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 evolv...

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 a...

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. Profe...

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 scienc...

In this heartfelt episode of the Mobility Studies Podcast, host Fardeen speaks with Irini Komparak i—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 mo...

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 mobili...

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 s...

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 sociol...

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 mobilit...

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-...

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 ti...

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 Biasior i, 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...