Wiser World
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.
Episodes
March 2, 2026 • 69 mins
Today's guest, Sahar Delijani, is the author of Children of the Jacaranda Tree, an internationally acclaimed novel, translated into 32 languages and published in more than 75 countries. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, LARB, Jewish Currents, BOMB, McSweeney’s and elsewhere. Her second novel, For Every Person You Kill, is forthcoming in Spring 2027.
In this episode, Sahar shares her family’s story — inc...
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February 26, 2026 • 58 mins
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.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
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February 25, 2026 • 47 mins
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.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/...
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February 24, 2026 • 45 mins
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...
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February 23, 2026 • 68 mins
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/WISER...
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February 18, 2026 • 44 mins
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 g...
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February 11, 2026 • 78 mins
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 we...
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February 4, 2026 • 20 mins
Five macro-level lessons I learned from studying Venezuela's history that I hope to remember.
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Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast.
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/...
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January 27, 2026 • 61 mins
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 prote...
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January 20, 2026 • 59 mins
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 consoli...
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January 12, 2026 • 56 mins
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 ...
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January 6, 2026 • 26 mins
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 & Slan...
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December 9, 2025 • 43 mins
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...
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November 19, 2025 • 57 mins
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...
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November 6, 2025 • 40 mins
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.
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If you'd like ad-free episodes and additional resources, head to to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodca...
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October 22, 2025 • 33 mins
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....
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October 9, 2025 • 33 mins
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 Pea...
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September 30, 2025 • 44 mins
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
...
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September 25, 2025 • 38 mins
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 Syr...
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September 23, 2025 • 41 mins
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
...
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