In this enlightening conversation, Alex Kaloyanides, a religious studies scholar and author, delves into the arrival of American Baptists in 19th-century Burma. She discusses how these missionaries interacted with local Buddhism, sparking transformations in belief systems. Kaloyanides highlights the vital role of religious artifacts, illustrating their power in shaping spiritual identity. The dialogue reveals the complexities of cultural interplay, suggesting that examining material culture can offer profound insights often missed in traditional textual analysis.