Stories in Our Roots

What do you do when you discover an ancestor who made choices that hurt others? Today I discuss four ways people typically respond to these negative discoveries: ignoring, justifying, judging, and observing. Each approach has pros and cons, but through personal stories and experiences, I explain why observing and seeking to understand our ancestors is the most powerful way to see them more clearly. The most fascinating part of the process is how the same technique can change your life and relationships in the present.

"When that thing keeps coming up in your mind, why not just face it?"

Take-aways from today's episode:

• Learn 4 ways to approach negative stories within your family tree.
• Embrace the authenticity of your heritage and find value in the imperfections of your family tree.
• Transform negative family history discoveries into powerful personal growth opportunities.
• See the value of adding context by hearing the story of Edward Francis Murphy, a mid-19th-century Irish immigrant.

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering the stories within your family tree? Take the first step to being a guest by filling out this short application.

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

Ancestry.com
Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

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

Ancestry.com
Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

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)

Ancestry.com
Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

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)

Ancestry.com
Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

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)

Ancestry.com
Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

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)

Ancestry.com
Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Shannon Peel is an expert at stories, and while her usual audience is made up of business owners looking to improve their marketing, her discussion of hero vs victim language in storytelling is so valuable to those learning about the stories in their family tree.  We started off talking about her deep roots in western Canada, delved into the "why" questions around emigration, and then found ourselves looking at the way we talk about our ancestors, women in particular.

Shannon Peel is the creative force behind the MarketAPeel Brand. She works from her home office overlooking life in Downtown Vancouver, BC Canada. She is passionate about stories and how to they connect people and exploring why people make the choices they make. People describe her as intelligent, quick witted, and creative, all things she takes pride in as she values intelligent thought and solution based productivity. MarketAPeel reflects her values and vision.

https://www.marketapeel.agency/speaker
LinkedIn: Shannon Peel
Facebook: @marketapeel
Twitter: @shannonpeel1
Instagram: @market_apeel

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This podcast is supported by Heather Murphy's TraceLine Success.  Get your free workbook, Success is Found in Your Roots, at heathercmurphy.com/successworkbook

Connect with Heather on Instagram or Facebook @msheathermurphy

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

Ready to share your experience of uncovering your family's past as a guest on Stories in Our Roots? Take the first step and fill out this short application.

Shannon Peel is an expert at stories, and while her usual audience is made up of business owners looking to improve their marketing, her discussion of hero vs victim language in storytelling is so valuable to those learning about the stories in their family tree.  We started off talking about her deep roots in western Canada, delved into the "why" questions around emigration, and then found ourselves looking at the way we talk about our ancestors, women in particular.

Shannon Peel is the creative force behind the MarketAPeel Brand. She works from her home office overlooking life in Downtown Vancouver, BC Canada. She is passionate about stories and how to they connect people and exploring why people make the choices they make. People describe her as intelligent, quick witted, and creative, all things she takes pride in as she values intelligent thought and solution based productivity. MarketAPeel reflects her values and vision.

https://www.marketapeel.agency/speaker
LinkedIn: Shannon Peel
Facebook: @marketapeel
Twitter: @shannonpeel1
Instagram: @market_apeel

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This podcast is supported by Heather Murphy's TraceLine Success.  Get your free workbook, Success is Found in Your Roots, at heathercmurphy.com/successworkbook

Connect with Heather on Instagram or Facebook @msheathermurphy

In this episode, Heather shares how she took elements from therapy, even after having a very negative experience, and used them to transform the ways in which she approaches family history.  She explains the connection between the 8 C's of Internal Family Systems and the framework she built to unlock the power of family history research.

Join us for a new 12- week group program, Rooted Success, to learn how to use psychology and family history to help you live your version of a successful life.

You can find the details at https://programs.heathercmurphy.com
(You can get it for 40% off if you sign up by November 30, 2022!)

Ancestry.com
Sign up for a 2 week free trial and discover the records that tell the stories of your ancestors.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.