The Mobility Studies Podcast

What happens to a text after it is written? In this episode, Professor Ottavia Mazzon explores how classical works moved through Byzantine culture, were reorganized, reinterpreted, and woven into new forms of collective memory. From Homer to the library of Cardinal Bessarion, the conversation reveals how reading itself becomes an act of mobility, carrying ideas across time, space, and communities.

In the Season 1 finale of the Mobility Studies Podcast, host Matthew Anuforo brings the conversation home to where it began—mobility—not just as movement, but as method, perspective, and academic practice. Recorded at the University of Padova, this episode features two doctoral researchers from the European University Institute (EUI), Anna Breidenbach and Niklas Platzer, who reflect on their evolving academic journeys, the role of interdisciplinary exchange, and the relaunch of the Migration & Mobility Working Group at the EUI. Together, they unpack the significance of the Research on the Move workshop co-organised by EUI and Padova, and how both institutions support scholarly collaboration across borders—geographic, disciplinary, and intellectual.Key themes include:🔹 How tourism, economic history, and sugar factories become entry points into mobility research🔹 Life and learning inside EUI’s structured PhD programme🔹 The value of being “coachable” and reflective as a young scholar🔹 Practical advice for aspiring PhD applicants to EUI🔹 How cross-institutional platforms shape new epistemic communities As the episode reminds us, mobility is not just the subject of research—it is also the condition of knowledge itself.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Mobility Studies Podcast, host Fardeen is joined by Professor Irene Barbiera, Associate Professor of Demography at the University of Padua, whose research bridges bioarchaeology, demography, and historical records to reimagine migration in ancient and medieval Europe. Together, they explore how gender shaped the experience of migration—from elite marriage alliances and the paradox of female mobility in burial sites, to the myth-making around ethnic origins and the weaponization of history. Professor Barbiera challenges long-held narratives about the so-called "barbarian invasions" and reveals how mobility was often strategic, negotiated, and deeply gendered. She also brings the conversation to the present, explaining how demographic data can cut through political myths about modern migration, why integration is shaped more by class than culture, and how interdisciplinary methods can open up new understandings of identity and belonging. Whether you're interested in ancient tombs, modern migration policy, or how ideas (and people) travel, this episode offers a rich, nuanced view of human movement across time.

In this captivating episode of the Mobility Studies Podcast, host Liza welcomes Professor Niccolò Pianciola, Associate Professor of Central Asian, Russian, and Soviet History at the University of Padua. Together, they explore the intersections of migration, empire, forced mobility, and environmental transformation within the Russian and Soviet contexts — with a special focus on Central Asia.Professor Pianciola shares his academic journey from Soviet archives to the shrinking Aral Sea, offering insight into how forced migrations and immobilities shaped power structures, resource extraction, and spatial hierarchies in the USSR. From the deportations of ethnic groups to the manipulation of rivers and railways, this episode connects historical mobility with broader questions of empire, ecology, and state control.Tune in for a multidisciplinary conversation that bridges history, geography, and political economy — and discover how personal stories and archival surprises can spark entire research careers.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

In this compelling episode of The Mobility Podcast, we are joined by renowned sociologist Professor Ole B. Jensen from Aalborg University, whose work lies at the vibrant intersection of sociology, urban design, and architecture. Currently a visiting professor at the University of Padova’s Mobility and Humanities Centre, Prof. Jensen reflects on his interdisciplinary journey—from political science and planning to the built environment.Together, we unpack:What it means to practice “orchestration of methods” in mobility research;How exclusionary design (both intentional and unintentional) manifests in public space;The crucial difference between hostile architecture and more nuanced forms of exclusion;How theories like “atmospheres of rejection” are made operational;Why understanding power and subjectivity is key in mobility infrastructure;And the role of curiosity, interdisciplinarity, and philosophical mindset in shaping inclusive urban futures.With examples ranging from airports and metro stations to public benches, Prof. Jensen challenges us to rethink how design includes—and excludes—people across lines of ability, age, and class. Whether you're a scholar, student, or urban practitioner, this episode offers rich insights into the ethics and politics of movement.🎧 Tune in to explore what makes a space truly public—and for whom.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

In this heartfelt episode of the Mobility Studies Podcast, host Fardeen speaks with Irini Komparaki—an alumna of the Mobility Studies program and now a dedicated International Desk Officer at the University of Padua. Irini opens up about her journey from a young volunteer in intercultural youth exchanges to a professional supporting international students far from home. She shares the defining moment when she knew she had found her calling, the emotional and logistical challenges students face when arriving in a new country, and the quiet strength it takes to support others while managing your own uncertainty. From culture shock to language barriers, from fragmented migration policies to the importance of building community—this conversation is as honest as it is inspiring.If you’ve ever felt out of place, or wondered how to turn your international experiences into meaningful work, this episode is for you.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

