Family Tree Talk
Nathan knows nothing about his ancestors. Helen knows almost everything about family history. Join them as they delve into Nate’s family’s past. Will there be any skeletons in his cupboard? Join us for genealogical facts, figures and how-to information, heavily laced with speculation, surmise, stories and waffle as Family Tree's Nathan Ward embarks on his family history journey aided and abetted by Family Tree Editor Helen Tovey. 99% family history guaranteed.
Episodes
Discovering a brick wall’s silver lining
Family Tree Talk podcast co-host Nathan Ward has been digging for weeks now, trying to find his Elizabeth Thing on the 1851 Census. While she’s remaining elusive, his family history is in no way standing still… In fact, being ‘forced’ to stick in one place, and one time period, has provided Nathan with time to look around him - to discover more about some of the other people in her life… her broth
To add, or not to add? That is the tree-building question
Cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up on their family history discoveries. Erstwhile tree-tracing newbie Nathan is now at the point of adding 5th (and maybe even 6th) times great-grandparents to his tree. Helen thinks that he should just go for it; he’s not so sure however, and wants to accrue more evidence before proceeding. Have a listen – and we’d love to hear your views.
Is it a rabbit hole, or thorough research?
Nathan’s busy researching his 4x- great-grandparents in the early/mid 1800s. Helen is, slowly, getting on with her digital filing. Progress is being made by both of them, but things aren’t progressing as quickly as perhaps they should… Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat through their family history and mull over what good research looks like, which thorough steps to take, and also wh
Piecing together people before 1837
This week on Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat through Nathan’s recent research forays as he works to find records for his family in the early 1800s. What might those baptism, marriage and burial records reveal for him. Tune in – we’d love you to join us.
Building up a family in the mid 1800s
Tune in to Family Tree Talk as Nathan Ward shares details of his forays into the 1841 Census. Turns out it wasn’t half as scary as he’d thought and he’s now busy piecing together the puzzles of a potentially blended family. In the process he’s encountered eight (or more) children (two of whom are called James), he’s deliberating on merging two duplicate ancestors, and he’s begun collecting ancesto
How to quickly pick up your family history research again
Tune in to this week’s episode of Family Tree Talk as podcast cohost Nathan Ward shares the details and delights of picking up his family history research again. The past few weeks have seen him researching context; now he’s super-happy to be back to tree-building and dusting off his core family history skills. Join him and cohost Helen Tovey as they discuss what Nathan’s been up to and the best w
The importance of revisiting memories
Where to start with this most complex of topics – our memories? Perhaps the best place is the kitchen of Janna Helshtein’s grandma, where – half a century ago – we see her preparing her much loved pickle recipe, with little Janna looking on. Perhaps you too have memories you keep with you, some happy, some not so. Tune in and take a trip down memory lane and take a look at the unique place that me
Inspiration… or perspiration? What powers family history?
Tune in for this week’s Family Tree Talk with podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey. When doing our family history there is so much to discover isn’t there!? Sometimes it’s easy… and sometimes less so... But learning from other family historians is always a valuable experience. This week Nate and Helen take their hat off to some awesome pod-listener advice, share some of the tidbits from the
The joys of juggling research resources
Tune in to the latest episode of Family Tree Talk as podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat family history. Nathan’s been hunting for an elusive WW1 airfield and delving further into his grandfather’s life. Helen’s been dusting off research notes from a few years ago… and deciding that this time she really is going to solve the puzzle of her 6x great-grandfather. We’d love you to join us
What is ‘The Story of You?’
What makes you tick? What are the experiences that have changed the course of your life … That have made you who you are? How did you pick yourself up when times were tough?Those who come after us would love to know the answers to these things…. But are you in danger of leaving the story of your own life a blank chapter in your family history.Tune in this week as podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and He
Why getting the family talking is so IMPORTANT
Family Tree Talk podcast co-host Nathan Ward loves aeroplanes. Long has he wished to have an aviation connection in his family tree. And it was when he recently got the family talking that the clues – which would lead to his wish becoming true – gradually came out into the light. Tune in to hear about his recent family history discoveries and the power of chatting to parents, aunts, uncles, siblin
How do you know when you’ve got it right, or not…?
