
The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke - Your Family History Show
Genealogy Gems Podcast shows you, the family historian, how to make the most out of your family history research time by providing quick and easy to use research techniques. In addition, you will learn creative ways to share your family tree and the legacy of your ancestors.
Lisa Louise Cooke guides you through the exhilarating process of discovering your family tree. She scours the family history landscape to find and bring you the best websites, best practices, and best resources available. And Lisa’s interviews with the experts in the field of genealogy make the Genealogy Gems Podcast your own personal genealogy conference. Guests include genealogists such as Dick Eastman, DearMYRTLE, Curt Witcher, Arlene Eakle, and the folks from Ancestry.com, as well as celebrities such as Tukufu Zuberi of The History Detectives, Kathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters, Tim Russell of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, the band Venice, and Darby Hinton of the Daniel Boone TV series from the 1960s.
Your family history is world history.
Latest episodes

Jul 18, 2025 • 39min
Episode 297 - 10 Key AI Terms & Improve Your Genealogy AI Prompts
Explore the intriguing intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogy. Discover ten essential AI terms that decode the tech jargon, making it accessible for everyone. Learn valuable strategies to enhance your AI interactions, enabling you to polish writing and analyze research with ease. Unleash creativity as you brainstorm innovative ways to share family stories. This episode equips you with knowledge to transform your genealogy research into a more engaging and effective journey.

Jun 24, 2025 • 55min
Episode 296 Native American Genealogy Research
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Native American genealogy research follows the same path that all good genealogy research does, but it also includes some unique records along the way. It’s a fascinating journey, and in this episode professional genealogist Judy Nimer Muhn () joins Lisa Louise Cooke to pave the way. Judy covers: Tribal and personal naming conventions Tribal-specific resources How geography impacts research Native American genealogical records and more… Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the . (Premium Member subscription required.) Not a 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 . Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code GenealogyGems Goldie May Download the Goldie May software for free. Upgrade to the full features at a great discount 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 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. . Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems:

10 snips
May 19, 2025 • 31min
Episode 295 Beginning Genealogy: 10 Steps to Success!
Dive into the essentials of genealogy with invaluable tips for beginners and returning researchers. Learn the importance of gathering personal info and interviewing relatives. Discover how to create detailed timelines to enhance your findings and the significance of citing sources for accuracy. Explore various online resources and engage with a community of fellow genealogy enthusiasts to share insights and experiences.

18 snips
Apr 21, 2025 • 37min
Episode 294 Hidden Gems: 15 Under-the-Radar Websites for Genealogy
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: This episode shines a spotlight on 15 under-the-radar websites that serious genealogists should know about. Lisa Louise Cooke reveals powerful resources like AI tools capable of deciphering old handwriting in unindexed records, clever ways to hunt for unique family artifacts and ephemera online, specialized digital libraries perfect for finding memoirs, how obscure fashion archives can help date your mystery photos, and cutting-edge map sites that let you search text within the historical maps themselves. Plus, stick around until the very end for a special bonus tech tip to make your research even smoother! Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the . (Premium Member subscription required.) Not a 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 . Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code GenealogyGems 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 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. . Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media:

9 snips
Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 1min
Comparing the Big 3 Genealogy Websites and AI Update
In this discussion, genealogist Sunny Morton shares her insights on comparing the big three genealogy platforms: Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and MyHeritage.com. She highlights their unique strengths, from historical records to DNA tools, helping listeners choose wisely based on their research needs. Morton also touches on the latest AI advancements, specifically Google's Gemini update, which promises to enhance user experiences in genealogy by personalizing research capabilities and improving efficiency. A must-listen for family history enthusiasts!

10 snips
Feb 18, 2025 • 43min
Episode 292 Artificial Intelligence for Genealogy Research, and Family History Writing
In this enlightening discussion, Sunny Morton, a contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine and author of various genealogy books, explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in genealogy research. She delves into AI's evolution and ethical concerns, emphasizing data privacy. The conversation also highlights effective storytelling techniques for family histories, offering tips on enriching narratives and connecting with family stories. With insights on genealogy resources and innovative tools, this dialogue inspires a fresh approach to uncovering and sharing our ancestral tales.

Jan 10, 2025 • 53min
Episode 291 - Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com on the 1921 England and Wales Census. Plus The Photo Detective Maureen Taylor
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In episode 291 of the Genealogy Gems podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke discusses the launch of the . Crista Cowan, Ancestry's corporate genealogist, discusses the census that covers 38 million people and it's significance due to its 100-year privacy law. Cowan highlights the importance of understanding the context, including the delay in census day due to a potential worker strike, the impact of World War I on marital status, and new employment details. The conversation also touches on the use of AI for indexing and the importance of family history storytelling. Then The Photo Detective Maureen Taylor shares strategies for identifying your old family photos from the 1920s. Get the full show notes on the . Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the for this episode. (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 . Our Sponsors for this episode: MyCanvas.com Receive a 10% discount on your first order with code GGEMS Archives makes research quick and easy with an intuitive approach to genealogy. Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritage Order your 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 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. . Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media:

8 snips
Dec 23, 2024 • 27min
Episode 290 - 5 Genealogy Gems from 2024 that will BOOST your family history!
Explore cutting-edge genealogy tools launched in 2024, including a MyHeritage feature that animates ancestral photographs using AI. Discover how to unleash your creativity with animated family memories and practical tips to enhance your genealogy journey. Learn about five innovations transforming family history research, emphasizing the integration of AI and the value of revisiting existing records for deeper insights. Uncover how these advancements can greatly boost your family history exploration!

Nov 26, 2024 • 48min
Episode 289 Animate Old Photos & Solving Photograph Mysteries
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke covers the groundbreaking LiveMemory™ tool from MyHeritage, a revolutionary advancement that harnesses the power of AI to transform still photos into mesmerizing short videos. Check out Lisa's LiveMemory™ video on the Genealogy Gems Facebook page: Then she shares a story of the curious publication of a 19th century photo by a news organization. Hear how she spotted the case of mistaken identity, and quickly uncovered how the error may have occurred. Then follow along as she answers the question of the man in the photo's real identity with just her smartphone and some tech tips that you can use in your own genealogy research. 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 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 . Our Sponsors for this episode: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritageDNA Order your 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 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. . Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media:

Oct 22, 2024 • 39min
Episode 288 How to Find Maiden Names
AUDIO PODCAST SHOW NOTES: Finding the maiden names of your ancestors can be challenging, but with the right research strategies they can be found. Author Shelley Bishop joins me in this episode to discuss 12 strategies for finding elusive maiden names of female ancestors. Then I'll cover additional resources to help you track down the records. Genealogy Gems Premium Members Exclusive Download: Download the ad-free show notes for this episode from the for this episode. (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 . Our Sponsors for this episode: Archives makes research quick and easy with an intuitive approach to genealogy. Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription. and use coupon code GenealogyGems MyHeritageDNA 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 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. . Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems on Social Media: