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Alli Roper

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.

Wiser World

In this episode we take Cuba's history from pre-1492 (Columbus) to 1902 (Independence), giving a high-level look at Cuba for those who know little to nothing about it and would like foundational understanding. 

Questions we answer: Where is Cuba located, and what is it like geographically? What was it like before 1492? What role did Christopher Columbus play in the history of Cuba? How did Spanish colonization influence the island? What role did the transatlantic slave trade play in the sugar industry, and how was Cuba involved? What role did Great Britain and United States play in Cuba during the 1800s? Who was José Martí and how did he influence Cubans? How did Cuba eventually gain its independence from Spain? 

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. 
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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/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

47. Cuba 101 - Part 1

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. 
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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/
Website (sign up for email newsletter): https://wiserworldpodcast.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

48. Cuba 101 - Part 2

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

49. Cuba 101 - Part 3

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

50. Humanizing History: Lessons Learned from Cuba

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/

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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

51. Understanding Passover: History, Traditions, and the Meaning Behind the Meal

In this episode I explain nine common logical fallacies, and give examples so we can thinking more intelligently in this ever-polarized political climate. This is companion to episode 35, "Recognizing Logical Fallacies for Better Critical Thinking" which aired on December 27th, 2023.

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/⁠

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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

52. Becoming a Better Thinker (More Logical Fallacies Everyone Should Know)

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

53. A Brief Intro to PORTUGAL - Know Before You Go

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

Encore: Iran 101 - Part 1

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

Encore: Iran 101 - Part 2

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

Updated: Iran 101 - Part 3

This episode is a VERY concise and basic review of Russia’s history in the past 100-ish years: Part 1 covers pre-1917 to 1949, and Part 2 covers 1949 - early 2022. Albert Einstein said, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.” I am no genius, but I definitely tried to do the genius thing here. It was a challenge, for sure. Obviously, I leave a LOT out and I gloss over tons of things we could spend days and weeks learning about. But I did my best to share historical facts as we know them currently. 
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.

Sources
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

4. Russia 101 (The Last 100 Years in Russia) - Part 2

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