Extreme Genes - America's Family History And Genealogy Radio Show & Podcast

Fisher opens the show with word of a new scent that’s on the market to make you smell “like a Viking!”  It’s the real deal!  Fisher visits with Academy Award nominee Edward James Olmos who shares his family’s remarkable path.  In “Family Histoire News,” a museum in Norwich, Connecticut is lauding “Benedict Arnold… Hero!”  It’s all about his contributions to the cause of freedom before turning traitor.  Find out what that’s all about.  And, a Seattle man recently found a box full of color slides taken on his grandparents’ 1939 honeymoon in England.  You’ll want to see the links to these gorgeous pictures taken just before the outbreak of World War II.   This week’s expert guest is Judy Lucey of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society who gives some great advice about things to consider when looking at contributing your family history treasures to an institution or archive.  It’s something many of us will have to think about at some point.   And Pat Mulso of Minnesota has solved a 164-year-old family

Fisher has more news on the corpse of King Richard III.  The modern day discovery of his body under a parking lot was well timed, as a CT scan and a 3D printer have revealed something people had only guessed about in the past.  Learn what it is.   Guest Daniel Swalm of Minnesota will get you looking through your database to find out… could your grandmother have died without her American citizenship as his did?  He’ll tell you about the obscure law he discovered and the path that led him to the floor of the United States Senate!  This is a truly amazing tale!   Family history super sleuth Ron Fox returns to talk about “collecting” your ancestors and finding their memorabilia on places like eBay!  Both Fisher and Ron have done it, and you can too!   Preservation Authority Tom Perry from TMCPlace.com returns with news of the latest invention to make your outdoor family reunion safer.  You’ll be amazed at what it is!  He’ll also fill you in on the latest news surrounding 3D printers.

  Fisher opens the show a great question from a listener about displaying and preserving a century old passport, and who to trust with the project.  Hear Fisher's answer as it could apply to many projects.  Then, in Family Histoire News, excitement is brewing in New England, where a time capsule left by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams is likely to be opened soon!   Then, Col. Gail Halvorsen, best known as "The Berlin Candy Bomber" joins the show to talk about how his one little act of kindness resulted in hope for the besieged people of West Berlin in the 1940s.  It's an intriguing story right from the mouth of the 94-year-old Halvorsen who remembers it all like it was yesterday.  (This should remind you to interview your senior relatives to capture their family stories.)   Then, Tom Perry, the Preservation Authority from TMCPlace.com, talks "room deadening," and mic technique with Fisher to help give you the technical outcome everyone hopes for when recording interviews with family members.   That's this week o

  Fisher opens the show with an amazing story about a holiday incident in his family in the 1960s.  In Family Histoire news, a new study of Viking DNA reveals that Vikings wives may have played a more "hands on" role in their conquests than previous known.  Also, the Vikings are now believed to have settled on particular island city that you are well aware of.  What city was it?  Listen to the story to learn more.  Then, a woman in Virginia discovered a home embalming kit and some very cool records in her home that once belonged to her great grandfather.  What did the records reveal and what is she doing with them?  Fisher will tell you.   Then, guest Judy Russell, the Legal Genealogist, talks about the ethics of DNA research and the ongoing debate about how potentially "embarrassing" results should be handled.  How do DNA secrets compare to secrets revealed by other materials?  Judy will have some thoughts.   George Ott, genealogist for ProGenealogists.com, shares the stories of his interactions with stars B

  Fisher opens the show with an exciting announcement that FamilySearch.org and Roots Magic are now utilizing MyHeritage.com's laser sharp technology to find matches on your family tree automatically.  You will love what it does!  Plus, paternal DNA research on the body of King Richard III shows that, perhaps, there now may be a problem with who sits on the throne of Great Britain!  What's going on?  Give it a listen!   Then, Tennesseans Charles and James Allison visit with Fisher about their two uncles who both served in the Navy and both wound up on the USS Arizona.  Both were killed that fateful day of December 7, 1941.  One of the men wrote a letter home just two months before the attack that was only recently found.  It's content was a shock to the family.  Hear all about it!   Then DNA pioneer Dr. Scott Woodward joins Fisher to talk about the history of DNA ancestral research and how today's techniques of matching populations around the world began.  It will give you a real sense of how far we've come i

