In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with David Stuart about the ancient Maya. They provide an overview of the Maya, Mayan language, beginnings of the Mayan civilization, Mayan creation myth, early collapse of the ancient Maya, dynasties in the classic Mayan period, Teotihuacán, the four heavens, Spanish conquest, and many more topics.

David Stuart is the David and Linda Schele Professor of Mesoamerican Art and Writing and director of the Mesoamerica Center at the University of Texas at Austin. His books include Palenque: Eternal City of the Maya, The Order of Days: Unlocking the Secrets of the Ancient Maya, Spearthrower Owl: A Teotihuacan Ruler in Maya History, and the most recent, The Four Heavens: A New History of the Ancient Maya. He is the youngest person ever to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Elizabeth F. S. Roberts talk about different ways of thinking about addiction. They define addiction, substance and control, considerations on whether dependency is maladaptive, individual decisions, cultural distinctions, loneliness and substances, and many other topics.

Elizabeth F. S. Roberts is professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan. Since 2013, she has participated in collaborative environmental health research in Mexico City. She is the author of the latest book, In Praise of Addiction.

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Elaine Sciolino about the Louvre. They discuss the allure of the Louvre, history of the Louvre, the Mona Lisa, Nike, and stolen artifacts. They discuss Persian art, Pyramid of the Louvre, the Louvre at night, sexism in the Louvre, first time and returning visitors, and many more topics.

Elaine Sciolino is a contributing writer and former Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, based in Paris since 2002. Her latest book, Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum, is now out in paperback. In 2025, it was named an Economist best book of the year, a Smithsonian Magazine best travel book, a New York Observer best art book, and a Library Journal best book of the year.