In today’s episode, our second-year student and host Lisa speaks with Professor Federico Mazzini, a contemporary historian and faculty member at the University of Padua. Together, they explore how the concept of mobility has shaped Prof. Mazzini’s scholarly journey—from studying World War I soldiers to analyzing hacker communities and digital tools. The conversation touches on:How forced mobility in wartime shaped personal and national identityThe role of digital methods like network analysis and visualization in historical researchThe experience of academic mobility across institutions like Stanford and the University of TokyoWhat it means to teach history through the lens of culture, technology, and communicationHow historians link past and present through method, empathy, and curiosityWhether you're a student of mobility, a digital humanist, or simply curious about how history is researched today, this episode offers thoughtful insights into the evolving practice of historical inquiry.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

Something as simple as recording a small portion of our daily commute can help us dive into complex questions about our agency, the use of public space, or even ethical questions of how to tell a story. Professor Chiara Rabbiosi, PhD in Urban and Local European Studies, and creator of the “Space, Place, Mobility” class, is very well aware of the potential of filmmaking as a research tool in the social sciences. In today's episode, Professor Rabbiosi goes into detail about how she started using this creative methodology as part of her in-class exercises, which unexpectedly led to insightful and innovative discussions about the politics of mobility, geography, and even ethics. We also spoke with her about her multidisciplinary background, nourished not only by her academic path but also by her personal and family story.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

One of the foundations of Mobility studies is its interdisciplinary approach to social phenomena in order to achieve the most comprehensive understanding of it. In today’s episode, Professor Matteo Bortolini, with a PhD in Sociology from the University of Bologna, tells us about his rich research and academic background, his inspiration when designing a class, and the challenges of teaching sociology nowadays. With diverse research and teaching experiences in the United States and Europe, Prof. Bortollini emphasizes the importance of learning to extract and mobilize concepts from other disciplines, as well as the need to encourage students to write and discuss their own ideas. If you are interested in taking his Sociology of Ideas and Intellectuals class, this episode can provide you with an insight into the reasoning behind this class as well as his methodology.  CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

How can Mobility Studies help to shape our personal growth and academic orientation? In this episode, we speak with Kosar Rousta, a recent graduate and tutor in the Mobility Studies program at the University of Padua. With a background in English translation and experience across education, and academic archives, Kosar offers a deeply interdisciplinary and international perspective on what mobility truly means—both as a scholarly concept and as a lived experience.We trace her journey from translating texts across languages and cultures to researching overlooked figures in British Orientalism, particularly William Marsden, whose archival legacy spans continents and centuries. Kosar reflects on the complexities of adapting to a new academic system, the realities of student life in Padua, and her own transition from student to mentor.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

Technology has become essential in every aspect of life, and of course, the social sciences and humanities have taken this shift as an opportunity to re-think and re-imagine their craft. Professor Daniel Zilio has been working on understanding the mechanics of communication using technology as an extension to the historian’s research work. Join us in this discussion about his hands-on, creativity-driven approach to software and AI usage. We also talked about the challenges and possibilities of Zilio’s introductory course to Big Data analysis and programming and how his passion for board games inspired Maplee, a start-up that merges cultural heritage and technology.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

If mobility is everything, how can we limit our research? In this episode, Michael Vsemirnov, a former Master’s student in the Mobility Studies program and now a PhD student, told us about his academic journey and how he reinterpreted the term mobility, using it as a lens to study historical processes. We also discussed the possibilities and opportunities for Mobility Studies scholars and some tips and insights on the crafting and writing process of a Master’s thesis and a PhD proposal. This episode may be of particular interest to current students and those preparing their dissertations.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025

We’re excited to welcome you to the very first episode of The Mobility Studies Podcast — a project created by Master’s students at the University of Padua.Our first guest is Professor Lucio Biasiori, a historian of early modern Europe and lecturer of the course Ideas and Culture in Motion. In this episode, Professor Biasiori reflects on his academic path, how the concept of mobility unexpectedly became central to his work, and why it continues to shape his historical research today. Together, we explore what mobility means — not only as a subject of historical inquiry, but also as a powerful research method for understanding the past.The Mobility Studies Podcast is a space for conversations about mobility — as a concept, a framework, and a way of studying history. You’ll hear from professors, guest scholars, current students, and alumni, as we share ideas, research experiences, and critical reflections.Whether you are a UniPD student, staff member, prospective applicant, or interested in humanities and social sciences, we invite you to join us in this space to discuss how the concept of mobility serves as a strong yet fine thread that connects and intertwines disciplines.CreditsArtist: AnitekTrack: Glenn2025