
Advertise on podcast: Curiosity Meets The Past
Rating
4.1from
This podcast has
37 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Dr. Smiti NathanExplicit
No
Date created
2025/06/09
Latest episode
2026/10/27
Average duration
25 min.
Release period
17 days
Description
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
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Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from Curiosity Meets The Past podcast
Reading Fiction With An Archaeology Book Club
2026/10/27
What happens when archaeologists and archaeology lovers read novels together? Archaeologist and journalist Dr. Matilda Siebrecht shares how and why she started an archaeology book club. In our conversation, we discuss fiction as a lens for thinking critically about the past, what makes for good depictions of archaeology, and which books Tilly highly recommends.
Mentioned on the show:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_archaeologists_teacup/
• Website: https://www.thearchaeologiststeacup.com/
• Archaeo Book Club: http://Archaeobookclub.com
• Books Mentioned: https://bookshop.org/shop/smiti-nathan
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/reading-fiction-with-an-archaeology-book-club/
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
What Animal Bones Reveal About Life in 19th-Century New York
2026/10/20
What can animal bones reveal about the daily lives of working-class communities in 19th-century New York City? Archaeologist and zooarchaeologist Dr. Pam Crabtree guides us through her research at two sites in Lower Manhattan: Five Points and Corlears Hook. In our conversation, she walks us through what working-class people ate, some surprising finds, and how these finds can change our perception of New York City in the past.
Mentioned on the show:
• Pam's Email: [email protected]
• New York Archaeological Repository: https://archaeology.cityofnewyork.us/
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/what-animal-bones-reveal-about-life-in-19th-century-new-york/
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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 Exchange x The Dirt Diaries: Cursing the Competition
2026/10/16
This Curiosity Exchange is with The Dirt Diaries!
For the full episode of this excerpt:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/kYoTtKRIgEE?si=PtQ9Fz2ZlQ8PhU_c
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cursing-the-competition-doing-anything-for-the-ancient-win/id1739162065?i=1000763043061
The Dirt Diaries podcast: https://pod1.co/thedirtdiaries
#archaeology #archaeologist #podcast
// More Resources 🔗
🎁 Bonus content: patreon.com/smitinathan
📩 Email notifications for new episodes: https://field-notes-by-smiti-nathan.kit.com/3e5792597b
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
// About The Podcast 🎙️
Curiosity Meets The Past is a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. Each episode features a curated conversation (30min or under) with guests who reveal the layered stories behind objects, places, and people.
// Who Am I? 🙋🏾
Hi! I’m Smiti. I've studied and traveled the world doing archaeology for the past 20+ years [yes, I have a Ph.D. in it :)]. While I still do research, I love sharing what we do beyond academic journal articles.
// Acknowledgements 🙌🏾
Thanks to Noor Hanania for creating the theme music and Laura F. Riveiro for creating the podcast cover art.
The Careful Choices Behind Bronze Age Aegean Weapons
2026/10/13
What can ancient weapons reveal about the choices people made in the past? Archaeologist and art historian, Dr. Tenninger Kellenbarger, guides us through the world of Bronze Age Aegean weaponry. In our conversation, we explore ancient choices that impacted how far these objects traveled, the curious places we do and don't find them, as well as what it means for a weapon to die.
Mentioned on the show:
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the.Dirt.Diaries
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_?lang=en
• More Ways to Connect: https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/the-careful-choices-behind-bronze-age-aegean-weapons/
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
How This Bioarchaeologist Connects Maryland's Past to Its Present
2026/10/06
How can we learn about people who lived centuries ago, but were not included in typical written records? Biocultural anthropologist, Alex McDougle, guides us through her work on free and enslaved Black communities in Maryland during the 1700s and 1800s. In our conversation, she shares how she approaches bioarchaeology, her collaborations with descendant communities, and the present-day implications of her work.
Mentioned on the show:
• Alex's Website: https://alexandramcdougle.com/
• Goshen Farm: https://goshenfarm.org/about-goshen-farm/african-american-heritage/
• 50x50 Science Across America Project: https://5050science.com/
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/how-this-bioarchaeologist-connects-marylands-past-to-its-present/
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
⭐ In this episode, I’m representing the state of Maryland in 50x50: Science Across America. This is a national series, with 50 creators meeting 50 scientists, one pair in each state, to discuss science happening in communities all across the country. It is a production of the Independent Media Initiative in collaboration with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Winn Family Foundation.
