Smart Girl Dumb Questions

Why are food memories so hard to recreate? Are eggs actually underpriced? Is brunch a scam? And does owning a rice-cooker make Nayeema a bad Asian?Nayeema asks the dumbest food and dining questions she could think of to J. Kenji Lopez Alt, the James Beard award-winning chef, cookbook author and recipe developer who came to fame for his scientific understanding of food. Kenji dispels cooking myths, unpacks the reality of restaurant economics, explains if anyone needs 18 knives and shares insights from a fascinating background that fuses Asian and Western culture, East and West coast and science and music. Oh, and we learn what he’s cooking up in his kitchen (it involves rotten eggs, if you’d like a literal spoiler alert). Thanks to my partners at Noom, the perfect companion for feeling good in your body as you age. Check out Noom.com today. Follow us on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions. You can find Nayeema on Instagram too or on X.And you can find Kenji on YouTube or find his books, podcast and more here. Send us your dumb questions! nayeemaraza101@gmail.com

Last time I saw Mark Cuban this mad is when the Mavs were down in the fourth quarter. Now, it’s about his “ultimate pet peeve”: open mouth chewing. In this first drop of the "CSI: Dumb Questions" miniseries, Nayeema ventures out to address this billionaire’s dumb Q – why do people chew with their mouths open? The investigation takes her across the pond to Oxford University, where she meets Dr. Charles Spence, an experimental psychologist/gastrophysicist with an English accent and quiet un-English dining sensibilities. Hear the full, fun Mark Cuban convo on Smart Girl Dumb Questions and hit follow or subscribe.Trigger warning: this episode contains chewing sounds. It’s definitely one to share with the open mouth chewers in your life … or, if you chew openly, you might feel validated sending it to anyone who’s ever complained!Follow us on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions. You can find Nayeema on Instagram or X, and you can find Mark on IG, X or Bluesky. Both will be chewing with their mouths closed.For more crackle and crunch, check out Dr. Charles Spence’s work in Gastrophysics: The New Science of Eating and Sensehacking.

Don’t worry, this episode is for women AND men. How do we age well? Avert mid-life crisis? Why does love feel harder as we get older? Is marriage better the second time around? And can you explain to my mom why *I’m* not married yet? We’ve reached peak singledom: 51% of American women aged 18-40 are not paired up. Nayeema is part of that demo, and asks the dumbest (and most vulnerable) questions she could think of to Tamsen Fadal, a journalist and former matchmaker turned healthcare advocate, and someone who has redefined aging in the modern world. They tackle dating, aging, catfighting and why everyone is talking about menopause, the subject of Tamsen’s latest book. Thanks to my partners at Noom, the perfect companion for feeling good in your body as you age. Check out Noom.com today.Follow us on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions. And you can find Nayeema on Instagram too or on X.And send me your dumb questions! nayeemaraza101@gmail.com

Dilan Maitreudanya, an energetic 11-year-old soccer fan with a taste for caviar, joins for a lively discussion alongside his friend Sophie. They dive into the complexities of pre-teen life, from navigating digital friendships via FaceTime to their thoughts on everything from Roblox to taxes. The duo shares their unique take on school, independence, and the importance of life skills often overlooked in education. With insights on modern friend dynamics and the pressures of childhood, their candid reflections offer a fascinating glimpse into the minds of today's kids.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, renowned astrophysicist and author, joins for an engaging dialogue about life's biggest questions. They ponder whether we live in a simulation and if wormholes could revolutionize travel. Tyson shares insights on the multiverse, time travel, and even tackles the existence of aliens. The conversation lightens up with astrology and the science behind it, while also addressing humanity’s quest for longevity. Expect a mind-bending blend of profound science and whimsical thoughts sprinkled with humor!

Is the world terrible, or does the news just make it feel that way? And what does the future look like? Will robots take my job? Will AI replace me? Will artificial wombs carry my kids? Nayeema talks to Cleo Abram, a YouTuber who peers into the future in her show  "Huge If True." They discuss babymaking in a world where fertility rates are plummeting and where over millennials and Gen Z increasingly cite climate change and the state of the world  as reasons they're not having kids. Also on the agenda: aliens and quantum computers. Send me your dumb questions! nayeemaraza101@gmail.comFollow us on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestionsAnd you can find Nayeema or Cleo on Instagram too. And subscribe to Cleo's YouTube channel, Huge If True.Thanks to my brand partners at Duckbill. You'll get 50% off your first two months if you click this link or go to www.duckbill.com and enter the code DUMBQUESTIONSReferences:Pew Research on Reasons U.S. Adults Don't Have Kids “Huge Conversations” with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang 

Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur and investor known for his role on Shark Tank and ownership of the Dallas Mavericks, dives deep into healthcare challenges and the lessons the U.S. government can learn from the NBA. He humorously critiques the inefficiencies of capitalism in healthcare, discussing innovative ways to reduce prescription drug costs and advocating for transparency. The conversation navigates the complex relationship between wealth and freedom, exploring how billionaires can leverage their influence to create meaningful change in society.

A new show to answer the dumb questions we’re all thinking, but don’t want to ask out loud. It’s a curiosity party, and you know you’re curious. Oh, and the party starts in February. Hit follow and stay tuned!