Genealogy for beginners and more - podcast review

When dealing with history, I am usually swept to the grand scheme of things, but whatever we claim to be able to say about it boils down to meticulous research and delving into the details. The details of history, when told as uninterpreted facts, have run the love of history for many a listener into the ground, but a sure way, I venture, to get hooked into the details of history, is when you get involved in family history, especially your own.

On the subject of genealogy, which is a science and a skill in itself, which overlaps history and these days goes beyond it as well, I have discovered (with the help of some friends) a couple of great podcasts. One for the beginners and one for the advanced genealogist. Both podcasts are produced by a greatly talented lady Lisa Louise Cooke. So here goes.

For those who want to try their hand at genealogy and have need of advice how to go about uncovering their family's history, Lisa makes the podcast Family History: Genealogy Made Easy. This podcast helps you get started. There is advice how to organize your data (good tips what software to use in all sorts of price ranges) which is very important because many amateur family historians find along their way they have to go back and reorganize their work. And a lot of advice where and how to find out what you need to know.

For those who have been on the road for a long time and need the encouragement and connection with tales of genealogy there is the Genealogy Gems podcast. If you ever thought there is only so much you can find out, only so far to get - this podcast tells you there is always more. And should you have thought that family history stays small scale micro-history and never connects with the grand scheme of things, you may be in for a surprise.