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The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke – Your Family History Show

Genealogy Gems Podcast shows you, the family historian, how to make the most out of your family history research time by providing quick and easy to use research techniques. In addition, you will learn creative ways to share your family tree and the legacy of your ancestors.

Lisa Louise Cooke guides you through the exhilarating process of discovering your family tree. She scours the family history landscape to find and bring you the best websites, best practices, and best resources available. And Lisa’s interviews with the experts in the field of genealogy make the Genealogy Gems Podcast your own personal genealogy conference. Guests include genealogists such as Dick Eastman, DearMYRTLE, Curt Witcher, Arlene Eakle, and the folks from Ancestry.com, as well as celebrities such as Tukufu Zuberi of The History Detectives, Kathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters, Tim Russell of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, the band Venice, and Darby Hinton of the Daniel Boone TV series from the 1960s.

Your family history is world history.

Copyright: © Lisa Louise Cooke

Latest Episodes:

Give that Boring Ancestor a Makeover! Episode 311 Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Your ancestor is not boring. You just haven't uncovered their full story yet! If you've got a family tree profile that feels like a "plain Jane," this episode shows you how to turn it into a richer, more compelling portrait. Start with 5 simple ways to check your existing research. Then discover 5 Ways to Bring an Ancestor's Story to Life through additional research. Once you've developed their fuller story, discovers practical ways to introduce your ancestor's story to your family without overwhelming them. Along the way she's share 4 of her favorite story tools from Ancestry.com, FamilySearch and MyHeritage. This episode is perfect for genealogists with an ancestor they've neglected, a research project that stalled, or a family story they want to make more vivid and meaningful. You'll leave with a clearer research direction and a fresh reminder that even one overlooked detail can bring an ancestor's life into focus. Visit the Show Notes Page: Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems for everything discussed in this episode. You'll also find the videos on these topics. https://lisalouisecooke.com/2026/09/16/ancestor-makeover/ Become a Genealogy Gems Premium eLearning Member: Gain access to the complete Premium podcast archive of over 150 episodes and more than 50 video webinars, and Lisa Louise Cooke's new online course! Become a member here. Get Lisa's Online Genealogy Course: How to Create a Genealogy Research Plan in 10 Minutes a Day The free podcast is sponsored by: Get your DNA kit today. Visit newspapers.com/genealogygems to get 20% off your subscription. Archives.com Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems Stay Up to Date with the Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today.

Surfing the Internet for Great Genealogy Websites - Episode 310 Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

It's August, and before summer slips away, we're going surfing genealogy style! In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke is taking a fast-moving tour of favorite genealogy websites, along with some lesser-known gems that may be completely new to you. At each stop, you'll discover a reason to visit and a practical tip for getting more from the site. ✔ SHOW NOTES: Get the show notes at Genealogy Gems. (Premium Member Bonus Downloadable PDF in the Resources section.) Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Premium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts The Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Downloadable ad-free show notes PDF cheat sheets Become a member here. Learn more about Genealogy Gems Premium Membership. Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. Click here and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritage Click here to start finding your family history at MyHeritage Visit Archives.com Get the Free Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today here. Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems

Roots 50th Anniversary with Chris Haley - Episode 309 Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 309with Lisa Louise CookeJuly 2026 Visit the Show Notes Page: Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems for everything discussed in this episode. You'll also find the videos on these topics. Become a Genealogy Gems Premium eLearning Member: Gain access to the complete Premium podcast archive of over 150 episodes and more than 50 video webinars, and Lisa Louise Cooke's new online course! Become a member here. Get Lisa's Online Genealogy Course: How to Create a Genealogy Research Plan in 10 Minutes a Day The free podcast is sponsored by: Get your DNA kit today. Visit newspapers.com/genealogygems to get 20% off your subscription. Archives.com Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems Stay Up to Date with the Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today.

Don't Skip Dad - Researching Your Father's Story - Episode 308 Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

When building your family tree it's easy to skip over your own parents. Just in time for Father's Day we are exploring practical strategies for uncovering and preserving your dad's life story. Learn how to get around privacy restrictions barriers on records, build a timeline, conduct interviews, and strategically fill in the gaps in your family history. ✔ SHOW NOTES: Get Lisa's video show notes pages here. (Coming Soon) (Premium Member Bonus Downloadable PDF in the Resources section.) Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Premium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts The Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Downloadable ad-free show notes PDF cheat sheets Become a member here. Learn more about Genealogy Gems Premium Membership. Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. Click here and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritage Click here to start finding your family history at MyHeritage Visit Archives.com Get the Free Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today here. Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems

Genealogist's Complete Guide to Military Research May 23, 2026

Show notes

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 307with Lisa Louise CookeMay 2026 Visit the Show Notes Page: Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems for everything discussed in this episode. You'll also find the videos on these topics. Premium Members can download the show notes cheat sheet PDF. Become a Genealogy Gems Premium eLearning Member: Gain access to the complete Premium podcast archive of over 150 episodes and more than 50 video webinars, and Lisa Louise Cooke's new online course! Become a member here. Get Lisa's Online Genealogy Course: How to Create a Genealogy Research Plan in 10 Minutes a Day The free podcast is sponsored by: Get your DNA kit today. Visit newspapers.com/genealogygems to get 20% off your subscription. Archives.com Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems Stay Up to Date with the Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today.

