Utah: Walking Where They Walked (with Michelle Ercanbrack) | Stories That Live in Us | Episode 74

🗻 "I'd gone, I'd done the thing, I'd been to the places, I'd told the stories and I had no idea I was connected to someone who had been there." Michelle Ercanbrack thought she was just helping teenagers learn Mormon pioneer history during a trek recreation. Instead, she discovered her own ancestor, Mary Ann Malley, had survived one of the most tragic episodes in Utah's settlement - the 1856 Martin Handcart Company disaster. Michelle, a BYU family history graduate and former Ancestry researcher who worked on shows like "Who Do You Think You Are," reveals how even professional genealogists can miss the most meaningful connections in their own family trees. Her emotional journey retracing Mary Ann's path through Wyoming's wilderness to Utah demonstrates the profound difference between knowing facts and truly understanding their impact. Mary Ann was a widowed single mother from Preston, England, who lost her husband to tuberculosis, fought to keep her 12-year-old son from being kidnapped, and then faced impossible survival choices during early blizzards that killed hundreds of pioneers. Michelle's discovery of Mary Ann's story of resilience - including the moment she brushed another woman's hair while death surrounded them - transformed how she views both her heritage and her role as a mother. 💭 Have you ever discovered a family story that completely changed how you see yourself? Share your most surprising family history discovery in the comments below. ⌚ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction to Michelle's background 4:01 How Michelle got into family history at BYU 8:34 Becoming a mother and passing on stories 12:09 The emotional impact of family photo albums 17:31 Michelle's pioneer heritage on all family lines 21:51 The Martin Handcart Company tragedy of 1856 29:27 Standing in Martin's Cove and feeling the connection 33:52 Mary Ann's dress and symbols of hope 37:06 Learning there's always more to discover 42:09 The powerful connection between ancestors 44:13 Driving past childhood homes with grandparents 47:37 Why we must keep telling the stories 🌟 FEATURED GUEST Michelle Ercanbrack - BYU Family History Program Graduate, Former Ancestry Story Producer 🎙️ WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE Why professional genealogists can overlook connections in their own trees How physical location transforms understanding of family stories The difference between knowing facts and experiencing history Why walking where ancestors walked creates deeper connections How to intentionally pass family stories to the next generation 📝 VISIT THE COMPANION BLOG POST FOR MORE TIPS TO UNCOVER YOUR OWN FAMILY STORIES https://www.cristacowan.com/blog/utah... _____________________________ 👋 NEW HERE? Subscribe and click the bell to be notified of new episodes! 📱 Connect with Crista: Website: http://cristacowan.com Instagram:   / cristacowan   Facebook:   / thebarefootgenealogist   🎧 Listen to more episodes on your favorite podcast app or visit http://StoriesThatLiveInUs.com _____________________________ #familyhistory #genealogy #utah #pioneerhistory #ancestry #handcartcompany #martinscove #mormonpioneers #wyoming #familystories #genealogist #ancestry #storiesofsurvival #resilience #familyconnection #storiesithatlivinus #cristacowangenealogy #barefootgenealogist #walkingwherethewalked _____________________________ Stories That Live In Us helps you form deeper connections with your family - past, present, and future. Host Crista Cowan, known online as The Barefoot Genealogist, shares powerful stories that help craft your family narrative and create a legacy of resilience, healing, and connection. © 2025 Crista Cowan. All rights reserved.