One Year Anniversary Update for Curiosity Meets the Past
2026/06/24
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=gNCIPaVDbARIiTHJCuriosity Meets the Past Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositymeetsthepast
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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 Exchange x Broadcast Seeding: Gender Violence in Late Antiquity
2026/06/19
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 [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
Decoding Diaspora Through a Family Scrapbook
2026/06/16
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 [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
The Archaeology Behind the English Alphabet
2026/06/02
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 [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
Rethinking Water History at Shushtar in Iran
2026/05/20
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 [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
The Curious History and Science of Blimps
2026/05/06
Where did blimps come from, and why are we fascinated by them? Geneticist and blimp enthusiast, Dr. Alex Dainis, guides us through the history of these sky vessels, the science behind their design, and what it feels like to ride inside one. In our conversation, she shares what blimps reveal about the way we see the world around us and why they are still around today.
Mentioned on the show:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexdainis
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexDainisPhD/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexdainis
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/the-curious-history-and-science-of-blimps/
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
What Archaeology Can Bring to the Classroom (and Beyond)
2026/04/21
What can archaeology bring to the classroom and beyond? Archaeologist and filmmaker, Marc Barkman-Astles, guides us through the workshops he runs across England and Wales, the challenges he's encountered, and some of the delightful moments along the way. In our conversation, we explore how public archaeology can help us connect with the world around us.
Mentioned on the show:
Website: https://archaeosouptowers.wordpress.com/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Archaeos0upTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@archaeos0up📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/what-archaeology-can-bring-to-the-classroom-and-beyond/🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
The Ancient Deities People Called Upon
2026/04/08
Which deities did ancient people call upon when they needed help? Assyriologist and public educator, Megan Lewis, guides us through some of the surprising sources scholars use to understand the gods and goddesses people turned to in the past. In our conversation, she shares what these sources reveal about how both people and deities have changed over time and why their stories still feel surprisingly familiar today.
Mentioned on the show:
Website: https://www.digitalhammurabi.com/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalHammurabi
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/the-ancient-deities-people-called-upon
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
The Making and Remaking of the Zodiac in Roman Egypt
2026/03/25
What can ancient astrological handbooks tell us about the lives of women around 2000 years ago? Egyptologist, Dr. Lingxin Zhang, guides us through fragmented papyri, recycled temple documents, and what one woman did when she learned her family's fate. In our conversation, she shares what these texts reveal not only about the inner workings of the zodiac and astrosciences in Roman Egypt, but also aspects of our humanity.
Mentioned on the show:
https://www.instagram.com/guancientegypt/
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/the-making-and-remaking-of-the-zodiac-in-roman-egypt
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
What 3D Modelling Reveals About the Past
2026/03/10
What can we uncover about the past when we look at it in three dimensions? Archaeologist, Madeline Robinson, guides us through a shipwreck, ancient temples in Malta, and very tiny stone tools she has studied through 3D modelling. In our conversation, we explore what these methods reveal not only about the past, but also about who gets to access and engage with it.
Mentioned on the show:
Malta Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212054818300523Photogrammetry Book: https://sydneyuniversitypress.com/products/9781761540431Madeline’s Website: https://madeline7850.wixsite.com/madelinegprobinsonIf you’re having any issue accessing Maddie’s publications, you can contact her directly - https://madeline7850.wixsite.com/madelinegprobinson/contact
📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/what-3d-modelling-reveals-about-the-past/
🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan
✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]
🎙️ 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.
Podcast reviews
Read Curiosity Meets The Past podcast reviews
Kyndal Jeter 2026/09/02
I love this podcast!
I love this podcast. Dr. Smiti Nathan is such a great interviewer with incredibly thought out questions. I find myself interested in things I would ha...
Uzenfeld 2025/11/21
Interesting of course, but…
This is very interesting…..but please please PLEASE stop thanking your guests profusely after every single response. “Thank you so much for that”. It’...
beaviss420 2025/09/06
Gay
Gay
jefffort 2025/08/31
Learning from the Past
I came upon this podcast by accident and I’m thankful that I did. Words, maps, DNA —- there’s so much to learn from the past and we can elect to repea...
Abbybright 2025/08/17
Very informative and interesting podcast
I just listened to the latest episode of the podcast series and was delighted by the content, narrative structure, and thoughtful questions. Its great...
K8_ify 2025/08/17
Making History Engaging and Accessible
I love how this podcast makes history both engaging and accessible. I have to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of history in school, but the content mak...
BearVillint 2025/08/16
Thoughtful and engaging podcast
Dr. Smiti Nathan creates a welcoming environment for her guests to explore their interests in ways that are both relatable and educational. I really a...
Leabea84 2025/08/16
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such a great Podcast! As someone who doesn’t have an Archaeological background, the topics that this Podcast covers, it piques my interest and leaves ...
getliikeme21 2025/08/16
Love Dr.Nathans view!
Great podcast listen to it all the time! Great source of interesting information! Will be tuning in more.
Pideacon 2025/08/16
Great podcast
Love this podcast - great production, ton of interesting content & guests in a very digestible format
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