Stories in Our Roots

Linda Broenniman knew little about her Hungarian heritage until a surprising revelation at the age of 27 changed everything. Discovering her Jewish roots and the heroic actions of her family members during the holocaust became a turning point in her quest to delve deeper into her family's past. With warmth and authenticity, Linda reflects on the personal transformations that occurred as she d...

As a public historian, Fayge had always been interested in history.  It wasn't until she moved to West Philadelphia, close to where her ancestors lived, that she began her search in earnest. Her exploration was also intertwined with her reconnection to Judaism, prompting a deeper desire to understand her family's story. Fayge shares how delving into her family's history has deepened...

Julie Pham, a Vietnamese boat person, shares her family's journey as refugees fleeing communism and establishing a new life in the United States. Through Julie's experiences and insights as a historian, listeners will explore the power of multiple truths, the push and pull factors of immigration, and the dynamics of being an insider and an outsider in different communities. We delve into...

Join Danielle and Galeet Dardashti as they share their journey of discovery  to learn why their father's family left Iran during the Golden Age for Jews. With limited access to records to answer their questions, the sisters relied on interviewing over 85 individuals, including family members, scholars, and unexpected acquaintances.  They have reconstructed an engaging story that transcends cu...

In retrospect, Elizabeth Keating wishes she would have used her skills as an anthropologist when she interviewed her mother about family history.  To help others avoid her mistakes, Elizabeth shares how we can use interviews with living family members to uncover the everyday experiences and cultural nuances of previous generations.  Elizabeth encourages listeners to embrace the value of family sto...

Our conversation delves into the remarkable life of Vivien Sieber's Czech-born grandmother, who faced adversity and triumphs during World War II. From owning a cinema in Vienna to finding refuge in England and caring for girls who fled their families as part of the Kinder Transport, Vivien uncovers the intricacies of her family's history and shares the lessons she learned along the way....

All of your ancestors were perfect, right? Unfortunately, everyone has ancestors who disappoint us with their choices. In this episode, I talk about four ways we respond when we discover an ancestor made choices that hurt others. As we learn to be more open to putting our ancestors' choices into the context of their lives we can see them as real people, living with the effects of their enviro...

In Stephanie Renée's story, there's an exploration of identity and belonging that resonates deeply. She began her journey seeking to fill in the gaps left by the early loss of her mother. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her mother was adopted, leading her into the world of genetic genealogy. Despite the hurdles she faced, Stephanie was driven to understand her roots...

Annie Hartnett recently started exploring her family's connections to slave ownership, which took her on a transformative path of discovery. By doing so, Annie gained a deeper understanding of her roots, and as a result, developed an increasingly authentic relationship with herself, her country, and those around her. Fascinated by the forgotten stories of those enslaved, she now dedicates her...

Jacqueline Jannotta's genealogy research uncovers a family history of mob ties and tragedy, revealing the ripple effects of trauma and the importance of understanding our shared humanity. Through her genealogical research, Jacqueline gained a greater understanding and compassion for her ancestors, particularly her tough, outspoken grandmother. The trauma experienced by her family shaped their...

Amidst the shocking history of his family's escape from Austria during the Nazi invasion, Christopher Bock discovers the remarkable life of his great-uncle Paul Patek, a metal worker and artist who played a key role in their survival, inspiring Bock to write a book about him and uncovering hidden talents in his own family lineage. "[Researching] really did make me understand my family a...

Shannon Peel is an expert at stories, and while her usual audience is made up of business owners looking to improve their marketing, her discussion of hero vs victim language in storytelling is so valuable to those learning about the stories in their family tree.  We started off talking about her deep roots in western Canada, delved into the "why" questions around emigration, and then fo...

In this episode, Heather shares how she took elements from therapy, even after having a very negative experience, and used them to transform the ways in which she approaches family history.  She explains the connection between the 8 C's of Internal Family Systems and the framework she built to unlock the power of family history research. Join us for a new 12- week group program, Rooted Succes...

Oftentimes when people research in their family history they're looking for inspiration. They're looking for ancestors who did hard things, who were successful, and who can inspire them in their own struggles and what they want to achieve in life. That is what David Alston found. David was adopted as an infant, though the story is complicated, as you will hear in this episode. But as he...

What if your grandchildren could have a video chat with your grandmother, even if they didn't live at the same time? That is the vision behind StoryFile, a way to preserve and share personal experiences and stories in an interactive platform. Heather Smith, co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of StoryFile, shares why it was important to her to create a new way to have conversations and mak...

Dave Combs shares stories of music and perseverance that carry through his family tree. About Dave: Dave Combs is a songwriter, entrepreneur, successful business executive, and best-selling author. Over the 40+ years he has written over 120 songs and created fifteen albums of soothing, relaxing instrumental piano music, including the popular standard, Rachel’s Song. He is the author of the bestsel...

Lisann Valentin began her family history journey by exploring why her Puerto Rican great-great-grandmother was called La Irlandésa, or “The Irish One.”  Along the way she discovered the things her ancestors were known for “had nothing to do with their careers, it had everything to do with how they showed up vibrantly in their life.”    She uses the inspiration of their lives to support her own dre...

Renee Harris is the founder of an online skin care business selling soap and lotion for dry skin. Ironically, it was "soap-selling" that her grandfather used as a cover to hide dozens of Jews throughout World War 2 in his home in Holland. Having this special connection made Renee dig in deeper to uncover the stories of courage and hope left by her grandparents. Learn more about the exper...

Ann Hince shares the stories of how she came to meet her birth mother, learned about her birth father, and made other family connections.  We talk about the parts of herself she recognized as she learned about her birth family, that not everyone gets an adoption reunion story, and how her father’s writing helped her get a small feeling of what it means to live during war. About Ann: When Ann was 1...

Anika shares her experiences as a second-generation immigrant and how she realized she didn’t need to choose between the cultures that made her who she is.  Through learning the stories of her parents’ and ancestors she gained a deeper understanding of herself and sees the opportunity we have to celebrate ancestral greatness built out of hard experiences.  Anika also adds some great tips about hav...

Two World Wars and famine affected  Andrea’s ancestors in Romania, but Andrea herself also experienced the effects from those events.  One of the most apparent effects came through beliefs about wealth.  One family branch says buy land so you always have a way to provide for your family.  Another branch says saving is pointless, enjoy your money while you have it.  Andrea shares how awareness and...

Mitch Lomazov is a first-generation American with Russian Jewish roots.  He shares how hearing his family stories gave him a different understanding of history than textbooks and how things that seem ordinary in our families in truth make us unique.  We also discussed how learning about his heritage helps him be more purposeful and grateful for his present and how he strives to consciously choose...

Jill Phillips is a family storyteller with a passion to inspire families to connect through the telling of their past. She started life on Lamlash Street in London, emigrated to Canada, where she obtained her master’s degree, and spent 30 years working as an Occupational Therapist and Hospital Manager. Motivated by her family’s experiences in 1960’s London, Jill shares their stories to celebrate a...

Born in Berlin, Gabrielle grew up in Germany and Austria. After a PhD from the University of London, she taught Literature and Writing at US universities and abroad. She is the author of seven nonfiction books.  Our discussion for this episode focuses on her most recent book,  Api's Berlin Diaries: My Quest to Understand My Grandfather's Nazi Past. Gabrielle loves to tell stories about p...

In this episode Tova shares: How a wedding seating chart helped uncover a family name change Why she feels it is time for her generation to start talking about her family’s past Why it is important to focus on the lives of ancestors instead of their deaths About Tova: Tova Levi is a family history researcher who specializes in Jewish genealogy. She holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from...