//podcastplus.net/feed/conversations-with-kenyatta~8b094bd6 "Genealogy Roadshow" host and author of "The Family Tree Toolkit," Kenyatta D. Berry looks into genealogy, ancestry, and family history as well as what it means to have enslaved ancestors, and interviews experts in the field. The music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, and 76+ is by Rheme via Pixabay. Thu, 07 May 2026 08:41:58 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/17750960-uncovering-erased-histories-the-relaunch-of-conversations-with-kenyatta.mp3 Send us a text In this relaunch episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, host Kenyatta D. Berry and producer Caitlin Howle introduce the podcast’s powerful new direction—spotlighting stories systematically erased from history and amplifying marginalized voices. Drawing on her extensive research and her own family history as a descendant of enslaved individuals, Kenyatta shares the inspiration behind this shift. Together, they explore the challenges of uncovering erased histories, the role of storytelling in genealogy, and the potential of modern tools like AI. This episode sets the stage for a series designed to educate, inspire, and reframe how we think about America’s past. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Back to Conversations with Kenyatta 00:51 The Inspiration Behind the New Focus 01:49 Exploring Historical Erasure 04:12 Genealogy and Historical Context 07:11 Challenges in Telling Erased Stories 17:06 The Role of AI in Genealogy 25:38 The Emotional Connection to Genealogy 31:27 Hopes for t... Thu, 28 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/17750960-uncovering-erased-histories-the-relaunch-of-conversations-with-kenyatta.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16230332-a-conversation-with-gail-lukasik-part-three.mp3 Send us a text In this episode of Conversation with Kenyatta , host Kenyatta D. Berry welcomes back author Gail Lukasik to discuss her latest book, What They Never Told Us: True Stories of Family Secrets and Hidden Identities Revealed .  Gail shares poignant and often heart-wrenching stories from the book, including tales of individuals discovering their true parentage and racial identities, and the profound emotional and psychological impacts of these revelations. The discussion delves into the motivations behind keeping family secrets, the importance of social context, and the role of empathy in storytelling.  The music for this episode, as always, is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa. We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world. **Please note that some links in our show notes may contain affiliate links, on which Kenyatta receives a s... Thu, 05 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16230332-a-conversation-with-gail-lukasik-part-three.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16230332-a-conversation-with-gail-lukasik-part-three.mp3 Send us a text In this episode of Conversation with Kenyatta , host Kenyatta D. Berry welcomes back author Gail Lukasik to discuss her latest book, What They Never Told Us: True Stories of Family Secrets and Hidden Identities Revealed .  Gail shares poignant and often heart-wrenching stories from the book, including tales of individuals discovering their true parentage and racial identities, and the profound emotional and psychological impacts of these revelations. The discussion delves into the motivations behind keeping family secrets, the importance of social context, and the role of empathy in storytelling.  Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay. Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com . You can also connect with her on social media: Instagram: @ Kenyatta.Berry Facebook: facebook.com/Kenyatta... Thu, 05 Dec 2024 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16230332-a-conversation-with-gail-lukasik-part-three.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16013923-conversations-with-kenyatta-a-75th-episode-retrospect.mp3 Send us a text On this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow remembers the past 75 episodes of her podcast through a retrospective interview - that looks at her favorite guests, as well as examines what she wants for the future of her show.  The music for this episode, as always, is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa. We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world. **Please note that some links in our show notes may contain affiliate links, on which Kenyatta receives a small commission. Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16013923-conversations-with-kenyatta-a-75th-episode-retrospect.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16013923-conversations-with-kenyatta-a-75th-episode-retrospect.mp3 Send us a text On this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family Tree Toolkit and host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow remembers the past 75 episodes of her podcast through a retrospective interview - that looks at her favorite guests, as well as examines what she wants for the future of her show.  Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay. Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com . You can also connect with her on social media: Instagram: @ Kenyatta.Berry Facebook: facebook.com/KenyattaDB Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next time on Conversations with Kenyatta. We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our unders... Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/16013923-conversations-with-kenyatta-a-75th-episode-retrospect.