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Curiosity Meets The Past

Dr. Smiti Nathan
Curiosity Meets The Past
Latest episode

33 episodes

  • Curiosity Meets The Past

    One Year Anniversary Update for Curiosity Meets the Past

    24/06/2026 | 7 mins.
    We've been around for 1 year! Sharing some highlights and updates in this bonus episode.
    Mentioned in the episode:
    Video on podcasting challenges: https://youtu.be/COOhPl9eEJg?si=gNCIPaVDbARIiTHJ
    Curiosity Meets the Past Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositymeetsthepast

    🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
    ✉️ Get in touch at podcast@smitinathan.com

    🎙️ Curiosity Meets The Past is a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. Each episode features a 15-30 minute curated conversation with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.
  • Curiosity Meets The Past

    Curiosity Exchange x Broadcast Seeding: Gender Violence in Late Antiquity

    19/06/2026 | 26 mins.
    Mentioned on the show:
    Full episode (website): https://sowingtheseed.org/podcast/episode-21-gender-violence-in-late-antiquity-with-dr-jennifer-barry/
    Full episode (Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/broadcast-seeding-ep21-with-dr-jennifer-barry/id1096448667?i=1000734336759
    Broadcast Seeding Podcast website: https://sowingtheseed.org/podcast/

    🎁 Bonus content: ⁠https://patreon.com/smitinathan⁠
    ✉️ Get in touch at ⁠podcast@smitinathan.com⁠

    🎙️ Curiosity Meets The Past is a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. Each episode features a 15-30 minute curated conversation with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.
  • Curiosity Meets The Past

    Decoding Diaspora Through a Family Scrapbook

    16/06/2026 | 24 mins.
    What can a crumbling family scrapbook reveal about history and the way diasporic communities make meaning? Religious scholar, Dr. Richard Newton, guides us through the surprising story of how a scrapbook handed to him by his mother became the catalyst for an entire research project. In our conversation, he walks us through what he found when he opened the book and how he's making this project accessible to anyone who's curious.

    Mentioned on the show:
    • Scrapbook Website: https://decodingdiaspora.org/decoding-diaspora/index
    • Richard's Website: https://sowingtheseed.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedpods
    • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/seedpods.bsky.social
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seedpods/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedpods

    📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/decoding-diaspora-through-a-family-scrapbook/
    🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
    ✉️ Get in touch at podcast@smitinathan.com

    🎙️ Curiosity Meets The Past is a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. Each episode features a 15-30 minute curated conversation with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.
  • Curiosity Meets The Past

    The Archaeology Behind the English Alphabet

    02/06/2026 | 29 mins.
    Where did the English alphabet come from, and how do we know? Linguist and writer, Dr. Danny Bate, guides us through the archaeology and linguistic history behind the letters many of us use every day. In our conversation, we explore what various archaeological artifacts reveal about the alphabet's past and what that means about our relationship to the English language today.

    Mentioned on the show:
    • Danny's Book: https://bookshop.org/a/115409/9781785307430
    • Danny's Website: https://dannybate.com/
    • Substack: https://dannylbate.substack.com/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannylbate/
    • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:i4oicfdtysshyfxjmvpx2xza
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-bate-b3ba02277/

    📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/the-archaeology-behind-the-english-alphabet/
    🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
    ✉️ Get in touch at podcast@smitinathan.com

    🎙️ Curiosity Meets The Past is a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. Each episode features a 15-30 minute curated conversation with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.
  • Curiosity Meets The Past

    Rethinking Water History at Shushtar in Iran

    20/05/2026 | 29 mins.
    What can water systems tell us about people in the past and present? Landscape archaeologist, Dr. Mehrnoush Soroush, guides us through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shushtar in Iran and how her work is challenging dominant water history narratives. In our conversation, she shares the surprising challenges that come with studying ancient water systems, her somewhat nontraditional approach, and what we can learn about humanity along the way.

    Mentioned on the show:
    • Academia Page: https://chicago.academia.edu/mehrnoushsoroush

    📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/rethinking-water-history-at-shushtar-in-iran/
    🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
    ✉️ Get in touch at podcast@smitinathan.com

    🎙️ Curiosity Meets The Past is a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. Each episode features a 15-30 minute curated conversation with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.
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About Curiosity Meets The Past
Curiosity Meets The Past is a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. Hosted by archaeologist Dr. Smiti Nathan, each episode features conversations with researchers, artists, and folx from diverse backgrounds who uncover unexpected stories behind objects, places, and people. No background in history or archaeology needed - just your curiosity. **New episodes coming Oct. 2026** Learn more at smitinathan.com/podcast Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/curiositymeetsthepast/ Cover art by Laura Fajín Riveiro & theme music by Noor Hanania
Podcast website

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