Relative Race | Genealogy Gems

Relative Race Season 3: It’s Not Too Late to Catch It!

by Sunny | Apr 7, 2018 | 01 What's New, Genealogy TV

Relative Race season 3 is still going strong. Are you watching this family-friendly reality TV series? It’s also family-history friendly! If you haven’t tuned in yet, consider catching up by watching free episodes you’ve missed. Check details here for the rest of the season.

BYUtv’s acclaimed reality competition television series, “Relative Race,” has just crested the halfway point for season 3. Episode 6 airs tomorrow, Sunday, April 8 at 7pm MT/9pm ET. According to the show’s producers, “‘Relative Race’ is ‘Amazing Race’ meets ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ This original family history-based competition reality show follows four dynamic duo teams as they race across the U.S. in search of long lost relatives, armed with only paper maps, a rental car, and a flip phone.

“Cameras follow all four teams as they embark on an emotional 10-day journey throughout the United States, stopping each day to complete two challenges and find (and stay with) a newly discovered relative in a different city. At the end of each day, the team that finishes last receives a strike; after 3 strikes, teams are eliminated and the remaining teams travel to the grand finale where there is a $50k grand prize for the winning team.”

Here’s a quick video promo for the season:

Watch Relative Race Season 3

In case you’ve missed previous episodes, you can watch them for free on BYUtv. You don’t even need to create a free guest account. The latest episode from Season 3 (episode 5) is already posted. And if you really want to binge-watch some genealogy TV, you can also catch all past episodes from Seasons 1 and 2.

Remaining episodes air tomorrow and following Sunday evenings on BYUtv. Why tune in live? Show producers posted a great reason on their Facebook page: “We run all kinds of giveaways during the show. So you should definitely check out our Instagram and Twitter pages.”

Relative Race: Behind the Scenes Exclusive

In the free Genealogy Gems Podcast episode #189, host and producer Lisa Louise Cooke chatted with Relative Race season 1 contestants, who share their experiences criss-crossing the country, meeting their AncestryDNA matches. The podcast episode also includes persuasive reasons for testing your own DNA (if you haven’t yet) and expert tips for tracing your Irish roots. Click here to listen!

And I want to hear from you in the Comments below! if you’ve been watching season 3:

What do you think of Season 3 compared to previous seasons?
Which team are you rooting for?
Would you participate in something like this?

About the Author: Sunny Morton

Sunny is a Contributing Editor at Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems; her voice is often heard on the Genealogy Gems Podcast and Premium Podcasts. She’s known for her expertise on the world’s biggest family history websites (she’s the author of Genealogy Giants: Comparing the 4 Major Websites); writing personal and family histories (she also wrote Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy); and sharing her favorite reads for the Genealogy Gems Book Club.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links and Genealogy Gems will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for supporting Genealogy Gems!

Genealogy Gems Podcast Episode 189: Relative Race and More

by Lisa Cooke | Mar 10, 2016 | 01 What's New, Genealogy Gems Podcast, Genealogy TV

The free Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 189 is published, with an exclusive interview with stars of Relative Race and more.

The newest episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is published and ready for your listening pleasure! Two stars of the new BYUtv show Relative Race join host Lisa Louise Cooke to talk about their experiences criss-crossing the U.S. to meet their AncestryDNA matches.

Here are some more highlights from Genealogy Gems Podcast episode 189:

Irish research tips–and tons of new Irish records online–in honor of St. Patrick’s Day this month;
3 reasons to test your DNA for genealogy, from Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard;
an excerpt from the new Genealogy Gems Book Club interview;
emails from several listeners offering inspiration and tips;
and news from the genealogy world, including databases on runaway slaves (in the U.S. and Britain) and an updated MyHeritage search technology.

I’m a fan of “genealogy TV,” and it’s fun to hear behind-the-scenes feedback from stars of Relative Race. This show’s approach–connecting everyday couples with genetic matches–puts faces to our DNA matches in a fresh and personal way. I’m not hoping to camp on my genetic matches’ lawns anytime soon, but I do sometimes wish I could knock on the doors of some (“please respond!”). Another favorite take-away from this episode was a tip from Matt in Missouri, who wrote in with a creative approach for connecting with relatives through Find A Grave.

Remember, this and all episodes of the Genealogy Gems podcast are FREE to listen to. Click here for FAQ on podcasts and how to listen on your computer or via your favorite mobile device. Click here for a list of past episodes you may have missed. Why not “binge out” a little and catch up during your next commute, workout or down time?

New Genealogy TV Show Debuts This Weekend: Relative Race

by Lisa Cooke | Feb 27, 2016 | 01 What's New, DNA, Genealogy TV

Relative Race debuts tomorrow: a new reality genealogy TV series that sends 4 couples chasing their genetic roots.

Tomorrow evening, you’ve got a new genealogy TV option! The new reality series from BYUtv, Relative Race, “features four married couples as they travel across the US in search of long lost relatives, armed with only paper maps, a rental car, a $25 per diem and a flip phone.”

The show sounds like one part Amazing Race, one part Who Do You Think You Are? With autosomal DNA test matches provided by AncestryDNA, four “couples embark on a journey that starts in San Francisco, ends in New York City and leads them to unknown relatives along the way. Cameras follow all four teams as they drive across the country–more than 4500 miles–in just ten days, stopping each day to complete a challenge and find (and stay with) their newly discovered relatives in a different city.”

“At the end of each day, the team that finishes last receives a strike. After three strikes, teams are eliminated. The remaining teams travel to NYC for the grand finale where there is a $25k grand prize for the winning couple.” Here’s a preview–and something to curl up in front of tomorrow evening.

The show airs on Sunday, February 28 at 8pm ET/6pm MT/5pm PT on BYUtv, the television station of Brigham Young University. Watch Relative Race for free or on your preferred cable network:

Stream live or watch on demand on BYUtv.org
Download the free mobile app for iPhone/iPad, Android, Amazon and more
Cable options: Dish (Ch. 9403), DirecTV (Ch. 374), and carried by nearly 600 cable television providers nationwide