Episode 2: Cool Tools for Genealogy Story Collectors

In this episode, co-hosts Elizabeth and Tami share the stories that got them hooked on genealogy.

Next, they discuss several tools for collecting, transcribing, and sharing your family’s stories (some are low-tech and free). They also offer story-collecting gift ideas for family members who missed the holiday get-togethers, as well as those who may be shy or less tech-savvy.

During What’s Happening, Elizabeth shares a call to action to support the Bring Our Heroes Home Act, and Tami shares a reminder to submit your nominees for NGS awards.

Finally, Elizabeth spills the tea on recent genetic genealogy lawsuits, but Tami “cleans up” with good news about recently announced RootsTech keynote speakers and kudos to an amazing 92-year-old FamilySearch volunteer.

TIMESTAMPS:

02:04 Tami’s “lost” family story

03:56 Elizabeth’s “lost” family story

Collecting Family Stories

08:01 The importance of listening and collecting stories

09:18 MyHeritage Live Memory

13:33 The Oral History Association

14:03 Vivid Pix Memory Station Software

17:19 StoryCorps

19:02 FamilySearch Memories

19:45 MyHeritage Mobile App

19:53 Pixstori

20:36 StoryMaps

21:43 Nominate someone for America 250

Recording & Transcribing Tools

24:12 Voice memo apps for iPhone

25:24 Otter.ai

25:53 Zoom transcription

26:53 Google Docs voice typing

Story Collecting Gift Ideas

28:32 StoryWorth

31:47 Storii

33:32 Remento

35:03 The DIY Way (low tech & low cost)

What’s Happening

37:00 APG supports Bring Our Heroes Home Act

38:35 NGS Awards

Tea Time

40:07 Genetic Genealogy lawsuits

42:33 RootsTech Keynote Speaker announcement

43:18 Kudos to FamilySearch Indexing volunteer Marilyn Clement

RESOURCES:

MyHeritage Live Memory - https://cm.myheritage.com/livememory/

Oral History Association - https://oralhistory.org/

Vivid Pix Memory Station Software - https://www.vivid-pix.com/memorystationsoftware/

StoryCorps - https://storycorps.org/

FamilySearch Memories - https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/tag/memories

PixStori - https://www.pixstori.com/

StoryMaps - https://storymaps.com/

America 250 (nominate someone) - https://america250.org/nominate/

Voice Recorder & Audio Editor (Apple app) - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voice-recorder-audio-editor/id685310398

Otter.ai - https://otter.ai/

Zoom Transcriptions - https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0064927

Storyworth - https://www.storyworth.com/

Storii (Save 20% with code FESTIVE24) -

Remento (Save $15 with code SAVE15) - https://www.remento.co/

APG’s 1-Page Summary of BOHHA - https://members.apgen.org/ct.php?lid=346409795&mm=111054848883

Find your Senator - https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

Find your Representative - https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

NGS Awards - https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/awards/

The DNA Geek: It Just Got Real (GEDmatch lawsuits) - https://thednageek.com/it-just-got-real/

The DNA Geek: FTDNA Joins the “So Sue Me” Party - https://thednageek.com/ftdna-joins-the-so-sue-me-party/

The Legal Genealogist: Of money and chances - https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2024/11/22/of-money-and-chances/

RootsTech Keynote Speakers - https://www.familysearch.org/en/newsroom/rootstech-2025-first-four-keynotes-announced

This episode is sponsored by Vivid Pix. All product opinions are our own.