Fisher welcomes new radio stations to the family of affiliates.  News this week includes a conclusion that Hitler may have married a Jewish woman!   Hear how the DNA trail of Eva Braun led to this remarkable story.  Also, plans for major freeway construction has led to the discovery of remains of a 250 year old French settlement in St. Louis.  And, an alumnus of Virginia Military Institute has been tracking down descendants of VMI Civil War soldiers who fought in the Battle of New Market.  Find out why.     Research Authority Stan Lindaas, from HeritageConsulting.com, returns with great advice on how to break down “walls”… those lines that just can’t seem to be extended over long periods of time.  Stan talks about one of his own walls, and the remarkable story behind how he cracked the case!     And Tom Perry from TMCPlace.com, our Preservation Authority, continues his discussion on reliable drives, the long term viability of various disks, and tells us about a new disk that is just around the corner that wil

  In Fisher's opening segment, Fisher reveals that many listeners indicated they had direct ancestors who died in their teens and 20s.  In Family Histoire News, Fisher talks about Jeremy Guthrie, a Japanese-American who recently pitched in the World Series for the Kansas City Royals.  Guthrie was on an All-Star tour of Japan and used a day off to connect with distant cousins his family had never met.  Hear how it all came together.  Next was the story of a mother and daughter who both gave birth on the same day!  Then, hear about the few dozen children of Civil War soldiers who are still among us, and their memories of their fathers.  It's amazing to think it's even possible, but it is!   David Allen Lambert of the New England Historic Genealogical Society then joins Fisher to talk about the War of 1812.  Did you know that service of only a couple of weeks could get you a pension for that war?  David is loaded with great information on the war itself, as well as what records are currently available and which

  Fisher opens the show with a welcome for Extreme Genes' 23rd radio affiliate.  In Family Histoire News, a young officer from Wisconsin who faced down a volley of Confederate fire at the Battle of Gettysburg was posthumously presented with the Presidential Medal of Honor by President Obama.  Since he died without children at age 22, the Pentagon struggled to know who to give it to.  Three distant cousins and their families attended the ceremony, with the recipient being a descendant of the officer's aunt.  Read more about it and see the pictures at ExtremeGenes.com.   Since in the past week we celebrated Veteran's Day and the 25th Anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, it was appropriate that Fisher visited with one guest who was both an American vet, and an escapee from East Germany!  Hear the emotional visit with Wynn Hubrich, who talks about how his family outfoxing the Russians and all that followed their crossing to the west before they could safely make their way to the United States.  The

  Fisher opens the show with a review of the ExtremeGenes.com survey on ancestors named for famous people.  The numbers were surprising!  In Family Histoire News for the week, a fourth generation tightrope walker was doing what his family has done for a century... risk death for a living.  This man even tightrope walked in vitro!  Plus, the journals and letters of one man's father have led to a remarkable book on the first Americans to fight in World War II... before December 7, 1941!  He wasn't on the battlefield.  You'll have to hear this remarkable story.   Guest Stan Lindaas of HeritageConsulting.com joins the show to talk about the Great Fires (plural) of 1871.  It wasn't just Chicago that burned on October 8th of that year.  Two other places went up as well, at the cost of even more real estate and lives.  Hear why your ancestors' deaths in these infernos aren't likely to be found in the records.   Jen Allen from FamilySearch.org is on to bring us up to date on the latest developments with this coming y

  Fisher opens the show explaining the complications of having been born on Halloween.  He then gives poll results on whether or not you or a family member have ever had a deceased family member pay a visit.  It may surprise you!  In Family Histoire News... a family history researcher in Ireland has become somewhat obsessed with photographing graves in one particular county.  You won't believe how many he has posted.  Anderson Cooper of CNN recently did a lengthy video piece on his family history.  But not so much the Vanderbilt side as you would suspect.  It was his father's.  It's a great piece that any geni can appreciate.  Check it out at ExtremeGenes.com.   Fisher then talks to first guest Craig McMillan of Lindquist Mortuaries in Utah.  Craig gives a history of the industry, talks about embalming... how long does the preservation really last... and what records you might expect to find at your local mortuary.  It's dead on (pun intended!) for Halloween!   Then listener Sigrid Olsen from Salem, Oregon ta

