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Wiser World
Wiser World
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© 2026 Alli Roper
Description
Wiser World is a podcast built on a simple idea: history explains headlines. Hosted by world history teacher and storyteller Alli Roper, the show turns complex global history into clear, compact, approachable episodes for busy adults who want real understanding—not just sound bites. Wiser World explores the people, cultures, and turning points that shaped today’s global events, giving you the context you wish you’d learned in school. If you’ve ever read a headline and thought, “Wait… how did we get here?” this podcast helps you answer that—with more nuance, empathy, and confidence.
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This is Part 3 of 3 of the Iran 101 series: a foundational history of Iran for those who know little to nothing about it. This episode covers 1981 to early 2026.
Sources used in making this episode.
Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
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This is Part 2 of 3 of the Iran 101 series: a foundational history of Iran for those who know little to nothing about it. This episode covers 1953 to 1980.
Sources used in making this episode.
Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, PDF timelines, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
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This is Part 1 of 3 of the Iran 101 series: a foundational history of Iran for those who know little to nothing about Iranian history. This episode covers the 1800s to the 1953 coup.
For a FREE downloadable PDF outline of this episode, go to patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. If you are not a Patreon member, you may have to sign in, but you do not have to pay for this one.
*Correction: When discussing the AIOC (Anglo Iranian Oil Company)'s revenue, I say 40 million dollars, but I what I meant is 40 million euros.
Sources used in making this episode.
Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
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This is a Cultural Preface to the Iran 101 series. It is not designed to be entirely comprehensive, as no culture or people are the same. The hope is to help listeners meet the Iranian people before they study their history.
Special thanks to Ershiya and Lana Firoozi for their help with this episode; their attention to detail and generosity cannot be overstated.
This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/WISERWORLD50OFF and use code WISERWORLD50OFF to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor. New subscribers only, varies by plan. 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription is active.
Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
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A brief, approachable history of Greenland for those who know little to nothing about it. My hope is that this gives some nuance and context to modern headlines about this strategic island and the people who live there. Keep in mind that this is not comprehensive—just a jumping off point for further learning.
This episode is sponsored by Surfshark. Go to https://surfshark.com/wiserworld or use code WISERWORLD at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Sources used in making this episode.
Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
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Today's guest, Diego Vicentini, is a Venezuelan film writer, director & editor. His debut feature film “Simón”—which exposes human rights violations committed by the Venezuelan regime—was able to overcome censorship in Venezuela and was nominated for the 38th Goya Awards (Spain’s Academy Awards) in the Best Ibero-American film category in representation of Venezuela and reached the #6 spot on Netflix's Global Top 10 in its
first week on the platform. Since making the film, Diego is not able to go back to Venezuela due to threat of imprisonment.
In this episode, Diego shares about the Venezuela diaspora, growing up Venezuela and the United States, his film Simón and the journey he took to have it shown publicly in Venezuela, and his advice for non-Venezuelans when it comes to Venezuelan politics.
Learn more about his film, Simón, at simonmovie.com.
This episode is sponsored by Surfshark. Go to https://surfshark.com/wiserworld or use code WISERWORLD at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
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Five macro-level lessons I learned from studying Venezuela's history that I hope to remember.
Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code WISERWORLD at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/wiserworld
Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
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This is Part 3 of 3 of the Venezuela 101 series: a foundational history of Venezuela. This episode is a concise history of Venezuela from 2013 - early 2026, designed for those who know little to nothing about Venezuela. This episode covers:
Chávez’s death and Maduro’s fragile rise to power
Oil collapse, hyperinflation, and economic freefall
Daily life under shortages, black markets, and repression
Mass protests, loss of legitimacy, and historic migration
U.S. sanctions, drug accusations, and Maduro’s 2026 capture
If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.
Sources used in the making of this episode.
