The Genealogy Gems Podcast with Lisa Louise Cooke - Your Family History Show

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

Take a nostalgic journey through highlights and memorable moments from the show's past. Discover fascinating insights on search techniques and how they evolved over time. Enjoy clips from interviews with notable guests like Lisa Kudrow and Henry Louis Gates. Hear reflections on storytelling's power in genealogy and personal journeys into research. Delve into genetic breakthroughs and the intriguing world of forensic linguistics. Plus, learn about the diverse tools that enhance your genealogical research!

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.

Discover the exciting new Full Text Search feature at FamilySearch, designed to uncover unindexed mentions in digitized records. Learn how to filter results, navigate through probate records, and download vital information with proper citations. Explore the innovative AI Research Assistant that proposes ancestors and searches both FamilySearch records and the web. Get tips on preparing your family tree, using the assistant effectively, and the importance of critical thinking when interpreting AI-generated information.

Discover the latest in genealogy with exciting advancements in historical newspapers and a beloved search engine's revival. Innovations from MyHeritage will enhance your family tree research, while Ancestry introduces a unique membership program. The transformative impact of AI on genealogical research is explored, alongside personal stories revealing challenges in uncovering pasts. A touching legacy of faith is symbolized by a family quilt, highlighting the importance of our stories for future generations. There’s joy in connecting through genealogy and podcasting!

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.

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 (Lineage Journeys) 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 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 Goldie May Download the Goldie May software for free. Upgrade to the full features at a great discount at goldiemay.com/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

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.

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 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 on Social Media: Instagram.com/genealogygemspodcast Facebook.com/genealogygems Pinterest.com/lisalouisecooke YouTube.com/GenealogyGems

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!