Episode 306 - 10 Things To Do To Avoid Genealogy Regrets Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Do you want to avoid the biggest genealogy mistakes before they turn into major regrets? In this video, I'm sharing 10 smart habits that will save you time, protect your research, and help you build a stronger family tree for the long haul. If you're a genealogy beginner, these tips will save you headache and regret. If you're an experienced genealogist, now is the time do clean up and update your research process. ✔ SHOW NOTES: Get Lisa's video show notes pages here. (Premium Member Bonus Downloadable PDF in the Resources section.) Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Premium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts The Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Downloadable ad-free show notes PDF cheat sheets Become a member here. Learn more about Genealogy Gems Premium Membership. Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. Click here and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritage Click here to start finding your family history at MyHeritage Visit Archives.com Get the Free Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today here. Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems

Episode 305 - 2 Top Factors in Genealogy Research and How to Leverage Them Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 305with Lisa Louise CookeMarch 2026 Visit the Show Notes Page: Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems for everything discussed in this episode. You'll also find the videos on these topics. Premium Members can download the show notes cheat sheet PDF. Become a Genealogy Gems Premium eLearning Member: Gain access to the complete Premium podcast archive of over 150 episodes and more than 50 video webinars, including Lisa Louise Cooke's newest video The Big Picture in Little Details. Become a member here. Get Lisa's Online Genealogy Course: How to Create a Genealogy Research Plan in 10 Minutes a Day Watch our latest videos on genealogy methodology: A Month by Month Plan for Genealogy (Premium) Big Picture in Little Details (Premium)Birthdates Conflict and How to Solve ItCold Case Strategies (Premium) Females before 1850 (Premium) Finding Hard-to-Find Records Fixing Genealogy ErrorsFree Genealogy The free podcast is sponsored by: Get your DNA kit today. Visit newspapers.com/genealogygems to get 20% off your subscription. Archives.com Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems Stay Up to Date with the Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today.

Episode 304 - Genetic Genealogy explained in the Nancy Guthrie Case Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Could Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), Parabon Snapshot phenotyping, and FamilyTreeDNA family trees finally identify Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper? Lisa Louise Cooke shares the shocking backstory of the abduction of Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother who vanished from her Tucson AZ home on Jan 31, 2026. Chilling doorbell footage showing a masked suspect surfaced. Ransom notes demanding Bitcoin, blood evidence on the porch, and a glove found 2 miles from the home complicated the situation. This is the episode for genealogy enthusiasts, true crime fans, DNA testing buffs, and anyone following Savannah Guthrie's mom disappearance. Learn how forensic genetic genealogy, autosomal DNA matching, and phenotyping tools turn crime scene swabs into suspects. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Premium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts The Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Downloadable ad-free show notes PDF cheat sheets Become a member here. Learn more about Genealogy Gems Premium Membership. Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. Click here and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritage Click here to start finding your family history at MyHeritage Visit Archives.com Get the Free Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today here. Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems

Episode 303 - 7 Mistakes Genealogists Make and How to Solve Them Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 303with Lisa Louise CookeJanuary 2026 Visit the Show Notes Page: Visit the show notes page at Genealogy Gems for everything discussed in this episode. You'll also find the videos on these topics. Premium Members can download the show notes cheat sheet PDF. Become a Genealogy Gems Premium eLearning Member: Gain access to the complete Premium podcast archive of over 150 episodes and more than 50 video webinars, including Lisa Louise Cooke's newest video The Big Picture in Little Details. Become a member here. Get Lisa's Online Genealogy Course: How to Create a Genealogy Research Plan in 10 Minutes a Day Watch our latest videos on genealogy methodology: A Month by Month Plan for Genealogy (Premium) Big Picture in Little Details (Premium)Birthdates Conflict and How to Solve ItCold Case Strategies (Premium) Females before 1850 (Premium) Finding Hard-to-Find Records Fixing Genealogy ErrorsFree Genealogy The free podcast is sponsored by: Get your DNA kit today. Visit newspapers.com/genealogygems to get 20% off your subscription. Archives.com Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems Stay Up to Date with the Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today.

Episode 302 Treecrossing, FamilySearch app, OldNews.com by MyHeritage, Google Lens Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Genealogy Gems podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke discusses innovative tools and resources for genealogists, including Tree Crossing, a new platform designed to help users share their family trees in a more engaging way for non-genealogists. The episode features an interview with the creators of Tree Crossing, who explain how their tool addresses common challenges faced by genealogists. Additionally, Lisa introduces Old News, a new newspaper collection from MyHeritage, highlighting its potential to uncover unique stories about ancestors. Lisa shares some exciting discoveries in her own research and tech tips that makes utilizing their foreign-language newspapers easier than ever. 00:00 Introduction 02:40 Exploring Tree Crossing: A New Genealogy Tool 04:52 Interview with Tree Crossing Creators 11:09 Features and Benefits of Tree Crossing 16:03 Getting Started with Tree Crossing 17:57 Introduction to Old News: A New Resource 19:47 Exploring Old News Features 26:36 Unique Discoveries with Old News 31:28 Navigating Old News Search Features and Google Lens 46:48 Upcoming Genealogy Gems Course Announcement Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Premium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts The Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast Downloadable ad-free show notes PDF cheat sheets Become a member here. Learn more about Genealogy Gems Premium Membership. Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. Click here and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritage Click here to start finding your family history at MyHeritage Get the Free Genealogy Gems Newsletter The Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership. Sign up today here. Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems

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