  Fisher opens the show in shock over the results of a poll about ancestral couples who were 20 years apart in age or more.  Hear the results!  He also shares an email about a man's cop ancestor who later arrested a man who became his grandfather!  In Family Histoire News, This Old House has an amazing gallery of items found during the renovation of old homes.  Find the link at ExtremeGenes.com.  And, one of the last daughter's of a Confederate slave has passed.  Mattie Rice made a remarkable discovery about her father and spent much of her life trying to prove it.  Find out what it was.   Guest AJ Jacobs of Esquire Magazine returns to update us on plans for next June's Largest Family Reunion Ever!  (And EVERYONE is invited!)  Entertainment, speakers, and games at New York's 1964 World's Fair Grounds.  You'll want to be part of it!  AJ will tell you how.   Then, Marsha Noland-Bergman of Independence, Missouri joins us to tell us about her discovery of a 19th century cousin of hers, who, at 9-years-old led a p

  Fisher opens the show with news of an exhibit in New York of one particular Chinese-American family, and the trials they have overcome as they became part of mainstream America.  Also... European "heritage travel" is becoming a booming business in places like Scandinavia and Scotland.  Want to take reindeer herding lessons to commemorate your heritage?  They're waiting for you!   Then... while a lot of family history can take years... even a lifetime... to find, we sometimes forget some items are just underneath our noses!  Phil Devitt, a news editor in Fall River, Massachusetts recently learned that as he found his great grandfather's police journal for 1921.  Phil describes what triggered his interest in his law enforcing ancestor and how the journal wound up in his hands.   Then, Heath Jones, our friend from "Task Force History" in Alabama returns.  He and his friends have been searching the property his family has owned for over 150 years for artifacts left behind by his ancestors.  Last time they found

  This week, Fisher leads off with news of the discovery of another piece of rare footage... the 1924 World Series!  Where was it found and how good are the images?  He'll tell you.  Plus... if you've ever wondered what it would be like to taste bread the way the Pilgrims tasted it, now you can!  Fisher will tell you where to have the experience.   Then, Senior Genealogist at ProGenealogists.com, Gordon Remington, visits to talk about how the dead really communicate with us... through probate records.  We all know about wills, but there are lots of other records that tell us about who and what our dead left behind.  This is likely to be a real eye opener to a lot of family historians, so be sure to listen!   And, Preservation Authority Tom Perry from TMCPlace.com talks about the potential for storing data using QR codes.   That's this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

  Fisher shares his Family Histoire News, which notes that GenealogyBank.com and FamilySearch.org are teaming up to index a BILLION obituaries as soon as possible.  Fisher explains how you can be part of the project.   Blaine Bettinger of Syracuse, New York recently responded to the article in Vox posted last week that essentially blames 23andme for the breakup of the family of one of their customers.  Blaine's article, in the GeneticGenealogist, refutes many of the points made in the Vox commentary.  It's a fascinating debate.  Listen to what Blaine has to say, and find the links to both pieces at ExtremeGenes.com   Michael LeClerc from Mocavo.com joins us to tell us about the benefits of their site.  It's free, and does something no one else does!  You'll want to hear this conversation.  It can change your course of your research journey.   Then, Tom Perry has an amazing example of the "hummingbird effect."  And he'll also share with you the proper way to use your thumb drives.  Some people have an entirely

  Fisher opens the show with a great family story about his wife's uncle, a cell phone, and a funeral!  In Family Histoire News for this week, Fisher tells you about Laura Berry of BBC 1 and her list of Top 10 Family History Apps.  We guarantee you don't know them all!  Then, a man in Michigan went to digitize old home movies belonging to his grandparents from 1941.  You won't believe what they saw, and who wanted to have it.   Mimi McDonald-Hartnett of New Jersey joins the show to tell her story of a house cleaning.  The home, in Jersey City, New Jersey had once belonged to her late grandparents, and most recently belonged to her late aunt.  Mimi and her sisters went to work cleaning after the aunt died and started making family history discoveries that have greatly deepened their ties to their past.   Then, Anna Swayne and Matthew Deighton of Ancestry.com talk about the Ancestry features that are just about to disappear forever.  What are they?  Will you be affected?  Better listen... and fast!    

