For the final day of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re highlighting the RootsTech website—a powerful, year-round resource for family historians.

In this episode, we talk about what you can do on the RootsTech website beyond the annual conference. We discuss how to search the site, explore on-demand educational videos, discover content from genealogy experts, and use RootsTech as an ongoing learning hub no matter where you are in your research journey. From beginner topics to more advanced methodology, the RootsTech platform offers a wide range of sessions that can help you build skills, find inspiration, and stay connected to the genealogy community.

If you’ve ever attended RootsTech—or wondered how to take advantage of its resources outside the conference—this episode will help you understand why the website is worth bookmarking and revisiting often.

🎧 Listen in as we wrap up the series and share how RootsTech fits into your genealogy media toolbox.

Explore RootsTech:
https://www.rootstech.org/

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For Day 11 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re focusing on Google Books and why it’s an essential—but often overlooked—tool for genealogy research.

In this episode, we talk about how Google Books allows researchers to full-text search millions of digitized books, including rare and out-of-print family histories, local and county histories, city directories, and other published records that may not be indexed anywhere else. These materials often contain references to ancestors that don’t appear in traditional genealogy databases.

We discuss how using specific search terms, name variations, and advanced search operators can dramatically improve your results, especially when researching common surnames. We also cover how filters—such as publication date ranges, content type, and “full view” availability—can help you focus on materials published during your ancestor’s lifetime.

If you’ve ever struggled to find context, background, or written references to your family beyond census and vital records, this episode will help you think differently about how books can support your genealogy research.

🎧 Listen in for practical strategies, real examples, and tips you can start using right away.

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For Day 10 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re talking about books and the critical role they play in genealogy and family history research. In this episode, we discuss what books can reveal that online records sometimes can’t, why preserving them matters, especially as books continue to be challenged and removed from libraries, and how written history helps protect our stories for future generations.

We also share personal experiences of finding our own families in books, highlighting how powerful and meaningful those discoveries can be.

🎧 Listen in for the books we discuss and why we believe every family historian should have them in their research toolbox.

Links

Blackville, Arkansas - Fashioned by a Former Slave: Stories from Individuals Who Remember Blackville - https://amzn.to/4p43LD0

Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree - https://amzn.to/4p1Zv6W

Somerset Homecoming - https://amzn.to/4pFNPIl

The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering Your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy - https://amzn.to/49iFRyW

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Genealogy - https://amzn.to/4qcD8N7

Some of the book links included in this episode’s show notes are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase through those links, at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support the work we do and allow us to continue creating genealogy and family history content. We only share resources we genuinely believe are valuable to researchers.

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In this episode, we discuss how Google Alerts can be a helpful tool for genealogy and family history researchers. We explore how alerts can be used to stay informed about new information related to surnames, family locations, historical events, and research topics without constantly searching for updates. This episode highlights how Google Alerts can support ongoing research and help family historians keep track of new discoveries as they emerge.

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For Day 8 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re talking about genealogy podcasts and why they’ve become such a valuable tool for family historians.

In this episode, we discuss how podcasts can help you learn new research techniques, stay current on genealogy trends, and hear real-life family history stories from experts and fellow researchers. We also touch on the variety of genealogy podcasts available, from beginner-friendly shows to deeper, topic-focused conversations, and how listening can fit easily into your daily routine.

If you’re looking for a way to keep learning while on the go, this episode will help you think about how genealogy podcasts can support your research journey.

🎧 Listen in for the shows we mention and how we recommend using podcasts as part of your genealogy toolbox.

Links to podcasts mentioned in the episode:

🎙️ Genealogy Gems —https://genealogygemspodcast.com/

🎙️ Genealogy Cafe — https://generationscafe.libsyn.com/2018/09

🎙️ Daughter Dialogues — Apple Podcasts
(Also searchable on most podcast apps like Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.)

🎙️ Speak On It! with Janice & Cherekana - https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/speak-on-it--6474164

🎙️ Ancestor’s Footprints with Bernice Alexander Bennett — Apple Podcasts

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For Episode 7 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re talking about genealogy software and how it can help you organize, manage, and expand your family history research.

In this episode, we highlight two popular programs, RootsMagic and Family Tree Maker, and discuss why many researchers choose software to keep control of their family trees while still connecting to major online databases. We touch on key features, compatibility with Ancestry and FamilySearch, pricing considerations, and why these tools can be useful for both beginners and experienced genealogists.

If you’ve ever wondered whether genealogy software is right for you—or which option might fit your research style—this episode will help you start asking the right questions.

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Phillip and Trisha discuss how music applies to their genealogy research and how it could help you.

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For Day 5 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re turning our attention to genealogy on television. In this episode, we talk about popular genealogy TV shows such as Finding Your Roots, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Relative Race, along with a few lesser-known programs that bring family history research to life in different ways.

We discuss how these shows blend storytelling, history, and research, what they get right, and how viewers can use them as inspiration for their own family history journeys. Whether you enjoy celebrity-driven discoveries, competitive research formats, or emotional reunions, genealogy TV shows can spark curiosity, encourage deeper research, and help make family history more accessible to a wider audience.

If you’ve ever watched an episode and thought, “I want to try that with my own family,” this conversation is for you.

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