Stephanie Bastek

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

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

The Dangerous Dead

John Blair on the enduring epidemics of the undead

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 31, 2025

For the Love of Foraging

Gabrielle Cerberville on living and eating with the seasons

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 17, 2025

A Strange Business

By Stephanie Bastek | Monday September 14, 2015

South Toward Home

By Stephanie Bastek | Wednesday September 9, 2015

A Victorian Mystery No More

By Stephanie Bastek | Monday September 7, 2015

Latest Readings

By Stephanie Bastek | Tuesday September 1, 2015

Pedigree

By Stephanie Bastek | Tuesday August 25, 2015

Mindware

By Stephanie Bastek | Thursday August 20, 2015

The Meaning of the Library

By Stephanie Bastek | Thursday August 6, 2015

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