Branching Out Genealogy Podcast

• Bringing Memories Into Focus with Rick Voight

  Explore how photo restoration, memory care, and family history intersect in this inspiring conversation with Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix. Learn how personal photos can boost cognitive health, strengthen storytelling, and help families preserve their legacy.___________________________________In this episode of the Branching Out Genealogy Podcast, we speak with Rick Voight, CEO and co-founder of Vivid-Pix, about the science and impact of photo Reminiscence Therapy, a powerful tool that uses restored images to support memory and cognitive wellness—especially for individuals living with dementia.We explore how Vivid-Pix evolved from photo enhancement software to a leader in memory preservation, working with genealogists, libraries, archives, museums, and aging-services professionals. Rick shares insights into tools like the Memory Station and Memory Cards, explains the brain science behind photo Reminiscence Therapy, and discusses how families can use photos to spark meaningful conversations and strengthen emotional connection.You’ll also hear updates from the genealogy community, a practical tech tip, and a fun look at why so many of us—even celebrities—may have royal connections in our family tree.If you're passionate about genealogy, memory care, digital preservation, or helping families share their stories, this episode offers valuable guidance you can use right away.___________________________________TIMECODE CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview01:52 Genealogy News07:23 Interview with Rick Voight11:45 Photo Reminiscence Therapy & Brain Health20:55 Vivid-Pix Programs & Community Initiatives29:40 Memory Station & Memory Cards40:44 Rick’s Spring Tour48:03 Metadata, Ethics & the Future of Photos57:04 Tech Tip: Reopen Closed Browser Tabs58:25 Teatime01:04:46 Closing___________________________________ABOUT OUR GUEST: RICK VOIGHTRick Voight is the co-founder and CEO of Vivid-Pix, a company dedicated to improving, restoring, and preserving photographs. His work bridges the fields of genealogy, aging, and cognitive health, utilizing photo Reminiscence Therapy and accessible technology tools to help families preserve their stories while supporting memory care. Rick collaborates with libraries, museums, aging specialists, and dementia-care professionals across the U.S.___________________________________FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA➜ Website - https://branchingout.show/➜ https://www.facebook.com/branchingoutgenpod/➜ https://www.instagram.com/branching_out_genealogy_pod/➜ https://x.com/branchingoutgen➜ https://www.youtube.com/@BranchingOutGenealogyPodcastEMAIL US at [email protected] The Branching Out Theme Song and Teatime Fanfare are copyright © Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal.

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• Genealogy in Reverse with Cheri Hudson Passey

  In this episode, Tami and Elizabeth discuss the concept of "reverse genealogy" with Cheri Hudson Passey, who has recently authored a book on the subject. They explore the methods of finding living relatives, the differences between researching living individuals and ancestors, and the emotional aspects of connecting with family. Cheri shares her experience of writing her book and the importance of clear communication when reaching out to relatives.Afterward, Tami demonstrates how easy it is to open multiple websites simultaneously by using the browser extension “Open Multiple URLs.”During Teatime, the hosts discuss recent changes to what the VA is sending when one makes a FOIA request through birls.org. Elizabeth compares the file she received in February with the useless letters genealogists are receiving now. Then, Tami discusses the reasons behind the upcoming closure of the Plaza Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Those planning to attend the 2026 RootsTech Conference should consider making hotel reservations sooner rather than later due to this closure!Finally, Tami shares a couple of Family History Month announcements regarding upcoming events by Vivid-Pix. If you are in the area, you won’t want to miss these!______________TIMECODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 - INTRO00:00:38 - Introduction to Genealogy Podcast00:01:27 - Thank you to our Listeners and to WikiTree Challenge Elves00:02:57 - Tami's Milo Allen Update00:04:31 - Sponsor Break00:05:01 - Introduction to Cheri Hudson Passey00:05:49 - Interview with Cheri Hudson Passey00:28:11 - Tech Tip: Open Multiple URLs00:30:54 - Teatime00:33:15 - Changes in how VA Fills FOIA Requests from birls.org00:40:38 - The Plaza Hotel Closure and Future Plans00:43:55 - Vivid-Pix Event Announcements00:46:18 - OUTRO__________________FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA➜ https://www.facebook.com/branchingoutgenpod➜ https://www.instagram.com/branching_out_genealogy_pod➜ https://x.com/branchingoutgen➜ YouTube Channel⁠ @BranchingOutGenealogyPodcast Website ➜ https://branchingout.showEmail us at [email protected] ​

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• Challenge Accepted! Elizabeth Takes the WikiTree Challenge (Now with VIDEO)

  EPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode, Tami and Elizabeth discuss Elizabeth’s participation in the August WikiTree Challenge with special guest Eowyn Langholf, WikiTree Community Manager. They delve into the unique aspects of WikiTree, emphasizing its community-driven approach. In the What's Happening segment, Elizabeth shares news about babies born recently using a 3-parent IVF technique. Tami discusses creating AI biographies and videos using tools from Storied and MyHeritage. During Teatime, Elizabeth spills the tea on the California Digital Newspaper Collection receiving needed funding and then letting all the employees go. Tami spills even more tea on strange genealogy job postings.TIMESTAMPS00:00:00  Intro00:03:08  What Elizabeth is working on: DAR Applications and the Inheritance Project00:05:52  What Tami is working on: Visualizing Genealogy Data00:07:33  Interview with Eowyn Langholf, WikiTree Community Manager00:20:09  About the WikiTree Challenge 00:22:37  Preparing for the Challenge00:27:36  The WikiTree Challenge Process00:32:21  The Growth and Accuracy of WikiTree00:32:50  Future Aspirations for WikiTree00:38:44  What’s Happening: Three-Parent IVF00:40:52  What’s Happening: The Internet Archive and the GPO00:42:29  What’s Happening: Enhancing Biographies with AI using Storied and MyHeritage00:52:50  Teatime: California Digital Newspaper Collection00:55:22  Teatime: Genealogy Jobs01:00:26  Outro RESOURCESThe DAR Inheritance Project - ⁠https://blog.dar.org/2021/09/27/inherit-grandmas-patriots-through-new-program-launch⁠WikiTree - ⁠https://www.wikitree.com⁠Elizabeth’s WikiTree Challenge - ⁠https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1913531/2025-wikitree-challenge-research-for-elizabeth-oneal-ended⁠ 8 babies born with experimental 3-parent IVF technique - ⁠https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/3-parent-babies-uk-australia-1.7587286⁠The Internet Archive – ⁠https://archive.org⁠Federal Depository Library Directory – ⁠https://ask.gpo.gov/s/FDLD⁠GPO makes available Supreme Court cases dating back to the 18th century – ⁠https://librarytechnology.org/pr/31522⁠Storied U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 – ⁠https://storied.com/historical-record-search/world-war-I-draft-registration-cards⁠MyHeritage’s AI Biographer™ – ⁠https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/12/introducing-ai-biographer-create-a-wikipedia-like-biography-for-any-ancestor-using-ai-enriched-with-historical-context⁠MyHeritage’s Deep Story (desktop version) – ⁠https://www.myheritage.com/deepstory⁠Losing Our History? Funding for the CaliforniaDigital Newspaper Collection Was Restored—but UC Riverside Laid Off All of theEmployees Responsible for the Project Anyway – ⁠https://cvindependent.com/2025/07/losing-our-history-funding-for-the-california-digital-newspaper-collection-was-restored-but-uc-riverside-laid-off-all-of-the-employees-responsible-for-the-project-anyway⁠ConferenceKeeper’s Genealogy Jobs – ⁠https://conferencekeeper.org/genealogy-jobs⁠Genealogy Jobs Facebook Group – ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/1497651017151639⁠KEYWORDSWikiTree, genealogy, family history, community, AI, research,challenges, collaboration, ancestry, DNA, jobs, genetic genealogy

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• Tami Joins the DAR!

  After a three-month hiatus involving a variety of life's ups and downs, Elizabeth and Tami are back in the studio! In this episode, they catch up on the past couple of months, including a few unexpected setbacks, some personal updates, and a few bright spots of good news.The conversation turns to lineage society applications, with a focus on joining the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Why might genealogists want to apply? How do you find a chapter, and what do you need to get started? Tami shares her personal application journey, including what documentation she already had, what still needs to be tracked down, and tips on what kinds of evidence are most useful.This episode's "What's Happening" segment covers several key updates:Changes to the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Application Guide and processNews of 23andMe's change in ownershipHow to connect your FamilyTreeDNA account to WikiTree and MyHeritagePlus, Tami walks us through recent enhancements to MyHeritage’s Live Memory feature.During Tea Time, Tami spills the tea about a scary use of Artificial Intelligence for building family trees. Elizabeth sweetens things up by spotlighting GEDmatch's "Honor the Fallen" initiative, which pays tribute to those who served.Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more genealogy goodness.Got a question or an idea for a future episode? Email us or leave a comment—we'd love to hear from you!*****Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/branchingoutgenpodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/branching_out_genealogy_podYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BranchingOutGenealogyPodcast*****TIMESTAMPSOpening03:29 Elizabeth mentions receiving an Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society04:00 ConferenceKeeper makes the Family Tree (UK) magazine’s Best 50 Websites listTami Joins the DAR06:22  Tami's application to the DAR07:38  Tami's questions about joining DAR08:39 Elizabeth answers questions about DAR chapters and meetings 08:55 Elizabeth talks about the new chapter of DAR in Ireland10:00 Proof requirements for a DAR application13:23 Choosing a chapter to join14:18 How DAR membership benefits family history16:07 Finding a registrar and starting your DAR application18:00 Applying when a relative has already joined.18:30 Documents needed for Tami's DAR applicationWhat’s Happening 31:40 BCG 2025 Application Guide changes33:18  Final sale of 23andMe to non-profit TTAM36:29 Connecting FamilyTreeDNA account to WikiTree37:58 MyHeritage update to Live MemoryTea Time41:30 Tami shares a scary misuse of Artificial Intelligence for family trees.45:30 Elizabeth discusses the GedMatch initiative called “Honor the Fallen,” which attempts to use DNA to help identify remains of missing service members from WWII and the Korean War.*****RESOURCESNGS Award Recipients - https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/awards/Family Tree (UK) Magazine's 50 Best Free Genealogy Websites - https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/50-free-family-history-websites Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - https://www.dar.org/DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) - https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?Tab_ID=0BCG New Application Guide Info - https://bcgcertification.org/new-application-guide-2025FamilyTreeDNA Collab with WikiTree - https://blog.familytreedna.com/connect-wikitree-dna-matches/GEDmatch's "Honor the Fallen" - https://www.gedmatch.com/fallen-warriors-the-unknowns/Individual Deceased Personnel File Portal - https://idpfs.com/