Join podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey for this week’s Family Tree Talk chat, as Nathan shares where he’s got up to in his research. He’s looking at 4x and even 5x great-grandparents 🙌, but is feeling a bit unsure about the details he’s finding… Has he got it right or not? Together they mull over ideas to help with clarity and confidence about putting the pieces together and making sure
Grandfathers are ancestors too! (Save the clues before it’s too late)
You know the feeling when you’ve been researching all those great-great-grandparents… but you’ve not really looked into the generations that are closer at hand, because you ‘already know them’. This is the spot that Family Tree Talk podcast co-host Nathan Ward found himself in this week. Tune in as he and Helen Tovey share ideas for gathering clues about those family members that people remember…
Not doing as much family history as you want?
‘Don't beat yourself up for not doing as much family history as you want,’ says podcast cohost Nathan Ward. ‘Yes, even if you're doing a little, you're still winning,’ agrees Helen Tovey.Join Nathan and Helen this week for your next dose of family history chat - and encouragement to keep going, even when it can feel as though you have the world of genealogy tasks you’d like to do. When that sense
How the family history community makes all the difference
Join podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey for genealogy chat. This week Nathan Ward is continuing on the trail of his great-grand uncle Alexander MacKay. Feeling a little stuck where to turn next, he tentatively asked listeners for help… and they have come up trumps. Tune in for family history discoveries, learning points, and to see how a family history helping hand makes all the differenc
Why is it so difficult sometimes?
Once we start on family history we all soon realise that it’s not that easy-breezy experience that we sometimes see portrayed on the telly. But, nonetheless, it can shake our confidence in our ability if we can’t find the info we need. This week on Family Tree Talk, cohost Nathan Ward weighs up the info he’s found, and not found, with Helen Tovey. Has he forgotten those family history search skill
Nathan's (rather good) note system to the rescue!
Tune in for family history chat as Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey discuss 'negative space', how to work out whether you've searched high and low enough, and the way in which Nathan's Excel sheet may be just what you need to keep your research in order. Plus Nathan dives into the whisper of a family mystery, a possible child, and the question of 'Who Was Dolly?'.... We
It’s like a box of chocolates….
Tune in for this week’s genealogy chat with podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey … who are joined by a very special guest – Family Tree publisher Matt Hill. He’s got some exciting news to share about our BRAND NEW website, which is, though we say it ourselves, as delicious as a box of genealogical chocolates. Tuck in!PS Has Nathan been visited by The Family History Angel?
But how do you know it’s right?
This week Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey mull over the topic of ‘how do you know it’s right?’. You know, those questions that we’re all faced with when doing our family history, such as ‘How do you know that an index entry is definitely for your ancestor?’, ‘Is that old photo really who it’s said to be?, and so forth. Plus, they chat about which steps to take to try t
Making sense of making mistakes
Join Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey this week as they chat family history. What it feels like when you make a mistake... How you unpick the problem, and then pick yourself up and keep going. The value of stopping to take stock and reflect on your findings. The importance of learning about your ancestors' lives and times - both to help you get a feeling for the world
The hazards of leaping to conclusions
Join podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey as they catch up about their recent research forays. Nathan has completed his quest to find the death dates for all 16 of his 2x great-grandparents, while Helen has been enjoying the new 1926 Irish Census... and wishing she hadn't been leaping to too many false conclusions. (She'd like to apologise for getting into monologue mode in her excitement).
Feeling a bit stuck? Try these brickwall-bash-through techniques
Are you feeling a bit stuck? Facing a family history situation that you can’t work out? Then tune in to the latest episode of Family Tree Talk, where Dr Sophie Kay will be chatting about some of the techniques she uses to make research progress – even when the going gets really tough. Plus, first, podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up on their recent research forays – and Nathan te
The perseverance in family history
For weeks and weeks now, podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey have been chipping away at their respective research goals. Nathan is working on finding the death dates for each of his 2x great-grandparents, while Helen is building her family tree out and down, tracing her ancestors’ siblings and their descendants. Is it taking time? Yes! But is it worth it? Definitely so. See how the researc
Just shooting the (genealogy) breeze
Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up on their recent research. Discussing what they’ve found. Discussing how to look for answers without necessarily spending money. Reflecting on the importance of doing the tasks… but also how absolutely important it is to keep it fun! Thoughts on the possibility of ‘getting your tree done in a single weekend’… and why would you want to?! The corre
How to make sure your tree is secret & other tips
In this week’s genealogy chat Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about a world of family history related topics, from the ethical dilemmas of doing research for a friend; to how to make sure an online family tree is secret (if it needs to be), plus chat about Ancestry tags, scores and more!
