
Wiser World
Did you forget your world history, and now feel lost when world topics come up in current events? Designed for busy people who forgot (or never learned it in the first place) and need a quick refresh, Wiser World takes foundational world history and makes it approachable and concise. As a former teacher, Alli Roper wants to remind us of the world's foundational, basic history so we can have the context we need think historically about current events, travel, and global topics. Episodes are published once or twice a month, and consist of 101 episodes (100-ish year deep dives into various countries), Know Before You Go episodes (brief histories for highly-traveled spots), and pretty much any other world-related topic that you wish you'd been taught in history class.
Latest episodes

Jul 15, 2025 • 55min
54. A Brief Intro to SWITZERLAND - Know Before You Go
In this Know Before You Go episode, we cover a basic history of Switzerland for those who want to travel there. We answer these questions and many more: What makes Switzerland so unique? Where is it located and what is the weather like? How is the government structure so one-of-a-kind? What foods are famous in Switzerland? What festivals and traditions do they have? What is a brief history of Switzerland for those who want an overview? What are some cultural norms and rules to follow? What are some tips and tricks for tourists to know before traveling to Switzerland? We’ll dive into these questions and many more in today’s Know Before You Go episode, A Brief Intro to Switzerland.
This episode is sponsored by Quince and K12 Powered Schools. Go to quince.com/wiserworld for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Go to K12.com/WISERWORLD to learn more about K-12 Powered Schools.
For extra resources to further your study, head to Patreon.
Sign up for my email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
The transcript for this episode is found here.
Sign up for my email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
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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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 2025 • 1h
Updated: Iran 101 - Part 3
A concise, foundational history of Iran from 1980 to 2025, designed for those who know little to nothing about Iran. This addition has been updated and improved heavily from the 2022 edition.
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 for $3, 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!
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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: Source List
Transcript for this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworld.com/
Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 23, 2025 • 49min
Encore: Iran 101 - Part 2
A concise, foundational history of Iran from 1950s through the 1979/1980 Revolution, designed for those who know little to nothing about Iran's history.
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 for $3, 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.
*Note: I make an error in stating that there are 10,000 Jews that whittle down to 9,000. The actual number is 100,000 (not 10,000).* Additionally, I mention that the Quran is the works and sayings of the Prophet Muhammed, but Muslims believe the Quran to be the word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammed.
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: Source List
Transcript for this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworld.com/
Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19, 2025 • 49min
Encore: Iran 101 - Part 1
A concise, foundational history of Iran from the late 1800s to mid-1950s made for those who know little to nothing about Iranian history.
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.
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.
You can also support the podcast through Patreon.
Sources used in the making of this episode: Source List
Transcript for this episode.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworld.com/
Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 2025 • 46min
53. A Brief Intro to PORTUGAL - Know Before You Go
In this Know Before You Go episode, we cover a basic history of Portugal for those who want to travel there. We answer these questions and many more: Before you travel to Portugal, what do you need to know? What makes Portugal so unique? Where is it located, what is the weather like? What is the government structure? What is the food culture? What is a brief history of Portugal so you have a basic understanding before you go? What are some cultural norms? What are some tips and tricks for tourists to know when traveling to Portugal?
This episode is sponsored by Quince. Go to quince.com/wiserworld for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
For extra resources to further your study, head to Patreon.
Sign up for my email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
The transcript for this episode is found here.
Sign up for my email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/
----
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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 snips
May 27, 2025 • 24min
52. Becoming a Better Thinker (More Logical Fallacies Everyone Should Know)
Dive into the world of logical fallacies and discover how they can deceive even the sharpest minds. Explore nine key fallacies that undermine arguments with real-world examples, perfect for enhancing your critical thinking skills. Learn about loaded questions that slyly embed assumptions, and see how false analogies can skew discussions. This engaging conversation equips you to spot errors in reasoning, fostering clearer communication and more rational debates in today's polarized climate.

Apr 10, 2025 • 33min
51. Understanding Passover: History, Traditions, and the Meaning Behind the Meal
This episode explains the basic concepts of the Passover tradition and Seder meal for those who know little to knowing about it and want a foundation of knowledge to build on. Special thanks for my friends Merav and Debbi for their contributions to this episode! This episode is sponsored by Quince. Go to quince.com/wiserworld for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. For extra resources to further your study, head to Patreon.The transcript for this episode is found here.Sources used in making this episode found here. Sign up for my email newsletter at https://wiserworld.com/----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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 3, 2025 • 26min
50. Humanizing History: Lessons Learned from Cuba
Three philosophical lessons I've learned from Cuban history and am integrating into my personal life. This episode is sponsored by Quince. Go to quince.com/wiserworld for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. For extra resources to further your study, head to Patreon.The transcript for this episode is found here.Sources used in making this episode found here. ----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.Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2025 • 1h 7min
49. Cuba 101 - Part 3
In this episode we take Cuba's history from 1959 to 2025, giving a high-level look at Cuba for those who know little to nothing about it and would like foundational understanding. Questions we answer: How did Fidel Castro become the most powerful man in Cuba? What happened to private land and business after the Cuban Revolution? How did the U.S. respond to all the changes? What was the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and why did it fail? What was the Cuban Missile Crisis, and why was it important? What were the different waves of Cuban exile migrations? How did Cuba respond to the fall of the Soviet Union? What is the Special Period in Cuba, and how did ordinary Cubans adapt to survive? How did people flee Cuba in the 1990s? What was the Wet Foot, Dry Foot policy, and how did it affect Cuban migration? Who took over after Fidel Castro? How did President Obama change relations between the US and Cuba? How do President Trump’s policies affect Cuba? How did the Covid-19 Pandemic affect Cuba and what is Cuba like today? We’ll answer these questions and many more in today’s episode Cuba 101: part 3 of 3. This episode is sponsored by Quince. Go to quince.com/wiserworld for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. For extra resources to further your study, head to Patreon.The transcript for this episode is found here.Sources used in making this episode found here. ----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.Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2025 • 51min
48. Cuba 101 - Part 2
In this episode we take Cuba's history from 1902 to 1959, giving a high-level look at Cuba for those who know little to nothing about it and would like foundational understanding. Questions we answer: How did the US influence Cuba while it was a US Protectorate? What role did the Platt Amendment play? What role did race play in Cuban society during the early 1900s? Who was Gerardo Machado and how did he become Cuba’s first dictator? How did Cuban citizens fight back? How was the mafia involved in Cuba? Who was Fulgencio Batista and how did he influence Cuban politics? Who is Fidel Castro and how did he and his fellow rebels launch a revolution that would change Cuba forever? This episode is sponsored by Quince. Go to quince.com/wiserworld for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. For extra resources to further your study, head to Patreon.The transcript for this episode is found here.Sources used in making this episode found here. ----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/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices