Family Tree Talk

This week Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey mull over the topic of ‘how do you know it’s right?’. You know, those questions that we’re all faced with when doing our family history, such as ‘How do you know that an index entry is definitely for your ancestor?’, ‘Is that old photo really who it’s said to be?, and so forth. Plus, they chat about which steps to take to try to minimise their chances of getting it wrong. Tune in for genealogy chat – we’d love you to join us.

Join Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey this week as they chat family history. What it feels like when you make a mistake... How you unpick the problem, and then pick yourself up and keep going. The value of stopping to take stock and reflect on your findings. The importance of learning about your ancestors' lives and times - both to help you get a feeling for the world they once lived in, and also to provide you with new ideas and inspiration for the next step on your research journey.

Join podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey as they catch up about their recent research forays. Nathan has completed his quest to find the death dates for all 16 of his 2x great-grandparents, while Helen has been enjoying the new 1926 Irish Census... and wishing she hadn't been leaping to too many false conclusions. (She'd like to apologise for getting into monologue mode in her excitement). Tune it - we'd love you to join us.

Are you feeling a bit stuck? Facing a family history situation that you can’t work out? Then tune in to the latest episode of Family Tree Talk, where Dr Sophie Kay will be chatting about some of the techniques she uses to make research progress – even when the going gets really tough. Plus, first, podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up on their recent research forays – and Nathan tells us about his (rather enviable) new genealogy journal.

For weeks and weeks now, podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey have been chipping away at their respective research goals. Nathan is working on finding the death dates for each of his 2x great-grandparents, while Helen is building her family tree out and down, tracing her ancestors’ siblings and their descendants. Is it taking time? Yes! But is it worth it? Definitely so. See how the research gradually adds up to so many new exciting discoveries.

Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up on their recent research. Discussing what they’ve found. Discussing how to look for answers without necessarily spending money. Reflecting on the importance of doing the tasks… but also how absolutely important it is to keep it fun! Thoughts on the possibility of ‘getting your tree done in a single weekend’… and why would you want to?! The correlation, or not, between a good attitude to physical exercise and to family history. You know, just shooting the genealogy breeze. Tune in – we’d love you to join us.

In this week’s genealogy chat Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about a world of family history related topics, from the ethical dilemmas of doing research for a friend; to how to make sure an online family tree is secret (if it needs to be), plus chat about Ancestry tags, scores and more!

Usually family history can be a bit of an escape, can’t it? … An oasis of calm in our busy lives. But sometimes those research puzzles and projects and send us hither and thither like headless chickens, rushing about making a lot of noise, but very little progress. This week in Family Tree Talk, podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about their recent research forays, and discuss ideas to get the research back on track – with the aid of a research plan.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, podcast co-host Nathan Ward shares his most recent discoveries and reflections with Helen Tovey. They discuss the family history process – considering: what does it really feel like to do family history? What is the best next step to take, when you completed a family history goal, before you move on to a new chapter in your research? And they chat about the many different forms that family history can take – from formal research to conversations and memory sharing with loved ones today.

Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat family history, as Nathan discusses the research steps he’s taken recently to unpick an online tree tangle, dig deeper into the records, and work out once and for all who his 3x great-granny really was. Tune in to see how he got on, and the usefulness of enlisting the power of the Genealogical Proof Standard to help ensure your research is rock solid. And, oh yes, a bit about GEDCOM files to try and cure Nathan’s aversion to this trusty format.

Ertswhile newbie Nathan had nearly finished collecting all 32 of his 3x great-grandparents (superb effort, hey?) … when he realised that not all the facts were stacking up. Where had his research taken a wrong turn? And how was he going to get it back on track? This episode podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about recent research forays and share ideas and steps to help fix those facts.

Family history erstwhile newbie Nathan Ward has only been tracing his family tree for a little over a year, but this week sees him ‘collect’ the final missing ancestor of his 3x great-grandparents. But is that 32nd person really his. With impressive will-power, Nathan weighs up the facts before proceeding to add them to his tree. Tune in for Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey for nitty-gritty nuts-and-bolts family-history chat.

This week podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about the tools that help you manage your Ancestry tree the way that you wish: how to cope with hints; how to merge duplicate people on your tree; how to check that living people’s details are really hidden & more. Plus the battle of the tree score continues – Nathan is leading the way with an impressive 9.9. Is an Elite score of 10 out of 10 within his reach?