How to stop behaving like a headless chicken
Usually family history can be a bit of an escape, can’t it? … An oasis of calm in our busy lives. But sometimes those research puzzles and projects and send us hither and thither like headless chickens, rushing about making a lot of noise, but very little progress. This week in Family Tree Talk, podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about their recent research forays, and discuss ideas
Starting a new chapter of your family history
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, podcast co-host Nathan Ward shares his most recent discoveries and reflections with Helen Tovey. They discuss the family history process – considering: what does it really feel like to do family history? What is the best next step to take, when you completed a family history goal, before you move on to a new chapter in your research? And they chat about the man
Is it time for the Genealogical Proof Standard?
Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat family history, as Nathan discusses the research steps he’s taken recently to unpick an online tree tangle, dig deeper into the records, and work out once and for all who his 3x great-granny really was. Tune in to see how he got on, and the usefulness of enlisting the power of the Genealogical Proof Standard to help ensure your research is rock soli
Taken a wrong turn in your research?
Ertswhile newbie Nathan had nearly finished collecting all 32 of his 3x great-grandparents (superb effort, hey?) … when he realised that not all the facts were stacking up. Where had his research taken a wrong turn? And how was he going to get it back on track? This episode podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about recent research forays and share ideas and steps to help fix those fac
Game, set & match! A genealogy milestone reached
Family history erstwhile newbie Nathan Ward has only been tracing his family tree for a little over a year, but this week sees him ‘collect’ the final missing ancestor of his 3x great-grandparents. But is that 32nd person really his. With impressive will-power, Nathan weighs up the facts before proceeding to add them to his tree. Tune in for Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen T
You are in charge! Tips to manage your Ancestry tree
This week podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about the tools that help you manage your Ancestry tree the way that you wish: how to cope with hints; how to merge duplicate people on your tree; how to check that living people’s details are really hidden & more. Plus the battle of the tree score continues – Nathan is leading the way with an impressive 9.9. Is an Elite score of 10 ou
The value of perseverance in family history
Making a start on your family history can be a quick and simple thing to do. Keeping going, digging deeper, sticking to the plan and getting your goal accomplished are another thing entirely. This episode podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about Nate’s on-going project to find all his 3x great-grandparents – with search tips and research hacks woven in along the way. Tune in & en
Nuts & bolts of building family trees
In the latest issue of Family Tree Talk, podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey talk about their recent tree-building exploits. Nathan Ward discusses his recent discoveries on his quest to add all 32 of his 3x great-grandparents to his family tree. He’s even found one set of 4x great-grandparents... without finding the 3x great-grandparents that should be the missing link. How is this even po
Getting started, after getting stuck
Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey roll up their sleeves and get going again on the quest to trace Nathan’s ancestors in Scotland. It’s Nathan’s first research foray over the border from Pudsey and Nate and Helen chat about: ways to get unstuck, and some useful websites for embarking on Scottish family history research.
Discovering the clues in death records
Tune in for genealogy tips and chat. In this episode of Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey reflect on death certificates: Why order them? What can you learn from them? What clues and insights do they provide beyond the cause of death? Plus they take a whistle-stop tour of some of the many other useful records that shed light on our ancestors’ passing. What will you discov
Thinking about marriage records…
This week on Family Tree Talk podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey discuss marriage records. Thinking about the go-to places in which to look for marriage records. Reminding themselves to make sure they’ve gleaned every last clue from these precious papers. Check that they’ve tracked down the family wedding photos. And perhaps even taken a peep at the historic Met Office report for the day
What else does a birth certificate tell you?
In this episode of the Family Tree Talk podcast, cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey go back to the beginning, and reflect on the rich range of clues a birth certificate holds… quite aside from that little nugget of an ancestor’s birthday. Join us as we continue our tour of the key family history records where we are constantly reminded that there is always, always, something new and exciting to l
Could the census ever be boring?
This episode podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about the census: the clues, the stories, the value of taking a new look at these oh-so-familiar documents and more. Plus Helen puts Nathan on the spot with a quick Census 101 test, and Helen has to admit the doesn’t know the answers to more questions than you’ve had hot dinners. The link to our comprehensive census guide is: https://w
How helpful can AI really be for genealogy?
Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey are joined this week by a very special guest - genealogy AI guru Carole McCulloch. They ask her the how, what, why of using AI to help us with our family histories. Tune in to find out - is AI for you? And how can it really help you accomplish more in your genealogical research?
How to build a great family tree!
Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about the how, what & why of creating a rock solid family tree. Plus learn about: Nathan’s multi-millionaire ancestor, how to assess whether an old photo you’ve found online is credibly that of your ancestor, and thoughts on when to call in the heavy guns and get some specialist help with your family history.
