Getting the Most Out of Your DNA Results (ft. Diahan Southard)

Episode summary: How do you create an online course about DNA and genealogy and make it interesting and understandable to people? First, you become an expert in the field and start your own DNA education company. You work with DNA tests that people have taken and use the results to help them better understand their family history. And when a pandemic hits, you pivot your knowledge of genetics into something that is accessible online.In this episode, our hosts Danny Iny and Abe Crystal will take a closer look at the course “Your DNA Guide”.  The course creator, Diahan Southard, is a microbiologist and the author of the book “Your DNA Guide”. She has a gift for making complex DNA concepts engaging and understandable. Diahan started volunteering in a college lab, and that project turned into the first genetic genealogy database. And that exploded into the industry of genetic genealogy we know today.   In this episode we discuss:How the little project she worked on birthed a billion-dollar industry. How the pandemic left Diahan sitting on 1000s of books but led her online The bite-sized course content has 10 to 12 minutes instructional videos, homework, and research. How the students use the interactive step-by-step workbook to help them apply their research.  Danny’s and Abe’s debrief after the interview “So the pilot really helped me refine what was necessary for them to learn at this stage. And the great thing is I've taken all the extra and I'm going to make a second course.” – Diahan SouthardGuest Bio:Diahan Southard is a leading voice for consumer DNA testing, one of the world's most fascinating, dynamic and socially-transformative new hobbies. Nearly 30 million people have taken a DNA test. The numbers keep rising and so do the uses of their data--and questions about that use. As Founder of Your DNA Guide Diahan teaches internationally, writes for popular magazines, consults with leading testing companies, is the author if Your DNA Guide – the Book, and producer of Your DNA Guide – the Academy, an online learning experience. Southard's company, Your DNA Guide (YourDNAGuide.com), provides genetic genealogy education products and services. You will walk away from an interaction with her enlightened and motivated as she has a passion for genetic genealogy, a genuine love for people, and a gift for making the technical understandable. Diahan’s involvement in genetic genealogy began nearly 20 years ago as a bench scientist for the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, the world's first genetic genealogy database. Diahan often weighs in on the compelling--and sometimes competing--ethical, familial, health, and criminal justice implications of consumer DNA testing. She voices the conviction that learning ancestral ethnicity can unite people rather than divide them. She counsels those who learn family secrets to tread carefully but courageously. Diahan seeks to bridge the needs of those who want answers from DNA with those who want privacy. The stories she shares illuminate the human experience of navigating the histories hidden deep within the genomes of individuals, families and societies.Diahan SouthardResources or websites mentioned in this episode:Mirasee Yourdnaguide.comCredits:Guest - Diahan Southard Hosts - Danny Iny & Abe CrystalProducer - Cynthia LambExecutive producer - Danny InyWriter - Michi Lantz and Cynthia LambAssembled by - Geoff GovertsenAudio Post Supervisor: Evan Miles, Christopher MartinAudio Post Production by Post Office SoundMusic soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyCall-to-action: If you don't want to miss future episodes of Course  Lab, please subscribe to Apple podcasts or Spotify or wherever you're listening right now. And if you liked the show, please leave us a starred review. It's the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.If you have a question for Course Lab, put the show title in the subject line and send it to podcasts@mirasee.comMusic and SFX credits: Track Title: AccessArtist Name(s): OBOYWriter Name: Martin HamptonWriter Name: Matej DjajkovskiPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Bossa BBArtist Name(s): MarieWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: Carousel LightsArtist Name(s): Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Chelsea McGoughWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONPublisher Name: BOSS SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONSTrack Title: GraceArtist Name(s): ShimmerWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONTrack Title: Coo CoosArtist Name(s): Dresden, The FlamingoWriter Name: Matthew WigtonPublisher Name: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTIONEpisode transcript: Getting the Most Out of Your DNA Results (Diahan Southard):[00:00:00] Signature sound:  Mirasee. [00:00:06] Diahan Southard: And so when you think of genetic genealogy databases today, you might be familiar with 23-and-me or Ancestry DNA or MyHeritage. All of that started with this little college project that I was a part of that really exploded into the industry we know today. Yeah. Danny Iny: Hello and welcome to Course Lab. The show that teaches course creators like you how to make better online courses. I'm Danny Iny, founder and CEO here at Mirasee, and I'm with my co-host, Abe Crystal, the co-founder of Ruzuku. In each episode, we showcase a course and course creator who is doing something really interesting with the...