Podcast co-hosts Nate Ward and Helen Tovey chat family history. Nate’s been revisiting his first forays into family history research, and making sure that the research he did right at the beginning of his genealogy journey is as solid as he’d like. (And what a good idea that is too – after all, everything that comes after, is built on each of our earliest endeavours. So getting those foundations solid is an excellent plan). Helen’s been skipping a bit of home-work, but is actually writing up some of her family stories at long last.
Tune is as podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chunter family history, including: a small confession about some facts from last time, to make sure nobody’s led astray; a peek at their recent research endeavours; and chat about the importance of family stories. Both Nate and Helen, too, reflect anew on old family stories, and find things weren’t always – perhaps - quite as they seemed.
Farmer? Seedsman? Bridge-painter? Commercial traveller? What did your ancestor do all day? Tune in as podcast co-hosts Helen Tovey & Nathan Ward chat genealogy, and share thoughts about their ancestors’ occupations – and the clues these can reveal about lives, obstacles and opportunities in times gone by.
Tune in for the latest episode in which Helen Tovey & Nathan Ward discuss their most recent forays in to family history. Helen is at long last dusting off her project to find out more about her Mary Ann and find the answer to the question mark over Mary Ann’s father. While Nathan asks super-useful, reflective and insightful questions to help Helen focus up, and shares an update on his own genealogy endeavours.
Thank you to podcast listeners Sharyn, Jacqueline and Brian who each brilliantly stepped up to help Nathan find his Mary Ann, who was seemingly absent from the 1891 Census. Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey explain the super-simple solution for the missing Mary Ann (it’s always simple once you know, hey!), and share the tactics they’d tried too, to no avail. Listening & learning! Tune in for genealogy chat and chunter.
No genealogy nitty-gritty is too itty-bitty and small for Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward. This episode they chat about what it’s actually like doing family history. Helen shares how she’s tackling some genealogy records she’s been meaning to file for years (9 years in fact!), while Nathan wonders whether he needs to park his research on one branch and roll up his sleeves for a new family history adventure. Tune in for genealogy chit chat – we’d love you to join us.
This week co-hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward share their latest discoveries and family history tasks. Nathan continues to make good progress on his tree, but he’s kind of feeling he’s reached a standstill with an ancestor that he just can’t find on the 1881 Census. Might you have a handy hint to help him out? Plus Helen rolls up her sleeves and starts to add a collection of documents to her tree that have been languishing in a folder for years now. Can you relate?! Tune in for genealogy pondering and chuntering.
In this week’s episode of Family Tree Talk, one-time rookie researcher Nathan Ward, spreads his wings and explains the tactics he’s been using to smash through research road blocks left, right and centre. Helen Tovey listens in… in awe of the family history progress made. Tune in for practical tips to help overcome the sense of family history ‘overwhelm’, and make strides in your family history investigations.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Nathan Ward reveals a truly tangled family tree featuring multiple marriages, overlapping timelines, and a seemingly endless number of children.· Who belongs to whom?· & How can he tell family unit from the next?As the puzzle unfolds, Helen Tovey offers practical tips and a calming voice of reason to help make sense of the confusion.Whether you're new to genealogy or a seasoned researcher, you'll enjoy this lively conversation full of helpful ideas for unpicking even the knottiest branches of your family tree.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Nathan uncovers an unexpectedly large number of Dinahs and Francises in his tree — are they a coincidence, or a genealogical puzzle waiting to be solved? Meanwhile, Helen dives into two intriguing investigations: her Granny’s wartime sweetheart and a 5x great-grandfather with curious “home guard” ties in the 18th century. Remarkably, both Nathan and Helen actually stuck to their family history plans this week! Tune in to find out what they discovered — and if you're looking for a way to keep your own research on track, we've got a tool that might just help…
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward share the latest twists and turns in their family history research. This week, Nathan decided to resist the usual rabbit holes and focus on growing his tree — but puzzling records soon had him questioning what he could safely add. Meanwhile, Helen tuned into her grandmother’s fascinating WW2 memories of working for SIS (Special Intelligence Service), a reminder of the rich family stories waiting to be uncovered. Plus, Helen admits to nearly making a rookie mistake — and shares how to avoid the classic ‘leap before you look’ research trap.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward speak to Dr Mike Esbester, head of the Railway Work, Life & Death Project, to uncover the rich history of railway workers in the UK. Marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway (Railway200), Mike explores the huge impact the railways had on our ancestors’ lives — from the jobs they did to the dangers they faced. Learn how to trace your railway-working relatives and discover how working conditions, roles, and risks have evolved over time. It's a fascinating journey into an industry that transformed Britain.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward catch up on their latest family history finds. Helen shares a brilliant new way she’s discovered to encourage relatives to record their memories — perfect for preserving living history. Meanwhile, Nate’s deep in decision-making mode, wondering which historical document to focus on next and which tempting research rabbit hole to follow. Join the conversation for relatable stories, practical tips, and a warm slice of real-life family history fun.
