Episodes

  • Challenge Accepted! Elizabeth Takes the WikiTree Challenge (Now with VIDEO)

    Challenge Accepted! Elizabeth Takes the WikiTree Challenge (Now with VIDEO)
    Aug 16 2025

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    In this episode, Tami and Elizabeth discuss Elizabeth’s participation in the August WikiTree Challenge with special guest Eowyn Langholf, WikiTree Community Manager. They delve into the unique aspects of WikiTree, emphasizing its community-driven approach.


    In the What's Happening segment, Elizabeth shares news about babies born recently using a 3-parent IVF technique. Tami discusses creating AI biographies and videos using tools from Storied and MyHeritage.


    During Teatime, Elizabeth spills the tea on the California Digital Newspaper Collection receiving needed funding and then letting all the employees go. Tami spills even more tea on strange genealogy job postings.


    TIMESTAMPS

    00:00:00 Intro

    00:03:08 What Elizabeth is working on: DAR Applications and the Inheritance Project

    00:05:52 What Tami is working on: Visualizing Genealogy Data

    00:07:33 Interview with Eowyn Langholf, WikiTree Community Manager

    00:20:09 About the WikiTree Challenge

    00:22:37 Preparing for the Challenge

    00:27:36 The WikiTree Challenge Process

    00:32:21 The Growth and Accuracy of WikiTree

    00:32:50 Future Aspirations for WikiTree

    00:38:44 What’s Happening: Three-Parent IVF

    00:40:52 What’s Happening: The Internet Archive and the GPO

    00:42:29 What’s Happening: Enhancing Biographies with AI using Storied and MyHeritage

    00:52:50 Teatime: California Digital Newspaper Collection

    00:55:22 Teatime: Genealogy Jobs

    01:00:26 Outro

    RESOURCES

    • The DAR Inheritance Project - ⁠https://blog.dar.org/2021/09/27/inherit-grandmas-patriots-through-new-program-launch⁠
    • WikiTree - ⁠https://www.wikitree.com⁠
    • Elizabeth’s WikiTree Challenge - ⁠https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1913531/2025-wikitree-challenge-research-for-elizabeth-oneal-ended⁠
    • 8 babies born with experimental 3-parent IVF technique - ⁠https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/3-parent-babies-uk-australia-1.7587286⁠
    • The Internet Archive – ⁠https://archive.org⁠
    • Federal Depository Library Directory – ⁠https://ask.gpo.gov/s/FDLD⁠
    • GPO makes available Supreme Court cases dating back to the 18th century – ⁠https://librarytechnology.org/pr/31522⁠
    • Storied U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 – ⁠https://storied.com/historical-record-search/world-war-I-draft-registration-cards⁠
    • MyHeritage’s AI Biographer™ – ⁠https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/12/introducing-ai-biographer-create-a-wikipedia-like-biography-for-any-ancestor-using-ai-enriched-with-historical-context⁠
    • MyHeritage’s Deep Story (desktop version) – ⁠https://www.myheritage.com/deepstory⁠
    • Losing Our History? Funding for the CaliforniaDigital Newspaper Collection Was Restored—but UC Riverside Laid Off All of theEmployees Responsible for the Project Anyway – ⁠https://cvindependent.com/2025/07/losing-our-history-funding-for-the-california-digital-newspaper-collection-was-restored-but-uc-riverside-laid-off-all-of-the-employees-responsible-for-the-project-anyway⁠
    • ConferenceKeeper’s Genealogy Jobs – ⁠https://conferencekeeper.org/genealogy-jobs⁠
    • Genealogy Jobs Facebook Group – ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/1497651017151639⁠


    KEYWORDS

    WikiTree, genealogy, family history, community, AI, research,challenges, collaboration, ancestry, DNA, jobs, genetic genealogy
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Tami Joins the DAR!

    Tami Joins the DAR!
    Jul 22 2025
    After a three-month hiatus involving a variety of life's ups and downs, Elizabeth and Tami are back in the studio! In this episode, they catch up on the past couple of months, including a few unexpected setbacks, some personal updates, and a few bright spots of good news.The conversation turns to lineage society applications, with a focus on joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Why might genealogists want to apply? How do you find a chapter, and what do you need to get started? Tami shares her personal application journey, including what documentation she already had, what still needs to be tracked down, and tips on what kinds of evidence are most useful.This episode's "What's Happening" segment covers several key updates:Changes to the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Application Guide and processNews of 23andMe's change in ownershipHow to connect your FamilyTreeDNA account to WikiTree and MyHeritagePlus, Tami walks us through recent enhancements to MyHeritage’s Live Memory feature.During Tea Time, Tami spills the tea about a scary use of Artificial Intelligence for building family trees. Elizabeth sweetens things up by spotlighting GEDmatch's "Honor the Fallen" initiative, which pays tribute to those who served.Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more genealogy goodness.Got a question or an idea for a future episode? Email us or leave a comment—we'd love to hear from you!*****Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/branchingoutgenpodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/branching_out_genealogy_podYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BranchingOutGenealogyPodcast*****TIMESTAMPSOpening03:29 Elizabeth mentions receiving an Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society04:00 ConferenceKeeper makes the Family Tree (UK) magazine’s Best 50 Websites listTami Joins the DAR06:22 Tami's application to the DAR07:38 Tami's questions about joining DAR08:39 Elizabeth answers questions about DAR chapters and meetings 08:55 Elizabeth talks about the new chapter of DAR in Ireland10:00 Proof requirements for a DAR application13:23 Choosing a chapter to join14:18 How DAR membership benefits family history16:07 Finding a registrar and starting your DAR application18:00 Applying when a relative has already joined.18:30 Documents needed for Tami's DAR applicationWhat’s Happening 31:40 BCG 2025 Application Guide changes33:18 Final sale of 23andMe to non-profit TTAM36:29 Connecting FamilyTreeDNA account to WikiTree37:58 MyHeritage update to Live MemoryTea Time41:30 Tami shares a scary misuse of Artificial Intelligence for family trees.45:30 Elizabeth discusses the GedMatch initiative called “Honor the Fallen,” which attempts to use DNA to help identify remains of missing service members from WWII and the Korean War.*****RESOURCESNGS Award Recipients - https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/awards/Family Tree (UK) Magazine's 50 Best Free Genealogy Websites - https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/50-free-family-history-websites Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - https://www.dar.org/DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) - https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?Tab_ID=0BCG New Application Guide Info - https://bcgcertification.org/new-application-guide-2025FamilyTreeDNA Collab with WikiTree - https://blog.familytreedna.com/connect-wikitree-dna-matches/GEDmatch's "Honor the Fallen" - https://www.gedmatch.com/fallen-warriors-the-unknowns/Individual Deceased Personnel File Portal - https://idpfs.com/
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    50 mins
  • RootsTech 2025 Wrap-Up

