Smart Girl Dumb Questions

What do Iranians think? Are they more or less into the Ayatollah (and nukes) after the last two weeks? Did the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites … take out the nuclear targets? How would we know? Also: why do all Iran’s proxies start with “H”? Nayeema asks the dumbest questions she can think of to the foremost Iran expert she could identify: Dr. Vali Nasr, a professor and former dean at John Hopkins SAIS, former senior advisor to the US State Department, and the author of several books on foreign policy and Iran including Iran’s Grand Strategy.  Follow Dr. Nasr on X @vali_nasr. Follow Nayeema on IG or X too – and you can find the show on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions.  Finally: YOU could be on a future episode – send your dumbest questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Alison Roman, acclaimed chef and author, and Max Cantor, Emmy-nominated director, as they tackle the wild ride of parenthood. They dive into whether kids enhance or challenge your life, sharing their own relatable anecdotes. Expect laughs while navigating the whirlwind of pregnancy lingo, the chaos of sleepless nights, and the pressure of social media sharing. They also discuss the joy of capturing childhood moments, cooking for their little ones, and preserving identities as they embark on the family journey.

Rebecca Minkoff, a designer and RHONY personality, dives into the intriguing world of reality TV, discussing its potential to enhance business visibility and generate income. She humorously explores the quirks of fashion, like why men’s and women’s clothing features different button placements. The conversation touches on the impact of tariffs on production costs and the complexities of navigating personal identity amidst public scrutiny. With insights into her journeys in fashion and reality TV, Rebecca encourages open dialogue about societal norms.

In this engaging conversation, Kate Kelly, an investigative journalist from The New York Times focused on airline safety, tackles pressing questions about current aviation risks. She shares insights on whether flying is truly becoming more dangerous or if we're just more aware. Topics include the implications of recent air traffic control outages, the blame on political figures, and the mechanics of cockpit communication. Kate also discusses the challenges of staffing shortages and outdated technology in ensuring our safety while flying.

In this engaging conversation, Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, a renowned economist and former New York Times columnist, tackles pressing economic questions. He dives into the implications of tariffs on U.S.-China trade, explores the potential of Bitcoin as a currency, and evaluates whether millennials are the most affected generation by current economic trends. Alongside, he examines the misinterpretation of stock market indicators and discusses evolving gender roles in the workplace and dating, all while adding a touch of humor to complex economic theories.

Join Brian Kelly, the founder of The Points Guy and travel guru, alongside Nicky Kelvin, a senior content director and aviation enthusiast. They tackle the burning question of whether Tuesday is the best day to book flights and share insider tips on maximizing travel points. Discover the quirks of air travel, including the impact of seat choice on personality and the evolution of flight search tools. Plus, they dive into consumer rights, travel hacks, and the amusing dilemmas of socks-off etiquette on planes!

Brooke DeVard, a beauty insider and host of the Naked Beauty podcast, spills the tea on today's beauty standards influenced by social media and capitalism. She dives into the phenomenon of 'Instagram face' and debates the strange return of thin brows. Brooke addresses the industry’s obsession with unrealistic ideals and the need for authenticity. The discussion also touches on minimalistic skincare, facial yoga, and the ethics of beauty product marketing. Get ready for some unexpected insights, including a curious take on salmon sperm!

Nayeema puts on a hard hat and visits a building site where she finds Brandon Hernandez, a construction worker who’s able to fill in some blanks for astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. It’s another episode of “CSI: Dumb Questions,” where everybody has stuff they don’t know – even the guy that runs Hayden Planetarium! Check out the full episode with Neil deGrasse Tyson in this feed or wherever you get your SGDQ fix to learn so much stuff Neil does know about from space-time, dimensions and wormholes to the search for extraterrestrial life. Follow us on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions. And you can find Nayeema on IG or X too. Finally: YOU could be on a future episode of “CSI: Dumb Questions” – send your dumb questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 quite 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices