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Are You My Cousin? Newsletter

Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.

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Featured Post

May's genealogy grab bag 🌸

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, You know that moment when you reach into your favorite tote bag and pull out exactly what you didn't know you needed? That's this week's newsletter. I'm mixing maiden name mysteries with AI research tips, tossing in family food stories, and adding a pinch...

Blurred office background. Text reads Look beyond Marriage Records

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, With Mother's Day just behind us, I've been thinking on the women who shaped my life. I was fortunate to grow up knowing both my grandmothers and even a great-grandmother—women who passed down the family stories alongside teaching me to cook and...

Pic of woman in green shirt. Sample pedigree tree. Text reads start here, viewers tips

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Recently, I spent a weekend with my daughter. We tried out new restaurants and bakeries 😋, sipped new spring coffee drinks and laced up our running shoes for a lovely mother-daughter run. (Yep, I'm still love running!) While sipping our peach cobbler...

Faded office background with text overlay reading stop overlooking new records. New is in a red circle.

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Do you ever feel like you've hit a brick wall with your family research? This week, I want to share a simple habit that's helped me make numerous breakthroughs over the years - regularly rechecking genealogy databases for new content. Many researchers...

Background of old family photos. Text overlay reading AI prompts that work

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, This past weekend I attended a family reunion with my dad. After spending years researching that family line, it's exciting to learn new stories and make new connections in person. (Plus, there was lots of yummy food!) In this week's newsletter, I'm once...

Woman in blue shirt with quizzical look. Text reads AI and Genealogy Perfect combo

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, I'm loving the warmer days this month despite all the yellow pollen still covering my front porch. I've been indulging in my "other favorite" activities of running and cycling. Even better are the new trails that have opened up near me. 🏃♀️➡️🚲 Being...

Ancestry.com networks page in background with text overlay reading new tool

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, It's spring!🌷In my part of the world, that means the temps are warming up, flowers are starting to bloom, and the yellow pine pollen is covering everything. I can literally see it in the air. While I know many of you may be reaching for the tissues and...

old document in the background with a stop sign and text reding missing clues

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Genealogy research rarely follows a straight path—some days we're deep in document analysis, others we're tracking surname changes, and sometimes we're exploring new research tools or connecting with local libraries. This wonderful unpredictability is what...

family tree in background with text overlay reading find cousins

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Last week was a double celebration for me – not only was it my birthday (hello, new year of life!), but I also launched my completely redesigned website. 🎉 Consider this my birthday gift to you – a more intuitive, streamlined experience that makes finding...

old deed books with white text overlay on green background reading unlock hidden clues

Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share actionable genealogy research advice to help you grow a healthy - and accurate - family tree. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, I'm packing my bags and heading to RootsTech 2025 in Salt Lake City this week, and I'm so excited to be able to connect with many of you in person! One of my favorite spots at RootsTech is the Expo Hall. That's where I not only connect with genealogy...