60 acast.com The Story of Things https://shows.acast.com/the-story-of-things en University of York research,academia ,university University of York Exploring everyday objects from the past and present - and how they help us understand the world around us. Hosted by Archaeologist Dr Penny Spikins, The Story of Things explores research that has changed the way we think or the way in which society operates - by focusing on the everyday 'things' around us and their unexpected meanings.

Each episode, experts in their field discuss how we understand the world around us and what researchers and communities are doing to improve our environment, culture, health and wellbeing.

The Story of Things podcast is presented in collaboration with the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Hosted by Archaeologist Dr Penny Spikins, The Story of Things explores research that has changed the way we think or the way in which society operates - by focusing on the everyday 'things' around us and their unexpected meanings.

Each episode, experts in their field discuss how we understand the world around us and what researchers and communities are doing to improve our environment, culture, health and wellbeing.

The Story of Things podcast is presented in collaboration with the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Holly Gittins info+655f686d254b680011dcd17b@mg-eu.acast.com 655f686d254b680011dcd17b the-story-of-things episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/655f686d254b680011dcd17b/1701094571316-d794163a2e3964598dee36917ef2553c.jpeg https://shows.acast.com/the-story-of-things The Story of Things The Story of a Children’s Book The Story of a Children’s Book Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:47:18 GMT 20:37 6564abf748a51c0012654e10 false https://shows.acast.com/the-story-of-things/episodes/the-story-of-a-childrens-book 6564abf748a51c0012654e10 655f686d254b680011dcd17b the-story-of-a-childrens-book Dr Penny Spikins and philosopher Dr Dorothea Debus full 1 3 If you were to produce a perfect replica of the book, would it still have as much value? Could the owner be tempted to give up the original for the replica?


In the final episode of the series, archaeologist Dr Penny Spikins and philosopher Dr Dorothea Debus explore a children’s book and the personal inscription inside to understand whether certain objects make human beings feel unique.

This book was published in 1991 and was submitted as a cherished object through our online survey. In this episode we explore why it is difficult to let go of certain objects and whether the characteristics of the item gives us a sense of personal uniqueness as its owner.

Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com


This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> If you were to produce a perfect replica of the book, would it still have as much value? Could the owner be tempted to give up the original for the replica?


In the final episode of the series, archaeologist Dr Penny Spikins and philosopher Dr Dorothea Debus explore a children’s book and the personal inscription inside to understand whether certain objects make human beings feel unique.

This book was published in 1991 and was submitted as a cherished object through our online survey. In this episode we explore why it is difficult to let go of certain objects and whether the characteristics of the item gives us a sense of personal uniqueness as its owner.

Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com


This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Story of a 1950s Brooch The Story of a 1950s Brooch Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:45:12 GMT 22:06 6564ab781a0cae00114f2b78 false https://shows.acast.com/the-story-of-things/episodes/the-story-of-a-1950s-brooch 6564ab781a0cae00114f2b78 655f686d254b680011dcd17b the-story-of-a-1950s-brooch With Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus full 1 2 Is it the stories behind an object which makes it meaningful? Is it the emotion that comes with a story the real value of ‘things’? Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus inspect a 1950s brooch which contains a special photograph.


Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com


This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Is it the stories behind an object which makes it meaningful? Is it the emotion that comes with a story the real value of ‘things’? Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus inspect a 1950s brooch which contains a special photograph.


Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com


This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Story of an Ancient Hand Axe The Story of an Ancient Hand Axe Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:42:56 GMT 19:18 6564aaf01a0cae00114efc1f false https://shows.acast.com/the-story-of-things/episodes/the-story-of-an-ancient-hand-axe 6564aaf01a0cae00114efc1f 655f686d254b680011dcd17b the-story-of-an-ancient-hand-axe With Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus full 1 1 Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus discuss an ancient hand axe, on loan to the University of York from the Yorkshire Museum.

It looks like it could be a weapon but in actual fact it is a tool used for cutting meat approximately 70,000 years ago. Aside from its practical application, it was made in a way that was also aesthetically pleasing.

So why would this ancient community care about what a basic cutting tool looked like? One theory is that its pleasing aesthetic demonstrated skill, patience, and knowledge on the part of its maker. In this podcast episode the researchers discuss what this tells us about our human attachments to everyday objects and how it helps us interpret the world we live in today.

Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com

This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus discuss an ancient hand axe, on loan to the University of York from the Yorkshire Museum.

It looks like it could be a weapon but in actual fact it is a tool used for cutting meat approximately 70,000 years ago. Aside from its practical application, it was made in a way that was also aesthetically pleasing.

So why would this ancient community care about what a basic cutting tool looked like? One theory is that its pleasing aesthetic demonstrated skill, patience, and knowledge on the part of its maker. In this podcast episode the researchers discuss what this tells us about our human attachments to everyday objects and how it helps us interpret the world we live in today.

Be educated, entertained and inspired at the York Festival of Ideas. Find out more at: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com

This episode was originally released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Story of Things - trailer The Story of Things - trailer Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:19:52 GMT 2:04 655f690bd337e20012873fd4 false https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/features/2018/story-of-things-podcast-returns/ 655f690bd337e20012873fd4 655f686d254b680011dcd17b the-story-of-things-trailer Introducing The Story of Things, a podcast series from the University of York trailer 1 Introducing The Story of Things, a podcast series from the University of York and the York Festival of Ideas

The series explores the meaning of everyday objects from the past and present that help us explain the world we live in. Presenters Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus from the University of York give a taster here of what to expect from the series.


This episode was original released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Introducing The Story of Things, a podcast series from the University of York and the York Festival of Ideas

The series explores the meaning of everyday objects from the past and present that help us explain the world we live in. Presenters Dr Penny Spikins and Dr Dorothea Debus from the University of York give a taster here of what to expect from the series.


This episode was original released in October 2018.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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