Stories in Our Roots
Stories in Our Roots
Heather Murphy, Genealogist
By seeking the stories of our ancestors, we find our own. Through the lens of genealogy, host Heather Murphy invites you to embark on a transformative quest of self-discovery, enabling you to cultivate self-awareness, forge meaningful connections, and embrace a life filled with resilience and joyful authenticity. Be inspired to take your own journey into the branches of your family tree, illuminating the stories of your ancestors and empowering you to discover your true self. Through research, personal anecdotes, and expert insights, we explore how knowing the stories in our roots can reshape our identities and change how we see the world and our place in it.
Unraveling Their Family's Departure During Iran's Golden Age | Danielle and Galeet Dardashti
Join Danielle and Galeet Dardashti as they share their journey of discovery  to learn why their father's family left Iran during the Golden Age for Jews. With limited access to records to answer their questions, the sisters relied on interviewing over 85 individuals, including family members, scholars, and unexpected acquaintances.  They have reconstructed an engaging story that transcends cultural boundaries and challenges preconceived notions.  What they learned sheds light not only on their familial roots, but also on universal themes of identity, belonging, and the intricate connections that tie us all together. About Danielle and Galeet:Danielle Dardashti is an Emmy award-winning documentary writer/producer, a former on-air TV news reporter, an author, and a Moth storySLAM champion who leads corporate storytelling workshops all over the world.Dr. Galeet Dardashti is a vocalist, composer, and anthropologist of Middle Eastern Jewish culture. In her new album, Monajat, she sings with samples of her grandfather who was called The Nightingale of Iran. She's currently a Fellow at University of Pennsylvania’s Katz Center.Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn  Connect with Galeet on Instagram @galeet.dardashti or Facebook @galeetHead to nightingaleofiran.com to listen to their story and join their list for bonus materials.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Feb 28, 2024
29 min
The Power of Anthropology in Unearthing Family History and Culture | Elizabeth Keating
In retrospect, Elizabeth Keating wishes she would have used her skills as an anthropologist when she interviewed her mother about family history.  To help others avoid her mistakes, Elizabeth shares how we can use interviews with living family members to uncover the everyday experiences and cultural nuances of previous generations.  Elizabeth encourages listeners to embrace the value of family stories and their priceless insights to help us understand not only what happened to our ancestors, but to envision what life was like from their perspective and experience. About Elizabeth:Elizabeth Keating is a professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. She’s just written a book "The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations" that helps people find out more about their own family’s history. Her specialty in anthropology is Linguistic Anthropology, the study of language and culture.Connect with Elizabeth:Website: elizabeth-keating.comInstagram: @elizabethkeating44 LinkedIn: Elizabeth KeatingAre we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Dec 20, 2023
29 min
Vivien Sieber - How War Changed the Trajectory of Her Grandmother's Life
Our conversation delves into the remarkable life of Vivien Sieber's Czech-born grandmother, who faced adversity and triumphs during World War II. From owning a cinema in Vienna to finding refuge in England and caring for girls who fled their families as part of the Kinder Transport, Vivien uncovers the intricacies of her family's history and shares the lessons she learned along the way.About Vivien:Dr. Vivien Sieber worked in biosciences research, education development, learning technology and information literacy at a range of UK universities. She lives in Oxford with her husband and dogs. Since retiring she is learning to make pots and has written Kino and Kinder.Connect with Vivien:Facebook: Kino and KinderInstagram: siebervivienLinkedIn: Vivien SieberAre we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Nov 30, 2023
28 min
How to Face Your Ancestors' Choices Even When It's Hard
All of your ancestors were perfect, right? Unfortunately, everyone has ancestors who disappoint us with their choices.In this episode, I talk about four ways we respond when we discover an ancestor made choices that hurt others.As we learn to be more open to putting our ancestors' choices into the context of their lives we can see them as real people, living with the effects of their environment, the choices of their family members and others around them, as well as their own choices.An added bonus is that as we learn the skill of being observant of our ancestors, we can also use that skill in our interactions here and now.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Aug 2, 2023
24 min
Genetic Genealogy Leads to Discoveries and Connections | Stephanie Renée
In Stephanie Renée's story, there's an exploration of identity and belonging that resonates deeply. She began her journey seeking to fill in the gaps left by the early loss of her mother. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her mother was adopted, leading her into the world of genetic genealogy. Despite the hurdles she faced, Stephanie was driven to understand her roots and expand her familial network, bringing her closer to understanding her lineage and establishing a sense of belonging.Connect with Stephanie on Instagram @TheDNAJourney or check out her website StephanieRenee.comWant to support her video series, The DNA Journey?  You can do that here.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Aug 2, 2023
30 min
Using Genealogy to Tell the Truth About the People Her Ancestors Enslaved | Annie Hartnett
