The Family Histories Podcast

Message us. Host Andrew Martin meets genealogist Helen Brooks for this second episode of Series Nine . Andrew hears how Helen's family history research got started by a button, the importance of writing everything down when your aunt tells stories, and her love of photographs.  THE LIFE STORY - GERTRUDE LESTER / SISTER HELENE DU ST. SACRAMENT   Helen's choice of life story is her Great A...

Message us. In this first episode of Season Nine of The Family Histories Podcast, host Andrew Martin meets Canadian genealogist Ron Williams whose family tree research resulted in him encountering a 57 year old mystery...  Understandably, Ron couldn't not investigate and in doing so, uncovered a fascinating story which he then turned it into a book. THE LIFE STORY - ALFRED VICTOR WILLIAMS Ron...

Message us. We're back! It's time for Season Nine of The Family Histories Podcast. Your host - family historian Andrew Martin , will once again be joined by seven guests, for seven more fascinating life stories and of course a load of those pesky brick walls for you to help solve. As usual... as a 'thank you' treat, each guest is given a return trip back in time in Andrew'...

Message us. For this special ninth episode of Series Eight , we're taking part in Podcasthon 2025 - an annual global event for podcasters to collectively raise awareness of charities they care about. With our guest, we've chosen to support the charity Mind, and you can hear more about their work and access support here: mind.org.uk . If you're outside the UK, you can find internatio...

Message us. This is a short bonus episode, continuing on immediately after the cliffhanger at the end of 'The Nationalist' with Daniel Loftus . As Andrew realises he's not alone in the garage, they'll have to work together to fix a dangerous time travel paradox before it erases the podcast. Thank you once again for joining us for another series, and letting us have your ears. W...

Message us. In this final full episode of Series Eight , host Andrew Martin meets Irish genealogist, speaker, podcaster, and Project Infant founder, Daniel Loftus . He asks Daniel how he got hooked on researching his family history, challenges he's faced with DNA testing and adoption, and why he's leading a project that brings Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland under the spotlight. If you’...

Message us. In this episode of Series Eight , host Andrew meets Australian genealogist Jennifer Jones , who tells him about how she got hooked on researching family history, her motivation to blog her research, and her One-Place Study in Pembrokeshire, Wales. THE LIFE STORY - THOMAS WATERS Jennifer has chosen to tell the life story of Thomas Waters , her 2x Great Grandfather who was born in 1829 i...

Message us. In this episode of Series Eight , host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist Richard Holt . He finds out how Richard got hooked on family history, what made him turn professional, has he ever experienced 'imposter syndrome', and his efforts to access original Wills - and challenging a proposal by the UK Government's Ministry of Justice on the disposal of historic...

Message us. Hello folks,  I had such a lovely time recording our episode 'The Nightingale' with Danielle and Galeet Dardashti , that after having talked with them at length about the old tape cassette recordings of family conversations, celebrations, singing, and music that Danielle had found stashed in a box in their parents' basement, we decided it would be nice for you to hear so...

Message us. Joining host Andrew Martin for this fourth episode of Series Eight is not one but two guests! We're delighted to welcome Emmy-winning journalist Danielle Dardashti and her musician and anthropologist sister Dr. Galeet Dardashti . Danielle and Galeet researched the history of their family in Iran via audio recordings they found at their parents' house, uncovering some fascinat...

Message us. It's a special delivery in today's episode from Series Eight , as host Andrew Martin meets family history and military history researcher, champion eBayer, and postman, Adam Simpson-York . Andrew finds out how Adam got hooked on researching family history, how he has honed his research skills that enable him to buy family heirlooms on auction sites and then trace their living...

Message us. Andrew meets genealogist and Chair of the Register of Qualified Genealogists, Sylvia Valentine . He hears about how she got hooked on researching family history, her love of life-long learning and research, and her opinions on the terrifying workhouses! THE LIFE STORY - NAOMI HAWARTH Sylvia has chosen to tell the life story of her Gt Grandmother, Naomi Hawarth , who was born as a twin,...

