Stone[d] Stories with Paige Nestich

Paige Nestich

Tune in with Paige while she tells stories of stones and gems from all over the world. Gem 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? Everyone loves a story and no matter if you like hearing about stones or getting stoned, do not miss tuning into this podcast...it's a GEM!

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Emerald by Day, Ruby by Night | The Story of Alexandrite

    Emerald by day. Ruby by night. Few gemstones have inspired as much wonder as Alexandrite. Discovered in the Ural Mountains of Imperial Russia, Alexandrite appeared at first to be an ordinary green crystal. But when viewed by candlelight, the stone transformed into a deep red gem, earning its legendary nickname: "Emerald by Day, Ruby by Night." In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, we explore the geological miracle that makes Alexandrite possible, the science behind its remarkable color change, its connection to Russian emperors and the Romanov era, the myths and spiritual traditions that grew around it, and the mysterious disappearances of some of the world's finest Alexandrites. From ancient tectonic collisions to imperial courts, forgotten museum vaults, and vanished treasures, Alexandrite's story is one of transformation, duality, and the hidden colors revealed when the light changes. Topics: - Introduction - The Geological Miracle - Discovery in Imperial Russia - The Stone of the Czars - Luck, Tragedy, and Duality - The World's Great Alexandrites - Lost Stones and Hidden Treasures - Why Alexandrite Is So Valuable - Final Thoughts #Alexandrite #Gemstones #StoneStories #Geology #Gemology #RussianHistory #Minerals #Crystals #JewelryHistory #RareGemstones

    19 min

  2. May 29

    Cinnabar: The Mineral That Promised Immortality

    Cinnabar is one of the most culturally important — and dangerous — minerals in human history. Made primarily of mercury sulfide, this brilliant red mineral was used by the Romans, Maya, and ancient Chinese civilizations to create vermilion pigment, sacred burial rituals, lacquerware, cosmetics, and alchemical immortality elixirs. In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, we explore: • The geology and chemistry of cinnabar • Why cinnabar is toxic • Ancient Roman mercury mines • Daoist immortality practices • Chinese carved cinnabar lacquer boxes • Maya tombs covered in cinnabar powder • The connection between mercury and alchemy • Why cinnabar became one of history’s most mythic minerals Because long before modern science understood mercury poisoning… humans were already turning this dangerous mineral into beauty.

    21 min

  3. May 22

    The Krupp Diamond: Stolen, Famous, and Reborn

    What if one of the world’s most famous diamonds carried more than beauty through history? In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, we uncover the extraordinary journey of the Krupp Diamond — the legendary blue-white diamond that would eventually become known as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. Born deep beneath the Earth, likely in the legendary Golconda region of India, this 33-carat Asscher-cut diamond passed through some of the most dramatic chapters of the modern world: • European industrial dynasties • World War II history • armed robbery and FBI investigations • hidden compartments and secret vaults • Hollywood glamour and celebrity obsession The stone was owned by German industrialist Alfried Krupp, stolen at gunpoint from Vera Krupp, recovered from inside a thief’s leather coat, and later purchased by Richard Burton as a gift for Elizabeth Taylor. But beneath the celebrity and enormous auction prices lies a deeper question: Why do human beings keep projecting meaning onto gemstones that can outlive us all? In this episode we explore: 🔹 The geology and rarity of natural blue diamonds 🔹 The Asscher cut and diamond craftsmanship 🔹 The Krupp family and postwar controversy 🔹 The 1959 Las Vegas robbery 🔹 Elizabeth Taylor’s relationship with the diamond 🔹 Why famous gemstones feel almost haunted by history Because maybe diamonds do not create obsession. Maybe they simply reveal it. #ElizabethTaylor #Diamonds #History #Gemstones #Hollywood #TrueCrime #Luxury #Gemology #StoneStories