How to read old handwriting
From free online palaeography courses to thoughts on AI transcription tools, learn about the resources that can help you read old handwriting. Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about deciphering documents, setting realistic family history goals, working on new branches of the family tree and more.
The Great Family History Quiz
Hello and welcome to a very special episode of the Family Tree Talk podcast! Our one-year anniversary! 52 episodes of stories, discoveries and plenty of genealogical detective work.And speaking of detective work… there’s someone who’s been on quite the journey over the past year: podcast co-host Nathan Ward. When this all began, he was our resident family history newbie. But look at him now! He’s
When the facts fit together…
Don’t you just love it when you come across a new record or two, and all the details match perfectly? Nathan Ward shares just such a pleasing piece of research, about his WW1 air mechanic family member. And podcast co-hosts Nathan and Helen Tovey chat family history: from the importance of recording memories, to what to do when you spot a mistake on someone else’s tree, and the dangers of drawing
Reflections of a Running Genealogist
Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up on their latest family history endeavours, reflect on the importance of remembering, and begin to think about which family history goals they want to actually complete between now and the end of the year. Wish them luck!
Tips, tactics & timely research
It’s a busy week in this episode of the podcast with co-hosts Nate Ward and Helen Tovey. If you only do a few things in the coming few days: 1. Order any wills you need from https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate (£1.50 - going up to £16 on 17/11/2025). 2. Make sure you make use of the free access to online military records (eg check the major family history data websites). 3. Go download the comb
Tracing my (probable) WWI relation
Nathan Ward is 99% sure that Private A Hearn, who died in 1918, is his relation. He has papers a-plenty, notes from a distant cousin, and even an annotated family tree from them. But he can't quite see how his Albert Hearn matches the poor young man MIA in that final year of the First World War. Tune in as Nate and podcast co-host Helen Tovey weigh up the information and try to piece together the
Thinking about the push-pull factor
From short walks down the lane to the neighbouring village, to brave voyages across the world, when doing family history we discover that our ancestors sometimes moved about more than we might think. What was it that made them move though? Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about push-pull factors - and other family history hacks, hints and chat.
Those unexpected details…
This week podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about their recent family history research forays and reflect on those unexpected details that are there – waiting to be found in the records. From census records to the sisters of King Henry VIII - the chat is all about those tiny clues, that we, as family historians, tend to treasure.
‘Yes, I already know that!’
Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up about their recent research forays. Nate’s been making great progress filling in the details of his Victorian soldier in the 36th Foot... It turns out his Mum had some of the details already. But we think that one of the joys of family history is doing the detective work yourself – agree? Let’s what he’s discovered.
Soldier, soldier won't you marry me!
Well it turns out that Nathan's many times grandpa did marry his Irish sweetheart, and her life as a soldier's wife would see her travel the globe. Nate & podcast cohost Helen Tovey go back to the beginning and see what clues can be spotted on his discharge papers (found in the extensive military collections on Findmypast) and make a plan of where to look next.
Working out what we do know… and don’t know
Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey compare notes on their family history endeavours over the past few days. Nate has been busy tracking down his direct ancestors’ siblings - to gain a timeframe for when the family was in India, and when they returned to British shores. Wrestling a little with several generations by the same name, he’s managed to do it! Helen has been mulling over the cha
Better than ever: rebuilding my family tree
Podcast co-hosts Nate Ward and Helen Tovey chat family history. Nate’s been revisiting his first forays into family history research, and making sure that the research he did right at the beginning of his genealogy journey is as solid as he’d like. (And what a good idea that is too – after all, everything that comes after, is built on each of our earliest endeavours. So getting those foundations s
Confessions & confusions
Tune is as podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chunter family history, including: a small confession about some facts from last time, to make sure nobody’s led astray; a peek at their recent research endeavours; and chat about the importance of family stories. Both Nate and Helen, too, reflect anew on old family stories, and find things weren’t always – perhaps - quite as they seemed.
It’s all in a day’s work
Farmer? Seedsman? Bridge-painter? Commercial traveller? What did your ancestor do all day? Tune in as podcast co-hosts Helen Tovey & Nathan Ward chat genealogy, and share thoughts about their ancestors’ occupations – and the clues these can reveal about lives, obstacles and opportunities in times gone by.
Rolling up our genealogy sleeves for a PROJECT!
