Curiosity Meets The Past

What can archaeology reveal about overlooked food spaces? Dr. Katie Chiou shares how she applies archaeological thinking to explore hidden foodways in the American South, from campus dining halls to gas stations, and what they reveal about inequality, memory, and everyday life.

Mentioned on the show:

• Katie’s Website: https://sites.ua.edu/kchiou/

• Katie’s Lab Website: https://sites.ua.edu/archaeobotany/

• MA student presentation on UA Foodscape project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83ZmHx-JkDs&ab_channel=UniversityofAlabamaGraduateSchool 

• Student documentary on gas stations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r32lfFMVzPQ&t=5s&ab_channel=EkaterinaM

• UA Food Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bamabiteclub/

• CONSERVE Group: https://conserve-group.org/ 

  
  

📝 Full transcript:  https://smitinathan.com/uncovering-todays-hidden-foodways-through-archaeology/ 

🎁 Bonus content: patreon.com/smitinathan

What does it really take to start an archaeology project? In this episode, Dr. Ioana A. Dumitru, a digital landscape archaeologist, reveals how fieldwork actually begins. We dig into the moments that no one prepares you for and the relationships that truly shape the work.

Mentioned on the show:

• CALOR Project Website: https://www.calorarchaeology.com/

• CALOR Project Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calor_archaeology/

• Ioana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganarcheologist/

📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/how-an-archaeology-project-actually-begins/

🎁 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]

Welcome to Curiosity Meets The Past - a podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past. In this short intro episode, you’ll hear what the show is all about and what you can expect from future episodes.

📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/welcome-to-curiosity-meets-the-past

🎁 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]

Thanks to Noor Hanania for leading the edit of this video.

Curiosity Meets The Past is a new podcast for curious minds who love learning about the past.

🎉 Launching June 24, 2025, with new episodes every week in July, then every other Tuesday

👩🏽 Hosted by archaeologist Dr. Smiti Nathan

📺 Watch full episodes on Spotify or YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Learn more at https://smitinathan.com