Annie Hartnett recently started exploring her family's connections to slave ownership, which took her on a transformative path of discovery. By doing so, Annie gained a deeper understanding of her roots, and as a result, developed an increasingly authentic relationship with herself, her country, and those around her. Fascinated by the forgotten stories of those enslaved, she now dedicates her time to researching and writing about them and hopes to inspire others to do the same."I want to write about the stories of those people whose lives were stolen from them and whose stories have been buried and lost."We talk about:Developing skills for safeguarding historical knowledge and promoting awareness among others. Confronting the legacy of slave ownership and its enduring consequences in today's world. Revealing the previously untold lives of the enslaved and honoring their perseverance. Adopting a mindset of transparency and understanding to progress beyond historical injustices. Gaining insights on maintaining our shared history and educating future generations about the past. Annie Harnett began researching her family’s involvement in chattel slavery in the U.S. in the spring of 2021. Until that time, she knew very little about American history and nothing about genealogy. In addition to the essays and interviews published on Medium, Annie has published essays and op-eds in Salon, the Austin American Statesman, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, among others. Annie has an MFA in Creative Writing from Texas State University and lives in Austin, Texas.Connect with Annie:Website: https://anniehnet.medium.com/Twitter: @AnnieHHartnett1Facebook: @annie.hartnett.5Instagram: @relationskinsfolkAncestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Jun 28, 2023
29 min
Exploring Family Tragedies with Compassion and Understanding with Jacqueline Jannotta
Jacqueline Jannotta's genealogy research uncovers a family history of mob ties and tragedy, revealing the ripple effects of trauma and the importance of understanding our shared humanity.Through her genealogical research, Jacqueline gained a greater understanding and compassion for her ancestors, particularly her tough, outspoken grandmother. The trauma experienced by her family shaped their personalities and relationships, and it made her realize the importance of understanding one's roots to better comprehend oneself and others. Jacqueline's belief that we are all interconnected through our stories encourages her to approach communities and cultures with empathy and curiosity. By exploring the complexities of her own lineage, Jacqueline encourages others to look beyond the surface of their family's history, in order to uncover hidden layers that may lead to greater self-awareness and connection with the world around them.About Jacqueline:Jacqueline Jannotta is the award-winning author of the book Let’s Leave the Country! A Guide to Your Family Year Abroad, inspired by her family’s extraordinary year in Genoa, Italy. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University who spent the early part of her career working in television and sitcoms, followed by producing Internet content. After leaving the entertainment business and starting a family, Jacqueline continued writing and also devised a year abroad for her family. Her book was born out of that adventure, and she continues her work as a writer, avid genealogist, and forever optimist who is dedicated to building a better vision for the future.Website: becomingbetterpeople.usMedium: @JacquelineJannottaFacebook and Instagram: @becomingbetterpeople.usMastodon: @JacquelineJannottaYou can purchase her book, "Let's Leave the Country!: A Guide to Your Family Year Abroad" through Amazon (affiliate link)Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
May 31, 2023
27 min
The Power of Sibling Influence: Extraordinary Acts of a Family Hero
Amidst the shocking history of his family's escape from Austria during the Nazi invasion, Christopher Bock discovers the remarkable life of his great-uncle Paul Patek, a metal worker and artist who played a key role in their survival, inspiring Bock to write a book about him and uncovering hidden talents in his own family lineage."[Researching] really did make me understand my family a lot more in a lot of ways."Key Points:Traverse Christopher Bock's lineage, as we uncover the intricate details of his ancestry.Learn about the gripping escape from Nazi-occupied Austria and the challenges of starting anew.Comprehend the value of investigating family histories and the talents concealed within.Discover the profound influence of family tales in shaping our self-awareness and identity.About Christopher:Everything Christopher Bock does is with passion and thoroughness fueled by curiosity. The list is diverse—photography, collecting baseball cards, keeping bees, and his own hardwood flooring business, Geronimo Floors. But he never thought of writing a book until he was handed his grandfather’s autobiography. That same curiosity and passion led him to the extraordinary story of his grandfather’s escape from Austria in 1938—and the key role a mischievous uncle played in the family’s survival.Christopher's book, "An Ordinary Man: from Vienna to Japan and Back During World War II" is available on Amazon. (affiliate link)Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
May 18, 2023
23 min
Shannon Peel - Hero vs Victim Language in Storytelling
Shannon Peel is an expert at stories, and while her usual audience is made up of business owners looking to improve their marketing, her discussion of hero vs victim language in storytelling is so valuable to those learning about the stories in their family tree.  We started off talking about her deep roots in western Canada, delved into the "why" questions around emigration, and then found ourselves looking at the way we talk about our ancestors, women in particular.Shannon Peel is the creative force behind the MarketAPeel Brand. She works from her home office overlooking life in Downtown Vancouver, BC Canada. She is passionate about stories and how to they connect people and exploring why people make the choices they make. People describe her as intelligent, quick witted, and creative, all things she takes pride in as she values intelligent thought and solution based productivity. MarketAPeel reflects her values and vision.https://www.marketapeel.agency/speakerLinkedIn: Shannon PeelFacebook: @marketapeelTwitter: @shannonpeel1Instagram: @market_apeel-------------This podcast is supported by Heather Murphy's TraceLine Success.  Get your free workbook, Success is Found in Your Roots, at heathercmurphy.com/successworkbookConnect with Heather on Instagram or Facebook @msheathermurphyAre we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Jan 24, 2023
27 min
How a Disastrous Therapy Session Transformed My Use of Family History
In this episode, Heather shares how she took elements from therapy, even after having a very negative experience, and used them to transform the ways in which she approaches family history.  She explains the connection between the 8 C's of Internal Family Systems and the framework she built to unlock the power of family history research.Join us for a new 12- week group program, Rooted Success, to learn how to use psychology and family history to help you live your version of a successful life.You can find the details at https://programs.heathercmurphy.com(You can get it for 40% off if you sign up by November 30, 2022!)Ancestry.com Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphyReady to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.
Nov 22, 2022
23 min
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