Know Your Ancestors

Megan Hillyer

I’m Megan Hillyer, professional genealogist and host of Know Your Ancestors. This podcast is about more than building a family tree, it’s about discovering the strength, belonging, and healing that come from knowing your lineage. Each episode is an invitation to explore the power of your ancestors’ lives and how their stories can shape and guide your own. At its heart, this podcast is about one truth: when you know your ancestors, you know yourself.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    You want to start learning about your ancestors...now what?

    Ep 69: If you’ve ever thought, “I want to learn about my ancestors… but I don’t even know where to begin,” this episode is for you. There is so much information out there, and it can feel overwhelming fast. But the truth is, getting started doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode, I walk you through three simple steps to begin researching your family history in a way that is grounded, meaningful, and actually doable. We talk about: - Why you shouldn’t blindly trust everything written in family records - How to start building your family tree (without getting lost in the process) - The best way to choose your first ancestor to research - A powerful (and often overlooked) tool that can guide your research step-by-step - Why focusing on just one person can completely change your experience But this is just the beginning. Because researching names and dates is only the first layer. When you go deeper, you can start to see patterns, understand what your ancestors lived through, and begin to feel their strength, resilience, and wisdom in your own life. Ready to Go Deeper? If you want support walking through this process, and learning how to truly connect with your ancestors...you’re invited to join The Ancestor Power Project. Inside, you’ll learn how to: - Map where your ancestor lived - Identify patterns of trauma and resilience - Understand how their experiences shaped your family line - Integrate their strength and wisdom into your life This is where genealogy becomes something more. 👉 Join here: https://ancestorpowerproject.com/ If you have questions or feel unsure if it’s right for you, send me a message - I’d love to connect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhillyer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganhillyer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganhillyer

    11 min

  2. 8 APR

    The Real Reason I Created the Ancestor Power Project

    Ep 68: Last week, I ran a free 3-day challenge—and what came out of it surprised me. In this episode, I’m sharing the real reason behind the Ancestor Power Project… not just what it is, but why I felt called to create it in the first place. This isn’t just about building a family tree. It’s about understanding your ancestors as real people—what they lived through, what they carried, and how their strength still shows up in you today. I talk about: Why traditional genealogy often feels incompleteThe difference between researching your ancestors and actually knowing themHow patterns of trauma and resilience can show up across generationsThe deeper meaning behind the word “power” (and why I almost didn’t choose it)What becomes possible when you focus deeply on just one ancestor If you’ve ever felt like there’s more to your family history than names and dates… this episode will open something up for you. ✨ If you want to experience this for yourself, you can still join the free 3-Day Ancestor Power Challenge:👉 knowyourancestors.co/powerchallenge ✨ And if you’re ready to go deeper, learn more about the 8-week Ancestor Power Project:👉 ancestorpowerproject.com

    18 min

  3. 2 APR

    DAY 3: The Connection Click — What Your Ancestor’s Life Means for You

    Ep 67: This is the final day of the 3-Day Ancestor Power Challenge — and where everything shifts. You’ve chosen an ancestor.You’ve started uncovering their life. Now… you begin to understand what it means for you. In this episode, you’ll be guided to find what I call the “connection click” — that one detail that makes your ancestor feel real. The moment they stop being just a name…and become someone you can actually see, understand, and feel connected to. From there, we take it one step deeper:→ What did they live through?→ Who did they have to be to live that life?→ And where does that same strength exist in you? This is where genealogy becomes something more than research. This is where it becomes personal. ✨ This is where their story becomes part of yours. Join the full experience: Get the worksheet + access to the private Facebook group here: https://knowyourancestors.co/powerchallenge LIVE Sharing Circle (tonight - April 2 2026): Come share your experience, hear others, and go deeper into this work. I’ll also be sharing how you can continue beyond the challenge. 7PM MT on Zoom (register above for the link) Replay available if you can’t attend live If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear what you discovered about your ancestor.

