Stephanie Bastek

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

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

The Dangerous Dead

John Blair on the enduring epidemics of the undead

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday October 31, 2025

The Spirit of ’68

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday April 12, 2024

Reedies Against Racism

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday April 5, 2024

Sing, Muse

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday March 29, 2024

Dancing the Imperial Twist

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday August 4, 2023

Dying for Fashion

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday July 28, 2023

On the Line

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday July 21, 2023

Of Panic and Paranoia

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday July 14, 2023

Man vs. Mosquito

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday July 7, 2023

Imagined Cuisines

By Stephanie Bastek | Friday June 23, 2023

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