Capture
What stood out to you in class and why it mattered.
Join the DNA Study Group
Make steady progress in your DNA research—without burning out or spinning out.
Most genealogists don't stop because they lose interest.
They stop because it's hard to tell whether their effort is adding up. Study Group exists to change that experience.
It's a place where learning builds on itself, curiosity is considered a strength, and experienced guides help you stay oriented—so your research keeps moving, even when the answers aren't in a hurry.
Enroll in Study Group!
Linda Westover
"Study Group keeps me thinking about and working on my DNA research all year long instead of starting and stopping, as I've done before."
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Kathleen Withers
"I decided to invest in myself and take Diahan's courses.... And now I can do it myself. Like they say, 'Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for the rest of his life.' I can fish!"
Lisa Roney
"I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable working with my DNA results after the past year’s DNA Study Group—thank you Diahan and all the instructors! I have helped solve fairly recent DNA mysteries for a couple of friends of mine."
Genetic genealogy asks a lot of us.
It asks us to learn new tools, new language, and new ways of thinking—often without clear signals that we’re “doing it right.” And because progress doesn’t always show up neatly or quickly, it can be surprisingly hard to tell whether the time and energy you’re putting in are actually adding up.
That uncertainty is where most people start to pull back.
You might recognize some of these thoughts:
- I should probably stay focused instead of going down that path.
- I’m learning things, but I don’t know where they fit yet.
- There are so many tools—how do I know which ones are worth my time?
- I don’t want to fall behind, but I also don’t want to chase everything.
These aren’t signs that you’re scattered or unfocused.
They’re signs that you care about using your time well.
What’s usually missing in moments like this isn’t motivation or follow-through.
It’s trusted guidance about what’s actually worth paying attention to.
Susie Haenisch
"I was thinking I'm over my head doing this 'DNA thing' because science was never my strength in school. However . . . THIS IS SUCH FUN! I'm so pumped, I cannot sit still. I am actually following Diahan with each slide and UNDERSTANDING the material she presents.... She's so easy to follow and understand.
I'm loving this course and cannot wait to learn more. Thank you, Diahan, and all your cohorts for putting together such an excellent online forum in which even I can learn to DO THE DNA! This is me🤪 doing my happy dance."
Study Group removes the guesswork from what's worth learning
Each month, experienced guides curate the topics, tools, and strategies that most often help real research questions—so you can spend your energy learning, not constantly evaluating whether something is worth your time.
View upcoming topics
Rosalind Matthews
"I have taken each class, done the classwork, and it really works. I have had tremendous success and understanding of using all the tools your group has taught. I would recommend this type of study group to all researchers who are serious about finding their ancestors. Take the course, do the work, you will be successful!"
April
- 1st at 11am ET: Meet PERSI, and Discover Treasures in Genealogy Periodicals with Sunny Jane Morton
- 15th at 2pm ET: A Case Study where Shared Matches of Matches (SMOMs) Made All the Difference! with Diahan Southard
May
- 6th at 4pm ET: Deep Dive into Big Y with Laura Sandidge
- 20th at 11am ET: The Legacy of Henrietta Lacks with Charles Toth, PhD
June
- 3rd at 2pm ET: A Case Study: Exploring DNA and Genealogical Records with Kelli Bergheimer and Angela Cloward
- 17th at 11am ET: Relating the Stories of Relatively Recent Relatives with Sunny Jane Morton
July
- 1st at 2pm ET: Lucidchart as an Analytical and Organizational Tool with Diahan Southard
- 15th at 2pm ET: Leeds Method Mini-Series, Part 1 with Kelli Bergheimer
August
- 5th at 11am ET: Leeds Method Mini-Series, Part 2 with Kelli Bergheimer
- 19th at 2pm ET: Your Next 3 Months, Step-by-Step: Building a DNA Research Plan with Katie Crichton
September
- 2nd at 4pm ET: The Shared cM Project with TBD
- 16th at 1pm ET: Ethnicity, A Deeper Dive with Diahan Southard
A personal AI companion to help you reflect and take your Next Tiny Step.
After a session, the private, proprietary, Study Group AI Companion can help you:
Define
It will help you define your questions so you can decide what is still unclear.
Identify
You will identify the best next step for you, based on your research and energy.
Small, well-chosen steps—taken consistently—are what move genealogy research forward.
The companion is simply there to help you choose yours.
Keep on SPINNING with the DNA Study Group!
- Beginning April 1, participate in two new live Study Sessions on timely topics each month–just the right pace to absorb and put into practice what you learn
- Closed-captioned recordings of each Study Session are available for those who can’t attend live or want to rewatch. Access to recordings lasts through the end of the month following the Session (ie., a session taught on January 5 can be watched through February 28)
- Most Study Sessions have a practice activity DURING the live event, so you can apply what you learn on the spot
- Ask questions and share your wins (and brick walls) in the Study Sessions and in dedicated chats, where you’ll find our expert coaching team and fellow students
- Work through the handouts to Practice and Implement what you’ve learned and develop your own Next Steps
- Access the Core Concepts Lessons anytime you need a refresher
- Use our private AI Companion to capture what stood out, clarify what’s still unclear, and identify your best next tiny step after each session
Doable DNA
"I always learn something every class! The handouts are very helpful and I like that many times we do work or examples in class.
If you are looking to further your education on how to do genealogy and master DNA, the DNA Study Group is a must!!" -Pam Paxton
Frequently asked questions
Who is DNA Study Group good for? Beginners? More advanced?
DNA Study Group accommodates learners at most levels.
For those who are more on the beginner side: We’ve got you. As soon as you register, you’ll have ongoing access to our Core Concepts lessons that cover all the fundamentals. Start wherever you are - we'll meet you there.
For those who are a little more advanced: We prerecorded the Core Concepts so we could spend more of our live sessions moving forward! Study Group is the place where we update everyone on new tools that come out, and where we can highlight topics that you won't normally see taught to beginners. You’ll especially appreciate our case studies that give you insights you can take back to your own, more-advanced research path.
How long can I watch Study Session recordings?
Recordings of live Study Sessions will be available for one full month past the delivery date. So a session on May 15 can be watched through June 30.
This is because we really want to structure the main Study Group in a way that will encourage lasting learning. You come to class live and all-in. Then you spend the next several weeks reviewing and applying what you have learned and asking your questions for our expert coaches to answer.
What is the Personal AI Companion?
The Personal AI Companion is a guided, private learning tool designed to help you turn what you learned in a session into clear next steps for your own research.
It is NOT a coach, but a reflection tool. You interact with it through guided questions and prompts—no technical setup required.
It helps you:
- Reflect on what stood out
- Clarify what’s still confusing
- Identify one small, meaningful next step
Think of it as a “thinking partner” that asks the right questions so you can clarify what matters and what to do next.
Is the AI companion like ChatGPT or public AI tools?
This is a private, customized AI companion built specifically for Your DNA Guide programs.
It is:
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Trained on Diahan’s teaching materials
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Designed for genealogy learning
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Not a public chatbot
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Not shared with other users
Your conversations are not visible to other members.
It is not a coach, just a reflection tool.
Do I need to be tech-savvy?
Not at all! If you can check your email, you have the tech skills you need for Study Group.
That said, this is an all-online learning environment. You'll need to be able to join Zoom calls and navigate our online course portal. If you've already joined our online Circle community, you're familiar with our learning platform. (We have plenty of simple tutorials, if you need them).
What is the refund policy for Study Group?
We hope you won't ever need this! But if you do....
Your membership will terminate immediately upon cancellation. You will not have access to Study Group live sessions, handouts, chat conversations, or recordings (including Extended Access, if applicable). Those who terminate membership may not re-enroll until the next enrollment cycle opens.
If you paid for a full year upfront, you will receive a refund of your payment minus the number of months you had access to Study Group (at the monthly rate) plus any processing fees.
If you are on a monthly subscription, you will be able to cancel monthly fees that have not yet been paid.
If you have questions, just reach out to our team at info@yourdnaguide.com.