    RootsTech 2025 Wrap-Up
    Mar 31 2025
    In this episode, co-hosts Elizabeth and Tami talk about their experiences at 2025 RootsTech Conference, from the Expo Hall to the Forums, what’s new at FamilySearch, and what other industry leaders are up to. The show begins with a follow-up to Tami’s Ancestry Pet DNA testing and Elizabeth’s FOIA BIRLS request. Next up are highlights from RootsTech, followed by a visit with Gena Philibert-Ortega, who shares her enthusiasm about GRIP and her passion for reading.What's Happening includes news about upcoming events, changes, and scholarship deadlines.During Tea Time, Elizabeth provides an update on NY Vital Records, and Tami discusses genealogy in the virtual world of Second Life.TIMESTAMPS2:23 Tami shares results of her pound pup’s DNA test, which included a close shared match.7:00 Elizabeth talks about receiving one of her FOIA BIRLS files.RootsTech Wrap Up14:06 RootsTech online14:47 Relatives at RootsTech17:58 FamilySearch's Global Tech Forum19:21 FamilySearch Family Group Trees20:23 FamilySearch Tree Integrity 23:26 FamilySearch New Change Log24:00 Full Text Search Updates25:01 FamilySearch AI Help ChatBot26:44 Industry Highlight Forum28:50 MyHeritage: New Cousin Finder, phone app update29:57 Storied: Memory books; creating a new census index31:50 SOAR32:18 Remento34:38 Ancestry’s phone scanner and AI tools35:38 MyHeritage Ancient Origins39:29 Gena Philibert-Ortega's RootsTech Experience40:54 Her role at NGS41:55 GRIP 46:05 Gena’s courses at SLIG47:47 How Gena fits it into her schedule & reading goals52:20 What Gena’s currently readingWHAT'S HAPPENING56:30 The National Genealogical Society 2025 Family History Conference “Tales & Trails” May 2025.59:20 BCG adoption of two-part portfolio for CG application process1:00:50 APG scholarships for the Professional Management Conference1:02:27 NYG&B seeking volunteers and interns for their digitization team1:03:21 Scholarship and awards deadlines on Conference KeeperTEA TIME1:04:00 New York vital records availability update.1:06:18 Second Life chapter APG reorganizationRESOURCESAncestry Pet DNA - https://petdna.ancestry.com BIRLS - https://www.birls.org/ RootsTech https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/ Elizabeth's Blog about Relatives at RootsTech - https://www.thefamilyheart.com/relatives-at-rootstech/ Imagetotext.io - https://www.imagetotext.io/ FamilySearch Labs - https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/ FamilySearch Group Trees - https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/family-group-trees-learning-center FamilySearch New Change Log - https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/using-the-improved-person-changelog-experiment FamilySearch AI Help ChatBot - https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/Content Authenticity Initiative - https://contentauthenticity.orgMyHeritage Cousin Finder - https://blog.myheritage.com/2025/03/introducing-cousin-finder-gain-dna-level-insights-without-a-dna-test/ Storied - https://storied.comSOAR - https://try.soar.com/teamRemento - https://www.remento.coAncestry Scanner - https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Scanning-Images-with-the-Ancestry-App?language=en_US Vivid Pix - https://www.vivid-pix.com GRIP - https://grip.ngsgenealogy.orgSLIG - https://slig.ugagenealogy.orgGoodReads - https://www.goodreads.comThe Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island - https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Annie-Moore-Ellis-Island/dp/0996599312 NGS 2025 Family History Conference - https://conference.ngsgenealogy.orgBCG Springboard - https://bcgcertification.org/springboard APG Scholarships - https://www.apgen.org/apg_awards_and_scholarships.phpNYG&B Internships - https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/content/internships NYG&B Volunteers - https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/volunteer ConferenceKeeper Awards/Grants/Scholarships - https://conferencekeeper.org/grants-scholarshipsSL-APG https://slapg.wordpress.com SLVGS https://slvirtualgenealogy.org
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Setting (and Achieving) Genealogy Goals for 2025

    Setting (and Achieving) Genealogy Goals for 2025
    Jan 23 2025

    Ready to set your genealogy goals? In this episode, co-hosts Elizabeth and Tami share strategies for setting and successfully reaching your goals, from education plans to specific research results. Elizabeth and Tami talk about their own goals for 2025 and how they plan to achieve them, including tips and tricks to ensure success.

    During What’s Happening, they discuss the availability of the RootsTech Schedule and the RootsTech app for 2025, as well as the recently released BIRLS database from Reclaim the Records. Then, Elizabeth spills the tea on the extreme wait times when requesting NY State vital records. Tami brings the sweet tea, discussing FamilySearch’s goals for 2025.

    Finally, during Listener Mail, Elizabeth shares where to find closed captioning for the Branching Out Genealogy Podcast.


