Stories That Live In Us

Latest Episodes:

From People Who've Done Hard Things (with Jordan Lundskog) | Episode 22 Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

When Jordan Lundskog lost his beloved grandfather at age 16, he discovered that family stories aren't just tales from the past – they're bridges between generations. Now a product manager at Ancestry® and father of young children, Jordan shares how uncovering his grandfather's high school football photo sparked an unexpected journey through time. From Civil War ancestors who stood up for their beliefs to Swedish immigrants who crossed oceans alone at age ten, each discovery has shown him that telling our children they can do hard things becomes profound when we can point to the ancestors whose blood flows in their veins. Join me for a touching conversation about how family stories shape us, inspire resilience, and transform abstract history into deeply personal legacy.

〰️ 🌳 🧬 〰️
🎧 Ready to discover more stories that could transform your family connections? Subscribe to 'Stories That Live In Us' wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help other families find their path to deeper connection through family history. Together, we're building a community of families committed to preserving and sharing the stories that matter most.
🖼️ Ready to get your family tree out of your computer and onto your wall? Visit FamilyChartmasters.com to create a family tree chart that will help your family share stories for generations.
♥ Want more family history tips and inspiration? Follow me @CristaCowan on Instagram where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my own family discoveries and practical ways to uncover yours!

Turn It Into the Wind (with Erik and Emily Orton) | Episode 21 Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

Ever wondered what it takes to turn an ordinary life into an extraordinary adventure? When former Broadway professional Erik Orton suggested his family of seven live on a sailboat for a year, it seemed impossible — until his daughter asked "do you really have the guts to do it?" Join me for an inspiring conversation with Erik and Emily Orton, authors of "Seven at Sea," about how they intentionally craft their family's story and navigate life's storms together. From late-night squalls in the Caribbean to teaching their children to be the "navigators" of their own lives, the Ortons share powerful insights about choosing your direction even when you can't control the wind. Discover how asking "what could go right?" transformed their family culture and learn practical ways to help your own family write a meaningful story together. This episode will inspire you to look beyond what feels safe and imagine the possibilities waiting on the other side of fear.
______________________________
About Erik and Emily:
Erik Orton is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer. Emily Orton is an educator, author and public speaker. Their life design framework mutes fear and accelerates growth. They are parents to five adult children, including their youngest with Down Syndrome. They raised their family in upper Manhattan for 23 years where Erik worked on such shows as Wicked, Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera. When their kids were 6-16 years old, Erik and Emily bootstrapped life aboard a fixer upper sailboat in the Caribbean. They sailed as a family from St. Martin back to New York City. Their memoir about the experience (Seven at Sea) is a New York Times Top 10 Travel book. After life on the boat, they continued to travel the world with their children through Europe, the South Pacific, Africa, and across North and South America in planes, trains, boats and vans. They are the co-founders of The Awesome Factory, a coaching and travel adventure company that leads retreats and sailing adventures all over the world.
Find Erik and Emily at: Website
Book - Seven at Sea
Podcast: What Could Go Right

Open Heart, Open Mind, Open Ears (with Maria Mendoza) | Episode 20 Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

"What's it like holding and looking at your own DNA?" This simple question about her newborn son sparked something profound in Maria Mendoza, who grew up adopted. Years later, a DNA test revealed not just her ethnicity, but an entire family — including her biological father and eight half-siblings — living just fifteen minutes away.

Join us as Maria shares how she navigated this delicate journey with grace, leading to eighteen precious months with her biological father before his passing at 96. Her story reminds us that family discoveries can happen at any time, and that approaching them with an open heart can transform uncertainty into beautiful connection.

Laugh 'Til We Cry (with Scott Seiffert and Lisa Dyson) | Episode 19 Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

When animation executive Scott Seiffert learned that generations of his family drank at bars and told stories in Montana, something clicked into place about his own storytelling journey... At DreamWorks Animation, Scott shepherds stories for the screen, while his wife Lisa, a middle school librarian and actress, brings stories to life for her students. Together, they've created a home where laughter, games, and storytelling are cherished traditions – from reading Edgar Allan Poe to their young daughter to fierce gin rummy competitions that continue today.

Through family history research for HGTV's "Revealed," they discovered surprising roots and inherited traits: Lisa's Albanian heritage (which Scott won't let her forget), Scott's Finnish connections that explained an old family nickname, and perhaps most importantly, a legacy of humor, timing, and connection that stretches back generations. Their story reminds us that who we are echoes far beyond our immediate family – in ways that can make us laugh until we cry.

Join me for a joyful conversation about how sharing stories – whether around a cabin piano, a game table, or a modern dinner table free of phones – keeps families deeply connected across time.

Families Have Always Been Messy | Episode 18 Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

What happens when an 18-year-old girl questions her faith in 1727 England? For my ancestor Margaret Lawrence, that choice set off a chain of events that would echo through generations. I've spent decades unraveling the true story behind our family's romanticized tales of her journey to America – and what I discovered was far more complex than the simple story of stolen bread that I heard as a child.

In this deeply personal episode, I share how my investigation into Margaret's life revealed the often messy reality of family history: religious conflict, desperate choices, exploitation, and ultimately survival through her descendants. By piecing together court records, prison logs, newspaper accounts, and DNA evidence, I finally uncovered the truth about this mysterious woman who sparked my early fascination with genealogy.