Feeling stuck in your family history research – or simply drowning in a sea of notes and records? In this episode of Family Tree Talk, host Helen Tovey is joined by professional genealogist and educator Dr Sophie Kay to explore how a clear research methodology can transform the way you work. Discover how research logs, well-framed questions, and practical research plans can bring structure, clarity and results to your genealogy. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned sleuth, Sophie’s expert insights will help you avoid common pitfalls, break through brick walls, and make your family history research more rewarding than ever.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward delve into Nathan’s latest genealogy discoveries — from a potential First World War soldier to a nun and an RAF airman (or maybe even a pilot!). As Nathan tries to piece together these intriguing lives, he turns to Helen for advice on how to be sure he's got the right people in his tree. Tune in for practical tips, expert insights, and a peek behind the scenes of real-life research as our hosts explore the highs and head-scratchers of tracing your family history.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward chat to DNA Detective Michelle Leonard about how to use DNA results to break through your toughest family history brickwalls. Michelle shares practical advice on how to get started with DNA research and explains how her in-depth DNA Bootcamp course can help you make sense of your Ancestry DNA matches — no matter your experience level. Want to learn more? Check out her upcoming course here: bit.ly/4bFZOzA and browse more expert-led sessions at family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/webinars.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward are joined by passionate family historian Karen Evans, who shares her expert advice on getting the most out of the Ancestry website. From clever search strategies to solving tricky tree problems, Karen offers practical tips and insider tricks to help you research smarter and break down those brick walls. It’s a must-listen for anyone using Ancestry—or thinking about it! Karen also tells us about her new online course, How to use Ancestry (better), designed to help you take your research to the next level.
In this latest episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward are joined by a special guest — their boss, Matt Hill! Together, they share their strangest family history discoveries, the heirlooms they treasure most, and which ancestor they'd invite to dinner. From tracing long-lost relatives in America to tales of 1800s travel adventures, this episode is packed with fascinating stories and genealogy inspiration. Whether you're new to family history or a seasoned researcher, you’ll love this mix of expert insight and personal reflection. Tune in for fun, facts and a few surprises along the way!
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward get stuck into some real family history discoveries and practical tips. Helen shares how Ancestry Hints helped her trace her grandpa’s cousin’s dad—and why she’s a total convert to Hints! Meanwhile, Nathan digs into an intriguing email from listener Marilyn, who suspects a shared connection with him. Could they be related? Plus, your hosts explain how to set up a second family tree on Ancestry, how to make your tree public or private, and how to change the home person in your tree settings. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned family historian, there's something here to help you get more from your research.
In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Helen Tovey catches up with newbie-ish family historian Nathan Ward to see how he’s getting on with his research—and it turns out, he’s made amazing progress! From uncovering historic documents to following online hints, Nate shares the highs and lows of his family history journey. Helen offers advice on using hints wisely and avoiding common pitfalls. Together, they explore how to research thoroughly, the thrill of unexpected discoveries, and the irresistible pull of those family history rabbit holes.