Tune in for the latest episode in which Helen Tovey & Nathan Ward discuss their most recent forays in to family history. Helen is at long last dusting off her project to find out more about her Mary Ann and find the answer to the question mark over Mary Ann’s father. While Nathan asks super-useful, reflective and insightful questions to help Helen focus up, and shares an update on his own gene
Brickwall? Toast.
Thank you to podcast listeners Sharyn, Jacqueline and Brian who each brilliantly stepped up to help Nathan find his Mary Ann, who was seemingly absent from the 1891 Census. Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey explain the super-simple solution for the missing Mary Ann (it’s always simple once you know, hey!), and share the tactics they’d tried too, to no avail. Listening & learning! Tu
Knowing when to stop… & start a new thing
No genealogy nitty-gritty is too itty-bitty and small for Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward. This episode they chat about what it’s actually like doing family history. Helen shares how she’s tackling some genealogy records she’s been meaning to file for years (9 years in fact!), while Nathan wonders whether he needs to park his research on one branch and roll up his sleeves for a new family history adve
Getting sorted … and getting stuck. Can you help?
This week co-hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward share their latest discoveries and family history tasks. Nathan continues to make good progress on his tree, but he’s kind of feeling he’s reached a standstill with an ancestor that he just can’t find on the 1881 Census. Might you have a handy hint to help him out? Plus Helen rolls up her sleeves and starts to add a collection of documents to her tree
Fully fledged family historian!
In this week’s episode of Family Tree Talk, one-time rookie researcher Nathan Ward, spreads his wings and explains the tactics he’s been using to smash through research road blocks left, right and centre. Helen Tovey listens in… in awe of the family history progress made. Tune in for practical tips to help overcome the sense of family history ‘overwhelm’, and make strides in your family history in
Untangling family tree tangles: multiple marriages, mystery children & genealogy tips
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Nathan Ward reveals a truly tangled family tree featuring multiple marriages, overlapping timelines, and a seemingly endless number of children.· Who belongs to whom?· & How can he tell family unit from the next?As the puzzle unfolds, Helen Tovey offers practical tips and a calming voice of reason to help make sense of the confusion.Whether you'
A Tangle of Dinahs, Francises and Family History Plans
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Nathan uncovers an unexpectedly large number of Dinahs and Francises in his tree — are they a coincidence, or a genealogical puzzle waiting to be solved? Meanwhile, Helen dives into two intriguing investigations: her Granny’s wartime sweetheart and a 5x great-grandfather with curious “home guard” ties in the 18th century. Remarkably, both Nathan and Helen actua
Puzzling Records, WW2 Memories & Avoiding Rookie Mistake #1
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward share the latest twists and turns in their family history research. This week, Nathan decided to resist the usual rabbit holes and focus on growing his tree — but puzzling records soon had him questioning what he could safely add. Meanwhile, Helen tuned into her grandmother’s fascinating WW2 memories of working for SIS (Special
Railway Lives: Discovering Our Ancestors' Work on the Tracks
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward speak to Dr Mike Esbester, head of the Railway Work, Life & Death Project, to uncover the rich history of railway workers in the UK. Marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway (Railway200), Mike explores the huge impact the railways had on our ancestors’ lives — from the jobs they did to the dangers they faced. Lea
Family Memories & Research Dilemmas: Helen & Nate Catch Up
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward catch up on their latest family history finds. Helen shares a brilliant new way she’s discovered to encourage relatives to record their memories — perfect for preserving living history. Meanwhile, Nate’s deep in decision-making mode, wondering which historical document to focus on next and which tempting research rabbit hole to
Think Like a Genealogist: Research Logs, Questions & Plans with Dr Sophie Kay
Feeling stuck in your family history research – or simply drowning in a sea of notes and records? In this episode of Family Tree Talk, host Helen Tovey is joined by professional genealogist and educator Dr Sophie Kay to explore how a clear research methodology can transform the way you work. Discover how research logs, well-framed questions, and practical research plans can bring structure, clarit
WWI Soldier, Nun & RAF Airman: Nathan’s Surprising Family Tree Finds
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward delve into Nathan’s latest genealogy discoveries — from a potential First World War soldier to a nun and an RAF airman (or maybe even a pilot!). As Nathan tries to piece together these intriguing lives, he turns to Helen for advice on how to be sure he's got the right people in his tree. Tune in for practical tips, expert insig
Smash Your Brickwalls with DNA: Expert Tips from Michelle Leonard
