Unlocking Family History Through Storytelling

Transcript:

Host (Heather Haunert):
And welcome to The Family Treehouse, a podcast series brought to you by Storied, where I chat with people that have a passion for genealogy, storytelling, or both. I’m your host, Heather Haunert, and I am super excited today to be able to chat with Lisa Lisson of Are You My Cousin. Welcome, Lisa—so excited to have you on the show today.

Guest (Lisa Lisson):
Oh, thank you for having me, Heather. I’ve been looking forward to talking with you.

Host:
Good! Well, I’m excited that you’re here. Why don’t you start off by telling us a little bit about your background and how you got started in the field of family history and storytelling.

Guest:
Sure. So, I started kind of a newbie when it comes to being in the family history/genealogy world. I actually didn’t start until my kids were probably elementary school age.

We had dinner with some friends, and we got to talking about family history. The next day, my children decided it was too hot to go to the pool here in North Carolina—because in August it’s very hot, and the pool water feels like bath water. They were like, “No, Mom, we don’t want to do that. We want to Google ourselves.” [laughs]

That’s really how things got started. Of course, you can imagine how that went, but it got us talking and exploring—what stories do we know, who are we related to, and what can we find out?

I had grown up with a lot of stories. I was fortunate enough to know many of the older generations in the family, so I had those stories, but I’d never really put everything together. That was what got me started—really searching to say, “Okay, who were these people, and what are the stories in the family?”

Host:
I love that. Everyone’s “how I got started” story is just a little different, so I always love hearing those. Why do you think storytelling is such an important part of family history?

Guest:
I think storytelling is really the crux of it. It’s important because it tells us who our ancestors were—not just in facts, but from a personality standpoint, from a thinking standpoint.

As researchers, that’s so important when we’re looking for records. But even deeper, it’s about connection. When we have those stories, we connect to our ancestors better. When we can share their stories with our children, we make those ancestors come alive for them.

It also helps get the non-genealogists in the family interested. When we put stories in context, they connect. Like when you’re teaching your 16-year-old to drive, and you tell him the story about his great-grandmother taking her driving test and sideswiping the fence post—that gives him a connection, and maybe calms his nerves a bit.

Host:
Yes! And don’t you think too that the story connection is what people remember? They’re not going to remember the dates or middle names, but they’ll remember the stories.

Guest:
Exactly. They’ll definitely remember the stories.

Host:
Do you have any kind of process that you use when you go about writing for your family history?

Guest:
Honestly, I just open up a Google Doc and start writing. I was very hesitant at first. My blog Are You My Cousin actually started just for family, because cousins were always asking me what I was finding. Writing the stories on a blog was easier than emailing them all individually.

I never considered myself a writer—I didn’t particularly like writing in school. But with family stories, I took a deep breath and dove right in. I forgot the “writing rules” and just let it flow—kind of a stream-of-consciousness approach.

I decided early on that getting it written down was better than waiting for perfection. Sometimes I even start in the middle if that’s the part I’m thinking about—like a memory of cooking with my grandmother. Then I’ll go back and write the intro to set the context.

Host:
That made me chuckle because I used to teach high school English. I tell people the same thing—don’t worry about spelling and grammar, just get it out there. If it’s not perfect, that’s you, not a program.

Guest:
Exactly.

Host:
Do you have any go-to resources or tools—either for writing or researching family history—that you recommend for beginners?

Guest:
Yes. One of the biggest things I see missing when people start is oral history. They don’t find out what’s already known in the family.

So first, talk to family members—it doesn’t have to be formal. Just have coffee with someone and chat. I use prompts for this; I even wrote a book called 100 Questions to Ask Grandma.

Photographs are another great tool—they’re wonderful conversation starters and can also help you begin writing if you’re staring at a blank page.

For research, I recommend major genealogy databases—Ancestry, FamilySearch, Findmypast, MyHeritage—they all have great tutorials for beginners. YouTube also has fantastic genealogy educators.

Host:
When you interview someone, do you record it, take notes, or both?

Guest:
Both, if possible. I’ll record on my phone but also write notes, because writing helps me internalize the information. But I’ll do whatever works in the situation.

Host:
Okay, here’s my hot-button question: How do you balance the importance of accuracy versus telling a compelling story—especially with stories passed down for generations?

Guest:
Accuracy is extremely important to me. But if I’m not sure about details, I add context. For example, “This is the story my grandfather told me—he was five years old at the time.”

If I fill in gaps, I make it clear that it’s my assumption. I also recognize that we can’t always know the absolute truth—people didn’t always share it, and sometimes it’s not our story to tell, especially with family trauma.

Host:
I love that. Okay—can you share a particularly memorable research experience or a favorite family story?

Guest:
Oh my gosh, how long do you have? [laughs]

When my blog was still just for family, I posted an old family photo—an older woman surrounded by children—and wrote about my great-great-grandmother, Clara.

Five months later, I got an anonymous comment: “That’s my grandmother.” That led to connecting with a first cousin once or twice removed. He identified everyone in the photo. I met his 90-something-year-old mother and interviewed her before she passed away.

That connection also led to my father attending his first family reunion in 60 years. We visited the old homeplace together—it was incredibly special.

Host:
Goosebumps. Those are the best kinds of stories.

Guest:
They really are.

Host:
Any final tips or advice for our audience?

Guest:
Just go for it. Don’t let a blank screen stop you. Write down your thoughts—even if they’re not full sentences. It’s better to capture them than wait for perfection. And if you’re stuck, use photos or prompts.

Host:
Okay, I’m sneaking this in because I saw it on your site—tell us about your cruise next year.

Guest:
[laughs] Yes! I’m going on a genealogy cruise to the ABC Islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao—on Celebrity’s Reflection ship. On sea days, I’ll be giving lectures with handouts, but I’m most excited about connecting with other genealogy enthusiasts over coffee or meals. And of course, we’ll enjoy the islands.

Host:
That sounds amazing. I haven’t been to those islands, so maybe I’ll join you. [laughs]

Lisa, thank you so much for your expertise and passion. I’m beyond honored you spent time with me today.

Guest:
You’re welcome—thank you for having me. I enjoyed it.

Host:
Until next time, friends—embrace the power of your family’s untold tales and embark on a journey of discovery. Start writing your family stories today and let their voices echo for generations to come at Storied.com.

[Music]

That brings us to the end of this episode of The Family Treehouse, where we celebrate the power of storytelling and preserving our family legacies. Storied is more than just a platform for sharing stories—dive into historical records and newspapers, discover the hidden gems that bring your ancestors to life, and add branches to your family tree.

Thank you for joining us on this storytelling journey. Your stories matter, and through Storied, they have the power to resonate across time and touch the hearts of generations to come. Keep uncovering your family’s history, and keep the spirit of storytelling alive with Storied.