Text me what you think of today’s episode!A single DNA result can feel like trivia until you chase it all the way back to names, places, and documents that prove a life actually happened. That’s where Joseph Bolton’s story gets gripping. He’s a West Point graduate and retired Army paratrooper who starts digging into his family tree, discovers Indigenous and French-Canadian roots he didn’t fully understand, and then turns that research into Old Grandmother’s Tree, a heavily illustrated folk tale series built on real historical anchor points from 17th-century Quebec. Joseph explains why he chose the folktale as the “language” for telling his ancestor’s story, how Jesuit records in Trois-Rivières preserve rare details about her life, and how he uses imagination to explore the emotional truth inside documented events. The conversation goes deeper than books. Joseph shares how connecting with Algonquin community members and other descendants reshapes his sense of identity and belonging, and how Canadian ancestry laws change the way he sees himself in the present, not just the past. If you’ve ever wondered how to research your family history, how to write historical fiction responsibly, or how ancestry can redraw your idea of who you are, you’ll find a lot to sit with here. Subscribe for more stories like this, share the episode with a friend who loves family history, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Guest LinksOld Grandmother's Tree HomepageMeet Joseph BoltonOld Grandmother's Tree Character WikiOld Grandmother's Tree Purchase options on AmazonAssorted Conversations LinksPodcast HomepageAssorted Conversations Facebook PageStay up-to-date on podcast happenings and share them with your friendsAssorted Conversations Podcast Facebook CommunityA collaborative and supportive community for you to engage with us, our guests and other listenersShare your passion, network and connect as we all pursue what makes us happy.Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and infoSpecial online events for community members             NOW on TikTokFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramSupport Assorted Conversations on Buy Me a CoffeeSay hello or ask a question:  [email protected] Credit:  True Living by Patrick MooreRoyalty free music license purchased at soundotcom.com