Beneath the Branches: Why I Started Legacy Lore

Hi there. I’m Sammy Jo — the voice behind Legacy Lore. I’ve been researching my family tree for over ten years, and this podcast is the result of where that journey has taken me: into the stories that live just beneath the branches.

As a kid, I was always fascinated by old photos. I loved looking at faces and asking questions. Who were they? What were their lives like? I’ve always had a vivid imagination (sometimes too vivid), and I could easily get lost thinking about people from the past—especially the ones no one remembered. That curiosity turned into a hobby, and that hobby turned into a passion.

I have two older siblings and a big extended family full of cousins I’ve always treated like siblings too. My husband has siblings with children as well, and since we’ve been married, we’ve gotten that familiar question: “Do you plan to have kids?” The truth is… we’re not sure.

I once read that if you don’t feel the urge to have children, it might mean this is your last life—that your soul has lived enough, and you don’t feel the need to leave something behind. Maybe that’s why genealogy speaks to me so deeply. It connects me to the past. It reminds me that even if I don’t leave behind children of my own, I can still preserve and share the stories of those who came before me.

Legacy Lore was born from that desire to connect—and to stay connected.

I hope this podcast inspires you to start your own search. Your ancestors lived through real, unimaginable struggles. They grew their own food. They worked long, grueling days. They didn’t have phones, or the internet, or instant anything. What they did have was their land, their families, and their resilience.

We live in a world full of modern comforts, but it’s important to reflect on where we came from. Because as you’ll hear throughout this podcast, history has a strange way of repeating itself. We think we’ve evolved, but the truth is—cycles spin, and spin again.

And here’s something funny I realized recently: when I was a kid, I had a boombox with a tape deck, and I would record my own pretend radio station. I called it Peace Frog Radio (inspired by a collection of peace frog stickers I had). I’d record real radio clips, then cut in my own voice like a DJ introducing songs or chatting with imaginary callers. Looking back now, I wonder if that little girl knew she’d one day become a podcast host. It feels like a little bit of foreshadowing, doesn’t it?

This blog, Beneath the Branches, will be a place where I introduce myself and share the research behind each season of Legacy Lore. It’s a behind-the-scenes companion to the podcast—where I’ll go deeper into what I’ve found, how I found it, and why it matters.

The podcast will be available on all major platforms and active across social media. Season One begins October 14, 2025, with the first two episodes dropping at once. But if you’re curious (and want to skip the ads), make sure to join our mailing list for early access.

Thanks for being here. I can’t wait to share these stories with you.