Ohio Roots

Episode 74 - Theresa Dandy

In this episode of the OGS Ohio Roots podcast, genealogist and Professional OGS Member Theresa Dandy [https://www.facebook.com/TraceYourTreeWithTheresa] joins the us to discuss her lifelong passion for family history, tracing her journey from a fourth-grade hobbyist to a professional researcher. Theresa shares her experiences uncovering her Italian roots, navigating the complexities of German records, and her specialized skill in mining census data for hidden details.

Episode 73 - The Ohio Stories Project

This episode of the OGS Ohio Roots podcast explores the remarkable efforts of the Hagley Museum [https://www.hagley.org/] and Library in Delaware to preserve and share Ohio’s broadcasting and film history. We’re joined by Kevin Martin and Jim Culley for a fascinating conversation about the legendary “Ohio Story” radio and television series [https://www.hagley.org/librarynews/ohio-story-radio], Cleveland’s Cinecraft Productions, and newly digitized recordings and films that bring mid-20th century Ohio culture back to life for modern audiences.

Episode 72 - Laurie Hermance-Moore

In this episode, Laurie Hermance-Moore, founder of Heritage Bridge [https://www.heritagebridge.com/], discusses her transition from a librarian and market researcher to a professional genealogist. She explains how her team specializes in "solving the problem" for family historians, utilizing a combination of DNA clusters and "deep document research", such as deeds, guardianship, and probate records, to break through brick walls that have stood for decades. We also explore the sensitive nature of biological family research for adoptees and how new AI search tools are revolutionizing access to court records.

Episode 71 - Kim Jurkovic

In this episode, we sit down with Kim Jurkovic, the curator of the Tuscarawas County Historical Society [http://www.tuschs.org/] and a 7th generation countian whose local roots stretch back to the 1830s. We explore the wealth of resources available at the Tusc Kent Archive Room, located in Founders Hall on the Kent State University Tuscarawas campus, which serves as a vital hub for regional genealogy and history.

Episode 70 - Pamela Ellis

In this episode, we sit down with genealogist Pamela Ellis [https://peacm.org/] to explore the challenges every family historian faces—those frustrating “brick walls” where progress seems to stop. Drawing from her new book, The Brick Wall – Breaking Genealogy Barriers with AI [https://www.amazon.com/Brick-Wall-Breaking-Genealogy-Barriers/dp/B0G3K1K7GR], Pamela shares practical strategies for rethinking research problems, uncovering overlooked sources, and approaching genealogy with a more analytical mindset. We also discuss how emerging AI tools can support (not replace) traditional research methods, helping genealogists break through barriers and make meaningful discoveries.