Curiosity Meets The Past

Latest Episodes:

What Animal Bones Reveal About Life in 19th-Century New York Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

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: pc4@nyu.edu

• 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 podcast@smitinathan.com

Curiosity Exchange x The Dirt Diaries: Cursing the Competition Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

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 podcast@smitinathan.com
// 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 Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

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 podcast@smitinathan.com

How This Bioarchaeologist Connects Maryland's Past to Its Present Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

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 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.
⭐ 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 Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

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=gNCIPaVDbARIiTHJ
Curiosity Meets the Past Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositymeetsthepast

🎁 Bonus content: https://patreon.com/smitinathan

✉️ Get in touch at podcast@smitinathan.com

Curiosity Exchange x Broadcast Seeding: Gender Violence in Late Antiquity Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

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 ⁠podcast@smitinathan.com⁠

Decoding Diaspora Through a Family Scrapbook Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

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 podcast@smitinathan.com

The Archaeology Behind the English Alphabet Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

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 podcast@smitinathan.com

Rethinking Water History at Shushtar in Iran May 20, 2026

Show notes

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 podcast@smitinathan.com

The Curious History and Science of Blimps May 06, 2026

Show notes

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 podcast@smitinathan.com