Curiosity Meets The Past

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.

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 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.

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

🎙️ 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 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

🎙️ 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.

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

🎙️ 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.