    TIMESTAMPS:

    Genealogy Goals

    04:34 Setting goals for the new year

    05:03 Types of Genealogy Goals

    08:35 Elizabeth’s goals for 2025

    09:41 Tami’s goals for 2025

    10:20 How Elizabeth sets and achieved a significant genealogy goal

    15:43 How Tami sets and achieves her genealogy goals


    What’s Happening

    23:54 RootsTech Schedule & App

    29:48 Reclaim the Records - BIRLS database


    Tea Time

    35:44 New York State Vital Records ordering wait times

    40:43 FamilySearch’s Goals for 2025


    Listener Mail

    44:28 Where to find closed captioning for our podcast


    RESOURCES:

    GRIP Genealogy Research Institute (GRIP) - https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/

    Jill Morelli's Certification Discussion Group (CDG) - https://thecdgseries.wordpress.com/the-series/

    Click-Up App - https://clickup.com/

    Notion - https://www.notion.com/

    Google Tasks - https://tasks.google.com/

    RootsTech 2025 Class Schedule - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/schedule?day=2025-03-06

    RootsTech 2025 mobile app (Android) - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.familysearch.rootstech&hl=en_US

    RootsTech 2025 mobile app (Apple) - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rootstech/id6474192974

    Relatives at RootsTech - https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/relatives-at-rootstech-faqs

    Reclaim the Records - https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/

    BIRLS searchable database (Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem) - https://www.birls.org/

    CBS6 Albany Video on NY Vital Records - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYGSG5PmquY&ab_channel=CBS6Albany

    FamilySearch's goals for 2025 - https://www.familysearch.org/en/newsroom/what-to-expect-from-familysearch-in-2025

    African Oral History project - https://www.familysearch.org/africa/sve/select-country

    FamilySearch Labs A.I. Full-Text Search - https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text

    FamilySearch "Get Involved" app - https://www.familysearch.org/getinvolved/

    FamilySearch "Together" app - https://www.familysearch.org/discovery/together/welcome

    Branching Out Podcast on Apple (live transcripts) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/branching-out-genealogy-podcast/id1782416781

    Branching Out Podcast on YouTube (live transcripts) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCswrxVYz2y65xXJve-e35WA

    _______

    We would love to hear from you at ⁠hello@branchingout.show⁠ with your questions and comments!

    This episode is sponsored by Vivid Pix.

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    48 mins
  • Episode 2: Cool Tools for Genealogy Story Collectors

    Episode 2: Cool Tools for Genealogy Story Collectors
    Dec 12 2024
    In this episode, co-hosts Elizabeth and Tami share the stories that got them hooked on genealogy. Next, they discuss several tools for collecting, transcribing, and sharing your family’s stories (some are low-tech and free). They also offer story-collecting gift ideas for family members who missed the holiday get-togethers, as well as those who may be shy or less tech-savvy. During What’s Happening, Elizabeth shares a call to action to support the Bring Our Heroes Home Act, and Tami shares a reminder to submit your nominees for NGS awards. Finally, Elizabeth spills the tea on recent genetic genealogy lawsuits, but Tami “cleans up” with good news about recently announced RootsTech keynote speakers and kudos to an amazing 92-year-old FamilySearch volunteer. TIMESTAMPS: 02:04 Tami’s “lost” family story 03:56 Elizabeth’s “lost” family story Collecting Family Stories 08:01 The importance of listening and collecting stories 09:18 MyHeritage Live Memory 13:33 The Oral History Association 14:03 Vivid Pix Memory Station Software 17:19 StoryCorps 19:02 FamilySearch Memories 19:45 MyHeritage Mobile App 19:53 Pixstori 20:36 StoryMaps 21:43 Nominate someone for America 250 Recording & Transcribing Tools 24:12 Voice memo apps for iPhone 25:24 Otter.ai 25:53 Zoom transcription 26:53 Google Docs voice typing Story Collecting Gift Ideas 28:32 StoryWorth 31:47 Storii 33:32 Remento 35:03 The DIY Way (low tech & low cost) What’s Happening 37:00 APG supports Bring Our Heroes Home Act 38:35 NGS Awards Tea Time 40:07 Genetic Genealogy lawsuits 42:33 RootsTech Keynote Speaker announcement 43:18 Kudos to FamilySearch Indexing volunteer Marilyn Clement RESOURCES: MyHeritage Live Memory - https://cm.myheritage.com/livememory/ Oral History Association - https://oralhistory.org/ Vivid Pix Memory Station Software - https://www.vivid-pix.com/memorystationsoftware/ StoryCorps - https://storycorps.org/ FamilySearch Memories - https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/tag/memories PixStori - https://www.pixstori.com/ StoryMaps - https://storymaps.com/ America 250 (nominate someone) - https://america250.org/nominate/ Voice Recorder & Audio Editor (Apple app) - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voice-recorder-audio-editor/id685310398 Otter.ai - https://otter.ai/ Zoom Transcriptions - https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0064927 Storyworth - https://www.storyworth.com/ Storii (Save 20% with code FESTIVE24) - Remento (Save $15 with code SAVE15) - https://www.remento.co/ APG’s 1-Page Summary of BOHHA - https://members.apgen.org/ct.php?lid=346409795&mm=111054848883 Find your Senator - https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Find your Representative - https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative NGS Awards - https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/awards/ The DNA Geek: It Just Got Real (GEDmatch lawsuits) - https://thednageek.com/it-just-got-real/ The DNA Geek: FTDNA Joins the “So Sue Me” Party - https://thednageek.com/ftdna-joins-the-so-sue-me-party/ The Legal Genealogist: Of money and chances - https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2024/11/22/of-money-and-chances/ RootsTech Keynote Speakers - https://www.familysearch.org/en/newsroom/rootstech-2025-first-four-keynotes-announced This episode is sponsored by Vivid Pix. All product opinions are our own.
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    45 mins
  • Episode 1: Meet Your Hosts, RootsTech 2025, Black Friday Sales, & This Week’s Fave Tech Tools

