Family Locket – Finding ancestors and keeping them close to the heart

RLP 413: Using Claude’s Custom Skills for Genealogy Research Reports

Hosts Nicole and Diana discuss using Claude’s Custom Skills to automate genealogical report writing. Nicole begins by sharing her previous, challenging attempt to transform a Baldy Dyer research log spreadsheet into a research report using earlier Claude models. Diana provides an overview of Claude, noting its models (Haiku, Sonnet, Opus) and new features like Custom Skills, which are similar to Custom GPTs. Nicole explains that she set up a Custom Skill to convert spreadsheet files […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer June 8, 2026 Podcast

Finding a Father for Cynthia: Phase 5 – Part 1 Research Objective

If you have an ancestor who is still a mystery despite years of research, you’ll relate to my Cynthia (Dillard) Royston project. I am currently working on phase 5 as part of the Research Like a Pro with DNA study group. Each phase has focused on a specific objective and has eliminated many Dillard candidates. Eventually, I hope to have one man left standing, whom documentary and DNA evidence point to as Cynthia’s father. As […]

By Diana Elder June 6, 2026 DNA, Research Like a Pro, Research Tips

RLP 412: Acadian Genealogy and Ancestral Intuition with Judy Nimer Muhn

The episode features guest Judy Nimer Muhn, a professional genealogist and author who specializes in French-Canadian, Acadian, and Indigenous ancestry. Judy is also the owner of Lineage Journeys and serves as the President of the Michigan Genealogical Council. Nicole and Diana discuss Acadian research with Judy, focusing on how she defines the Acadians and distinguishes them from French-Canadians. Nicole asks for the critical first steps researchers should take when beginning to use Acadian records, such […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer June 1, 2026 Podcast

A Trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) Genealogy Center is one of the premier genealogical research resources in the United States. If you’re ever in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, area, you may want to schedule a few days of research at the center. Nicole and I were there as part of the National Genealogical Society Conference and spent an afternoon exploring the center. In this post, I’ll share some of the great resources available there, along […]

By Diana Elder May 31, 2026 Research Tips

RLP 411: 23andMe Clustering and Chromosome Browser

This episode of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy podcast focuses on the latest updates from 23andMe: the new DNA Relatives Clustering feature and the return of the chromosome browser. Nicole introduces the topic by explaining that both features are now available for premium users, stating that this move, while potentially disappointing for some, is necessary to support the profitability of DNA testing companies. Diana discusses the brand new DNA Relatives Clustering feature, clarifying that […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 25, 2026 Podcast

RLP 410: Catholic Nun Research with Sunny Morton

This episode of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy podcast features guest Sunny Morton. Sunny is a genealogy educator, writer, and editor who specializes in US records, particularly those of religious denominations. She is the author of Searching for Sisters: A Guide to Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States. The discussion begins with the motivation behind writing the book, Searching for Sisters. Then, Sunny shares what the religious life was like for Catholic sisters […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 18, 2026 Podcast

George Washington and Richard Wiatt Royston: America 250 Ancestor

The celebration of the U.S. Semiquincentennial provides an opportunity to reflect on our colonial ancestors who lived during the Revolution. We may not have traced many of our ancestors to this era, but for those we have, we can use historical context to tell their story. In this series, I’ll share my experiences in researching my colonial ancestors – men and women – and invite you to consider ways you can discover and honor your […]

By Diana Elder May 17, 2026 Creating and Sharing Family History

RLP 409: Negative Search Results vs. Negative Evidence: When Nothing Found Means Something

On this episode of Research Like a Pro, Diana and Nicole discuss how to transform unsuccessful searching into powerful proof by distinguishing between negative search results and negative evidence. Diana mentions that she is reading an article from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly about a DNA cluster that links two distant lines of descent. Diana shares that a search that yields “nothing” may be exactly the evidence a genealogist needs, drawing from her presentation at […]

By Nicole Elder Dyer May 11, 2026 Podcast

Did Canada Just Make You a Citizen? How a New Law Turned My Genealogy Research Into a Citizenship Application

Guest post by Colleen S. Kennedy What if you woke up one day and discovered another country already considers you one of its citizens? That is exactly what happened to me — and our Research Like a Pro (RLP) genealogy skills give us a real advantage in applying for Canadian citizenship. DISCLAIMER: I am an amateur genetic genealogist, not a lawyer or immigration consultant. Nothing in this post constitutes legal or immigration advice. Canadian citizenship […]

By Colleen Kennedy May 9, 2026 Research Like a Pro, Research Tips

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RLP 413: Using Claude’s Custom Skills for Genealogy Research Reports

Finding a Father for Cynthia: Phase 5 – Part 1 Research Objective

RLP 412: Acadian Genealogy and Ancestral Intuition with Judy Nimer Muhn

A Trip to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

RLP 411: 23andMe Clustering and Chromosome Browser

RLP 410: Catholic Nun Research with Sunny Morton

George Washington and Richard Wiatt Royston: America 250 Ancestor

RLP 409: Negative Search Results vs. Negative Evidence: When Nothing Found Means Something

Did Canada Just Make You a Citizen? How a New Law Turned My Genealogy Research Into a Citizenship Application

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