Making a start on your family history can be a quick and simple thing to do. Keeping going, digging deeper, sticking to the plan and getting your goal accomplished are another thing entirely. This episode podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about Nate’s on-going project to find all his 3x great-grandparents – with search tips and research hacks woven in along the way. Tune in & enjoy!

In the latest issue of Family Tree Talk, podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey talk about their recent tree-building exploits. Nathan Ward discusses his recent discoveries on his quest to add all 32 of his 3x great-grandparents to his family tree. He’s even found one set of 4x great-grandparents... without finding the 3x great-grandparents that should be the missing link. How is this even possible? Tune in to find out more

Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey roll up their sleeves and get going again on the quest to trace Nathan’s ancestors in Scotland. It’s Nathan’s first research foray over the border from Pudsey and Nate and Helen chat about: ways to get unstuck, and some useful websites for embarking on Scottish family history research.

Tune in for genealogy tips and chat. In this episode of Family Tree Talk podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey reflect on death certificates: Why order them? What can you learn from them? What clues and insights do they provide beyond the cause of death? Plus they take a whistle-stop tour of some of the many other useful records that shed light on our ancestors’ passing. What will you discover?

This week on Family Tree Talk podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey discuss marriage records. Thinking about the go-to places in which to look for marriage records. Reminding themselves to make sure they’ve gleaned every last clue from these precious papers. Check that they’ve tracked down the family wedding photos. And perhaps even taken a peep at the historic Met Office report for the day – to see whether their ancestors wed in sunshine, showers, or perhaps, even a romantic dusting of snow…

In this episode of the Family Tree Talk podcast, cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey go back to the beginning, and reflect on the rich range of clues a birth certificate holds… quite aside from that little nugget of an ancestor’s birthday. Join us as we continue our tour of the key family history records where we are constantly reminded that there is always, always, something new and exciting to learn, even about the most familiar of old-friend family history records.

This episode podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about the census: the clues, the stories, the value of taking a new look at these oh-so-familiar documents and more. Plus Helen puts Nathan on the spot with a quick Census 101 test, and Helen has to admit the doesn’t know the answers to more questions than you’ve had hot dinners. The link to our comprehensive census guide is: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/uk-census-records/

Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey are joined this week by a very special guest - genealogy AI guru Carole McCulloch. They ask her the how, what, why of using AI to help us with our family histories. Tune in to find out - is AI for you? And how can it really help you accomplish more in your genealogical research?

Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about the how, what & why of creating a rock solid family tree. Plus learn about: Nathan’s multi-millionaire ancestor, how to assess whether an old photo you’ve found online is credibly that of your ancestor, and thoughts on when to call in the heavy guns and get some specialist help with your family history.

From free online palaeography courses to thoughts on AI transcription tools, learn about the resources that can help you read old handwriting. Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about deciphering documents, setting realistic family history goals, working on new branches of the family tree and more.

Hello and welcome to a very special episode of the Family Tree Talk podcast! Our one-year anniversary! 52 episodes of stories, discoveries and plenty of genealogical detective work.And speaking of detective work… there’s someone who’s been on quite the journey over the past year: podcast co-host Nathan Ward. When this all began, he was our resident family history newbie. But look at him now! He’s survived censuses, conquered civil registration, put tree hints under the microscope and so much more.To celebrate one whole year of family history podcast fun, we’re putting him to the ultimate test. Join him and podcast co-host Helen Tovey and see how much you know. The clock starts now.

Don’t you just love it when you come across a new record or two, and all the details match perfectly? Nathan Ward shares just such a pleasing piece of research, about his WW1 air mechanic family member. And podcast co-hosts Nathan and Helen Tovey chat family history: from the importance of recording memories, to what to do when you spot a mistake on someone else’s tree, and the dangers of drawing false assumptions when basing conclusions on just a single fact.

Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up on their latest family history endeavours, reflect on the importance of remembering, and begin to think about which family history goals they want to actually complete between now and the end of the year. Wish them luck!

It’s a busy week in this episode of the podcast with co-hosts Nate Ward and Helen Tovey. If you only do a few things in the coming few days: 1. Order any wills you need from https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate (£1.50 - going up to £16 on 17/11/2025). 2. Make sure you make use of the free access to online military records (eg check the major family history data websites). 3. Go download the combat reports of Czech Battle of Britain flying ace Jan Francsizek. And yes, go on - tune in to this week’s episode of the podcast to find out more!