    18 min

  4. May 15

    Lapis Lazuli: The Ancient Blue Stone That Connected Civilizations

    What if one gemstone shaped humanity’s idea of heaven? In this episode of Stone[d] Stories, we explore the ancient world of Lapis Lazuli — the deep blue stone mined for over 6,000 years in the mountains of Afghanistan and carried across empires, religions, trade routes, and civilizations. From the tombs of ancient Egypt… to Buddhist visions of the Pure Lapis Lazuli World… to Renaissance artists grinding the stone into ultramarine pigment to paint heaven itself, lapis became far more than a gemstone. It became a symbol of wisdom, divinity, intuition, and the human search for meaning. This episode explores: • The ancient mines of Afghanistan • Why lapis lazuli became more valuable than gold in some eras • The connection between lapis and the “third eye” • The Medicine Buddha and the Pure Lapis Lazuli World • Michelangelo and the cost of ultramarine pigment • Why civilizations across history saw something sacred inside the color blue Because sometimes a stone is never just a stone.

    22 min
  5. Layers of Light: The Story of Mother of Pearl

    May 8

    Layers of Light: The Story of Mother of Pearl

    This Mother’s Day weekend, Stoned Stories dives into one of the strangest and most meaningful gem materials on Earth: Mother of Pearl. Unlike diamonds, emeralds, or sapphires, this shimmering substance was never formed in rock, never hidden deep underground, and never meant for human hands at all. Built layer by layer inside living mollusks, Mother of Pearl blurs the line between biology, beauty, and gemstone history. In this episode, we explore the science behind its iridescent glow, why gemologists still classify it as a gemstone despite its organic origins, and the ancient cultures that believed it held divine power. From the burial wrappings of King Tut, to Chinese legends of dragons and magical pearls, to Māui’s mother-of-pearl fishhook pulling islands from the sea, this episode uncovers how civilizations across the world saw the ocean’s shimmer as something sacred. But beneath the mythology lies something even more human: a story about protection, transformation, motherhood, and the quiet beauty created layer by layer over time. Because maybe Mother of Pearl was never valuable simply because it was beautiful. Maybe it was valuable because it understood how to turn vulnerability into something luminous.

    25 min
  6. Garnet: The Stone That Refuses to Be Ordinary

    May 1

    Garnet: The Stone That Refuses to Be Ordinary

    What if one of the oldest gemstones on Earth has been misunderstood all along? Often dismissed as simple, common, or just “that red birthstone,” garnet holds a story far deeper than most people realize. In this episode, we uncover the hidden life of garnet—a gemstone family born under extreme heat and pressure, forming deep within the Earth long before human history began. But garnet’s story doesn’t stop in geology. For thousands of years, it has traveled through human hands and across civilizations. Worn by warriors, carried by travelers, traded across continents, and placed in ancient graves, garnet became a symbol of protection, life, and return. From Roman signet rings to medieval talismans, from global trade routes to modern gemology, this stone has quietly shaped human history in ways few recognize. And long before science explained it, mythology gave it meaning. Through the story of Persephone, the daughter who moved between the underworld and the living world, garnet became linked to one of humanity’s oldest ideas: that what disappears is not always gone—it may simply be waiting to return. In this episode, we explore: The surprising science behind garnet as a mineral family Its journey through ancient and global history The myths and symbolism that shaped its meaning And why this “ordinary” stone may be anything but Because garnet isn’t just a gemstone. It’s a story of pressure, transformation, and time—one that continues to surface again and again, wherever humans try to hold onto something meaningful.

    30 min
  7. Cursed, Coveted, and Made of Water: The Mystery of Opal

    Apr 24

    Cursed, Coveted, and Made of Water: The Mystery of Opal

    What if one of Earth’s most magical gemstones was also one of its most misunderstood? This week, we uncover the strange story of opal—a gem made largely of water that can flash lightning, wildfire, ocean blue, and northern lights from inside a single stone. From Roman emperors and Cleopatra-era obsession to bad-luck curses, Australian legends, gemstone hunters, and the science behind its impossible colors, this is the story of beauty, myth, and light trapped in stone.

