Stephanie Bastek

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

Learn the Ropes of Estate Sailing

Kate Davis gives advice on secondhand scores

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday May 1, 2026

Safe From Sin

Peter Jones on what medieval psychology can do for you

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday April 17, 2026

Hue and Cry

Kory Stamper on the weird ways we define color

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday April 3, 2026

Shotgun Ornithology

James H. McCommons on the first American efforts to save the birds

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday March 20, 2026

Eulogy for a Yenta

Jordy Rosenberg on his new novel, Night Night Fawn

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday March 6, 2026

The Carnifex of Cachtice

Shelley Puhak on the murderous legend of Elizabeth Bathory

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday February 20, 2026

What We Talk About When We Talk About Prehistory

Stefanos Geroulanos on how the deep past is used for political ends

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday February 6, 2026

The Snow Maiden

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday January 2, 2026

The Midwife of Black Nationalism

Ashley D. Farmer on the forgotten life of “Queen Mother” Audley Moore

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday December 12, 2025

Ground Truths

Edward McPherson zooms in on the aerial view

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday November 21, 2025

One Child

By Stephanie Bastek | Monday December 14, 2015

Hamburgers in Paradise

By Stephanie Bastek | Tuesday December 8, 2015

Database of Dreams

By Stephanie Bastek | Tuesday November 24, 2015

The White Road

By Stephanie Bastek | Wednesday November 18, 2015

Getting Screwed

By Stephanie Bastek | Monday November 9, 2015

Workshops of Empire

By Stephanie Bastek | Tuesday October 13, 2015

Changing the Subject

By Stephanie Bastek | Wednesday October 7, 2015

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