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This is Part 2 of 3 of the Venezuela 101 series: a foundational history of Venezuela. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Venezuela from 1989 to 2013, designed for those who know little to nothing about Venezuela. This episode covers:
Venezuela before Chávez and the shock of the Caracazo (1989)
The rise of Hugo Chávez (1992–1998)
How Chávez rewrote the political system.
Oil, media, and consolidation of power.
Life under Chávez and the system he left behind.
If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.
Sources used in the making of this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
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This is Part 1 of 3 of the Venezuela 101 series: a foundational history of Venezuela. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Venezuela from 1498 to 1988, designed for those who know little to nothing about Venezuela. This episode covers:
- Venezuela pre-1498 (Columbus)
- Spanish colonization
- How Venezuela gained independence
- The long road to democracy: caudillos, dictatorships, and more
- The discovery of oil and the oil boom years
- Oil crash and inflation of the 1980s
If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.
Sources used in the making of this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
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This is a Cultural Preface to the Venezuela 101 history series. It is not designed to be entirely comprehensive, as no culture or people are all the same. But, it is designed to help listeners meet the people before they study their history, and in it, we cover:
1. Population, Identity & Diversity
2. Social Personality & National Character
3. Family & Social Structure
4. Gender Roles & Expectations
5. Language, Accents & Slang
6. Food as Cultural Identity
7. Music, Dance & Artistic Expression
8. Beauty, Spirituality & Belief
9. Race, Class & Urban Life
10. Humor, Survival & Street Smarts
11. Friendliness & Foreigners
12. Daily Life & Leisure
13. Marriage, Names & Social Bonds
If you'd like to learn more, please head to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast, where you can support the podcast and learn more along the way!
The main source of information for this episode was this book, as well as Venezuelan friends.
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In this episode of the Common Ground series, we're diving into unique rituals from around the world that honor both birth and death, which is something we all share.
We cover:
• Navajo First Laugh Ceremony – United States (American Southwest, Navajo Nation)
• Baek-il (100-day celebration) – South Korea
• Selapan Ceremony (35th day) – Indonesia (Javanese culture)
• Jatakarma (Samskara birth ritual) – India (Hindu communities)
• Newborn Singing Traditions – West Africa (e.g., Yoruba, Akan, Ewe, Fulani, etc.)
• Oríkì (praise poetry for babies) – Nigeria (Yoruba culture)
• Aqiqah (naming and sacrifice ceremony) – Islamic tradition
• Whenua (placenta burial) – New Zealand (Māori culture)
• Miyamairi (shrine visit) – Japan (Shinto tradition)
• Traditional Christian European Funerals — Europe
• Ghanaian Fantasy Coffins & Celebratory Funerals – Ghana (Ga culture, especially near Accra)
• Torajan “Death Feasts” & Body Preservation – Indonesia (Sulawesi, Toraja people)
• Pacific Islander Vigil & Communal Mourning – Various Pacific Islands
• Jewish Shiva & Chevra Kadisha with Tahara – Jewish communities globally
• Japanese Family Body Preparation – Japan
• Hindu Cremation (especially along the Ganges) – India
• Sky Burial & Miniature Yurt Graves – Mongolia & Himalayan Buddhist regions
• Obon Festival & Lantern Floating (Tōrō Nagashi) – Japan
• Famadihana (“Turning of the Bones”) – Madagascar
• Islamic Burial & 3-Day Mourning Visits – Many Muslim-majority countries (especially Arab nations)
• Chehelom (40th Day Mourning Ceremony) – Iran (blend of Islamic and Persian traditions)
Sign up for my free weekly newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
If you'd like ad-free episodes and additional resources, head to to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
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Today we’re stepping into a story that blends together the last few month’s topics (Syria, Food, Hospitality) with my guest, Yassin Terou.
