Available · Tri-State Area
Public
Speaking
Bringing ancestral history to life — for audiences who know the past matters, and that reclaiming it is an act of courage.
About the talks
History that was meant to be forgotten — told by someone who refused to let it be.
Katherine Appello is an artist, author, and DNA detective whose work centres on communities forced to hide who they were — Sephardic Jews, Crypto-Jewish Conversos, Romani and Calé peoples, and southern Italian lineages shaped by Inquisition-era persecution and forced migration.
Her talks are grounded in rigorous genealogical and archival research, made accessible through personal narrative, original music, and visual art. Audiences leave with a deeper understanding of how hidden heritage shapes identity — and practical tools for their own research.
Katherine is based in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) and is available for in-person engagements. Virtual presentations are also available for audiences beyond the region.
At a glance
- ◆Available in-person throughout the tri-state area (NY · NJ · CT)
- ◆Virtual presentations available nationwide
- ◆Formats from 30-minute presentations with Q&A to keynotes and panels
- ◆Topics customised for your audience and community
Presentations
Talk Topics
Hidden Histories: Uncovering Sephardic & Crypto-Jewish Ancestry
How DNA evidence, archival research, and lived family memory can reveal Converso and Crypto-Jewish lineages that centuries of persecution tried to erase — and what this means for communities still discovering their truth today.
DNA as a Detective Tool: Tracing Forced Conversions & Migration
A practical and deeply personal exploration of how modern DNA testing intersects with historical records to trace the migration routes of families displaced by the Inquisition, Reconquista, and forced conversions across the Iberian Peninsula and southern Italy.
Romani & Calé Heritage: Reclaiming Erased Identity
An examination of Romani and Calé communities through oral tradition, genealogy, and archival sources — confronting the long misrepresentation of these peoples and restoring dignity to their histories.
The Mediterranean Diaspora: Food, Memory & Ancestral Identity
How the cuisines and traditions of Southern Italy and the Iberian Peninsula carry the encoded memory of Jewish households — recipes as the last private act of cultural preservation under the Inquisition.
Ancestral Flamekeeping: Art, Music & Heritage Research
An interdisciplinary talk weaving together original music, visual art, and genealogical research — exploring how creative practice can serve as a vessel for ancestral memory and community healing.
Format options
How We Can Work Together
Keynote Address
45–60 min · Q&A included
Presentation + Q&A
30 min presentation · open Q&A to follow
Panel Discussion
Moderated or participant · 60–90 min
Community Lecture
Library, cultural centre, synagogue · 45 min
Who I speak for
Ideal Audiences
- ◆Jewish cultural organisations & synagogues
- ◆Genealogical societies & DNA ancestry groups
- ◆Universities, colleges & continuing-education programmes
- ◆Libraries & public humanities events
- ◆Italian-American & Sephardic heritage societies
- ◆Museum education departments
- ◆Community centres & interfaith organisations
Book an engagement
Bring these stories
to your community
To enquire about availability, fees, and customising a talk for your audience, reach out via the contact page. Katherine responds personally to all booking enquiries.
Enquire About Booking →