Birds & Nerds Podcast2 Okt 2025

Birds & Nerds | Families are complicated: Uncovering family secrets through genetic testing | Bill Griffeth

"Genealogy is the pursuit of truth, and if you choose to begin researching your family's history, you had better be prepared to accept whatever truths you uncover." That's the advice from Bill Griffeth, retired CNBC anchor and author of two books on his own family history.

Welcome to the Birds & Nerds podcast, hosted by me, Ramona Schindelheim! In each episode, I'm exploring a random topic I want to know more about with an expert in that field. Somehow, we always find the connection — sometimes unexpected — to my favorite animals, BIRDS!

Bill is my nerd in this episode of the podcast and we have a lot to talk about. We discuss whether we will one day have mandatory genetic testing for insurance purposes, and we delve into the world of genealogy, exploring personal stories of family history, and the impact of DNA testing, including the emotional, often life-changing journey of uncovering family secrets. We each share a few of our own family secrets!

How does this all connect to birds? Turns out that some birds are not as monogamous as we were led to believe. Sanderlings, we are talking to you! It's complicated, just as it is with people! Yes, humor can be a coping mechanism for dealing with complex family dynamics, so we have quite a few laughs along the way.

You can watch the episode on our YouTube channel here: Birds & Nerds Podcast

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Books by Bill Griffeth on Amazon:
A Stranger in My Genes
By Faith Alone

Follow Bill Griffeth on social:
Instagram: @thebillgriffeth
Threads: @thebillgriffeth

Visit the Birds & Nerds website and subscribe to notifications: https://www.birdsandnerdspodcast.com/

Want to know more about me? I am an award-winning journalist and storyteller curious about everything!

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonaschindelheim/

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