    6 min

  4. 1 APR

    Day 2: Look Deeper — What One Record Can Reveal

    Ep 66: In Day 2 of the 3-Day Ancestor Power Challenge, we slow down and take a closer look at a single record. Instead of collecting more and more documents, you’ll learn how to see more in what you already have. Choose one record—like a census, vital record, or newspaper—and write down every detail you can find. Small details matter. This is where real understanding begins. By the end of today, you may be surprised how much more you can learn from just one source. If you’re participating in the full challenge, you’ll also get the worksheet and support inside the Facebook group. 👉 Join the challenge here to access the worksheet + community: https://knowyourancestors.co/powerchallenge

    13 min

  5. 31 MAR

    Day 1: Choose Your Ancestor | 3-Day Ancestor Power Challenge

    Ep 65: This episode is Day 1 of the 3-Day Ancestor Power Challenge. Today, you’ll choose one ancestor and begin getting familiar with their life — using only what you already know. If you want to fully participate in the challenge (with the worksheet + community support), you can join here: 👉 Get the worksheet + join the challenge + join the FB group: https://knowyourancestors.co/powerchallenge

    5 min

  6. 25 MAR

    You Have the Names — But Do You Know Them?

    Ep 64: You’ve done the research. You have the names, the dates, the records… So why does it still feel like something is missing? In this short episode, I share what changed for me — when my ancestors became more than information… and started to feel like real sources of strength, wisdom, and support. ✨ Join the free 3 Day Ancestor Power Challenge 👉https://knowyourancestors.co/powerchallenge Follow me: Instagram TikTok Facebook

    11 min

  7. 18 MAR

    Ancestral Healing & Responsibility - Becoming a Good Relative with Hilary Giovale

    Ep 63: What if understanding your ancestors could change how you show up in the world today? In this episode, I sit down with Hilary Giovale, author of Becoming a Good Relative, to explore what it really means to be in relationship with our ancestors — especially when their stories include colonization, harm, and difficult truths. Hilary shares her personal journey of uncovering her lineage and the moment it shifted from curiosity into a deep spiritual and moral reckoning. Together, we talk about ancestral memory, healing, responsibility, and how reconnecting with our roots can lead to greater compassion, understanding, and action. This conversation is honest, nuanced, and deeply human. It’s about moving beyond avoidance… and into relationship. ✨ In This Episode, We Talk About: - What it feels like to uncover hard truths in your family history - Why many people avoid their ancestry — and what happens when you don’t - How ancestral healing actually works in real life - The shift from guilt and shame → to compassion and understanding - Experiencing connection to ancestral land and memory - How ancestors can guide healing and change in the present - What it means to become a “good relative” today - A simple first step to begin connecting with your ancestors Connect with Hilary Giovale Personal Reparation Plan Book - Becoming a Good Relative Events Instagram Facebook Join me for the FREE 3-Day Ancestor Power Challenge — happening March 31 - April 2. This is a guided experience where you’ll: - Choose one ancestor - Begin uncovering their story - Feel their strength, wisdom, and presence in your life today ✨ Sign up here

    47 min

  8. 11 MAR

    My Honest Thoughts About RootsTech

    Ep 62: Every year thousands of genealogists gather in Salt Lake City for RootsTech, the largest family history conference in the world. This year I attended as part of the media team, and in this episode I’m sharing my honest thoughts about the experience. What are the classes actually like? What trends are emerging in genealogy right now? And what surprised me most about being there? I talk about the overwhelming number of classes, the growing role of AI in genealogy, and something I was really excited to see - more conversations about how learning about our ancestors can help us process difficult parts of family history and understand ourselves more deeply. But the most meaningful part of the conference wasn’t the classes.It was the people. From unexpected conversations with first-time attendees to reconnecting with other genealogists and creators, RootsTech reminded me how powerful this work can be when we share it together. If you’ve ever wondered what RootsTech is like or whether it’s worth attending, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look. You can explore the free classes at https://rootstech.org/ or mark your calendar for the next conference. RootsTech 2027 will take place March 4-6 --------------------------------------------- Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/meganhillyer tiktok.com/@meganhillyer https://www.facebook.com/meganhillyer/ Website: https://knowyourancestors.co/

    20 min
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About

I’m Megan Hillyer, professional genealogist and host of Know Your Ancestors. This podcast is about more than building a family tree, it’s about discovering the strength, belonging, and healing that come from knowing your lineage. Each episode is an invitation to explore the power of your ancestors’ lives and how their stories can shape and guide your own. At its heart, this podcast is about one truth: when you know your ancestors, you know yourself.

Information

  • Creator
    Megan Hillyer
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Megan Hillyer
  • Show Website
    Know Your Ancestors

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