Uncut with Paige

Paige Nestich
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Gems & the Stories below the Surface The podcast where we dig beneath the polished surface of gemstones to uncover the myths, mysteries, history, and science that make them so fascinating. Tune in with Paige while she tells stories of stones, gems, heists, historical figures, myths, legends, and fantastical findings from around the globe. Feeling stressed, anxious, needing a break from reality? Or perhaps a quick story to get you out of your head and back into reality? The gems may be polished—but their stories are anything but. New Episodes are realeased every Friday and make sure not to miss them...each story is sure to be a GEM!

  1. 3d ago

    The Koh-i-Noor: Beauty & Blood, The Diamond without a Home

    **The Koh-i-Noor: The Diamond That Conquered Empires 💎** It’s called the *Mountain of Light*… but the story behind this legendary diamond is anything but bright. The Koh-i-Noor has spent centuries moving through the hands of emperors, kings, conquerors, and queens. From the diamond-rich rivers of India to the Mughal Peacock Throne, through Persian invasion and Afghan rulers, into the hands of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and eventually into the British Crown Jewels — this is one gemstone that has seen A LOT. But the deeper you dig into its history, the murkier the story becomes. Who actually discovered the Koh-i-Noor? Which parts of its ancient history are fact, and which are legend? How did a diamond become a symbol of political power? And how did a 191-carat stone end up being cut down to the 105.6-carat diamond we know today? And then there’s the question that still refuses to disappear… **If a gemstone is taken through conquest, who does it belong to generations later?** Grab your favorite stone, settle in, and join Paige as we follow the Koh-i-Noor through centuries of blood, beauty, power, and controversy. Because sometimes the most valuable thing about a gemstone… isn't the stone itself. **It's the story humans decided to put around it.** #UncutWithPaige #KohINoor #Kohinoor #DiamondHistory #Gemology #GemstoneHistory #JewelryHistory #Diamonds #CrownJewels #BritishCrownJewels #IndianHistory #MughalEmpire #SikhEmpire #GemstoneStories #HistoryPodcast #GemologyPodcast #JewelryPodcast #TrueHistory #GemStories

  2. Sep 4

    Citrine: The Sunshine Stone, The Merchant’s Stone & The Great Citrine Secret

    What if I told you that one of the most affordable gemstones on the market has been associated with sun gods, wealth, protection, alchemy, Scottish warriors, Queen Victoria, and manifestation for thousands of years? This week on Uncut with Paige, we're getting into citrine — the golden variety of quartz that looks like it captured a little piece of sunlight. We’ll travel from ancient Egypt, where golden quartz became connected to the sun god Ra, through Greece and Rome, where citrine earned its reputation as the Merchant’s Stone, and into medieval Europe, where alchemists saw something much more than a pretty yellow crystal. Then we're heading to the Scottish Highlands to uncover the connection between golden quartz, traditional dirk daggers, Highland culture, and Queen Victoria’s obsession with Scottish jewelry. And finally, we're answering one of the biggest questions surrounding citrine today: Is most citrine actually natural? We'll break down the difference between natural and heat-treated citrine, why so much citrine starts out as amethyst, how you can spot some common clues, and whether treatment actually affects the stone's value. Because here's the weird thing about citrine... It has played a role in human history for thousands of years. It's been associated with gods, kings, merchants, warriors, and wealth. And yet... it's not particularly rare. And it doesn't have to be expensive. So why have humans been so obsessed with this golden little piece of quartz? Let's get into it. Pour yourself a drink, light something up, get comfortable... and let's get Uncut. ✨ #UncutWithPaige #Citrine #CitrineGemstone #Gemstones #Gemology #GemstoneHistory #CrystalHistory #GemstoneJewelry #NaturalCitrine #HeatTreatedCitrine #Amethyst #Quartz #Ametrine #NovemberBirthstone #MerchantStone #CrystalLore #GemstoneLore #AncientEgypt #Ra #QueenVictoria #ScottishHistory #ArtDeco #JewelryHistory #CrystalHealing #GemstoneFacts #JewelryTok #GemTok #Rockhound #Mineralogy #GemNerd

