancestry kit.Connect with Randy: Website           www.freezeflameinc.com Facebook        REDBROWN4everInstagram        M.A.R.B.L.E_whitecap Twitter             FreezeFlameinc LinkedIn          Randy Freese Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free guide, "7 Ways You (Unintentionally) Sabotage Your Family Tree" and have more success as you research your family history.

What does it mean to be self-aware and how can being self-aware improve your life?  Learn the answers to these questions and three ways you can use your family history research to increase your self-awareness.  Better understand your thoughts and feelings and the reasons behind them, whether they began with you or have their roots in generations past.  Use your family history research to get to know yourself better, empowering you to change how you react to what life throws at you. About Heather:Heather Murphy is a resilience coach, genealogist and host of the Stories in Our Roots podcast.  Heather teaches people how to strengthen their resilience as they research and connect with the stories of their ancestors.  As a teenager one of Heather’s role models was a 3rd-great-grandmother who exemplified service and perseverance.  Heather’s love of family and history led to a bachelor’s degree in Family History - Genealogy.  After twenty years teaching people how to research their family history or completing research on their behalf, Heather saw in the lives of her clients the strength and understanding that comes from researching their own family history, and the missed opportunities when they paid her to research instead.  Her signature program, Resilience in Your Roots teaches people how to use the process of researching their family trees to strengthen their resilience and improve how they adapt to the big and small challenges of life.Heather lives in Washington State (the dry side) with her husband, son, three ducks and a rabbit. Connect with Heather:Website: heathercmurphy.com Facebook: @MsHeatherMurphy Instagram: @msheathermurphy LinkedIn: Heather Murphy  Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free guide, "7 Ways You (Unintentionally) Sabotage Your Family Tree" and have more success as you research your family history. 

What do you know about your family’s mental health history?  Christy Walton and I discuss the importance of knowing about mental health conditions within our families to help us better understand ourselves and those we love.  In this episode we talk about:Christy’s relative who disappeared from family memoryThe way our ancestors faced their challenges could result in generations of effectsHow we can use the knowledge of our ancestors to help us through our own challenges About Christy:Christy Walton is a genealogist of 20 years, a small business owner at The Modern Genealogist and a former High School World History Teacher. She has solved numerous cases of unknown parentage using the latest genetic genealogy. She also writes family history narratives, develops innovative family history print decor, creates family history story reveals, and manages social media for the Texas State Genealogical Society. She was born and raised in Southern California and now resides in Dallas, Texas.Connect with Christy: Website           www.TheModernGenealogist.com Instagram        @TheModernGenealogist Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free guide, "7 Ways You (Unintentionally) Sabotage Your Family Tree" and have more success as you research your family history.

Christy, a former secondary school history teacher, looked for ways to make history personal for her students so they could connect with events of the past. She knows family history can not only help us understand the past, but also help us with our identities.In this episode Christy shares:The experiences she’s had through connecting with DNA cousin matchesWhy she thinks family stories are more inspirational than moviesHow knowing her family contributes to her identity About Christy:Christy Walton is a genealogist of 20 years, a small business owner at The Modern Genealogist and a former High School World History Teacher. She has solved numerous cases of unknown parentage using the latest genetic genealogy. She also writes family history narratives, develops innovative family history print decor, creates family history story reveals, and manages social media for the Texas State Genealogical Society. She was born and raised in Southern California and now resides in Dallas, Texas.Connect with Christy:Website           www.TheModernGenealogist.com Instagram        @TheModernGenealogist Episode Sponsor:Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free guide, "7 Ways You (Unintentionally) Sabotage Your Family Tree" and have more success as you research your family history. 

Born in Canada to parents from Haiti, all Rachel Décoste knew of her family history was the names of her grandparents. Thanks to the gift of time, Rachel had the opportunity to spend six months in Africa visiting countries listed in the ethnicity results of a DNA test.In this episode Rachel shares:The stories of strength she learned about her grandparents’ lives in HaitiLittle things in her life that, unknown to her, had their roots in AfricaHer experience walking in the steps of her ancestors About Rachel:Rachel Décoste is an educator and immigration policy expert. Ms. Décoste was a member of both presidential election campaign for Barack Obama. Upon graduating with a Masters from The George Washington University, Ms. Décoste was appointed National Director of the Congressional App Challenge, a tech education initiative created recently by the United States Congress. Ms. Décoste was named to the Top 100 Accomplished Black Canadian women in 2018.In "Year of Return: a Black Woman’s African Homecoming”, Ms. Décoste shares her impromptu encounters, her sense of wonder and keen observations with the audience. She offers insights that go beyond the tired tropes of the animal safari to focus on Africa’s most valuable yet underappreciated asset: its people.The trip to Africa was also an opportunity to exorcize the demons of the peculiar institution that was the transatlantic slave trade. She ultimately comes out from the somber subject matter with a keen sense of pride and purpose. This book is a journey worth taking!Connect with Rachel: Website www.yearofreturnbook.com Facebook Rachel Décoste Twitter RachelDecoste Episode Sponsor: Episode sponsored by Heather Murphy's signature 1:1 service, Resilience in Your Roots. Get a free guide, "7 Ways You (Unintentionally) Sabotage Your Family Tree" and have more success as you research your family history.