The DNA Test That Changed My Life: Finding My Grandfather with Barry Whitehead

In this episode, I have a very special guest joining me - my grandfather, Barry Whitehead. We'll be sharing our personal story of how we found each other through an Ancestry DNA test in September last year. Prior to this test, neither of us knew that the other existed.

This is a deeply personal episode for me, as my father Aaron unfortunately passed away by suicide when I was just three years old. Before his death, he often spoke about his biggest grievance in life - not knowing who his real father was. This caused him a lot of pain and heartache, leaving him feeling rejected. As I've grown older, I've also wanted to know more about my grandfather, but there seemed to be no way to find out. The curiosity got the better of me, which led me to take an Ancestry DNA test, hoping to learn more about my ethnicity and heritage.

To my surprise, I matched with Barry as a 93% match for a grandparent. On the other side of this, Barry lived his whole 68 years prior unaware that he had fathered a child when he was 17 and studying in Ballarat briefly back in 1973. His initial reaction was one of shock and horror, as he took a moment to process what this meant and the reality that he had a son who was no longer alive that he never knew.

In this incredibly special episode, my grandfather and I will be sharing our reactions, how we felt, and how we shared this information with our loved ones. We'll also be discussing the incredible connections and relationships that have since transpired. Our story is truly one in a million, and we're excited to share it with you all.