Through Margaret's story, we explore how family narratives evolve over time, what details we choose to share or hide across generations, and why uncovering the full truth – however difficult – helps us better understand both our ancestors and ourselves.

Police Don't Have Nothin' On Me (with Rusty Wright and Lisa Elzey) | Episode 17 Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

What if the secrets to your family's past were hidden in plain sight, waiting to be discovered in the most unexpected places - like a county jail?

When U.S. Marshal Rusty Wright set out to learn about the grandfather he never met, he never imagined discovering that his own ancestor had once faced off with law enforcement. What begins as a simple inquiry unfolds into an epic journey from the Oregon Trail to Prohibition-era Florida, revealing a family's saga of resilience, loss, and eventual reconnection.

Joining us is Lisa Elzey, my podcast producer and Senior Story Producer at Ancestry, whose expertise in transforming historical records into compelling family narratives helps unlock the story of Rusty's grandfather Leland. We follow the clues from a single draft card to unclaimed ashes, revealing how each discovery can open doors to deeper family connections.

Through DNA matches and dusty records, Rusty not only uncovers his grandfather's colorful past but also forges new bonds with relatives he never knew existed. His story reminds us that every family tree contains surprising twists - and that sometimes, our most meaningful discoveries come from the simplest questions.

Fearless Women (with Cathy Hughes) | Episode 16 Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

When children are raised knowing the stories of the strong, fearless women in their family tree they are more likely to feel empowered to chase their own dreams.
Raised with tales of the trailblazing women in her family, Ms. Cathy Hughes, founder of Urban One and the first African American woman to head a publicly traded corporation, drew strength from her formidable foremothers to overcome daunting obstacles. But it was the untold story of her great-great-grandmother, Charlotta Pyles—an enslaved woman who engineered her family's escape with the help of unexpected allies—that profoundly shifted her perspective and inspired her to reshape her own legacy.
This newfound insight into Charlotta's courage and resourcefulness inspired Ms. Hughes to extend her influence beyond her immediate achievements, mentoring the next generation of women leaders and redefining what it means to be a powerful woman today. Discover how the legacy of bravery and resilience has empowered Ms. Hughes to forge paths for others, just as it did for her.

Familial Sudoku (with Josh Harman) | Episode 15 Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Do you revel in solving a good brain teaser or completing a crossword puzzle? Climbing your family tree can feel a little like piecing together a tricky jigsaw. But what happens when solving the puzzle reveals a blind great-grandfather who built houses single-handedly and inspired generations?

Early in his career, Josh Harman was a young, slightly overconfident, product manager at Ancestry who thoroughly enjoyed solving technical problems but thought genealogy was boring. He didn't understand the obsession. Listen in as he shares some of the transformative moments that helped him evolve from seeing family history as mere "familial Sudoku" to discovering the profound stories that shaped his identity. This journey not only changed his professional outlook but reshaped his understanding of what it truly means to be a Harman.

Join us to explore how piecing together your own family history can deeply connect you with your past and illuminate your place in your family narrative. That process will light up your brain as much as any puzzle – and might just change how you see yourself.

What Is Your American Story? (with Mary Tedesco) | Episode 14 Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

How did a simple search on Ancestry.com spark a lifelong passion, a stronger mother-daughter bond, and a stint as a host on a popular genealogy television show?
Mary Tedesco's journey began with discovering her Italian grandparents' passenger lists, but it led to something far more meaningful—a shared mission with her mother to uncover their deep American roots.

In this special Independence Day episode, Mary reveals how documenting their Revolutionary War ancestor, George Brenner, brought her closer to her mother through their work with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Their story beautifully weaves together recent immigration and colonial heritage, showing how family history can bridge generations and strengthen bonds. From coordinating a nationwide mask-making project during the pandemic to preparing for America's 250th anniversary celebrations, Mary demonstrates how understanding our past can inspire meaningful service in the present.

Whether your ancestors arrived on the Mayflower or came through Ellis Island (or anywhere in between), this conversation will inspire you to discover and share your own American story.
Join us for a celebration of lineage and liberty that bridges generations and ignites the spirit of connection.

******
Mary's Bio:
Mary Tedesco is a professional genealogist, speaker and former Co-Host of the PBS television series “Genealogy Roadshow.” She actively volunteers with the Daughters of the American Revolution, currently serving as the National Chair of the Insignia Committee and Massachusetts State Vice Regent. Other volunteer positions include: Councilor of New England Historic Genealogical Society and Texas Genealogical College (TGC) board member and chair of the Scholarship Committee. Mary holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, a BA in Mathematics from Boston University and a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University’s Center for Professional Education.

Their Stories in Their Words | Episode 13 Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

In 1891, Martha Mills Brown wrote a heart-wrenching letter to her children and grandchildren, detailing her family's harrowing experiences during the Civil War in Northwest Arkansas. I discovered this remarkable first-hand account through an Ancestry hint while researching my own three-times great-grandfather, "Uncle Jimmy" Lawrence. What began as a simple census record showing a family between 1860 and 1870 revealed an extraordinary story of survival, displacement, and resilience. Join me as I share Martha's powerful testimony in her own words, illuminating how seemingly simple genealogical records can hide profound family stories – and how a single document can transform our understanding of both our ancestors and historical events.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected