
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

Mar 31, 2022 • 43min
9. China 101 (The Last 100 Years in China) - Part 3
A brief, concise history of China from 1972 to 2022.
Deng Xiaoping leadership, Four Modernizations
Economic reform, Special Economic Zones
Tiananmen Square, 1989
Hong Kong returns to China
90s - 2010s general basics
2014 Umbrella Revolution
Uyghur Genocide
Censorship
Chinese militarization of man made islands, military potential
Disappearances
Chinese yuan
+ more
Note: I pronounced the Chinese currency "yuan" incorrectly. It is supposed to be pronounced something like "you-en". Additional Learning: One Perspective: This podcast episode on disappearances in China Frontline Documentary on Tank Man A transcription for this episode is 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. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.Source List Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2022 • 41min
8. China 101 (The Last 100 Years in China) - Part 2
A brief, concise history of China from 1949 to 1976. Covers:
First steps of CCP/Mao Zedong consolidating power in PRC
Purges
Great Leap Forward (Mao’s Great Famine)
Cultural Revolution (Red guards, little red book, propaganda, violence, Cult of Mao)
Mao Zedong leadership, legacy, opinions
Beginning of Deng Xiaoping leadership
A transcript for this episode is 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. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.Source List Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2022 • 38min
7. China 101 (The Last 100 Years in China) - Part 1
Exploring the history of China from the 1850s to 1949, including the Qing Dynasty, Opium Wars, Sino-Japanese Wars, rise of CCP, civil war, and the birth of PRC. Also covers challenges of researching China's history and regional diversity.

Mar 9, 2022 • 30min
6. Ukraine 101 (The Last 100 Years in Ukraine) - Part 2
This episode is a very concise and basic review of Ukraine’s history in the past 100-ish years: Part 1 covers the late 1800s to 1945, and Part 2 covers 1945 - early 2022. In the U.S., we aren’t taught much at all about Eastern European countries, like Ukraine, in school. They are largely mysteries. My hope is that these episodes change that. A transcript for this episode can be 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. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.SourcesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 9, 2022 • 39min
5. Ukraine 101 (The Last 100 Years in Ukraine) - Part 1
This episode is a very concise and basic review of Ukraine’s history in the past 100-ish years: Part 1 covers the late 1800s to 1945, and Part 2 covers 1945 - early 2022. In the U.S., we aren’t taught much at all about Eastern European countries, like Ukraine, in school. They are largely mysteries. My hope is that these episodes change that. A transcript for this episode is 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. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.SourcesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website: https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 snips
Mar 1, 2022 • 28min
4. Russia 101 (The Last 100 Years in Russia) - Part 2
Dive into the last 100 years of Russian history, highlighting the Cold War dynamics with NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Discover the stark living conditions in the Soviet Union during the 70s compared to the U.S. Explore significant events from Gorbachev's reforms to the rise of Putin, examining the intricate shifts in political power. Learn about the complex U.S.-Russia relations and the current geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding Ukraine, revealing how history shapes today's landscape.

15 snips
Mar 1, 2022 • 25min
3. Russia 101 (The Last 100 Years In Russia) - Part 1
Delve into Russia’s dramatic transformation over the past century. Discover how the monarchy crumbled and communism rose, spotlighting Lenin's pivotal leadership. Experience the chaos of the Civil War and the birth of the USSR amid famine and nationalization. Explore Stalin's iron-fisted rule, marked by the Great Purge and shifting alliances during WWII. Uncover the roots of U.S.-Soviet tensions post-war, as ideological rifts set the stage for the Cold War. It's a riveting journey through tumultuous history.

Feb 25, 2022 • 20min
2. Four Reasons We Need More of the World in our Lives
Why do we need to know about countries, culture, governments, economies different from our own? In this episode I give you four reasons for why having a regular diet of world material in your life benefits not just you, but everyone. *CORRECTION: At the end of this episode, I say I will launch in Season 1 on the Middle East in Episode 3. This did not happen—I pivoted according to the needs of the time.The transcript for 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. You can also support the podcast through Patreon.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website: https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there! Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2022 • 20min
1. Wiser World Podcast - Trailer
Everything you need to know about the podcast! How it came to be, how episodes will work, and what you need to know before you start listening. *Correction: I never did go with a seasonal approach. I ended up pivoting with the current events of the day!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. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/Website: https://wiserworldpodcast.com/To join the email list, click on the website link, and it will take you there!Song credit: "Heart of Indonesia" by mjmusics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices