Episode 258 - Nationally Renowned Storyteller Kim Weitkamp On The Art Of Telling Family Stories

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys open Family Histoire News talking first about genetic genealogist CeCe Moore’s recent appearance on 60 Minutes. Then, speaking of DNA, the guys chat about a woman who recently learned that it wasn’t her father who abandoned her as a child, it was her kidnapper! Then, a Revolutionary War diary, which gives a firsthand account of an important battle, has been found. Hear about the significance of this record. Next, Reclaim the Records is stirring things up again. This non-profit, that often sues record agencies to get copies of public records in order to digitize them and make them available free to the public, is going after another organization. Hear who is in their sites this time and why. David then shines his Blogger Spotlight on Jamie Gates. Her site is applegategenealogy.wordpress.com. Jamie talks about getting your family stories out there in the hopes of finding new cousins.   Then, Fisher spends two segments with Kim Weitkamp. (Go to KimIsFunny.com.) Kim is a nationally renowned storyteller who is a leading player in the national storytelling festival circuit. Fisher was astounded at her “telling” skills while watching her recount how she found her birth family. Kim talks about how she puts her stories together and some techniques for becoming a better storyteller. Then, speaking of stories, Tom Perry, our Preservation Authority, shares some of his “Stories from the Store.” From behind the counter of his digitization firm, Tom has truly watched some miracles happen. Hear about what he has seen through the decades.   That’s all this week on Extreme Genes, America’s Family History Show!