If Objects Could Talk
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What is Athena's owl doing in the Greek marketplace? How can a clock tell time in the dark? On If Objects Could Talk, art and artifacts leave the museum vault and come alive to share their side of the story. Featuring objects from the Getty Museum collection, each episode introduces listeners to the history, creation, and everyday use of incredible items like an Egyptian cat statue, a Rococo microscope, and a glass flask shaped like a fish. Voice actors and immersive sound design bring these historical fiction tales to life. Find coloring pages, discussion guides, and related activities on the pages for each episode.
Visit our website for more resources: www.getty.edu/ioct.
Afleveringen
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Art Detectives: Cabinet Edition
2 november 2026 · 12 min
Fine forgery or authentic antique? Only the skilled detectives at the museum can solve this case! Lees meer
Most cabinets that still exist from the Renaissance are in rough shape—which makes sense for something that’s at least 400 years old. So when curators saw that the Renaissance-style wooden cabinet J. Paul Getty had purchased was in great shape, they suspected it was a more recent copy. But after a visit to an exhibition of other French furniture from the Renaissance, curators saw clues that this fancy furniture might be the real deal after all!
Working together with conservators and scientists, the museum analyzed the cabinet further, using dendrochronology, carbon dating, and metal analysis. What did they discover? Find out on this week’s Art Detectives.
Like this episode? Head to the website for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you working on lessons about how we know history? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
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For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural…
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Small Snail in the Big Cities
26 oktober 2026 · 15 min
This vase might be nearly 10 feet tall and weigh half a ton, but the snail who hangs around its base isn’t intimidated. This plucky guest will tell you all about their enormous home, and how it traveled to three World’s Fairs looking for a buyer. Lees meer
They’re confident that artists can learn a lot from snails—artists need to look at the world slowly to find inspiration, and having a hard shell helps them deal with critical reviews.
Learn about World’s Fairs at the end of the 19th century and the creative ways artists have tried to make a living throughout history in this snail’s story.
Like this episode? Head to the website for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like exploring textures by making artful rubbings. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you working on a lesson about World's Fairs or slow looking? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—G…
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A Bed Story, Not a Bedtime Story
19 oktober 2026 · 13 min
It’s hard to stay awake when you’re a luxurious, fluffy, silk-covered bed! Our leading lady will try, though, as she reminisces about the many, many hands who worked hard to make her. From the carpenter and gilder (yes, a person whose job is just to turn her gold!) to the upholsterer, in 18th-century France, making a bed was exhausting work! Lees meer
If this bed story tires you out, she’s also got a bedtime story for you. Speaking of beds and many hands reminds her of the classic French fairy tale “The White Cat,” written by Madame d’Aulnoy, the woman who actually invented the term “fairy tale.”
So get cozy with your best silk blanket—or whichever is your favorite—and settle in for this bed’s yarn.
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you teaching about fairytales and folktales or 18th century France? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
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For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Ge…
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A (Dragon’s) Brief History of Time
12 oktober 2026 · 13 min
This great green dragon takes his position at the top of the clock very seriously. Accompanied by a monkey and a goose, these time guardians ensure there will be no “killing time” on their watch! Lees meer
To demonstrate the value of time, the dragon outlines the history of clocks—from sundials and waterclocks, to medieval clocks with bells, to household mechanical clocks like his. Not only is his clock a marvel of machinery, it’s also an artistic wonder, showcasing the strength and beauty of a special new kind of porcelain. The dragon holds one more trick, too: telling time in the dark. Hear how this talent helped a kid in the middle of the night.
Like this episode? Head to the website for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like exploring how to measure time.
Teachers, are you working on a lesson about telling time and want to explore how people did that in the past? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
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For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-idea…
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A Griffin Sees It All
5 oktober 2026 · 14 min
One giant blue orb dotted with stars, six griffins, 12 zodiac symbols, 18 candle holders, countless crystals—and even a bowl to fill with goldfish! Have you ever seen something so elaborate just hanging from the ceiling? Lees meer
This is the description of an extraordinary chandelier, made around 1819 to hang in a fancy French home, perhaps over a dining table. Imagine eating dinner with a goldfish overhead!
In this episode, one of the griffins shares how her bronze body turned to gold, as well as her centuries-old gossip from dinner parties past—including the story of one quiet, observant little girl. For the griffin and the girl, the magic is in noticing the details.
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like a recipe for your own mille-fueille. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you teaching about recipes and food across time or French culture in the 19th century? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultur…
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Resting Bust Face
28 september 2026 · 13 min
Why is The Vexed Man making that scrunched up face? Has he tasted a lemon? Smelled a skunk? Nope—that’s just his thinking face! Lees meer
This intensely tense alabaster sculpture of a head is used to people staring and trying to do their own versions of his extreme expression. Take it from him, though, it feels much nicer to relax than to be so stiff all the time.
Hear this sculpture’s story of alabaster carving and 18th-century Vienna, followed by a relaxing breathing exercise—because even if you’re not made of stone, you still might need to loosen up a little!
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like a meditation for when you’re feeling particularly vexed. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, do you need a meditation moment? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, …
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Purrquoise the Traveling Cat
21 september 2026 · 14 min
As soon as he arrived in Los Angeles, Purrquoise, the turquoise cat, was a star. But this charismatic kitty traveled a long way to get here! Made in China in the 1750s, he moved by ship to France, where he padded around with the rich and famous—like Madame de Pompadour, noted companion of King Louis XV—as well as those who served them. After a few centuries there, he traveled across the Atlantic and settled in at the Getty Museum in 2024. Lees meer
Adjusting to a new culture takes time, an open mind, and an adventurous spirit. Hear about 18th-century trade and travel and the importance of changing perspectives in this adventuresome cat’s tail, er, tale.
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like exploring how trade shapes your world. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you teaching about the history of trade or France leading up to the Revolution? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former…
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The Magnificent Microscope and the Fabulous Flea
14 september 2026 · 12 min
It’s a knight! It’s a cat! No, it’s a…flea? Lees meer
Picture it: the French countryside, 1751. A young flea prepares for his moment in the spotlight—of a magnificent gold and sharkskin microscope. This compound microscope was the height of scientific knowledge, showcasing both the newest technology and fashionable design. It allowed people—including science lovers like King Louis XV—to discover new worlds in small things.
In this first episode of season two, learn about compound microscopes, the Enlightenment, and what “rococo” means.
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like how to create your own journal of the natural world. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you teaching about the history of science or the basics of scientific thinking? This episode and the related videos linked on our website, including one that showcases how the microscope works, are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: h…
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Coming Soon: Bastille Day (and Season 2)
9 juli 2026 · 5 min
Announcing Season 2, this mini-episode features Purrquoise, a bright turquoise porcelain cat that was made in China in the 1700s and has traveled the world ever since. Now that he’s made himself at home in Los Angeles, he’s ready to pitch his script all about the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution. Lees meer
Of course, if he can’t get that movie made, he’s still excited to announce that If Objects Can Talk returns this fall with ten more stories from adventurous, luxurious—and sometimes very silly—objects, including Purrquoise himself!
Feeling inspired to celebrate Bastille Day? Learn more on our website and in our listening guide! Visit: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/introducing-season-two/
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation is part art history, part guided meditation: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.
Learn more about all we do for art on our website:
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
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(Rerun) Snake Charm on Your Arm
6 maart 2026 · 10 min
(Rerun) How does a snake bracelet celebrate her favorite holiday? Learn about gold jewelry, the meaning of snakes for ancient Egyptians, and the Roman holiday of Saturnalia from this snake who knows all the best secrets! Lees meer
For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.
Come see the bracelet in person at the Getty Villa in gallery 216!
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- Categorieën
- Kunst , Onderwijs , Kinderen , Gezin , Verhalen , Beeldende kunst
- Status
- Loopt nog
- Verschijnt
- Elke week
- Lengte
- Meestal 13 min
- Afleveringen
- 28
- Laatste aflevering
- 2 november 2026
- Eerste aflevering
- 18 augustus 2025
- Taal
- Engels