Yassin Terou is a Syrian-born entrepreneur and American dream enthusiast, best known as the founder of Yassin’s Falafel House, a Knoxville-based restaurant celebrated for its welcoming spirit and message of inclusion. After arriving in the United States, Yassin built his business from humble beginnings into one of the most beloved restaurants in Tennessee. His restaurant was named “The Nicest Place in America” by Reader’s Digest and Good Morning America for its commitment to kindness and community. Yassin is passionate about using food to bring people together and create understanding across cultures. This passion also inspired him to start a nonprofit organization called Seeds and Bridges, which supports people in need and helps new entrepreneurs pursue their dreams—regardless of race, color, or beliefs. Through both his business and public speaking, Yassin continues to spread hope, compassion, and unity.
In our conversation, Yassin shares his journey out of Syria, and his process of starting over in a new country. We talk about immigrant challenges, food, advice he has for all people, and what he wishes more people understood about Syria and Syrians. It’s a story of courage, community, and the quiet power of hospitality.
Support Yassin's nonprofit: Seeds and Bridges.
Sign up for my free weekly newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
If you'd like ad-free episodes and additional resources, head to to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
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Food may be the universal need, but hospitality is the universale virtue.
In the second episode of the Common Ground series, we're diving into how different cultures practice hospitality, and how there's much more in common than you might think.
Sign up for my free weekly newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
If you'd like ad-free episodes and additional resources, head to to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
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No matter where you go in the world, everyone needs to eat, and preferably eat together. Eating together is one of our oldest human instincts.
In this first episode of the Common Ground series, we're diving into concepts of food and drink that are cultural universals—things we all share. We talk about grains, fermentation, earth cooking, hot drinks, and more!
Sign up for my free weekly newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
If you'd like ad-free episodes and additional resources, head to to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
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This is a personal analysis of takeaways I gained from studying Syria. It is meant to be listened to after completing the Syria 101 series (which is 5 parts).
Nonprofits mentioned in this episode:
SAMS
Karam Foundation
Sign up for my free weekly newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
If you'd like ad-free episodes and additional resources, head to to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
I quote Wendy Pearlman from "The Home I Worked to Make" and Alia Malek from "The Home that was Our Country" in this episode.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
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This is Part 5 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 2012 to 2025, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:
How civilian protests for reform turned into a civil war
What groups got involved and why (it was not a clear two-sided war)
The rise of ISIS
The internationalization of the war
The Syrian refugee crisis
The fall of Assad and the current transitional government
If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
Sources used in the making of this episode.
Transcript for this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworld.com/
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This is Part 4 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 2000 to 2012, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:
How Bashar al-Assad gained power
How corruption, crony capitalism, drought, and inequality led to unrest
The Arab Spring and how it came to Syria
How civilian protests for reform turned into a civil war
Why extremist Islamist and Jihadist groups got involved
How the civil war splintered into a multi-faceted war
If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
Sources used in making this episode.
Transcript of this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworld.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is Part 3 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 1946 to 2000, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:
How Syria’s new democracy after independence quickly fell into instability
Why the 1948 war with Israel shook Syria and triggered its first coup
The cycle of military coups (1949–1963) and Cold War involvement
The rise of Pan-Arabism and Ba’athism, including Syria’s union with Egypt
How Hafez al-Assad seized power in 1970 and built an authoritarian state
What daily life looked like under Assad — security, repression, minorities, economy, and foreign
If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
Sources used in the making of this episode.
Transcript for this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworld.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is Part 2 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 1900 to 1946, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:
Why WWI cracked the Ottoman order in Greater Syria
The Arab Revolt & the Hussein–McMahon letters (this includes "Lawrence of Arabia")
The Sykes–Picot Agreement (the secret deal that carved up the region)
What World War I was like in Syria
The French Mandate: How the French ruled Syria and why it upset so many
The road to independence (1920–1946)
If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit airwavemedia.com to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
Sources used in the making of this episode.
Transcript for this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworld.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices




Marvelous ceremony indeed
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Love this podcast! Just what I've been looking for to help me understand current events.