  3. Aug 28

    The Stone That Was Supposed to Outsmart Wine | The Story of Amethyst

    A gemstone believed to prevent drunkenness. A Greek god consumed by rage. Ancient pharaohs. Roman soldiers. Christian bishops. Buddhist monks. And volcanoes that spent millions of years creating giant crystal cathedrals beneath the Earth. This week, we're uncovering the unbelievable journey of amethyst—from myth and folklore to the fascinating science that gives this gemstone its iconic purple glow. Whether you're here for history, geology, mythology, or just love a good story, this episode has a little bit of everything. #Amethyst #Gemstones #Gemology #CrystalHistory #AncientHistory #GreekMythology #Geology #Minerals #Quartz #CrystalHealing #HistoryPodcast #SciencePodcast #RockHounding #EducationalPodcast #UncutWithPaige

  4. Aug 21

    The Great Gold Rush | Fortune, Frontier & Forgotten Stories

    Gold has inspired myths for thousands of years... but nothing compares to what happened when people believed they could actually find it. In this episode, we explore the California Gold Rush, the Klondike, and Alaska's mining frontier—where ordinary people risked everything for the promise of a better life. Along the way, we'll uncover forgotten Indigenous history, the real heroes of the Klondike, and one of the strangest legends ever told: the miners who swore the mountains whispered the location of hidden gold. History, geology, folklore, and a little mystery... this is the story of Gold Fever. #UncutWithPaige #GoldRush #Gold #Klondike #CaliforniaGoldRush #AlaskaHistory #HistoryPodcast #History #AmericanHistory #IndigenousHistory #SkookumJim #Geology #Gemology #TreasureHunting #GoldMining #MiningHistory #Folklore #GhostStories #AdventureHistory #HiddenHistory #StorytellingPodcast #EducationalPodcast #LearnSomethingNew #HistoryLovers #JewelryHistory

  5. Aug 14

    The Metal of Gods & Legends | Why Humanity Became Obsessed with Gold

    Gold isn't a gemstone... but without it, the history of gemstones would never have been the same. Long before gold became money, crowns, or wedding rings, it was something far more mysterious. Ancient Egyptians believed it was the flesh of the gods. The Inca called it the sweat of the sun. Greek myths warned that it could be both the greatest gift and the deadliest curse. In this episode of Uncut with Paige: Gems & Their Stories, we're tracing humanity's first obsession with gold—from its explosive birth in dying stars to the legends of King Midas, Jason's Golden Fleece, El Dorado, and the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Before people rushed into rivers searching for gold... they first had to believe it was worth chasing. Tune into part 2 of this Episode to dive deep into the Gold Rush of North America. #UncutWithPaige #Gold #HistoryOfGold #GoldHistory #AncientHistory #Mythology #KingMidas #ElDorado #GoldenFleece #SevenCitiesOfGold #AncientEgypt #IncaEmpire #LostCivilizations #Gemology #Gemstones #JewelryHistory #ScienceMeetsHistory #Geology #EarthScience #Minerals #Treasure #HiddenHistory #HistoryPodcast #EducationalPodcast #StorytellingPodcast #LearnSomethingNew #Curiosity #HistoryLovers #Jewelry #GoldJewelry

