Advertise on podcast: The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke - Your Family History Show

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke explores takes a trip down memory lane sharing highlights from the last 300 episodes, and some of her personal favorites. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the show notes page. (Premium Member subscription required.) Not a Premium Member? Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member.) 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

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 301with Lisa Louise CookeNovember 2025 GEM: The Return of Elephind.com Imagine having the power to access centuries of history at your fingertips. Elephind.com is making this a reality for genealogists and history enthusiasts alike. In this interview, we explore how this innovative platform is transforming the way we search for historical newspapers. Show Notes for Full Text Search and video replay. GEM: Comparing AI Chatbots for Newspaper Transcription This segment comes from the Premium episode of Elevenses with Lisa called Comparing AI Chatbots for Genealogy. The full episode is available as a video replay and Premium podcast episode and includes a comprehensive downloadable reference cheat sheet. Newspaper Transcription Takeaways: In this comparison, Gemini came out as the winner for newspaper transcription. LLMs are predictive, so they excel at the narrative, where words relate to each other. It struggles with names, where each is random. It leans toward interpreting names based on names that appeared earlier in the text (ex. Bruhn) Bonus Tip: After your initial result ask the chatbot to provide you with a worksheet if it appears there were questionable words. Prompt: Leave a blank space for each name you are unsure about that is large enough to accommodate me writing in the name when I print out your answer. Watch our latest videos on using AI for genealogy: AI: What is it and how to think about it (Premium) Comparing and Choosing AI Chatbots for Genealogy (Premium) AI Vocabulary Terms 10 Powerful AI PromptsAI Research Assistant at FamilySearch 6 Tasks AI Can Do for Your Genealogy (Premium) Nano Banana – Gemini 2.5 Flash Image Creating Location Guides with AI (Premium) AI: Gemini Gems (Premium) The free podcast is sponsored by: Get your DNA kit today. Visit newspapers.com/genealogygems to get 20% off your subscription. 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. 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.

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 299with Lisa Louise CookeSeptember 2025 GEM: FamilySearch's Full Text Search Newly released from FamilySearch Labs, Full Text Search is now available under the Search menu on the website. Show Notes for Full Text Search and video replay. GEM: FamilySearch's AI Assistant in Labs Avoid the pain of easy mistakes and get the most out of the new FREE AI Research Assistant at FamilySearch. Here's the new genealogy research tool featuring A.I. that can help you uncover exciting new genealogy records about your ancestors. Watch to the end for a surprising AI twist and my bonus tip for success. Show Notes for Full Text Search and video replay. Watch our latest videos on using AI for genealogy: AI: What is it and how to think about it (Premium) Comparing and Choosing AI Chatbots for Genealogy (Premium) AI Vocabulary Terms 10 Powerful AI PromptsAI Research Assistant at FamilySearch 6 Tasks AI Can Do for Your Genealogy (Premium) Nano Banana – Gemini 2.5 Flash Image Creating Location Guides with AI (Premium) AI: Gemini Gems (Premium) The free podcast is sponsored by: Get your DNA kit today. Visit newspapers.com/genealogygems to get 20% off your subscription. 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. 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.

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke explores exciting developments in the world of historical newspapers, including the revival of a beloved search engine and major enhancements to a key U.S. archive. Discover the latest innovations from MyHeritage that can supercharge your family tree research and photo storytelling, along with a spotlight on Ancestry's exclusive new membership program. Plus, Lisa shares a personal interview reflecting on the profound ways genealogy can inspire healing and connection. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the show notes page. (Premium Member subscription required.) Not a Premium Member? Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member.) 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 Genealogy Gems Podcast App Don't miss the Bonus audio for this episode. In the app, tap the gift box icon just under the media player. Get the app here. 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

AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode, we're diving headfirst into the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence — and how it can seriously boost your genealogy game. In Segment 1, we're cutting through the jargon with 10 AI Vocabulary Terms You Need to Know. Whether you're just getting curious about AI or already experimenting with it in your research, this will help you speak the lingo and understand what tools like ChatGPT are really doing under the hood. Then in Segment 2, we'll level up with 10 AI Prompt Add-ons That Get You Better Results. These are practical, easy-to-apply techniques that will make your interactions with AI smarter, more focused, and way more useful for tasks like polishing writing, analyzing research, and even brainstorming creative ways to share your family stories. Get the full show notes on the Genealogy Gems website. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the show notes page for this episode. (Premium Member subscription required.) Not a Premium Member? Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member.) Become a Genealogy Gems Premium Member 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 Order your MyHeritage DNA Kit today. Genealogy Gems Podcast App Don't miss the Bonus audio for this episode. In the app, tap the gift box icon just under the media player. Get the app here. 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 on Social Media: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems