Catalog
Episodes
Is the American Dream Still a Thing? with Harvard Economist Raj ChettyJun 2, 2026 · 1 hr 1 minNayeema speaks to Professor Raj Chetty, who has the IRS (and Facebook) data proving that your zip code and close friends list may dictate your riches. They talk about the American dream, whether it's in reach, why the data and vibes conflict and why the Harvard University professor behind Opportunity Insights believes progress is STILL possible.
This is the second episode of our SGDQ Smart Money series, presented by Chime. Also on the agenda: why GDP can be up while the vibes are down, what’s the right income bracket to have a kid, and where you should (and shouldn’t) move if you want your kids to have a better shot than the “Lost Einsteins.”
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your favorite married couple..
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices- Is Who You Marry the Most Important Financial Decision? with Divorce Attorney Jim SextonMay 19, 2026 · 1 hr 19 minWhich money mistakes destroy a relationship? And which good money habits make a marriage work? No one sees into people’s finances like a divorce lawyer does. So Nayeema brings BACK killer NYC divorce attorney James Sexton, Esq. to ask: is marriage really the most important financial decision you’ll ever make? Does leverage kill love? And with an affordability crisis, does being middle class keep you (unhappily) married? All of this in Episode 1 of the SGDQ Smart Money Series brought to you by Chime!
**NOTE: if you’re in NYC on Tuesday 5/26, we’re taping SGDQ live at the cellar. Get your tickets here**
We won't have an episode out on May 26th due to the Memorial Day holiday, so please binge back on 50 episodes of SGDQ
Thanks to our partners at Chime. Stay tuned for more episodes on whether the American Dream is still in reach, if it's better to rent or buy and more dumb-but-smart money Qs for people who seek progress.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your favorite married couple..
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- Aliens Encounters and UFO Files?! with Neil deGrasse TysonMay 12, 2026 · 1 hr 20 minNeil deGrasse Tyson and Nayeema are BACK with an all new episode taped live at New York’s Comedy Cellar. They discuss if aliens exist, how we’d know and what we should do when we see them? What’s the alien go back? And how do we balance skepticism with possibility in science and in life. Has any testimony, fact or experience ever challenged Neil’s alien skepticism?Nayeema also asks Neil to respond to President Trump’s UFO files, President Obama’s comments about Area 51 and a question from former guest Suborno Bari - the child genius you’ve heard on SGDQ.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your favorite alien.
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- Is There A War on Men?May 5, 2026 · 1 hr 12 minNayeema sits down with Richard Reeves, THE expert on men and boys to ask: is there a men’s crisis? Has talking about it made men’s lives better …or worse? What’s a dude problem vs an everyone problem? Are we just gendering the impacts of modern capitalism? And what’s next: DEI for dudes?
Also on the agenda: looksmaxxing, incels, tradwives (data vs vibes), the retreat of video games, the potential of the draft and an age-old fight for men’s allegiance. Plus: what do the Epstein files reveal about male bonding and power? (Richard would like you to know: THIS IS A MINEFIELD).
Subscribe to Richard’s SUBSTACK and find his work at the American Institute for Men & Boys where he serves as Director.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your favorite boy.#men #boys #dating #incels #tradwife #mentalhealth #SmartGirlDumbQuestions
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- Iran ... Um, How Does This End?Apr 28, 2026 · 1 hr 18 minRobert Malley was a Lead Negotiator of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, so what does he think will happen next? And what does three decades at the forefront of Middle East peace (or war, in this case), teach him from Camp David (2000) to Israel and Gaza today?
Nayeema and Rob walk through Donald Trump’s “Art of the Deal” to figure out whether one may be had here. They also discuss: are negotiators more like marriage therapists, hostage negotiators or plumbers? Are President Trump’s tweets (slash Truth Socials) an attempt at Mad Man strategy or just a genuine chaos-making machine? How do Iranians think and deal-make? And will we see peace in Israel and Palestine in our lifetime?
Be sure to check out Rob’s book Tomorrow is Yesterday: Life, Death and the Pursuit of Peafe in Israel/Palestine.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your favorite person to negotiate with..
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- How Do You Win a Grammy?Apr 21, 2026 · 55 minThe electroacoustic duo ARKAI just won a Grammy. Nayeema wants to know: How hard is that? Can you manifest one? Or is it more like a political campaign? Does the Harvard of Music (aka Juilliard) prepare musicians for a TikTok world? And the crucial question of 2026: Will AI replace musicians?
Jonathan Miron (violin) and Philip Sheegog (cello) also spill on the beef between cellists and violinists, how many people it takes to call yourself a band and if bands are dying out in the era of the solo TikTok artist.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
Get Arkai's music on Spotify - especially their sophomore album: Brightside. And make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your drycleaner.
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- Does Silicon Valley Run Washington? with former Twitter CEO Dick CostoloApr 14, 2026 · 1 hr 26 minDick Costolo is a powerful rich dude who gave an insider's edge to the HBO Series "Silicon Valley." Nayeema asks the almost-billion dollar investor: Is Elon or Trump more powerful now? Is venture capital a Ponzi scheme? Is big tech back in a bubble? Will AI lead us into a K-shaped economy where the shareholders get richer and everyone else gets replaced by bots?
Also on the agenda: SpaceX at a $1.5T+ IPO (??), why so much value gets captured in private markets before the rest of us even get a shot to make money, the SEC rule change that helped companies stay private forever, and how crypto + prediction markets are winning over D.C.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your drycleaner.
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- Is Dry Cleaning a Scam? with the Father-Son Duo Behind JeevesApr 7, 2026 · 1 hr 1 minDry cleaning is the ultimate black box: you drop off your clothes… and somehow they come back looking better than your life choices. Nayeema goes inside the fairytale with the father/son duo behind Jeeves New York, Jerry and Zachary Pozniak to ask: how do you clean something “dry”? Where do the clothes actually go? And do they worry about the chemicals?
They unpack what dry cleaning really is (spoiler: it’s not dry), why “dry clean only” labels can be… kind of fake and how to make a family business work. Also: why their skills are critical at the Met, Louvre and Lincoln Center.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
You can find Zach on TikTok and IG @jeeves_ny. Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your drycleaner.
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- Why Does Everyone Have a Podcast? Nayeema & Sammi CohenMar 31, 2026 · 1 hr 15 minWhy does everyone have a podcast… and do you need one too? Nayeema pulls back the curtain with Sammi Cohen of Social Currency fame. One has made it in podcasting, and is still building on social — the other has made it in social, and is building on podcasts. Both open up about the ups, downs and dollars .
Also on the agenda: “is everything a scam?” (dentistry! eyeglasses! Forbes 30 Under 30!), why live streaming is coming for everyone, why people “watch your podcast on Instagram,” and the uncomfortable truth about how money actually gets made online.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
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- What’s Rich People Healthcare Like?! with Dr. Florence ComiteMar 24, 2026 · 56 minDr. Florence Comite is a Yale-trained endocrinologist, longevity expert, and author of the forthcoming book Invincible. Her precision medicine clients include CEOs, founders, athletes, artists… and recently, Nayeema, who got a tiny and generous glimpse into the process. So Nayeema asks Comite: can I live forever? Would my health care be better if I were richer? And what's up with peptides, GLP-1s and other medical hype?
Also on the agenda: why women’s heart attack symptoms get missed, the “black box” hormone panic that shaped a generation, what your thyroid has to do with literally everything (mood, memory, heart rhythm, periods) what's the male equivalent of menopause and more.
NOTE: this episode does not contain medical advice -- you should consult with your own doctor to understand what's best for your health.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your pet dinosaur.
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- Is Every War About Oil? Pulitzer Prize Winner Daniel YerginMar 17, 2026 · 1 hr 11 minDaniel Yergin has advised 4 different Presidents (Clinton, Bush, Obama and the first Trump administration). He’s also a Pulitzer-Prize winning author and energy expert and the vice chair at S&P Global. Nayeema asks Yergin: when will this oil crisis end? Is every election – and war – priced at the pump? And what’s the history – and future – of our dependence on fossil fuels? Is the energy transition … still transitioning?
Also on the agenda: the Strait of Hormuz nightmare scenario, AI data centers on outer space, how we’ll move in 20 years, why the energy transition is metal-intensive (hello, copper) and whether we may be in a simulation.
Thanks to our sponsors at BMW - to learn more about the BMW iX5 Hydrogen click here.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and your pet dinosaur.
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- Can AI Replace My Brain? I Ask a Child ProdigyMar 10, 2026 · 1 hr 11 minSuborno Isaac Bari cracked basic algebra before his 2nd birthday. He's now a 13-year-old college sophomore: will he have to move back in with his parents like so many college grads are doing these days? And does this genius worry about the job market?
Nayeema sits down with Suborno — who plans to graduate from NYU next year with a double-major in math and physics. And gets to the big Q: is it dumb to be smart in an AI era where we could just put our brains in a jar, outsource intelligence to machines, and power them with tokens?
Also on the agenda: Nayeema gets corrected on the transitive property (humiliating), whether math is a “construct” (and why that’s not an insult), why cheating has basically gone nuclear since ChatGPT, and Suborno’s surprisingly spicy three-point plan to reform American education. Is this kid running for President or what?!
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
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- Is Weather a Conspiracy? With Dancing Weatherman Nick KosirMar 5, 2026 · 1 hr 9 minHow do you stay peppy when the world is on fire? Nayeema sits down with Nick Kosir — aka the Dancing Weatherman and Fox Weather meteorologist to ask: Why are all weather people hot … and what exactly do they do? Is it just vibes + a green screen? And is AI going to steal Nick’s, Nayeema’s and all of our jobs?
Also on the agenda: cloud seeding, climate change, whether the World Meteorological Organization is the illuminati, the human cost of naming people after hurricanes and Nick’s compelling advice for how to change a life and take a risk at any age.
Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Follow Nick @nickkosir
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR YOUR MOM.
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- Another Iran War? with Professor Vali Nasr (Revisiting Iran 101)Mar 4, 2026 · 46 minWho picks Iran’s Ayatollah? What are the Israelis and Americans up to? How did we get here? AND: WILL IT EVER END? Today’s SGDQ bonus drop is an IRAN 101 cutdown of a Summer 2025 conversation Nayeema had with Dr. Vali Nasr, a John Hopkins SAIS professor, Middle East expert and author of Iran’s Grand Strategy.
IMPORTANTLY: The original conversation (available in the show feed) was taped in June 2025, on the heels of the Twelve Day War. We hope this version provides context and perspective to ground your curiosity. It's an escape from the doomscrolling and a supplement (not substitute) for the news. A lot has happened in the last 8-ish months so Nayeema recommends checking out Professor Nasr's most recent writings and interviews to track the evolution of the situation in Iran and his own perspective.
You can find Dr. Nasr on X @vali_nasr. Follow Nayeema on IG or X too – and you can find the show on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions.
Slide into our DMs, call us at 1-855-MYDUMBQ or send your dumbest questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com
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- Is It Time for An AI Boyfriend?Feb 27, 2026 · 1 hr 1 minIs it time to date ChatDaddy? Today we're playing you a debate Nayeema hosted at New York's Comedy Cellar for a show we love: Open to Debate. Nayeema moderates an academic, fun and relevant showdown between Dr. Thao Ha of University of Arizona's HEART Lab, and Dr. Justin Garcia of the Kinsey Institute around this question: Could dating an AI be better than dating a human?
Be sure to get more Open to Debate on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or Substack. They share SGDQ's values of curiosity and openness and have thought-provoking debates on topics ranging from the war on drugs to US China policy and whether we should eat anything with a face. You can also get more of Justin in the SGDQ episode Are We Really Having Less Sex in the feed below or in his **newly released** book: The Intimate Animal. And in the interest of equal time and because she rocks, we'll need to have Thao Ha on soon too!
Want to be on SGDQ? Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR MOM.
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- Rage Bait, 6 7, Algospeak … What Does It All Mean? w Etymology NerdFeb 17, 2026 · 1 hr 20 minIs our language becoming unrecognizable and is that the internet’s fault? Nayeema sits down with Adam Aleksic (aka Etymology Nerd), a linguistics nerd and author of Algospeak — to decode how social media is rewiring the words we use, the way we say them, and what counts as “normal” language now. They get into euphemisms, censorship, why some words go viral, why “woke” became a culture-war grenade, and what happens when the dictionary can’t keep up.
Link to Yuval's speech at Davos: HERE
Want to be on SGDQ? Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Or, you know, call Congress at (202) 224-3121.
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- Why Do Relationships Fail? with a Million Dollar Divorce AttorneyFeb 10, 2026 · 1 hr 29 minHe’s watched thousands of marriages fail — so what did he learn about love? And from mandatory prenups to a newlyweds permit, how would he redesign the process? Nayeema sits down with the legendary NYC divorce attorney James Sexton, Esquire — a courtroom “pistol” who’s handled thousands of cases, got an epic education in human relationships in the process and even written a book about how to not f* up your marriage..
Nayeema and Jim discuss: why does marriage even exist? Is it a buzzkill for romance? Is there ever a such thing as a no fault divorce? What makes someone good at breaking up and, with 50% plus marriages ending this way, should you actually marry someone you can divorce? Why does the wedding industrial complex market marriage like a romcom — at the climax — when the real story starts after the credits? … Also: tips for dating a divorcee?
We’ll have a part two focused on love and money so send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, MOM OR LOCAL LAWMAKER.
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- Calling Congress … Does It Work? with Rep. Melanie StansburyJan 29, 2026 · 1 hr 14 minAfter ICE officers shipped 5 year old Liam Ramos to a detention facility and federal agents shot and killed 37 year old ICU Nurse Alex Pretti, Nayeema called her congressperson for the first time. Turns out, it can make a dent. If you’d like to slide into those EMs, here are deets for House and Senate. Your Senator votes this week on funding for ICE and Homeland Security.
So what happens when you email or vmail? Is it more impactful than posting on Insta? And, um, does Congress even matter these days? U.S. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (D–NM) joins Nayeema to answer all these Qs.
Plus: gym gossip, the DOGE subcommittee, the Epstein-files vote, and — yes — astrology as a path to bipartisanship.
Want to be on SGDQ? Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ. Or, you know, call Congress at (202) 224-3121.
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- Stress: What’s the Solve? with Dr. Aditi NerurkarJan 27, 2026 · 1 hr 2 minDo you think your phone is breaking your brain? Is the stress of the news cycle rewiring our physiology? And why do we feel so behind our Jan 1 resolutions … only 3 weeks in? Nayeema asks the Qs we all have to stress expert Dr. Aditi Nerurkar — a physician on faculty at Harvard Medical School and the author of the book: The Five Resets.
They get into the science of neuroplasticity (yes, your brain is changing every day), why your brain needs time to build new circuits, and why multitasking is basically “task-switching” in a trench coat — weakening attention, memory, and cognition.
Plus: the case for 10-second breaks, an explanation of “revenge bedtime procrastination”and why stress can turn into emotional eating (hi, amygdala).
Note: this conversation was taped in December.
Want to be on SGDQ? Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
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- Why Do Venezuelans Want This?Jan 19, 2026 · 1 hr 1 minThe US is making unwanted moves on Denmark and toying with the idea of intervening in Iran — but one country where the administration waltzed in and was welcomed? Venezuela. So … what’s up with that? Nayeema talks to 3 millennial Venezuelans to make sense of this moment — journalist Mariana Atencio, comedian/writer Joanna Hausmann, and comedian/actor Francisco Ramos. It’s an exploration. of nuance in the form of a dumb question dinner party (minus the dinner).
You can follow our guests on Instagram and TikTok @marianaatencio @johaus @framoscomedy
Want to be on SGDQ? Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
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- Can He Make America Healthy (and Trusting) Again? with Trump's NIH Director Jay BhattacharyaJan 13, 2026 · 1 hr 16 minWhether it’s the MAHA movement or COVID-19 management, can we trust American public health? Nayeema talks to NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya. He was appointed by President Trump last year, but originally came to fame in late 2020 as a Stanford Medical School Professor who challenged pandemic-era lockdowns.
On the agenda: Why does the USA spend more for worse healthcare outcomes? Is Ozempic our magic bullet? With China moving so fast in biomedicine, will we rather go to Beijing or Boston for healthcare in 2050? What’s up with these changes to the childhood vaccine schedule? And what does the Director make of a White House that memes healthcare or proposes 40% cuts to his budget? Finally: by the time we’re old, can we forget that HIV or Alzheimer's ever existed?
To read more about the vaccine changes you can read the HHS report or reporting from WSJ or NYT. To learn more about the NIH visit nih.gov
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- Will the Market Crash in 2026? with Andrew Ross SorkinJan 6, 2026 · 1 hr 22 minAre we headed to another Great Depression? The 2026 market is booming, but economic vibes are no bueno. Have we learned enough from the 2008 recession or past crashes to avoid another? That’s the big Q for Andrew Ross Sorkin, the journalist behind New York Times DealBook and CNBC’s Squawk Box and co-creator of Showtime’s Billions. He’s out with a hot new book 1929 that makes sense of what precipitated the greatest tumult the American economy has ever seen.
Nayeema asks Sorkin - Is our Roaring 20s rockets to Mars instead of towers to the sky? Why does money feel like our new religion? Are we in an AI bubble, a crypto hype dream, or “mark-to-make-believe” froth? And who could make better stock pics: Andrew Ross Sorkin? Or Nancy Pelosi's?
Want to be on SGDQ? Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.
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- Mark Cuban: Why Does Healthcare Suck? Can Billionaires Save Us?Dec 23, 2025 · 1 hr 18 minIn this extended cut of the very first SGDQ Nayeema asks Mark Cuban if America's love-hate relationship with billionaires is justified, if we can count on rich dudes to solve problems like universal healthcare, and what happens on the group chats of the rich + famous. Also new: what does he make of a Kamala Harris 2028 run?
They're pressing questions as the world’s wealth — and power — seems to be getting even more concentrated in our AI future, and candidates like Zohran Mamdani are willing big on an affordability agenda that focuses on those of us, um, NOT billionaires.
Also: If capitalism broke health care, can capitalism fix it? Why does buying life-saving medicine feel like getting mugged at CVS? And what actually changes when you go from your first million… to your first billion? And does Mark Cuban believe in UBI?
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for our latest and greatest.https://cms.megaphone.fm/organizations/79ebb932-2501-11f0-b4a3-2f2282ba6c27/podcasts/3eeb3c66-b893-11ef-a413-1b1df9e09474/episodes/61b4b7a4-df98-11f0-919d-eba14803b7c0/edit#publish
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- Should You Have Kids in an AI World?! with Dr. Geoffrey HintonDec 9, 2025 · 42 minThis is Part II of The Godfather (of AI) trilogy — where we learn if we can survive what we’ve built with one of the men who actually helped build it: Turing Prize Winner and Nobel Laureate Dr. Geoffrey Hinton. If you missed Part I you can scroll down to how AI (and your brain) actually work.
Today, the “Godfather of AI” returns to map out the risks and the weird hope of finding “mama” in this machine. So is AI alive? And if so, is it alive like a weed, a bee, a baby, or something we don’t have words for yet? Can these systems really be conscious or sentient? What’s the real “p(doom)” number - 1%, 10–20%, or are we all just guessing into the fog? And if AI does take over, are we headed for extinction… or will we just be kept around as pets?
HIT FOLLOW OR SUBSCRIBE to get AI Godfather, Part III where we learn what the future will look like!. And please share this with your Mom, best friend or the “AI expert in your life” that may not get it at all.
If you have Qs for Part 3 - What Should We Do and How Should We Govern an AI World? call 1-855-MYDUMBQ or post a video on YouTube, IG or TikTok tagging @smartgirldumbquestions and we’ll select some to ask the Godfather!
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- How Do Our Brains Work? with the Godfather of AIDec 2, 2025 · 55 minWe all pretend to understand AI but Dr. Geoffrey Hinton actually does - he's the “Godfather of AI” who's spent a half-century of work on machine learning and neural networks.
So what does this Nobel Prize-winning Al Pacino make of our AI age? Is this an industrial revolution, or the start of something more alien? How does AI … even work? Is it more neuroplastic than a baby's brain? How far away is super intelligence? Can’t we just unplug the thing off like Jack Bauer in 24, or will it manipulate and blackmail us before we can do that? And, oh, are the Swedish meatballs served at the Nobel Prize reception actually tasty?
AI, says Hinton is a “know-it-all,” but Nayeema definitely isn’t: she asks the “dumb” questions we all have about this new weird world of AI to Geoffrey Hinton, the Turing Award winner, 2024 Physics Nobel Laureate and Professor Emeritus at University of Toronto. In the process, we all get a lot smarter.
HIT FOLLOW OR SUBSCRIBE to get Godfather, Part II where we learn if AI is alive like a weed or like a person .. and send in your questions for Godfather, Part III by calling 1-855-MY-DUMBQ and leaving us a voicemail, or tagging @smartgirldumbquestions in a video on TikTok, IG or YT
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- World’s Best Music Lesson? with Gen Z Mozart Jacob CollierNov 18, 2025 · 1 hr 11 minWhat is Rhythm? Melody? Harmony? Do we all have these elements ingrained in us? Will AI make better music than humans can? What is a Weenus? And would Kendrick or Drake be a better collab? Five-time Grammy-winning musician Jacob Collier joins Nayeema to unpack the science and soul of sound.
From Collier's early viral videos to performances with legends like Herbie Hancock to Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Jacob reveals what he’s learned about emotion, math, and meaning along the way – and how he turns live audiences into one giant choir (available as a plug-in for any musician to play with).
Plus, Jacob breaks down why infinity plagues him and how low-fidelity and high-constraints can create unexpected magic. For more of this wiggly music, check out jacobcollier.com and his latest album, “Light for Days” music on Spotify or Apple.
Send us your secrets — or at least your “dumb questions" nayeema.raza101@gmail.com
Also the new season continues every week! Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Stay curious, stay hot!
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- How Much Would You Pay for Love? with Matchmaker Maria AvgitidisNov 11, 2025 · 43 minIf someone pays for love, is it easier to find? Does it twist the power dynamic? Do professional matchmakers take a Hippocratic Oath? And how long do they think you should wait before….?
Fourth-generation matchmaker, Maria Avgitidis joins Nayeema to unpack the economics of love, from the 12 Date Rule to the $150,000 price tag of high-end matchmaking, and explore how dating has evolved from community introductions to algorithms and apps. Maria reveals why texting “doesn’t count,” why your mom is a better matchmaker than your best friend, and how your apartment may be keeping you single.
Plus, Maria shares the one “IKEA test” every couple should take before moving in together.
For more Matchmaker Maria, check out her book and her podcast: Ask a Matchmaker.
Send us your secrets — or at least your “dumb questions" - nayeema.raza101@gmail.com Also the new season continues every week! Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Stay curious, stay hot!
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- Why Do People Run? with Olympian Alexi PappasNov 4, 2025 · 39 minOlympian and author Alexi Pappas joins us this week to tackle one of Nayeema’s (and Neil deGrasse Tyson’s) pressing questions: Why are all these people running? What are they running from? Or where are they running toward? And do they just pee in their pants while running?
Together the two friends unpack the science of athletic “peaking,” the power of the marathon, practical tips for your running form, and why run clubs are the new dating apps. From the origins of the marathon to post-Olympic depression, Alexi opens up about her journey, her mental health, and what it means to live life as a verb, not a noun.
IMPORTANT: I want your “dumb questions" so please EMAIL ME: nayeema.raza101@gmail.com
New episodes every Tuesday! Please sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Stay curious, stay hot!
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- Who Are You When No One’s Watching? with Doormen Daryl and JoeOct 28, 2025 · 49 minNew York’s 27,000 doormen see everything. These social anthropologists know more secrets than your therapist does. So what stories do they have? Can they tell if someone's having an affair? Or about to break up? What does how we tip say about us? And do they think the city is getting safer or more dangerous?
Nayeema talks to Daryl and Joe, two veterans in the front-of-building business who are masters at the "ocular patdown,” moodreading and secret-keeping to figure out what people are like when they get home, and *think* no one’s watching.
Send us your secrets — or at least your “dumb questions" - nayeema.raza101@gmail.com
Also the new season continues every week! Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Leave us a REVIEW and obvi: stay curious, stay hot!
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- What Happened to Science? with Bill Nye, the Science GuyOct 21, 2025 · 1 hr 2 minBill Nye the Science Guy taught an entire generation to love science and the scientific method so … what went wrong? Is the debate around science just healthy skepticism or is it a clear and present danger? What’s the next major scientific discovery AI can unleash? And can space science undivide America?
Nayeema talks to Bill Nye, the engineer, comedian, “Science Guy” and CEO of the Planetary Society. On the agenda: other life in the cosmos, aircraft engineering and whether any one person’s actions matter in the face of big problems like climate change. Also: are Bill Nye and former SGDQ guest Neil deGrasse Tyson frenemies?
Make sure you follow this episode up with our deep dive with Bill's Planetary Society colleague Casey Dreier, findable below this one in your feed! And if you scroll down further, you can find our favourite 11 year olds there too.
PS: our new season continues every week! Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok to stay curious!
And send us your dumb Qs! Or help Bill Nye out with his burning question: Where did human life come from? Email nayeema.raza101@gmail.com or leave us a review!
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- Is NASA Worth 25 Billion Bucks? with Casey DreierOct 14, 2025 · 52 minHit “follow” on this show so you don't miss Bill Nye the Science Guy next week. Today, Nayeema ask Bill’s colleague Casey Dreier: do we really need to go to space? Is it worth billions of dollars? How does it make my life better? What's more important: space science or dudes on the moon? And can’t Elon Musk just do all the space science things for us?
Casey Dreier is the Chief of Space Policy at the Planetary Society — the independent nonprofit founded by Carl Sagan and now led by Bill Nye. From the Drake Equation to NASA budget wars, he explains to Nayeema how exploring the cosmos has been critical to everything from GPS to semiconductors, and he hints at the nuclear innovations that could come next. It’s a critical conversation at a time when the government is shut down and there is a looming threat to cut NASA’s ~$25 billion budget and move a lot of the money that's there to human space flight instead of space science.
If you’re cosmos-curious: The Planetary Society is made possible with the support of individuals across the globe. You can be part of it by heading to planetary.org/join and you can find more of Casey’s cosmic knowledge over on Planetary Radio’s The Space Policy Edition podcast or in his newsletter.
And be sure to check out Neil deGrasse Tyson's SGDQ episode on YouTube or scrolling down in this podcast feed. Hit follow/subscribe to not miss Bill Nye next week, like/comment/review and please share the show with your mom and other friends.
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, as well as wherever you get your podcasts.
Also: help Casey out: do you have a theory on how kids learn time? Or have other dumb Qs? Email nayeema.raza101@gmail.com
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- Diplo: Why Is Every Dude a DJ?Oct 7, 2025 · 1 hr 6 minDo actually successful Grammy-winning DJs sleep? What do music producers do? Should they date the musicians they produce? And is Diplo ever getting back together with Skrillex for Jack U?
Nayeema turns her curiosity (and flirt) onto Diplo, aka Thomas Wesley Pentz, the Grammy-winning musician and DJ whose hits range from house to country and Bollywood to Brazilian favelas, and who has collaborated with everyone from Madonna to M.I.A. and Rihanna.
They discuss why he’s becoming obsessed with running and all things abs, how he balances his electronic and country personalities, why he’s over Burning Man and doubling down on Major Lazer and whether he is the Forrest Gump of music. Also: how Diplo approaches his craft, his kids and, yes, his dating life. Plus, he shares what dating famous people has taught him about relationships.
And fact checks: Brian Epstein (no relation) was the Beatles manager, George Martin was the Beatles producer, and Fidel Castro is not Justin Trudeau's dad.
Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, as well as wherever you get your podcasts.
Also: help Diplo out: do you know how manatees drink water? Or have other dumb Qs? Email nayeema.raza101@gmail.com or leave us a review!
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- Why Is Love Harder Now? with Esther PerelSep 30, 2025 · 1 hr 4 minWhy are we falling in love less? Is it feminism’s fault? Or the reality of getting older? Would Esther Perel rather date in 1955, 1985 or 2025? And does the future belong to tradwives or digitally arranged marriages, powered by AI?
Nayeema sits down with renowned psychotherapist, author and a big supporter in launching @smartgirldumbquestions – Esther Perel – to break down the evolution of modern romance, our obsession with self-love, and why crushes are hard to come by after your 20s.
Throughout, Esther offers her signature insight into how to keep relationships alive and why the quality of our connections do more for our longevity than anything else. You can find more of her wisdom on the Where Should We Begin? podcast on YouTube, Apple or Spotify.
And more of Nayeema’s vulnerability and dating woes on Smart Girl Dumb Questions (including some podcast footsie with Diplo). Be sure to follow/subscribe so you don’t miss out! Find us on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And like/review/share this podcast with your friends!
Speaking of friends: help Esther out. Do you know why some people are good at directions? And the rest of us aren't? Or have other dumb Qs? Email nayeema.raza101@gmail.com
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- Season 2 - Coming in Hot!Sep 29, 2025The curiosity party is back, with new episodes every Tuesday. Nayeema returned from summer break (why don't adults get those?) with a spicy line up Qs we all have and guests who can help answer them.
Follow Smart Girl Dumb Questions, review the show and SHARE this show with your bestie, your mom and that group chat you've muted.
And check out our Last Dumb Question street series on IG or TikTok. Your LDQs are also welcome, just email nayeemaraza101@gmail.com.
Stay curious. Stay hot.
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- Are We Really Having Less Sex? with Dr. Justin GarciaSep 5, 2025 · 1 hr 3 minWhat happens to our bodies and brains when we fall in love? And when we break up? Is orgasm linked to fertility? Who came up with the idea of marriage? And did capitalism just kill our sex drive?
Nayeema’s taking a break from summer break to ask the dumbest questions she has to the nerdiest evolutionary biologist she could find: Dr. Justin Garcia, Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute and author of an epic forthcoming book The Intimate Animal.
They talk kissing, shaky bridges and scientific studies. Also: porn-watching pandas, monogamous penguins and, um, something about a pig farmer? It’s basically the Discovery Channel on today’s Smart Girl Dumb Questions.
PS: our new season starts later this month! Make sure you’re following us on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. We’d love to hear your ideas, suggestions and feedback! Email nayeema.raza101@gmail.com or leave us a review!
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- Should You Be My Mayor? with Eric AdamsAug 1, 2025 · 1 hr 14 minWould NYC Mayor Eric Adams rather be trapped in an elevator with Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, or Curtis Sliwa? What’s his relationship with President Trump and/or Turkish Airlines? Why should New Yorkers trust him with another 4 years? What would he do with it? And how much has he delivered when it comes to policing crime, relieving medical debt, and building affordable housing?
Nayeema wants to get behind headlines and memes to understand who’s running for Mayor. She’s inviting the candidates on SGDQ to answer her direct (and dumb) questions. First up: incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.
Let us know what you think after the episode: nayeema.raza101@gmail.com or @smartgirldumbquestions on IG, and send us the questions you’d like to ask!
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- Why Can’t We Have More Parties? with Lee DrutmanJul 18, 2025 · 1 hr 14 minHow did we get these two political parties? And, when most Americans don’t like either of them is the answer … to have more? Will Elon’s Musk recently announced “America Party” work? Or do we need an “Animal Lovers Party” instead?
Nayeema asks the dumbest questions she can think of to the nerdiest expert she could find: Lee Drutman. He’s a fellow at New America and author of the book Breaking The Two Party Doom Loop. They discuss the beef between Jefferson and Washington (um, I mean, Jefferson and Hamilton), Venn diagrams, and whether the US is really the world’s best democracy.
Find more of Lee’s thoughts, writings and Venn diagrams on his substack Undercurrent Events
Follow Lee on X at @leedrutman. Follow Nayeema @nayeemaraza or on 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
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- If Everyone’s Got Anxiety, Does Anyone Have Anxiety? with Dr. Ellen VoraJul 11, 2025 · 1 hr 16 minIs anxiety the internet’s fault, your mom’s fault, or your food’s fault? Why does there seem to be a greater mental health crisis in the USA than other countries? Is therapy the answer … or is functional medicine? And is all other medicine … dysfunctional? Also where did MAHA come from?
Nayeema asks the most direct (and dumb) health questions she could think of to the most pragmatic, open-minded, and research-based doctor she could find: Dr. Ellen Vora, board-certified psychiatrist and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. They discuss gut health, the limits of medication, how our feelings manifest physically, and how our physical and social health show up in our mental health. Dr. Vora also talks about the great divide over American healthcare and how the Covid-19 pandemic reshaped everything.
Five things you may want to know more about:
Finnish study on where in our body we feel what
That stress, worry, anxiety article we talk about
The glasses we tried on and sexier splurgier version (ELLEN10 for 10% off)
Our partner, Noom — they help you feel good in your body at every stage
The Tamsen Fadal episode
Follow Ellen Vora on IG at @ellenvoramd. Follow Nayeema @nayeemaraza or on 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
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- Is the Iran War Over … or Just On Pause? with Vali NasrJun 27, 2025 · 1 hr 14 minWhat 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
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- How Do Kids Change Your Life? with Alison Roman & Max CantorJun 20, 2025 · 59 minWill having kids make my life or ruin it? How can two independent, career-minded people navigate marriage? What is a contraction? And is childbirth hellish … or like an MDMA high?
Nayeema asks the dumbest questions she can think of to her most grown-uppest friends, New York Times bestselling cookbook author Alison Roman and Emmy-nominated director Max Cantor to understand if you’re ever going to feel ready for kids, and how you go from a thirst-trap or a DM slide to love, marriage and a baby carriage.
Alison Roman is a writer, chef and Bon Apetit/New York Times Cooking alum behind the books Dining In, Nothing Fancy, and Something Sweet. Max Cantor is an Emmy-nominated TV and commercial Director.
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
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- Why Go On Reality TV? with Rebecca MinkoffJun 6, 2025 · 49 minIs anything real about reality tv? And does going on it boost your business? Also: when it comes to fashion, why are buttons on one side for dudes and another for chicks? Are clothes sexist? And what will tariffs do to the price of a T-shirt?