  6. Aug 7

    A Diamond Is Forever? | How the World Fell in Love with Diamonds

    Billions of years before they symbolized love, diamonds were forged deep beneath the Earth's surface under unimaginable heat and pressure. But how did a crystal made from nothing more than carbon become the world's ultimate symbol of romance? In this episode of Uncut with Paige, we follow the incredible journey of diamonds—from their violent birth deep within the Earth's mantle to ancient India, where they were believed to be gifts from the gods. Along the way, we'll uncover the first diamond engagement ring, the rise of De Beers, the advertising campaign that forever changed marriage traditions, and the darker side of the diamond trade that many people never hear about. This isn't just the story of a gemstone. It's the story of how geology, history, mythology, marketing, and human emotion combined to create one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Join me as we uncover the surprising history behind Earth's hardest gemstone—from ancient India to modern engagement rings—and explore how one simple slogan changed the way the entire world thinks about love. #UncutWithPaige #Diamonds #DiamondHistory #Gemology #Gemstones #Geology #EarthScience #JewelryHistory #HistoryPodcast #EducationalPodcast #StorytellingPodcast #LuxuryHistory #DiamondEngagementRing #NaturalDiamonds #LabGrownDiamonds #ConflictDiamonds #BloodDiamonds #DeBeers #ADiamondIsForever #MarketingHistory #AncientHistory #SciencePodcast #Rockhounding #Mineralogy #LearnSomethingNew #DidYouKnow #HistoryLovers #JewelryLovers

  7. Jul 31

    The Stone That Mapped the Ancient World | Obsidian's Incredible Story

    What if I told you one of humanity's oldest tools is still sharper than some modern surgical scalpels? In this episode of Uncut with Paige: Gems & Their Stories, we uncover the incredible history of obsidian—a volcanic glass that helped early humans survive, fueled ancient trade networks, inspired Aztec mythology, and still amazes scientists today. We'll explore: 🌋 How obsidian forms from exploding volcanoes ⚔️ The terrifying Aztec macuahuitl 🌎 How obsidian revealed lost ancient trade routes 🔬 Why surgeons still use obsidian scalpels 🪞 The mystical "Smoking Mirror" of Tezcatlipoca 🏛️ How one black stone changed human history Obsidian isn't just volcanic glass. It's one of the greatest storytellers on Earth. #Obsidian #VolcanicGlass #Gemology #AncientHistory #Archaeology #Aztec #Geology #EarthScience #HistoryPodcast #SciencePodcast #Gemstones #Volcano #AncientCivilizations #TradeRoutes #Surgery #Mythology #EducationalPodcast #UncutWithPaige #Rockhounding #NaturalHistory

  8. Jul 24

    The Earth's Hidden Heart | Xenoliths & the Birthplace of Gemstones

    What if the Earth could tell us its story? It turns out... it can. Hidden inside ancient lava are strange rocks called xenoliths—fragments of the Earth's deep interior that were never meant to reach the surface. These geological time capsules have given scientists a rare glimpse into the mantle, revealing how our planet grows, recycles itself, and creates some of the world's most extraordinary gemstones. In this episode of Uncut with Paige, we journey deep beneath the Earth's crust to explore why our planet is far more alive than it appears. From volcanic eruptions and moving tectonic plates to the hidden origins of diamonds, garnets, and olivine, we'll uncover how gemstones are born from the living heart of our planet—and why humans have been drawn to them for thousands of years. Sometimes the most incredible stories aren't written in books... They're written in stone. #UncutWithPaige #Gemology #Xenolith #Geology #EarthScience #Volcanoes #Mantle #Gemstones #Crystals #Minerals #Diamonds #Garnet #Olivine #Hawaii #SciencePodcast #GeologyRocks #Nature #EarthHistory #RockHounding #EducationalPodcast

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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Gems & the Stories below the Surface The podcast where we dig beneath the polished surface of gemstones to uncover the myths, mysteries, history, and science that make them so fascinating. Tune in with Paige while she tells stories of stones, gems, heists, historical figures, myths, legends, and fantastical findings from around the globe. Feeling stressed, anxious, needing a break from reality? Or perhaps a quick story to get you out of your head and back into reality? The gems may be polished—but their stories are anything but. New Episodes are realeased every Friday and make sure not to miss them...each story is sure to be a GEM!

Information

  • Creator
    Paige Nestich
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Uncut with Paige