Stephanie Bastek

Stephanie Bastek is the senior editor of the Scholar and the producer/host of the Smarty Pants podcast.

Tulsa 2022

RJ Young on the commemoration—and commercialization—of the massacre’s centenary

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday November 4, 2022

For the Love of Horror

Joe Vallese collects 25 queer reflections on formative films

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 28, 2022

The Fantasy of Real Life

Ling Ma on telling stories that see our world sideways

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 21, 2022

Welcome to the Osmocosm

Harold McGee explains the science behind a universe of smells

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 14, 2022

Fifty Years of Song

Joy Harjo celebrates her life in poetry

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 7, 2022

Ordinary Madness

Kate Summerscale on the fixations and fears that make us human

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday September 30, 2022

Know Your Earworm

Susan Rogers on figuring out why you love your favorite songs

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday September 23, 2022

Baba Yaga Comes to America

GennaRose Nethercott on folklore, fiction, and hidden family stories

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday September 16, 2022

The Music of the Ancients

Christopher King on his quest to uncover the mysteries of Europe’s most enduring folk songs

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday September 9, 2022

More Than a Mere Tastemaker

Catherine Wilson brings self-help back to its ancient roots

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday September 2, 2022

The Snow Maiden

By Stephanie Bastek | Monday December 30, 2024

Ho Ho Horror

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday December 27, 2024

Kinship and Contradictions

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday December 13, 2024

Overconsumed

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday November 29, 2024

American Horror Story

By Stephanie Bastek | Thursday October 31, 2024

The Writing on the Wall

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 18, 2024

This Woman’s Work

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 4, 2024

Queen of the Night

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday September 20, 2024

A Toothsome Tale

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday September 6, 2024

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