Nayeema asks reality TV, fashion and Scientology questions to the freshly transparent designer and RHONY personality Rebecca Minkoff.
Check out Rebecca’s podcast, Superwomen and her book Fearless.
Follow @smartgirldumbquestions on IG, TikTok & YouTube. You can find Nayeema on IG or X too.
Finally: send YOUR dumb questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com. You might end up in a future episode!
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- Is It Safe to Fly Right Now? with Kate KellyMay 30, 2025 · 56 minWith recent crashes, close calls and control center outages: is it getting more dangerous to fly, or are we just paying more attention? Also: do pilots have walkie-talkies? What’s on their cockpit screens? Do these 30-90 second blackouts at Newark Airport matter? And how few air traffic controllers are … too few? Nayeema asks the dumbest questions she could think of to the best-sourced reporter she could find: New York Times investigative journalist Kate Kelly.
On the agenda: How does seeing how the sausage is made (or control towers are staffed) change Kate’s own travel plans? Who’s to blame for all this: Joe Biden, Donald Trump ... Ronald Reagan …the pandemic … or just: the system? And who’s gonna fix it?
Check out Kate’s reporting here. And thanks to LiveATC for helping us dig up that pilot-air traffic controller audio!
Follow @smartgirldumbquestions on IG, TikTok & YouTube. You can find Nayeema on IG or X too.
Finally: send YOUR dumb questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com. You might end up in a future episode!
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- Wait… What’s The Deal With This Economy? with Paul KrugmanMay 16, 2025 · 53 minAre we in a trade war with China? Will BTC replace USD? What’s the latest on tariffs? And are millennials the most screwed generation? Also: can I blame the economy for my difficult dating life?
Nayeema asks the dumbest Qs she could think of to the most famous economist she could find: Nobel Laureate and former New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. For more of Paul’s wisdom after the episode, head to his Substack, where he breaks down economic news daily.
And for more Smart Girl Dumb Questions on money matters, scroll to our episode with Mark Cuban and the one with The Points Guy(s)!
Follow on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions. And you can find Nayeema on IG or X too
Finally: YOU could be on a future episode — send your dumb questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com
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- Is It Better To Buy Flights On A Tuesday? with The Points Guy(s)May 10, 2025 · 59 minIs TSA PreCheck faster than Clear? Who pays for all these “free” miles? And is it ever okay to take off your socks on a plane?
Nayeema asks the dumbest questions she could find to the savviest travellers she knows: Brian Kelly (a.k.a. The Points Guy) and Nicky Kelvin, the aviation geek who is a senior director of content at The Points Guy.
Also in this episode: child vandalism, T5 small claims court and secrets of, per the title Brian’s book, “How to Win At Travel.”
Follow 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
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- Is It Self-Care … or Capitalism? with Brooke DeVardMay 2, 2025 · 55 minIs beauty in the eyes of the beholder, or in the eye of the Kardashian industrial complex? What is Instagram face? How do we all agree what’s in or out? And why oh why are thin brows back in?! Nayeema asks the dumbest questions she could think of to Brooke DeVard, a beauty insider who worked at Ford Models, Vogue, Ralph Lauren and Instagram before leaving it all to pursue her Naked Beauty podcast and business full time.
On the agenda: What products you need and which are scammy. Why (and if) gen z looks older than millennials. Oh, and salmon sperm.
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
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- How Do Cranes Get Up There? An Astrophysicist & Construction Worker Walk Into a BarApr 25, 2025 · 10 minNayeema 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
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- Is Cooking Art or Science? with Kenji Lopez-AltApr 18, 2025 · 47 minWhy 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
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- Why Chew With Your Mouth Open? A Billionaire & Oxford Gastrophysicist Walk Into SGDQApr 11, 2025 · 11 minLast 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.
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- When Is A Woman’s Prime? with Tamsen FadalApr 4, 2025 · 52 minDon’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
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- What Do 11 Year Olds Do All Day? with Sophie and DilanMar 21, 2025 · 55 minAre kids more chronically online than adults? Why do they feel more connected on FaceTime than IRL? And since when was recess cancelled? Also - do they drink coffee? And fall in love? What is Roblox? Why are Pokemon cards worth anything?
11 is a wild age - where you have newfound independence, privacy and a sense of yourself. So Nayeema asked the smartest and dumbest questions she could think of to the most interesting kids she could find. She and 11 year old Sophie & Dilan tackle Roblox, the pressures of friend groups, what they wish they learned in school, and more. Also Sophie & Dilan explain why they care about… taxes?! And Nayeema discovers what kids are texting about.
Follow us on IG, TikTok & YouTube @smartgirldumbquestions. And you can find Nayeema on Instagram too or on X.
Send me your dumb questions! nayeemaraza101@gmail.com
Thanks to my partners at Omidyar Network. To learn more about the Kids Online Safety Act and other initiatives to protect kids online visit http://omidyar.com/kidsonlinesafety
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