Nathan Ward is 99% sure that Private A Hearn, who died in 1918, is his relation. He has papers a-plenty, notes from a distant cousin, and even an annotated family tree from them. But he can't quite see how his Albert Hearn matches the poor young man MIA in that final year of the First World War. Tune in as Nate and podcast co-host Helen Tovey weigh up the information and try to piece together the true story of the past.

From short walks down the lane to the neighbouring village, to brave voyages across the world, when doing family history we discover that our ancestors sometimes moved about more than we might think. What was it that made them move though? Podcast cohosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about push-pull factors - and other family history hacks, hints and chat.

This week podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chat about their recent family history research forays and reflect on those unexpected details that are there – waiting to be found in the records. From census records to the sisters of King Henry VIII - the chat is all about those tiny clues, that we, as family historians, tend to treasure.

Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey catch up about their recent research forays. Nate’s been making great progress filling in the details of his Victorian soldier in the 36th Foot... It turns out his Mum had some of the details already. But we think that one of the joys of family history is doing the detective work yourself – agree? Let’s what he’s discovered.

Well it turns out that Nathan's many times grandpa did marry his Irish sweetheart, and her life as a soldier's wife would see her travel the globe. Nate & podcast cohost Helen Tovey go back to the beginning and see what clues can be spotted on his discharge papers (found in the extensive military collections on Findmypast) and make a plan of where to look next.

Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey compare notes on their family history endeavours over the past few days. Nate has been busy tracking down his direct ancestors’ siblings - to gain a timeframe for when the family was in India, and when they returned to British shores. Wrestling a little with several generations by the same name, he’s managed to do it! Helen has been mulling over the challenges of telling the stories of more recent ancestors, but has actually made a start.

Podcast co-hosts Nate Ward and Helen Tovey chat family history. Nate’s been revisiting his first forays into family history research, and making sure that the research he did right at the beginning of his genealogy journey is as solid as he’d like. (And what a good idea that is too – after all, everything that comes after, is built on each of our earliest endeavours. So getting those foundations solid is an excellent plan). Helen’s been skipping a bit of home-work, but is actually writing up some of her family stories at long last.

Tune is as podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey chunter family history, including: a small confession about some facts from last time, to make sure nobody’s led astray; a peek at their recent research endeavours; and chat about the importance of family stories. Both Nate and Helen, too, reflect anew on old family stories, and find things weren’t always – perhaps - quite as they seemed.

Farmer? Seedsman? Bridge-painter? Commercial traveller? What did your ancestor do all day? Tune in as podcast co-hosts Helen Tovey & Nathan Ward chat genealogy, and share thoughts about their ancestors’ occupations – and the clues these can reveal about lives, obstacles and opportunities in times gone by.

Tune in for the latest episode in which Helen Tovey & Nathan Ward discuss their most recent forays in to family history. Helen is at long last dusting off her project to find out more about her Mary Ann and find the answer to the question mark over Mary Ann’s father. While Nathan asks super-useful, reflective and insightful questions to help Helen focus up, and shares an update on his own genealogy endeavours.

Thank you to podcast listeners Sharyn, Jacqueline and Brian who each brilliantly stepped up to help Nathan find his Mary Ann, who was seemingly absent from the 1891 Census. Podcast co-hosts Nathan Ward and Helen Tovey explain the super-simple solution for the missing Mary Ann (it’s always simple once you know, hey!), and share the tactics they’d tried too, to no avail. Listening & learning! Tune in for genealogy chat and chunter.

No genealogy nitty-gritty is too itty-bitty and small for Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward. This episode they chat about what it’s actually like doing family history. Helen shares how she’s tackling some genealogy records she’s been meaning to file for years (9 years in fact!), while Nathan wonders whether he needs to park his research on one branch and roll up his sleeves for a new family history adventure. Tune in for genealogy chit chat – we’d love you to join us.

This week co-hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward share their latest discoveries and family history tasks. Nathan continues to make good progress on his tree, but he’s kind of feeling he’s reached a standstill with an ancestor that he just can’t find on the 1881 Census. Might you have a handy hint to help him out? Plus Helen rolls up her sleeves and starts to add a collection of documents to her tree that have been languishing in a folder for years now. Can you relate?! Tune in for genealogy pondering and chuntering.