Message us. In this first episode of Series Eight of The Family Histories Podcast, host Andrew Martin meets author, family historian, and the host of the Italian Roots and Genealogy YouTube series and podcast - Bob Sorrentino , and finds out about his Italian-American roots, and his connections to Italian and the wider European nobility. THE LIFE STORY - ISABELLA D'ESTE We're off to the...

Message us. Our Eighth Series is here! But, before the first full episode arrives on 5th November 2024, there's just enough time for Andrew to pop back to compare notes with an old friend... In this new series we'll meet a Marchioness, a Twin, a 'Nightingale', a Marine, a Nationalist, a Collier, and a homesick migrant. Read more about our new series . - - - Episode Credits: And...

Message us. It's our 50th guest episode! So, to celebrate this special milestone episode, host Andrew Martin decides to head to the Society of Genealogists to meet three guests taking part in the annual All About That Place event. However, he doesn't quite end up where he expected... All About That Place is a series of talks brought to us by the Society of Genealogists, supported by the...

Message us. This is a Series Seven Bonus Episode, following on immediately from the previous episode 'The Sailor' with Morag Peers. When two children inexplicably appear, host Andrew Martin and guest Morag Peers realise that the (shh: secret time) machine has moved time and location, and that they are now part of one of history's most baffling disappearances. - - - Episode Credits:...

Message us. In this final full episode of Series Seven , host Andrew Martin meets Morag Peers - an award-winning professional genealogist who specialises in researching the lives of the people of Scotland. He hears how she got hooked on family history, how she ended up going professional, and her love of using passport records to trace family and world history. THE LIFE STORY - JOSEPH CLARKE Morag...

Message us. Host Andrew Martin meets radio presenter and family historian, and host of the Extreme Genes radio show and podcast - Scott Fisher . He finds out how Scott got hooked on researching his family history, the lengths he goes to to solve genealogy puzzles, and how he ended up making his hit radio and podcast show. THE LIFE STORY - DONALD OLSEN  Scott has chosen to tell the life story of hi...

Message us. In the fifth episode of Series Seven , host Andrew Martin meets anthropologist and Welsh professional genealogist, Dai Davies , and finds out how they got hooked on researching family history, the challenges of researching Welsh family history from afar, and their thoughts on how the genealogy community could become a better place. THE LIFE STORY - DAVID DAVIES Dai has chosen to tell t...

Message us. In this fourth episode of Series Seven , host Andrew Martin meets Anglo-Belgian professional genealogist, and country manager at MyHeritage - Marie Cappart , and finds out how she got addicted to researching her family history, what made her a 'DNA geek', and what it's like to work for MyHeritage . THE LIFE STORY - MARGUERITE NICHOLLS Marie has chosen to tell the life st...

Message us. In this third episode of Series Seven , host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist, author, and host of The Filipino Genealogy Channel on YouTube - Todd Lucero Sales . Andrew hears how Todd got hooked on researching family history in the Philippines, the challenges of researching Filipino family history, the impact of hundreds of years of rule by Spain on records, and why he sta...

Message us. In this second episode of Series Seven , host Andrew Martin meets professional genealogist, author, lecturer, Fellow, and former Principal Family History Specialist of the National Archives - Dave Annal . Dave tells Andrew how he got hooked on researching his family, how he ended up working for the National Archives, his thoughts and hopes on where he sees the genealogy industry going...

Message us. In this first episode of Series Seven , host Andrew Martin meets Jackie Kohnstamm - a lecturer, author, playwright, and family historian. Jackie tells Andrew how she got hooked on researching family histories after hearing stories with missing bits, and then finding letters. She tells him what motivated her to write her book 'The Memory Keeper: A Journey Into The Holocaust To Find...

Message us. The Family Histories Podcast is back for Series Seven ! Once again, host Andrew Martin , and his 19th century assistant Sándor Petőfi , welcome seven more guests , each with a fascinating life story, and of course a pesky genealogy research 'brick wall' for listeners to try to solve. However, before they welcome their first guest, there's something in the garage that nee...

Message us. Previously, on The Family Histories Podcast......  As last week's guest James Danter is zapped back in time via the (shhh: secret time) machine without any glitches, all seems well for the series' final episode. However, Andrew is knocked unconscious after tripping over a cable and causing something heavy to fall on his head....  Who are the ghostly voices he can hear, and wh...