Genetic Genealogy Leads to Discoveries and Connections | Stephanie Renée

08/02/23 • 30 min

In Stephanie Renée's story, there's an exploration of identity and belonging that resonates deeply. She began her journey seeking to fill in the gaps left by the early loss of her mother. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her mother was adopted, leading her into the world of genetic genealogy. Despite the hurdles she faced, Stephanie was driven to understand her roots and expand her familial network, bringing her closer to understanding her lineage and establishing a sense of belonging.
Connect with Stephanie on Instagram @TheDNAJourney or check out her website StephanieRenee.com
Want to support her video series, The DNA Journey? You can do that here.

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

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

Previous 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

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Next Episode

How to Face Your Ancestors' Choices Even When It's Hard

All of your ancestors were perfect, right? Unfortunately, everyone has ancestors who disappoint us with their choices.
In this episode, I talk about four ways we respond when we discover an ancestor made choices that hurt others.
As we learn to be more open to putting our ancestors' choices into the context of their lives we can see them as real people, living with the effects of their environment, the choices of their family members and others around them, as well as their own choices.
An added bonus is that as we learn the skill of being observant of our ancestors, we can also use that skill in our interactions here and now.

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