    Episode 1: Meet Your Hosts, RootsTech 2025, Black Friday Sales, & This Week’s Fave Tech Tools
    Nov 28 2024

    In this episode, co-hosts Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal and Tami Osmer Mize introduce themselves and discuss their (long!) genealogy journeys.

    Then, they share their thoughts on the upcoming RootsTech Conference and give an overview of upcoming Black Friday sales on genealogy products.

    During Tea Time, they spill some tea on the latest genealogy social media scuffles and share kudos for an esteemed genealogist who recently earned high honors.

    Finally, the duo shares which websites they've been hooked on for the past few weeks.


    TIMESTAMPS

    About the co-hosts:

    • 00:40 Tami’s introduction and genealogy journey
    • 01:43 Elizabeth’s introduction and genealogy journey
    • 03:37 Elizabeth’s website, Heart of the Family
    • 04:33 Tami’s website, Conference Keeper
    • 08:49 Our vision for this podcast


    RootsTech Conference 2025:

    • 10:30 RootsTech 2025 is coming
    • 10:47 In-person vs. virtual
    • 13:05 Shopping at the RootsTech Expo Hall
    • 14:42 The value of attending RootsTech


    FamilySearch

    • 15:48 FamilySearch celebrates 130 years
    • 16:22 How we’re benefitting from FamilySearch’s work
    • 17:44 FamilySearch Labs (full-text searching)


    Black Friday/Holiday Sales on Genealogy Products:

    • 20:25 Where to find our lists of Black Friday Sales


    Tea Time:

    • 26:08 Spilling the tea on social media rumblings
    • 27:08 Kudos to David Rencher


    Fave Tech Tools of the Week:

    • 28:11 Elizabeth has been using a site called Character.ai
    • 31:10 Tami’s been finding great stuff on MyHeritage’s Old News newspaper site


    Resources:

    • Elizabeth’s Website - https://www.thefamilyheart.com/
    • Tami’s Website - https://conferencekeeper.org/
    • RootsTech Conference - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/
    • FamilySearch - https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/
    • FamilySearch Labs (full-text search) - https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/
    • Character AI - https://character.ai/
    • Old News by MyHeritage - https://www.oldnews.com/en
    • Tami’s webinar about Old News - https://fb.watch/w8x-z2r8Nw/


    Please let us hear from you at hello@branchingout.show with your questions and comments!
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins