Extreme Genes - America's Family History and Genealogy Radio Show & Podcast

It’s time to talk DNA with specialist Paul Woodbury of Legacy Tree Genealogists. Paul has many tips for corresponding with people you match with through DNA. Since very few people respond to such attempts at contact, Paul’s ideas will help you increase your response rate. Paul also shares his thoughts on identifying where certain matches tie in. There are ways!

Fisher mines some incredible World War I stories obtained by Christine Pittsley, a World War I Project Coordinator for the Connecticut State Library. Christine explains how the state went about obtaining this material from people’s homes as we recognize the 100th anniversary of the end of the “War To End All Wars.”

Emily Stanford Schultz, an employee of FamilySearch, perhaps had one of the most incredible experiences we have ever heard of right at RootsTech! It had to do with a special app that could really work best at a family history convention. Hear what it was and how it paid off for Emily in a big way.

Fisher has discovered something odd about his great grandfather’s 1874 divorce in New York, which “proved” his wife’s adultery.  It turns out that one of the men who testified to having been with his wife was present with the great grandfather when he died nineteen years later, even supplying information for his death certificate. How could they still be friends after what was confessed to in 1874? What was going on here?

Fisher visits with Kathleen Kaldis and her distant cousin David Stone. Both descend from Donald Campbell, a man who was born in the 18th century in Scotland, who became a noted fiddler in Nova Scotia. The story surrounding him through the generations is that he fell down a “fairy hole” and the fairies “blessed his bow.” Hear the details and the song musician David has written and performed about their ancestor and his mystical adventure.

Fisher visits with Massachusetts resident Ellen Alden, who went in search of an early photo of herself for her daughter’s school project. But while up in the attic, she discovered something she had never seen before… 19 Civil War era letters from her Irish immigrant ancestor. Hear some of what they said, and how the find has changed her life.

Fisher visits with LegacyTree.com’s Carolyn Tolman about a breakthrough she had to pre-1870 days and some of the great new tools that are aiding African-American research.

Fisher visits with Robin Mason, a fan of witches everywhere, but particularly in her home state of Massachusetts. Her site, WitchesMassBay.com, has become a great resource for anyone wanting to research their witchy ancestors, including walking tours of various towns, and lists of the accused and the executed. Find out what you need to know about how to research the witches of New England through Robin Mason.

Fisher catches up with his friend CeCe Moore, the Genetic Genealogist, and a regular on “Finding Your Roots” with Dr. Henry Louis Gates on PBS. CeCe shares her take on anticipated new developments in DNA for 2018 and how they may affect your research efforts. CeCe also gives us a peak into the new season of “Finding Your Roots.”

Fisher visits with Abundant Genealogy’s Thomas MacEntee. Thomas made the Genealogy Do Over famous and is now touting something new for 2018… the DNA Do Over. Hear what he has to say about making sure you’re using your pricy tests in the right way.

Paul Woodbury, DNA specialist at Legacy Tree Genealogists, joins the show again to talk about the significance of tracking down various cousins. He’ll explain the value as you delve into your dna project.  It’s something of a 202 course, so listen carefully.

Fisher visits with author Gloria Merchant of Rhode Island. Since his recent discovery of his ancestor’s pirate past, he’s learned that he is not alone. Many genies have pirates back there. In two parts, Gloria explains why Rhode Island was a major pirate haven in the 17th century, and what tools you might use to learn more about your ancestor’s swashbuckling ways!

Fisher visits with D. Joshua Taylor, President of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society. With New York City and State being the home and crossroads for so many ancestors in so many eras, you’ll want to hear what’s ahead for this great organization in the year ahead.

Steve Anderson shares his incredible story of discovery concerning himself and his eight siblings.  No one could have imagined what he and a brother learned… information that has rocked his family.  And it’s not over yet!

Fisher visits with Alice and Jessica, two ladies who used DNA to solve a most remarkable mystery.  Were Alice’s father and Jessica’s grandfather really switched at birth?  Hear how the story developed over three years and how the breakthrough finally occurred.  See photos of the switched fathers and see how they resemble the other family!