    24 min
  8. Pretty Rocks, Serious Science: What Is Gemology?

    Apr 20

    Pretty Rocks, Serious Science: What Is Gemology?

    What if I told you there’s an entire science devoted to decoding beauty? In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of gemology—the study of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and the secrets locked inside them. Discover how gemology emerged during the Age of Science, why it became essential to global trade, where gemologists work today, and the incredible discoveries they’ve made—from fake royal rubies to diamonds carrying clues from deep inside Earth. Once you understand gemstones… you’ll never look at them the same way again.

    27 min
  9. Space-Age Peridot — Gems from the Mantle… and the Stars

    Apr 20

    Space-Age Peridot — Gems from the Mantle… and the Stars

    What if the gemstone in your hand came not only from deep within the Earth… but from outer space? In this episode, we explore the extraordinary story of Peridot—a vivid green crystal born in Earth’s mantle, carried upward by volcanoes, scattered across Hawaiian beaches, and even found inside ancient meteorites older than our planet’s surface. Unlike most gems, peridot’s color is built into its chemistry, making it one of nature’s most authentic and unmistakable stones. From the “gem of the sun” treasured by ancient Egypt to the legendary tears of Pele, this episode blends gemology, folklore, volcanoes, lost identities, and cosmic origins into one unforgettable journey. Because peridot isn’t just jewelry. It’s a fragment of the mantle… and sometimes, a piece of the universe itself.

    25 min
  10. The Emeralds That Charmed an Empire

    Apr 20

    The Emeralds That Charmed an Empire

    In this episode, we uncover the legendary bond between Cleopatra and the rich green stone that became a symbol of power, beauty, and immortality: emerald. From the harsh desert mines of ancient Egypt to royal courts, political alliances, and centuries of myth, Cleopatra didn’t just wear emeralds—she used them to shape her image and strengthen her legacy. We explore the gemology behind emerald’s mesmerizing color, why its famous inclusions make it more valuable, how these fragile stones formed deep within the Earth, and why civilizations from Egypt to Colombia believed emeralds carried truth, protection, youth, and spiritual power. This is a story of geology, ambition, divine feminine energy, conquest, and one queen’s ability to turn a gemstone into a symbol that still captivates the world 2,000 years later.

    30 min
  11. The Hope Diamond: Beauty, Mystery, and the Weight of History

    Apr 20

    The Hope Diamond: Beauty, Mystery, and the Weight of History

    What begins as carbon deep within the Earth becomes one of the most legendary gems in history. In this episode, we uncover the story of the Hope Diamond—a rare blue stone forged over a billion years ago, carried from India’s legendary Golconda mines to the courts of kings, through the chaos of the French Revolution, and into the halls of the Smithsonian Institution. We explore the gemology behind its hypnotic blue color, eerie red phosphorescence, and extraordinary rarity—while asking why this diamond became linked to curses, tragedy, and fear. Is it a scientific marvel… or the greatest gemstone myth ever told?

    24 min
  12. Introducing Stone[d] Stories

    Season 1 Trailer

    Introducing Stone[d] Stories

    Stone[d] Stories with Paige Nestich is your escape into the fascinating world of gems, history, and the stories we can’t stop telling. Whether you’re stoned and overthinking everything, or just need a break from reality, this podcast is a space to slow down and get lost in something beautiful. Paige shows up exactly as she is—stoned stutters, bursts of nerdy excitement, and all—guiding you through captivating gemological journeys. From legendary stones like the Hope Diamond to the science behind how gems form, to the myths and folklore that give them meaning, each episode blends storytelling, history, and a little bit of wonder. Because at the end of the day—everyone loves a story. And everyone deserves a moment to escape.

    1 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Tune in with Paige while she tells stories of stones and gems from all over the world. Gem 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? Everyone loves a story and no matter if you like hearing about stones or getting stoned, do not miss tuning into this podcast...it's a GEM!

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