In this week’s episode of Family Tree Talk, one-time rookie researcher Nathan Ward, spreads his wings and explains the tactics he’s been using to smash through research road blocks left, right and centre. Helen Tovey listens in… in awe of the family history progress made. Tune in for practical tips to help overcome the sense of family history ‘overwhelm’, and make strides in your family history investigations.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Nathan Ward reveals a truly tangled family tree featuring multiple marriages, overlapping timelines, and a seemingly endless number of children.· Who belongs to whom?· & How can he tell family unit from the next?As the puzzle unfolds, Helen Tovey offers practical tips and a calming voice of reason to help make sense of the confusion.Whether you're new to genealogy or a seasoned researcher, you'll enjoy this lively conversation full of helpful ideas for unpicking even the knottiest branches of your family tree.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, Nathan uncovers an unexpectedly large number of Dinahs and Francises in his tree — are they a coincidence, or a genealogical puzzle waiting to be solved? Meanwhile, Helen dives into two intriguing investigations: her Granny’s wartime sweetheart and a 5x great-grandfather with curious “home guard” ties in the 18th century. Remarkably, both Nathan and Helen actually stuck to their family history plans this week! Tune in to find out what they discovered — and if you're looking for a way to keep your own research on track, we've got a tool that might just help…

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward share the latest twists and turns in their family history research. This week, Nathan decided to resist the usual rabbit holes and focus on growing his tree — but puzzling records soon had him questioning what he could safely add. Meanwhile, Helen tuned into her grandmother’s fascinating WW2 memories of working for SIS (Special Intelligence Service), a reminder of the rich family stories waiting to be uncovered. Plus, Helen admits to nearly making a rookie mistake — and shares how to avoid the classic ‘leap before you look’ research trap.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward speak to Dr Mike Esbester, head of the Railway Work, Life & Death Project, to uncover the rich history of railway workers in the UK. Marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway (Railway200), Mike explores the huge impact the railways had on our ancestors’ lives — from the jobs they did to the dangers they faced. Learn how to trace your railway-working relatives and discover how working conditions, roles, and risks have evolved over time. It's a fascinating journey into an industry that transformed Britain.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward catch up on their latest family history finds. Helen shares a brilliant new way she’s discovered to encourage relatives to record their memories — perfect for preserving living history. Meanwhile, Nate’s deep in decision-making mode, wondering which historical document to focus on next and which tempting research rabbit hole to follow. Join the conversation for relatable stories, practical tips, and a warm slice of real-life family history fun.

Feeling stuck in your family history research – or simply drowning in a sea of notes and records? In this episode of Family Tree Talk, host Helen Tovey is joined by professional genealogist and educator Dr Sophie Kay to explore how a clear research methodology can transform the way you work. Discover how research logs, well-framed questions, and practical research plans can bring structure, clarity and results to your genealogy. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned sleuth, Sophie’s expert insights will help you avoid common pitfalls, break through brick walls, and make your family history research more rewarding than ever.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward delve into Nathan’s latest genealogy discoveries — from a potential First World War soldier to a nun and an RAF airman (or maybe even a pilot!). As Nathan tries to piece together these intriguing lives, he turns to Helen for advice on how to be sure he's got the right people in his tree. Tune in for practical tips, expert insights, and a peek behind the scenes of real-life research as our hosts explore the highs and head-scratchers of tracing your family history.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward chat to DNA Detective Michelle Leonard about how to use DNA results to break through your toughest family history brickwalls. Michelle shares practical advice on how to get started with DNA research and explains how her in-depth DNA Bootcamp course can help you make sense of your Ancestry DNA matches — no matter your experience level. Want to learn more? Check out her upcoming course here: bit.ly/4bFZOzA and browse more expert-led sessions at family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/webinars.

In this episode of Family Tree Talk, hosts Helen Tovey and Nathan Ward are joined by passionate family historian Karen Evans, who shares her expert advice on getting the most out of the Ancestry website. From clever search strategies to solving tricky tree problems, Karen offers practical tips and insider tricks to help you research smarter and break down those brick walls. It’s a must-listen for anyone using Ancestry—or thinking about it! Karen also tells us about her new online course, How to use Ancestry (better), designed to help you take your research to the next level.