Stories That Live In Us

Dec 05 2024 37 ep. 31 mins 33
Stories That Live In Us Podcast artwork

What if the most powerful way to strengthen your family’s future is to look to the past?

I’m Crista Cowan, known online as The Barefoot Genealogist.  I created this podcast to inspire you to form deeper connections with your family - past, present, and future.  All families are messy and life is constantly changing but we don’t have to allow that to disconnect us.  I’ve spent my whole life discovering the power of family history and I know that sharing the stories that live in you can change everything.

Tune in weekly to receive inspiration and guidance that will help you use family stories to craft a powerful family narrative, contributing to your family’s identity and creating a legacy of resilience, healing, and connection.
__________________________

Want to climb your family tree and uncover your own family stories?  Visit my website - CristaCowan.com - and sign up for my free newsletter.

  Society & Culture
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


A Phone Call From Heaven (with Jenny Ashcraft) | Episode 36

Dec 05 2024 28 mins  
When Jenny Ashcraft joked with her dying father about needing a 'cell phone call from heaven' to start family history... that's exactly what she got. Just days after her father's funeral, a mysterious package arrived from a stranger who felt compelled to send her family records after reading her father's obituary. Follow Jenny's journey from a reluctant beginner to becoming part of

Sometimes You Don't Like the Answer (with Lisa Elzey) | Episode 35

Nov 28 2024 28 mins  
Two genealogists discover they might share a Mayflower connection - but there's a twist.In this special Thanksgiving episode, my producer Lisa Elzey and I explore our connection to America’s founding story, take a memorable trip to Plymouth Plantation, and learn that sometimes uncovering the truth means letting go of cherished family lore. Through our journey, we reveal how the r

Back to the Cherokee Nation (with Nicka Sewell-Smith) | Episode 34

Nov 21 2024 36 mins  
Not everyone stumbles on a photo of a relative hanging in a hotel bathroom, but Nicka Sewell-Smith isn’t just anyone. And, that’s not even the most interesting story she has to tell. From family reunions to battles for tribal citizenship, Nicka reveals an American tale that challenges common narratives about Native American and African American history. Her persistence and use

The Fabric of Who You Are | (with Diahan Southard) | Episode 33

Nov 14 2024 41 mins  
Have you ever thought about how deeply you can trace your roots with just a simple DNA test?Listen in on my conversation with Diahan Southard, a trailblazer in consumer genomics and the founder of Your DNA Guide. She takes us through her story, starting as a microbiology student at Brigham Young University, continuing to her work with Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, leadin

Dad, I Want to Know About the War (with Becky Ellis) | Episode 32

Nov 07 2024 36 mins  
Becky Ellis takes us on an emotional journey through her intricate family dynamics shaped by her father's World War II experiences. Raised in a complex environment in 1970s California, Becky paints a vivid picture of navigating a childhood marked by her father's dual roles as a respected surgeon and unpredictable alcoholic. Her story is a powerful exploration of seeking paternal lo

Not Much of a Saint | Episode 31

Oct 31 2024 19 mins  
Does anyone else feel like the veil between life and death, this world and the next, thins around this time of year?Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and Dia de los Muertos mark the beginning of the holiday season—a time for family, nostalgia, and deep connection. This week also happens to be my birthday.From my early childhood, my birthday celebrations often mingled with

La Cugina d'Americana (with Suzanne Russo Adams) | Episode 30

Oct 24 2024 39 mins  
Does your family history include run-ins with the mafia, witches, and sea monsters?Suzanne Russo Adams always cherished her lively Italian family gatherings but wasn’t initially drawn to genealogy. It took tearful Latin lessons and storytelling at Sunday dinners to spark her passion for family history.After graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in family history,

Why Didn't We Know This Story (with Gayle George) | Episode 29

Oct 17 2024 40 mins  
What if uncovering a family story you never knew could change the way you see yourself and the world? I believe family history has the power to do just that.Back in 2019, Ancestry and SundanceTV premiered a documentary short at the Sundance Film Festival called Railroad Ties. This film explores the legacy of the Underground Railroad and its lasting impact on the descendants of both

I Had Come Home | Episode 28

Oct 10 2024 29 mins  
When someone asks where you're from, do you think of a place or the people? Is 'home' just a word, or does it evoke something more?In this episode, join me as I explore the notion of 'home' through stories from the life of my 3x great-grandfather, Samuel Mulliner. From the Scottish Highlands to the valleys of Utah, discover how the places he walked and the descendants he left behin

Be At The Things That Matter Most (with The Cowan Niblings) | Episode 27

Oct 03 2024 47 mins  
Do we have a family motto? Not officially. But if we did, it might be "Cowans Show Up For Each Other!" As for my personal creed as an aunt? It's simple: Love each of them for exactly who they are and help them discover who they want to become.In this episode, freshly returned from a week-long cruise to Alaska and recorded just eight hours after our arrival, you'll hear me chat with