  Fisher's "Family Histoire" news this week covers two people who have had a struggle with their family history discoveries.  The first is Barbara Haney from North Pole, Alaska (honest!).  As an American she found out her ancestors were on the wrong side of things in the War of 1812.  Find out why she struggled with this find and how she came to terms with it.  The second is a man who calls himself "George Doe."  George took a DNA test, and like many of us, expected wonderful and interesting things to happen.  The interesting things did happen... but they weren't wonderful.  Read his warning about DNA tests and find out what happened to his family as a result of his results!   In segments two and three, husband and wive team Alison Moore and Phil Lancaster tell us about the remarkable child relocation program called "The Orphan Train," which ran out of New York City all over the country for 75 years.  One in six Americans descend from a rider on these trains.  Whether or not you are one of them, you will find

  This week Fisher opens with information of concern for Ashkenazi Jewish women from the New York Times.  Since most Jewish women in the US are Ashkenazi, the article warns they need to be tested for the genetic mutation that is associated with high rates of breast and ovarian cancer.  Studies show that such women are at high risk for carrying the so called "BRCA" gene, made famous by Angelina Jolie last year, when she opted for a double mastectomy because the chance of her getting breast cancer was so high.  Next, Fisher shares the story of a British man who fulfilled the wish of his dying father by locating the second family of his bigamist grandfather in Australia, including his father's half sister.   Fisher then does two segments with Rick Turley, the Assistant Historian and Recorder for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The Mormons have collected family history material since the 1890s, including microfilms by the millions, and now digitized materials.  What can we learn from how the LDS

  Fisher opens by talking about his recent experience at the FGS Conference in San Antonio.  In "Family Histoire News" he tells us about what is believed to be the biggest hurricane in New England history. When did it hit?  1635!  Hear what is known about the largest hurricane no one has ever heard of. Then, Fisher has the story of the discovery of cave that may prove that Neanderthals may have been able to create art!     Guest Janet Hovorka joins the show from FamilyChartmasters.com.  Janet has been gathering information on studies that demonstrate the effect of family history knowledge on the IQs and emotional growth of children.  You'll be amazed at what she has to say.   Then, Shawn Harvey of Cincinnati, Ohio visits with Fisher about a scene that made his blood boil.  He watched as a man tossed a shadowbox into a dumpster.  Learn what was in that shadowbox and the lengths he went to to return the treasures to its rightful owner.   Then Tom Perry returns with some important advice on scanning your old ph

  Fisher begins the show with the latest on what the body of King Richard III has revealed.  Found under a British parking lot just two years ago, the 500-year-old corpse is the scientists' gift that keeps on giving!  Fisher then discusses the latest on cemetery business.  With so many now reaching capacity they're now finding new ways to cash in on our collective demise.  Some may just surprise you!   Stan Lindaas is back from HeritageConsulting.com with some important advice for anyone on the family history trail... "Don't judge a book by it's cover!"  He once picked up a cook book at an estate sale, and wait til you hear what was in it concerning his family.     Jenn Utley from Ancestry.com returns to talk about her experience as an expert guest on Who Do You Think You Are?  She played a key role in uncovering Kelsey Grammer's past and then sharing it with him on camera.     Tom Perry from TMCPlace.com then gives a great lesson on how to shoot video in a way that makes it easy to edit when you're done.  

  In segment one, Fisher's Family Histoire News covers the research results covering an 18th century boat found under the World Trade Center four years ago.  You'll be amazed what researchers were able to learn about this 200 year old ship!  Plus, the odds were ridiculous.  Find out about a young girl who drew the name of an Englishman who was killed in World War I, and learned he was her great great great uncle!   Fisher visits with guest Chris Tomlinson about the first family history he ever wrote.  (It just made the New York Times Bestsellers list!)  "Tomlinson Hill" tracks Chris' ancestry back to his great great grandparents who were slave owners in Texas.  He then followed the history of the "white Tomlinsons" as well as the "black Tomlinsons," descendants of the slaves his ancestors owned.  Those descendants include football great Ladainian Tomlinson.  He discusses the differences in the course of these families through the years and how this creates a broader view of race relations today.   Then Tom Pe