Extreme Genes

Fisher visits with Dr. David Sloane, an English professor at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Dr. Sloane is a great grandson of Thomas Edison. He talks about how that relationship has influenced his life, the challenge of living up to the legacy, and challenges to the Edison legacy.

Paul Woodbury, the DNA specialist from Legacy Tree Genealogists, talks about how he handles the challenges of handling his DNA matches, various kit numbers and passwords, etc., so he can more quickly make the most of his test results. There are ideas here you're going to want to take advantage of.

Fisher visits with a man who has gained worldwide fame as “The Good Cemeterian.” Andrew Lumish has developed a passion for cleaning up tombstones in the Tampa area, especially military figures, and especially from the Civil War.

Fisher talks with renowned presidential and royal researcher Gary Boyd Roberts about the late President George H.W. Bush. Gary shares fascinating stories about other presidents that Bush (and son G.W.) relate to and how you may very well be related to them yourself!

Ali Stocker, a passionate geni who led a remarkable effort that has changed the last 300 years of the recorded history of the Sanderson family of Massachusetts. (And some descendants are not happy about it!) Hear the story of the family, what she learned, and how she did it.

Fisher visits with renowned DNA specialist Blaine Bettinger. Blaine is excited about new DNA technology that may be able to reveal to you the full profile of your long deceased ancestors through the analysis of old, licked envelopes.

Fisher visits with genealogist Janet Hovorka who shares some of her secrets for integrating family history into your holiday experience. She talks about everything from gifts and recipes to “tales from long, long ago!”

Fisher visits with genealogist Jim Beidler of Legacy Tree Genealogists. Jim recently blogged about the challenges of having ancestors with common names, or an ancestor who shares the same name with someone else in the same area. Jim talks about how you can be sure that you're looking at the records of the right person.

The director of the Family History Center in Phoenix, Arizona, visits with Fisher about a certain suitcase that made itself known to the staff at the Center. And what was in that suitcase led them on quite a genealogical adventure.

Fisher visits with Bobbi Briggs, 95, a World War II era Marine! Bobbi describes how she wound up in the Corps and what her duties were at the time. She also shares her father's reaction to the news of her enlistment.

Kim Weitkamp is a nationally renowned storyteller who is a leading player in the national storytelling festival circuit. Fisher was astounded at her “telling” skills while watching her recount how she found her birth family. Kim talks about how she puts her stories together and some techniques for becoming a better storyteller.

David Allen Lambert returns to talk about collecting stories of your ancestors' ocean crossings. From the Mayflower to Ellis Island, there are ways to find out what happened as your people came to “the Promised Land.”

Gretchen Jorgensen, a DNA specialist with Legacy Tree Genealogists, shares some great tips for maximizing your DNA matches on Ancestry.com. There may well be a few tools there that you don't know about. But Gretchen does! Hear what she has to say.

Fisher visits with McKell Keeney, continuing some of last week's conversation about “Search Angels.” McKell, an Arizona woman, has been training others in how to help adoptees looking for their birth families, and she will point you in the right direction if you feel the desire to do the same.

Fisher visits with Colin Colbourn of the “Bent Prop Project.” It's an organization that has been searching for several years for remains of America's war heroes, mostly from World War II. They have brought home several of the tens of thousands of remains still missing from the war, and the participants often do so paying expenses out of their own pocket.

Fisher visits with Professor Robert Thorson of the University of Connecticut. Dr. Thorson is an expert on the history of and in those old New England stone walls. Why are they there deep in the woods? How old are they? Who put them there? Professor Thorson will explain the mysteries of those iconic stone walls of New England.

Fisher visits with Relative Race host Dan Debenham about what we can expect this season from this geni favorite reality show.

Ron Tanner of FamilySearch.org and Fisher discuss the many changes coming to the iconic website, and particularly "The Tree" which will soon include same sex couples. It's a great update on one of genealogy's great resources.

Barbara Clements of Lombard, Illinois had a longstanding family legend about her Native American ancestry. She recently learned how that story came down through the family and the “why” will amaze you!

Melissa Barker, The Archive Lady from Houston County, Tennessee is back to share some of her latest stories of acquisition, and a remarkable event from a century ago that drew her into a fascinating research project.

Little did Fisher know that when he found his pirate ancestor, William Downs, of Bristol, Rhode Island, that it would spur a man researching the discovery of a 17th century coin to contact him with new information relevant to his ancestor's life.

Fisher visits with Randy Marcum, historian at the West Virginia State Archives. West Virginia has been seeking their Civil War Union soldiers and their descendants since 1866 to present them with a personalized medal to recognize their service. Out of 26,000 medals, some 3,400 remain. Hear the story behind these incredible family keepsakes and how qualified people can get one that was made specifically for their ancestor.

Fisher visits with the woman behind Your DNA Guide, Diahan Southard. Diahan answers the question that everyone asks‚ What's next in DNA? Fisher and Diahan talk about the recent changes in ethnicity test results and new tools from the various companies to help us make the connections we're looking for.

Fisher then visits with Amy Johnson Crow, a nationally known genealogist, about why we should all have hope that the next generation really will want your papers, photo collections, and stories. It's an encouraging conversation!