June is here already! Where does the time go?
Here in New Jersey, the school year is winding down, the town pool is getting ready to open, and even the library (and its computers) has switched to summer hours.
During the warmer months, I tend to tackle a long list of projects both inside and outside the house. Whether I’m gardening, organizing, painting, or catching up on chores, I’ve discovered that podcasts are the perfect companion.
Truth be told, I wasn’t always a podcast fan. I can usually read faster than the average podcaster can talk, so my thinking was, why not just read the information and skip the middleman?
Then I realized what makes podcasts so useful: you can listen while your hands are busy doing something else. Whether I’m washing dishes, pulling weeds, or cleaning out a closet, a good podcast makes the time pass more quickly and lets me learn something new at the same time.
Here are a few of my favorites:
The original genealogy podcast—or “OG,” as the kids would say. George Morgan and Drew Smith recently celebrated twenty years of sharing genealogy news, interviews, and insights online. They cover everything from archives and records to DNA and technology. New episodes aren’t released as frequently as they once were, but whenever a new one appears, it’s always worth a listen.
If you’re interested in artificial intelligence and genealogy, Steve Little and Mark Thompson are a great team to follow. They discuss new AI tools, practical applications for family historians, and what may be coming next. Their conversations are approachable, informative, and often packed with ideas you’ll want to try yourself. Pro tip: keep a notebook nearby. You’ll probably want to jot down a few suggestions for later.
Confession time: DNA has never been my strongest area of genealogy. Chromosome matches, centimorgans, and genetic networks can sometimes make my eyes glaze over. Fortunately, Diane Elder and Nicole Dyer have a talent for making complex topics understandable. While not every episode focuses on DNA, their DNA discussions are especially helpful for researchers looking to strengthen their skills in that area.
What’s Your Specialty?
I’d also recommend finding a podcast that focuses on your own family heritage, geographic area, or particular research interests. Whether your passion is Italian genealogy, military records, genetic genealogy, or local history, chances are there’s a podcast dedicated to it.
Where can you find genealogy podcasts? The same place many of us go for just about everything genealogy-related: Cyndi’s List. Her podcast category currently contains more than one hundred genealogy podcasts and audio resources covering a wide range of specialties and interests.
Do you listen to podcasts while you research, commute, or work around the house? If so, I’d love to hear your recommendations.