Family Tree Talk

Family Tree

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.

Play

Open in

27 episodes
weekly
Avg 46 min
English

Episodes 27

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

#94
Monday · 41 min
Elijah and the Minotaur
Tune in to this week’s Family Tree Talk with podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey. Nathan’s genealogy journey continues apace as he’s now racing along the side branches of his family tree tracing the life on the high seas of his 4x great-uncle Elijah. Helen, meanwhile has got a little lost in Lego and nostalgia. But it’s not all bad – as it turns out that trips down memory lane can be just what’s needed to improve the care of older people in our lives who may be dealing with memory loss. Don’t miss our free webinar, on this very topic (22 September, 2pm UK time). Find out more and sign up here: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/content-library/genealogy-care-of-older-people-part-1/
- Transcript
#93
September 14 · 51 min
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 brother, her son… And what he’s finding is fascinating. Join him, with Helen Tovey, to tune in to the chat.
- Transcript
#92
September 7 · 39 min
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.
- Transcript
#91
August 31 · 54 min
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 when to think ‘hey is this a rabbit hole?’.
- Transcript
#90
August 24 · 45 min
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.
- Transcript
#89
August 17 · 47 min
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 ancestors for his Thing (yes what a great surname!) branch from Suffolk. Podcast cohost Helen Tovey listens along.
- Transcript
#88
August 10 · 38 min
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 ways for picking up your research and finding your way after a little gap.
- Transcript
#87
August 3 · 44 min
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 memories hold in our family history and our lives with Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey, and genealogist Janna Helshtein.
- Transcript
#86
July 27 · 47 min
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 upcoming issue of Family Tree, and generally enjoy a good old family history chat. We’d love you to join us.
- Transcript
#85
July 20 · 44 min
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.
- Transcript
#84
July 13 · 33 min
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 Helen Tovey chat to Janna Helshtein of Genealogy for Our Descendants about why our story matters.
- Transcript
#83
July 6 · 38 min
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, siblings and so forth, with co-host Helen Tovey.
- Transcript
#82
June 29 · 51 min
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 they really fit.
- Transcript
#81
June 22 · 40 min
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… before it’s too late.
- Transcript
#80
June 15 · 43 min
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 of overwhelm is looming, little by little is the key!
- Transcript
#79
June 8 · 42 min
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 difference
- Transcript
#78
June 1 · 39 min
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 skills that he’s worked so hard to get? Or is he just facing a particularly knotty family history research situation? Tune in to find out. We’d love you to join us.
- Transcript
#77
May 25 · 51 min
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'd love you to join us.
- Transcript
#76
May 18 · 52 min
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?
- Transcript
#75
May 11 · 47 min
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 to minimise their chances of getting it wrong. Tune in for genealogy chat – we’d love you to join us.
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 27 episodes