Know Your Ancestors

Megan Hillyer
  • 4.6 (22)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

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. 4d ago

    [ENCORE] Carry on the Legacy with Julie Taylor

    Ep 77: This summer I'm bringing back some of my favorite guest episodes from Know Your Ancestors — conversations where we really dug into identity and what it means to understand yourself better through your lineage. Julie Taylor has always felt deeply called to a piece of land in Provo, Utah. She moved her family back from Connecticut for it. She kept her last name after marriage because of it. In this episode, we find out exactly why — and it goes back a lot further than she realized. If this episode resonates with you and you're curious about what you might be carrying from your own lineage, grab my free guide — The Pattern That Isn't Yours — at https://knowyourancestors.co/pattern You can find Julie on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/thejulietaylor If you enjoy the show, I'd love it if you took a minute to leave a rating and review — it helps so much. Follow me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhillyer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowyourancestorsco TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganhillyer

    31 min

  2. Jun 17

    [ENCORE] Roots of Grit and Limiting Beliefs with Brittany MacLeod

    Ep 76: This summer I'm bringing back some of my favorite guest episodes from Know Your Ancestors — conversations where we really dug into identity and what it means to understand yourself better through your lineage. And I couldn't think of a better place to start than episode one. Brittany MacLeod was our very first guest, and this episode is one of my favorites simply because of how much we were able to uncover. She came in knowing almost nothing about her family history — and by the end of the episode, she had a lot more to sit with. If you've ever wondered whether there's a reason you are the way you are, this episode is for you. You can find Brittany on Instagram at @brittanymacleod_ and her agency at @macleodmedia_ If you enjoy the show, I'd love it if you took a minute to leave a rating and review — it helps so much. Follow me on: Instagram: @meganhillyer TikTok: @meganhillyer Facebook: @knowyourancestorsco

    35 min

  3. Jun 11

    What If You Barely Have Anything? Learning an Ancestor's Story From Almost Nothing

    Ep 75: I get this question all the time: "But what if there's barely anything about my ancestor?" So in this episode, I'm showing you exactly what's possible. I chose my second great-grandmother for the Ancestor Power Project — a woman with one photo, no memories passed down, no journals. Just records. And what I discovered is that even when you can't find more records, you can find context. The world she lived in, the language she spoke, the community around her — all of it brought her to life in a way I didn't expect. I'm reading you the story I wrote about her, and I think it'll change how you see those "dead ends" in your own family tree. If you've been wanting to learn how to do this kind of research yourself, this is your last chance to grab Family Tree Foundations. I'm retiring the course, so it's on sale for $97 (normally $197) until June 12 at midnight — after that, it's gone forever. You'll keep lifetime access to everything. Check it out at https://knowyourancestors.co/foundation If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you left a rating and review — it really helps others find the show. Come find me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhillyer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowyourancestorsco TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganhillyer

    22 min

  4. Jun 3

    When Life Gets Hard, Read About Your Ancestors

    Ep 74: Some seasons just pile on. In this episode I'm getting a little real about a hard few weeks — and the moment I grabbed a book of ancestor biographies off the shelf and let my grandparents remind me what I'm built from. If you've got a family history book collecting dust, this is your sign to open it. And if you don't have stories like that yet — I'd love to help you find them. Start here: knowyourancestors.co/origin Come find me: Instagram: @meganhillyerTikTok: @meganhillyerFacebook: Know Your Ancestors

    8 min

  5. May 28

    Don't Skip Your Close Ancestors

    Ep 73: I've been seeing a lot of content lately about reconnecting with ancient, pre-colonial ancestry — and while I love that conversation, I think something important is being skipped over. The ancestors who shaped us most are the close ones. Our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents. Their patterns, tendencies, and traumas live in us whether we acknowledge them or not. In this episode, I share why their stories matter, what we can learn from them even when those stories are messy, and how looking closely at their lives can help us understand — and heal — ourselves. If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd love it if you left a rating or review — it really helps the show grow! And if you have ideas for topics or guests you'd like to hear, send me an email at hello@knowyourancestors.co. I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhillyer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowyourancestorsco TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganhillyer

    13 min

  6. May 6

    I Could Feel Them There: A Heritage Trip to Wales

    Ep 72: If you've ever felt a pull toward the land your ancestors came from — like some part of you belongs somewhere you've never been — this episode is for you. In the summer of 2024, I traveled to Northern Wales with most of my family to stand where our ancestors stood, 100 years after my grandmother left as a four-year-old girl. And it changed me. In this episode, I share what that experience was really like — the preparation, the moments that brought me to tears, and the unexpected discoveries that still give me chills. We talk about: How to prepare for a heritage trip so it actually feels meaningful (not just like sightseeing) The Gaelic concept of dúthchas — and why it perfectly describes what I felt the moment I arrived What happened inside a 16th-century Welsh church when my family sang hymns together How a last-minute Ancestry find led us down winding farm roads to a headstone we almost didn't look for The one thing I wish I had brought on the trip — and why it matters for your family too Why standing on ancestral land is something Google Earth simply cannot replicate But this is about more than just travel. Because when you stand where your ancestors lived, worked, and worshipped — when you breathe the same air and walk the same land — something shifts. You start to feel your roots in a way that no amount of research can fully give you. Ready to plan your own ancestral journey? If you want to visit your ancestral homeland and actually feel connected while you're there, I create personalized Ancestral Journey Maps. I'll help you: Identify 5–10 meaningful locations to visit in your ancestral homeland Understand the backstory of each location and why it mattered to your family Get the historical context that brings your ancestors' lives to life Have a printed guide you can hold in your hands while you're there This is where genealogy becomes something you can feel. 👉 Book a free discovery call here: https://knowyourancestors.co/book-call  Have questions or not sure if it's right for you? Send me a message — I'd love to chat. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhillyer  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganhillyer  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowyourancestorsco

    18 min

  7. Apr 29

    You CAN learn how to research your ancestors....it's easier than you think

    Ep 71: A lot of people think that genealogy research is super hard, confusing, and overwhelming. But it's actually a very doable thing....and is easier now than ever. In this episode I walk you through how to get started and share a couple tools that can help: 1. The FamilySearch Research Wiki: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Main_Page 2. Family Tree Foundations - Self-guided Online Course: https://knowyourancestors.co/family-tree-foundations And just for podcast listeners, you can use code PODCAST for 30% off Family Tree Foundations. Enjoy! Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhillyer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowyourancestorsco TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganhillyer

    16 min

  8. Apr 22

    You’re Not Missing Ancestral Culture — You’re Disconnected From It

    Ep 70: You feel it… that pull toward your roots. Wanting something deeper, but not knowing where to start. In this episode, we’re talking about culture—and why so many of us feel disconnected from it. Because it didn’t disappear. It was forgotten. I share why this disconnection happens and how you can begin finding your own culture again—without borrowing from others. Inside, we cover: - Why “white culture” can feel missing - How culture was lost through migration and assimilation - 3 simple ways to start discovering your roots ✨ Melanie Marisol’s free email sequence: https://thelineagerevival.com/pages/gift ✨ Start your Origin Initiation: https://knowyourancestors.co/origin

    15 min
See All (78)

4.6
out of 5
22 Ratings

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
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Megan Hillyer
  • Show Website
    Know Your Ancestors

You Might Also Like