Curiosity Meets The Past

Dr. Smiti Nathan
  • 4.2 (68)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. Learn more at smitinathan.com/podcast Cover art by Laura Fajín Riveiro & theme music by Noor Hanania

  1. 3D AGO · BONUS

    Curiosity Exchange x Legends and Lectures: Artifacts & Us

    Mentioned on the show: Legends and Lectures full episode: https://youtu.be/3BNMMNliFiw?si=_H9eKZo3LlUW5at8Legends and Lectures podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhxPuNyz2_A9PvhtZ6y7w2EO9vSRVw5pU&si=qKOIIYNV6tpvrQVk 🎁 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.

    26 min

  2. 4D AGO · BONUS

    2025 Year-End Updates for Curiosity Meets the Past

    Sharing some quick year-end updates as we close out 2025! 🎁 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.

    5 min

  3. DEC 17

    Unsealing the Past

    What can small lumps of clay reveal about the past? Archaeologist Dr. Siobhan Shinn takes us inside her work on clay sealings from sites in Egypt and Sudan. These unassuming objects once secured letters, containers, and buildings, but they also preserve subtle traces that help us understand ancient administrative practices and the people behind them. In our conversation, we explore how careful observation and giving things a second glance can open up new ways of seeing the past. Mentioned on the show: https://www.ladyarch.org/https://www.instagram.com/archaeologistatlarge/ 📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/unsealing-the-past/ 🎁 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.

    23 min

  4. DEC 3

    The Sound of Living Heritage

    What can the sounds of everyday life reveal about the past? Podcast producer and host of ReCurrent, Jaime, brings us inside his storytelling process that connects sound and living heritage. Through examples from the field and from his own life, Jaime shows us how sound can bridge memory, identity, and place in ways we often overlook. Along the way, we explore how documenting the present, listening closely, and meeting people where they are allows us to keep the past present in meaningful and unexpected ways. Mentioned on the show: ReCurrent podcast: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/ 📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/the-sound-of-living-heritage/ 🎁 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.

    19 min

  5. NOV 18

    How Archaeologists Are Rethinking 5,200 Andean Holes

    What can over 5,200 holes carved into an Andean hillside reveal about ancient life? Digital archaeologist, Dr. Jacob Bongers, takes us inside his team’s new research at Monte Sierpe in Peru, including how their emerging hypothesis reshapes long-held ideas about the site’s purpose. And along the way, we talk about how archaeologists follow curiosity through evidence, collaboration, and community engagement. Mentioned on the show: Jacob and his team’s publication: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/indigenous-accounting-and-exchange-at-monte-sierpe-band-of-holes-in-the-pisco-valley-peru/41D83389D230D99CFF18194CF274A9A3Jacob’s website: https://jacobbongers.weebly.com/ 📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/how-archaeologists-are-rethinking-5200-andean-holes/ 🎁 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.

    27 min

  6. NOV 4

    Reconnecting with Archaeology Through Giving Back

    How can volunteering become a way back into archaeology? Archaeologist and research analyst, Dr. Sneh Patel, shares how volunteering in her hometown of Nashville helped her reconnect with teaching, community engagement, and the practice of archaeology itself. From guiding students through hands-on programs to navigating questions about science and ethics, we explore how public service can spark new connections between people and the past and why representation and curiosity matter just as much as discovery. Mentioned on the show: https://youtu.be/tknGiqtlB_I?si=yp8z_uYLgDlieX9s 📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/reconnecting-with-archaeology-through-giving-back/ 🎁 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.

    26 min

  7. OCT 21

    What Tiny, Overlooked Bones Reveal About the Paleolithic

    What can tiny, overlooked bones tell us about Paleolithic life, technology, and art? Archaeologist and paleoanthropologist, Dr. Giulia Gallo, reveals how these fragile fragments hold clues to both our past and that of our ancient relatives. From evidence of fire use to the burning of specific animal bones, we explore why these materials were once disregarded and how new techniques like ZooMS proteomics are transforming what we know. Mentioned on the show: Giulia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giuliatgallo/Giulia’s Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/giuliagallo.bsky.socialMore about ZooMS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loAgeUuK08g 📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/what-tiny-overlooked-bones-reveal-about-the-paleolithic/ 🎁 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 20–30 minute curated conversation with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.

    26 min

  8. OCT 7

    Voice as a Record of Time

    What can voice reveal about history, identity, and expression across time? Voice, accent, and communication coach Christine Adam shares how voice carries both personal and collective memory. We discuss what goes into preparing historically grounded performances, how vocal trends have shifted across eras, and what today’s voices might reveal about the world we live in now. Mentioned on the show: https://voicewhatmatters.com/https://www.youtube.com/@voicewhatmattershttps://voicewhatmatters.com/podcast/ 📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/voice-as-a-record-of-time/ 🎁 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 20–30 minute curated conversation with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.

    28 min
See All (19)

4.2
out of 5
68 Ratings

About

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. Learn more at smitinathan.com/podcast Cover art by Laura Fajín Riveiro & theme music by Noor Hanania

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Smiti Nathan
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Smiti Nathan
  • Show Website
    Curiosity Meets The Past

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