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. 6d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Jul 17

    The Gemstone That Painted the Sky | The Story of Sapphire

    What if I told you that people once believed the sky was blue because the Earth rested on a giant sapphire? In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, we uncover the incredible history of sapphire—from ancient Persian myths and Greek legends to medieval Europe, the British Crown Jewels, Princess Diana's famous engagement ring, and the cutting-edge technology that uses sapphire today. We'll explore how sapphire forms deep within the Earth, why it's one of the hardest natural materials on the planet, why rubies are actually members of the same mineral family, and how sapphire has become essential in everything from smartphones and LED lights to spacecraft and medical technology. This is the story of one of humanity's oldest obsessions—a gemstone that inspired myths, crowned kings, survived empires, and now helps us explore the stars. If you love gemstones, history, mythology, geology, archaeology, science, or simply incredible true stories, this episode is for you. #Sapphire #Gemology #Gemstones #History #Mythology #Geology #Jewelry #Minerals #EarthScience #RoyalHistory #Science #Podcast #StoneStories #EducationalPodcast #HistoryPodcast #AncientHistory #Crystals #Rockhounding #Nature #Storytelling

    The Gemstone That Painted the Sky | The Story of Sapphire

  6. Jul 10

    The King of Gems | Why Every Civilization Worshipped the Ruby

    What makes one little red gemstone so powerful that nearly every civilization on Earth believed it possessed supernatural abilities? Ancient Burmese warriors buried rubies beneath their skin before battle. Hindu kings offered them to Krishna in hopes of becoming emperors. Chinese legends claimed they were dragon's blood. Medieval Europeans believed they warned of danger, healed disease, and protected their owners from evil. Long before science explained rubies, humanity created stories to explain their magic. In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, we journey from the legendary ruby mines of Myanmar to the temples of India, through dragons, serpents, warriors, kings, and some of the rarest gemstones ever discovered, uncovering why the ruby became known as The King of Gems.

    The King of Gems | Why Every Civilization Worshipped the Ruby

  7. Jul 3

    The Stone That Was Once Alive | The Story of the Petoskey Stone

    What if your favorite beach rock was actually a 350-million-year-old coral reef? In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, we travel back to a tropical Michigan that existed long before dinosaurs. Discover how tiny coral animals built massive reefs, how Ice Age glaciers transformed them into the famous Petoskey Stones, and why these fossils still wash onto the shores of the Great Lakes today. We'll also dive into the surprising world of gemstone coral—from luxurious Oxblood Coral worth thousands of dollars per gram to ancient fossil corals polished into jewelry around the world—and explore the myths that connected coral to Medusa, Hawaiian creation stories, Hindu legends, Japanese folklore, and West African royalty. A story about oceans, glaciers, gemstones... and life turned to stone. #StonedStories #Gemology #PetoskeyStone #FossilCoral #Gemstones #Geology #EarthHistory #Nature #RockHounding #Michigan

    The Stone That Was Once Alive | The Story of the Petoskey Stone

  8. Jun 26

    The Gem That Exists Nowhere Else | Larimar's Impossible Story

    For decades, people have called Larimar the "Atlantis Stone." Some believe it was predicted by a famous psychic. Others think it's a remnant of the lost city itself. The truth is somehow even more fascinating. In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, Paige explores the incredible history of Larimar—from Caribbean volcanoes and Taíno legends to rainforest mines and one of the rarest gemstone deposits on Earth. #Larimar #AtlantisStone #Gemology #Gemstones #DominicanRepublic #CrystalHistory #RockHounding #Minerals #JewelryHistory #EarthScience #Geology #StoneStories #Podcast #HistoryPodcast #RareGemstones

    The Gem That Exists Nowhere Else | Larimar's Impossible Story
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Ratings & Reviews

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
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Uncut with Paige