Secret families, second families, DNA discoveries, genealogical mysteries and everything in-between. This podcast, brought to you by Family History Films, explores the issues and revelations genealogical digging can throw up. Head of Research Eve Poppleton interviews authors, genealogists and real people who have written about and lived through these discoveries. As well as addressing the ethical questions these new advances in genealogy are forcing us to ask...
Journalist turned genealogist Jennifer Mendelsohn amassed over 60k followers by using genealogy to #debunk anti-immigration US political figures. Though the need for this service has somewhat waned, I talk to Jennifer about bringing genealogy into the twittersphere and the place of the paper trail in the world of 'fake news'. We also discuss the intricacies of Jewish genealogy and share some of the incredible Holocaust stories we've worked on.
18 May 2022
3. Secret Families: Fact AND Fiction
Author Sanaë Lemoine wrote a novel about the child of a secret family - only to realise it wasn't entirely fictional...
Sanaë Lemoine's debut novel 'The Margot Affair' is the story of Margot, the secret love child of a French actress and the French minister for culture. When Sanaë's editor asked if there was any inspiration for the book, she said there wasn't. But in this episode we explore the novel's similarities with Sanaë's own experience of her father's secret family - and how writing the novel has helped her come to terms with the past.
18 May 2022
2. Secret Families: Island Edition
Growing up Sarah thought she knew her father, until the day she discovered he had a secret family in the South Pacific.
In this episode I speak to Pennsylvania-born financial software specialist Sarah, about what it's like to discover in your early 20s that your Dad has a secret family. We explore Sarah's story and its ramifications for her family - as well as discussing the 'concept' of secret families themselves. How common are they? What type of person has a secret family? And perhaps most importantly, why?
17 May 2022
1. 'Not-Parent-Expected'
More and more people are taking home DNA tests expecting to find what percentage Irish/Native American/fill-in-the-blank they are, and actually finding out their Dad's not their Dad.
From forgotten one night stands to babies swapped at birth, author and journalist Libby Copeland has uncovered hundreds of stories of 'recreational' home DNA tests upending people's lives. In this episode I speak to Libby about her new book 'The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are'. We discuss the questions DNA testing is forcing us to to ask - what right do you have to know your genetic past? What right do previous generations have to keep their secrets? And with nearly 40 million test kits sold so far, how long before we are all 'discoverable'?
Contact FAMILY TALKS
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of FAMILY TALKS?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
