Episode 2: On this episode of the Minsanity Podcast, we will talk to mineral scientist, collector, and curator Dr. John Rakovan. John is known as someone who bridges different aspects of our mineral world, including mineral science, the collector scene, and the curatorial world. After obtaining a PhD in mineralogy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he taught at Miami University in Ohio for many years, advising students and conducting research in the fields of mineralogy and geochemistry. Recently, he was appointed mineral museum curator and state mineralogist at the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology in Socorro, New Mexico. John’s enthusiasm for science, teaching, and collecting are well-known and he is a frequent public speaker and author in numerous mineralogy venues and publications. Join us as we discover the roots of John’s mineral obsession, and hear about some of the plans he has for the future in his new position in New Mexico.

* Filmed during the Denver mineral shows in September 2023