Ask the Experts with Crista Cowan

Can I just say, I love my job? Especially when it means having conversations like these with people like Crista. She's so smart and kind and inspiring.
Crista Cowan is a World-Renowned Genealogist and Expert Family History Educator, with more than three decades of experience in the field.
Here are some follow-up resources from our conversation:
Here's a comparison of what you get with an AncestryDNA test alone, AncestryDNA Plus subscription, or full Ancestry subscription. www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/...
Here's more about AncestryDNA's communities, those specific places in your DNA Story (ethnicity) results. www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/...
How I use AncestryDNA's dot system. www.yourdnaguide.com/ancestry...
Take a Tour with us for 20% off
Get a Your DNA Guide Tour for every DNA testing company you use: AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA's Family Finder test. Take 20% with promocode ASKTOUR.
Come to our party for 20% off
I mean The Search Party Course with Crista, me and Janet Hvorka! Get 20% off with promocode YDGparty.
Join Crista for her Pajamas and Pedigrees, her series of interactive family history webinars for those who are new to family history or those of you who just want a little refresher on the basics. Learn more and register here. www.cristacowan.com/pajamas-p...
Want to learn more about your DNA ethnicity results? Click here to get your FREE guide! www.yourdnaguide.com/ethnicit...
Want to learn more about Finding Birth Family with DNA? Click here to get your FREE guide!
www.yourdnaguide.com/dna-birt...
We're here to help! Come ask us questions or explore our many guides to find answers yourself. Find us at: click.yourdnaguide.com/AN1efZ
Don't stop your DNA learning at just this channel, make sure to check out our other resources!
Track your progress, document your findings and unlock the full potential of your DNA journey with Your DNA Guide - the Book & Your DNA Guide - the Workbook. click.yourdnaguide.com/Bz8o47
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[@segolily76]

I started seriously researching my family history in 1968 and am still at it. I graduated from BYU with a degree in Family History and what a huge difference over all these years from snail mail to microfilm and microfiche and an infantile internet to what we have now. Thanks so much for all the expertise you bring to the genealogy world. I wish it had been available when I started out.

[@MrSatwatcher]

It was wonderful to see Crista again at RootsTech. She's really a gem, as well as a distant cousin.

[@tonishelton3105]

Can't wait for the new feature of the shared matches!!!!!

[@sllambdin]

Thanks so much to both of you

[@markusharrild9226]

This is ALL great news and thank you both for sharing your knowledge and insights!

[@kathrynatchison661]

Super charged for family research after listening to your conversations and ideas!

[@brianschuck4832]

This was an enjoyable interview on multiple levels. Hearing the history and way Crista developed her love of genealogy was great, and reminds me of my own journey. Getting a clear explanation of the new subscription model on Ancestry was also good - as there seems to be a lot of confusion on that. All in all, a great listen.

[@christinabradley4590]

Omgness...now a podcast....you are a busy lady💃💃 excited to listening in my car on the way to work🙌🙌

[@godisloveireland]

I started 20 yrs ago in my family history journey.

[@user-xr7ng9nc1d]

Will ancestry show where your matches cMs are located? So you can use that info with a DNA browser?

[@sr2291]

Only for yourself. They need to open the Chromosome browser so you can compare chromosome matches with your DNA cousins.

[@christinabradley4590]

Love,love,love Crista!!! My question is...when are you n your dad gonna start a youtube👏👏👏 that would be AMAZING n FUN❤

[@jaimejewell9686]

bummed i missed this! I really want to know more on endogamy. I think you called it ancestral endogamy.

[@YourDNAGuide]

Here is a post with more information about endogamy. www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/what-is-endogamy

[@delila_YouTube]

Crista! 😃 I always wanted to know that amount of DNA my matches shared with each other. I'm shaking with excitement!!! LOL

[@Disblair]

Hope you are willing to pay the extra that Ancestry will charge you for this feature. 😢

[@nicdar24]

would love to join the Search Party course

[@YourDNAGuide]

Here is a link to join. www.thesearchpartymethod.com/thesearchpartycourse

[@christinabradley4590]

Crista...nevermind on the youtube channel...i just subscribed to pajamas and pedigree👏👏👏

[@davidboyles47]

Great news. Even better would be to tell us the match's side we are matching on. Knowing my side the match is on is only half the batttle to figuring out any relation to our matches. Tell us whether I am on the match's maternal or on their paternal side. Should be totally doably by Ancestry. Thank you.

[@janiceodonnell2466]

If I understand correctly, Pro Tools will NOT be included with the All Access Subscription. If not, do you know how much it will cost to get the add on?

[@JustCallMeJaph]

Pro Tools is a $10/month add-on. I've had it for a week, and it's worth it.

[@mickyc77]

It's my understanding that in your Shared Matches list, all matches in the list are a match to "you", however not necessarily a match to each other. Is that true?

[@CristaCowan]

All of the matches on the Shared Match List are a match to you AND to the person whose match with you that you are viewing.

[@mickyc77]

Thank you for responding but I don't think I phrased my question properly...what I meant to ask was within the list of shared matches, are all of those people related to each other as well?

[@JustCallMeJaph]

​@michellewright6468 When you select a DNA match, then open the "shared matches" tab for that person, everyone on the list is related to you, to the match you selected, and to everyone else on the list through a shared ancestor.

[@mickyc77]

@@JustCallMeJaph Thank you for that clarification.

[@catherinekesseler6505]

Right now with pro ools, not only do you have to have some sort of records subscription but you also have to be the tree owner. Whatwill the requirments be for the dna tools- many people do not work their own dna matches by have made another person manager. Will a person with manager rights be able to use the new dna pro tools or can they only be used by the kits owner?

[@YourDNAGuide]

From Crista: As of today, Pro Tools can be used on any tree owned OR editable by the subscriber. The new DNA Advanced Matching Features will be available for all kits owned or shared with the subscriber.

[@catherinekesseler6505]

@@YourDNAGuide Thanks

[@catherinekesseler6505]

this must be new becasue the FAQ's for pro tools says you have to be the tree owner to use pro tools "Frequently asked questions Which trees can I use Pro Tools with? Pro Tools can only be used on trees you own."

[@juliemeyers6456]

I am not confident with dna to help with two brick walls. But I keep watching and trying things

[@mkaythrush2277]

I am having trouble finding my BMM. The problem is my parent's generation. My parent's sister's each married into a third family my mother's sister married the uncle and my father's sister married a nephew to my mother's sister. Every time I try to divide the tree it goes haywire Me = Mother + Father = Siblings M1 + P5 married into a third family an uncle and his nephew Please help me I am trying to get to my third great Grandfather on my father side

[@GenealogyGrandmother]

On Ancestry, My tree shows all these DNA signals to each of my ancestors. Of course, they didn't test, only me and my other family members that I have tested. But these symbols are only as accurate as my ability to have the right ancestor listed. I turned my tree off to other viewers to test a theory that others have listed as the parents of my great-grandparents. I cannot find facts to prove this fact from other trees or records, yet the DNA symbol shows that link. I'm assuming it is because other people have him as a DNA link, even though their tree doesn't really prove the connection. What's a girl to do?

[@user-ol6qp4zn6i]

Will we ever get back the ability to see multiple Common Ancestors for a DNA match?

[@rover790]

Probably only is you have paid the extra for the DNA tools, I think

[@Disblair]

Search Party Course - More money - lol 😢😢😢

[@Disblair]

Ancestry DNA tour - More money - lol 😥😥😥

[@valerievesper9216]

Sigh. Of course they’re going to charge extra for the next dna tool. Ancestry is really annoying me these days. What I would really be willing to pay for is triangulation information. My God, even if you won’t give us segment information would you please tell us if matches triangulate? My dad’s tangled southern lines are too intertwined to figure out otherwise. That’s your three-legged stool right there:triangulation!