

The Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast
Nicole Dyer
Research Like a Pro is a podcast about genealogy research methodology. Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer of FamilyLocket.com discuss how to take your family history research to the next level and uncover more of your family tree. Learn about research objectives, analysis, locality research, research planning, source citations, report writing, case studies, and more. Diana and Nicole are the mother-daughter team at FamilyLocket.com and the creators of the Amazon bestselling book, Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide. Diana created the Research Like a Pro method after becoming an Accredited Genealogy professional through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. Discover the process that a professional genealogist uses and make progress on your own brick walls.
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 31min
RLP 393: Revisiting the Father of Cynthia (Dillard) Royston - Part 6 Writing the Report
They walk through writing a formal research report to close a complex family case and set clear next steps. The hunt for Cynthia’s father focuses on Cass County in the 1830s and how missing deed records shape the search. Four 1840 Dillard households are systematically eliminated. A Georgia Gold Lottery analysis identifies three high-priority Dillard candidates to pursue with targeted documentary work and Y-DNA testing.

16 snips
Jan 12, 2026 • 26min
RLP 392: Revisiting the Father of Cynthia (Dillard) Royston: Part 5 Research Logging and Citations
This discussion emphasizes the critical need for meticulous research logging and source citations. Learn a quick strategy for creating citations on FamilySearch and discover the power of Airtable for organizing research. A fascinating case study highlights the search for Cynthia Royston's parent, revealing Elizabeth Dillard's origins through a deed from 1838. Explore innovative AI tools for transcription and abstracting, and hear about research conclusions that shift focus to a 1832 land lottery, showing the evolving nature of genealogy.

Jan 5, 2026 • 26min
RLP 391: Revisiting the Father of Cynthia (Dillard) Royston - Part 4 Research Planning
They walk through building a focused research plan for finding Cynthia Dillard’s father in 1830s Cass County, Georgia. They review locality history, census clues, land and marriage records, and how DNA narrowed suspects. They propose hypotheses and a prioritized plan of sources to pursue next.

Dec 29, 2025 • 28min
RLP 390: Revisiting the Father of Cynthia (Dillard) Royston - Part 3 Locality Research
They focus on doing locality research in Cass County, Georgia, to find a candidate father for Cynthia Dillard Royston from the 1830s. They explain narrowing the timeframe to 1832–1860 and using multiple AI models to build a locality guide. They cover the county name change from Cass to Bartow, the 1864 courthouse fire and saved records, and the impact of the 1832 Cherokee Land Lottery on settlement.

Dec 22, 2025 • 24min
RLP 389: Revisiting the Father of Cynthia (Dillard) Royston - Part 2 Timeline
A deep dive into building a timeline for Cynthia Dillard Royston and pinpointing her likely father in 1830s Cass County, Georgia. They compare census ages and family events to estimate birth years. DNA-linked Elijah Dillard is examined as a potential sibling. Several Dillard households from the 1840 census are mapped and evaluated for geographic and age clues.

12 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 41min
RLP 388: Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch with Dana Palmer
Dana Palmer, a Certified Genealogist and lecturer, specializes in Midwestern research and lineage applications. In this engaging discussion, she shares her passion for family history sparked by her grandparents. Dana dives into the features of FamilySearch.org, emphasizing the Full-Text Search and tips for finding records using wildcards and the catalog. She also highlights the importance of the Research Wiki, collaborative Family Tree contributions, and the value of preserving memories through photos and documents. This conversation is a treasure trove for genealogy enthusiasts!

Dec 8, 2025 • 28min
RLP 387: Revisiting the Father of Cynthia (Dillard) Royston - Part 1 Objective
Diana shares her intricate journey to uncover the father of Cynthia Dillard Royston. She discusses testing the hypothesis around George W. Dillard, eliminating several candidates along the way. A breakthrough occurs with DNA analysis pointing to a cluster linked to Elijah Dillard. The discovery of Cynthia's husband in Cass County, Georgia, shifts the focus, sparking a new objective: to find a Dillard candidate from the 1830s in that area. It’s a masterclass in tackling genealogy's toughest challenges through rigorous research.

Dec 1, 2025 • 38min
RLP 386: Disappearing Act: John Royston Apprentice (1750 – after 1814)
Diana and Nicole begin the episode by chatting about what they have been working on in their research. Diana then introduces the main topic, the fascinating case of John Royston, an ancestor who ran away as a 19-year-old apprentice in Virginia in 1770. They discuss the detailed advertisement placed in The Virginia Gazette by his master, Samuel Daniel, which provides a physical description, a list of his clothes, and mentions his skills as a chair maker and blacksmith. Diana shares how she uses AI tools to generate images based on the ad's description and, more importantly, to add historical context. The hosts discuss the information Diana gathered from AI regarding the apprentice system in Colonial Virginia and the significance of John's clothing—a working-class frieze coat paired with a "new broadcloath waistcoat and breeches" of "pretty fine cloth." The AI's analysis suggests this attire points to John having a middle-class social status and that he planned his escape carefully to maintain a respectable appearance. Diana highlights how the 1770 advertisement is crucial for connecting John to his father, Richard Wyatt Royston, in the records of a "burned county." Listeners learn how to utilize a single, detailed historical record and modern AI tools to transform a seemingly "disappearing" ancestor into a well-contextualized person with a compelling story. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links Disappearing Act: John Royston Apprentice (1750 – after 1814) - https://familylocket.com/disappearing-act-john-royston-apprentice-1750-after-1814/ The Virginia Gazette - March 15, 1770 (see page 4) - https://teacherresources.colonialwilliamsburg.org/API/Download/v1_0/GetOriginalLimited?Identifier=CW11851S Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout. Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of new episodes - https://familylocket.com/sign-up/ Check out this list of genealogy podcasts from Feedspot: Best Genealogy Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/genealogy_podcasts/

10 snips
Nov 24, 2025 • 34min
RLP 385: Women and the Law of Property in Early America
Diana and Nicole dive into an intriguing 1867 divorce case that highlights the complexities of dower rights. They explore Marylynn Salmon's book on women's property law in early America, revealing how women's rights evolved post-Revolution. Key topics include the legal status of married women, varying regional laws, and the significance of understanding property records for genealogy. Listeners gain insights on statutes like the feme sole trader act and the impact of colonial laws on women's autonomy and property ownership.

Nov 17, 2025 • 30min
RLP 384 : In the News - William Beddoes (1838-1920)
Discover the fascinating life of William Beddoes, an English immigrant who helped establish Salem, Utah. Explore how newspaper research uncovers family histories and community contributions. Learn about the unique construction of the Salem Canal and its significance for irrigation. Dive into the intriguing details of a primitive water leveling device mentioned in his obituary. The hosts discuss evaluating historical claims and the importance of local records for genealogical research, offering insights and future research possibilities.