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• RootsTech 2025 Wrap-Up

  In this episode, co-hosts Elizabeth and Tami talk about their experiences at 2025 RootsTech Conference, from the Expo Hall to the Forums, what’s new at FamilySearch, and what other industry leaders are up to.  The show begins with a follow-up to Tami’s Ancestry Pet DNA testing and Elizabeth’s FOIA BIRLS request. Next up are highlights from RootsTech, followed by a visit with Gena Philibert-Ortega, who shares her enthusiasm about GRIP and her passion for reading.What's Happening includes news about upcoming events, changes, and scholarship deadlines.During Tea Time, Elizabeth provides an update on NY Vital Records, and Tami discusses genealogy in the virtual world of Second Life.TIMESTAMPS2:23 Tami shares results of her pound pup’s DNA test, which included a close shared match.7:00 Elizabeth talks about receiving one of her FOIA BIRLS files.RootsTech Wrap Up14:06 RootsTech online14:47 Relatives at RootsTech17:58 FamilySearch's Global Tech Forum19:21 FamilySearch Family Group Trees20:23 FamilySearch Tree Integrity 23:26 FamilySearch New Change Log24:00 Full Text Search Updates25:01 FamilySearch AI Help ChatBot26:44 Industry Highlight Forum28:50 MyHeritage: New Cousin Finder, phone app update29:57 Storied: Memory books; creating a new census index31:50 SOAR32:18 Remento34:38 Ancestry’s phone scanner and AI tools35:38 MyHeritage Ancient Origins39:29 Gena Philibert-Ortega's RootsTech Experience40:54  Her role at NGS41:55 GRIP 46:05 Gena’s courses at SLIG47:47 How Gena fits it into her schedule & reading goals52:20 What Gena’s currently readingWHAT'S HAPPENING56:30 The National Genealogical Society 2025 Family History Conference “Tales & Trails” May 2025.59:20 BCG adoption of two-part portfolio for CG application process1:00:50  APG scholarships for the Professional Management Conference1:02:27  NYG&B seeking volunteers and interns for their digitization team1:03:21  Scholarship and awards deadlines on Conference KeeperTEA TIME1:04:00 New York vital records availability update.1:06:18  Second Life chapter APG reorganizationRESOURCESAncestry Pet DNA - https://petdna.ancestry.com BIRLS - https://www.birls.org/ RootsTech  https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/ Elizabeth's Blog about Relatives at RootsTech  - https://www.thefamilyheart.com/relatives-at-rootstech/ Imagetotext.io - https://www.imagetotext.io/ FamilySearch Labs - https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/ FamilySearch Group Trees - https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/family-group-trees-learning-center FamilySearch New Change Log - https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/using-the-improved-person-changelog-experiment FamilySearch AI Help ChatBot - https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/Content Authenticity Initiative - https://contentauthenticity.orgMyHeritage Cousin Finder - https://blog.myheritage.com/2025/03/introducing-cousin-finder-gain-dna-level-insights-without-a-dna-test/ Storied - https://storied.comSOAR - https://try.soar.com/teamRemento - https://www.remento.coAncestry Scanner - https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Scanning-Images-with-the-Ancestry-App?language=en_US Vivid Pix - https://www.vivid-pix.com GRIP - https://grip.ngsgenealogy.orgSLIG - https://slig.ugagenealogy.orgGoodReads - https://www.goodreads.comThe Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island - https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Annie-Moore-Ellis-Island/dp/0996599312 NGS 2025 Family History Conference - https://conference.ngsgenealogy.orgBCG Springboard - https://bcgcertification.org/springboard APG Scholarships - https://www.apgen.org/apg_awards_and_scholarships.phpNYG&B Internships -   https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/content/internships NYG&B Volunteers - https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/volunteer  ConferenceKeeper Awards/Grants/Scholarships - https://conferencekeeper.org/grants-scholarshipsSL-APG https://slapg.wordpress.com SLVGS https://slvirtualgenealogy.org

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