Stories That Live In Us

When Emily Paulson learned that nearly 72,000 WWII heroes remained unidentified, she found her calling...

Through her role as a contractor at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Emily combines traditional genealogy research and DNA science to identify more than 81,000 missing American service members who served from WWII through the Gulf War. As we mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, she shares the moving story of Second Lieutenant William McGowan, who left behind a young wife and a legacy of family service when his P-47 Thunderbolt was shot down in France. Emily reveals how dedicated teams work with families across generations to fulfill a sacred promise: that no service member will be forgotten. Her message of hope reminds us that every missing hero has a family waiting for their story to be completed.

Listen now to discover how modern genealogy helps bring our heroes home and write the final chapters of their remarkable stories.

📝 Read our companion blog post to learn more about the massive, ongoing efforts to bring closure to families and honor the memories of those who paid the ultimate price.

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🎧 Ready to discover more stories that could transform your family connections? Subscribe to 'Stories That Live In Us' wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help other families find their path to deeper connection through family history. Together, we're building a community of families committed to preserving and sharing the stories that matter most.
🖼️ Ready to turn your family discoveries into a beautiful conversation piece? Visit FamilyChartmasters.com to create a family tree chart that will help your family share stories for generations.
♥ Want more family history tips and inspiration? Follow me @CristaCowan on Instagram where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my own family discoveries and practical ways to uncover yours!

When Jenny Ashcraft joked with her dying father about needing a 'cell phone call from heaven' to start family history... that's exactly what she got. Just days after her father's funeral, a mysterious package arrived from a stranger who felt compelled to send her family records after reading her father's obituary. Follow Jenny's journey from a reluctant beginner to becoming part of the Ancestry team, including an incredible series of discoveries in Pennsylvania that proved family history is full of divine coincidences. This episode shows how even those who feel intimidated by family history can find themselves drawn into a puzzle more rewarding than they ever imagined.

〰️ 🌳 🧬 〰️
🎧 Ready to discover more stories that could transform your family connections? Subscribe to 'Stories That Live In Us' wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help other families find their path to deeper connection through family history. Together, we're building a community of families committed to preserving and sharing the stories that matter most.
🖼️ Ready to turn your family discoveries into a beautiful conversation piece? Visit FamilyChartmasters.com to create a family tree chart that will help your family share stories for generations.
♥ Want more family history tips and inspiration? Follow me @CristaCowan on Instagram where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my own family discoveries and practical ways to uncover yours!

I created this podcast to inspire you to form deeper connections with your family - past, present, and future. All families are messy and life is constantly changing but we don’t have to allow that to disconnect us. I’ve spent my whole life discovering the power of family history and I know that sharing the stories that live in you can change everything.

〰️ 🌳 🧬 〰️
🎧 Ready to discover more stories that could transform your family connections? Subscribe to 'Stories That Live In Us' wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help other families find their path to deeper connection through family history. Together, we're building a community of families committed to preserving and sharing the stories that matter most.
🖼️ Ready to turn your family discoveries into a beautiful conversation piece? Visit FamilyChartmasters.com to create a family tree chart that will help your family share stories for generations.
♥ Want more family history tips and inspiration? Follow me @CristaCowan on Instagram where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my own family discoveries and practical ways to uncover yours!

How did a simple search on Ancestry.com spark a lifelong passion, a stronger mother-daughter bond, and a stint as a host on a popular genealogy television show?
Mary Tedesco's journey began with discovering her Italian grandparents' passenger lists, but it led to something far more meaningful—a shared mission with her mother to uncover their deep American roots.

In this special Independence Day episode, Mary reveals how documenting their Revolutionary War ancestor, George Brenner, brought her closer to her mother through their work with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Their story beautifully weaves together recent immigration and colonial heritage, showing how family history can bridge generations and strengthen bonds. From coordinating a nationwide mask-making project during the pandemic to preparing for America's 250th anniversary celebrations, Mary demonstrates how understanding our past can inspire meaningful service in the present.

Whether your ancestors arrived on the Mayflower or came through Ellis Island (or anywhere in between), this conversation will inspire you to discover and share your own American story.
Join us for a celebration of lineage and liberty that bridges generations and ignites the spirit of connection.

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Mary's Bio:
Mary Tedesco is a professional genealogist, speaker and former Co-Host of the PBS television series “Genealogy Roadshow.” She actively volunteers with the Daughters of the American Revolution, currently serving as the National Chair of the Insignia Committee and Massachusetts State Vice Regent. Other volunteer positions include: Councilor of New England Historic Genealogical Society and Texas Genealogical College (TGC) board member and chair of the Scholarship Committee. Mary holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, a BA in Mathematics from Boston University and a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University’s Center for Professional Education.

〰️ 🌳 🧬 〰️
🎧 Ready to discover more stories that could transform your family connections? Subscribe to 'Stories That Live In Us' wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help other families find their path to deeper connection through family history. Together, we're building a community of families committed to preserving and sharing the stories that matter most.
🖼️ Ready to turn your family discoveries into a beautiful conversation piece? Visit FamilyChartmasters.com to create a family tree chart that will help your family share stories for generations.
♥ Want more family history tips and inspiration? Follow me @CristaCowan on Instagram where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my own family discoveries and practical ways to uncover yours!

It’s Emmys Weekend in Los Angeles. What does that have to do with family stories?

Well, back in 2018, Ancestry hosted a luxury gift lounge during a Hollywood award show weekend. Unlike typical gift lounges where celebrities grab swag, snap photos, and move on, we offered them a different experience. A chance to connect with their past. We transformed a fancy hotel suite, complete with a grand faux tree, and gave the stars an opportunity to dive into their family history with DNA kits and expert on-site guidance.

It was fun (and a little surreal) to watch people I had only seen on TV light up with excitement when I helped them make discoveries about their family. But, the true highlight came when a towering actor from HBO’s Ballers sat down with me to start exploring his family tree. The emotional experience he had, right there in that bustling Hollywood hotel, taught me a meaningful lesson about the healing and connecting power of family history.

Tune in to hear how exploring your family tree can turn from simple curiosity to a profound, life-changing experience. Because family history isn't just about filling in names on a chart; it's about understanding where—and who—we come from, and finding the Stories That Live In Us.

〰️ 🌳 🧬 〰️
🎧 Ready to discover more stories that could transform your family connections? Subscribe to 'Stories That Live In Us' wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help other families find their path to deeper connection through family history. Together, we're building a community of families committed to preserving and sharing the stories that matter most.
🖼️ Ready to turn your family discoveries into a beautiful conversation piece? Visit FamilyChartmasters.com to create a family tree chart that will help your family share stories for generations.
♥ Want more family history tips and inspiration? Follow me @CristaCowan on Instagram where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my own family discoveries and practical ways to uncover yours!