This episode has it all--brave adventure, pirates, abuse of power, etc, etc. Today we talk about Kim's eighth-great-grandfather, Nicholas Yager, and the surprising twists and turns of his life as he attempts to migrate from the war-torn Palatinate to a new life in Pennsylvania only to be thwarted by a scheming ship captain and a corrupt Virginia governor. You don't want to miss it.

We're back talking about the always-exciting, never-dull Wix family of Missouri. This week we look at the family's political ambitions through a one Clark Wix, and we uncover a messy family feud over politics--a tale as old as time.

In lieu of a new episode this week, we're throwing back to one of our favorite episodes from last year. We hope you enjoy, and we'll see you next time! In a very special Bonus Episode, Low Ancestry talks to Roots and Routes genealogist Michael Ruby. Join us for a discussion about the myth of the presidential common genealogy conspiracy, what low ancestry means in our personal family trees, and why J. D. Vance’s comments about his genealogy on the campaign trail do not hold up. Find Michael on YouTube and TikTok as Roots and Routes!

This episode has it all. Squatting, Frontier Life, the Civil War, Reconstruction Politics, and most importantly...MURDER! Kim's family was sure doing a lot out there in Missouri, and we'll dive into what their story says about the national conversation at the time and now.

Low Ancestry is getting a Patreon! Every month, we will be putting out one episode for subscribers of a new series we're calling High Ancestry where Kim takes the reins. In our very first episode of High Ancestry, Kim talks to us about the history and psychology of astrology, and then we do the critical work of comparing ancestors we've talked about from Season 1 of Low Ancestry to their sun signs and speculate wildly.

In this very tough episode, we dive into Kim's very southern family by looking at the life of her fourth-great-grandfather and Confederate officer, Joseph Ezra Gillette, and we get real about what it means to have family that benefitted from enslaving others and why it's so important to talk about.

The interview you all have been clambering for. We switch things up a little as Kim takes the lead and interviews host, Karyn, about her process, life, history, and how it all ties together to right now. We'll be back next episode with another look at Kim's ancestry!

This episode is about MJURDER! That is, murder. Turns out that Kim's 3rd-great-grandfather, John O'Donnell, was a man who contained multitudes--involved in crime, scandal, and maybe romance? Set in the hills of northwest Virginia, join us as we unravel the 1869 murder of Port Republic.

You ever think you're really good at your newfound hobby and then get humbled real quick. Yeah me either. Just kidding, this episode is all about how I believed that Kim was related to Jim Beam and was a whiskey princess, but it turns out that I was wrong and now there is egg on my face. But Kim doesn't need mediocre whiskey to tell her that she's somebody. Join us for the kick off of Season 2 as we dive into Kim's ancestry. Today, we learn about her distant German (and Bohemian???) roots and their journey to America. And while Kim isn't a whiskey princess, she learns a thing or two about being the heir to obscure protestant denominations circa the mid-1800s.

It's been a minute, and we've got some exciting updates about Season Two--not the least of which is that it's releasing on March 17. *gasp* It's nice to have something to look forward to! Especially for your charming and genealogy-loving host, Karyn, who has had an especially wild (read: bad) year so far. We get into some personal updates--a passing family member, losing a job at USAID, and a twisted ankle--and chat about why our release schedule became a little wonkier than expected (*hint*: it's because of the horrors that persist). We also talk about new content coming your way, and we couldn't be more excited to share. 1:05 - Personal Updates 26:05 - Season 2 Updates

Wishful linking is a genealogical crime, and this episode, I become one of the criminals. Join us as we talk about what links me to the Vikings, and then keep joining us as we promptly disprove it.

We’re doing something a little bit different this episode. We sit down with friend of the podcast, Kathleen Larsen and dive into a story from her family tree. Together, we learn about one man’s gutsy, one-way trip across the ocean, the new life he makes in America, and the legacy his family left behind. Through his story and the story of the people who came after him, we piece together all the little things that collect and pass from generation to generation, and we gush a little over friendship along the way.

It's a special Thanksgiving episode! We dive into the fraught history of our Mayflower ancestors with friend, Micah Pick, who also happens to share a famous Pilgrim ancestor with host, Karyn. Join us as we talk about the life of the Mayflower colonists, and we attempt to pick at the threads of the American mythology that surrounds them. You can find our guest Micah Pick on Spotify and Instagram.

In a very special Bonus Episode, Low Ancestry talks to Roots and Routes genealogist Michael Ruby. Join us for a discussion about the myth of the presidential common genealogy conspiracy, what low ancestry means in our personal family trees, and why J. D. Vance’s comments about his genealogy on the campaign trail do not hold up. Find Michael on YouTube and TikTok as Roots and Routes!

In this very special Halloween bonus episode, Low Ancestry is thrilled to collaborate with Cat Curtis from Haunting History Podcast! Together, we unravel the gripping story of my third-great-granduncle, Edward Hargrave from his birth in London’s rough Shoreditch neighborhood to his teenage years as a Union soldier in the American Civil War. While at war, Edward is imprisoned by Confederate soldiers in Libby and Andersonville Prison where Cat explains to us their terrible history and present hauntings. Get ready for a spooky time! You can find Cat and the Haunting History Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

Season 1 is over, but we've got some exciting stuff on the horizon!

Carrie White led a life marked by profound tragedy, losing her brother and both parents within a year, followed closely by the death of her infant daughter. When Carrie shows signs of deteriorating mental health and involuntary movements, she disappears from her family and is later found in a Binghamton hotel where she had taken her own life. Her family only identifies her days after the incident, and her death leaves a lasting impact on the family. Years later, Carrie’s daughter, Cora, also begins to experience deteriorating mental health and involuntary movements illustrating the complex and often painful legacies that genealogical research can unearth–both physical and emotional. If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts please call 988 right now or visit the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention to find resources.

In this episode, we dive into the complex lives of an everyday American family during and after the Civil War. Helen and Frank Dewey were a happily married couple who survive the war, have ten beautiful children, and stay together through all of life’s hardships. But when Frank passes away, Helen has to grapple with her late husband’s secretive past. Through Helen, we learn of the hardships that women endured during times of war and poverty in 19th-century America, and we find that even the smallest lies can shape the legacies we leave behind.

Through the incredible journey of my tenth-great-grandfather, Pierre Chastain, we uncover the harrowing plight of the Huguenots as they fled relentless persecution in 17th-century France. Forced to navigate a hostile Europe in search of safety, their story takes us through waves of hardship until they finally find refuge in Virginia. As we dive deep into their struggle, we confront the cyclical nature of oppression and survival—revealing how history repeats itself in both heartbreaking and powerful ways.

Part two of our journey through the lives of the Kilmer family– Binghamton’s medical tycoons at the turn of the 20th century–shows us a powerful family in scandalous turmoil in the aftermath of a devastating factory fire. The Kilmers find themselves navigating a public family feud, arson accusations, lawsuits, and a bitter rivalry between newspapers all while coming face to face with the decline of patent medicines in an ever-modernizing America. Join us as we examine the Kilmers’ rise to power, relentless pursuit of wealth, and the way their story shaped the city of Binghamton that we see today.