The Mobility Studies Podcast

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 supp...

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 th...

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 rai...

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...

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. Fr...

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 TokyoWh...

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 insi...

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 an...

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 ce...

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 cult...

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 parti...

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 histo...