Exploring Family Tragedies with Compassion and Understanding with Jacqueline Jannotta

05/31/23 • 27 min

Jacqueline Jannotta's genealogy research uncovers a family history of mob ties and tragedy, revealing the ripple effects of trauma and the importance of understanding our shared humanity.
Through her genealogical research, Jacqueline gained a greater understanding and compassion for her ancestors, particularly her tough, outspoken grandmother. The trauma experienced by her family shaped their personalities and relationships, and it made her realize the importance of understanding one's roots to better comprehend oneself and others. Jacqueline's belief that we are all interconnected through our stories encourages her to approach communities and cultures with empathy and curiosity. By exploring the complexities of her own lineage, Jacqueline encourages others to look beyond the surface of their family's history, in order to uncover hidden layers that may lead to greater self-awareness and connection with the world around them.
About Jacqueline:
Jacqueline Jannotta is the award-winning author of the book Let’s Leave the Country! A Guide to Your Family Year Abroad, inspired by her family’s extraordinary year in Genoa, Italy. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University who spent the early part of her career working in television and sitcoms, followed by producing Internet content. After leaving the entertainment business and starting a family, Jacqueline continued writing and also devised a year abroad for her family. Her book was born out of that adventure, and she continues her work as a writer, avid genealogist, and forever optimist who is dedicated to building a better vision for the future.
Website: becomingbetterpeople.us
Medium: @JacquelineJannotta
Facebook and Instagram: @becomingbetterpeople.us
Mastodon: @JacquelineJannotta
You can purchase her book, "Let's Leave the Country!: A Guide to Your Family Year Abroad" through Amazon (affiliate link)

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Previous Episode

The Power of Sibling Influence: Extraordinary Acts of a Family Hero

Amidst the shocking history of his family's escape from Austria during the Nazi invasion, Christopher Bock discovers the remarkable life of his great-uncle Paul Patek, a metal worker and artist who played a key role in their survival, inspiring Bock to write a book about him and uncovering hidden talents in his own family lineage.

"[Researching] really did make me understand my family a lot more in a lot of ways."
Key Points:

Traverse Christopher Bock's lineage, as we uncover the intricate details of his ancestry.
Learn about the gripping escape from Nazi-occupied Austria and the challenges of starting anew.
Comprehend the value of investigating family histories and the talents concealed within.
Discover the profound influence of family tales in shaping our self-awareness and identity.

About Christopher:
Everything Christopher Bock does is with passion and thoroughness fueled by curiosity. The list is diverse—photography, collecting baseball cards, keeping bees, and his own hardwood flooring business, Geronimo Floors. But he never thought of writing a book until he was handed his grandfather’s autobiography. That same curiosity and passion led him to the extraordinary story of his grandfather’s escape from Austria in 1938—and the key role a mischievous uncle played in the family’s survival.
Christopher's book, "An Ordinary Man: from Vienna to Japan and Back During World War II" is available on Amazon. (affiliate link)

Are we connected on Instagram or Facebook yet? Find me @msheathermurphy

Next Episode

Using Genealogy to Tell the Truth About the People Her Ancestors Enslaved | Annie Hartnett

Annie Hartnett recently started exploring her family's connections to slave ownership, which took her on a transformative path of discovery. By doing so, Annie gained a deeper understanding of her roots, and as a result, developed an increasingly authentic relationship with herself, her country, and those around her. Fascinated by the forgotten stories of those enslaved, she now dedicates her time to researching and writing about them and hopes to inspire others to do the same.
"I want to write about the stories of those people whose lives were stolen from them and whose stories have been buried and lost."
We talk about:

Developing skills for safeguarding historical knowledge and promoting awareness among others.
Confronting the legacy of slave ownership and its enduring consequences in today's world.
Revealing the previously untold lives of the enslaved and honoring their perseverance.
Adopting a mindset of transparency and understanding to progress beyond historical injustices.
Gaining insights on maintaining our shared history and educating future generations about the past.

Annie Harnett began researching her family’s involvement in chattel slavery in the U.S. in the spring of 2021. Until that time, she knew very little about American history and nothing about genealogy. In addition to the essays and interviews published on Medium, Annie has published essays and op-eds in Salon, the Austin American Statesman, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, among others. Annie has an MFA in Creative Writing from Texas State University and lives in Austin, Texas.
Connect with Annie:
Website: https://anniehnet.medium.com/
Twitter: @AnnieHHartnett1
Facebook: @annie.hartnett.5
Instagram: @relationskinsfolk