Branching Out Genealogy Podcast

In this episode of the Branching Out Genealogy Podcast, Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal, CG®, and Tami Osmer Mize sit down with Judy Nimer Muhn. Judy, the owner of Lineage Journeys and a professional genealogist since 1993, specializes in French-Canadian, Acadian, Native American, and Scottish research. Judy has been researching her own family since she was 12 years old, and she's also the Awards...

Every family genealogist knows the feeling: the boxes get handed to you. And sometimes what's inside leaves you speechless. In this short bonus from the cutting room floor, Tami opens up about the blond ponytail she found tucked away, snipped from her great-aunt's head over a century ago, when the young woman was a teenager. What do you do with a century-old ponytail? You don't throw i...

Daniel Horowitz has been the Chief Genealogist at MyHeritage for nearly two decades. He started his genealogy journey at age 13 in Venezuela, got bitten by the genealogy bug, moved to Israel, met MyHeritage CEO Gilad Japhet at a conference in New York, and the rest is... family history. These days, Daniel travels the world giving lectures, connecting local genealogy societies with the resources th...

Kate Guanci says she looks at family history upside down. After half an hour with her at RootsTech 2026, we kind of think she's onto something.*** In this episode of the Branching Out Genealogy Podcast, Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal, CG®, and Tami Osmer Mize sit down with Kate Guanci, founder and CEO of Archoral, in an interview recorded live at RootsTech 2026. Kate shared the story of why she w...

Explore how photo restoration, memory care, and family history intersect in this inspiring conversation with Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix . Learn how personal photos can boost cognitive health, strengthen storytelling, and help families preserve their legacy. ___________________________________ In this episode of the Branching Out Genealogy Podcast , we speak with Rick Voight , CEO and co-founder...

In this episode, Tami and Elizabeth discuss the concept of "reverse genealogy" with Cheri Hudson Passey, who has recently authored a book on the subject. They explore the methods of finding living relatives, the differences between researching living individuals and ancestors, and the emotional aspects of connecting with family. Cheri shares her experience of writing her book and the imp...

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 discusse...

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 (D...

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...

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 Roots...

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 Happenin...

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 gene...