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562100-a-conversation-with-dr-edward-ayers.mp3 Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta , Kenyatta D. Berry sits down with Dr. Ed Ayers, a distinguished historian with a deep focus on the American South. They delve into Ed's childhood in East Tennessee, his educational journey, and his serendipitous path to becoming a historian.  Ed shares his fascination with integrating social history to include everyday people, and his groundbreaking work on 'The Valley of the Shadow' project. They explore how technology has revolutionized historical research and discuss the impact of his tenure as President Emeritus at the University of Richmond.  The conversation also touches on his notable books, 'In the Presence of Mine Enemies' and 'The Thin Light of Freedom,' and his latest work, 'American Visions.' The episode wraps up with Ed's insights on the intersections of genealogy and history, and his unwavering commitment to making history inclusiv... Tue, 17 Sep 2024 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562100-a-conversation-with-dr-edward-ayers.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562100-a-conversation-with-dr-edward-ayers.mp3 Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta , Kenyatta D. Berry sits down with Dr. Ed Ayers, a distinguished historian with a deep focus on the American South. They delve into Ed's childhood in East Tennessee, his educational journey, and his serendipitous path to becoming a historian.  Ed shares his fascination with integrating social history to include everyday people, and his groundbreaking work on 'The Valley of the Shadow' project. They explore how technology has revolutionized historical research and discuss the impact of his tenure as President Emeritus at the University of Richmond.  The conversation also touches on his notable books, 'In the Presence of Mine Enemies' and 'The Thin Light of Freedom,' and his latest work, 'American Visions.' The episode wraps up with Ed's insights on the intersections of genealogy and history, and his unwavering commitment to making history inclusiv... Tue, 17 Sep 2024 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562100-a-conversation-with-dr-edward-ayers.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562111-a-conversation-with-dr-marcia-chatelain.mp3 Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta - Kenyatta D. Berry interviews Dr. Marcia Chatelain, a historian and professor who recently transitioned from Georgetown University to the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chatelain discusses her profound journey from a childhood love of reading to her career in history and teaching. She examines the backlash against teaching accurate history, focusing on the political weaponization of history and its impact on education. The conversation delves into her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America , exploring McDonald's role in Black communities during the civil rights movement. Dr. Chatelain also shares insights into her research process, writing practices, and how she balances her professional career with the joy of motherhood.    They discuss the challenges and rewards of pursuing a PhD in the humanities, and Dr. Chatelain hints at her next book project. The music for this episode, as al... Thu, 29 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562111-a-conversation-with-dr-marcia-chatelain.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562111-a-conversation-with-dr-marcia-chatelain.mp3 Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta - Kenyatta D. Berry interviews Dr. Marcia Chatelain, a historian and professor who recently transitioned from Georgetown University to the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chatelain discusses her profound journey from a childhood love of reading to her career in history and teaching. She examines the backlash against teaching accurate history, focusing on the political weaponization of history and its impact on education. The conversation delves into her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America , exploring McDonald's role in Black communities during the civil rights movement. Dr. Chatelain also shares insights into her research process, writing practices, and how she balances her professional career with the joy of motherhood.    They discuss the challenges and rewards of pursuing a PhD in the humanities, and Dr. Chatelain hints at her next book project. Conversations with Kenyatta fea... Thu, 29 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15562111-a-conversation-with-dr-marcia-chatelain.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15280588-a-conversations-with-w-caleb-mcdaniel.mp3 Send us a text In this episode of Conversations with Kenyatta , host Kenyatta D. Berry sits down with historian and author W. Caleb McDaniel to explore the fascinating intersection of history, storytelling, and the enduring quest for justice. McDaniel, an award-winning author and professor at Rice University, shares insights into his journey as a historian, author, the impact of influential teachers, and the compelling story of Henrietta Wood—a formerly enslaved woman who took an unprecedented step in suing for reparations. Join us as we delve into McDaniel's writing process, the significance of confronting history, and the lessons we can learn from the past to shape our future, all while looking at his book Sweet Taste of Liberty:  A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America. The music for this episode, as always, is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa. We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on ... Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1668904/episodes/15280588-a-conversations-with-w-caleb-mcdaniel.mp3