Breaking Brick Walls in Genealogy – An Overview with Andrew Koch

In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, editor Andrew Koch offers strategies for breaking through brick walls as you conduct genealogy research. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/FTM-08-2026.mp3 Feature: Breaking Through Brick Walls Brick walls can disrupt any genealogist’s research plans. The good news? There may be a way through them. Family Tree Magazine Editor Andrew Koch addresses some common brick walls that genealogists encounters and offers some tips for overcoming them. Mentioned in this episode: Identifying brick walls and the problems they present Understanding research challenges Search tips and how to expand search parameters Collateral research strategies Social history and why it is important Making the most of timelines and maps 6 Steps for Breaking Down Genealogy Brick Walls Find your footing and scale your highest research brick walls: missing ancestors, burned records, same-named people, and more. Family Tree Magazine /* Embedded-box css */ .embedded-box{ padding: 25px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; color: #82878c; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #e5e5e5; box-shadow: 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,.05); overflow: auto; zoom: 1; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif; } .acf-embed-title{ margin: 0 0 15px; font-weight: 600; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.3; } .acf-embed-description { display: inline-block; } .acf-embed-description img { float: left; max-width: 160px; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .wp-embed-site-title a{ position: relative; display: inline-block; padding-left: 35px; } .wp-embed-site-title span { color: #82878c; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 600; } .wp-embed-site-icon { position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 0; transform: translateY(-50%); height: 25px; width: 25px; border: 0; padding-bottom: 0px!important; } Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this episode of Best Websites, Kathy Meade walks us through ArkivDigital, an extensive site that offers many valuable materials for genealogists to explore. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/07-15-2026-BW.mp3 Feature: Making Use of ArkivDigital for Genealogy Research ArkivDigital is a Swedish gnealogy website that boasts a robust collection of aerial photos, digitized church books, and more. In this interview, Swedish Genealogy Expert and North American Representative Kathy Meade offers a behind-the-scenes look at the website and shares what genealogists can gain from taking advantage of its resources. Also mentioned in this episode: Coverage of Records from 1600s to 1990s Resources for Swedish-American Genealogy How ArkivDigital Makes Use of AI Major Collections of Swedish Records How to Access for Free Subscription Information Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Michael Strauss talks about the American Revolution and what genealogists should know as they research their ancestors. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/FTM-07-01-2026.mp3 Feature: Understanding the American Revolution America’s 250th birthday is on the horizon. With that in mind, some genealogists may be curious about their ancestors who lived through or fought during the American Revolution. Michael Strauss offers an overview of the American Revolution and provides resources that may prove valuable. Also mentioned in this episode: Common misconceptions about the American Revolution and researching those who fought in it The value of pension files Tips for those seeking records from the National Archives Everyday life for those living through the American Revolution—plus historic events and contemporary destinations for celebrating American independence How to learn more about Loyalist ancestors Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this episode of Family Tree Magazine’s Best Website, Katharine Korte Andrew explains what the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is and the resources it offers genealogists who are researching American Revolutionary-era ancestors. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/BW06-15-2026.mp3 Feature: Using the Daughters of the American Revolution’s DatabasesThough it’s created from application documents, DAR’s “Genealogical Research System” (GRS) isn’t just for active members. The collections there can provide valuable details about family members from a few generations ago back to the American Revolution—whether or not you or a qualifying ancestor actually joined the DAR. This interview with DAR member (and Family Tree digital editor) Katharine Andrew gives an overview of the free-to-search GRS portal and the records you can find there. Also mentioned in this episode: An overview of the Genealogical Research System’s various databases, which cover Patriot ancestors, their descendants, past DAR members and more Examples of the records in these databases, used over the decades by women applying to the DAR A detailed tutorial for searching the GRS, plus tips for finding ancestors there and requesting original copies of records Other resources for researching Revolutionary-era ancestors—both those who fought and those who were simply witnesses Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine, Andrew Koch interviews Lindsay Fulton about the 10 Million Names Project, its mission, and its current progress. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/FTM-06-2026.mp3 Feature: 10 Million Names Project American Ancestors, also known as the New England Historic Genealogical Society is proud to announce the 10 Million Names Project, a central database that includes all 10 million people who were enslaved in what is now the United States. American Ancestors Chief Research Officer and head of the 10 Million Names research project offers some insight into the project and its current development. Mentioned in this episode: Why Names Matter in Genealogy Collaborative Efforts and Partnerships Tips for Effective Searching Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Your Host Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this interview, MyHeritage’s senior product manager Alon Ehrenfeld gives a behind-the scenes look at how ScribeAI was developed and what it can do for your research. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/BW-04-15-26.mp3 Best Websites Episode 38: ScribeAI One of the most exciting announcements from RootsTech 2026 was ScribeAI, MyHeritage’s new tool for transcribing and analyzing user-uploaded photos and documents. Mentioned in this episode: An overview of ScribeAI and the details it provides as part of its analysis: a transcription of any text, context about the time and place a document was made or a photo was taken, and the reasoning behind each data point Real-life examples of how ScribeAI suggests areas of further research A step-by-step tutorial by Digital Editor Katharine Andrew How AI tools like ScribeAI and MyHeritage’s PhotoDater are generally trained, and what makes ScribeAI stand out A unique summary of how MyHeritage comes up with new ideas for tools MyHeritage features that are still in development, including some hinted in CEO Gilad Japhet’s latest presentation at RootsTech (watch a recording here) The MyHeritage Blog, where users can about more new and updated website features   Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Your Host Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this episode of Best Websites, Andrew Koch speaks to Mitchell Lewis and Matt Wheeler about using newspapers for genealogy research using the tool Newspaper Finder. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/BW-05-2026.mp3 Newspaper Finder Newspapers are excellent resources for genealogists searching for clues about their ancestors. Newspaper Finder makes discovering historical newspapers easier. Mentioned in this episode: Challenges in Newspapers Research The Role of Advantage Archives User Feedback and Launch Experience Newspaper Finder: A New Tool for Searching Old Newspapers (Review and Tutorial) Locate online newspapers relevant to your genealogy with this tool for searching Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank and more. Family Tree Magazine /* Embedded-box css */ .embedded-box{ padding: 25px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; color: #82878c; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #e5e5e5; box-shadow: 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,.05); overflow: auto; zoom: 1; font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif; } .acf-embed-title{ margin: 0 0 15px; font-weight: 600; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.3; } .acf-embed-description { display: inline-block; } .acf-embed-description img { float: left; max-width: 160px; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .wp-embed-site-title a{ position: relative; display: inline-block; padding-left: 35px; } .wp-embed-site-title span { color: #82878c; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 600; } .wp-embed-site-icon { position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 0; transform: translateY(-50%); height: 25px; width: 25px; border: 0; padding-bottom: 0px!important; } Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Your Host Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast, Brook Schreier-Ganz and Alec Ferretti explain how Reclaim the Records fights for record releases and what that means for genealogists. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/FTM-05-2026.mp3 Feature: Reclaim the Records and Record Releases Most records of interest to genealogists in the United States are created by government agencies; however, not all government agencies are cooperative about releasing these records. Non-profit organization Reclaim the Records that advocates for these records to be released, sometimes with legal action. Mentioned in this episode: The mission and focus of Reclaim the Records Challenges that arise when accessing public records Record access laws and trends affecting them The issue of privacy when accessing public records Current and upcoming projects at Reclaim the Records How to advocate for open records Websites created by Reclaim the Records, like newyorkdeathindex.com Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Your Host Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

In this interview, MyHeritage’s senior product manager Alon Ehrenfeld gives a behind-the scenes look at how ScribeAI was developed and what it can do for your research. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/BW-04-15-26.mp3 Best Websites Episode 38: ScribeAI One of the most exciting announcements from RootsTech 2026 was ScribeAI, MyHeritage’s new tool for transcribing and analyzing user-uploaded photos and documents. Mentioned in this episode: An overview of ScribeAI and the details it provides as part of its analysis: a transcription of any text, context about the time and place a document was made or a photo was taken, and the reasoning behind each data point Real-life examples of how ScribeAI suggests areas of further research A step-by-step tutorial by Digital Editor Katharine Andrew How AI tools like ScribeAI and MyHeritage’s PhotoDater are generally trained, and what makes ScribeAI stand out A unique summary of how MyHeritage comes up with new ideas for tools MyHeritage features that are still in development, including some hinted in CEO Gilad Japhet’s latest presentation at RootsTech (watch a recording here) The MyHeritage Blog, where users can about more new and updated website features   Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Your Host Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

Join host Andrew Koch in an interview with Jonny Perl, founder of DNA Painter, who shares tips for using this popular genetic genealogy platform to more deeply analyze your DNA test results. https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/FTM-04-26.mp3 Feature: DNA Painter and Genetic Genealogy The major testing companies each provide tools that analyze your results and provide insight into how you’re related to matches. But you can get even more out of your DNA by turning to specialized third-party platforms. One of the most-popular is DNA Painter, which specializes in chromosome-mapping, identifying family clusters, and investigating family mysteries. In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, the site’s founder Jonny Perl provides expert guidance to the tools he’s created and what they can do for users. Mentioned in this episode: An introduction to DNA Painter and how it can help genealogists How to get started on the site—including with a new page for beginner users Overviews of useful tools, including the Shared cM Project and “What are the Odds?” (WATO) The latest trends in DNA and genetic genealogy: clustering tools, deeper analysis, and possible AI enhancements A Facebook group for DNA Painter users New site features that are still in development    Stay in the Know Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get: Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics Exclusive offers on new tools and resources Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels! Your Host Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.