Ologies with Alie Ward

Episode: Genealogy (FAMILY TREES) Encore with Stephen Hanks
Date: February 4, 2026
Guest: Stephen Hanks, genealogist and author of “1619: 20 Africans” and “Akitri: A Descendant’s Quest for His Slave Ancestors on the Eskridge Plantations”

Episode Overview

This encore episode dives deep into the science, art, and emotional resonance of genealogy with expert Stephen Hanks. Alie Ward and Stephen explore how family trees are constructed, the challenges and joys of tracing ancestry (especially for African American families), how DNA technology has changed the field, and why understanding one’s heritage can be both healing and complicated. Stephen weaves in personal stories, historical context, and practical tips for genealogical research, making this episode engaging and accessible for newbies and family-tree obsessives alike.

Main Themes & Purpose

• Understanding Genealogy: Exploring the roots and rules of family tree research.
• Personal & National Healing: How tracing ancestry helps reckon with complex histories, especially tied to slavery and race in America.
• Tools of the Trade: Examining traditional and modern genealogical methods, from microfiche to genetic testing.
• Connection & Surprise: Celebrating family connections, hidden histories, and the interconnectedness of all people.

Key Topics, Insights, and Memorable Moments

1. Getting Started in Genealogy

• Stephen’s Origin Story:
  • Began genealogy in 1989 after reading a family obituary listing unfamiliar relatives.

    “I said, I got to find out who these people are. I got to find out about the history of my family.” (04:56)

• Research Before the Internet:
  • Used microfiche and long drives to National Archives (Seattle), cranking through records reel by reel (06:00–07:04).
• Genealogist’s Rule:
  • Start with what you know and work backwards.

    “…work your way back from what you know to what you don’t know. That’s the rule. Never do it the other way around.” (07:20)

• First Real Breakthrough:
  • Discovered ancestors’ migration from Mississippi to Kansas, confronting the legacy of slavery directly in his research (09:00–09:39).

2. Challenges of African American Ancestry

• Limitations of Available Records:
  • 1870 census first to include all African Americans post-slavery; going further back is difficult due to loss and destruction of records (e.g., 1890 census burned in 1921). (09:58, 10:22)
• Connecting with the Past:
  • Alie: “Never met these family members, but these were my ancestors… I was just in heaven, you know.” (10:46)
• Personal Pilgrimage:
  • Stephen’s 1994 trip to Duck Hill, Mississippi, to meet the great-granddaughter of the family who enslaved his ancestors—a moving, healing encounter.

    “We just embraced and we just made a really deep connection. We’re still friends to this day.” (21:41–24:42)

3. Storytelling, Community & the Ethics of Genealogy

• Family Interviews:
  • Interview living relatives for stories, names, locations—record these conversations if possible.

    “Sit down with a pen and paper... start making a list on the paternal side, your father's side, and the maternal side, your mother's side.” (47:05)

• Healing Through History:
  • Comparison to Truth and Reconciliation Commissions:

    “The first step is acknowledging that you have a problem... and you try to get help. And the more you discuss it... it starts to heal you...” (27:28)

• DNA Connections Cross Racial Lines:
  • “Chances are if you have three people and if you’re white and the other one’s Black, you’re probably just as much related as the two persons that are of the same race.” (54:17)

4. Modern Genealogy: DNA Testing, Technology, and Surprises

• DNA Testing Evolution:
  • DNA tests revealed 2,000+ relative matches, some confirming paper trail research, others providing new surprises (30:36–32:41).
• Testing Companies & Interoperability:
  • Different companies (23andMe, Ancestry) have different pools—consider testing with more than one if you’re seeking more matches (32:30–32:41).
• Maternal vs. Paternal Lines:
  • Mitochondrial DNA reveals maternal ancestry; Y chromosome tests needed for paternal lines (34:11, 34:34).
• Ongoing Discoveries:
  • DNA test databases continue to update as more people participate, creating new matches over time (35:25).
• Ethical Questions:
  • Law enforcement access to public DNA databases for solving crimes is a double-edged sword:

    “If it can create closure to someone, I wouldn’t mind participating in solving something. But… just be careful.” (52:37)

5. Genealogical Tips, FAQs & Listener Qs

• Cousin Classifications Explained:
  • “‘Removed’ means a difference in generations; ‘second cousin’ means you share great-grandparents.” (38:34–39:16)
• Adoptees:
  • Research both your biological and adopted families—both shape your story (50:56).
• Surnames/Maiden Names:
  • Different cultures approach surnames differently; in some cases, tracing women’s lines can be a challenge—look for marriage or death certificates for maiden names (43:57).
• Unexpected Family Ties:
  • Stephen found out over breakfast that his sister-in-law’s children were actually his relatives via DNA evidence and surname connection (59:47–62:02).

    “I almost fell off my chair. I said Grantham. That’s a name that’s come up in my family research... my sister-in-law’s children are related to me.” (59:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On What Genealogy Teaches Us:

  “We’re all the same… The time for the healing of the wounds has come.” – Stephen Hanks (29:18)

• On Facing History:

  “Just because they’re your ancestors doesn’t mean that they’re the protagonist of the story.” – Alie Ward (20:17)

• On Emotional Discovery:

  “I just was taking notes the whole time. And that was the turning point. And that just broke through to finding another generation of my family.” – Stephen Hanks (24:49)

• On Interconnectedness:

  “Color is just nothing. It’s just a classification. We are all related.” – Stephen Hanks (62:10)

• On Genealogy’s Joy:

  “I just love to take that brick wall and try to see if I can go through it… once you find him, you’re like, oh, yes, this is just wonderful. Love it.” – Stephen Hanks (66:29)

• On Healing the Past:

  “The first step is acknowledging that you have a problem. And then you discuss it with someone and you try to get help. And the more you discuss it and you acknowledge it, it starts to heal you…” – Stephen Hanks (27:28)

• On Family Surprises:

  “If you hadn’t asked over breakfast—what was her name?—you’d never have known…” – Alie Ward (62:01)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:01 – Alie introduces the episode’s genealogy theme
• 04:52 – Stephen Hanks’ origin story in genealogy
• 07:04 – Microfilm & first steps in research; genealogist’s "work backwards" rule
• 09:39 – Legacy of slavery in family research
• 13:18 – Balancing genealogy with career; turning passion into a job
• 16:35 – Writing “Akitri” and the nuances of Black American genealogy
• 19:05 – 1619: The first Africans in America; DNA and public history shows
• 21:41 – Stephen’s personal pilgrimage to Duck Hill, Mississippi
• 27:28 – Genealogy and healing after trauma; lessons from South Africa
• 30:36 – How DNA tests have changed genealogy
• 38:34 – Listeners’ FAQ: cousin terminology explained
• 47:05 – How to start your own genealogical search; what to ask relatives
• 50:56 – Researching both biological and adoptive family trees
• 52:37 – Forensic and ethical issues in genetic genealogy
• 54:17 – What is race, genetically speaking? Interconnectedness of all people
• 59:47 – Real-life discovery: breakfast conversation reveals family connection
• 63:13 – Reflecting on Black History Month: why it's important, how it started
• 65:21 – The hardest, most annoying part of genealogy
• 66:29 – The best, most rewarding part of genealogy

Practical Genealogical Advice

• Start with living relatives. Interview them, collect documents, make a basic tree with both paternal and maternal sides (47:05–48:45).
• Document everything. Names, dates, locations, marriage and death certificates—all provide vital clues (47:05).
• Check the neighbors. Families often lived near each other; census neighbors might be family (46:05–46:37).
• Embrace both adoptive and biological lines. They both tell your story (50:56).
• Be persistent. Genealogy is detective work; breaking through a “brick wall” is part of the fun (66:29).

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

Alie and Stephen wrap up by emphasizing that genealogy is about discovery, embracing difficult truths, and forging new, healing connections—not just with family but with history itself and the broader human family. They remind listeners how even a casual question over breakfast or a DNA test can change your understanding of yourself and your place in the world.

Resources Mentioned

• Stephen Hanks books:
  • “1619: 20 Africans”
  • “Akitri: A Descendant’s Quest for His Slave Ancestors on the Eskridge Plantations”
• Charity: blackpast.org – extensive resources on African and African American genealogy and history.
• Shows: Finding Your Roots, Genealogy Roadshow, Faces of America, Who Do You Think You Are?
• Testing Services: 23andMe, Ancestry

Tone

Warm, witty, insightful, and emotional—Alie maintains her signature curiosity and humor, while Stephen is generous, patient, and passionate about the stories that hide in every family tree.

Final Thought:

“We’re all related, really, when you look at it... Race is just a classification. We are all related.”
— Stephen Hanks (29:18, 62:10)