It's not just opposable thumbs that set our species apart. In this episode, Katie and special guest, Chelsea Bartlett, discuss the innate storytelling nature of humans, how it benefits our species, and how the stories we tell ourselves about our ancestors influence our own lives.

Also mentioned, Mirror Neurons, The Brothers Grimm, Animal Crossing, and the mathematical order of operations.

Theme song: Blackbird by Tobias Voigt

Find out more about this episode's guest

https://chelseadgbartlett.com/

Katie takes a step back from info dumping to introduce herself, her genealogy journey, and her future goals for this podcast.

Also mentioned, New Orleans pirates, religious deconstruction, a surprising Venice honeymoon, and self-employment pros and cons.

Theme song: Blackbird by Tobias Voigt

Wrapping up the Romanov story, Katie reviews some high school biology, reads a military report of a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and struggles with a very Polish name

Also mentioned, polymorphism, skulls under your bed, PTSD, the weirdest line dance you've ever heard of.

*This episode includes discussion of death, human remains, and other mature themes. Listener discretion is advised*

Theme Song: Blackbird by Tobias Voigt

Katie takes a deep dive into a long-fascinating topic, the Romanovs. Also mentioned, Don Bluth's 1997 Anastasia, Golden Film's Anastasia, Rasputin, the Russian Revolution, and surprisingly, Jack the Ripper.

*This episode does contain mention of death, sexual activity and other mature themes, listener discretion advised*

Theme song: Blackbird by Tobias Voigt

Turns out those in power have been blaming the oppressed for their own oppression for centuries. Katie gets more than she bargained for while diving into research for the Irish Potato "Famine." Also mentioned: epigenetics, immigration, Irish American Heritage Month, Saint Patrick's Day.