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward chat to DNA Detective Michelle Leonard about how to use DNA results to break through your toughest family history brickwalls. Michelle shares practical advice on how to get started with DNA research and explains how her in-depth DNA Bootcamp course can help you make sense of your Ancestry DNA matches — no matter your experience
Mastering Ancestry: Top Tips from Family History Pro Karen Evans
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward are joined by passionate family historian Karen Evans, who shares her expert advice on getting the most out of the Ancestry website. From clever search strategies to solving tricky tree problems, Karen offers practical tips and insider tricks to help you research smarter and break down those brick walls. It’s a must-listen for
Dinner with Ancestors: Strange Finds, Heirlooms & Family History Tales
In this latest episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward are joined by a special guest — their boss, Matt Hill! Together, they share their strangest family history discoveries, the heirlooms they treasure most, and which ancestor they'd invite to dinner. From tracing long-lost relatives in America to tales of 1800s travel adventures, this episode is packed with fascinating sto
Ancestry hints, second trees & surprising cousin clues
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward get stuck into some real family history discoveries and practical tips. Helen shares how Ancestry Hints helped her trace her grandpa’s cousin’s dad—and why she’s a total convert to Hints! Meanwhile, Nathan digs into an intriguing email from listener Marilyn, who suspects a shared connection with him. Could they be related? Plus, your
Discover family history how-to hints & breakthroughs
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Helen Tovey catches up with newbie-ish family historian Nathan Ward to see how he’s getting on with his research—and it turns out, he’s made amazing progress! From uncovering historic documents to following online hints, Nate shares the highs and lows of his family history journey. Helen offers advice on using hints wisely and avoiding common pitfalls. Together
Death Certificates, War Diaries & AI: Unearthing Family History Clues
In this episode, Nathan shares surprising new leads uncovered in ancestor death certificates, while Helen delves into a WWII squadron diary from The National Archives that reveals dramatic details about her grandfather being shot down. Plus, the duo explores how AI could assist Nathan in taking his family history research to the next level. Tune in for real discoveries, research tips, and a look a
Feeling a bit of family history overwhelm?
Tune in for tips to keep calm, step back, and enjoy your genealogy. (Usually) family history really doesn’t need to be a race, but is instead something that is best savoured slowly! Nathan Ward, Designer of Family Tree, and Helen Tovey, Editor, chat about their research endeavours and ponder this and that about genealogy.“Keep up the good work and keep making me smile over the ironing board!” – sa
Not just a name and a number – digging into family stories
Digging into their family stories, Nathan Ward, Designer of Family Tree, and Helen Tovey, Editor, chat about their recent research endeavours – piecing together tales of multiple marriages, VE Day experiences and more. Plus learn how to merge duplicate ancestors on your Ancestry tree (you never know when you may need this tip!).
What you need to know when you’ve done a DNA test
You take a DNA test – that’s the easy part! But what happens next? In this week’s Family Tree Talk editor of Family Tree, Helen Tovey, and designer Nate Ward catch up with DNA advisor Karen Evans. She’ll be sharing top tips on how to begin exploring your DNA test results. What to do… what to not do… and how to get it right! She’ll be covering what ethnicity estimates mean. Taking you on a tour of
How to get better at family history
How do you go about getting better at family history? Family Tree editor Helen Tovey and designer Nate Ward discuss ways to level up those genealogy skills! From taking a course to taking the time to slow down, there are numerous ways to improve your genealogy research skills. Tune in to find out more.
How do I get through my brickwalls?
Family history brickwalls can occur at any stage of the genealogy journey – whether you’re a few steps in, or have been researching for decades. In this episode tree-tracing rookie Nathan Ward chats about his sticking points and brainstorms with Helen Tovey ways to get unstuck! There are always solutions to try… check them out!
Thoughts on ways to trace our female ancestors
Family Tree team members Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward chat family history – including the particular challenges of how to trace our female family members, and solutions to help us do it! (Plus Nathan also muses: can he blame his love of chocolate on a DNA trait)?
How to do your family tree on Ancestry
Follow our quick guide to some of the key family tree tools on Ancestry, with Family Tree editor, Helen Tovey. Plus Family Tree designer Nathan Ward shares his research experiences of reading WW1 unit war diaries (it’s emotional). And a quick peek at Mitotree – the DNA tree that tells the shared story of our motherlines, going back 100,000 years!
How to trace a WW1 soldier
Helen Tovey, editor of Family Tree, and Nathan Ward, designer (aka the Running Genealogist) chat family history, speaking of their recent discoveries including a First World War solider and the records that can help to trace the war years of a WW1 British soldier.
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