Genealogy Connection #086 - Jarrett Ross, the GeneaVlogger

Host: Drew Smith
Guest: Jarrett Ross
Release Date: December 23, 2024

Overview

In this engaging episode, host Drew Smith interviews Jarrett Ross, widely recognized in the genealogy community as the “GeneaVlogger.” Jarrett is celebrated for bringing genealogy to life via YouTube, with a particular focus on Jewish genealogy and video education. The conversation journeys through Jarrett’s personal genealogy origin story, his path to genealogy YouTube fame, his deep specialization in Sephardic Jewish history, and practical insights for aspiring researchers. The episode delivers a blend of personal anecdotes, historical perspective, and tips, making it both informative and approachable.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Jarrett Ross’s Genealogy Origin Story

[01:44-05:23]

• Family Curiosity Spark:
  • Jarrett’s childhood curiosity was piqued by overhearing family discussions about unknown cousins and seeing a pedigree chart going back to the 1600s at a cousin’s bar mitzvah.
  • Quote: “About eight or nine is when I got my first genealogy software and started to get into the genealogy thing.” (02:27, Jarrett)
• Early Efforts & Brick Walls:
  • Access to Jewish records was limited; initial forays often ended in dead ends.
  • He used genealogy software like Family Tree Maker and experimented with “fake descendancy” trees for fun as a kid.
• Breakthrough with Online Tools:
  • Discovering Geni.com’s World Family Tree in 2009 opened new doors for collaboration and cousin connections, particularly among Dutch Sephardic Jewish relatives.
  • Quote: “Within a few months, it just went crazy for me after years and years of just constantly hitting brick walls. And that was when I became absolutely hooked.” (05:18, Jarrett)
• Global Family Connections:
  • Established contact with hundreds of relatives worldwide, spanning the US, New Zealand, Australia, UK, Amsterdam, and South Africa.
  • Quote: “This takes diaspora to a whole new level here.” (05:23, Drew)

2. Learning & Education Process in Genealogy

[06:10-09:14]

• Self-Taught Beginnings:
  • Jarrett was largely self-taught, learning from magazines like Family Tree Magazine and early software, then later via Wikipedia’s research standards.
• Academic Background:
  • College focus in communications and film influenced his research and storytelling style.
  • Developed a strong appreciation for context and the philosophy behind discovering and interpreting information — including the concept of “semiotics.”
  • Quote: “I'm thrilled that we now have the first instance... of the use of the word semiotics. I don't think that's ever been appearing on any episode.” (09:14, Drew)

3. Joining and Presenting at Genealogical Societies

[10:29-13:55]

• Unique Entry Point:
  • Jarrett’s first genealogy society experience was as a speaker, not an attendee, presenting on using Geni.com for the Triangle Jewish Genealogy Society (2012).
• Value of Conferences:
  • Real boost came from attending his first conference (IAJGS, 2017) with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as keynote speaker.
  • Emphasized the importance of networking, knowledge sharing, and meeting “real people” from online communities.
  • Quote: “Once the conference happened... that's when it went to the next level.” (13:12, Jarrett)

4. Becoming the “GeneaVlogger” & Genealogy YouTube

[16:04-22:47]

• Early YouTube Adoption:
  • Jarrett used YouTube from its inception, initially as a video storage platform, then moving into content creation.
• Professional Leap:
  • The “genie vlogger” brand was born alongside his step into professional genealogy circa 2017. Realized the lack of genealogy video content, particularly for Jewish genealogy.
  • Quote: “There's not much going on here, so it's very niche... And even more, my specialty is Jewish genealogy, and there's nobody doing Jewish genealogy on YouTube.” (19:36, Jarrett)
• Platform as Portfolio:
  • Viewed YouTube as both a teaching tool and a means to showcase expertise for potential clients.
  • Leveraged his film and communications background, using professional equipment and storytelling techniques.
• Branding Challenges:
  • The “GenieVlogger” name often prompts confusion (“Like a genie?”), but he wanted a unique brand not tied only to his personal name.
• Style Influences:
  • Modeled early content on vloggers like Casey Neistat, integrating personality and storytelling into genealogy education.

5. Speaking at RootsTech & the Future of Genealogy

[25:42-27:13]

• Upcoming Talk:
  • Jarrett will present the opening talk at RootsTech on “The Future of Genealogy,” covering AI and DNA technology advances, including:
    • Facial recognition, handwriting OCR (optical character recognition)
    • DNA tools like reconstructed genomes and artifact/rootless hair testing
    • “Low SNP” forensic DNA testing (kintelligence)

6. Ashkenazi vs. Sephardic Jewish Genealogy

[27:13-39:33]

• Personal Heritage:
  • Jarrett has both Ashkenazi and Sephardic roots, but is predominantly Ashkenazi.
• Sephardic Context:
  • Sephardi Jews are a minority compared to Ashkenazi, especially in the US, and have different traditions, language (e.g., Ladino, Judeo-Spanish), and customs.
  • Quote: “A lot of Sephardi Jews actually do have an issue with... people talk about, you know, Jewish culture, they specifically talk about Ashkenazi Jewish culture. Whereas Sephardi Jewish culture would be much more reminiscent of Mediterranean cultures.” (28:51, Jarrett)
• Historical Diaspora Waves:
  • Detailed the three main Sephardic dispersal waves: Eastern Sephardim (Ottoman Empire), North African Sephardic, and Western Sephardic (Jarrett’s family line).
  • Explained the “conversos” (Jews forced to convert in Spain/Portugal), the B'nei Anusim (descendants of forcibly converted Jews), and debates about their migration to the Americas.
  • Referenced researchers Stanley Hordes and Judith Newlander with differing views on the size and impact of the B'nei Anusim population in the New World.
  • Cautioned against poor genealogical practices, especially around the Portugal/Spain citizenship programs misusing DNA and surname “jumping” as proof of Sephardic descent.
    • Quote: “Surname jumping—my great grandparents had this surname. I see this surname is in the Sephardic lists... but... if you looked at all of the top Sephardic family names, they all correspond with the top Spanish and Portuguese names because they're just Spanish and Portuguese names adopted by Sephardim.” (38:12, Jarrett)
• Need for Good Historical Context:
  • Emphasized: “If you don't understand history, none of this is going to make any sense whatsoever.” (41:42, Drew)

7. Colonial History & the Western Sephardic Network

[42:06-47:29]

• Dutch Colonial Ties:
  • Drew connections between Dutch colonies (Curacao, Suriname, Jamaica, and even Indonesian territories) and Sephardic communities, thanks to the prominent role of Portuguese Jewish merchants and the mutually supportive economic and social networks stretching from Amsterdam outward.
• Records & Genealogy:
  • The Amsterdam synagogue’s “Despachos” records document funds given to help poor community members resettle in other colonies—valuable for modern genealogical research.
• Story of Jewish Arrival in New York:
  • The ship carrying Jews from Recife (Dutch Brazil) to what would become New York is a direct pipeline from the Dutch Sephardic network.
• Quote: “So, yeah, Western Sephardic communities are kind of a little different from the other waves of the Sephardic world.” (47:18, Jarrett)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Within a few months, it just went crazy for me after years and years of just constantly hitting brick walls. And that was when I became absolutely hooked.” (05:18, Jarrett)
• “I'm thrilled that we now have the first instance... of the use of the word semiotics. I don't think that's ever been appearing on any episode.” (09:14, Drew)
• “There's not much going on here, so it's very niche... And even more, my specialty is Jewish genealogy, and there's nobody doing Jewish genealogy on YouTube.” (19:36, Jarrett)
• “Surname jumping—my great grandparents had this surname. I see this surname is in the Sephardic lists... They must have been Sephardic... but it doesn't prove it.” (38:12, Jarrett)
• “If you don't understand history, none of this is going to make any sense whatsoever.” (41:42, Drew)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jarrett’s origin story: 01:44 – 05:23
• Learning genealogy & education: 06:10 – 09:14
• First society talk & conference experience: 10:29 – 13:55
• Launching the GeneaVlogger YouTube channel: 16:04 – 22:47
• RootsTech talk overview (AI/DNA future): 25:42 – 27:13
• Ashkenazi/Sephardic distinctions & diaspora: 27:13 – 39:33
• Colonial networks & Sephardic migration: 42:06 – 47:29
• Closing remarks & tease for future DNA/endogamy discussions: 47:29 – 48:23

Tone & Style

The conversation is casual, friendly, and peppered with humor. Drew and Jarrett use relatable language, making complex historical and genealogical concepts accessible for newcomers and veteran researchers alike. The episode is informative yet inviting—perfect for anyone wanting a lively introduction to Jewish genealogy, YouTube as an educational platform, and the power of self-driven research.

Final Thoughts

Jarrett Ross’s appearance on Genealogy Connection offers a vibrant primer on the intersection of genealogy and new media, as well as a rich exploration of Sephardic Jewish history, research challenges, and best practices. If you’re intrigued by family history, Jewish or otherwise—or thinking about sharing your own expertise with the world—this episode is essential listening.